Although we should be thankful every day, this time of year is a great opportunity to reflect on those things we are all grateful for. Here are five things I am particularly grateful for lately.
My family
My job
Rain
The USA
The internet
What are you grateful for?
It’s the day before Thanksgiving and I’m proud to say that I’m done Christmas shopping and all the gifts are even wrapped. I wasn’t going to wrap presents for a few more weeks, but I was looking for something, anything to do other than make pecan pies.
Shortly after I started wrapping, the doorbell rang. It was the UPS man. As I opened the door, I could see “it’s the brown” hopping on his, well, brown truck. Just as I was about to close the door, the mailman was headed up the walk, dripping from the pouring rain. He handed me a package telling me the mailboxes were full. “Thanks”, I said. I know he hates me. I subscribe to every imaginable catalog. Sometimes I don’t check the mailbox and I know when grumpy, faded-blue pants, postman sees I didn’t check the mail from the previous day. He then curses at me under his breath while he shoves 16 more catalogs into the 5×5 box. It is no surprise to me why my mail is always crinkly.
I had finished wrapping all the gifts that were delivered and previously purchased. I was about to attempt pie making when the doorbell rang again. This time it was the FedEx man. I told him I was waiting for him. He looked a bet puzzled and nervous. Then I thanked him and wished him a happy Thanksgiving. I really was waiting for him because I have this picture in my mind of the failing, I mean failed economy. And I’m thinking there are some people who can’t afford Christmas presents this year. So these people might be desperate and maybe they follow the delivery guys around and wait for them to drop the package. And before Suzie Q homemaker can answer the door, this very desperate, economically troubled person steals some one’s Christmas presents. Anyway, I was relieved to receive this package.
So I wrapped the last of the gifts and headed to the kitchen to make the pecan pies. I managed to first make a lasagna. Random, I know. Now the pies are in the oven and they are smelling nutty and sweet. I wish I could sample them tonight!
Wishing each and every one of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!!
I borrowed this “tag” from a friend’s blog.
8 Favorite TV Shows:
1. Trueblood
2. The Girls Next Door
3. Dr 90210
4. SNL
5. Real Housewives of Orange County
6. Clean House
7. Oprah
8. The Martha Stewart Show
8 Things That Happened to Me Yesterday:
1. I worked out for the first time in a few weeks.
2. Read a chapter from a great, easy read, Something Borrowed, by Emily Griffin.
3. Went to Monterey to enjoy the nice weather.
4. Two teenagers yelled out their window at me and Katdaddy gave them a stare.
5. Saw jellyfish in the ocean. (I’ll post a picture one of these days)
6. Ate a cheese steak for lunch.
7. Decided that next time I go to Monterey, we’re getting a paddle boat for the lake at Dennis the Mennis Park.
8. Also decided we will eat at The C Food restaurant.
8 Favorite Places to Eat (not in any particular order):
1. Sino’s
2. Chilis
3. Ragoots
4. Famous Daves
5. Mama Mia’s
6. Round Table Pizza
7. California Pizza Kitchen
8. Pasta Pomodoro
8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. Friday (especially this week!) I two have meetings over an hour away from home and Wednesday’s meeting begins at 7 AM!!
2. Turkey Day!
3. Cutting down our Christmas tree.
4. Finishing my Christmas shopping.
5. Getting engaged.
6. Getting married.
7. Having children.
8. Getting a promotion.
8 Things On My Wish List:
1. An engagement ring.
2. New counter tops.
3. A weed-free backyard.
4. A new, smaller iPod.
5. An organized garage.
6. A better laptop.
7. World peace.
8. A larger pay check.
Just like Aubry did, I tag anyone that hasn’t done this tag and wants to!
These are my coats. Both were given to me as birthday gifts. They have both been patiently waiting for cold weather.
Since the weather continues to been so nice, I’m sorry to say my coats may have to wait a bit longer until I wear them.
Man tries to steal water heater
Police in Memphis figured something wasn’t right when they spotted a man wheeling a water heater down a street on a dolly. When officers got out to talk to 52 year old Kenneth Bolden, he ran. Police caught him, put him in a squad car and drove around the neighborhood asking him to identify the source of the heater. Police say Bolden finally pointed out a house and said, “That’s the one.” Police found the back door kicked in and the spot where a water heater had been ripped out. Bolden was held in lieu of $35,000 bond on aggravated burglary, evading arrest and having burglary tools.
