Before CHRISTMAS Takes Hold

BEFORE the Christmas Season takes hold 

and the New Year is right behind it,

Thanksgiving will be remembered.

Christmas decorating will begin this coming week-end 

with the door wreaths being hung,

the Nativity Scene on display and a Christmas tree set up 

in the conservatory bump-out.

Twinkling lights will soon sparkle, 

but first the Thanksgiving Holiday in pictures will be shared.

Our Holiday didn't go as planned.

Actually... it went very well.  Just some last minute changes.

The Family Dinner in the town where my Folks live, 

was not journeyed to due to the icy, cold weather.

We stayed home and had a nice HAM DINNER.

Watched movies, let the kids play and dance to www.justdance.com

We ate well and visited

in our small cottage HOME.

Our TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING MEAL

would be the next day with turkey and the works.

We said Grace,

sat in the Family room and while we were eating 

we shared what we are thankful for.

The kids laughed.
Not use to hearing prayer time called GRACE.
Usually we say, "Let's pray."

I think with sharing what we are thankful for, 
seeds were planted to encourage thinking
about what we are thankful for at Thanksgiving 
and all the time.

Saturday arrived and part of the Family left.

Sunday, more Family left.

The house became very quiet.

Holiday complete.

Thankful for so much.

Welcome to my HOLIDAY at HOME,

d

~Ham Dinner Menu~

Relish Tray

Deviled Eggs

Ham

Hawaiian Dinner rolls

Mac n' Cheese

Holiday Fluff Salad

Fruit Salad

Cinnamon Apple Sauce

Creamed Style Corn

Baked Carrots

Sweet Potato and Yam Casserole

Water

Coffee

Cherry Cheesecake

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Daughter-In-Law Shell made this delicious Cherry Cheesecake.

~HAM MEAL~

  ~Turkey Meal Menu~

Turkey

Hawaiian Dinner rolls

Mac n' Cheese

Green Bean Casserole

Dressing

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Holiday Fluff Salad

Fruit Salad

Cinnamon Apple Sauce

Creamed Style Corn

Baked Carrots

Sweet Potato and Yam Casserole

Water

Coffee

Dinner was set out on the small Dining Room Table we have.  

Seating was sprawled out on the Family Room floor for the younger ones

while we older ones sat on chairs, ottomans and sofas.  

Casual.  

Felt a little like a Bohemian, but HAPPY to be together in a warm environment.

 

 

 

….and like a blur, 
the Holiday was quickly over.
Thank you for visiting,
d

Day Is Done

Evergreen captured by Husband

My day will get away from me before I get around to posting anything for December 1st.  December 1st.  Doesn't seem possible and yet here it is.  

December will fly.  I had a slow paced day because I didn't sleep well and then woke up with a touch of something either migraine related, wicked hormones, something that made me feel a tad bit sick to my stomach.  So I returned to the sofa and put my feet up after I set the microwave timer to wake me.

Before I slept, I heard a loud noise.  Didn't see the wreck, but two pick-up trucks ran into one another.  I'd hear men talking and look out the window.  Didn't see the wreck which took place on the corner of where I reside.

Hubby got the news about it when he went to pick up our take-out supper.  He got all the details.  One of the drivers lives one block from the accident sight.

Fried Chicken Night from the Grill.  Both Hubby and I were too tired and not feeling well so our personal cook fixed us the best fried chicken this side of the tracks with chicken, dinner roll, cucumber salad, mashed potatoes with gravy and corn on the cob.  So very good.

I was looking over the THANKSGIVING photos I have and will post soon.  I'm just too tired tonight.  All in good time.  

Before I get too worked up into a frenzy about everything I want to get done before CHRIStMAS, I will share THANKSGIVING MEMORIES.  I have but a small amount of shopping to do.  Can you spell relief?  D.O.N.E.

Our Thanksgiving Day plans changed due to the weather, 

but all worked out.

Had a wonderful HOLIDAY.

Pics to follow.

Love you and pray that the December month is a blessed one where we all make time for the Lord Jesus celebrating 

His birth.

d

Decorating On The Prairie

Subtle Seasonal Changes

Our Thanksgiving turned bitter cold.

Ice and rain.

As if Mother Nature were saying, "Get out of my way.  I'm in charge.  

I'm changing the ambiance around here with early WINTER." 

It got cold.  We stayed inside.

Ate well and visited.

        The ceramic pumpkin that represented the Harvest Season 

was replaced with pinecones in a pretty glass dish that I bought at an ESTATE SALE 

a few years ago and wondered what I was going to do with it.

Answered.

The metal cake stand that I had hid away because I needed to think about being more formal

came out of hiding to stand for a purpose.  Reasons accounted for.  No need to take forever and a day

to use your pretties.  I have made this mistake many times.  Use what you have.

Shop your HOME.

Be HAPPY you can.

