We have been enjoying a change of scenery the past several days. Our journey started out with two vans as we moved my mom to my sister, Julie’s, home near Logan, Iowa. Mom likes her van with her as she still enjoys driving to the towns around when the weather cooperates with good roads and warmer temps. After getting her settled in, we proceeded toward Lincoln, Nebraska, to see an old childhood friend. Then onward to Arapahoe, Nebraska, to stay a couple days with our foster daughter, Darla, and her husband, John.
God had other plans as the blizzard started to roll in. Because we would have been driving right into the storm, we chose to stay put for a couple extra days. We enjoyed our time with some movies, playing board games, and snacking in between! By the time we continued on toward Colorado, the roads were still a little slushy, but quickly dried off and we had good traveling.
Both Parker, Colorado, and then Colorado Springs brought us some good visiting with a cousin and another high school friend. Every place we landed we enjoyed good food, great hospitality, and enough laughter to brighten each day. We enjoy looking up relatives and good friends as we travel across country. Driving through Colorado was so beautiful. They had snow too, but by that time the sunshine was bright, the sky blue, and the mountains were brilliant with color from the trees and rocky soil.
We headed south on Interstate 25, soon to enter New Mexico, where the mountains added a beautiful red color. Raton, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque all were in our path. We saw many herds of cattle, and acres of grassland mixed with desert rock and bushes. Coming from the rich black soil of southwest Minnesota, one wonders how anything is grown there! But it is beautiful in its own right, and we sure did enjoy the ride.
Soon we were headed west on Interstate 40, through Gallup, New Mexico, and onward into our final destination of Arizona. We toyed with going to Flagstaff, but chose to head south instead at Holbrook, and continued through the area of Payson, Arizona. Such a pretty drive, with hills, curves, pine trees, and a great road. Eventually we were right in the heart of Mesa, and stopped once again to see good friends in Sun City, Arizona, for a couple days. Sandi and I grew up in the little town of Bigelow all of our childhood years, and our friendship holds many secrets! Our husbands, Jim and Dan, joined right in the laughter of our reminiscing. In the middle of all that we learned a new card game, “Golf”. Relaxing and fun times.
We are now in Yuma, Arizona, at our daughter, Ranell’s home. My brother, Jeff, and his wife, Jane, also live in this community. We will spend time with both while we are here, besides seeing other friends and relatives who reside around the area. Usually we fly out here for a short visits, but this time we enjoyed the drive ourselves. It is nice to be able to stop and see people and sights along the way. Tonight we are entertaining some of Ranell’s friends for supper, and we just put a chicken dish into the oven. It smells delicious, and I thought you might enjoy it too. It is simple to put together.
Quick and Easy Chicken Casserole
4 boneless chicken breasts (can still be frozen)
4 slices of American or Swiss cheese
1 can cream soup ( celery…mushroom…or chicken )
1 box of dry stuffing mix
1 stick melted butter ( or less if you choose)
Place breasts in an oblong baking dish. Place a slice of cheese on each breast.
Spread undiluted soup over the top of the meat. Sprinkle stuffing mix over the top.
Drizzle the melted butter over all and bake at 350 degrees. ( 1 hour if meat is thawed. 1 1/2 hours if frozen.)
Enjoy! It should warm up your kitchen and your stomach on these cold winter days.
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