And We Now Resume our Regularly Scheduled Program...

A few days off of work, a lot of cooking, some company, and a good time was had by all.  And now we resume our regular programming. . . .

Okay, there was a lot more to it than that!  It just seems like so much has happened in the last week. . .where do I begin????

My mother, sister in law and I attended Deseret Book's Time Out For Women.  It was so fun to be with my favorite ladies and be rejuvenated and filled with the many great messages that were shared over the conference.  Lunch on Saturday was at Olive Garden.  My sweet friend took us out - I keep reminding myself just how lucky I am to have such great friends.  The conference ended so quickly.  I have reserved a copy of the DVD just so that I can review the many great things that were spoken of. 

We spent a day in Huntington with my family.  Although it was a short visit - we got to see all the family and renew our friendships.  We got to have dinner with the Mayor and her family (my aunt)  She spoiled us rotton.  She always does.  The drive back was in the snow and we ran out of washer fluid for the windshield.  Made for a fun drive - NOT!  We got home safe and sound thanks to Ralph's superb snow driving skills.  We also picked up a pointsettia from the greenhouses run by my cousin.  She does such a great job with  them and they are so pretty.

My two brothers arrived on Monday - a day ahead of the icky storm that closed the freeways down.  We took some time to see Harry Potter, get some family pictures taken, eat lots of yummy food, get Christmas cards started, a craft project finished, football games watched, and visit together.  It went so fast and I was so grateful to my family of consenting to spend the holidays at our house.  I had fun hosting and hoped everyone had a good time. 

Speaking of hosting...I love a finely dressed table for special occasions.  I made the cutest table favors.  I had hoped my brother got a closeup shot of them, but this is the best I could find.  The bags were made from a sizzix die.  I used the Thanksgiving wheel for the background.  I created a turkey using the scalloped punch, and other various punches to finish him.  I filled them with yummy goodies to be munched on after the meal as we went about our activities.  As you can see, we were spoiled by all the yummy food. 

I am now hitting the Bah Humbug stage of the holidays.  I haven't been too motivated to pull out the Christmas decorations.  I did get all the Thanksgiving and Fall decorations taken down tonight.  This weekend hopefully some of the Christmas spirit will enter my heart.  I want to be excited, but there are just parts of Christmas that are hard to get excited about without having children/our won family to share it with. 

I am thankful for...

Don't these pies look yummy? The lattice topped pie is a cranberry raisin and the fully covered in an apple.

I hope they taste as good as they look.  We are now in the process of peeling potatoes and prepping the brussel sprouts.  I have also started stamping my Christmas cards.  Once the potatoes are on to boil, I will run upstairs and get ready to go.  Sometimes I wish it was ok to wear my jammies all day, but Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't feel right or as special.

I have discovered there are many things I have that I could not live with out... well, life would be dramatically different with out them! I am so blessed to have:

A sweet friend to spend forever with

A testimony

Book of Mormon

My health
Puppy kisses and snuggles

A loving and supportive family

Terrific friends
Tender Mercies
My talents

My freedoms

A computer

Google

A job

Health Insurance

A car

Lots of books to read

A dish washer

A washing machine and dryer

Great Music to listen to

A warm home to live in

Hand sanitizer

The smell of rain

Mountains

Frosty leaves, meadows trees etc.

Daisy's - they are such a happy flower.
laughter

Rubber stamps and ink...

the list could go on and on and I will probably check back in to add more, but I truly feel blessed (such a mormon word)  I hope everyone takes time out to really think about those things that they are thankful for.

GOBBLE TIL YOU WOBBLE!

Thanksgiving Meme

My boss let me go 45 minutes early today.  Yay!
So I am home with my sweety and my dog fully looking forward to my time I get to spend with them.  On the eve of my favorite holiday I will be baking a couple of pies and contemplating the weekend.  Maybe even papercrafting a bit.