Forget about locking up the jewlery and cash! Chain up your water heater!!
Every magazine I’ve picked up as of lately, has a section entirely dedicated to giving gift suggestions for the upcoming Holidays. My recent catalog perusing (another favorite past time of mine) and online window shopping, has lead me to a few clever gift ideas.
For your Sister or Best Girl Friend
Tampon Cases from www.uncommongoods.com
These are so cute! And a wonderful invention. Have you ever gone to hand a cashier your credit card and accidentally pulled out a tampon instead?? I’m sure your sister or friend would equally appreciate this gift. You could also pair this with a cute pill case. She can have a pleasant period knowing her tampons are safe in their case and a cute pill box to store her Midol.
For your stinky Father/Brother/Husband/Boyfriend (you get the idea)
Does this shirt not describe a man or two in your life? This shirt pretty much sums up my dad.
For your Great Aunt Myrtle
Dessert of the month club! Each month they’ll deliver a new, gourmet dessert made with only the freshest, all-natural ingredients by award-winning bakeries across the country. Am I someone’s great aunt Myrtle??
You can order your dessert of the month club at www.flyingnoodle.com.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for other gift ideas!
I thoroughly enjoy the Holiday season. Like I REALLY LOVE this time of year. I about kicked a hole in my couch in sheer glee when I viewed my first holiday commercial this season. I can’t even remember what the advertisement was about. It was pure nostalgia though.
I made a list of people to send Christmas cards to in August. I assembled goodie bags to give to local friends and neighbors last week. All that is missing is the baked goods, which I would have already made and packaged if there weren’t such a thing as staleness or mold.
Christmas gifts that I’ve ordered online are arriving and I’m so excited to give this stuff away. I’ve tried on some of the gifts and I’m wishing I’d ordered one of everything for myself too. I’m debating whether I should be telling everyone that I tried on their Christmas gifts…that sounds so strange. But I am strange so there.
The usual white cups at Starbucks are now red with snowflakes. When I ordered my usual Mocha Latte the other day and noticed the holiday cups, I about started singing Jingle Bells right in the middle of the store.
Only a few more weeks until we cut down a Christmas tree! I can’t wait to share the experience with you.
JINGLE BELLS JINGLE BELLS JINGLE ALL THE WAY! OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH! HEY!
The month of November is a unique.
Looking for Christmas cards as we speak.
A month that began with politics and a careful vote.
The coldest day was yesterday so I dusted off my coat.
I’m making my list and checking it twice.
Making sure my gifts are a decent price.
Nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon too.
I can’t wait to eat Thanksgiving with you!
Here is a recipe that will have you tasting autumn in every bite. It is especially delicious if you eat it in your comfy pajamas, wearing slippers listening to a roaring fire, crack in the near distance. Be sure to also top with ice cream. Vanilla or butter pecan pair very well.
Ingredients
2 pounds ripe Bartlett pears (4 pears)
2 pounds Granny Smith apples (4 apples)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the topping:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Peel, core, and cut the pears and apples into large chunks. Place the fruit in a large bowl and add the lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch oval baking dish.
For the topping:
Combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 minute, until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit, covering the fruit completely.
Place the baking dish on a sheet pan and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is brown and the fruit is bubbly. Serve warm.
*Recipe modified from Ina Garten.
It was almost time to go home. A wave of success and relief massaged my brain. Not because my email inbox was empty, but because I had made it past the lunch hour. I probably sound like a bulimic or anorexic who is sickened with anxiety when lunch time rolls around. But no, I’m trying to avoid going to lunch with a man who all I have in common is the company I work for. At least that’s all I know we have in common and frankly, I’d like to keep it that way.
For five long minutes during an unexpected fire alarm I was sweating bullets, praying to God to not let me run into him. Of course just like speaking over a cell phone, there was a slight delay in my prayer getting to God. There he was 15 feet away walking straight toward me. I quickly focused my eyes on the floor hoping I’d go unnoticed. At the last second I felt rude so I looked up, said “hi” and kept walking. It was obvious you know who wanted to keep talking, but my legs kept carrying me as if to say, “later loser”. This was my best attempt to discreetly show this man I’m not interested in chatting and certainly not interested in conversing over lunch.
