Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to wish all the wonderful friends I met in blogland a Happy Thanksgiving. You will never know how much I am inspired and encouraged by your posts and comments. I am thankful for each and every one of you.

I just finished baking two pies which I will be bringing over the river and through the woods to my sister's home in the northwestern part of New Jersey tomorrow. I just have to throw together one of those famous green bean casseroles in the morning and I'm good to go.

Enjoy your day tomorrow and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Giving Thanks

Today is the last day of Kelli's Giving Thanks posts. There's still a little time left, so if you have a Thanksgiving related post to share, please visit Kelli's blog for all the details.

Here is a recipe for pumpkin muffins which I clipped from my local newspaper about 20 years ago. The recipe is from the Publick House in Sturbridge, Mass. I'm thinking of making a batch tomorrow, for we may get a little bit of snow and that always gets me in the mood to bake something.

Pumpkin Muffins

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light vegetable oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease a 12 cup muffin tin. Mix sugar, oil, eggs, and pumpkin. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Quickly stir together both mixtures. Fold in raisins and walnuts. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full and bake 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown.

Remove from oven and let muffins cool a few moments in the pan before removing. Serve warm with butter or honey butter.

Here's a couple of my Thanksgiving decorations:

A Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 75th Anniversary Snowglobe:


They have a different one every year, but so far this is the only one I have.

This turkey hangs on our front door (gotta love those craft fairs!):



Thank you for visiting my Giving Thanks post and thank you, Kelli for hosting.

Veteran's Day

A hand reaches out to touch a name on the Vietnam Wall

To honor everyone, everywhere, past and present, who served during wartime:


IN MEMORY OF DEPARTED COMRADES

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;

I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there; I did not die in vain as
long as my sacrifice is not forgotten.

(Author Unknown)


My Dad served during the Korean War. His 75th birthday was a few days ago. Tonight my entire family will be celebrating with him.

Hope everyone has a blessed Veteran's Day

Christmas in November???

Today along the east coast we are bracing for the remnants of hurricane Noel. High winds, rain, and high tides are expected for part of today. Guess where my wacky hubby is? Down by the waterfront fishing!!!

I've chosen to stay home and do laundry in case we lose power later. And it is kind of nasty looking out there. Anyway, I'm also "test driving" the new medication my doctor has prescribed for me. I'm reading the warning labels on the side and they say things like "May cause dizziness, do not operate heavy machinery".

Does a washer and dryer qualify as "heavy machinery"?

Also don't forget to turn back the clocks tonight. I wish there was a way to "re-program" my dog and kitty as well, for I know they will be waking us up super early in the morning.

Anyway, enjoy your extra hour tomorrow and have a great weekend!

Safe Autumn Lights

I remember when I was in elementary about a hundred years ago that October was fire safety month. And these battery operated tea lights are a safe alternative to the real thing, especially in a home where there are children and pets (and grown-ups who tend to nod out very easily :o). Found a pack of 6 at Walgreens for $5 which really isn't so bad since I've seen single lights priced at a $1.50 or higher. They even flicker and look a lot like the real thing. They fooled Carlos. And they seem to last for quite a while. Have not had one "burn" out yet.

Here they are in one of my wall sconces. I've always been a bit leery of using the real thing here:



And they look really cool inside a paper lantern. I would NEVER use a regular tealight here:



I bought these lanterns at Le Gourmet Chef yesterday. A pack of three of these vintage-y looking lanterns was less than $3.00. I like vintage holiday decorations, but the real McCoy is often very pricey.
If I ever get around to carving a pumpkin, I'm going to put one of these tealights inside. A safe alternative to the real thing. And I'm sure the local squirrels will thank me when they go munching on my pumpkin!

And now my cat "Jeter" would like to comment:

"Just what is going on with those NY Yankees??? The Bronx Bombers have really bombed in the playoffs so far. I'm so embarrassed right now that I was named after their shortstop. I'm thinking of changing my name to "Rockie". Just look at my face in this photo-does it look like I'm kidding?"



"If you lose tonight, I'm going to bury my Daddy's Yankee cap in the litter box."


Well said, my dear kitty-cat! Let's go Yankees!!!