Much to be Thankful for

Thanksgiving 2018

( Hi Marti..hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving )

 A little different this year. Well, each year is a little different

Oldest daughter always goes to her in-laws  ( unless next daughter is in town )
Next daughter lives out of state ( comes sometimes, never enough )
youngest daughter ...YES ( except that one time she went to in-laws in North Carolina )
favorite son...YES ( he used to find other options, but now, it is family, our family )

We often invite friends who do not have family in the area. This year we invited our new to us neighbors.
 ( They have lived across the street and up one house for two years..some people take longer to just go over and say Hi !  sorry, neighbors  )

Only verbal invitations for this celebration
And it was a special celebration
No party favors, but we like to have flowers

Little pilgrims were my Mother's 
sparkle pumpkins are new ...reminder of visits to Evergreen for treatments
Lessons were learned.   

Kitchen helper came early
and 

with plenty of time to play Uno 

When the meal is ready, there is more than the table can hold..

Not the best shot, but it is a memory.
and for the record
The man in blue cooked ham, southern stuffing, deviled eggs, yeast rolls and pecan pie. ( wife was under the weather )
His wife grilled Brussels sprouts with bacon 
They  also brought pickles  and ice cream  
( we will always include that family ) 
Neighbors brought wine and Merci treats 
Favorite son always brings plenty of sparkling cider 
That left for this hostess ...
turkey, sweet potatoes,mashed potatoes, gravy  cranberry sauces, fruit, commercial sweet potato pie, coffee 



Well, we sat for almost two hours and were happy to get better acquainted with our neighbors and with the tech industry WOW.  That  younger generation knows a lot.  

After the company took their little one home,
we worked on a puzzle  ( Norman Rockwell...so sweet )  and just relaxed with family.

A great time was had by all

Memories of Thanksgivings past:

Remember when Ruth fell in the gravy  ( a little book about Ruth and Naomi )

One year the power went out. Our friends from the Bay area, Akagi's  came...we BBQ'd the turkey and when the lights came back on,  discovered two extra pots of coffee.  ( for all who do not enjoy coffee, that is a good thing )

A couple years ago, favorite son offered to host. That was the year everyone else had other plans.  That was also the year that Mom made the meal and took it over to favorite son's house.  That was the last year for him to "host"

Many years we celebrated with my sister.  Before any of the cousins were married and Grandma Pitty Po joined us.  She had little gifts for everyone around the table.  It was a surprise, a big surprise when someone noticed the little bars of soap had pictures of naked men.     (sometimes it is best to wear those reading glasses when shopping  )



I live an exciting life
and I love it ♥

It started in the Springtime.

A message about being a good neighbor ....

you know... Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:38 and 39

Then the speaker said to turn the program over
Write your name in the center
Put four boxes around your name
Write  the names of the neighbors living in those "boxes"
Now add something you know about them


For me, most of the boxes were blank.

Pretty embarrassing.
Pathetic

Yes, two of the four are new this summer, but the others...


A couple weeks later, on a Saturday, the boys across the street helped me take scones to the neighbors to the right.
" She is shy, so we came with her"  they said.    That was the truth

A week later we did the same, heading to the left.

That was when I discovered there would be a new member in the neighborhood.
The wheels started spinning and I felt a baby shower would be fun.

That was a few months ago....Baby is now two months old......the shower was last weekend.

My friend Nancy made adorable invitations

I went door to door, by myself, to hand deliver them to the "lady of the house"
Who doesn't love a new baby ?   And who does not want to know who lives next door and across the street and... you get the idea.   

Party favors for all 

Fourteen women gathered in my living room on Saturday morning.
Liz brought cheese ( two large platters of cheese and crackers )
Jane made a huge fresh fruit salad
Barb's bread pudding was great 
Shirley served slightly toasted  croissants
Perfect with my lavender jelly, fig preserves and peach jam 
Irena  brought very moist sweet bread 
More than enough with  monkey bread muffins and egg dish

Shannon brought a beautiful centerpiece 

Coffee, tea, sparkling cider.

and then ...
We used the very old rocking  bassinet my hubby slept in, also  his sister,  our 4 children and about 25 older babies, to hold the gifts for our special guest.    Then, he got to take a ride. Now his name is on the bottom.

I live an exciting life  
and
I am blessed   

Festival of Lights 

They are celebrating in the mall   

These are the ladies that danced...

and free Henna 

But the big event for us, was the invitation to our neighbors to celebrate the
                                          Festival of Lights

Food...lots of food....good and yummy food and very gracious people.

The meal starts with dessert  ( on the left )
It is their way of adding sweetness to  the evening
Starting and ending with sweets.

Chicken, cashews, rice and mint...
They prefer spicy food.  Stronger than served in American food.
Tonight's entree was delicious

"We eat with out hands"
And he did..  and I did
Then   the crepes
dipped in coconut sauce 
and then...

Snacks..crisp..

The final course
Sweet and delicious   

We also learned about India. 
English is taught in all the schools and in college the classes are all taught in English.  British English.  So in the business world, the language is English.  Also, college education  costs less in India, much less.
There is great respect for family members, and friends. You do not call anyone older than yourself by their first name.  So, I am aunt to our host and hostess and Grandma to their little one.

Our host and hostess spoke very easily with us and we had a very special time 

Anticipating more opportunity to learn about our neighbors and appreciate our differences.



I live an exciting life  

Fun times...

just remembering a ride with little man

I picked him up after school

"Let's put the top down on Sabrina " he says

Why not !! it is over 40 °, the sun is shining and that is what Grammy's do !

Highlight:     passing a group of intense bikers...You know, all the right gear, heads down, keeping to the far right..

Little man and I waved wildly as we passed them and the lead biker smiled and waved back wildly !

That was pretty fun!


I live and exciting life

October's big event

It started a week ago.

Little man was my helper this year
Two fun size, two middle size, two candy kisses
and  a true story about Jesus and His love

And this is the main reason I like this holiday. I can share the "good news" with anywhere from 90 to 190 visitors
and no one says no.

Bringing a bottle of "Lemonade " into the living room is not usually in order, so I reminded little man to be careful..
just as it tipped over. 
So, the next break took place  in the family room. 

And a little popcorn and a movie is in order 

This year I wore the glow in the dark spider shirt from my friend Cheri
and glasses that came from somewhere

Last year I wore my Belle costume
( a yellow bridesmaid dress I bought at
my friend Judy's garage sale )

Pictures of all the visitors are taken
Some cooperate more than others
Photos from previous years are posted on the door 

It was the final group of the evening
About 8:30
These little charmers at the end
I asked if they were the ones who did not want their picture taken and they assured me they were not. In fact, Miss Blondie, took her jacket off and posed ...with treat bag number 95
I think... it was like saving the best til last   

( I did not get permission to post any photos so hopefully all the disguises are "working" ) 

How many visitor came to your door?