Sweet Blessings.

Happily decorating on the prairie

as the Christmas Holiday is upon us,

d

Pursuit Of Happiness

Each day is a great GIFT from a loving God.  I will not take time for granted.  I will be more serious about LIFE, but keep a sense of humor the best way I can and still be able to enjoy the LIFE the good LORD has blessed me with.  There are times I definitely have to talk back at bad moods and remind myself to count my blessings and not forget God's benefits.

FIVE YEARS ago I went through two major surgeries and radioactive ablation for THYROID CANCER.  Through it all, I know that I am ALIVE, but different.  My energy level has been altered. I have to do things differently.  I overheat so easily it is sickening.  I struggle with weight gain and less sleep.  Muscle weakness and fatigue.  Aches and pains galore.  More things than I can shake a stick at. Still I have to remind myself that I am alive.  ALIVE...just greatly altered physically.  I must lean on the LORD big time.  Leaning.  Leaning.  Leaning.

THANKSGIVING is over and CHRISTMAS is on the way.  Of course NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS begin to creep up as 2016 nears.  I will just get very serious about what I can and can not do.  MORE SALADS, less food, more walks and continue to downsize from clutter and earthly woes.  Less stress.  Less stress.  Less stress.  LESS.

I will dance more, laugh more, praise more, BE REAL.

As this day goes to sleep while night sneaks in...I will give thanks that I had an active day surrounded by LOVED ONES and a quiet night.  A bed to sleep in and a meal to enjoy.  Family to listen to and a HUSBAND to grow old with.  A HOME to clean and call my own place.  Waking in the morning hours will be a blessing as the week-end is here.  SUNDAY to REST. 

Family will be traveling HOME soon and I will sit and think about the fellowship we had.  

THANKFUL for THANKSGIVING.  THANKFUL.  
Memories to embrace and call good,
d 


PS
Dear GOD, THANK YOU for my HOME, my Husband, my Family, Health, Wealth and Well Being. Thank you for LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Thank you.  I am your child and you are my FATHER.    

Peaceful Prairie

As we enter into Thanksgiving time and the CHRISTMAS SEASON,  I hope I can stay calm and poised.  This week THANKSGIVING will take place with a houseful of LOVED ONES here.

Much to do and looking for ways to help make this a less stressful time.  Menu is written out and grocery shopping should finish up tomorrow.  Serving dishes are sitting on the Dining room table waiting to be filled with what will be served over the TURKEY HOLIDAY.

The Centerpiece is on the table and a THANKSGIVING Garland is resting on top of the entertainment center.  Keeping it very low key and SIMPLE.

The finishing touches of a clean house are needing some more attention.  The porch hopefully will get swept and the porch lamps cleaned in a few days.  Camera ready with new batteries.  Beds soon will be made up with fresh sheets.  Bathrooms scoured.  A scented candle on the stove.  Laundry caught up.  Turkey will be pulled tomorrow to begin thawing in the fridge.  Eggs boiled.  Cranberry Fluff Salad will be a new dish to make on Tuesday.  Every day something else will be prepared to enjoy.  

TIME to think what I am thankful for.

A warm HOME.  

PEACEFUL.

CALM.

THANKFUL for so very much.

Appreciating Almighty God and HIS brilliance.

God Bless you and yours this THANKSGIVING week,

d

100 Years of Family Dinners ★ Mode.com

JIBBER JABBER

This past week I was able to travel to where my Parents live and help celebrate my dear Dad's 89th Birthday at a party.  
He no longer knows me, but still has a very sweet disposition.  At present I am not lingering on the fact that he doesn't know me.  I know him and kiss him on the forehead.  Tell him, "Hi Dad."
Always, ready for a smile.

HAPPY when we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

After putting off buying PUMPKINS before Halloween....I ran into a problem where I couldn't find PUMPKINS for sale.  They went so fast this year.  The local Grocery Store where my Mom and Dad live had some, so I bought two of them and now they sit proudly on my front porch just in time for THANKSGIVING. 

What would my THANKSGIVING be like without PUMPKINS on my porch?  Alright, missed.  I would be VERY disappointed if we did not have PUMPKIN PIE to eat as well as DRESSING at meal time.  My Thanksgiving meal isn't complete without these.  TURKEY OF COURSE, but if I don't get DRESSING....it's not pretty.

I overheard one dear Lady tell another Lady how she gets her Christmas cards filled out right after THANKSGIVING.  I think I really ought to address the envelopes and sign the cards in July, leaving the envelopes open to insert a Christmas letter in December.  The last few years I have ran way behind on getting these mailed out.  Praying to do this earlier this year.  Lil Miss get 'er done here.

We still continue to go through our STUFF.  This will be put on hold after this week-end so we can concentrate on THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS and NEW YEARS.  

Then back to the grind of ALL THINGS NEAT and accounted for.  TAKING months to conclude.  It's the Season Of Life I am in.  Better now than later.

