Thanksgiving Dinner

I think I heard it on a commercial recently. A few guests are coming and then another group joins in and then before you know it the whole crew is crashing your party. How does that happen? Oh wait, I can answer that one.

My husband plays in a band and this is the giggin’ time of year. So, I emailed my mom to say we don’t really want to travel for Thanksgiving because hubby has a gig the night before Thanksgiving and the night after and that we’d just do something for the two of us.

In her return email she compromised and suggested we host Thanksgiving for us, my mom, dad, and grandma and they’d host Christmas. Talked it over with the husband and he agreed-since it would be small. So replied to mom “sure” and that makes five.

And then I got thinking we should invite the in-laws and my sister-in-law and her babe. So that makes a total of nine. Okay, nine, I can do that.

Through another email my mom shared that my aunt and uncle (who live not far from us) weren’t going to do anything because their kids/grandkids were heading up north now instead of hanging around. Okay, plus two more. That makes 11.

Paper-saving me sent out an evite invitation (as usual) for our gathering and had forgotten to check the RSVPs for a couple of days when low-and-behold my aunt and uncle’s response: “Change of plans, the kids aren’t heading north after all. Would it be okay...” You get the picture. Plus five. Yes, a family of five. That now makes 16.

So our small, just-the-two-of-us, Thanksgiving has blossomed into another family affair. And secretly, I’m glad it did.

Pumpkin Muffin Photos

Voila! Here are the pumpkin muffin photos. I did under bake them from the original recipe (by 15 minutes) and they came out fragrant and moist...And yes, they ARE delicious!

Stealing

Stealing

Okay, so it’s not so much stealing as it is loving and sharing. Baking is something I so enjoy and I recently came across this blog. She has the most delicious recipes. There’s “Cinnaspin Cookies” and (OMG!) Holla petit fours and even Cranberry Orange Bread. I’ve only listed the top three mouth-waterers. I do recommend that if you peruse her site, you do it on a full stomach.

Anyway, her latest post was for some yummy pumpkin bread. Tis the season for pumpkin anything! And well, I have an all-day meeting with some gals I don’t often get to see-at one time-and I thought...mmm, pumpkin...mmm, those tall muffin papers, hmmm, cream cheese (ala pumpkin roll) center. Oh too good to be true. I’ve taken a few photos of the process but the muffins are still in the oven. And boooy, do they smell delicious! When they’re done, I shall post.

Fleas

Fleas

So, we’d been really lucky, with Codie avoiding any fleas. And then one day Codie met Daisy. A super duper cute puppy-you know the sort—pudgy, scruffy fur, overzealous nibbles…The day after Daisy left we noticed Codie squatting and scratching her shoulder blades and biting at her belly. Sure enough, fleas! We quickly took her to a local pet store and got her a flea bath followed by a dose of flea meds. Still the fleas persisted. Hubby took Codie back two days later for another flea bath. Still fleas. In the meantime, I was washing everything that would fit in the machines.

Not wanting to overdose our little girl we backed off for a few days. This morning, hubby post late night show, I scooped up my girl and we went for a ride to the vet. I plead my case to the receptionist and she mentioned having a pill that would start working instantly. Instantly? Riiiight. But I bought it anyway along with a spray to use on our furniture and gave the pup her brown round pill—munch munch.

When we got home hubs was still upstairs snoozing but Codie was too excited. She ran up the stairs and bound her way onto the bed and woke up her papa. We both snuggled and scratched her furry little belly when I looked on the duvet cover. UGH! Grody! Fleas…dropping off her like flies. But wait, dead fleas. I wouldn’t have believed it had I not seen it. The lady was right. The fleas are gone! Off our girl anyway. We’re still working our way through the house.

The best 16 dollars I’ve spent in a long time. Thanks Patterson Vet Hospital!

♥

Raaar, In A Good Way

Inspired by Carrie’s adorable dinosaur t-shirt, my mom and I worked busily this Sunday on a modified version. Let me clarify, my mom told me what to do and got me going on each part but I actually did most of the work. This is quite an accomplishment considering I CAN NOT sew.

After my lesson I think I can proudly say that I can do it again! Next I think I’m going to do random-sized polka dots floating around the onesie. I even have the polka dot fabric picked out.

Sick

During my 7-day run of being sick, Codie was left in charge of my care during the day. Most of the days she wasn’t this calm…but by day 6, I think she realized I was serious. And I wasn’t leaving the couch. And so, she joined me.

Hubby Care

He made me soup. He brought me juice and water with a straw. He found zinc and vitamin c for me. And to top it all off, when I requested some apples and bananas he came back with Honeycrisp (my favorite) and they were organic. That’s how I know he loves me.

Not Me Monday

Not me, no never! I am definitely not one of those teachers who preaches, “Do as I say, not as I do.” I would never do that especially when it comes to being sick. If I’m sick, I’m going to stay home. I would not wait until 11 pm to finally decide to take the morning off. I would never feel guilty about it. And then, when 10:00 am the next day approached and I could barely keep my eyes open, I would never decide, “Hmm, maybe I should stay home the whole day.” What teacher does that? They feel sick they stay home, right?

While trying to stay healthy I most certainly not almost OD on vitamin c. Who would be that desperate to get better? And I’m certainly not going through a package of zinc like they’re going out of style.

When hubby made chili last night and touted about cleaning up the kitchen, I most certainly didn’t want to say “Welcome to my world. It’s your mess so you clean it up!” What kind of wife would think that?

Time for bed!

Sick

I hate being sick. I don’t like being achy, hot then cold, so sensitive to touch I cringe, plugged ears and then echoing ears, and bawling over dumb things. I’ve packed vitamin c, my regular daily vitamin, lots of fluids, Tylenol, etc…and I still feel like, um, poo.

I cannot go to school today said little Peggy Ann McKay. I have the measles and the mumps. A gash a rash and purple bumps…

*Shel Silverstein

The Wonder of Magazines

I miss lazy days where I can do exactly as I please, like read magazines all day. I get them as Christmas presents (the subscriptions) and they are my little addiction. Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Family Fun, Everyday Foods, All You. There’s something about magazines that are so appealing. Is it the lovely photos? The gorgeous set ups that I wish were in my house but know we could never afford? Maybe the delicious recipes that I drool over? It must be a combination of all these things.

A good cup of coffee, some comfortable clothes, my soft brown blanket and my couch, and a magazine…