Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  May you all enjoy a very blessed day! 

 

I love Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays. I like that it focuses on family and being together. Thanksgiving is food based!  Who doesn't love a holiday centered around food and family?  :-)

 

We spent the day with my extended family on Saturday and today we will spend it with Jeremiah's extended family.  I was very blessed to not have to make any food for my side of the family dinner. My mom took care of almost everything. My uncle, who loves to cook, brought the rest.  Most of us were able to come only bearing desserts and drinks!  How awesome is that?

 

Today I am taking coleslaw and candied carrots.  It is actually pretty easy for me to make these dishes.  Coleslaw is simple.  I get volunteered to bring that to most dinners. I had canned quite a few quarts of carrots in August so I just have to drain those and add melted butter and brown sugar to those.  They are so good.  I usually don't bring many carrots home.

 

Have a blessed day!

Bits and Pieces

I feel like writing something today but I just don't know what, ever have a day like that?

::We are experiencing some beautiful weather today.  It is very windy and the electric has flashed on and off several times but the sun is shining and making the world a happy place.

::I am married to the best guy in the world! (Not saying that your hubby isn't great to you but...ya know?) Jeremiah would turn the world upside down for us if we needed him too. He goes above and beyond to provide for us. 

::Last weekend Jeremiah put some new windows in our living room.  They are so much nicer than the old single pane windows that were there.  We have several more windows downstairs to replace but we will get to those when he has time.

::Our wood pile is getting bigger and bigger.  Jeremiah and Ryder have been cutting and splitting wood each weekend for several weeks. Madilynne and I go and help to load it and haul it home.  It isn't enjoyable work to me but we are working together as a family and that counts! The boys seem to really enjoy it though. Maybe it has something to do with using a powersaw (chainsaw) and the wood splitter!  :-)

::I have been home this week and had time to de-clutter a bunch of areas of our home.  It has been awhile since I have had time to tackle these areas but they are cleaned up now. I have more areas to tackle but I am happy with the results right now.

::I am happy that I have a washing machine.  I have been doing a load or two every day to get the laundry caught up.  I have finally scaled Mt. Laundry and it feels really good to see empty laundry baskets at least until tomorrow!

::Madilynne has been cooking and baking. She found several recipes online and makes them.  Some are good, some not so good! We have several desserts available and many leftovers! I like the break from cooking. 

::With Madilynne cooking so much, I am happy to have a dishwasher! It has saved so much time with the clean up! Yay!  I am not a fan of washing dishes.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

1. In two or three sentences tell us what Veteran's Day means to you?
I come from a family of Veterans. My father, step-father and my brother are the closest relatives to me that have served in my life time. I personally feel that we wouldn't have the freedoms we do if someone didn't fight for us- all of us- no matter where your personal preference stands on fighting.
 2. What's your favorite film with a patriotic theme woven into the storyline?
You know, right now, I can't think of any films that I like that have a patriotic theme... sorry.  When I read other posts, I'll think, "Oh yeah, I did like that movie, I forgot about it!"

 3. Flu shot-yes or no? If you answered no, do you plan to get a flu shot? If not, why not? Have you ever had the flu?
Nope, no flu shots here.  I will not get a flu shot or have my children receive them. I have had the flu and survived.

 4. I've seen lots of people posting pictures of their Christmas trees up and decorated. Many stores have had Christmas on display since well before Halloween. Red cups are back at Starbucks, sans the holiday decor, and that has some people up in arms. What are your thoughts on all the holiday ruckus this second week of November?
I love it!  It doesn't bother me one little bit! I had a Jars of Clay Christmas CD playing today and put it on repeat. I love Christmas music. As for decorating my own home, it depends on the year.  One year when the kids were little I put our Christmas tree up before Halloween.  The weather had changed and we received a really beautiful snow and we decided to put up the tree!  Other years, it has been almost Christmas Day and I haven't gotten to the decorations. The kids have been doing the decorating the last couple years.  Ryder and Jeremiah love the tree lit up all evening long- ok maybe Madilynne and I do too!  :-) 

Since I have never had Starbucks, I don't care about what they have on their cups.  It is just going to end up in the trash regardless of what the design is or isn't.

 5. What 'critter' are you most afraid of encountering unexpectedly? Why that one?
I am going to have to say a bear.  I really don't want to encounter one.  We go for walks and we have our fair share of bears here on the mountain.  I don't wish to encounter one of them.  Second would be a rattlesnake....just thought I would mention that scary little bugger!
 6. Do you like building things? What's the last thing you 'built'?
No, I do not like to build things.  I can't remember the last thing I ever built...a block tower when the kids were little????

 7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude...what are you most grateful for that brings beauty to your daily life?
I am thankful that I was able to get a lot of my house cleaned. I have too much clutter and being able to get rid of a lot of it has helped beautify our home.  I plan to continue with the cleaning again today. 

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.
My mother-in-law has gifted us with quite a few bags of potatoes and onions from her workplace. They need to be used up quickly so I have been making a lot of potato dishes.  Yesterday, while listening to Christmas music I was making potato salad.  I was thinking how funny it was that I thought the potato salad would be awesome paired with one of Jeremiah's awesome grilled burgers! I have my seasons messed up! 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Besides Thanksgiving, something you're looking forward to on your November calendar?
My mom and I are hosting a baby shower this month for my very first niece/nephew!  This new little one will make the third grandbaby for my mom and the first grandbaby for the other Grandma!  It has been a very long time since we have had a little one in the family.  New babies are wonderful!

2.  If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why?
My husband, Jeremiah.  He works so hard for our family and really does the best he can to give us a wonderful life.  His extra effort enables me to stay home to raise our kids and homeschool.  I am one very blessed woman!

3. Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread?
Oh boy this is a very hard one for me!!  I will go with plain old fashioned white bread but it is my homemade white bread.  It is what I make most often.  It is wonderful fresh out of the oven with real butter and some jelly! I also like banana bread.  It is a popular bread here too.  I make biscuits but not as frequently. Garlic bread is served with Italian foods.

4. What's something you have in abundance? Is that a good thing?
I have an abundance of dirty laundry right now and no it isn't a good thing!  I have been working on that today and probably tomorrow also! Yikes....

5. November 5th is National Love Your Red Hair Day. Are there any redheads in your family? Who's your favorite redhead?
Redheads are not in my family.  I have natural red highlights in in my hair and at one time I had dyed my hair a lovely shade of auburn. It looked very natural on me.  I don't think I have a favorite redhead....

6.  The travel website Busbud recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state. Go here to see what made the list where you live. Are you happy with your state's #1? If not what do you think should be the most photographed spot in your state? Have you snapped a photo there? If you live outside the USA answer as it relates to your state, city or province.
The state that the Pine Tree Forest is located in has a good location. I have been to this particular location several times and I have taken photos there. I can not disagree that it isn't worthy to be in the top spot! 

7. I'm going to try to have something related to gratitude in this spot each week during the month of November. Here's this week's question-

What's something you've learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?
I am trying to keep things in perspective more. I used to get worked up about little things.  I have been trying to let little things go and pick my battles carefully with my kids.  Jeremiah has always been the "fun" parent and I have been trying to be more of a "yes parent".  That can be a challenge when you have opinionated teens!  Don't misunderstand me, they are awesome kids but they are still teens! :-)

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Today has been a wonderful weather day in our Pine Tree Forest.  I love having the sun shine.  It really makes for motivation when the whole house needs some attention. School is done for the day, so I can focus on cleaning and laundry!