New Year's Snowmen

Happy New Year!  One of my traditions is to take down all of our Christmas decorations.  Great tradition right?  Actually, that's not my real New Year's tradition although that does lead to the real one.  My tradition is that I take out all my snowmen and replace the Christmas decorations with the snowmen.

The house used to feel so empty after the Christmas decorations came down.  Now I fill little nooks with snowmen and snowflakes.  It's a celebration of winter!

"Lo, sifted through the winds that blow, down comes the soft and silent snow, white petals from the flowers that grow in the cold atmosphere."  -George W. Bungay

Link for Theater Make Up Application

My daughter and I were in a production of Willy Wonka this weekend.  She was an oompa loompa and I was Grandma Josephine.  My daughter's costume was simple:  silly tights, a bright t-shirt, white shoes and then little knickers made by our fabulous costume designer Christine.  My costume wasn't exactly complicated:  a grandma nightie, wool socks, a wig, mop hat and glasses.  It was the make up that was complicated.  I had to turn my 46 year old face into an 80+ year old face.

Thank goodness for friends who like You Tube!  I asked two friends who apply make up as a profession if they knew how to do stage make up.  One did but was going to be out of town.  The other didn't but gave me a fabulous link to a "how to" on You Tube.  http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DlPs3PBNd22U%26playnext%3D1%26list%3DPL53AE8D80FF0A1616%26feature%3Dresults_main&h=XAQE75o9S  This link has how to make your eyes, nose, forehead, etc. into a wrinkly old lady!

Here are before and after pictures of me!

This was a great link and I highly recommend it to anyone who needs to apply theater make up!  It sure made my anxiety level go down knowing that I looked old not hideous!

"I know very little about acting.  I'm just an incredibly gifted faker."  -Robert Downey Jr.

Easy Cheesy Potato Recipe

This holiday season we have had to bring dishes to multiple pot lucks.  With our busy schedules besides, I didn't want and couldn't bring dishes that required a lot of fussy work in the kitchen.  It also had to be something that tasted good and appealed to kids as well as adults. 

I have the perfect potato recipe that "fits the bill".  Here are the ingredients:  half 'n half, parmesan cheese, butter and shredded potatoes.

Put the entire package of shredded potatoes in a baking dish.

Melt one stick of butter in three cups of half 'n half.

Once the butter is melted, pour the mixture over the potatoes.

Sprinkle on one cup of shredded parmesan cheese over the top.

Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for an hour.

After an hour, remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes before serving.

This dish is great reheated alone or with ham mixed into it.  We added some leftover smoked pork chops and it was quite the decadent meal!

"What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow."  -A.A. Milne

Great Knitting Website

Just a quick blog since we had our first Willy Wonka performance tonight and I am exhausted!  Before going to bed though, I wanted to check out one of my new favorite websites.  If you are a knitter and you are looking for some new FREE patterns check out, www.purlbee.com.

I have never been to a site that has so many free patterns.  They also have great instructional pictures.  There are sewing and crochet patterns.  You can use the site to shop for yarn and books too.  So many great things on this website!  Happy Knitting!

"These days, knitting and crocheting clothing, accessories and home decor items is as much a sanity saver or a social outlet as they are a creative effort."  -Kate Walsh

Willy Wonka Performance

Willy Wonka opening night is tomorrow night at Totino Grace High School in Fridley, MN.  Both my daughter and I are in the performance - she is an oompa loompa and I am Grandma Josephine.  There are still tickets available for tomorrow night's performance.  It begins at 7pm and you can get tickets at the door.  They are $10 for adults and $7 for students.  There are also tickets available for Sunday's 2pm performance.  The production is put on by a local dance studio with students and members of the community in the cast.  Come and support your local arts community!!

Moore Than Dance will be putting on their own production of 

Willy Wonka! 

Don't miss out on the opportunity to see this Scrumdidilyumptious production
Mark your calendars for Friday, December 28th 7:00 pm
and Sunday, December 30th at 2:00 pm!

Tickets are available at the studio.

