Hodgepodging an Early Thanksgiving

Looking NE from our front porch
November 4, 2017
Early Thanksgiving Day



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1.  In a rut, in a jam, in the groove, out of synch, off balance, out of touch...which saying best fits some area of your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

I don't see any of the other choices fitting exactly, so I think that 'in a rut' would be the best answer. And that would be in the area of food. I have the same breakfast and perfect turkey sandwich lunch accompanied by lots of green olives every day. I've often said that if they made a good people dog food, I'd probably be one of the first customers. But really, I know what food I can eat that keeps me feeling best. Mr. C. claims that my breakfast isn't really food at all, but I love my protein bar and coffee every single morning, even when traveling. So there. That's my rut and I'm stickin' to it! Don't feel sorry for Mr. C. He's doing his own thing of b&e for breakfast (and he likes puttering around in the kitchen), isn't usually home at lunchtime, and always gets a good, nutritious dinner (that yes, I make for him (whether he likes it or not. LOL))

 Pork Stirfry

with lots of celery, peppers, onion, peapods,

walnuts or cashews, dried cranberries

and even some pork!

2. What is it about somebody else's style of work (coworker/employee/shared volunteer project/household chore) that makes you crazy? Why?

I don't have that issue, fortunately. Mr. C. and I get along quite well and have most of the kinks worked out - admittedly, it took nearly 48 years! ;-)

3. What's a tradition that always makes you feel at home?

Having the family here for an early Thanksgiving is one, and celebrating Advent is another.

4. A favorite song with a girl's name in the title or lyrics? Any reason why this is a particular favorite?

In that category, this is my favorite.
I love [good] sacred choral music.

Of course there's 'Maria' from West Side Story; a few by the Beatles, among them 'Michelle;' 'Sweet Caroline ' by Neil Diamond, 'Ba-ba-ba-ba Barbara Ann' by the Beach Boys. But I could live without any of them. Not sure I could live without my John Rutter playlist. I enjoyed playing one of my Rutter playlists as a backdrop to our Early Thanksgiving.

5. Share a favorite quote, verse, or saying relating to gratitude or thanksgiving.

Psalm 147 was in my Bible reading this morning, and it just happens to fit this question. So here is an excerpt:

Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.  The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground. 

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; 
make melody to our God on the lyre.

He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. 

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

I've shown you this before, but it's one of my favorites.

 Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Yes, it snowed on Saturday, our Early Thanksgiving Day.
That's Wisconsin for ya.

These two escaped to an upstairs bedroom
Tommy & Smokey

Even with two takes, there are a few who didn't make it into the photos.
I think there were 25 of us.

THE (VERY TRADITIONAL) MENU

Turkey and Stuffing
Ham
Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Dinner Rolls
Butternut Squash
Green Salad
Pumpkin and Lemon Pies
Pickles & Olives
Cranberry Sauce

I love all of these scenes. It makes a mom/grandma happy to have all of the family spending a couple days and nights together, even if the weather wasn't the best.

 The annual bonfire
A night too early for Guy Fawkes
(The snow on Saturday was followed by a melting drizzle.) 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

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Millions of Cats

Our home has been taken over by a cat (and her kittens) who were dropped off at the end of our driveway a while back. We think the kittens are about 6 weeks old now. Of course I have five photos to share with you, and I'll have to say that the more we watch these kittens, the more hesitant I am to give them away. 

But really!

I know, I know. It's reminding me too of the book by Wanda Gag:

'Hundreds of cats,

Thousands of cats,

Millions and Billions and Trillions of cats!' 

 Look at that little Tommy, hissing at his sweet sibling!

  And playing with the shoestring tied to the chair

 Boots, Baskets, Shoelaces
What could be more fun for kittens!

 Last but not least:

This scene reminded me of my dear, departed Aunt Esther. Years ago, when my sister was frequently nursing her 10 month old infant, Aunt Esther could not help remarking:

'Young man, you can't go through life with your mother hanging out of your mouth!'

***

Sharing this with Amy

and
Five On Friday

Also linking to
Eileen's Saturday's Critters

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Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

 

Judy

 

Chicken Chili Recipe, Gluten Free

 Chicken Chili

It tastes even better than it looks (fortunately)

Over the weekend, we attended the beautiful wedding of my husband's niece. I would show you a photo of the wedding party and the reception, but since I forgot my camera at home...

They live several states away, and we rarely see them, so I wanted to give them a wedding gift and a shower gift.

The shower gift was s spice rack, SO, I decided to include my recipe for Chicken Chili, printed out on craft paper, and put it inside the cute card from Studio206wi. LOVE that card!

I made this recipe last Sunday evening for our Advent supper. I used canned chicken breast from Sams (It's a good deal, you get 5 cans for under $10 and just white meat - no icky bits and no poison!) . Usually I make it with boneless, skinless chicken breast, but I didn't have any in the cupboard. See how handy that canned chicken is??

And now for the cute card from Carla at Studio206wi:

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C'mon! Who can resist a face like that? And I thought it especially appropriate to go with the chicken chili!

