On the Menu at The BamaSteelMagnolia’s Bistro–Stir Fried Pork with Honey, Ginger and Lime

Today I’m sharing a new Chinese stir fry over at The BamaSteelMagnolia’s Bistro. Chinese New Year started on Jan. 23 and it just happened to coincide with a strong hankering Tall & Handsome and I had for Chinese. T & H gave Stir Fried Pork with Honey, Ginger and Lime a thumbs up, so we’ll probably be having it again.

My First Poppy, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Years ago I was a horticulture major…at least that was one of my courses of studies. I was a few hours short of an AA degree when the ex, Gomez had a car wreck and broke his neck. Being the loving wife that I was, I dropped out of school to take care of him while he recuperated.

I was repaid handsomely years later when he walked out on our son’s 21st birthday, clean out the bank accounts and took up with his wealthy co-worker girlfiend girlfriend Morticia (hand to God, that was their code name for each other).

Of course by then, I had survived non-smoking lung cancer twice, developed Sjogren’s syndrome, fibromyalgia and other chronic health issues. (Gee, kinda sounds like something ripped out of today’s political headlines vis a vie Newt and Callista.)

My green thumb seems to be a genetic thing from my Momma’s side of the family. There have been garden putters in our family for years. Because of health reasons I can’t do vigorous gardening, but a couple of years ago with the help of my Tall & Handsome we did some container gardening. Along with some herbs and veggies, I grew ornamentals. Today’s picture is one I took of my first poppy. It was enchanting…even if it was for a short while…

So, some bright color for a winter’s day…

© 2012 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.

Christmas with the Family 2011, by Beverly Hicks Burch

There is no way another Christmas has come and gone…but it has!

Even though I was feeling a little peaked I threw on a few clothes (no, I didn’t say I threw up on a few clothes, but given the state of my stomach on Christmas Day, that certainly could have been an option), added just a touch of makeup (and boy, do the pictures reflect that! In one picture I look like Marty Feldman; that picture is for private use only, like in the bottom of the trash can) and rallied for the cause. I had to see my little sweet pea, Abbi! A bright spot of my holiday she was!

One thing I noticed in the pictures…I am still very prone to sitting cross-legged Indian style…even with fibro, OE, connective tissue disorders and the other little “nifty” issues like I deal with.

Few years ago my doctor diagnosed me with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome  after he saw how flexible I still can be even though I have such terrible and chronic joint pain.

What this means is the collagen is breaking down in my joints. It causes a whole array of symptoms (including migraines) and pain. My doctor looked at T & H and said, “ Women who have this are usually like race horses and Porsches. They were/are really good looking when they’re young, very flexible, but as they get older the disorder causes them many health problems and high maintenance. I’d never been compared to a race horse or a high end car before…I guess that’s guy speak for “you got yourself a thorough breed”…

Anyway, the end result is, I can still sit Indian style. In some of the pictures I look like a Marty Feldman on stumps…all squash up into one place…it is an optical illusion people! There are legs still attached to my body! I promise!

Anyway, here’s just a glimpse of Christmas 2011 with the family…

Momma and Daddy’s tree

The Nativity

Mom’s Christmas Table’

Santa & Spode

I love my little cheese ball server – a snowman of course!

Grillmeister Tall & Handsome – that’s a grilled turkey leg he’s holding

Hello, my name is adorable to the bone!

Let’s get this party started…

For my sweet little sugarplum

Unpacking doll house furniture with Aunt Bev

Aunt Bev, how much do you think this look is worth? If cutting out my heart and auctioning it on eBay, Amazon or beezid.com counts…then it’s SOLD!

Abbi practicing her retail sales skills. Can you tell she’s the center the family revolves around? (And, yes, I do have legs!!)

Oh and have I mentioned how much I adore and love my niece?

 

© 2012 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved

Home for the Holidays: Some of My Favorite Things, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Today’s post will continue the Home for the Holidays spirit I started the other day. I shared the over all effect in the first post and then in another post shared some of the holiday quilts I’ve made over the years and use just for this time of the year.

Every time I pull out my decorations it’s like seeing old friends again. This year it was more so because some of my decorations have been packed up unused for years. As I pulled out each new found old friend I would go, “Ohhhh, hello old friend!!”

At one point Tall & Handsome asked, “Did I hear you say what I thought you said?”

I asked, “Well, what did you think I said?”

“Hello old friend.”

“Yep, you heard right then.”

He just chuckled…

Today I thought I’d share some of my favorite things…decorations and ornaments and such. In 1974 I started collecting a dated ornament for each year. I’ve also collected Christmas ornaments from places I’ve traveled to…Christmas ornaments and fabric are my favorite souvenirs. I figure they beat ceramic ashtrays and shot glasses any day!

I have the satin ballerina slippers from the Biltmore Estate, the teddy bear from Hershey, PA; and the bell tree from Faneuil Square in Boston.

Then of course there are my old friends from Hallmark. Each year marks a milestone in my life. The year my son was born, the year I moved one place or another, the year T & H and I married and so on… I guess you could say in a way my favorite things form a type of diary of my life.

