Sunday, November 21, 2010

Open House


We had a wonderful day with friends, family and neighbors joining us for our Open House. God has truly blessed us with our beautiful home. Above, neighbors, Rigoberto & Laura & family.




Left, Master bedroom mantle
Right, Master bath

Kitchen Dining Room Area
Gary and me






















View of kitchen
Hannah's Room











Our neighbor, Morgan






Right, End of living room, my office area
Right, Mike and Monica














Left, Laurie, Felicia and Isaiah

Left, our son, Aaron & fiancée, Samantha


Right, neighbors, Daniel & son D.J., other family members, not pictured

Right, Friend, Margaret

Not pictured, Shelley Piatt & Kaylie Hart & my daughter, Hannah

They were here briefly before going to a birthday celebration for Kaylie.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Cookie Recipes

Enjoy these great recipes for your holiday season.

Consider this my holiday gift to you from "Decorating for the Senses". Thanks to the person who shared this with me last holiday season. Just click on the recipe name and it links you to the recipe.

7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Brownies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls ButterballsButterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel BarsChocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice CookiesChristmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas WreathsCowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho BarsHoliday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon BarsLemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar CookiesNut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice CookiesParking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins PfeffernuessePffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip CookiesPumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer CookiesShort Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle CookiesSnickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss TreatsTaralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee SquaresTraditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men CookiesTriple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate CookiesWild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms

Thursday, November 11, 2010

LaPorte, Texas

Gary & I took a few hours of leisure today and visited old LaPorte. Now, resident of LaPorte, we thought we would check out the area.

Sylvan Beach is just around the corner and yet we have never been to it. It has piers that are great for fishing. We want to plan a family trip there and take in this relaxing area.

We enjoyed lunch at a local tea room on Broadway with fresh brewed Cherry tea.

Captured in this pic are the colors of fall and an antique truck on our path to the tearoom.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Mover's Thank You Party

You Guys Deserve a Party!

I really appreciate Jason Berry for his efforts to get a moving crew for us on our recent move. "Life" guys are truly awesome! Thank you so much for your help. You were truly a blessing to us.

And now...must I say, my own family members who worked also. I could not have done it without them!

It was an extremely hot & humid Houston day and omg, where did all of that stuff come from in that small apartment? I thought this was going to be an easy move but it just kept getting bigger.

Once the dust settled & then with the key to our new home, it was worth it all.

All of you were "God Sent" for us. Thank you so very much!!

I am preparing what I hope to be your "choice" entrée. It is my specialty and most requested.

Party Date: November 19, 2010, Friday Night
Address: 10023 Rustic Gate Road, LaPorte, Texas 77571
Time: 7:00 p.m.

The Menu:

New Orleans Creole Gumbo
This is a prize winning recipe from my hometown of New Orleans that my family adopted years ago.
It has a tomato base with white chicken breast & sausage, seasonings,
served with steamed white rice.

French Bread

Brennen's Bread Pudding
This is a recipe borrowed from famous New Orleans' Brennen Restaurant. It is made with a wonderful rum sauce.

Please RSVP via email or leave a post comment here. donna_r_madden@yahoo.com
If you would like to bring a friend, just let me know so I will have enough for all.

Monday, November 01, 2010

Welcome to Our Open House

Your Very Special Invitation...
My family and I would like to invite our special friends to come and see our huge blessing. We still have a lot to do to put our own stamp on it, but we have been so blessed to now be in our new home. It will truly be a "house warming" to have your presence in our home.

Date: November 20, Saturday
Time: 3:00 - 7:00, any time, come & go or linger with friends..
Address: 10023 Rustic Gate Road, LaPorte, Texas 77571
Phone: 281-222-3924 or 281-222-3423

From Beltway 8, Take Fairmont Parkway towards LaPorte,
Turn left on Underwood,
Turn right at first light, Rustic Gate.

You will go through 2 stop signs. Our home is the 6th house after the 2nd stop sign, on your left.
rsvp would be helpful. email: donna_r_madden@yahoo.com