#20 - 20th Christmas Tree post, the Christmas Story

Manger scene, live by little children 

What you see is a beginning scenario of the Biblical Christmas story put on by the children of our church at 4PM yesterday, Christmas Eve Candlelight service.  

The characters took the stage category of the folks at the birth of the Baby Jesus.  It began with Mary, center woman, standing by her 'husband', Joseph, as she picks up the baby from the manger in which He was born.  You may remember the song that children love to sing, "Away in a Manger," we sang it in grade school at Nebraska. 

Then up the isle beside our seats came the two shepherds, taking their place next to Joseph on the right, followed by four sheep siting on the floor in front.   Then up the isle cam the three angels to station on the left.  

Finally there three wisemen, here to be on the left but the Bible, book of Matthew, says that Jesus and his parents were in their home for the wisemen visit.  The group stayed for much singing.  The scene above the manger group is a projection that stayed for much of the program but was replaced by the lyrics of the songs when the congregation was to sing.  

The children left after the singing and would be replaced by the pastor.  His sermon was based on the use of the word, "Behold" as it meandered here and there as the Christmas story was discussed.  It started in the book of Issiah with a prophesy of Jesus' coming.  

 

Picture courtesy of Hobby Lobby

Luke 2 New King James Version:  

Christ Born of Mary 

2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 

 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed a wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

 Glory in the Highest 

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 

 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 

 14     “Glory to God in the highest, 

         And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 

 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the, shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. 

     _ _ _ _ 

If you would like to have a Bible to read this passage, and more--like a Bible search for one, you could get one on-line here, as I have done, then save it with your Favorites, or other, click here: https://www.biblegateway.com/

.. 

Galveston Mardi Gras - Number Nine 2021 Cristmas Tree Post

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

One aspect of the Galveston (TX) Mardi Gras parade is that there are several parades for each of the two week ends for the celebration.  

Back in the 90's when I was still teaching most years I was the lead sponsor for the business club, for us a chapter of Phi Beta Lamda.   PBL, as it was called for short, was a national college student organization, holding a national conference each year at various cities.  Most often I would attend with a couple of handfuls of business student members.  At the conference's student business knowledge competitions we would place high and often would win.  

For three years in a row I would take all the members who wanted to go to the Galveston Mardi Gras and have a "float" entry in the Business oriented parade.  Doing that was an attraction for securing club members.  The third year our club had 126 members, the most ever for our college and that year the club with the most members.  The parade was strictly a walking one, we were not allowed motor vehicles to ride or power "floats".  The fourth year we withdrew from activities as the function moved to the fun section of Houston and was renamed the Budweiser Celebration.  I instigated our withdrawal as I knew our college would not approve of us participating in a beer sponsored event.  

That didn't keep Mrs. Jim and me from attending the Galveston Celebration.  In addition to the parades there was a "Dickens on the Strand" celebration that lasted two weeks.  The favorite costume was old fashioned English dress.  

Recipe -- Jim's Quick and Easy Chocolate Bird's Nest

 Jim's Quick and Easy Chocolate Bird's Nest

Ingredients are:
Molten chocolate, half to a whole package
Six or so candy chocolate candy coated bird eggs
Ample amount of corn flakes cereal, one to two cups depending on how much chocolate you have melted
Lots of love, make it for a friend

You will need a nine inch square or round cake pan or plastic container

Directions follow:
Melt molten chocolate in double boiler
or in microwave. Be careful not to over cook.

Pour into pan

Stir in corn flakes until flakes to chocolate
ratio is about even.  In other words about
the same amounts of chocolate as corn flakes

Before mixture cools and hardens
place your six eggs where you want them
Like maybe a hen had laid them there 

You may study birds nests
to make this realistic. I find placing
them equidistant around over the nest
but random looking looks best.

