Christmas Notebook

DH and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary this week by visiting Wine Country Gardens. We’ve been there several times in the past seven or eight years. We’ve purchased quite a few daylilies from them. This year we picked up only two new ones, but it’s hard to find something different when you have more daylily varieties in your yard than the nursery carries. 🙂

We had lunch at the nursery which has a nice cafe. The food was delicious (I had a great chicken salad on wonderful herb bread). I must say, their creamy coleslaw with apples was also delicious. I’d love to have that recipe. The dressing had a tiny bit of a spicy bite to it. I couldn’t put my finger on it. The view from the restaurant is supreme! The nursery is located at the top of a hill and overlooks a wide valley.

The veranda used to hold all kinds of unique containers filled with beautiful flowers and greenery. I was disappointed to find they no longer make those, as I had planned to take some pictures for ideas. The veranda and terrace are still beautiful places to rest and enjoy the wonderful view.

The nursery has a few golf carts the customers may use to visit the daylily fields. I drove, DH got in and out to check out the names of ones we liked. The nursery needs to do a better job of labeling them. There were four or five we did not purchase as we didn’t know the names.

We enjoyed our visit there. On the way home we stopped at Red Lobster for supper. We haven’t eaten there for probably 20 years. The meal was good and we’re glad we tried it. I’ve made “Red Lobster” Cheddar Bay biscuits at home in the past, using this recipe.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits
2 cups Bisquick baking mix
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (not garlic salt)
parsley flakes

Combine the biscuit mix, milk and cheese and stir for about 30 seconds.
Spoon onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Bake 450*F for 8-10 minutes.
Combine butter and garlic powder and brush over hot biscuits. Sprinkle with parsley.

I have to say, the biscuits at Red Lobster last night were NOT even close to being as good as the ones I made at home. I couldn’t find a trace of cheddar cheese in the biscuits we had last night and they were not as dense as I thought they should be. But overall, the meal was quite good. Not like having fresh seafood in Florida, but good. 🙂

We crossed the Mississippi River coming and going. The flooding is supposed to be cresting about now, though more rain to the north could send another crest next week.

In our own garden, it was fitting that the first flower out on the daylily ‘Forever Loving You’ opened on our anniversary. 🙂

DH is the best. He’s hard working, loving, kind and considerate, sacrificing for me and for our family. I thank God for him every day. Thirty one years encompasses a lot…good and bad, easy and hard…but we wouldn’t have it any other way. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) The perspective of thirty-plus years is a great vantage point from which to see the truth in that verse.

~~Rhonda