The card may be a bit of a shock to the bride, but I doubt it. And I think she'll love it. What do you think? Wouldn't you like to get a card like that?  Wouldn't you like to give a card like that. I'm sure Carla can find one for you.

I might have to buy another one to set on my desk - someone to keep an eye on me.

***

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In the Backyard - Truck Tire

I can't begin to tell you how much more stuff I notice, since I got my new camera. It's nothing fancy, and is really what they categorize as a 'point and shoot,' but it does give me the ability to walk around, taking pictures of things I like. Believe it or not, I liked this. It's the wheel and tire on an old truck that sits next to our garden. And I see that it's already been decorated for fall: a little nesting material, some moss, rust, and a cobweb. I feel like I stumbled upon someone's little treasure box.

I know some of you, like Jen and Amy and Sandra, find wonderful treasures daily, which you show us in gorgeous photographs. Others comb thrift stores and estate sales for vintage items. I love looking at those things. And others come up with the most clever crafts or jewelry, or items of furniture you restore - or recipes you share with us.

So, what's your favorite treasure of late?

I'm still looking for that 1950s pair of young boy burgandy and black hockey skates - that I wish I'd not given away... probably 10 years ago. And we won't mention the teddy bear.

***

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Anglophile Friday - Thirsk to Carlton Miniott North Yorkshire

Thirsk, Town Center
North Yorkshire

 Market Day

Everything a Dog Could Want

 Town Center

Other Side

Remember Darrowby?

The fictional town in the James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small series

Carlton Miniott - just 2.2 miles down the road from Thirsk

Phone Box Graveyard at Carlton Miniott

Photo by Reuters

So there we were, driving east along the A61 on our way to Thirsk, when we came upon a yard full of red phone boxes in various states of decay. I couldn't believe it. I wanted to take them all with me and find loving homes for them -  starting with mine.

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Woodside Country School, Barron County

 Woodside School

The day I took the photos of those cute goats, Click HERE in case you missed it. I had actually gone to that site to take photos of this old country schoolhouse. The goats were just a bonus. 

Back when the earth was young, I attended first and second grade in that schoolhouse - but not at that location. After the country schools consolidated c.1956, a nearby farmer bought the building and hauled it to his farm to use as a granary and later for storage. As you can see, it's a little worse for wear.

Some of you may be surprised to learn that I'm not the only person still living who attended country schools like this.

At the front of the building was the cloak room. You can see the door there in the middle. We entered by that door, hung our coats on hooks along the wall, got a drink of water from a galvanized metal bucket and dipper, and managed to get all our contagious childhood diseases out of the way at an early age.

Interior of a Country School

Barron County Historical Society Museum

The interior of our school looked similar to this one, except I remember ours being more crowded and not nearly as neat. Maybe that's because ours was full of kids.

Like this one

I don't remember if my mother cut my bangs or if
my brother cut them with his jackknife.

What I remember most about country school:

1. Getting to sit at a double desk, next to one of the big kids who helped me with my spelling words.

2. The teacher making popcorn in the basement and serving it in colorful cottage cheese cartons on days that it was too rainy or too cold to go out. 

3. The cute boy who got to raise the flag in the morning. I think he ended up in jail.

4. The nice kids who gave me their chocolate goiter (iodine) tablets. Loved those things!

5. Neighborhood parties and softball games held at the school

6. My lunchbox lunch: a tomato, a boiled egg, and tiny Morton S&P shakers to use.

7. Getting hit by a line drive to center field, by one of the dads at the end-of-year school picnic.

8. Falling out of a swing and breaking my arm because a mean kid jerked the chain on my swing. (Don't worry, I got a ton of mileage out of that one.)

9. Walking the mile to and from school - uphill both ways, of course, 
with my mean brothers running on ahead. ;-)

10. Workbooks. I liked them!

 The Bell Tower of Woodside School

Unfortunately, the big old school bell is no longer in the bell tower.  I hope someone's enjoying it. I kinda wished it were me.

Woodside, sign above the door

Every time I drive to Rice Lake, I pass another of Barron County's old country schools, one that's been converted to living quarters. But when I was a kid, it was a school. Africa School. I have no idea why it was called Africa School, but even today, I enjoy telling people that I drive past Africa on my way to Rice Lake.

***

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***

You'll find me at These Linky Parties:
Mop it Up Monday   and Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and Gluten Free Monday and  The Chicken Chick and   What's in the Gunny Sack and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Make it Great Monday and Made By You Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous  and  Get Your Craft On and Tip Me Tuesday  and  Inspiration Board and You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday and  Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays  and Two Maids a Baking and   Cast Party Wednesday and   We Did it Wednesday  and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Mom on TimeOut and  Link it Up Thursday and It's Fall Y'all and Crafty Friday (Thursday) and Mandatory Mooch and  Petals to Picots and  Threading Your Way and Lisa's Gluten-Free Blog  and I'm Lovin' it Friday and Maiden d'Shade and It's a Hodgepodge Friday  and Foodie Friends Friday and Creative Bloggers and  Serenity Saturday and Overflowing With Creativity and  Home and Family Friday and Sunny Simple Sunday and  Saturday Nite Special