Family Christmas Celebration - 2025

Today is December 27th, but it is only one day past our family celebration.  We gathered here at my Christmas wonderland.      I was all decorated for the occasion, but my kitchen was unfortunately out of service...or the cook was. So everyone got to choose his or her own Jersey Mike's sub and even chips! I know...so special!  But just wait for the dessert!

Susan had bought me a wonderful book, and Susannah sat right down to read it to Bear. I wish I could include a video, but it might be next Christmas before I succeeded. This was definitely a highlight of our Christmas--TO MIMI's HOUSE WE GO"

My favorite picture! The little angel looked up at me and smiled.

I will never forget this moment.

My grands gave me, drumroll please, a Nespresso machine! Madeline has one and has made wonderful coffees for me with it! Coffee has become a highlight of my days, and this opens up a whole new world of options!

Maddie gave Jay and Terri the cutest Funko characters named

Jay and Terri and resembling them! 

We had a good laugh over Terri's and Rob's matching gifts from me! They are mugs that say "Being your mother-in-law seems like gift enough...but here's a mug"

The only thing is that they go on to say,

Merry Christmas 2024.

Terri noticed! Rob said, "Did you forget to give them to us last Christmas?" "Why yes, I believe I did! I was hoping you wouldn't notice."

Terri and Jay gave Bear all the coolest toys du jour, including a fabulous book he's going to love, and this fascinating teether,

and, of course, his Mickey ears which are monogrammed

Barrett!

Susannah's and Nick's anniversary is coming up on New Year's Eve! People still comment on how good their wedding cake was, and it was made by Creme de la Creme. The bakery sells sample boxes containing small pieces of all their flavors. I got a couple of these for our dessert, and here Susie and Nick are "cutting the cake," sharing all their favorite flavors. Just the best cake ever! I was proud of my idea, if not of my baking or cooking!

I had enough for everyone to have at least two pieces, but we didn't even eat near that much. But never fear. I'm enjoying the rest.

One of the most exciting thing about my Christmas was having the lights shining in the 75 plus year old doll house my parents gave me as a child. My precious niece Diann and her wonderful husband Patrick analyzed the problem, bought the parts, and sent an electrician to fix it. It made my Christmas bright!

This is the sweetest, most loving, most generous family, if I do say so myself, and I do.

I'm certainly glad Susan is in this picture, since it seems to be

the only one which included her. And she's the one who always makes sure everyone has photo memories!

Insert shame face.

The Mimes may not have cooked and for sure had lots of help, but she was still as tired as if she had been Mrs. Claus. Here are just a few of the pretties that she didn't have the energy to snuff.

The Metzgers came and helped me plug in and switch on all of them and offered to come back and undo, but I decided to just let them shine away.

This was the first thing I saw when I walked into the kitchen this morning.

See the candles in the little houses?

All the little votives still going!

And this brightness operates by remote!

And to all a Good Night!

                         

If I Had My Life To Live Over Again

I haven't given this a lot of thought, so it may not be all that comprehensive, but there are a few things I would do differently, in no particular  order.

I would at least attempt to be bilingual. It would have been so beneficial in my life to have been able to speak Spanish. I marvel at people who can just fluently switch back and forth!

I would NEVER stop playing piano if I learned how as a child/teenager, which I did. I played Bach and Beethoven and Debussy.  I would hope my teachers would allow me to play something else which would be more fun and pure enjoyment throughout my life!

I would also learn to play an orchestral instrument--specifically the violin. When I see older folk playing in orchestras, I am so jealous. Jack gave me a violin for Christmas one year, but I had only 2 or 3 lessons, and my teacher up and moved away. (Not because of me I don't think.) Anyway, I never found another teacher.  There is just a different kind of joy and comraderie found in a joint venture of creating musical beauty.

