Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

To all my blogging friends:

Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year

A Great Book

For my book club this month, we read The Christmas List by Paul Richard Evans. I must say--it's a book everyone should read. I never thought about my obituary or what people would say about me when I die, but after reading this book I am thinking twice about that thought.


I do hope if you read this book, you will receive a blessing just as I did and learn that people can truly change if the desire is there.

Best
Tracy :)

Christmas Lights Around Greenville

Last Friday, my daughter and I attended the Christmas Lighting Ceremony at Bob Jones University. It was a very nice time and with over 200,000 lights-- it's a picture that will take your breath away. Before the ceremony, we had a nice dinner on campus and after you eat you gather around the fountain to sing carols. There were so many people taking part in this special activity and the memories of this special night will be shared between my daughter and myself for a life time.

(The true meaning of Christmas)

The next night, we saw the Christmas Lights at Roper Mountain Science Center. You stay in your car and drive through what I call "A Winter Wonder Land of Lights." My husband was driving the truck and it seem every second, my daughter or myself would say "stop" so we could take a picture. Yes there were many cars behind us, but.......













I hope you enjoyed the pictures and if you live in a city or town that has Christmas activities going on--I hope you can get out and enjoy them with your love ones. For me it's not about presents or buying for others, but making memories that will last forever.

Best
Tracy :)

For more information: Bob Jones Univerity and Roper Mountain Science Center

Chimney Rock

Getting off track a little--I would like to share some pictures of our outing to Chimney Rock State Park (Chimney Rock, North Carolina) a few months back. Chimney Rock is about an hour drive from Greenville with gorgeous landscape scenes and many apple orchards. Before you get into the town of Chimney Rock there is a village that makes you think you are driving through a village in England.

Also, the Broad River flows through Chimney Rock and on a hot day you can see people swimming with the rapids and small kayaks making their way down the river. I have been told by my husband and daughter this is the coldest water they have ever swam in!

Since there are no parking spaces for the swimmers, you just pull off the side of the road and park. To get a good space starting out early in the morning would be the best thing, because there is a least one mile of cars that are parked. Screams and laughter of people can be heard as you drive into the village of Chimney Rock.

Once inside the park, you will park your car and enter a cave to take an elevator to the top of the mountain. When you exit the elevator you will be in the gift shop and cafe area--once outside you decide which trail to take. The park has several trails to pick from depending on your skill level. If you decide not to take a walk--the view out side of the cafe is breathtaking and you meet people from all over the States and yes I have met people from Europe!

(Looking out towards Lake Lure)

(Top of the Chimney)

(If only the cave could talk)

If you have a chance to visit North Carolina--make sure Chimney Rock is on you list of places to visit. Believe me, you will not be disappointed!

Best
Tracy :)

For more information: www.chimneyrockpark.com

Thanksgivinig

I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Homemade Bread and Russian Borscht

For about a year, I have been wanting to make homemade bread. I kept telling my family and friends, "I am going to try my hand at homemade bread." Well this week, I made three loaves--the first one as you can tell by the picture was not pretty to look at--but it tasted sooo good. My second loaf did not rise, but my third try was perfect. The shape and color were much better than my first and it also turned out to be sooo good too.

FIRST LOAF

THIRD LOAF








The recipe was simple and it came from the blog: The 50's Housewife.

I also made Classic Russian Borscht Soup and the only word I can think of is wonderful!!! I cooked this for my whole family and we are not eaters of beets, but this soup tends to cover what I called the "beet taste."

You can find the recipe on Cooks.Com under soups and if you pull up Borscht it will the third recipe submitted by CM.


Since I love food history, I would like to share some of the history of Borscht soup.

Borscht is a soup that is known for its very deep red color and the use of beetroot. My research showed this soup appeared around the 18th and 19th centuries and also a type of Borscht was cooked during the Medieval Period. Two countries take pride in this soup being on the top of their cuisine list and they are: Ukraine and Russia.

Borscht is the national soup in Ukraine and in Russia you can still find many families and restaurants cooking this soup.

Also in my research I came across that beets were very popular with European lower class families because they were cheap and most were able to grow their own. I also read where Borscht was very popular among the Jews.

If you come across any information on Borscht, please share your findings with me. I love learning all I can.

Resource: The Food Timeline
is called

Poinsette Bridge

With my daughter in school and my husband at work, I decided to go on a small drive to Poinsette Bridge. The drive itself was beautiful with the sun out and the ever changing leave colors. The bridge is located on Old Highway 25 and if you are not paying attention you will drive pass the bridge. What caught my attention was the sound of Little Gap Creek that runs through the bridge.

Poinsette Bridge was built around 1820 and it was the only way one could travel from Greenville SC to Asheville NC. Looking at the bridge, I could not help but go back in time and wonder who travel across this bridge. I also wonder what the area looked like in the 1820's? Was it a wooded area or at that time were there houses in the area?

I do hope my pictures show the beauty of the bridge and the wonderful construction. For more information go to: Poinsett Bridge



Best
Tracy :)

Picking Pumpkins

What attracts so many people to pumpkin patches? Can it be we know fall has arrived or can it be a chance to spend time with family? This small pumpkin patch can be found on a corner street with many pumpkins and flowers everywhere. After working 12 hours I was going pumpkin picking with my husband and daughter no matter what!! Can you tell by the pictures it was lightly raining and cold?

If you are driving a long and happen to see a pumpkin patch, just pull over and enjoy picking a few pumpkins--but most of all enjoy the time with your family.

Best
Tracy :)

Downtown Greenville Part 1

For good food and family fun, St Francis Fall for Greenville might be the place for you!(http://www.fallforgreenville.net/). This week-end, Main Street will close for three days and 30 to 40 restaurants from the Greenville area will line the street and cook some of the best food Greenville has to offer.

Also, if you have children there is great entertainment and games to keep them busy. I was not able to attend this year, but my husband took our daughter Friday evening and he told me you could not hardly move due to all the people. I feel most people went Friday evening due to the weather (rain all week-end)

If you pull up the website, you will find pictures and all the information you need on this great family festival.

Best
Tarcy :)

Autumn

Autumn is my favorite time of the year! If you ever come to Greenville or Travelers Rest, SC just take highway 25 to the North Carolina line and you will see what I mean. Beautiful Mountains everywhere and when the leaves do change it adds to the excitement. I also love picking out pumpkins with my daughter and decorating our yard with new fall flowers which my husband takes great pleasure in planting.

I am going to try my hand at baking and will start with pumpkin bread and sweet potato muffins. To me these foods are good warm foods for the autumn weather--what do you think?

Best

Tracy :)

Learning to blog

For over a year I have had this blog and not one posting has been made. I read several blogs and I am amaze at the beautiful pictures and writings that I have read. I wonder if my blog can be like that--I ask my self over and over?? I am understanding that blogs are like a story and the writer is wanting to share his or her story. Soon I am hoping to share my beautiful state with you and show my readers that South Carolina is a wonderful state to live in.
Thanks for stopping by and do not give up on me(blogging is so new to me)
Tracy :)