All Manner of Pressing Issues

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This Thanksgiving I was at our kitchen sink taking care of our china and my brother-in-law popped his head in the kitchen and asked, “Where did you get that table runner.” I told him. Then, he proceeded to ask, “How much did you pay for it?” I told him. I was briefly very flattered, thinking in my mind that for some reason he was wanting to purchase a table runner like mine for someone because he liked it so much. That was a fleeting thought. Then I asked, “Why are you asking?” Then, the moment of panic set in. You guessed it - orange candle wax on the new table runner.

I tried really hard not to flip out (according to my husband my efforts were not fruitful). After all, that without remedy must be without regard and we all make mistakes. I was really working at being calm because it’s just a table runner. Stuff can be replaced.

You’ll be happy to know this story has a happy ending because we did this:

We got a brown paper bag, cut a piece big enough to cover the stained area and ironed over the paper grocery bag with a hot iron. We repeated this process with several pieces of paper grocery bag until the bag was no longer pulling any wax out of the fabric. This trick also works with wax on carpet, not that I have ever spilled red candle wax on anyone’s white carpet before or anything.

Click on over to Rocks in my Dryer to read more tips!

My students frequently make statements that are worth writing down. I have often thought I should carry a notebook around with me because you really can’t beat 6 year old humor.

Today, though, it wasn’t something funny that stuck out to me. I had a “this makes it all worth it” moment with one of my students.

I was doing accuracy checks on several of my kiddos today to make sure I didn’t need to switch up my reading groups. One of my students was reading to me and he was just reading along and then he stopped and said, “Wait a minute, Mrs.Hughes! I can read! I’m reading!” It was almost as if he were riding his bike and someone had let go of the handlebars and he was riding alone! It was a precious, precious moment. If only he understood the power he holds just because he is literate.

“Literacy is the gateway to social justice for our children.” –K.S. Cooter

“If we don’t provide disadvantaged young children with the proper environments to foster cognitive and noncognitive skills, we’ll create a class of people without such skills, without motivation, without the ability to contribute to the larger society nearly as much as they could if they’d been properly nurtured from an early age. The most economically efficient way to remediate the disadvantage caused by adverse family environments is to invest in children when they are young. Neglecting the early years creates an underclass that is arguably growing in the United States. The family is the major source of human inequality in American society.” — James Heckman (Nobel Prize winning economist)

If you are able, create the opportunity to thank the person who taught you to read. Reading is something we often take for granted, but what a luxury to be able to read. It bothers me when people say, “I’m just not a reader.” It bothers me for two reasons. The first is because it’s as if the person has a sparkly diamond ring, yet leaves the ring in its box. The second reason is because I used to be someone who “wasn’t a reader” and I know that if a person is literate and is given the right book, that person will become a ‘reader’.

Once you find one book you love, you’ll be hooked.

Here are some titles/authors that ‘hooked’ me.

Lori Wick (Thank you, J.B.R.!)

Neta Jackson (Yada Yada Prayer Group Series)

No Ceremony by John Taylor Moses

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank Remembered

Kristen Billerbeck (Ashley Stockingdale series)

John Elderidge

“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” –Confucious

So, what is your favorite book?

P.S. I spared y’all from getting on my soapbox about how parents should read with their children every single night and how their children should see them reading also. I will also not get on my soapbox about parents making sure their children have interesting books that they actually want to read. Never in a million years would I make y’all listen to me on my soapbox about how parents need to have LOTS of actual conversation (as in put the cell phone down in the car or grocery store, turn off the T.V., and make your children talk to you) with their children on a daily basis to ensure that their children have an adequate vocabulary and that their children are capable of speaking in complete sentences.

I told you I spared you.

Free. Christmas Music. Here.

Does your family eat the same foods for Thanksgiving every year? In my family, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the “usual” dishes. One year, Mom thought she’d break tradition in an attempt to spice things up a bit for Thanksgiving. That was the last year she tried that. Many of the recipes we use for our holiday cooking/baking are from family members and friends, which makes the foods just that much more special.

This will be my first year to make our traditional Thanksgiving meal on my own in our home! I have planned the menu and grocery shopped, so all (I use that term loosely) that is left now is to cook! Richard’s brother, Ryan, is coming to stay with us for a few days before Thanksgiving, so I am planning on enlisting his help while Richard is at work!

Traditionally, we have more food than I am going to share with all y’all, but I cut down a little on tradition to save my sanity and so we wouldn’t just be absolutely wasteful with the food since there will only be 5 people at our house. We’re having Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s Thursday with my family and then again at our house with Richard’s family. Traditional items are denoted by (T). I do not have my own photos to share (yet) –I took these from websites. Click pictures to view recipes.

