Harper Valley

Georgia On My Mind

After a week in Georgia, we're headed back home tomorrow...bright and early at 6am.  Yikes!  Well at least we'll beat the traffic (in theory).  Had a great week up here in Monroe.  My parents just bought a nice big house with a huge yard, so we had lots of room to spread out our junk.  Now we just have to find all of it so we can pack.  We did lots and lots o' stuff this week.  We gained lots of weight, enjoyed lots of libations, watched lots of football, watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Harper family tradition), built lots of fires, diffused lots of tantrums and tears, and laughed at these crazy cheerun time and time again.  Here are a few highlights....

The Apalachee River in my parents' neighborhood.

 

Avery's pine cone discovery on our nature walk.

Meagan feeding Bruce at the American Girl Bistro.  Yeah, Bruce is having a gender identity crisis.

   

Avery and Meagan watching the dolls get their hair did at the American Girl Salon. 

 

My mom and Avery at the Stone Mountain Christmas show...it "snowed."

 

Me cleaning up the ENTIRE pan of dressing that went airborne when I removed it from the oven.  Good thing we had two pans!

 

Jill and Janet at the park.

Our masterpiece gingerbread house!

 

All the cheerun with Rosco, the furry entertainment for the week. 

Uncle Greg and Hunter exploring the house.

Thumbprint Turkey Place Cards

Well we made it to Georgia in one piece...three adults and three youngins crammed into a minivan with a trailer in tow.  We had a few rough spots along the way (aka Hunter's possession by evil baby forces).  We eventually exorcised him and got back on the road.  Kidding!  Yesterday we settled in at my parents' house and then hit the local arcade/bowling alley.  Today we worked on a Thanksgiving craft for our big day --- Thumbprint Turkey Place Cards!  Avery and Meagan busted out their lil creative spirits and we knocked out 20 cards in no time.  Hope you find the time to make these this year...they're adorable, don'tcha think?

• Yellow, Orange, Red, and Brown stamp pads (or acrylic paint)
• Googly eyes
• Black marker
• White card stock
• Paint brush
• Yellow paint

Fold a piece of card stock in half to create a card (mine was 4"x6" before I folded in half).  Press pointer finger or thumb into the yellow stamp, and stamp a ring of yellow to create the turkey's tail.  Then repeat with the orange stamp, then the red stamp.  Use brown to stamp the turkey's body.  Draw feet on the turkey's body, and your guest's name at the top.  Then glue on googly eyes and paint yellow beak. 

  

Unique Christmas Gift Ideas

 

Are you looking for unique and special Christmas gifts this year?  Look no more, my friends!  Check out Bajalia Trading Company @ www.bajalia.com.  I traveled to China with Bajalia last year and had the privilege of meeting many of the folks who make these products.  They are the sweetest and most humble people!  Bajalia partners with artisans around the globe from places like India, Morocco, China, Africa and Afghanistan.  They offer them business and marketing skills, then take their products to the US market for sale.  Many of the artisans that Bajalia painters with have experienced super difficult lives, but because of Bajalia, they have the opportunity to create a new legacy for their families. 

 

And....calling all teachers!  Ever get tired of seeing those school fundraiser catalogs full of overpriced wrapping paper and cookie dough?  Bajalia recently joined forces with Great American Opportunities, a well-known school fundraising company.  Check out the flyer Download HelpingHands and contact helpinghands@gafundraising.com if your school might be interested.

 

 

Every purchase through Bajalia is another turning point in someone's formerly hopeless life.  I know this for sure because I saw them in action.  I'm heading up to GA for Thanksgiving, but I'll try to post while I'm there.  See y'all soon! 

Sweet & Spicy Almonds

I'm just full o' holiday favorites this week!  My Uncle Greg asked me for this recipe, and I'm glad he did because I kinda forgot about it.  I usually make these treats around Thanksgiving & Christmas, but they're fabulous year round.  They're the perfect amount of sweet, spice, and crunch.  Your friends and fam will scarf them down and you'll be the genius almond maker!  Guard my secret wisely.  =)

Recipe from Everyday Food magazine

 

Sweet & Spicy Almonds

• 2-1/2 cups unblanched almonds
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 tsp coarse salt
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 TBSP honey
• 1 TBSP water
• 1 tsp olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread almonds on a rimmed baking sheet.  Toast until fragrant, about 10 minutes.  While almonds are toasting, combine sugar, salt and cayenne pepper in large bowl.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook honey and water with olive oil, stirring until combined, about 1 minute.  Add almonds; toss to coat.
3. Transfer nuts to sugar mixture.  DO NOT SCRAPE EXTRA GLAZE INTO BOWL.  Toss to coat.  Cool in a single layer. 
4. Let cool completely; then store in an airtight container. These nuts will keep for up to two weeks. 

Gingerbread Martini

OK.  So I'm totally ripping off this recipe from the White Wolf Cafe.  I enjoyed a delicious dinner there tonight and an even better dessert....the Gingerbread Martini!  My friend Tyna and I quizzed our server a bit and she divulged the recipe.  I'm sure you can find them online as well.  But I thought this one sounded simple and straightforward.  I know fo sho that it tastes great. 