WILLY WONKA CAST LIST

Charlie ………………………………………………………………………………………………………Olivia Huseonica

Willy Wonka…………………………………………………………………………………………….......Reagan Lee

Grandpa Joe……………………………………………………………………………………………..…..William Huseonica

Grandma Josephine………………………………………………………………………………………….Jo Newman-Bosak

Grandpa George……………………………………………………………………………………………..Joel Hoogeem

Grandma Georgina…………………………………………………………………………………………..Mary Simms

Mr. Bucket…………………………………………………………………………………………………...John Rehlander

Mrs. Bucket……………………………………………………………………………………………….....Kim Huseonica

Mrs. Teevee………………………………………………………………………………………………….Mickey Stevens

Mike Teevee…………………………………………………………………………………………………Dylan Schofield

Mrs. Gloop…………………………………………………………………………………………………...Janet Mondloh

Augustus Gloop……………………………………………………………………………………………...Duncan Reyburn

Mr. Salt………………………………………………………………………………………………………Fred Steinman

Veruca Salt…………………………………………………………………………………………………...Payton West

Violet Beauregarde…………………………………………………………………………………………...Hanna McLevish

Mrs. Beauregarde……………………………………………………………………………………………..Jodi Rehlander

Candy Man……………………………………………………………………………………………………Zach Hime

Phinneus Trout…………………………………………………………………………………....….Tori Dobias/Emelie Tomas

Ensemble including Oompa Loompas
Olivia Ambuhl * Jacqueline Tomas * Lulu Schirmacher *  Rebecca Talbot  * Bella West*  Maija Kelly-Salo
 Marguerite Anderson *  Calvin Huseonica * Kendra Kowal  * Helena Huseonica  *  Amy Walus * Natalie Hawkinson* Joe Junkert *     Allison Chaffee* Hannah Bosak  * Anaya Boseman * Aria Ruback *  Kadence Ruback *  Avery Roepke*  Hannah Roepke*    Hannah Bosak  * Zoe Scheck * Hannah Hoogheem * Emma Willcox * Cameron Willcox * Kaylee Sharpe *                                              Ashlee Sharpe  *  Brooke Scullen *Chloe Lutterman * Abigail Plaisance * Kallie Schuchard*

 

 

"With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it.  There has to be, otherwise it's just not acting.  It's lying."  -Johnny Depp

 

 

Great Place for Outdoor Activities

If you are looking for something fun to do either with or without children during holiday break, check out Three Rivers Park District:  Elm Creek Park Reserve.  They have snow tubing, sliding, cross country skiing, down hill skiing and snowboarding.  You can bring your own equipment for skiing and snowboarding or rent from the park.  There is a nice chalet with a food service and many tables and chairs for seating.  On busy days, the parking lots by the chalet fill up quickly but there is a shuttle that runs continually from the "back" parking lots and it is only a short ride.

Sledding is free but you will need a daily or season pass for the other activities.  My boys both have season passes for snowboarding.  The passes cost $199 a piece but are well worth the investment.  A daily pass for snowboarding costs $15.  In order for the season pass to pay for itself, my boys would only have to snowboard 13 1/2 times for the season.  Last week, my oldest son was there 7 times and this is only the start of the season!

Elm Creek also has spring, summer and fall activities.  My middle son's favorite is disc golf and I love the running paths.  My oldest son likes the man-made swimming pond.  They also rent out the chalet for events - like weddings.  Check out their website for more details:  www.threeriversparks.org (click on Parks & Trails and then choose Elm Creek Park Reserve under Popular Parks).

Get out and enjoy the weather - embrace ALL seasons!!!!

"But I love to be outdoors.  I prefer being outdoors to, you know, being inside."  -Keith Carradine

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  Take time to look for a beautiful sunset today and every day!

"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creater."  -Mahatma Gandhi

Scalloped Corn Recipe

I got this recipe for Scalloped Corn from my friend Libby.  It's super east and a crowd pleaser.  I always make it for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinners.  Here are the ingredients and steps needed to make this yummy dish.  

The ingredients needed are as follows:  15 oz. can of whole corn, 15 oz. can of creamed corn, 5 oz. evaporated milk, buttery cracker, onion......

 Swiss cheese......

 and 2 eggs.

 Stir the eggs to break apart the yolk.

 To the eggs, add the 5 oz. evaporated milk.

 Next, add the creamed corn.

 Drain the 15 oz. whole corn, reserving 1/4 cup of the liquid.

 Add the liquid to the corn, milk, egg mixture

 Then add the whole corn.

 Chop and add 1/4 cup of onions.

 Melt the butter and add to the other ingredients.

 Crush the buttery crackers - enough to make 2 cups.

Add them to the corn.

 Lastly, pour in 2 cups of Swiss cheese and stir well to incorporate all of the ingredients.

 Bake it in a a 325 degree oven for an hour or until the middle is set.

This recipe easily feeds 12 people and can be put together in about 15 minutes.  I use the hour baking time to get a whole bunch of other things done!