I would travel to the Holy Land sooner. My life was changed by a visit there, but I was in my seventies before I went. My major benefactor, a.k.a. husband, Jack Stovall, was more cautious than I, so I did not press him to go. I was never afraid on my trip with   Gary and Sandy Smith and 17 other Fielder friends in 2013. It was the best trip of my life. Gary and Sandy are leading a trip next year, May of 2026. If you can, you should go! I would go again in a heartbeat if I could, but my old heartbeats aren't that dependable any more!!! Really...don't pass up an opportunity to go with the BEST--Gary and Sandy Smith from Fielder Church, guided by the incomparable Yuval Shemesh. 

 I would study the Bible more. And go to Bible Study Fellowship when I was younger (and thought I didn't have time.) And, like Billy Graham answered when asked this question, "I would pray more." But guess what? The Lord gave me another opportunity to do that today, and I'm ready if He grants me another tomorrow!

All in all, it's been a pretty wonderful life if these are all the changes I would make, hasn't it?

and...

At 88, it's not too late to

                                             AMEN, Mark!

A Weirdly Scary Experience

As will be no surprise to any of you, I get my hair done every Friday. I now park in a handicap spot practically in the front door of the salon. I am able to walk in without my walker, carrying my oxygen. Well, that makes it sound a bit too easy...I usually have to untangle the oxygen tubes and cords and my purse straps and get them all loaded on my person and under control before I crip in!

The particular day I want to tell you about, I was parked in the very first, closest spot to the door. When I came out all beautified,  I circled around the back of the car to get to the driver's door. There was a female person sitting in my car seat, looking studiously at her phone.

I stepped back from the window, but she didn't even look up. So I knocked on it. She looked up and I said, "You are in my car." She said, "No, I'm not. This is my car!" I was totally taken aback, so I walked to the back to see my license plate. When I walked back, I said again, "You are in MY car!" Now I, Linda Jane Lynn Stovall, pay attention to all those warnings and cautions y'all send me. I was afraid she had an accomplice lurking around plotting to steal my car or my car AND ME. But there was no one else around. Believe it or not that woman kept right on rudely insisting that was her car!

I had my phone in my hand and an absolutely incredulous look on my face, but I made the appropriate move. I went back into the salon. There was a lady sitting there, and I told her what had happened. She asked if I wanted her to call 911, and I said yes.  Before she could dial, the woman got out of my car and opened the salon door. She said that she had gotten in my car because it "looked just like hers." She never apologized or seemed overly concerned about the scare she had given an elderly lady who can't breathe!!! 

Then she quickly came up with the idea that it was my fault because my car was not locked. Now mind you, I watched her go get in her car. It was not even an Infiniti. And...this emblem was staring her in the face in my car. Surely hers was different! 

Also, this oxygen cart was on the passenger floor. Actually the mile long cord would have clued me in if nothing else!

 I don't think I said another word. Of course, I began to feel like it was my fault for not locking the car. At some point I realized that getting out of my car is considerably more complicated than it used to be. I knew there was nothing in it to steal. It was parked right in the front door.

But I never thought of the possibility of someone getting in.

Be sure to lock your car, friends!

My Exclamation Point Eating Continues!

Sorry to keep you waiting so long. I haven't shared all my invaluable secrets with you yet, though, so I am back. 

This all started with my expertise at what I called "GATHERING." One year I hosted seven parties during the Christmas season and the next year "cut back" to six. Now there was no way I could prepare all that food and still be a jolly hostess. So I gathered. If you have ever been here for one of those parties at my home, you have likely had some variety of these gathered items! This is where it all began: 

Chicken salad from The Lunch Box and petit fours from Swiss Pastry Shop, both in Fort Worth. I did assemble the English pea salad and the black cherry Jello salad! Every time, until...

This version of Lunch Box chicken salad served in avocado halves with a lime Jello salad and David's Barbecue's potato salad over there on the right.

I varied the menu to include Costco tortilla roll up sandwiches, and a frozen salad, which I again "cooked."

The Lunch Box is at 6333 Camp Bowie, and Swiss Pastry  at 3936 W. Vickery. Now we have Chicken Salad Chick closer, but not as good IMHO! I have ordered petit fours for over 40 years from Swiss Pastry, but they don't much like to make them any more! One would have to call way in advance for sure--if then. They freeze well, so I'm going to try to order me some this Christmas! I may call in November!