Artistic touch will rule here

The more love you put into this
the sweeter your little nest will be

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Recipe -- OATMEAL SCONES -- Not My, Jim's, Recipe

Note:  This is not MY, Jim's, recipe

Oatmeal Scone Recipe (from http://www.epicurious.com/gourmet/last_touch/recipes/233001)

OATMEAL SCONES
.
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups plus 2 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces
2/3 cup well-shaken buttermilk plus additional for brushing
.
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
Sift together flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a food processor.
Add 1 1/3 cups oats and pulse 15 times.
Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-size lumps.
Transfer to a bowl.
Add buttermilk and stir with a fork until a dough just forms. Gently knead on a floured surface 6 times.
.
Pat into a 9-inch square (1/2 inch thick). Cut into 9 (3-inch) squares. Cut each square diagonally to form 2 triangles. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet.
.
Brush with buttermilk and sprinkle with remaining brown sugar and oats. Bake until golden brown, about 16 minutes.Makes 18 scones.

Gourmet Last Touch
November 2005

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100% would makethis recipe again

Recipe -- tasty homemade meat loaf, not my, Jim's, recipe

 tasty homemade meat loaf, not my, Jim's, recipe.

 

After reading this article in the H O U S T O N ... C H R O N I C L E .food section we talked a little about Meat Loaf and its making.  Mrs. Jim said it is hard to make a consistent meat loaf, time after time. She would like a good recipe, one that she likes.  So we will try this one. 

Do you remember eating at those old cafeterias owned and operated by a local entrepreneur?  Not the ones most common now, chains and/or franchise enterprises. Cleburne recently closed their doors after opening in 1975.  They will be missed, even so they have shared three of their favorite recipes with the public.  Our paper ran them in the May 4th edition, food section.

 

I mentioned that my mom made the best meat loaf that I have ever tasted.  Mrs. Jim agreed that it was super delicious.  We don't have her recipe though.  This was so close to Mothers Day that I was reminded of a lot of things about Mom.  She died in 1999 at age 88.

Recipe - "Jim's Quick and Easy Apple Pie Recipe"

 Apple pie and cheese my favorite 

I'd have a slice of American Cheese warmed on top 

over a large slice of still warm apple pie.

What could be better than that?

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.

What is to follow here will be my 

"Jim's Quick and Easy Apple Pie Recipe" 

This apple pie will be really good once I get it baked.

.

But first I have to get dressed.

My Saturday morning rule,

be dressed by noon.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Okay, I didn't dress. Instead I typed up my recipe:

Jim’s Quick and Easy Apple Pie

Ingredients:
1 Box pastry shells for two 9-inch two-crust pies
(Kroger frozen Pie Crusts-unroll & bake or equivalent)
6 cups sliced pared tart apples
1 can prepared Apple Pie Filling (Comstock or equivalent)
¼ teaspoon cinnamon – optional*
¼ teaspoon nutmeg – optional*
2 tablespoons butter or margarine.

Check off "things to do list"

___ Heat oven to 425°. Prepare pastry using directions on the box.
___ Stir together optional spices, sliced apples, and prepared pie filling mix.
___ Turn into pastry-lined pans, dot with butter
___ Cover with top crust using fluting and design of your choice. 

___ Be sure there are a few opening slits in the crust covering for the steam to escape.

___ Place strip of aluminum foil covering the edges. Otherwise "the crusts" will bake first and may even burn.
___ Remove foil for the last 15 minutes.

___ Bake 45 minutes, more or less. Pie is done when crust is brown and 
___ the pie liquids begin to ease or bubble through the crust openings.

Makes eight servings per pie. 

More if cut into smaller slices.

* I generally do not add additional spices. Remember the seasoning
in the prepared mix is for one pie in the eyes of the manufacturer. This
may not be strong enough flavor for two pies to suit your taste.
I hope you try making this, it really is quick and easy. And good!

Christmas tree 2016?

Nature :

 

What's growing underneath this oak tree?

 

It's an unusual shape toad stool.

KP Baptism Pictures

[click on any picture for larger view-click again, still larger]

 

KP and her first Sunday School teacher

She is in the second grade, this year Karen and Billy also teach.

