My ex's mother, who was of German descent made a dish she just called "Glas". It was a way to use up the "drippings" from fried meats instead of making them into gravy. I was just thinking of this a few days ago as I was hungry for it, and trying to remember exactly how it went, as I haven't made it in years. I may have written it down, but I doubt it. When you mentioned heavy dumplings, that was what zoomed into my mind. Mostly I remember her making it after a squirrel meal, or maybe chicken. She used boiled potatoes, cubed up and diced onions turned into the skillet of fat and then added those wonderful little klunker dumplings and the whole mess was fried. I'm just smiling, as they lived on an eighty acre "subsistance" farm and big breakfasts were necessary to stoke you up for your day ahead. You needed those calories and nobody got fat off of them. I can only remember eating this when it was cold outside. The dumplings were not meant to puff up and be airy. You had to chew them good. LOL. Now, my g'ma who was English made her puddings boiled in muslin wraps. My father was especially hungry for apple dumplings and one day I attempted to duplicate Grandma's. What a blinking chore to make the pastry and then wrap them. It takes an act of faith to boil a pudding, and it has more to do with being an old receipt than being English. In the old days, it was just easier to wrap them in muslin and boil them on the stove than to take to steaming in those uncertain wood stoked ovens, and she generally cooked for a small army. So, this is how I make my Plum Pudding. My English son in law just raises he eyebrows, because that isn't the way his mother makes her plum pudding. Why? Because my pudding is made the same way it was made by my family a hundred years ago and then some. His mother shared with me she doesn't even make her own anymore. LOL. She buys them. This year I am not making minced meat. I have some still I canned a few years ago and some in my freezer. I still use suet and beef in mine, and that is also something you don't see much anymore. It makes a huge stoneware crock-full and costs a small fortune to steep up a batch. But, when you bite into it, you know you are eating something special. No,to make a long story short I don't know what you call your dish. But, it's so wonderful to resurrect those old dishes now and again and enjoy them. It should be a hint to anyone who still cooks old family dishes to write it down for posterity. You just never know what generation down the road might want to try it someday.

Since you have so many plans and dreams, maybe something like Dreamy Acres or Dreamland Woods? or Hopes and Dreams Hollow (Hopes n Dreams Hollow). But you don't want it to sound like your hopes and dreams are hollow (not coming to fruition). OMG, I just looked at this definition ! (warning, if I ever name my place I may use this word, but I will only be in the south, north too cold for me): Fruition: fru÷i÷tion noun 1. the point at which a plan or project is realized. "the plans have come to fruition sooner than expected" fulfillment, realization, actualization, materialization, achievement, attainment, accomplishment, resolution; More 2. literary the state or action of producing fruit.

Sad that you have to go through this. I agree that if possible, move. Does your occupation make it possible for a transfer? Can you get letters of recommendation from your company and supervisor? With the economy, it would be rough to sell a home, start a new job, and have a whole new life. I wondered if you and your wife can sit down with your FIL and just tell him it has to stop. I doubt it will work as it appears she has been this way for years and he just ignores her. It would effect him though in not seeing the grand children due to her. Another thought is the pastor. I'm sure this would be no surprise to him. Perhaps if he would talk to her about "family", those who make up that group and their responsibilities. She's crossed the line too many times with her bossy selfish ways. She's pushing her family away and is going to lose them I'd change the locks, put up a fence with a lock and a large dog. I'd have my telephone number changed to a non published where no one can get it. I'd make it clear to my employer and whoever I gave it to, it was not to be given out to anyone. I'd even tell my employer my FIL was not to have it as MIL is the problem. If a cell phone, I'd change that too. If I saw her and she started pitching a fit, I'd tell her she's overbearing, sticking her nose in your family's business trying to control everyone and everything. NO MORE and walk away. If after time she has given it some serious thought and making an effort, I might allow a visit but nothing else. The only other alternative is tie her hands so she can't call, and duct tape her mouth to keep her quiet. Of course you'd get arrested so not really an option. Good Luck. I just couldn't live that way. Lynn

Don't know what you ended up doing, but my vote is go for it. ( PS We had an (unstained) ikea beech counter for 10 yrs and I loved it.) Walnut and marble.