Thanksgiving Day Anticipation

The smell of pumpkin bread warm from the oven, apples cooking down in my crock pot, a refrigerator full of food just waiting to be prepared, the Macy's Day parade, the national dog show, football and family.
Oh, the anticipation.
I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

This and That

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I know that we did.  We could not have asked for a more gorgeous day.  In fact, I think we may have broken the record high temperature that was previously held in 1947!!!
My house was decorated festively...

I love these figurines...

They greeted my guests as they entered the side door :)
The day consisted of the usual...

Nana

early morning walks with the puppies...

Snoop and Violet

watching the Macy's Day Parade, of course...

preparation of the turkey...

Dave and DJ

hors d'oeuvres...

Pumpkin bread and my favorite - cream cheese topped with hot pepper jam.

Banana nut bread and pepperoni, cheese and crackers

good conversation :)

Yes, Nana and Violet are howling at each other :)

and a wonderful meal that left us feeling like this...

Snoop in a turkey coma :)

or, in my case...

The Pillsbury Dough Boy

this :)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

Happy Thanksgiving

From my parade loving...

 

 golf playing...

Scottie loving...

football watching...

card playing...

 

wine loving...

family...

to yours :)
Have a wonderful day!!!
I hope your day is full of good food and hearty laughs.

Homemade Applesauce

Other than my oyster dressing, there is nothing I enjoy more at Thanksgiving than homemade applesauce.  It is so easy to make and I love the way the house smells when I make it.  You begin with a cornucopia of apples.  It doesn't matter what variety you choose.  I used several different varieties this time and I cut and peeled as many as I wanted (pretty much until my hand began to hurt :)

I placed the apples in my favorite cooking pot and added just enough water (about a cup and a half), placed the cover on top and turned the burner on to simmer...

And in approximately 30 minutes the apples had cooked down (turned soft).
I removed the warm applesauce from the pot, placed in a glass bowl and added New York maple syrup and cinnamon to taste...

The end result is below...

Homemade applesauce with just the right amount of chunky apples, maple syrup and cinnamon.
Pure heaven.
Homemade is better :)

Thank You Mary Engelbreit

For...

Putting it all in perspective and keeping it real :)

It Is the Night Before Thanksgiving

And All Through the House...

The Creatures are Stirring...

But not a mouse - no definitely not a mouse - not allowed in my house!!!

The Mixer is Whirring..

And Suzie is Purring...

All in the Hope That Thanksgiving Soon Will be Here...

And the Scraps From the Feast Soon Will be Theirs...

This sad poem has been brought to you by the letters S, V, and M.

(Snoop, Suzie, Violet, and Marcia :)

Turkey Day

I like Thanksgiving more and more each year. Probably because I am getting older. I like the routine of it. Ever since I was a little girl, I have watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from New York City. I love it. I love the ballons, the people, the floats, the singers, the energy associated with it.



I can't just sit down and watch it though; I have to multi-task. I made applesauce in my crockpot. Great idea by the way. By the time the meal is ready to be served, the applesauce is ready to eat.



I made a pumpkin pie...

DJ helped make the stuffing.

Dave stuffed the turkey and put it in the oven by 12:00 PM.

I do not do much between 12:00 and 2:00. I can't. I have to watch the National Dog Show. And don't talk to me either :) I have to focus. Sadie the Scottish Terrier won her 100th best in show title!!!

Big surprise there, Mom!!!

My Mom, sister, and nephew Daniel came over at 3:30. We nibbled on cheese, drank a little wine...

and before you knew it the turkey was done...

Dave did a great job, I must admit.

We sat down at approximately 5:00 and feasted for approximately 30 minutes.

Then we cleaned up for another 30 minutes, ate pie, and everyone was tired. Brenda, Mom, and Daniel left by 6:15. Dave fell asleep and DJ watched football. Doesn't really change that much year to year. Only kids get bigger and don't like getting their pictures taken :( They're still cute though and I still enjoy my day. (Because I know they really enjoy it, too :)

Happy Thanksgiving

May the spirit of Thanksgiving move you.

Appreciate all that has been given to you and give thanks.

I hope you have a wonderful day :)

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

I spent the whole day at home. I am getting ready for Thanksgiving. I cleaned, did laundry, decorated my chalk board in the kitchen...

and rug hooked for a bit...

After I finish writing this blog, I am back to the kitchen to use up some old bananas. I am making banana nut bread for Thanksgiving. I will bake it and then put it in the freezer (after it cools down) and bring out on Thanksgiving day to serve with the other breads. By baking it today, I will have one less item to complete on my "To Do" list. Yahoo!!!

I will post the recipe and a picture of the end product tomorrow.

Here's to a great Thanksgiving!!!

Have a good night!!!