KP's family came for the Baptism.  From left to right, Meme, Papa Jim (me), Mom (Karen), Dad (Billy), Uncle Randy, Aunt Jenny (Billy's sister and BIL), MoMa, Papa John, (Aunt Susie--Karen's sister--could not make it for baptism but did join us for lunch) 

and in the front row, our granddaughter, KP

KP with Linda, our Children's Director

Older pictures you might like:

Labels: Adi,  Baby KP,  KP,  KP After Christmas

Recipe: Mom's German Snapple Torte

Mom's German Snapple Torte

Recipe Ingredients
11⁄2 cups (5 oz) sweetened flaked coconut
11⁄2 cups (6 oz) chopped pecans
1⁄2 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar
1⁄2 stick (4 Tbsp) butter, melted
1 box (21 oz) Family-Style Chewy Fudge Brownies mix
1/2 cup Snapple (or Coke, coffee, etc)
2 cups heavy (whipping) cream
1⁄3 cup confectioners’ sugar

Recipe Preparation
1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Line a 15 x 10-in. rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty foil, letting foil extend above pan on both ends. Coat foil with nonstick spray.
2. Mix coconut, pecans, brown sugar and butter in a bowl until well blended; set aside.
3. Prepare brownie mix as package directs for cake-like brownies.

Substitute 1/2 cup of Snapple, coke, coffee, etc. for 1/2 cup water.

Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly.

Top with coconut mixture.
4. Bake 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
5. Lift foil by ends onto a cutting board. Cut brownie crosswise in thirds. Beat cream and confectioners’ sugar in a large bowl with mixer on medium-high speed until moist, stiff peaks form when beaters are lifted.
6. To assemble: Place 1 brownie layer, nut side up, on a serving platter. Spread top with 1 cup whipped cream. Repeat with remaining layers and cream, ending with cake. Frost sides with remaining cream. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
7. To serve: Cut with a serrated knife in 1-in. slices; cut each slice in half.

Can be made through Step 6 up to 1 day ahead.

Recipe from Woman's Day, September 13, 2005 (link)
Mom added the Snapple (etc) flavor aid idea

Recipe: Quick and easy Cinaman Roll White Frosting or Streusel Topping

This is one of my 'quick and easy' food recipes. I do have others. My most famous (published) is 'quick and easy Southwestern Stuffed Green Peppers. I also have published a 'quick and easy Apple Pie.'

Here goes:

Jim's Quick and Easy White Frosting

Recipe Ingredients: (any brands will do, my
preferences will duplicate what my family likes)

One can of vanilla cake frosting
(I prefer Pillsbury Vanilla Frosting)

Two table spoons of pure vanilla
(I prefer a California source)

One half cup, packed, brown sugar

Chopped walnuts if desired

Recipe Preparation:

Heat in the microwave enough frosting for
whatever you are wanting to frost

When just barely melted stir in the vanilla and other ingredients

Spread or poor over your cake, rolls, streusel, or whatever

Let cool at room temperature until frosting is crusted

Notes:
1. You can also stir in some melted cream cheese or other desired flavoring.
Some walnuts, cut up orange slices, or huge chocolate chips, or what ever you like will make a surprise coating for all kinds of cakes and items you bake. You could also embellish prepared pastry bought at the store with a mixture of sorts.

2. I may have a picture at a later date. I invite readers to e-mail in pictures showing how their creations came out. I can post some of the prettiest here. If you do this please give me written permission to publish here.

Lunch at the Jim Bunch's house — a fancy egg sandwich plus — less than 500 calories

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This is Jim's Four Minute Egg Sandwich. Garnished with low fat cottage cheese and shrimp it made a very nice lunch for one.

When Mrs. Jim is home for lunch it is just as easy to make for two.



Ingredients - Calories - Fat Calories

Sandwich:

One large egg - 71 - 45

Salsa 1 heaping tsp - 7 - 0

Whole wheat bread 2 slices - 180 - 20

Low fat American cheese 1 slice - 50 - 25

Medium frozen cooked shrimp 5 each - 33 0

Low fat cottage cheese 1 serving - 90 - 20
Medium frozen cooked shrimp 10 each - 66 - 0
Diet Coke, one can - 0 - 0

- Defrost shrimp in hot water. We have an instant hot water facet.
- Toast bread. Today I substituted one slice, the top one, for two small and thin slices of Kroger Bakery LaBrea Baked Vienna Petite Loaf Bread with slightly less calorie count.
- While bread is toasting, break egg into a four by one inch square Pyrex baking dish. Whisk briskly with a fork held flatly with bottom side down until yolk is fully integrated. Add Salsa and whip again until fully mixed.
- Cover with paper towel and cook in microwave for one minute at 100%.
- Place one half cheese slice one each side of cooked egg.
- Cut in half and lift piece out with a clean fork.
- Place on prepared bread, I put chopped shrimp and ketchup on mine. (RED for Ruby [Red] Tuesday posting)

Total Calories: Sandwich - 341 - 90

Total: - 497 - 110
These can be reduced by using no-fat cheese and cottage cheese. I do not like the taste of no-fat cottage cheese.

