a GRATEFUL heart

I am thankful for life... and that it goes on.

For God's protection, our guardian angel, for my friend who breathed a prayer particularly for me earlier in the day...

For airbags, car seats, safety restraints, and crash-testing technology...

That no one was injured when I rear-ended a Dodge pickup yesterday evening in the gloaming...

that the couple I hit were not angry or upset...For family and friends who stopped so soon to make sure we were OK... and got my Jeep off the road before anyone hit it...and came and got my groceries and purchases from earlier in the day...that Danl was home and could come comfort us and sit with me for the hours we waited on FHP. That Danielle was not traumatized...and seemed to understand that the Jeep was seriously injured and needed to go the vehicle hospital...That the young officer who worked the scene was kind and considerate and gave me the least possible citation.

I am thankful for pecans... And that I had plenty to re-toast for tomorrow's candied sweet potatoes since I severely over-toasted the first batch! #burnt

I am thankful for family recipes with notes at the bottom. 

#auntrose #candiedsweetpotatoes #schneidercookbook

I am thankful for the MRGA Book Club. It has, and is, totally enriching my life in in so many ways!

I am thankful that Mel brought me coffee this morning and took Danielle home with her to "help" take care of Baby Ellie.

I am thankful for crispy, ice-cold Diet Coke.

I am thankful my parents lent us their extra van for me to drive until we get our insurance rental.

I am thankful for Katie's crumb-topped banana bread. #perfection

I am thankful for ibuprofen.

I am thankful for our cozy home, for the warm bed into which I am about to crawl!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL!

Be like me - and drink TEA!

A cup of this tea was the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day! It's the perfect blend of citrus and spice...suitably fallish without tasting like potpourri!

Lightbox LOVE

I love my lightbox.

I'm pleased as a pumpkin with what I just changed it to! It now says...



What a perfect pumpkin pun, thanks to Pinterest!

I was rather pleased with my previous lightbox message, because I "thunk" it up all by myself!

"DONT SWEAT THE FALL STUFF."

Babies Don't Keep

Tonight was Jessica (Wenger) Koehn's baby shower... or "hen party" as I overhead Danl telling one of his buddies that he would be taking care of the rugrat while Sharon went to a hen party! Guys! Gotta love 'em! 

Anyway, it was a lovely shower; all done up so darling in vintage/retro toys, with old quilts, string lights, a coffee bar complete with a barista, delicious ham chowder in bread bowls, veggies 'n dip served out of the cutest vegetable train and Tonka dump truck, apples 'n caramel, and mini pumpkin tortes! 

Prior to eating, we all sang some old lullabies one of which was the song about "Babies Don't Keep," looked at tiny, footed sleepers, sniffed lotions and potions, and petted soft blankets... My mind went back to when Danielle was a tiny baby....and I realized anew just like those lilting lyrics that my baby did not keep! She's going on 3!!! And she's daily doing such grownup stuff! 

This morning she stood on the porch in her French fries t-shirt and diaper, (still a baby in that department.. argh.) with her little arms crossed and head tilted to one side in deep thought as she watched Daddy, Mr. Bucky, and Mr. Curtis loading up and preparing for the work day. Then she seriously proclaimed, "They not have a clue what they do'ning." 

Later on our way home from Aunt Rhonda's she sneezed, then told herself, "Scat, cat! Get outa my gravy! That what Nana says." And it IS what her Nana always tells her! lol 

She thinks Bass Pro is a "casserole" aka "castle" since it has flags flying from the peaks. 

She loves to have me sing "Old McDonald Has a Farm" substituting all the members of the Paw Patrol for the usual animals. Her new favorite song is "Down by the Station" thanks to Aunt Katie!

When she knows I'm on the last, or almost the last song before bed, she instructs me, "Sing SLOW!!!" 

She loves to hold Baby Ellie, always uttering, "Baby Ellie SO cuuuuute."

We were "helping" Daddy in the man-cave the other day, and she told him all her plans for it. "I put my crib here, baby tub here, all my toys too, and paint green and brown." She's planning to take over! 

But then, she already has. Our hearts that is! 

Meal Planning Magic

After reading At Home with Madame Chic by Jennifer Scott, I was inspired to amp up my weekly meal-planning! I've already been loosely following the popular "Taco Tuesday" and "Fish Friday" ideas, plus I LOVE a good alliteration! Hence was born the following! I chose categories that we love and eat regularly. I'm sure this would vary so much from family to family! I don't stick to this religiously at all, and totally switch days around as needed, but just having the avenue already chosen for the day makes it easier to get inspired to know what to plan and get groceries for. I do love to cook, but to meal plan, get groceries, and do dishes?! Not so much! In a way, it seems like this method would be more stifling, but it's actually been quite liberating for me!

Soul Food SUNDAY: This meal should evoke warm feelings of home, comfort food. Like fried food or Southern fare.

(Baked chicken legs sprinkled with Tony's and garlic salt, box of mac 'n cheese, Great Value dill pickles, fried apples. The recipe pictured and linked below was fantastic!)

