Thanksgiving started early

well, when I am hosting,  Thanksgiving always starts early.

This year a friend gave me a hint...some things can be made days ahead and frozen.
Done.

The table can be set, as soon as you know how many will be gathering
Done

But wait...someone brought a beautiful arrangement Wednesday evening....

  The table is looking even better

What do you think..... torches to light the path !! 

And our little man has made a thankful tree.
Each guest will take a card, write what he is thankful for 
and place it on the tree

like this

and I could never get everything made and on the table without help

And here she is..my youngest, very organized, energetic and adorable girl
After years of taking her week of  " kitchen helper"  she is very at home in our home

Sorry to say, this is the best group picture  ↓
Please note some guests are wearing crowns.
   The cutest is our friend on the left...white hair and blue crown. She is from Scotland and she is very familiar with the tradition of poppers.  Each popper pops ( sort of a loud snap ) and contains a crown, a surprise and a joke ( it varies ) 

Turkey, ham, dressings (3 ) rolls ( and biscuits )gravy, deviled eggs, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, sparkling cider, desserts ( 3 + ) and of course, coffee
( we do not do those Mid-west green beans )

This work of art was as delicous as it looks
the photo does not do it justice
you will have to take my word for it
( I can verify next week, our guest left 1/4 here and it's in the freezer ) 

a place to sit and be challenged - the only teenager almost finished this on his own
Also, he is the young man who answered the question
What is your favorite part of thanksgiving ?....
" the people"

This year we had guests who celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time as
      U. S., citizens ! 

In the end, a great time was had by all  (  no one complained, so we are quite sure )
and we ended up with other treasures

Yes the arrangement, also Autumn tea towel, Blessings ornament and dish with Scottish shortbread and much, much more 

So, assuming you have scrolled this far, you will be "rewarded" with the story.  You will have to use your imagination since I could not find my camera fast enough.
.

Here is what happened...

 I have been wanting one of those whip cream dispensers, for a long time. Then I found one on sale and tonight was the first time to use it.

 Whipped cream does look good on pecan pie.....Our dear and oldest ( he is 88 ) friend was ready for some cream and I was ready with my new gismo.
ready ! presto !...WWHATTT...it all happened so fast..in seconds there were splashes of cream all over Vern his glasses, his clothes, the sofa,  Christian to the left, Zena to the right, carpet, table and me ..

screams and laughter and

daughter came running from the kitchen
someone came with towels
It shot 360 degrees
If only I could have found my camera, but I think you can get a mental picture.
I really wanted to try it again
but
no one seemed interested in whipped cream
through it all, Christian continued to eat his pie, through his cream spotted glasses.
Why his wife asked?   I didn't want your mom to feel bad.
He is a true Southern Gentleman 

After everyone had gone home, we opened the container and poured the cream into a pitcher...it just kept bubbling and bubbling ....like this

There is still one more secret.  It is a secret until now. I have not told anyone.  It happened on Wednesday.   I had taken our turkey out of the freezer on Sunday, put it in the frig, and then planned to roast it on Wednesday. Well, when I pulled it out of the frig, it was not a turkey.  It turned into a ham.    For about 45 minutes I was nervous for the first time this season. That is how long it took to drive to the market where they still had some fresh turkeys.   I grabbed the biggest one and drove back home and never said a word.   Until now.    So that is our secret.  Pretty sure, it will never happen again.



HAPPY THANKSGIVING

MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR

I live an exciting life.

One day in November

Started in Seattle.


took the scenic route by  some of those beautiful old homes

and then.....

The  adventure with a foursome began..


One chauffeured with ease for miles and miles
   ( very comforting, and no tipping required )
One found something to smile about at every turn
   ( actually, we laughed at every turn )
One found a cart to squeak at every corner
   ( very thoughtful, never got lost )
One snapped photos here and there
   ( you never know when you might need a photo of stuffies )
All in all a great time was had by all

Can anyone guess where we landed?

Technology

Visiting  a friend when she got a text...


Elijah just knocked my phone off the table and it is stuck between the bed and the wall. I can't get it out unless I get help moving the bed.

My friend does not recognize the number and we talk about what to do. If it is the wrong number, the person will want to know.  If it is the right number....

So my friend responds questioning the identity of the sender.


Oh, your phone number is just one digit different than my friend...
so  unless you are a child psychologist or are strong enough to move a bed,.. sorry, wrong number.

