Happy New Year!

The Best New Year's Punch Ever!

I originally posted this recipe a few years ago. However it is SO good, I decided to post it again!

*****************************************************

We have this punch every New Year's eve.  It is easy to make and tastes great too! If the amount is too much for your family, you can cut the recipe in half.

Here is the recipe:

New Year's Punch
2 packets of strawberry or cherry Kool-aid (we like cherry better)
1 can pineapple juice (1 lb. 14 oz.)
2 two litter bottles of ginger ale
4 cups sugar (you can use half of this and it still tastes good)
Vanilla ice cream

My recipe says to combine all ingredients in a punch bowl and add a few scoops of vanilla ice cream.  However, after making this many, many times - I think it does make a difference in how you add the ingredients. I have found that if you add the ginger ale last, it will keep some of the fizzy bubbles in the punch much longer.

I start with the Kool-aid packet and then add the pineapple juice. Stir in the sugar and add a few scoops of vanilla ice cream (to taste). I usually add more later when these melt a bit.
Then add the ginger ale.  The whole punch bowl will fizz up! Stir a bit and serve immediately.

This recipe also works well completely sugar free. Use Splenda instead of sugar and purchase diet ginger ale & sugar free ice cream. That is what we are going to do this year.


Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

My most favorite music video of all time is from the Piano Guys. While all of their music is wonderful, this one tops them all!

Enjoy!

You can go to YouTube and key in 'The Piano Guys' to listen to more of their wonderful music!

More Christmas Blooms!

Since I have a lot of orchids, my house is full of many different blooming plants at Christmas time. Orchids are really not that hard to care for and they are so pretty to look at when they bloom! In addition to orchids, cactus is in bloom now too. (You really can't get a more easy-care plant than a cactus - anyone can grow one.)

Here are a few other blooms I have been enjoying this December.

Try your hand at some blooming houseplants! Many don't need much care are are so rewarding to display when they bloom!

'Treating' The Poinsettia Plants - Part 3

I wanted to show you how pretty some of my Poinsettia blooms turned out to be. If you recall, I started the 'turning' process on October 1st. It really does take 60 days to get the beautiful red blooms from the plants when you are treating them at home. Here are the two super big ones. I have been 'turning' these at home for quite a few years and I didn't have any problem 'turning' them to get red blooms. (Light differences are because of the different rooms I placed them in - one gets morning sun and the other gets afternoon sun.)

For the baby ones that were only a year old, I got mixed results. One 'turned', but it took 75 days of treatment. This is entirely too long! If it doesn't turn within 60 days next year, I will toss it and get a new one to try. At this rate, it will be New Year's or beyond before it becomes a full, lovely flowering plant!

The other two.... NOTHING! These plants will be tossed in January. If they won't 'work' for their keep, they can't live at my house!

I have already purchased their replacements! I have two new poinsettia plants in small 4in (10.16 cm) pots. They will go into the bigger pots in January. These two currently are living in my bathroom.

I truly am in awe of God's wonder with this plant! (It is still one of my all time favorites - even if I can't get them all to perform for me!) I am quite happy with my work and the beauty they provide!

If you liked this post, you may also like:

Time to 'Treat' the Poinsettia Plants
'Treating' the Poinsettia Plants - Part 2