I know...I move so much slower these days I have to plan way ahead.  This is doable and I am alright with it so long as the finished results are good.  Grins. 

Hopefully the discounted Tulip Bulbs purchased will make their way into the ground this week-end.  Come SPRING there should be WHITE TULIPS to greet me in the flowerbed.  SPRING.....deep sigh with smile on my face.  Spring.  Sweet thought.

COLD WEATHER is moving in with the wind.  Today there was a earthquake on the Kansas border.  A few days ago, I felt one as I was up late my back began to vibrate.  Wondered if it was an earthquake.  It was and now today another one.  Interesting to say the least.  Quaking.  

My THANKSGIVING Menu is written out and I will do my finishing touches and shopping this week-end.  LORD willing.

I have been thinking about what I am THANKFUL for.  The list is long and gets longer with each passing year.  Thankful.  

THANKFUL.  White Christmas is playing on the radio as I enjoy typing on the computer.  Perhaps it will be a white Christmas.  I'd like that.     

MAY YOU HAVE A NICE WEEK-END,
d

Birthday Wishes

 ~ HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY ~

Time flies when you're having fun.

Lots of fun over the past 14 years!

You're a blessing and a GRAND Grand-daughter.

I love you very much and hope you have a wonderful day.

Wishing you all the best and GOD BLESS.

Love,

Grandma

This year Grand-daughter had a STARBUCK's Coffee Theme 

for her Birthday Party to celebrate with her friends.

Her Mom fixed a sweet spread.

 ::HAPPY BIRTHDAY::

Is Downsizing For You?

I LAUGHED after viewing these suggestions….though I hadn't seen this article when we started our downsizing 5 years ago or so…felt like I am on their track.  

I couldn't agree with the kitchen appliances.  Think one ought to be given a longer length of time in between uses.  Okay, just saying.

All the best!
d


http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-2015/downsizing-items-to-ditch-photo.html?cmp=SNP-DSO-FB-MONY-INCRM_FB_CONTENT_2015&s_kwcid=AL!4520!45!bb0ed325682673383a7e6fb7bd1811ff&ef_id=VZjEOgAAAWpaF03K:20151118014611:o#slide1

FLASH

If I wait long enough, I will not have to rake leaves because the wind will have blown them away.  When I look outside through the windows, the chilly grey skies look just like WINTER.  Bare tree branches etched across the sky makes an interesting masterpiece to admire and I admire the trees all year round.  I am a fan.  

Sounds like WINTER with the wind howling.  The southwest Kansas weather was tornadic today with 10 or so tornadoes in November.  Do you ever wonder if GOD is trying to get peoples attention through the weather? 

When people turn from HIM, do you think maybe He is trying to give people time to come back to HIM? 

As I walked through the house today, I wasn't able to go without noticing that the downsizing has caused quite a stir in NOT having a tidy house.  It is dreadful how messy it is around here.  It continues to get messier and messier.  

In disbelief that THANKSGIVING is in about 10 days and I have an awful lot of cleaning to get done.  It gets worse before it gets better.  The count down is on.

Last week I had victory with the papers.  I continued to go through even more paper that I handled, sorted, threw away…makes for a great sit down job.  Filing it, isn't so difficult.  The books are thinned down.  The magazines, purses, clothing, dishes, stuffed toys….poof.  Gone.  I will survive.  Music tapes galore.  Thin, thin, thin.  Round two is about to take place with the movies. 

As Husband was rearranging the spare room to make more room for a couple of oak morris chairs, a settee and a coffee table that I want to hang onto for a while longer, he brought me a laundry basket full of unfolded socks.  Gosh…how did that happen?  The socks were shuffled away when company was coming one other time.  After the visit, I forget to get back to these socks.  They are officially mated once again and in the sock drawers.   

Thinned down my handbags today.  Many are boxed and ready for the THRIFT SHOP.  I now confess that I am a HANDBAG JUNKIE.  Right along with LIPSTICK, FINGERNAIL POLISH, DISHES, MAGAZINES and BOOKS.  I confess.  I am going to be victorious in downsizing.  WILLING IT and continued prayer for strength and direction.  I cannot take any of this with me.  True there are things I want to keep while I am alive, but I can live with so much less.

IN A FLASH life can change forever.  The horrible attacks on Paris on Friday.  The WORKING WEEK-END.  On Monday, I was going to call and make an eye appointment.  Got way too busy to follow through.  

Thought I'd call on Tuesday.  When my Dear Husband came HOME and told me our Optometrist had been killed in a auto accident.  His poor family.  54.  Am STUNNED.

Hubby said my FAVORITE thrift shop changed hands when they sold the store to another.  Prices will go up.  Sigh.  I will miss this place the way it was.  Miss it.

This will be a fast paced week.  
Talk to you later,
d