Vignettes of 2011

 You crown the year with your bounty, 

   and your carts overflow with abundance
Psalm 65:11

Philly with the NY Kids

 It was blustery and windy but bright and sunny as we walked down Market Street

 The Holiday light show in the old John Wanamaker's building (Now Macy's)

From Wikipedia:Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States.

John Wanamaker, the founder of the store that bears his name, was unable to join the U.S. Army during theAmerican Civil War because of a persistent cough. Having been rejected from war duty, he ventured into business with his brother-in-law, Nathan Brown. In 1861, they founded a men's clothing store in Philadelphia called Oak Hall. Wanamaker carried on the business alone after Brown's death in 1868. In 1876, Wanamaker purchased the abandoned Pennsylvania Railroad station for use as a new, larger retail location. The concept was to renovate the terminal into a "Grand Depot" similar to London's Royal Exchange or Paris's Les Halles—two central markets, and forerunners of the modern department store, that were well-known in Europe at that time.

The Wanamaker's Grand Depot opened in time to service the public visiting Philadelphia for the American Centennial Exposition of 1876, and in fact resembled one of the many pavilions at that world's fair because of its fanciful new Moorish facade. In 1877 the interior of Wanamaker's was refurbished and expanded to include not only men's clothing, but women's clothing and dry goods as well

Wanamaker first thought of how he would run a store on new principles when, as a youth, a merchant refused his request to exchange a purchase. A practicing Christian, he chose not to advertise on Sundays. Before he opened his Grand Depot for retail business, he let evangelist Dwight L. Moody use its facilities as a meeting place, while Wanamaker provided 300 ushers from his store personnel. His retail advertisements—the first to be copyrighted beginning in 1874—were factual, and promises made in them were kept.

Wanamaker guaranteed the quality of his merchandise in print, allowed his customers to return purchases for a cash refund and offered the first restaurant to be located inside a department store. Wanamaker also invented the price tag.

His employees were to be treated respectfully by management (including not being scolded in public), and John Wanamaker & Company offered its employees access to the John Wanamaker Commercial Institute, as well as free medical care, recreational facilities, profit sharing plans, and pensions—long before these types of benefits were considered standard in corporate employment.

Innovation and "firsts" marked Wanamaker's. The store was the first department store with electrical illumination (1878), first store with a telephone (1879), and the first store to install pneumatic tubes to transport cash and documents (1880)

There is so much more to learn about John Wanamaker and the department store.  Follow link to read complete Wikipedia article.

Another visit to 1840 Victorian London streets to walk through
Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol at Macy's.
Click above photo for larger viewing

 Abbey and Jared, as always, having fun

 We walked to the Reading Terminal Market ~ an amazing place!

Notice the gigantic wild shrimp in the center-left photo!  They were bigger than the super jumbo and $26.99 a pound.

I had Shaela hold up her hand to try and show just how big these were.

The cold weather didn't stop us from enjoying some ice-cream.

We shivered as we ate it but ice-cream is so worth it.

Lots of giggles along the way

At home, Rudy had a blast instigating Raider. Raider complained and tattled on Rudy.
'He's bothering me!"

2011 Craft/Project Recap

1.  Knitted Cowl
2. Crocheted Pup/Child Scarf
3. Mosaic Heart
4. Tiny Crocheted Heart for Note Cards
5. Valentine's Day Crochet Heart Garland
6. Bird Feeder Wreath
7. Personalized Book Marks
8. Paper Flower Pencil Can
9. Paper Flower Covered Oatmeal Container
10. Stamped Roses for Valentine's Day
11. Folded paper German Stars
12. Wire Nest Pendant
13. Re-purposed Curtains for Patio
14. Curb Find Becomes Garden Screen
15. Jewelry/Necklace Organizer
16. Twig Wreath with Fabric Flowers
17. Personalized Story Book for Shaela
18. Birthday Party Butterfly Cupcakes and Decorations
19. Flower Ice-Cream Sundae Birthday Craft
20. Crocheted Boutique Purses for Granddaughters
21. More Boutique Purses
22. Crocheted Spa Cotton Washcloths and Scrubbers
23. Crocheted Bird Hats
24. Blue Bird Hat
25. Crocheted Wreath Gift Tag

Linking to 

Potpourri Friday @2805

Turkey Wild Rice Soup

Turkey Wild Rice Soup

A Christmas Day Dinner tradition

Print Recipe

2 (10 3/4-oz) cans condensed chicken broth OR 6-cups chicken broth/stock and omit water

2 cups water (omit if using chicken stock)
1/2 cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed

1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups half-and-half (I use fat free half-and-half)
1 1/2 cups cubed, cooked, turkey or chicken
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
1 tbs. chopped pimento
2 to 3 Tbs. dry sherry, if desired

I large saucepan, combine chicken broth and water. Add wild rice and green onions; cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover simmer 35-40 minutes or until rice is tender.

Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In medium saucepan, melt butter: stir in flour, salt, poultry seasoning and pepper. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly; until smooth and bubbly.

Gradually stir in half-and-half; cook until slightly thickened; stirring constantly.

Slowly add half-and-half mixture into rice mixture; stirring constantly.
Add remaining ingredients

Heat gently, stirring frequently; do not boil. Garnish each serving with additional green onion and bacon.

NOTE:  You can tell this is an old recipe because I don't think Campbell's makes cans of condensed chicken broth any more.

“Come join SoupaPalooza at TidyMom and Dine and Dishsponsored by KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset”

Linking to:
Tutorial Tuesday @Hope Studios
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @Blessed With Grace
What's Cooking Wednesday @The Kings Court IV
Countdown to 2012 @Finding Joy in My Kitchen
Look What I Made Wednesday @Creations by Kara
Foodie Friday @Designs by Gollum

With Family

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 

 Giving thanks to God for sending His Son for us

 Christmas Eve Cousin time

 The big kids

 together

 taking turns reading the Christmas Story before bed

 Christmas Morning

 Snuggle time

 Jamie Josh and their children (with one on the way)

Keri Noah Silas Caleb Cambrie

 Jill and Brad and their children, Ryan, Brenna and Shaela

 Erin and Jared ~ Me and John

 Silas Shaela Cambrie and Aunt Abbey

boys in hats & chocolate wand pretzels

Our Family