• 1 part vanilla vodka
• 2 parts gingerbread liqueur
• 1 to 2 parts half-n-half (to taste)
• Dash of cinnamon

Fill shaker with ice and add all ingredients.  Shake until chilled and mixed well.  Pour into martini glass and garnish with cinnamon stick if desired. 

In my "research" I also saw a recipe that called for Coffee-Mate's gingerbread creamer instead of the liqueur and cream.  You could also garnish with crumbled gingersnap cookies.

Silly Factoids About Me

 

Well folks.  It's a slow blog week here at Harper Valley.  So I thought I'd throw out a few random factoids about yours truly.  Hope you get a chuckle.

• I've jumped out of an airplane
• I once crapped my britches in public
• I grew up a PK ..that's code for preacher's kid
• My first job was boxing tomatoes in a packing house
• I sleep in my birthday suit
• I've eaten fried squirrel...multiple times
• I love flamingos!

Random Acts of Everyday Creativity

A few months ago, I shared some fun and free ideas that you could try to get your creative juices flowin!  To my original blog readers....did you try any of them?  If so, I'd love to hear about your experiments. To my new blog readers...see my "Creative Juices" post from 9/7.  I'd love to hear from you too!

I promised you more simple and interesting ideas** that you can do by yourself, with friends, with children, with your macho man..or your lovely lady!  You don't have to paint or draw to live life more creatively.  Check these out:

Project 16 - Make the perfect margarita.  Then drink one, two, three, or more.  Oh yes, lots of tests must be done.  Second, third and fourth opinions will be necessary, so invite over your crew.  There are many recipe variations for the perfect margarita, so diligent research and taste-testing is required.

Project 31 - Place new photographs in all of your picture frames.

Project 25 - Wake up.  Take a personal day.  Use the day to do that thing you've been meaning to do.  Saturdays are for laundry, errands, get-togethers, shows, all-day events.  Sundays are for waking up late, going to church, eating brunch, picnics, long-distance phone calls.  And of course weekdays are usually for work.  Personal days are yours to take, yours to make.  Use them wisely.

Project 18 - The next time you get some bad news, or you wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend/best friend gets some bad news, pop open a bottle of champagne.  Drink it.

Project 17 - Wake up at 5am.  Usually, it's about catching a plane.  But do it just to take advantage of the quiet, early morning hours.  Take a walk.  Go for a run.  Read the paper, leisurely.  Work on your novel.  Read a novel.  Write a note to a friend.  Write a long, long, entry in your journal.  Make a huge breakfast.  Just sit there, drink coffee, and watch the sun come up.

Project 21 - Take one picture every day for a month.  Either take a picture of the same scene every day at the same time for 30 days, or just god about your day and make sure to take one picture each for a month.  You could also take a picture of yourself, or someone you are close to for 30 days straight. At the end of the  month, get the film developed, put the picture in chronological order in an album.  Make a poster out of them, put them in a special box, or post them on a bulletin board.

**Ideas are adapted from the book 52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity.  This book is full of "offbeat, exploratory, artistic projects: memory inducing and life-affirming writing exercises; photographic assignments that capture the essence of fleeting moments and times that you wish could last forever; exploration of the arts - from the culinary to the literary; ideas for gifts from the heart...ideas to document and preserve the little details that make up the life you are living..."

Kirk Franklin Live!

Last night, my friend Gaybrielle and I had the privilege of experiencing a live Kirk Franklin concert.  It was off the hizzaay!  The opening act was Anthony Evans, who can belt out some gospel like nobody's bizness.  He sang with Kirk for three years and is now a solo artist.  After a few tunes by Anthony, Kirk came on and tore up the stage.  That man is hilarious!!  He bounced around like a mexican jumping bean for hours, cracked tons of jokes and spoke the truth in a truly approachable way.  And of course..his music is amazingly powerful, positive, emotional and energizing.  His six backup singers and the band are full of talent.  I literally had goosebumps most of the time. 

Kirk got completely involved with the audience throughout the show. He walked/ran around the venue several times, invited all the teenagers to come on stage, talked to a 90-year old audience member and an eight year old boy, took audience requests, and asked the audience to hug five new people that didn't look anything like themselves.  He said...if you're name's Shaniqua, then go hug someone named April...if your name is Jennifer, then hug Tyrone!  My fave part was when Orlando's New Destiny choir rushed the stage and busted out "Hosanna."  Oh. My. Lanta.  The audience went absolutely nuts!  If you've never heard Kirk's music, check it out below.  It'll make ya smile.

Download 02_hosanna.mp3

We sang.  We danced.  We held hands.  We praised.  We worked up a sweat.  We got DOWN.  It was an experience I'll not soon forget and can't wait to see him again next time!

Future Me

Have you ever wanted to dabble in "the future" but didn't have a DeLorean and 1.21 gigawatts?  Check out FutureMe.org.  On this website, you can write a letter to your future self and send it on any day you choose...even five or ten years from now!  What advice would you give your future self?  What would you want to know?  What dream would you hope to become a reality?  What would you encourage yourself to let go of...or strive for?  Try it.  It's free and it's kewl.