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Taste of Orange Blossom {Smoked Pork Chop with Spicy Apple Butter}

Last Friday night we got back to our normal routine of date night, but with the holidays, I am just now getting around to posting it. We were SO happy to be back where we belong, at our favorite restaurant. We started off the night with Crabcakes. They come with a big scoop of Mashed Potatoes in the middle, and they are fantastic. Crispy edges, and filled with flavor.
The special salad was a Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing. When I say spinach, I mean the real deal, not mini-sized leaves that come from a bag. Look at that picture and TELL me that doesn't look bursting with flavor. I dare you. Ha ha.
I was THRILLED after being away for a few weeks to spend our date nights Christmas shopping and taking care of our sick kids, to see that the Smoked Pork Chop with Spicy Apple Butter was one of the specials. It might just be my absolute favorite! There is no way you can put this thing to your lips and NOT "ooh" and "ahh" over it. You have never tasted a pork chop like this, I assure you. It was served with Ratatouille, Potatoes, Sauteed Greens, and Garlic Bread.
The three course specials always come with dessert. How about a Chocolate Trauma? You can put me in the ER anytime if the trauma involves this dessert! It never, EVER gets any better than homemade ice cream. That's just ALL there is to it!

As always you can check them out here. If you don't have any plans for New Years Eve, call ahead to make a reservation, they're having a special night of live music, and a special menu. I'm sure it'll be a good time at the Junction!

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Filed Under: Orange Blossom Junction

Merry Christmas!!!

In the Orthodox Church we say, "Christ is Born!" and then the response is "Glorify Him!"

The Priest at the church we were visiting last night told the following story in his sermon. I was inspired and enjoyed it, so I will share it with you here.

There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays, like Christmas. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and the metaphysical meaning of Jesus The Christ, despite her husband's disparaging comments.
One snowy Christmas Eve, the wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused.
"That story is nonsense!" he said. "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth through a man called Jesus who became the Christ? That's ridiculous!" So she and the children left, and he stayed home.
A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump.
Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese.
Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.
The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm.
So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them.
The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread crumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on.
Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.
"Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?" He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human.
"If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud.
Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese.
He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn and one by one the other geese followed it to safety.
He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "If only I were a goose, then I could save them!"
Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to lower Himself to be like us? That's ridiculous!"
Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese--blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and enlighten us.
That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized. As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and he pondered this wonderful thought.
Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Jesus who became the Christ had come, so that we could become the sons and daughters of the Living Christ.
Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: "Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!"

May your Christmas be filled with love, family and happiness.

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Merry Christmas!

From our Charlie Brown tree to yours...

Merry Christmas!

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Happy Holidays!

Wow, how time flies?!?!

This time of year is busy for everyone, that I know, but this year has been an even more busy and hectic (and let’s add “flat out crazy” to the adjectives) on me and my husband. See about two weeks ago some things presented themselves (most would just call them life). My husband found himself in a situation at his place of work, a crossroads, if you will. With a family to support, we had to make a decision quickly. Our decision was to go into business for ourselves. Without going into great detail, this type of work has been in my family for years. My husband, at the age of sixteen, learned the trade from my father who learned it from his father. I know we will be fine and business will be great but nevertheless it’s scary and exciting.

As for me, I know I haven’t posted much in the last month and now you know why. Christmas decorating has taken a backseat to the starting a new business only a few short weeks before Christmas. I’m sorry I haven’t be a great source of inspiration lately and just know that I have several BIG projects to reveal, but they will need to wait for after the holidays and my short break. Yes, I will be on a short break from blogging until I can find a rhythm to my new schedule.

I hope everyone has a wonderfully safe holidays. Please take the time to enjoy your families and thank God for you blessings. I know I will!

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Double Wine Tote Bag!

A few nights ago I was trying to decide what I wanted to make for my cousin's Christmas gift. I had already made her a cute pillow for her apartment, but I wanted to do something else.

Then it dawned on me - she loves wine! Why not give her a bottle of wine in a wine tote!

But then I had another great idea - a double wine tote!!

So as usual, I ran to google for answers and found an amazing double wine bag tote tutorial from HashiWorks! Yes please! She even has a pdf file you can download with step-by-step instructions!

I loved these so much I have made three so far!

This is my favorite!

I'll be adding a flower embellishment to this bag tomorrow.

And this is the bag I made for my cousin. She is a BIG Georgia Bulldogs fan, so I made it in bulldogs colors. It matches her pillow that I'll post later!

Each of these took me about 1 1/2 hours to make - but I'm a real slow sewer. I'm sure some of you pros could knock these out in no time! These would make great gifts for anytime!

I used the wooden dowels from Lowes with the green end - I spent $3 in total on two dowels and had enough for three totes. You use less than 1/2 a yard of fabric for the inside and outside, and I used fabrics from my stash. So in total, each tote bag was about $1! The contents are what cost me money!

Oh, and I took these to the wine store with me to pick up some wine, and they loved them!!

Cheers!

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Paint Stick Snowman

At the beginning of the school year, when we go to meet the kids' teachers and see their classrooms, there are always sign-up sheets for the parents. Sign-up to volunteer, to go on field trips, plan class parties, take work home, donate extra supplies, join the pta, and so on. I have a hard time not signing up for everything. Well, let's face it, I do sign-up for everything! And I love it!

At the end of November, I received a letter from my Big Guys teacher stating that I had signed up to plan the Holiday party. YEAH! So, I went to work researching and brainstorming ideas and themes. I went with a snowman theme. I wanted a snowman project for a class of 25 third graders that was semi-easy and could be done in about 10 minutes...and I found what I thought was the perfect one. And now that it is all said and done, it was the perfect one!

I found the idea here on Crafts by Amanda, who was also planning this craft for a class Holiday party.

These Paint Stick Snowmen are super cute and were a big hit among the students, parents and teachers.

Here is the snowman I made ahead, for an example

A few days before the party, I picked up a very small can of white paint and a large handful (about 40) of paint sticks at the local hardware store. Painted both side of the paint stick white, which took several coats and definitely more than I expected! That was a little time consuming, but easy and I was able to do other things between coats. I cut felt squares for the hat as well as the material for the scarves.

Some of the student's snowmen and snowladies:-)

my Big Guy and his friend (my friend's daughter) with their snowmen

I have to say that the project, with this some of the prep done ahead of time, only took the students 10-12 minutes! Very quick considering the outcome!

I love them! I actually liked this project even more after all of the kids were done because it was fun to see the uniqueness in each snowman.

Have a great day!

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Mrs. H's Home Tour- Part 2

If you missed my friend, Mrs. H's Christmas Home Tour, check it out here.

I'd love to show you all the beautiful, painted antique furniture we did for Mrs. H that was bought at our store. Some of my favorite pieces have to be the dresser in her front foyer and the desk in her master bedroom with the painted drawers and legs, and the original wood top left natural. Well... I actually love all the pieces she chooses from our store; they all look wonderful in her home!

She has such great taste and an eye for picking out quality pieces, decorating, and styling her home. I love all her beautiful collected antique bottles, ladders, books, china, collectables, grain sacks, art work, and unique accessories and furniture throughout her home; it has a comfortable and collected feel that I adore.

I'm so blessed to have met and gotten to know Mrs. H in the past year, not only as a customer but a close friend. She is constantly pouring out kind words, precious handmade and thoughtful gifts, Godly advise, and creative ideas. She often says that she's adopted Jacob and I, we don't mind having our customers become our close friends. I love what I do because I meet people daily that I would have never met otherwise. God surely has blessed our business and our lives this year! Thanks for the love and support.

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!

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