A Thanksgiving Meme

I saw this Thanksgiving meme over at Jewel's blog called Down in My Little Valley, and I liked it... so... here it is.

1. Which do you like better: cooking at your house, or going elsewhere?

I enjoy cooking in my own home.

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen bird?

Frozen

3. What kind of stuffing?

Definitely cornbread dressing - my Mama's recipe!!

4. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie?

I personally, don't like either, but my husband and son like pumpkin pie.

5. Do you believe that turkey leftovers are a curse, or the point of the whole thing?

Mmmmm..... not a curse, but not the point, either. That would be the ham and dressing LOL!

6. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu?

I think that would probably be broccoli rice casserole, possibly the green bean bundles.

7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock?

NO

8. What do you wish you had that would make preparing Thanksgiving dinner easier?

More stove/oven space!!

9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour?

Well, maybe not the crack of dawn, but early.


10. If you go to somebody else’s house, what’s your favorite dish to bring?

Green bean bundles or No Name Pie (an almost sinfully rich frozen pie)

11. What do you wish one of your guests would not bring to your house? What would you like them to bring?

I don't care for green bean casserole and corn casserole. I definitely vote for more dessert!


12. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you’re happy to see?

Ummmm...... just depends, really.

13. Is your cranberry sauce fresh or canned? Whole or jellied?

We use canned, jellied cranberry sauce. My son will eat it all by itself.

14. What’s your absolute favorite thing on the menu?

My cornbread dressing

15. Share one family tradition.

Oh, dear... I don't think we really have a Thanksgiving tradition, other than the meal itself. Should we get one? Any thoughts... ideas?

Pay It Forward drawing at Debra's place

Just wanted to let everyone know that Debra, at Clothed with Scarlet, is hosting a "Pay it Forward" drawing. Drop by her place and say hi!

29 Years of Life, Laughter and Love

My wonderful husband planned a surprise getaway to the beautiful Brendan Manor Bed & Breakfast, for our 29th anniversary, this weekend.

He ended up having to tell me about it, but that's okay
- I'm still excited and savoring the special time.

We'll be staying in the Sarah Ellen suite, complete with fireplace, tv and huge jet tub. And they provide the most luxurious, wonderful robes - ever!

Thing 1

will take care of

Thing 2

... and there, you have all the makings for a very special, romantic anniversary weekend - the perfect way to celebrate 29 years of life, laughter and love!

A 'Punkin'

Oh, we have just had so much fun!

My husband planned a surprise getaway for next weekend, to a special Bed & Breakfast, for our 29th anniversary. He secretly made arrangements with our daughter and her husband to come pick up our 12 yr old son on Friday, after school, and keep him through Monday, making arrangements with the school to get his work ahead of time. He asked someone to take the service for Sunday. He planned to call my boss and let him know I would miss work on Monday. It was all lined up, and I knew nothing.

Unfortunately, because of a special Christmas event we are planning, and because I was making plans with several different people for Friday and Saturday, he ended up having to tell me about his plans this past Sunday evening.

Then a mischief devil got all over him.

He decided we could have a lot of fun with with Thing 1 (our daughter), who didn't know that he had spilled the beans to me.

So... I called Thing 1 and told her that I had won a special bonus at work and with that windfall, I had managed to get a coveted cabin in Jefferson (oh... I was so excited as I 'shared' with her, my sneaky little plan to whisk away my husband on a special anniversary weekend ... all without his knowledge).

I asked my daughter if she could come get Thing 2 (our son) on Friday and I let her know that we'd have to come back on Sunday, so we'd be by to pick him up on Sunday evening. I so gleefully shared with her that I had arranged for someone to take the service on Sunday, in my husband's place. Getting totally into the part, my voice absolutely vibrated with the sheer, heady excitement of a successfully planned secret that only she and I knew about!! LOL!!

With hesitancy, and a slightly stunned sound in her voice, she asked a few questions... "so.. umm... you're not going to tell him at all about this?.." I assured her that he needed very little at the cabin and I would pack for him and that I just wanted it to be a total surprise for him.

I quickly got off the phone with Thing 1, as my husband, son and I all went into gales of laughter.

A few minutes later my husband called my daughter, only to have her say she'd have to call him back because she was on the phone with Nana (my mother), in Arkansas.

