Snow Day!

As I write this we are in the midst of a “Catastrophic Ice Storm Event,” at least that’s what Glenn Burns calls it and I believe everything Glenn Burns says. I mean he is an Atlanta institution and he, along with Karen Minton (who is 60, by the way – doesn’t she look great for 60?) are the dream team of meteorologists. As of right now, everything they have told us would happen, has happened. We got some snow yesterday, then it stopped. Then it started raining/snowing last night. However, supposedly, there is ice on the way, and that is going to be the “catastrophic part.” I’m just praying my family gets home safe. D and E are both at the store because we apparently have adopted the postal system’s motto “neither snow, nor rain or gloom of night” will keep us from providing groceries to our community. While we don’t think that most folks will get out and get groceries (surely not), we do know that the emergency workers, police and fire responders as well as power company employees and others who are working out in this might need food. We will provide for them as long as possible today and tomorrow. Our store managers and some employees have stayed in local hotels. D and E have been picking up employees in G’s 4-wheel drive vehicle most of the morning. They’ll take them back home tonight. It’s just what we do. 

Well, if all had gone as planned, I would have finished my “talk” to the Commerce Club by now and that would be a done deal. But our meeting was cancelled and I’m rescheduled for March. The only problem with that whole scenario is that my talk was on Valentine’s Day. So I now have no idea what I’ll talk about in March. Somehow talking about all things Valentines might not pack the same punch in March. I’ll have to give that some thought. 

So let’s talk about the weekend, E and I had so much fun on Saturday preparing for E’s good friend Ashley’s baby shower. We made tissue paper pom-poms, pennants, cute tags for the favors, as well as the punch, food and more food. It was a blast and I loved being crafty with my girl. The shower was precious. E really did a great job of pulling it all together with a fun and decorative touch. After the shower on Sunday, D and I went to our Sunday School Valentine’s Party. We had the best time with the best friends. It was so much fun! We played charades with a “love song, movie or book” theme and I’m proud to report that D and I came in next to last place out of a group of about 15 couples. Apparently, charades is not our strong suit. 

Monday I was preparing for the upcoming storm, which meant I was grocery shopping and cooking. I made several things to take to my momma Monday night so she would have plenty to eat just in case we couldn’t get out. So today has been spent enjoying the beauty of the snow; cooking sausage and grits for breakfast; and baking Toffee Blondies for a snack. I’m thinking now I’ll finish my book, “When Wallflowers Dance” in preparation for next week’s ladies retreat. Then I’m going to tackle some paper work (maybe) and then I’m going to get in the kitchen. This weather just makes me want to cook more than usual. You know, a snow day isn’t a bad thing as long as it comes along only once a year. Stay safe and warm out there.  

Top Ten Things to Do on a Snow Day

1. Read, of course, by the fire.
2. Cook. I made about four different dishes yesterday and what a treat for my family.
3. Play cards and games. We played Uno yesterday but we are breaking out Battleship, Clue and Trouble today.
4. Do laundry. I am completely caught up on all of our laundry and that is a great feeling.
5. Play in the snow. We got out yesterday and built a snow man. We can't find our sled so G was pretty disappointed about that but I told him that there's always the cookie sheet method. He was not persuaded.
6. Watch HGTV and the Food Network. If it weren't for these two channels, daytime television wouldn't be worth watching. So thankfully there is House Hunters, Color Splash, Paula, Sandra and Rachel to keep me good company on a cold day.
7. Drink hot chocolate and spiced tea. We have kept a cup of one or the other in our hands at all times.
8. Start that organization project. Maybe.
9. Really talk to my family. There's nothing like being in the house together to cause you to have some really good conversations, and we have. I read this quote yesterday, "God gives you a time out from life sometimes, it's called a snow day."
10. Be reminded of God's goodness: I also read yesterday that snow is the reminder that someday we'll be cloaked with robes of white.
"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9-10

Snow and Inaugural Day!