	To start the day off right, we’re having these sticky buns for breakfast.
My grandmother’s cornbread dressing is the best. (T)	The nut-crusted turkey breast recipe is a new one for us this year, but I am counting on it to be a “crowd” pleaser.	Sweet potato casserole has taken on many different forms in my family over the years. Typically, I like it with marshmallows and my sister likes the variation with pineapple. We usually make both. However, this year, I am sticking with the pecan/brown sugar topping. (T)
This broccoli rice casserole recipe came from my Aunt Judi and I am sure it could win an award. (T)	A few years ago, my mom and sister-in-law made homemade cranberry relish and it was delicious. I went to Aisle 2 in Kroger. (T)	The first time I made this pumpkin pie, I forgot to take the ‘wax’ paper off the pie crust,so to get to the crust of the pumpkin pie, you had to pick the paper out first. I’ve learned a few things since then.(T)

This recipe comes from the red/white Better Homes & Gardens cookbook (page 402 to be exact). Since I am making this for Thanksgiving, mine will, of course, have cut out leaves on top instead of stars.	I’m not really sure why I am making this. One year when I was single during the holidays, I got on a kick and made banana bread for other people.	I have never made this almond-cranberry number before, but it sounded de-lish, so I am going to give it a shot.	My mouth is watering just looking at this box. Mix this in your apple cider and your house will smell festive and your guest will come back for refills. By the way–this seasoning (along with many others) is made in Gillett, Arkansas.

Another traditional dish we’ll have is a strawberry salad. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a picture of it on the internet. This recipe also comes from my Aunt Judi and is equally as scrumptious as the broccoli rice casserole. There are other dishes we usually have that I am not making–such as cream cheese/jalapeño corn, Waldorf salad, and deviled eggs.

I know some of you are probably flipping out over the fact that I am not making deviled eggs, but something has to give, People. I even have a beautiful Armetale deviled egg dish that my friend, Sandi, got for us as a wedding gift. Who knows, by Wednesday, I may break down and make some deviled eggs–if for nothing else–just so I can use the dish. Also, just in case you were concerned about whether or not we are having rolls, our rolls were shamelessly purchased in the freezer section of Kroger.

Happy planning and shopping.

Well, originally this post was supposed to be about my hair, but as I was uploading the pictures my brother-in-law called and said he was in town and wanted to bring “a few” friends over. Richard and I started running around straightening up the house, started a fire in the fireplace, and I threw a batch of brownies in the oven.

Before we knew it we had 4 college students in our living room. It didn’t take long for 4 to turn into 9. It was funny to listen to them talk about the ins and outs of their new lives as college students–especially college life for students living on campus. We heard about pranks played on dorm neighbors, annoying parking tickets, professors, sleepless nights spent writing papers, the realization that 8:30 classes are too early, bonus points for coming to class on Friday, the inconvenience of walking to class on rainy days, and how small everything feels when you come back to a high school football game. To say that listening to their conversation “took me back” would certainly be an understatement.

I know they probably don’t realize the “hay day” they’re living in. I know I certainly didn’t when I was in college. I wanted to tell them to savor every moment,to study hard, and not take themselves too seriously, but I spared them the free advice because I already seemed “old” to them. FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!

I am very proud of my B.I.L. for going to college (and actually going to class), studying, working, and for having godly friends. I am so glad he brought his friends over to meet us because I was able to take a walk down memory lane, I got to see these college freshman enjoying college the way it should be enjoyed, and I had the privilege of opening my home for a few hours to these students as so many Christian couples had done for me as a college student.

We had a great evening! Although it was fun reminiscing about my college days with those freshman, I don’t wish to go back. Those 5 years were some of the best of my life, but I wouldn’t trade where I am now for anything.

Here is a picture of my B.I.L. and Richard. I’m very proud of both of them!

Mom is coming and there is a sale at Hobby Lobby on Christmas ornaments. Need I say more?!?!?!

I went to my aunt’s house for our monthly Bunco night. Good grief we had so much fun! We were much to busy to snap any pictures. I had the most losses (16) and won a cute little Christmas tree dip dish with a matching spreader! I was glad to be the loser for two reasons. #1 I got to stay at the same table which gave me an excuse to hog the baby (we have a 6 week old Bunco player–she sleeps through the screaming!) and #2 The Prize. I did get one Bunco, and my cousin, Jennifer got a couple, too. I was hoping I’d get to steal the Bunco prize from her just for fun, but her aunt stole it from her! It was an exciting night!

After the big game, Jennifer and I were looking through some pictures of us her mom had in a closet (rightfully so) from when we were younger. There were some of us wearing overalls —posing. Now that’s what I call class.