Make Whatever You Want MONDAY: This night is the wild card! For us, it might be Chinese, soup, or salad.

(Ended up eating out, had to run to the city. i.e. Awful fake shrimp from Islamarada at Bass Pro! Wow, we were not impressed, but had some great laughs!)

Taco TUESDAY: Taco ideas are just endless! We love white corn tortillas, gently fried, and stuffed with everything under the sun! Or crunchy shells...PW fried tacos are also a fave! Or use flour tortillas, and add crunched up Doritos along with your fillings for a fancy schmancy "Dorito Crunch" taco! This night could be anything Mexican, enchiladas, quesadillas or whatever.

(Crunchy Chicken Tacos, Chips 'n Salsa)

Pie WEDNESDAY: OK, this one isn't alliteration, but I couldn't not do Pie Wednesday! So Pizza Pie it is! Either get Pizza Hut or make one at home. Or have Frito Pie, Shepherd's Pie, or Chicken Pot Pie (if only Danl liked it!) or anything Italian. And I love to have dessert pie if possible! It's rare though. BTW, those little frozen Banquet brand peach pies are really good!!

(Frito Pie with leftover chili from last Friday night. Can of Del Monte corn. I don't ever put up corn like a good Mennonite! Shhhh. And pumpkin pie, hopefully!)

Throw It on the Grill THURSDAY: Pretty self-explanatory! Just Grill It! One night I did our entire supper on the grill...grilled BBQ meatballs, jalapeno poppers, and garlic bread!

(Marinated Blade Steaks, Instant Pot baked taters, can of Del Monte green beans)

Fish FRIDAY: Serve any kind of seafood on this day! Shrimp, fish, crawfish, salmon etc.

(Cheese grits, tossed salad, Fried trigger fish...We love Captain Smiley's in Molino! So awesome to have fresh seafood so close to home! Danl likes to stop in there on his way in from work if he's early enough, and I am always delighted with his pickings! Their tuna dip is so yum.)

Sandwich SATURDAY: We grew up having hamburgers almost every Saturday, and I love to keep this tradition! Danl never tires of a good burger either! If we do want to vary, we might have Malboro Man's Cube Steak sandwichs, subs, or po'boys IF there was anything good left from Fish Friday!

(BLTs, chips, jello)

And there you have it! You're welcome for the menu plan!

http://divascancook.com/best-southern-fried-apples-recipe/

I didn't have Granny Smith apples on hand, so I used 3 medium Macintosh apples. 4 Macs would have been perfect!

Fat Pilgrims & Skinny Pilgrims

Last night I got out the old wooden Pilgrim people that I get out every year around Thanksgiving time. My school kids would probably remember them! Two of them are exceeding thin and the other two are astoundingly plump. They are so fun to have sitting around and totally spark joy. Danielle said, "Look! What that?" when she saw them sitting on top of the fake fireplace this morning. She can't (hopefully, fingers crossed) break them, so I let her arrange and rearrange them to her heart's content.

Do y'all have any fun Fall/Thanksgiving traditions? If so, please share in the comments! I'm so sentimental and adore traditions. Another fun thing I did when teaching was to have each child bring a piece of fruit for our classroom cornucopia. Then the last half day before Thanksgiving break, we would have fruit feast!

 

November Aspiration

9. 

Only 9.

 9 measly posts so far in all of 2018!

 I write constantly in my mind, but no one would ever know, and I do not have a nifty cloud-based brain drive from which to retrieve my archived thoughts! So... I want to prove to myself that I can prioritize writing again. I know I sound like a broken record, but please help me! I'm an Obliger (referencing Gretchen Rubin's four tendency framework) and I need lots of outward expectations, consequences, rewards, etc.to actually be able to meet my inward goals! So nag, pester, prod, comment, compliment, etc. IF you feel like it! I plan to banish the perfectionism that results in procrastination, and just simply write a little bit every day for the month of November! I do realize that it is now November 3, but hey! Present over Perfect! Some days I may not do any more than repost my fleeting WhatsApp status, but that's OK.

I love that it's November. October was awesome, but it finally seems to get seriously "Fall" in November, and I don't feel so fake wearing scarves and drinking PSLs! And I love the constant reminders to truly ponder on all we have to be grateful for. I love this quote below because even though I absolutely love my little life, I'm always trying to be better and make it better too.

And of course November means PIES. I just wanna make and EAT piles of pie!

I was in the office today. But instead of taking control of the day and being super efficient and productive, my computer took control of me. It was negative, very negative. I shall not further elaborate. But, I think I only have one remaining issue. I love new laptops, but NOT the stress of getting old but extremely important software to run properly on them.

My parents thought I had definitely overdressed for our 50+ degree weather today! But I digress. My long sleeve shirt, vest, and leggings felt completely cozy! Until I got too hot, but that's the beauty of cold weather! It's so easy to overdress and be happily warm, then simply shed layers as needed! I used to despise winter, but now I love it! Danielle is like me; she wanted to wear leggings today, and her sun hat! (Most popularly known as a stocking cap or toque! I'm not at all sure why she faithfully calls it her sun hat.)

Happy Fall, y'all!