Here is a little Meme about Thanksgiving.  Feel free to copy the questions and answer them yourself - post them to your blog.
1. Do you cook all or part of the meal? If it was going to be at my house, yes I would, but we find ourselves at one in-laws or the other.  I always help out in one way or another.
2.  How much do you spend buying groceries for the meal? I haven't had to buy the whole thing, but I can imagine it gets pretty pricey.  Then again, you do get to have leftovers to eat for a few days.  Yum!  Makes it worth it, I think.
3.  Do you eat at home or go to someone else’s? As mentioned above, usually at another family members home.  I think my preference is with my family, because I like Moms dinner.  Not that it is better than anyone elses (I could argue that, but I won't)  but it is home.
4.  Describe your perfect bite? Mashed potatoes, stuffing, tiny bit of turkey, with a dot of moms cranberry sauce. Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!
5.  White meat or dark? Yes.
6.  Stuffing with giblets or without? Without.  Sausage in the stuffing and giblets to help flavor the gravy.
7.  Anything you won’t eat at the Thanksgiving meal? I really don't care for brussell sprouts.  I tried last year to be accomodating but they were so overcooked YUCK!  This year we get to prepare them.  We are cooking them with bacon and onions.  Can't go wrong with bacon.
8.  Carve Mr. Gobble at the table or serve on a platter? On a platter.  We cook him upsidedown for most of the cooking time so he isn't that pretty, but the white meat stays juicy.  Plus, I can't stay away from the crispy skin before it gets to the table.
9.  Favorite pie? I love most all pies.  I would have to choose Pecan as my favorite with whipped cream.
10.  Formal table or Chinet? I love a formal table setting, name tags, favors goblets etc.
11.  Your menu:  (Don't know, but these would are some of my favorites)
An appetizer with fish - like crab cheesecake, or a shrimp cocktail or seviche.
Relish tray with a nice variety of veggies and dip.  Don't forget the olives.
Pickle tray - home made pickles
Tomato Aspic
Turkey
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Baked sweet potatoes with brown sugar, cinnamon butter.
Homemade Rolls with Butter and homemade freezer jam
Peas, corn, carrots
Homemade Stuffing with mushrooms and sausage
Frozen fruit cocktail salad
Cranberry Sauce or salsa
Fizzy fruity drink

Pumpkin Pie
Marionberry Pie
Pecan Pie
Mincemeat Pie
12.  Favorite leftover? All of it.  Don't usually get any at the SLC family dinner, but the GV dinner I enjoy it all.
13.  Extended family, friends, both or just the immediate family for dinner? Family and anyone else who needs a place to go.  
14.  After dinner, do you go to the latest movie or watch football on TV or just a turkey induced snooze?  All of the above!  Watch football, play games watch a good DVD, and nap.
15.  Do you watch the Macy’s Parade? I love to watch the parade.  I have great memories of sitting in the living room with my Dad and watching the parade with him.
16. Christmas decorations up before or after? usually the day after.
17.  Black Friday shopping or sleep in? It could be fun, but my pillow always wins out.  Too many crowds and never enough money to spend to make it worth braving the mobs.
18.  Any special Thanksgiving tradition? Not really anything special.  Just hanging out with family. 
19.  Favorite thing about Thanksgiving? It’s such a casual day and usually surrounded by family and loved ones!  I love the food and relaxation
20.  Favorite Thanksgiving memory? I seriously don’t have one. I love the years that we’ve had guests, family and friends. I love the traditions, the official "Let the holidays begin" feeling. Every Thanksgiving is my favorite Thanksgiving.
21.  Share your favorite Thanksgiving recipe:
"My" Pecan Pie
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups pecans - coursely broken
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch salt
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

Preheat oven to 350
Mix together all the ingredients in the order in which they are listed, and blend well.  Pour into the unbaked pie shell and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the filling is firm.  Cool on rack.  Serve with whipped cream.

Don't overwork and have a great evening.  Ta Ta for now.