“Keep Digging With A Smile”

Six-year-old Johnny longed for, prayed and dreamed about getting a pony for his birthday. In his eyes, he truly NEEDED a pony. Uncle Jim knew all about Johnny’s dream. But he also was very aware of the prohibitive cost. Being a realist, he despised the weak, hopeful attitude of his nephew.

Sausage Balls

Ingredients 1 pound ground pork sausage 2 cups biscuit baking mix 1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded Directions 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) 2) In a large bowl, combine sausage, biscuit baking mix and cheese.

Elegant Pork Loin Roast

Ingredients 1 (4 pound) boneless pork loin ¼ cup Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 1 ½ cups apple juice, divided 1 cup pitted prunes 1 cup dried apricots ¾ cup red wine ¼ cup packed brown sugar 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 2 teaspoons cornstarch Directions 1) Preheat oven to...

Favorite Old Fashioned Gingerbread

Ingredients ½ cup white sugar ½ cup butter ½ cup butter 1 egg 1 cup molasses 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup hot water Directions 1) Preheat...

Best Toffee Ever

Ingredients 2 cups butter 2 cups white sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup finely chopped almonds Directions 1) In a large heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the butter is melted.

Family Discussions

Something for Christmas Christmas was coming and again Pop had no extra money for gifts. The children did not complain. They had gone to the woods, brought home a tree, and decorated it with hand-made decorations. Lisa had made a paper chain out of colored paper and old newspaper clippings.

Thinking Out Loud

Misty Fog Of Grieving in 2021 With the death of a parent (and really, of any close family member, or best friend), a strange silence, or 'a heavy misty fog', may irresistibly descend upon, and eerily engulf, one's thinking and perception.

“Just. Don’t. Do. It”

Accustomed to spending Christmas Day packed with beloved family, or close friends? Or a mixture of both, in a freefor-all party of fun and food? Now it is true, most of us do have a person who is a – um – least favorite relative, but we tolerate even them on that special holiday for a few hours.

55 years ago...a blast from the past

This snow in 1965 brought enough ice with it that parking rules went out the window.

Dire economic realities faced by thousands of Oklahomans

Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans are entering the holiday season with anxiety of how they’ll pay for food, rent and common household expenses, new federal data shows.