Well, here in the great state of Georgia three monumental things happened today:
1. Snow along with freezing rain blanketed north Georgia - 6 1/2 inches at our house.
2. Our friend, Nathan Deal was sworn in as the 82nd governor of our state. Yes, we were supposed to be there for the Swearing-In and yes, I would be putting on my new dress and shoes right about now to sashay over to Philips Arena for the Inaugural Gala but . . . it wasn't meant to be. We hear that The Gala will be rescheduled sometime in the spring so I will in fact get to wear that "expensive" ball gown I told you about after all.
3. All of my family including G's sweet girl were under my roof last night. This doesn't happen often at all so I sure do enjoy it when it does. If things had gone as planned, we were all six going to go to the Inaugural Festivities today. Instead, some of us played in the snow; played cards; and overall, just had a great time being together. So, all things considered, it has been a good day. It will really be a good day when D and G get back home after being out taking employees home. Yes, we opened one store. And it was packed. I guess some folks didn't believe the weather experts when they started predicting this last week.

I've just got to share one thing before I go in there to make Macho Nachos. Nachos are in order because there is a HUGE football game going on tonight and we are gonna watch those SEC boys kick some football butt. Oh, excuse me, I got sidetracked.

On Friday, after we finished up the What's for Supper? segment, BJ asked me if I could do something "inaugural specific" for today's recipe because they were going to devote the show to that topic. At first, I thought, how in the WORLD would I create a recipe that is "inaugural specific." But I said sure I would just like I knew what I was going to do. So I thought and thought and thought some more and then about 3:00 Saturday afternoon, it came to me. So I ran to the JandJ, got all of the ingredients for my creation and hoped and prayed that it would be edible once I made it. Because if it wasn't, I really didn't have a plan B. Thankfully, it was edible and more, if I do say so myself.

So . . . in honor of Gov. Deal's inauguration and the great state of Georgia, I humbly submit my recipe:

Gov. Deal's Georgia Stuffed "Cut the Pork" Chops

Ingredients:
2 cups packaged cornbread stuffing mix
½ cup finely chopped pecans
8 ounces diced peaches, undrained
6 tablespoons hot water
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 bone-in center loin pork chops (1 inch thick)
½ cup peach preserves
½ cup creamy peanut butter
1tablespoon Dijon mustard
Directions:
1. In a small bowl, combine the stuffing mix, pecans, peaches, water and butter. Cut a pocket in each pork chop by slicing almost to the bone. Stuff with the peach mixture and secure with wooden toothpicks. Place in an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray.
2. Combine preserves, peanut butter and mustard; spread over chops. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 15-20 minutes or until meat juices run clear.

By the way, I'm available to go to the Governors Mansion and make this dish for the folks down there if they want me to. I'm just sayin.'

It's a Snowy Day in Georgia

Yesterday, mid-afternoon, I got a call from one of my favorite people, E's mother-in-law, BW. Sidenote: When your children get married it is a fact that you inherit in-laws and you've got to admit, you just never know. Well, D and I were blessed beyond measure when not only did E marry a fine young man, she married a fine family. So when I saw BW on the caller ID, I could hardly wait to talk to her. Then I remembered . . . she and her entire family, including E and her husband where preparing to board a ship in Florida to cruise the Caribbean for the next few days. I know, I know . . . seriously, did I really want to talk to her at this moment? But I love her dearly, so I answered the phone.
What she called to tell me (among a few other things) was that her husband and son (E's husband) were quite distraught at the prospect of several inches of snow in Georgia and that they would not be here to witness it. Now granted, it is a rare day when Georgia sees snow but really? And since they would be suffering down on the sea and in the 75 degree sunshine, basking on a chaise lounge, having their drinks delivered with little umbrellas in them, eating delicious food at every turn, not cooking, cleaning or working . . . would they really miss the snow? Yes, she said, but she had give them a talkin' to and according to her, it was better. But yes, they are officially missing the Blizzard of 2010 - Georgia style.

So Caribbean cruisers, when y'all dock and can get internet, especially N and his dad - See What You're Missing!!!