"Vegetables are a must on a diet.  I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie."  -Jim Davis

Nice Luncheon Outing in St.Cloud,MN

I spent the day with my mom, sister and my sister's mother-in-law in St. Cloud, MN.  We were there to see "Away in the Basement with the Church Basement Ladies" at the Paramount.  Before the performance, however we ate lunch out at D.B. Sharif's, a bar/restaurant in downtown St. Cloud.  We ate in the bar as the restaurant is closed on Sundays but we were able to order from the restaurant menu.

The food was very good and the friendly service made made for a very pleasant ladies afternoon out.  We started with salad and walleye cakes.  I was able to get a picture of my salad but we dove into the delicious walleye cakes faster than I could get my camera ready!

We each had a different entree - portabello mushroom ravioli, chicken pot pie, reuben with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable pasta with a cream sauce.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our lunches and even shared a few bites with each other.  It's definitely a place I will return to.

"There is nothing better on a cold wintry day, than a properly made pot pie."  -Craig Claiborne

Papaya Salsa Recipe

I love to make salsa from scratch.  Tomato salsa is good but papaya salsa is great.  It's good with chips but also works well with fish and chicken.  It's easy to make and oh, so good.

Here is the recipe.

Take a papaya or two or three.......

and 1/2 cup of red onion.......

and dice them and put them in a bowl.

To the onion and papaya, add 2 cloves of garlic,

3 Tablespoons of rice or cider vinegar,

2 teaspoons of hot sauce,

2 teaspoons of sugar,

1/2 teaspoon of salt,

and 1/4 cup of cilantro.

Mix and.......

ENJOY!

"Food is for eating, and good food is to be enjoyed...  I think food is, actually, very beautiful in itself."  -Delia Smith

A Great Hostess Gift

I have a great idea for a hostess gift.  I found a place called The Oilerie in Maple Grove, MN.  They have many, many flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  Each oil and vinegar is in what looks like  a coffee urn.  There are little cups for tasting each variety. 

The staff is very knowledgeable in each variety and is ready to give suggestions for use of the oil and vinegar.  They even offer recipes.  When you find an oil or vinegar that you wish to purchase, a staff member will fill a bottle for you, seal it and label it.  I bought a lemon flavored extra virgin olive oil (suggested to be used with chicken, fish or salad).

They also have really cute gift bags.

Check out their literature......

And their website:  www.oilerie.com/maplegrove.php.  I can't wait to go back when I have more time to browse/taste!

"Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy.  And cooking done with care is an act of love."  -Craig Claiborne

A Few of My Favorite Children's Books

I have a huge collection of Children's Books.  I started this collection long before I had my own children and it has grown and grown every year - especially after being blessed with three great kids!  I thought I'd share some of my favorite picture books in case someone is still in need of a Christmas gift suggestion.  I think books are a wonderful gift!

I really like books by Audrey Wood and David Wood.  The pictures are life-like and the stories read like poems.  Here are two of my favorites.

 Corduroy was a book I loved to check out at the library when I was little.  It's still a favorite and one my daughter loved to have read to her.  It's a sweet story of bear in store who nobody wants because he's missing a button on his overalls.  The story has a very sweet ending.

This next book I gave to my daughter's school library in honor of her kindergarten teacher.  It's a story about standing up for yourself and remembering that we all have something special about us to make us unique.  Her teacher was always making sure each one of her students knew how special they were.

David Shannon has authored some really funny "David" books which appeal to boys.  This one is written with girls in mind - those who wish to be a fairy.  It's funny and the pictures are childlike and vibrant.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a sentimental story about a little raccoon who is scared to leave his mom for his first day at school.  She kisses the palm of his hand and........  I don't want to ruin the ending!

This is my daughter's all time favorite book.  She had it read to her for the first time at camp at the Minnesota Children's Museum.  It's about a mother dog who really wants her son George to BARK.  He does everything but bark.  He quacks, he moos......  It's a cute book with a funny ending.

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson came in handy when teaching my boys about friendship.  To quote the summary on the book jacket, "....one little boy learns an effective recipe for turning a best enemy into a best friend".

Books by Jan Brett are works of art.  Each page is beautifully illustrated and brightly colored.  I have all of the books she has written and illustrated.  I often display one of them on a little easel on my book shelf.  This book, The Mitten,  is about a little boy who loses his mitten in the forest and it is found, and shared by many animals, big and small. 

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming is my middle son's favorite Children's Book.  I read it to his preschool class on his birthday 9 years ago!  It's about a farmer who has trouble with some rabbits and goes to great lengths to keep them out of his garden.

The last book recommendation I have is The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant.  This book is special to me because it reminds me of when we used to travel to see family when I was a child.  We'd drive long distances then sleep wherever there was room and have a great time with these people we loved and who loved us - just like the characters in this book. 

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves."  -Anna Quindlen