Just Say'n...

I love Halloween. I think it’s a fun holiday that brings out your inner rock star or gives you the chance to be something different…out of character, even if for just a day. Plus you get candy to boot. Nothing wrong with that.

Then BAM, we’re into Christmas??!??

While I’ve never been much of a Christmas person. I am seeing it differently now that I’m a Mom. I am working at finding the magic of it each day. However, I think it is commercialized to the hilt and that it can be difficult to see the magic through all the extra hustle and bustle, the increase in traffic, the over-stocked shelve and crowded isles. It becomes so easy to loose sight of that little baby. I mean that is what created this holiday, right? That tiny baby, in that far off land…born in a barn. Any of this ringing a bell? I think that story gets a little misplaced sometimes when the grouchy driver is blowing his horn or the snarky sales clerk grunts at you.

Anyway, all of that aside there is a holiday that’s falls between the two. Anyone? Anyone??

I know, I know, it doesn’t get much attention. Well, I mean how much can you commercialize a day about food? It’s about food isn’t it? Oh, wait, no, that’s why there is so little attention to the day. There aren’t too many ways for someone to make a buck. Unless you’re a grocery store but everyone eats all year round anyway so not a huge difference here.

They don’t write songs for it. (That’s why the Christmas music starts the day after Halloween). There’s no over packaged candy or treat. No magical fairy tail land to make a movie about. But it is something deserving of a little attention. So, while you’re eating your “fun size” candy out of that black and orange wrapper and listening to How Grandma got run over by a reindeer, take a minute to be grateful. Think about something you have struggled through and overcome. Think about a new friend you made. Think about those who have sacrificed so you could have more. Think about the things you are grateful for and it will help you get ready for the next holiday. The one about that baby.



Meanwhile, from Me



The Hubby...

And our three little turkeys...

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Grateful

First off I want to thank everyone for your kind words and your jewelry orders during this year’s open house. Greatly appreciated!!!

I also want to thank you for visiting this blog, leaving your comments and building our virtual world friendships. I have fun writing this blog and reading your feedback. It’s been fun getting to know some of you.

I wan t to wish you all a safe and very Happy Thanksgiving.

Here’s to you…



It’s a Pumpkin Martini.



I started searching for recepies weeks ago but couldn’t come up with one I liked. There are several out there and they’re all just a little different. Some call for cream other say rum. Most all of them say vodka but they want you to use pumpkin flavored vodka or to get pumpkin syrup. Both are very hard to find. I even stopped at Starbuck’s to see if they would sell me some Pumpkin syrup. They have it for their drinks but that is one flavor they don’t sell. (What???) Ok whatever.

Here’s what I came up with and it seems to be pretty good. (Hubby and I had one last night)

While you get your ingredients, chill your glass with some ice water.

2 oz vodka
1 oz of Pumpkin flavored eggnog (or pumpkin pie coffee creamer)
t. Brown sugar
½ t. Pumpkin pie spice

Pour everything into a shaker.
Dump water out of glass. Dip your finger into some eggnog and run it around the rim of the glass. In a dish sprinkle some brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice and rim your glass. Shake the drink and pour it into you glass. Garnish with some nutmeg or a cinnamon stick.

Cheers!!!

Time to move on...

Flip the page on the calendar. It’s November. Time to get ready for Thanksgiving. As much as I love Halloween, I also hold a pretty soft spot in my heart for Thanksgiving.

It’s a no pressure holiday. You don’t need to buy a special outfit or get a gift that someone will only return or stick in a drawer to be forgotten. You come together with friends and family and share a meal. You spend time thinking about what is important to you and the things that you are grateful for.

Some good food. A little wine. A slice of pumpkin pie.

Better start getting ready.




The big spider has been taken down.




The little spiders have been chased away.

All the bones have been collected.

Jack-o-lanterns and sculls are accounted for.

No more haunted house. The ghosts will have to go away until next year.

It’s turkey time.

It’s time to pull on a sweater and heat up some cider.

It’s time to pull out the cookbooks and gather the recipe cards.

Can you smell all the yummy food??

Gobble gobble

Be Thankful!

Among many other things, I am thankful…

For all things pumpkin
For baby toes (yum)
To live in a place where I can make choices (any choice I want)
For coffee
For all the good people in my life
For my health
For wine
For my smart, handsome, funny, patient, loving, husband
For my three little monsters and their wonderful imagination

Happy Thanksgiving to you

Finally...

I think I'm back into the blog world now.
Sorry to be out for so long but I got my butt kicked. I’ve been sick for well over 3 weeks. It started as the flu and now I’m taking meds to battle bronchitis. I feel slightly better but I’m still waiting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and get my energy back.

OK, enough whining, it’s time to be thankful.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I however, host a huge Thanksgiving feast the Saturday before Thanksgiving. I do it now so that my extended family has the chance to all come together and celebrate one another and then they are also free to go and visit with other friends, family, and in-laws on the actual holiday.

As an only child and a latch key kid to a single working Mother I spent a good deal of time alone. Thanksgiving to me is a time for everyone to come together. I have always enjoyed the noise and energy of having a house full of people and listening to the stories and laughter. I like that commercialism has not been able to take over this holiday. There’s no worry about getting the right gift or trying to make someone happy. For one day we can put aside dysfunctional family stuff, bite our tongues and be together. All you have to do is show up and eat. Yum. I’ve always loved having all this wonderful food around. We used to eat, go back for seconds and then after the dishes were washed we would start pulling things out again for a munch fest.

This year’s menu looks like this…

Turkey (seasoned with rosemary, sage, parsley, thyme and an orange)
Gravy
Dried Cherry and Sausage Stuffing
Cranberry Sauce
Salad
Apple and Rice Medley
Fancy Mac-n-cheese
Broccoli Bake
And Baked Potato Soup

And with out a doubt there will be Pumpkin rolls, Pumpkin Pie and a Berry Pie.

Keep your eyes open; I’ll be posting the recipes over the next several days.
Time to go greet my guests.

While I feast why don't you tell me about your favorite Thanksgiving food.