Not just today

Remembering

      not all veterans,

             all precious and worth remembering

An adventure

The Bravern......and beyond

Yes, a beautiful setting,
                             The fireplaces
                                    The fountains
                                       The Chuhully 

                          but don't let that fool you....


Underneath it all, is another story

A scary story
are you ready?
well I was not ready for...

well, here is what happened.

My first time to the Bravern ( shops, restaurants, Microsoft, etc).  I parked, found an elevator, grabbed the location note ( sapphire, level two )
Good thinking.

At the end of my "adventure" I went back down the sapphire elevator to level two.
Little did I know my adventure was just beginning.
Where is Sabrina?  My little red convertible   was not just around the corner. Did I go to the left or to the right?  What? I am on level three now !   Back to the elevator to level two.  There are several elevators....ruby, emerald, and yes sapphire.
I am back on level two and around each corner I am hitting the alarm button on my car remote.  Nothing.

I am already feeling a lump in my throat.  That happens when I am feeling lost. That is why I have GPS in both cars.  GSP is no help for this situation.
But wait, there is a lady pushing a service cart. She is obviously an employee who would know more than I do about this huge garage.
I approach her and tell her my problem and she smiles and offers to help.
" Where were you when you came into the garage?"
   oops, first sign that this would take a while

I told her the street I came from and that I just drove straight in and took the first open spot.
A few more questions and then
"Let's go up on the elevator"  We are at the ruby elevator.
We go up one level, she peeks out
"Oh this is not the sapphire level "
     oops, second bad sign and maybe, I know as much about the garage as she does. The color of the elevator does not change from floor to floor.

Next stop is the floor two. That is the concierge.  No one is at the desk, so she takes me into the Microsoft office.  The man at the desk is very kind, but he admits he only knows the territory  around microsoft and the emerald  elevator.   We go out to the concierge desk, and lovely lady leaves me and says that someone will come soon.

A look around the desk, no bell,but there is a sign  " No one on duty today, sorry"

  oops.  I am on my own again.   I look out the window, I see the street where I came in and take the closest elevator.   Down to level two  I start pressing my alarm button on my car fob .  silence.   and in that huge garage, there is very little activity. lots of parked cars and no one coming and going.   Only the clip clop of my shoes on the pavement.   The lump in my throat is telling me I need help.  Three of my kids work less than 1/2 mile away. I text them.  I continue around another corner.

There she is !  I have never been so happy to see Sabrina !
I realize now, the alarm on my phone fob does not work.
I get in
The clock in my car says 12:04  - I had started down at 10:20
I  start the engine and grab my phone to let the kids know I am safe.
Funny thing, the message never got beyond the low level of the garage.
So, no one knew
but now you know
and I hope the lump in your throat is gone, mine is 


a few days later...
lesson:  will I ever go to the Bravern again?   For sure I would park by an elevator.  Perhaps Sapphire ?
 OK. I had not changed the car clock....so it was only 11:04   But hey, that was a long 44 minutes. 
And, I discovered that button on my car fob is not an alarm. It starts the engine, remotely

All of that, helping me to smile ( not laugh ) about my adventure.  

I live an exciting life.

among friends

This is my story.




We have been friends for years and shared a lot of life.  The good times and the not so good.

Tonight we were talking about Thanksgiving and how one child was having most of the family over, but one child had already  made plans to have his own party.
Schedules get so full and you can't decide what is the most important event and you don't like feelings to be hurt or jealousy to come into play.
Then there are hard things and some who are struggling with health issues

My friend was saying something like " Well at least we don't....
and it kind of faded as she was at the kitchen sink and I was near the tv

So I said    "  I thought you were going to say   at least we have all our own teeth"

For some reason, we both just cracked up

When the laughter died my friend said  " But I don't have  mine "


I lead an exciting life 😊

october 31

It is more than Halloween at our house 

We usually get between 125 and 150 little people at our door carrying a container, wearing a smile and saying " trick or treat". 

This year I was ready with 140 little treat bags.

Each bag gets plenty of candy and
" The Rest of his time"
a true story worth reading and remembering 

Then the front door is covered with pictures from previous years

If you can name the princess, there is a prize 

Photo by  Darrell on his 90's flip phone 

And here they come....

These little firemen came and
smiled
and said
The fire is coming...
and sure enough

FIRE  !

and this one.....

The fellow on the left

he won the prize !

And you can too. Just name the princess ! 

and

Across the street 

by day

and by night

look close

now you see him ↑
now you don't  ↓

And the music goes on...