A Few Things To Remember When Preparing That Favorite Thanksgiving Dish

I have been cooking today. I'm taking food to our friend's home for a Thanksgiving meal tomorrow. I remembered a few things I should Never forget.

Here is a list for you.... Happy Thanksgiving!

1. Thaw out that fake pie crust (the roll out one or the kind that are already formed in the pan) early.
2. Don't use old frozen crusts, they really will not work. Mine didn't.. Even balling it up and re-rolling can only help so much.
3. Do use the correct size Pie pan. If you use the bigger one cause you can make a bigger pie, buy extra fake crusts, or make more dough.
4. Don't run out of stuff to make pie dough with.
5. Make sure you favorite husband, boyfriend, sister, friend, or significant other; knows where the ingredients you need can be found in the only store that will be open.
6. If your items can not be found at the local gas station/convenience store; have a back up plan. A nice box of hoho's can be decorated with redi-whip (in the can) and topped with a Maraschino Cherry.
7. If you are preparing the Turkey, Don't forget to take the bag of innards out before stuffing or cooking it.
8. If your favorite husband, boyfriend, sister, friend, or significant other; comes home with 6 of the item you only needed one of. Look thrilled.. thank them profusely, and make a note to make at least 6 more pies for friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. within the next few days.
9. If you are signing up for a dish to take to the Family Thanksgiving Volunteer to bring the Jumbo size foam plates, plastic cups, and Napkins. Or better yet Chips and Dip.. the latter can be picked up at any local gas station/convenience store in the area.

These are certainly not all the things you should remember when Preparing that favorite Thanksgiving dish, but it's a start.

Happy Thanksgiving !!

What I Got To Do On My Fall Vacation

As you will see from a few of my previous Posts, We spent 2 weeks this fall at our little Ky. cabin. We were hoping to spend a little more time there.. but hubby wasn't feeling well and I had to get back to work the General Election. I would have been thoroughly disgusted by our abbreviated trip except for one thing... I got to see my brother.

That may not seem like a big deal to most.. but it was to me. You see I haven't seen him for about 18yrs. I think he was 15 or 16 the last time I saw him, He thinks he was 14.. who knows, I just know it was a very long time ago. to long.

As you may have read in a previous post, I was adopted. I met my birth-family almost 20 yrs ago. Mom was living northeast of here with my youngest siblings. My brother Juan and Sister Francisca. After only a few months of visits and getting to know them and the rest of mom's family, She and the kids moved back to Texas. She had lived there for many years and was really homesick for Texas. Trips were planned, but seemed to fall through at the last minute. We would talk on the phone, and message over the Internet, but we never did get to see each other face to face..

Before I knew it Juan had graduated high school and was working. Time flew by and I heard he was getting married. Wow.. cool.. Then the call came that had us both laughing.. He was going into the Army. Egad the boy, I mean man was almost 30. What was he thinking? LOL he told me "Sis, if I can live through basic, I can live through anything".. We laughed, especially when he told me the rest of his group called him grandpa.. they were mostly 18 yr old.. LOL Grandpa kept up with them and surpassed most..

Juan was trained and placed in a Calvary unit. We really like the hat and the spurs.. LOL looking good little brother.. anyway.. He was deployed to Iraq twice. Due to some injuries sustained through IED attacks he is retiring out this winter.

He was the reason we went to Ky. I got to spend 4 glorious days with him and his family. We got to hear some great stories and just talk. He even made Chicken enchiladas and rice for us. It was wonderful. It was so great to just sit and look at him. What a wonderful man he has grown into. I was so thrilled to meet his wife and their grandson. They are raising him. What a beautiful family they are.

The time with my brother and his family was way to short. But it was so good to see them.

We got lots of great pictures. I even got a Camel from FOB Warrior.. a real treat.. He sits in my bedroom gazing out the window. We promised that another 18 yrs would not pass before we saw each other again. It's a promise I plan on keeping. He does too. It was difficult to watch him drive away, but so good to think on those days that we got to look at each other.. and laugh together.

Whew What A Week I Mean 3 Weeks..

Wow, another week has flown past; Actually I think it was more like 3 weeks. Christmas shopping has been started, lists compiled, food purchased, recipes perused, and budget planned.

