Monday Quilt Day Thoughts and Things: It is fun to get out the christmas quilts again. As for the rest of the decorations, they are all out of storage but still in their boxes. I've got some decorating to do...

He's coming to town

Thoughts: My girls and I enjoyed a day of shopping friday. We do it every year and have a good time. We don't have any expectations of getting any real shopping done, we just like to be together. Nothing like a little shopping with the crowds to get you in the spirit.

I passed by Santa, he gave me a wink and a nod, as if to confirm that he knows I have been a pretty good girl, well, most of the year.

Things: I have been working on some little Santa ornaments made out of wool felt.
Elizabeth posted the pattern, Thanks!

Gumdrop Turkey Thoughts and Things: Our thanksgiving dinner would not be complete without the gumdrop turkey at each place setting. As long as I can remember we have made these to adorn our table. The making of the turkeys is the responsibility of the children. (with the help of mom and grandma)

Toothpicks and gumdrops is all it takes.

Monday Quilt DayThoughts and Things: I just finished up this quilt. Made to fit my kitchen table for the upcoming christmas season.

The baskets are needle turn applique. Time consuming, yet enjoyable and relaxing to do.

There's always room Thoughts and Things: My grandmother lived in a very small and modest home. Her living room had an upright piano, one couch and a chair, and a small drop leaf table and 2 chairs. The kitchen was just big enough for a small table, with her pink frig recessed into the wall. The 2 bedrooms barely had room to fit a bed.

We loved going to her house for thanksgiving. It was always as if something magical happened, that the size of her home grew! There always seemed to be enough room for everyone, no matter how many. The folding tables stretched from end to end in the room. She would open up the door to the bedroom, just off the the living room and there the tables would be set up for the children. We sat shoulder to shoulder, as we feasted on a wonderful thanksgiving dinner, somehow made in her small inadequate kitchen.

As the family grew, it was no longer possible to be at grandmas. In fact the family got so big that we would reserve the church for our thanksgiving dinner. We could put up as many tables as needed, the kitchen was more than big enough and the children got to eat along side the adults! My aunt would even bring her old projector and all the cousins would watch cartoons in one of the sunday school rooms as the women did the final meal preparations.

In either case there was always room, always room for everyone to be together.

When I count my blessings at thanksgiving time, I count my family as my greatest blessing.

Always make room for your family.

A merry Thanksgiving to you!

Shhh... baby sleeping

Thoughts about things - precious things: I babysat my little granddaughter, Audrey, yesterday afternoon. She was ready for her afternoon nap. As I warmed her bottle and layed her in the crib a flood of feelings and memories came back to me.

I loved nap time when my children were small. Often times I woud take the phone off the hook, sit in the rocking chair with my favorite magazine and soda and enjoy the quiet.

I would always think to myself that when they woke up I would try to be a better mom.

All grandmas friends had to come out of the crib before Audrey could nap.

I took the phone off the hook, sat in the rocker, read my favorite magazine and drank a soda.

I thought to myself, "when she wakes up I will try to be a better grandma."

Christmas flower

Thoughts: I always remember my mother getting me and my sisters a christmas dress.

When my girls were growing up I did the same.

As a grandma, I enjoy making things for my granddaughters.

This year I am working on some holiday skirts.
and searching for a matching cardigan.

Things: I hope this little poinsettia pin will add the perfect touch.
It is made from white wool felt.

The petals have a small sewn tuck up the center.

Each petal hand sewn on.

The middle is wool, stuffed and gathered to make the center with some modge podge and glitter to give it a sparkly touch.

(2 out of 3 skirts finished,I'll post them soon)

Let's Talk TurkeyThoughts and Things: I stood in the grocery store today looking at the dozens of frozen turkeys . Every year it seems to be a guessing game on the size of turkey that we will need. This year there will be about 16 of us around the table to give thanks.

I thought about getting turkey breasts and cooking them in the crock pot, freeing up the oven. Nobody likes or eats the dark meat anyway, do they? I am not sure that anyone in my family is partial to the dark meat. When I was young I would never even try the dark meat, well, even now, for that matter.

But, it would not be a real thanksgiving dinner without the whole turkey!

Searching for the neck and giblets,

waving hello with it's wings,

rubbing it down with butter,

setting the alarm to get up early to put it in the oven,

waiting for the red timer to pop up,

having my hubby carve it using our electric knife that we got as a wedding present,

and setting the wishbone in the window sill for it to dry before seeing who gets their wish.

The whole turkey, is what I will buy this year, as for the size, who knows!

My grandkids and I made our thankful turkeys on sunday. Each little feather represents something they are thankful for.