So, just before Santa arrives…here are a few of my favorite things…

This marks the beginning of The Twelve Days of Christmas…A Partridge in a Pear Tree

From the Hallmark Here Comes Santa series – this is the first or second in the series which started in 1979

Third in the Hallmark Here Comes Santa Series

A baking Nutcracker and another in the Here Comes Santa series…this time a stagecoach

This is one of my favorite of the Here Comes Santa series…the Ice Cream Vendor

Another Here Comes Santa favorite – Santa and the handcar

This was the last in the Here Comes Santa series

A hot air balloon to remind T & H of New Mexico, a Southern Colonial that’s part of Hallmark’s Nostalgic Building series and one of the satin ballet slippers from the Biltmore Estate

Father Christmas (series) and a Schnauzer in a Stocking

A Woodpecker from the the Hallmark bird series and a blown glass lighthouse

My lovely Blue Jay

On the left, the Bell Tree from Boston…and one of my Hallmark lighthouse ornaments

Of course no tree of mine would be complete without a snowman…or two…three

Father Christmas

God Bless America

This little bell has been on every tree of mine since I was a toddler.

The daily dishes from Thanksgiving until my birthday…a yearly tradition

Snowmen just turn up everywhere

The gift bearer – the year Tall & Handsome moved to Alabama he placed this Godiva bear under my Christmas tree. In the bear’s back pouch was an engagement gift…a beautiful garnet and diamond pendant he had purchased in Santa Fe.

and just for fun…

Tall & Handsome when he was Short & Cute while living in Germany…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! And God Bless us all…

 

© 2011 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved

 

On the Menu at The BamaSteelMagnolia’s™ Bistro–Reggie’s Brined and Grilled Turkey

Today I’m sharing the recipe for Reggie’s Brined and Grilled Turkey over at The BamaSteelMagnolia’s™ Bistro. Reggie prepared it for Thanksgiving this year and just may do it again Christmas. Click on over and check it out in case you’d like to try it for Christmas this year.

 

Reggie’s Brined and Grilled Turkey

On the menu at The BamaSteelMagnolia’s™ Bistro–Stovetop Chili Mac and Bananas Foster Upside Down Cake

Yep, you read that right…Banana Foster Upside Down Cake. I have one word for it…well, maybe two: Turkish delight.

The Stovetop Chili Mac hit the spot on a cold December night. Click on over and take a look at both the recipes and enjoy!!

At Around the Block with The BamaSteelMagnolia™: Home For the Holidays–Quilts at Christmas

Today I continue Home for the Holidays by sharing some of the Christmas quilts, I’ve made over the years. I’m sharing one here, but for more detail on these quilts and the many others I use at Christmas click on over to Home for the Holidays – Quilts at Christmas.

 

Home For the Holidays, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Tall & Handsome and I both are hopeless when it comes to the holidays. The decorations, the music, the kitschy movies, the food, and the festivities.

I’m normally a “gonzo” Christmas decorator. All in good taste of course…

Well, the last few years T & H and I have had very little opportunity to partake in our shared love of Christmas gone wild… Many times our things were packed up and unavailable…we were living out of state…just a whole cornucopia of things stopping us.

Well, not this year!

Despite my warning him that his back would never heal, T & H insisted on decorating a few days ago…and we did.

It now looks like Christmas done “Bev lite”, but it still looks like Santa’s elves were busy spreading cheer and we are enjoying it!

I’ll share a few things with you including some of my dated ornaments I’ve been collecting since 1974. I also try and pick up a Christmas ornaments as a souvenir when ever I take a trip…just to have a reminder of that place and time.

And, so…Home for Christmas!

The tree in the living room

Another view of the living room tree

The Grandfather Clock

Christmas Greeters

The Fireplace

When I was a toddler I began a love affair with all things snowmen…that’s my buddy Frosty on the ground…

Today’s Frosty

The stockings are hung…

Christmas Magic

Living Room Bookcases

Merry Christmas blocks I made years ago…they reverse to Happy New Year

The Hallmark Sara Plain and Tall Village

Santa and his Reindeer

Santa’s Train

For Santa

Holiday Character Mugs

Christmas Heritage snow globe

Dining Room Tree

Miniature Hallmark Tree

Christmas Carousal

Tomorrow and the next day I’ll try and share some more…some of my favorite things…ornaments and Christmas quilts.

Merry Christmas to all…

 

© 2011 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved

 

On the Menu at The BamaSteelMagnolia’s™ Bistro: Roasted Apple–Curry Chicken, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Today were serving up a delicious roasted chicken over at The BamaSteelMagnolia’s™ Bistro. Click on over for Roasted Apple – Curry Chicken.

Educating Your Doctor (& Others) About Fibromyalgia

How true…how true… Another great article concerning fibromyalgia and dealing with the Neanderthals around us who don’t believe in fibromyalgia or know nothing about it.

Educating Your Doctor (& Others) About Fibromyalgia.