My planned budget was the first thing to go. LOL Hubby blew that when he came home with a request for the funds to buy a "most sought after item".. one he's been looking for. He never asks for extra out of the bill money.. so I could hardly say no. so the "most sought after item" is now making it's new residence in our home..

With a new plan and budget in hand I made my first shopping trip. Frankenmuth Michigan. I love it. I love Bronners (the world's largest Christmas store) We also spent a couple of hours at the area outlet mall, and of course had our traditional Chicken dinner at Zehnders. Yummy. I did purchase several things for gifts; so all in all I would call it a good day.

I spent the next day in the grocery store.. stocking up on chocolate chips, pecans, evaporated milk, cranberries, and marshmallow cream. I have fudge and cookies to make this weekend for my Special Soldier boxes. I also make peppermint bark for our boxes. oh no.. I forgot to get the chocolate bark.

OOPS.. guess I better head back to the store.

I have plenty of other things to catch you up on.. I have had a very busy 3 weeks.

The Days Are Getting Shorter Again...

Oh for the nice long days of summer. I am pining for them already. The days are getting to dark to fast. I am already feeling hurried to get up and get moving.

We returned from our Trip to Ky. about 2 and a half weeks ago. My how the time has flown. We ran full tilt unpacking and organizing right into and through Halloween. I thought I had entered some weird land of Cold that weekend. When we left Ky. it was 80 degrees. Halloween night I dressed for the 35 degree weather in long underwear, long pants, 3 shirts, coat, hat with ear flaps, and mittens.. I still froze.. goodness..

Then it was time to prepare for Voting. I'm a precinct Chairman in our area. Wow was I bowled over by the number who came out to vote. It was awesome.

We had almost 40% turn out, and that is awesome. I think we actually had more vote this time then voted in the Presidential election.

Zooming right along, at times it seems like at breakneck speed. We flew into the first weekend of Nov. and Daylight savings time. And here we are. The days are getting shorter. It's 5pm and the sun has set or is about to.

We are having our last look at some warm days this week. Highs in round 60 YES !! There are events starting to pile up on the calender. Thanksgiving plans are being made and my first Christmas shopping trip is scheduled for tomorrow.

Our local news announcer suggested we put the Christmas lights up this week. I asked husband if he would like to help me put up the lights. I got a stare and a grumph.. guess not.

I would like to think that things are winding down, but they aren't. They are just starting to wind up. The days getting shorter don't help me. They make me feel more rushed. I really need to start making some lists. Lists of gifts to buy, goodies to bake and for whom, lists of parties and dates. I'm getting my calender out right now. Time to seriously start those lists. The days are getting shorter you know..

A Few Interesting Fall Fotos

I love the photo above. Black Walnuts from our trees.

Funny how these benign looking items can be dangerous. The Walnut trees line our route to the outhouse. When the wind blows these become deadly missiles. I was hoping that none would hit me. Thank goodness nature called only when the wind was in a lull.

Most of the flowers were gone long ago. If you look to the right of the stump you will see a really cute kind of purple-ly weed. The stump is one from last year. Husband put a stump rotting solution on it. I thought it looked cool with the grey weather worn, old soul kind of look. I'm glad I got this picture this time. Husband plans to chop out the dead stumps on our next visit.

Last but not least, one of my favorite bushes. Crepe Myrtle. I love the variant shades of maroon and red. They really look great amongst the green that still lingers. Funny how in the midst of a terrible drought.. no rain here for over 2 months, I still found green and life...

I guess that's how it is with us humans too. Just about the time you are old, weather beaten, losing your color, and your leaves. Someone notices how special you are. They see how well you fit into your surroundings, and how easy you become part of the world.

One Of Our Neighbors is green. and other stuff..

One of our neighbors is this cute (green with black spots) bug.

It has taken up residence in the last of our Pink rosebushes.

One of the things I love about fall here at our cabin is that most of the bugs have found a nice place to begin their winter nap, so they are few compared to other times of the year.

These are the other new neighbors.

Cows, Black Angus I think. I love cows. I especially love watching the new calves in the spring. They run and jump, buck and kick.. The ones above are way past calf stage, but they can run. We found that out when our dogs saw them for the first time the other day.. The girls ran barking and growling.The cows ran too. As you can see they were not to upset. just surprised by dogs that aren't usually there. I think the dogs were more scared of the cows.