About 30 minutes later, my phone rang. An unnaturally cheerful Thing 1 said "Hi" and asked if I could talk. She proceeded to tell me that she had been busy when I called earlier and had only listened with half an ear, so she just wanted to clarify a few details of my plan (ladies - my heart just sank; where on earth has she learned to lie like this? lol! ) . After briefly going over my 'plan' again, I told her that her dad was wanting to talk to her.

He got on the phone and told her that she'd been punked! She was so relieved! She had called some of our best friends, to ask advice, but had to leave a message. Then she called my mother who was horrified at the predicament, and more than willing to leave it squarely in Thing 1's lap. They did finally decide that since my husband always makes plans and takes the family places, and I never do, that Thing 1 would tell him that he would have to cancel his plans - - and then she planned to hang up the phone and not answer it again. Thing 1 also strictly ordered Nana to 'know nothing about anything' just in case I called to let her in on my exciting plans.

After finishing up discussing and laughing about all the confusion, horror and dread she had experienced, ( she said one of her biggest points of confusion was how on earth I had managed to get the cabin - it's always reserved... and I just called and got it?) she suggested that, just for fun, I go ahead and call my mother to 'share' my special getaway plans with her ... just to get to watch her spit and sputter her way out of knowing anything!

Yep... I think Thing 1 may be a chip off the old block!

Muahahahahahaha!!!!!!

I've Been Tagged!!

Heather, at Things Above, tagged me. I'm supposed to list 15 things that I'm not afraid to admit.

Heather thought this was fun... I'm not sure... well, here goes:

1. I'm 44.

2. I'm actually quite gray.... well, pure white, really.

3. I'm a 'smidgen' over the ideal weight for my height and body frame. (Whew! I crack myself up)

4. I don't like to watch sad movies or read sad books.

5. I can't watch a scary movie unless the sound is off.

6. My home probably wouldn't win a Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

7. I cannot whistle.

8. I have no lips ( okay, now that kind of hurt to admit).

9. I'm addicted to Coca~Cola. It's the REAL THING!!!

10. I'm uncomfortable meeting large groups (you know, anything over 2 or 3) of people.

11. I can't stand for pictures and mirrors to be even slightly uneven; I will fix them... anywhere.

12. I will attempt to break your arm if you screeeeeetch your fork on a plate near me.

13. I tried to crochet once and my mother and sister told me to stick with singing... or reading... or twiddling my thumbs! ( Gotta love that familial support, hmm?)

14. I'm a sap for old-fashioned, sappy, blissfully happy and everything-always-works-out- perfectly-in-the-end kind of books. Usually copyrighted in anywhere between 1850-1940.

15. My family sits around practicing the sinister, deep-throated, villainous 'muahahaha' laugh. In fact, my son is quite impressed with mine.

My job is almost done. Now, I am to tag 5 other, unsuspecting bloggers.

http://www.home-place.blogspot.com
http://www.theblakesthailand.blogspot.com
http://kayemercury.blogspot.com
http://connectingtotoday.blogspot.com
http://downinmylittlevalley.blogspot.com

Help My Awards Come Home

Dear Edie, at Rich Gifts, presented me with three awards, on her blog. Unfortunately, they are still sitting there... I don't seem to be able to get them to come to my blog.

Please visit Edie's blog to see my awards.

I am currently accepting 'donations' to help bring my awards home.

LOL!!

Bridal Shots by Mama

I want to share a few (of the thousands) of my daughter's bridal and wedding pictures.

These are actually shots I took while she was working with the professional photographer.

Over the next few days, I will share some of the professional, but unedited photographs, as well.

Laying in the hall of a huge, beautiful church in North Little Rock

She keeps 'messing up' the 'sultry' pose by grinning LOL!

It's too bad its a little blurry - I thought this was a
very sweet, candid picture.

I created her hat and birdcage veil and made her bridal bouquet and
bridesmaid bouquets (shown above).

Just a traditionally lovely stance

We like unusual shots

You really can't see it from this picture, but
this created an 'eternity' picture in all of the mirrors.

All fresh and perky, starting out the day
After 8 hours of running around North Little Rock, in 102* weather,
we dragged in like drowned rats.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today
November 11, 2008

Outside my window.. It's nighttime, cool and damp. Fall has finally made it to North Texas.

