Day Three Hundred Thirty Four 2013

Off to the Christmas tree farm today ~ our annual after-Thanksgiving quest to find The Tree. Beautiful day for it, too.

The family who owns this tree farm is looking to retire, so they haven’t planted new trees in several years. The selection is dwindling, especially for the tree we like the best which is the white pine.

Neil tagged the tree to chop down later ~ in about two weeks. There wasn’t much to choose from this time and we weren’t thrilled with our choice, but I always tell Neil they’re all beautiful when you get them decorated. Love the smell of a fresh white pine in the house, even if it makes for stopped up noses. It’s all part of the Christmas experience.

Day Three Hundred Thirty Three 2013

What’s the opposite of Thanksgiving food? Mexican food at El Tapatio, where grandson Knox amused himself with his trains. And, of course, wearing a napkin on your head is always a hoot. It’s Black Friday. Did you hit the sales before the sun came up this morning? I did not. Sleeping late is so much more fun. Happy TGIF!

Day Three Hundred Thirty Two 2013

T   hanks for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.
H  for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday.
A  for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart.
N  for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember.
K  for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon.
S  for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that about. That spells THANKS for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving.
~Aileen Fisher, All in a Word

Daughter Kelly and son in law Kerry and grandson Knox hosted Thanksgiving today in their new/old home which is graced with high ceilings and large rooms. Kerry sets a lovely table, doesn’t he?

Kelly ~ our hostess with the mostess. Thanks to you and Kerry for making it all just right.

We are blessed with good cooks in this family. Our yummy menu included turkey and dressing, ham, sweet potato casserole, broccoli and cheese casserole, garlic grit casserole, fried corn, green beans, peas, mashed potatoes, gravy, deviled eggs, frozen cherry salad, cranberry sauce, rolls, sweet tea, and for dessert chocolate pie, pumpkin pie, and cupcakes.

Kerry lights the candles on the table for a little turkey day ambience.

Eleven family members gathered around the table this year. Front and center is granddaughter Shelby, to her left and around the table are grandson Knox, daughter Kelly, brother in law Terry, sister Ann, hubby Neil, son in law Kerry, son in law Jerry, daughter Holly, and grandson Elijah. We all enjoyed this good time fellowship and marvelous feast and a lot of laughter.

I guess this says it all. We are so rich with blessings. Too many to count. Thanks to God for all of them and especially today for loving family and full bellies. Happy Thanksgiving!

Day Three Hundred Thirty One 2013

I’ll Fly Away




I heard the honking overhead from our backyard this afternoon and stood there in the cold, watching them because they’re fun to watch. This flock of Canadian geese flew back and forth and around in circles, I suppose waiting for a leader to emerge. They finally formed a clumsy V and flew away, heading south. Seems a little late in the year to be migrating to warmer climes, however, it does sound like a smart idea on a day like today. Better late than never.

Day Three Hundred Thirty 2013

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.  ~W.T. Ellis

This week may be turkey season, but one little boy’s heart and mind are filled with thoughts of Santa season. Grandson Elijah got down to business this afternoon and made out a Christmas wish list and stuck it to the fridge ~ suggestions for me and Grandpa to refer to when it comes time to do some Christmas shopping. Thanks, Elijah Man! Your list will be a big help to us.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Nine 2013

Ssshh!  Be very very quiet. I’m hunting turkeys. [Bagged a twenty-pounder!]

Day Three Hundred Twenty Eight 2013

On days like today, with temps in the 20s, we’d freeze in this old house without our trusty wood stove to keep up toasty. Something else to be thankful for with winter just around the corner.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Six 2013