Now as to my everyday gathering...Jack used to joke that the people at the local drive throughs knew him by name. With me, it is not a joke. I love "Taco" anything--Bell, Bueno, Cabana. Taco Bell is my favorite, but I am on a real kick of getting these delicious salads from Taco Bueno.

It is the beef taco salad. I used the regular salsa as dressing. Bueno!

Speaking of salads, have you tried Salad and Go? They have a cult-like following of which my Susan and Rob are part! Their containers are amazing and their prices bargains!

This is a barbecue ranch salad, which is my favorite. You just put the dressing on then shake real well to distribute.

This is their some-sort-of Greek salad--unusual dressing but good. Their drinks are bargains, too, and soooo good. This one is a frozen strawberry lemonade--almost like a dessert!

My friend Linda Gipson introduced me to Jersey Mike's subs.

I am addicted. I just wish they had a drive through! 

The #13 is my favorite--all kinds of bad-for-you
Italian meat and cheese.
The tuna is almost as good but not as bad for you! On second thought, I'm glad JM doesn't have a drive-through! I might get too many #13's.

I don't have a picture, but Colter's is my favorite drive through for barbecue. Their chopped beef is the leanest, best in town. 

I prefer David's Barbecue's potato salad and beans so I just cut a wide swath and gather both.

I discovered something that so far none of my friends have known. Chicken Express has wonderful fried catfish! I either drive through the Kennedale location and pick it up or have it Doordashed to me. Since french fries do not travel or last well, I bake one of the pre wrapped potatoes to go with it and a side of 

cole slaw! CE also has a delicious cherry pie for dessert and added fluffiness to my figure!

I have my most frequent order from Chick Fil A memorized, but I don't have a picture. "I'll have a kid's meal with 5 nuggets, fruit substituted for the fries, a small mac and cheese, diet lemonade, and a cup of ice dream substituted for the toy."

This might not be enough for most, but for someone who eats like a bird as I do, it is perfect!

"Please pass the chocolate sauce, the pecans, the whipped cream, and the cherry to go on my ice cream."

Another thing Chick Fil A has which occasionally comes in handy is a very nice side salad. If I have a meal with nothing

green, I can pick one of these up to round it out. I have also ordered a kid's meal and added the 5 nuggets to their side salad for a meal for me. With fruit for dessert!

I really, really like KFC! Their original is my favorite, but several times when I've driven there they haven't had any available. They also have a pretty good chicken pot pie. If I lived closer I would definitely frequent more!

I also like Golden Chick, especially the fried shrimp they have periodically. I've never tried the chicken!

Whew! I gotta go...I'm hungry!

 

My Exclamation Point Eating!!

So far I have talked about great $5 take home meals, etc. from Cracker Barrel and some of the ins and outs of food delivery. Today:

"These are a few of my favorite things" to have in my pantry or freezer! I know it's kind of a wacky variety, with nary a health food included. There have to be some advantages to being old!

This is a photo from AOL's home page recently featuring unusually good products. But I, Linda Jane Lynn Stovall, on my very own had discovered Blake's! This pot pie has the best crust, which is even flaky and delicious if microwaved.

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I am not very good at planning my meals ahead, so these pre wrapped potatoes are great for me. They bake WELL in less than ten minutes in the microwave.

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This is really good--either as a meal or as part of a "vegetable plate." Especially if you add some ketchup!!!

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Yes, I can't believe I bought the whole box just for me. Have you discovered Dot's Pretzels? The mustard ones are the best but will turn your fingers yellow! Definitely a better pretzel!

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My fabulous neighbor, Coral, got me started on this fab idea! Homemade tostadas for snacks or meals! Taco Bell also has good refried beans. Both are tastier than canned. I top with extra grated cheese and warm them in the oven. (In other words, this one requires cooking.)

Right, Mary $?

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Does everyone know about this pizza except me? I usually order pizza from Papa John's if I'm cravin' it, but this is dee-licious to have in my back pocket (a.k.a. freezer.) Different and amazing!

