Thanksgiving Update

Oh how a Mother's emotions are in overdrive on a holiday.  Anyway mine are.  It was the best of times but I was so lonely for my son Mike who was unable to make it to our dinner.  He worked on Thanksgiving and on Friday, making a trip home impossible.  We were able to face time with Mike and Amanda, and son Jon and Charlotte didn't come until right after dinner was almost over.  Kristen missed her brothers too, saying how it was weird being home without them.

The star of the show was Penny, and we got in as much fun as possible during her 5 day visit.  We built a little snowman, named Olaf, of course...

 She was chief pie inspector......

 and she was a wiz at putting cloves into oranges for our centerpiece. Penny is amazing, smart, funny, kind and sweet.  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed her company.

 Penny was my constant companion, willing to help, loving my company and being all around wonderful.

 I accidentally baked the bread at 250 instead of 350, then had to bake it for 20 minutes longer at the right temperature.  Turned out fine.  Not a piece was left the next morning. (A leftover raid after Grandma pooped out.) The other casualty was the spinach for the spinach dip.  I grabbed a dishtowel off of the island that unfortunately had the drained and squeezed spinach in it.  It fell on the floor, and no five second rule when it comes to feeding my family.  I think they ate the spinachless dip with chips, so it all worked out.;-)

 I managed a photo, well, after most everyone had helped themselves.  I'd never made mac and cheese for Thanksgiving, but everyone liked it.  There was so much food some stayed on the island...

TEN pounds of mashed potatoes and a salad with pecans, cranberries, pears and feta on Romaine.  I was so eager to get everything to the table that I completely forgot to take the desserts out of the freezer before dinner so they could get to room temperature.  I can say that no teeth were broken on the frozen cookies, pumpkin mini cheesecakes or the apple cheese cake bars.  The pumpkin pie was just in the refrigerator so at least that was ready.  Everyone had a great time, stayed all evening and was stuffed!

We had about 17 guests and company on Friday that finished off the desserts.  Penny ate a half dozen  home made pierogi while she was here! (I stopped counting how many cookies ;-)

Now the big news... Kris and Doug found a apartment in Chicago and signed a lease!  They are very excited, and I am over the moon happy.  Sometime in January they will become residents of Chicago!
Now the sad news, Mike is moving!  His Amanda took a job in Ohio, so he will be moving AGAIN!  The Lord giveth...  So, as Maya Angelou said, "If you don't like something, change it.  If you can't change it, change your attitude."  So I'm dealing with a little attitude adjustment, hoping to help Mike in this move, if not physically, with my support and love.

That's about it my friends.  Christmas will be here, Penny will be back, I hope to have Mike back someday this December for a visit, and the  road to Ohio will become familiar to us.  Life will be amazing having my Kristen and Doug and my baby grand less than an hour away.  Life is good and I am forever grateful. Twenty three days to prepare the way...  I'm looking forward to everyday of the preparation.  How about you?  Enjoy this beautiful day.

This is Thanksgiving

 Families close-gathered

With love-gentled faces,

 Memories of friendships

And warm, special places,

 Heads bowed in prayer

With hand touching hand,

 The smile-to-smile message

Each heart understands...

 This is togetherness,

Sharing and living--

This is true happiness...

This is Thanksgiving.

-Richie Tankersley

Sending love to all of my friends near and far.  Grateful for your friendship and love.  Spending time with family this week, and will be enjoying every minute of each beautiful day.  Hope you will be doing the same.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us At Home in English Valley.

Weekend Update, Tuesday Edition

 The pond at Mount Crumpet was frozen on Saturday.

 Some green still on the trees...

 Thin sheets of ice will be growing in thickness as these cold temperatures linger.

A busy day, starting at Ikea,  We had a problem table in our living room.  It was a wrought iron base with a beveled glass top, a sofa table.  With a small girl coming for a extended visit, a table that was always a worry, started looking more like an accident waiting to happen.  We decided on this table, higher, with more display space and two drawers.  A smaller version of our buffet in the dining room.

Funny how quickly we made this purchase thinking of  her safety.  We also did a little Christmas shopping for the same small girl. Baby grand will be getting her own  Ikea kitchen stocked with pots, pans and accessories!

In the neighborhood they haven't picked up the leaves from the streets yet.  Now they are mounds covered in snow.

The snow was still falling today.  So many things yet to do. All the shopping for food is complete, next some baking so someone will have my undivided attention next week. The house is ready, now just hoping and praying for good weather and that Mike won't be scheduled to work on Thanksgiving. I just want all my kids under the same roof  for even just a hour...nothing would make me happier. Still I am so grateful for so many blessings.  Especially for my family.

It will be hit or miss as far as posting for the next two weeks,  Thanks so much for stopping by, and for your kindness and friendship.  It means the world to me.  Enjoy this beautiful day.

Penny

This and That

 Check out this beautiful graphic.  A free download here.  Hung in a plastic frame painted with chalk paint.

 My tiny kitchen table is a mess of projects...These glittery butterflies are getting a vintage makeover.  .

Jean, close your eyes..., They NEED MORE GLITTER!

 We solved the problem, the problem is solved.  If you are hip to Peg plus Cat I'm sure you were singing along.(One of babygrand's favorite shows on PBS) Long ago when we had the stairs carpeted and installed on the landing,  we removed the iron railing that kept little people from going over.  Since we now have a small person who will be visiting often, (WOOOHOO!) we needed to take a permanent step.  Thanks to an idea from Pinterest, we installed this bookcase at the edge of the stairs.  A few screws and an L bracket and we are in business. It is also a great place for the books that seem to multiply daily and honey's poker chip collection. A few books for the small one and a little chair I painted long ago will make a place for our baby girl to quietly read books that once belonged to her Mommy.

 The fruits of my labor, seven jars of cinnamon almonds (one was sent to a friend) and the dried orange slices. Feels good to have a few things for the holiday complete.

 Veteran's Day sale at the thrift.  All bedding 50% off.  This queen sized quilt, $5!

Washed and ready for a snuggle, a fort, a picnic, a tea party.  I have a one track mind.  Enjoy this beautiful day my friends.

Veteran's Day

Remembering my Dad today on Veteran's Day.  Also my Uncles Vic, Sam and Hank and my cousin Butch who all served our country. Dad rarely talked about his service.  He was too young during the war to serve but went to Europe after the war.  He served in the Army in Germany and France.  I know that France made an impression on him and I always think there is a story there that was never told, at least to me.  Today we honor all who served..

My house smelled delicious when I dried some oranges in the oven, (too lazy to set up the dehydrator) and made up a batch of cinnamon almonds in the crock pot.  The oranges are for simmering potpourri and the almonds...well I need to get them out of the house as soon as possible! Yum.  Gifts for the holidays.

Enjoy this beautiful day.