The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy.
~John F. Kennedy

A dreary day of sad remembrance on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. If you happened to be alive on that day back in 1963 and were over the age of five, you probably remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news of his death. My memory is much the same as most school kids back then. I was 10 years old, sitting with my classmates at Capshaw Elementary School, working on our language assignment in Mrs. Bilbrey’s 5th grade classroom. The principal came on the intercom and announced that the president had been shot and had died. I don’t remember his exact words. I do remember feeling shocked and scared and watching my teacher’s face fill with sorrow. She took off her glasses and put a hand over her face. We didn’t get out of school early. I remember recess later and sitting on the jungle gym with other classmates and talking about what had happened. I have no idea what we said. Life moves on pretty quickly when you’re ten. We watched his funeral on TV. Felt so sad for his pretty wife and two little children. One thousand days in office. Did he make a positive difference while he was president? Yes. Was America better off after he died? Probably not.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Five 2013

Picture Postcards From My Big Back Yard




Autumn is the hush before winter. ~French Proverb

Day Three Hundred Twenty Four 2013

WEDNESDAY this and that

Neil and I went for a walk around the block after our Slim Fast lunch today ~ this hill gets your heart pumpin’

Grandson Elijah after school telling me about his day

Ray of light kind of day ~ sky was so blue

Also a doughnut kind of day ~ Ralph’s rules!

Also a pizza kind of day ~ supper with peeps at Mamma Rosa’s ~ Granddaughter Shelby ready for a bite of pepperoni

My ooey gooey cheesy mushroom pizza dripping off the plate ~ yummalicious. Wednesday was pretty tasty. Was yours?

Day Three Hundred Twenty Three 2013

Zephaniah 3:17  (NIV)

“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”

I bought this framed piece of needlework at Santa’s Workshop this past weekend. The ladies who create these little pieces of primitive art have a great selection, making it hard to choose just one. What sold me was the verse. It’s a comfort for me to know that my God is a mighty warrior who saves. So many blessings in that one small verse: God is with me, He saves me, He delights in me (of all people!) and one version says He will be silent and make no mention of past sins, or even recall them, and He rejoices over me (with singing!). Now that is something to be thankful for.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Two 2013

"Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to Spring." -  Anonymous

Day Three Hundred Twenty One 2013

I bought this beautiful  rolling pin today at Santa’s Workshop. It was handcrafted by a guy named Phillip Cooper, who started out making pens and has since branched into other useful items such as ice cream scoops, cutting boards, and of course these great rolling pins. This one is made out of walnut, maple, and cherry. He can make things like this to order, if you’re interested. Here is his website:  http://www.cooperspens.com/  I  might have to make some Christmas cookies from scratch this year just so I can roll some dough with this pretty thing.

Day Three Hundred Twenty 2013

Ever Lovin’ Saturday













Lazy windy gray Saturday. Good day to read and rake a few leaves and make some stew and hang out with peeps. How was your day?

Day Three Hundred Nineteen 2013

Knox and Grandpa chillin’ out together, watching Thomas The Train on Netflix. Good times on a Friday evening. Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Three Hundred Eighteen 2013

Another golden November day ~ the Autumn leaves are fading fast.

"The spirits of the air live on the smells
Of fruit; and joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees."
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;
Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load."
~William Blake, To Autumn

Day Three Hundred Seventeen 2013

Grandsons Knox and Elijah shared a snack and a TV show this afternoon after school. Elijah is the only kid I know who likes shredded mini wheats [the frosted kind]. Knox picked out and ate all of the colorful Lucky Charms marshmallows and left the cereal in the bowl. It’s all sweet on a happy hump day.

Day Three Hundred Sixteen 2013

HAPPY 37TH BIRTHDAY, KELLY!


Daughter Kelly celebrated her [hot pink!] 37th birthday today [and it snowed today just as it did 37 years ago which added a nice touch to the celebration]. We enjoyed a fun party at Kelly and Kerry and Knox’s new/old house with yummy cake, ice cream, and punch [and presents of course]. I wonder how long it’s been since that hundred year old house has heard that many loud voices and so much laughter. Wishing our snow baby a happy birthday and a wonderful life filled with lots of love and many many more good time celebrations. Your dad and I love you!!

Day Three Hundred Fifteen 2013

Happy Veterans Day to all the men and women, past and present, who serve this country in the armed forces and keep America the land of the free and the home of the brave.