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I know I have already told you about my green beans, but just in case anyone missed it...Put a can of Del Monte French style green beans in a small sauce pan. Add one teaspoon of sugar (no more) and one teaspoon of olive oil. Let them simmer til all the liquid is gone and the beans caramelize a bit. You will be surprised at how good they taste! It's worth washing the pan! 

And repeating here!

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I had forgotten how much I like fruit and cottage cheese. I really liked canned freestone peaches that I bought, too. Very nice with a Blake's pot pie!

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Another fruity favorite of mine. This one requires 4 ounces

of Philadelphia cream cheese, softened and thinned with a little of the juice drained from fruit cocktail. 

Love the "Very Cherry."

But the "softening and creaming" elevate it to the cooking level.

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Far be it from me to fail to list dessert! I have served these to my family for YEARS, so I guess they may not be new to any of you. However, I think the peach flavor may be newer, and it is just like eating a really difficult-to-make homemade pastry! Especially with some Bluebell vanilla!

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I'm crazy about soup, but I'm going to do a special blog just devoted to that! I know--you can hardly wait!

After composing all of this, I'm going to go reheat my leftover Abuelo's which I had delivered yesterday!

My Exclamation Point Eating!!!

Today let's talk about getting food delivered. I started out very lukewarm about the idea. I didn't really know how to do it, and I thought it would be too $$$ and the food would be stone cold. Then I'd think, from the comfort of my home, "I really don't want to drive somewhere and get out of my car toting my oxygen in this heat to get food." Besides, I couldn't go in my pj's barefoot!

A big breakthrough in my thinking occurred when I discovered that anyone with Amazon Prime has free Grubhub delivery service. That "free" word caught my attention. I don't remember which restaurant I tried first, but it didn't take long for me to embrace the concept! And...drivers seem to have a way to keep the food hot in transit, a big plus for me. 

I have only used Grubhub, Door Dash, and Uber Eats delivery services. You just enter www.grubhub.com in your search bar to get a list of participating restaurants. I have gotten very good deliveries from Abuelo's, Black Eyed Pea, Chicken Express, and Jersey Mike's. I have received two orders from Prespa's on Sublett which were not complete. When I called they said I would have better service from them through Door Dash. I have the Chick Fil A ap on my phone, so I order it delivered by them--very fast, but they do charge.

HOT NEWS JUST OFF THE WIRE!

Abuelo's!!!

Blackeyed Pea!!!
 

Two of my very favorites!!! Uh-oh! I notice the Blackeyed Pea does not say "free!"

Another place that does a great delivery is Blue Mound Cafe. I had heard that they served a great Monte Cristo sandwich, one of my faves!  It surprised me that they deliver until 8:30 P.M. I doubted that a Monte Cristo long enough out of the frying pan to be delivered would be very good, but it was! They actually have a huge, mind boggling menu from which to choose. They recommended Door Dash for delivery.

I have to warn you there are often fees of assorted origin tacked on to orders, especially annoying to those of us who have bargained shopped and pinched pennies through the years. But...if we're going to have the covenience, we'll have to face the music of the cost! Often the restaurant will include a minimum tip, but I always try to be generous in increasing that to a "custom tip" for my driver. I think that's one reason I get good service, and those dollars mean a lot to people driving for a living!

I always have "contact free" delivery. Food is just left on the porch. I had one botched delivery, taken to someone else's home. The order was replaced, but the process took forever. Just be prepared for that possibility.

I think one must register initially to Grubhub with your Amazon password, but I think you are automatically recognized after that. There's some kind of little symbol that must appear on your restaurant's listing for the delivery to be free, which I found out through personal experience! Each restaurant lists approximate delivery times. Start early!

Be thankful if you or someone in your household looks decent enough and is willing to go pick up food! It's more economical! But keep this in your back pocket in case you get lazy like me... or is it "like I?"

P. S. While I was working on this, I stopped and drove to Taco Bueno, not very far from me, to pick up lunch for myself. The traffic was terrible. I quickly recalculated the value of delivery.