I am thinking... about the wonderful men and women who have served to protect our country and our liberty. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE FOR ME AND AND MY FAMILY.

I am thankful for... God's unending mercy and goodness toward me.

From the kitchen... savory, stuffed bell peppers.

I am wearing... dark red, short- sleeved ribbed t-shirt with sparklies around the neckline, dark blue denim, and black, sequined flip flop sandals.

I am creating... a home filled with love and hospitality... (hopefully).

I am going... to my Bible/book study.

I am reading... a lot of different books, along with a director's book for an interactive Christmas experience.

I am hoping... that it will snow for Christmas. (hey!! simple faith like a child.... !)

I am hearing... the television show my husband has on.

Around the house... trying to use my house to its best advantage for ministry.

One of my favorite things... all things Christmas!!!!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: working on the Christmas event our church will be presenting this year.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Eclectic, mix-match of old dishes for Sunday lunch

If you would like to participate in The Simple Woman's Daybook concept, or to read other daybooks, please visit The Simple Woman

Glimpses of Autumn from my home...

Whirlwind Weekend

Phew! I had a busy, but productive and enjoyable weekend.

Friday night was our church's Harvest of Blessings Festival. We arrived about 4:30 to begin the kitchen set up and to finalize details and left about 10:00, after totally clearing out the sanctuary.

Saturday was going to be a housecleaning day for me, but my husband called around 10:15 and asked me to join him at the church, where he was putting all of the instruments and sound back in order, after it all having been removed to make room for Friday night's fun. Sure.. a couple of hours? - no problem.

Once we got there, he decided to undo every wire that had ever been hooked up and totally revamp the wiring. Then he decided he wanted the platform arranged differently. Then he decided to change the layout of our seating; we use interlocking chairs, so it's fairly easy to change up things. Now, I'm not really fussing about it, because they were all excellent decisions - but it didn't equal a couple of hours.

During some part of all of this, one of the guitarists came in to help, so I ended up vacuuming while there were no chairs in the way, and doing a few other cleaning projects. We left a little after 5:00. It's been a while since I've spent most of Saturday working at the church. It was tiring, but felt good.

However, I had not cleaned at home, yet, and still had some shopping to do for Sunday dinner. So, after dropping off my husband and son, at the church again, for a 6:30 Youth service, I did a grocery run. I went home and began cleaning and preparing for my daughter's birthday meal.

I decided to do a special dinner and brought out some of my china, silver and antique glass serving pieces. I chose to use my mother-in-law's wedding china, Swirling Leaves, which I loved from the moment I laid eyes on it around 29 years ago.

She passed away a little over 2 years ago, so it was very special getting to make a beautiful table presentation with it. I love the simplicity and warmth of the place setting directly on the dark wood of the table. I wish I had taken a picture after the table was set and ready to serve. Hindsight, you know...sigh

The only bad part about using the 'good' stuff is that everything I used had to be washed by hand. Every dish, every bowl, every piece of silverware. Still, it was very rewarding as I washed each beautiful piece, to know that I was able to create a lovely birthday celebration for my equally lovely daughter.

It was a busy weekend, rather than a relaxing one, but it still was a good weekend.

Some of the fun from our Harvest of Blessings Festival

I decorated the foyer. There is a scarecrow and bunch of
little blackbirds, haystacks and leaves in the
window sill

I manned the Pin the Hat on the Scarecrow game

A slightly older than normal participant
having to perform the 'scarecrow dance'
I created in order to disorient the players.
(Mhuahahahahaha, as myadhdme likes to say)

One older kid (not pictured) knew exactly
how to do it...you could see it in his eyes...
he saw the velcro... he was gonna cheat.
So, while we were 'doing the dance',
I just moved him out ever so slightly to a different area
so that he ended up pinning the hat on the doors
you see in the above picture.

His parents loved it!

The little cheerleader in the back thinks I look like
her Mimi. She attended last year and said the very same thing.
So I told her I didn't have any grandkids yet
and that she could call me Mimi if she wanted to.
( I have a son only about 5 years older than her!) LOL!

It was a great night. We are seeing repeat visitors from different
outreaches and we're being able to connect with some of them
in other ways and times.

God is good!