Attitude of Gratitude Thoughts: Over the next week or so, tradition calls on all of us to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives.

I have moaned, groaned, grumbled, and dreaded the cold, and the winter season that is quickly approaching.

I have decided my attitude needs to change, to that of one of gratitude.

Welcome!

cold toes in bed

frozen fingers

runny noses

never getting warm

snowed in days

slick roads....

Things: Sami Snow Girl is happy. She knows she will last all winter if it stays nice and cold.

Her mittens and scarf are comfy and soft

and hat is nice and warm.

Productive few days Thoughts and Things: My sister "Pickles" and I had a great time at the cabin. We accomplished more than we thought we would among all the talking and eating.

. These quilt tops hanging over the loft railing were our finished projects. Some were started and finished, others were already part done and brought to be finished up.

Sewing on the binding completed this quilt, made for my bedroom.

How can having so much fun be so exhausting?

Everyone needs a hobbyThoughts: A hobby is something one enjoys doing in one's spare time.

It is a way to express your feeling, your creativity and ideas and helps you take a break from your day.

My hobbies motivate me to get things done so I can then spend time doing what I love.

Tomorrow, my "Pickles" quilt group is venturing out to the cabin for our fall quilt retreat.

We love sewing, eating, sewing, staying up late, sewing, and being together, sewing. Hopefuly we will come home with a finished project, or close to it.

This season of thanksgiving, I am thankful for my sister "Pickles."

Things: These are the fabrics for my quilt top. We all pick our own fabric but sew the same pattern.

A sneek peek at Sami Snow Girl.
She's under contruction. I hope to have her done soon.

Home Thoughts and Things: My hubby and I spent the last few days in one of our least favorite places, Las Vegas. He does work there and is required to take a test every year. I decided to be a good sport and go with him

I must confess, I am a germ freak. I do not like hotel rooms.(you should never touch the remote!)

A room upgrade was given to us at the hotel beause we stay there every year. O.K. I thought, this might not be so bad. The room seemed very nice and it had an awesome panoramic view. Then I noticed the pile of toenail clippings on the floor next to the night stand and the clogged drain in the bathroom. Not nice!

Home is all I could think of.

I just wanted to be home!

What a great feeling when we arrived home!

This thanksgiving season I am grateful for my

Home sweet Home.

He is happiest be he king or peasant who finds peace and happiness in his home.

Let's Talk Turkey dinner

Thoughts: I remember my first thanksgiving dinner after I was married at my in-laws home.

Who eats thanksgiving dinner at 5:00? We always ate at 1:00. Didn't they know you eat early so you can have a turkey sandwich later that evening?

Moist, mushy dressing that had been cooked in the bird? My mother never stuffed the bird, we always liked our stuffing dry and crunchy. Actually, that sounds alot like stove top.

Stringy neck meat from the turkey in the gravy? GROSS! I did not know you got the neck when you bought the turkey let alone people actually cooked it and ate it!

Real cranberries instead of canned cranberry jellie. My dad would have never stood for that!

Fresh fruit salad instead of jello salad? What kind of family did I marry into?

Where are the gumdrop turkeys and the celery with cheez wiz?

Who has chocolate cream pie on thanksgiving?

My husband had the exact feelings when he came to my family for thanksgiving dinner.

Over the years we have come to appreciate the variety of dishes, (accept the neck meat in the gravy) but most importantly just being with our families.

* * *

Turkey and Family Trimmings

* * *

Things: Delicious Cranberry Relish

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped green chilies

1/2 cup dried cranberries (cranraisins)

1 1/2 T. vinegar

1 1/2 chopped cilantro

1/2 cup cherry jam

Mix all ingredients together.

Make the night before to blend flavors and save time.

Christmas Tag SwapThoughts and Things: I am a firm believer that we need to enjoy the month of november and celebrate thanksgiving to its fullest before we start thinking of christmas.

This year I cheated a little bit. I joined a christmas tag swap with fellow bloggers from around the U.S. For the past 2 weeks I have been working on my tags to get them finished up and sent before the deadline. They were fun to create and do, but I sure am glad they are done.

Heres how a christmas tag works: Elizabeth, from Creative Breathing is hosting the swap. She set the rules and guidelines. I, along with the other participants send the finished tags to her. Once Elizabeth recieves all the tags, she sends each participant one from each person. Simple as that! I am excited to receive mine. It will be like christmas!

I'll be sure to show you when I receive them.

Joy

My computer skills are showing... for some reason I can't get rid of the huge space between posts - sorry.

Suz - HELP!