Thanksgiving Review

Before the chaos of 5 children, 11 adults and 1 cat - not all at once though....

.....including the mother who is anxiously awaiting turkey.

The platter above, which is holding the turkey, actually DID hold a real live turkey bird a very long time ago - ME!

See, the year after I was born, which was the week before Thanksgiving she placed me on the turkey platter and brought me to the table! Apparently my grandfather had a fit, claiming she was going to drop me.

She didn't.

I survived.

And now the story is legend. I do love the platter and the plates. My parents bought the set for my grandparents 25th wedding anniversary in 1953. I have them now. They really are beautiful.

Now continuing....

I lost the wishbone war.

We had a wonderful day. It was LOUD.

This was our menu:

Turkey of course

Dressing

Mashed potatoes

Gravy

Butternut squash (from our garden!)

Cranberry sauce from our family recipe

Cranberry chutney from P. Allen Smith's recipe

My cousin's cranberry pear dish

Olives

KayLee's homemade rolls

FOUR pies - 2 pumpkin, an apple and a grape

Real whipped cream

Chestnuts

Clementines

There was nothing green. Oh wait, anise. You know the celery that tastes like licorice.

Family, friends, good food, good conversation, singing children and my sweet husband who cleaned up the WHOLE MESS. The kitchen was spotless when we went to bed.

He really should teach husband classes.

Excuse me while I go decorate the tree.

Catching up a bit

Well if this isn't the yummiest hamburger you ever saw......

And guess what? It's made of glass!

Yep, and it's at the Corning Museum of Glass. Larry and I took our young friend Erik down to Corning for the day (no school) and we all had the best time! The boys are standing in front of this glorious glass mural.

It's a marvelous place with lots of exhibits, things to do and awesome demonstrations.

Erik was chosen to help out with this cool glass breaking demonstration. We learned how different kinds of glass are designed to break, or not to break and he got to do it!

Then Erik got to make glass himself! He made a beautiful glass pendant with colors he chose himself. He actually got to work with the glass and flame to fashion his treasure.

I don't have a picture of the pendant because after he made it, it had to cool for a day. Then they sent it to him in the mail. Rumor has it he wears it all the time! Maybe today he will wear it to our house and I can get a picture of it.

I helped Erik's mom give birth to him over ten years ago. It still amazes me that they grow so quickly.

Then a few days later, we celebrated my birthday. Larry is a good lighter of candles.

I had help blowing them out from Robbie, our young four year old friend!

And here is a picture I never thought would happen. It's my mother and Larry and me on my birthday at our house. She made me a cake, which was just the yummiest cake ever and put the candles on it. It truly is a miracle.

Robbie is one of my doula "babies" from four years ago. His mom Lisa and I became close very quickly. It was one of those connections that don't happen often. She is a sweetheart and I love her.

So Robbie and his parents came over to celebrate. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I helped these kiddos come into the world.
And here is Robbie signing the guest book.

Well today is Thanksgiving, one of my favorite days of the year. It's 5:30 in the morning and I have been up since 3:23am. I couldn't go back to sleep, one of those things. But I want to get the turkey in the oven by 8:00, so I don't think going back to bed is in my future.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Larry is MINE! All MINE!

That man I married.

Ya know. Larry?

Today for my birthday he gave me a gift certificate for FIVE, count 'em FIVE massages.

There is this wonderful massage therapist named Kristen Pata and I love her and now I get to go to her FIVE times!!!

He also gave me the biography of Thomas S. Monson. I am thrilled beyond words.

AND, he took my mother and me out to dinner. I had my first ever bouillabaisse at Bernard's Grove House. He had prime rib. He was so happy he couldn't even talk. Mom had the most beautiful lamb chops.

The whole thing was wonderful.

AND my mother made me a birthday cake. Imagine.

More coming, and with pictures.

Remember Calgon?

There was this great commercial MANY years ago where the stressed woman cried, "Calgon, take me away!"

She would then sink into a tub, full of luxurious, sweet-smelling bubbles and soak away her woes.

That is what I need .

Someone!! Take me away!!

Better

The weeks haven't been quite so bad as that last post, whew!

It's really cold here this morning, frost is everywhere. It's like 28 degrees.

And the time change messes me up so badly. It's much easier for me to lose the hour than to gain it. Go figure.

I put a pot roast in the slow cooker this morning and now I have to go study a little more for my lesson. Teaching Isaiah has actually been pretty cool.

Later........

Thanks for visiting!