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Katrin and Adi were my observers. Katrin was laying on the floor until I tried to get her to pose better. It is unusual for Adi to lay down while I am eating.

On the other hand, Katrin is French and she could be well behaved with us at any French restaurant. Most restaurants there want the dogs to be on a leash,tied to a chair or the table. That would be fine with Katrin although she does not like walking with a leash.

More old chairs -- Windsor Chairs

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These are the chairs Florence had in her breakfast room. They are BP's pick for my office (they looked the newest). But you can keep them as long as you want. Mom will very likely want then back when you are finished as they were from Florence.

They are in good shape. We found them on the Internet once, they are Nichols & Stone Windsor Chair. The current model is the Rockport but these have different bottoms and back rungs.

http://www.nicholsandstone.com/OurProducts_Results.cfm?cat1=2107&view=all

I would guess they are from the 1960's. Could be 5-'s or 70's.

Lions at our door

We have a couple of lions at our door.

They are about two feet high

and are made of concrete.

A better look.

The Chinese commonly have a pair of lions at their doorstep. One, the female, is holding a baby, the other, the male, has a ball under his right foot.

Why do they put them out, Wikipedia tells the history?

This is Katrin, our attack dog, looking out.

You had better stay clear of her.

A twenty-five (25) question Meme -- The questions

A twenty-five (25) question Meme (I found/stole it here)
[If you must, I guess you can steal it from here like I did up there.]

1. How old do you look?

2. Where do you live?

3. Are you waiting for something?

4. What’s one pet peeve of yours that is not common?

5. Do you want/have kids?

6. Have you ever thought about converting your religion?

7. Last shocking news you heard?

8. What was the last thing you drank?

9. Who do you most look like in your family?

10. If you could have something right now, anything, what would it be?

11. Where does most of your family live?

12. Where did you grow up?

13. Where do you want to go on vacation?

14. Have you ever had a panic attack?

15. What can’t you wait for?

16. When’s the last time you told someone you loved him or her and meant it?

17. Have your parents ever smoked pot?

18. Want someone back in your life?

19. What do you order at the bar?

20. When was the last time you cried really, really hard?

21. Ever licked someone’s cheek?

22. What is your favorite thing to eat with peanut butter?

23. Where were you on July 4th, 2008?

24. What are your nicknames?

25. If you could go back in time, how far back would you go?

The Jim Bunch Eats Again -- This time French Toast Sundae at a men's Tuesday Morning Bible study

This is a Texas version of French toast (everything is big in Texas). The cook called it French Toast Sundae. It may have been called that where he first ate some similar creation as well. I don't know about that.

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The ingredients are baked French Texas toast (it's much thicker and richer that ordinary bread--better too), ham and sausage on the side, and shrimp, bananas, passion fruit, strawberries, raspberries, and pineapple on top. Some had whip cream on top but I opted out. The toast was smothered with maple syrup.

Mrs. Bob, Mrs. W, and did the cooking. We had coffee before the meal. I was on my second cup when we were told to find ourselves places. So I had an extra cup, empty as you see in front of my plate with the glass of orange juice.

You thought I was going to tell you about Bible study. Okay, I will.

Our Tuesday Morning Men's Bible Study meets every Tuesday morning and we finally finished the book of Romans. The pastor, Dr. Buddy Burns, started it last spring. We had the Bible study all summer, but last year on December 19 (2008) Dr. Burns died (

link). We continued until finishing Romans up on February 24, 2009.

Bob S, one of the Bible study participants, holds an annual breakfast for the Men's Bible Study group. We all agreed that right after finishing Romans would be a good time for having it this year.

There were about twenty-four of us for breakfast. These are the fellows who sat with me at our table. Most of the group live in our subdivision but it's not a requirement. Again most attend the church here but that isn't a requirement either.