Aunt Linda's Cocoa Gravy Recipe

Some people would get out of bed only for coffee.  There are two things that will make me hop out of bed with great joy early in the morning*:

1. A new box of cereal (any flavor I like, just a new one)

2. Aunt Linda's Cocoa Gravy

*This list is NOT in order of importance

This recipe tastes best at her house, made in the same bowl she has made it in since nineteen eighty something.  

Aunt Linda's Cocoa Gravy

Ingredients:

Can of biscuits - bake as directed while you make the gravy

2/3 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of cocoa

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/4 cups milk

Set aside:

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Mix everything but butter and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl

Microwave 3 minutes, stir, microwave and stir at 1 minute intervals until thick

Add butter and vanilla

Gravy only serves 4 and is 323 calories per serving

Christmas 2018

We stayed in Portland for Christmas this year because we are headed to vacation a few days later. 

- Christmas Eve - 

 Joe's best friend from college has a wife (who was Joe's friend and roommate before she got the boyfriend who ended up being Joe's bestie and her husband).  They came to town from Vermont to see her parents for the holiday and we got invited to the family Christmas Eve dinner on a houseboat!

Joe's other love

Joe spotted these on the sofa, they were stitched by a family member in '94!  They are Prairie Schooler Santa's

- Christmas Day - 

We went to Christmas dinner at our friend's house in Scapoose, Oregon.  We were about 15 minutes from the houseboat but an hour from home.  We drove two hours each day for these gatherings with loved ones and it was worth it!

This is Lulu - quite possibly the most spoiled dog in the world.

Joe smoked a turkey and Shawna made all of the sides.

I made this cranberry Christmas smell concoction and I swear it smelled like throw-up.  I hated it! 

- December 28 - 

We headed to Fort Meyer's, FL to start our Christmas vacation.  First, time with Joe's fam (and I took no pictures).  Next, Bahamas!

Shakey Graves

I didn't take that many pictures, but on Tuesday we went to see Shakey Graves with Gabby.  We went to dinner at LeChon and then headed to the theater.

   

Black Friday

I headed in to ROgers for lunch and brewery time

Had lunch with my long-time friend Daniel.  It was great to catch up and I was lucky enough to be the first friend to know that he and his wife are expecting.

Spotted the cross stitch in the wild

I went to Ozark Brewing with Whitney and fam.  We had cheese dip, from a crock pit, so homey!

Woke up to beautiful blue skies.  Such a beautiful view and a home I am never happy to leave.

A quick stop by my old elementary school - this is a standard stop for me