This is the Outhouse.

We don't have indoor plumbing or running water, well not running water in the normal way. Our friends rigged up a pump and a garden hose and ran it through the back wall in the kitchen. They also put in a sink and a faucet where we can turn it on. I can say that we love that faucet. No more trips with the buckets to the cistern. Dear husband's first job of the day use to be filling two 5 gallon buckets of water. That wasn't to bad until it had to be hauled out the same way. LOL no drain. Thanks to the same friends we now have a drain so our used water can be poured right down the sink without fear of it flooding the floor if I forget to check the water level of the bucket.

This is the same Outhouse where we run this time of year. Literally!! We run and dodge the Walnuts that are falling throughout the day and night. It has been quite interesting. Usually when we come down for a visit it's closer to Thanksgiving or Christmas and the walnuts are all on the ground. Thank goodness for a Husband who is handy with a rake and wheelbarrow. The walnuts along with the hickory nuts are picked up and tossed in the gymnasium foundation. (check out the lower left side of the pic) Where the neighborhood squirrels find and use what they need through the winter and into the early spring.

This week we have lots going on. I love it.

1. Birthday dinner of grilled steak, fried potatoes, white beans, cornbread, corn, and Giant Birthday cookie
2. Cleaning up of flower beds, leaves (LOL) these have just begun to fall and we have at least a gazillion to begin raking.
3. Walnuts to begin picking up.
4. My Brother (whom I haven't seen since he was 16) is coming to spend 3 days with us.. whooo hoooo
5. Cooking for my Brother and his family... visiting.... pictures etc.
6. We are finally going to meet the wonderful woman who feeds our adopted grand-dog Brucie. I'll tell you all about Brucie in another post.
7. A weekend full of Who Knows what.
8. A Birthday party
9. And more planned visits with friends.

Last but not least We have lots of time to sit on our front porch, drink big glasses of Ice Tea and just relax. Our favorite thing to do here.

A Year Can Make A difference...

A year can make a difference. A big difference. It's hard to believe all the changes that can take place in a year. We were finally able to make a trip to our little cabin in Ky. It's been a year since we've walked on this ground. A lot has happened.

1. I'm a year older.
2. Most of the trees and bushes we've planted are bigger.
3. The house across that road has been bulldozed down, and most of the Trees that graced the lot are gone. All the Trees along the bank are gone. Not a bit of shade. I am especially glad now that hubby insisted we plant trees in the front of our place. The only shade around.
4. The rose bushes grew away with themselves, along with other bushes that need to be trimmed. That's a job for the spring. Funny how missing that time in the spring of trimming and weeding makes such a big difference.
5. 2 new babies have been added to our extended group of friends/family.
6. I had 2 knee surgeries so my knee should be two times better.
7. Our dear little grand-dog Brucie is fat as mud.
8. Our hickory and walnut trees have made a great bunch of nuts. We are even now wrestling our neighborhood squirrels for them.
9. A new rocker has been added to the porch.

Some things have not changed.

1. Our friends still treat us like their parents. They set off bug bombs to kill a years worth of spiders, wasp, flys, and other assorted critters that took up residence in our cabin. They also clean everything up, made up the beds, hooked up our pump and garden hose so we'd have water in the house with a turn of the faucet. They plugged up the refrigerators to find that one was dead. They removed it and brought up an extra one. just like new. We are so blessed to have these special friends here.
2. It's still quiet and peaceful
3. The sunrises are still as breathtaking as the sunsets.
4. I still have a few flowers including one rose bush that are still blooming.
5. good friends, homemade biscuits and gravy, and coffee are still great first thing in the morning.
6. We can sit on our porch and listen to the birds, bugs, frogs, and other creatures talk to us.
7. A good tall glass of ice tea with lots of ice still hits the spot on a hot afternoon .

Below you will see a photo of some weed/flowers that were out by the old block/store building. these moth type things with 2 sets of wings on each side covered them. Really it was so cool to watch 20 or so of them flutter around from bloom to bloom.

I love our visits to our little cabin. We will be here for a bit. I have plenty to share with you.