Holiday Fun

~ Thanksgiving dinner ~

Today, I set the tree and put the lights on it...
12 strings - 6 white and 6 colored.

 ~ Stringing popcorn ~

This evening, we are stringing popcorn while watching White Christmas.

 ~ Placing popcorn on the tree~

I am still in the process... We need more popcorn strings.

~ Christmas lights ~

 My husband put up the lights last weekend to be ready for Thanksgiving Day.

I Appreciate Your Sweet Comments

It's Thanksgiving Day!

~5:00 a.m.~

Both of my older children came home to spend the night with us. What joy to have all five children together! We watched a couple of movies last night, and then enjoyed a bit of Brian Regan on Youtube. At 11:30, I headed to bed and left the children to their visiting. They did not go to bed until around 2:00 this morning. 

I got up at 3:30 to straighten up the house for our big day. I love the quietness of the early morning - enjoying the fire in the wood stove, morning coffee, and preparing for the day.

 ~Breakfast~

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
1 Chronicles 16:34

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Sketch of Thanksgiving Day

~ A drawing I did nearly 30 YEARS ago ~

This was drawn from my own imagination.

I usually draw from some photo or picture inspiration.
My drawings tend to be SO two dimensional. 

You can see where I messed up - 

See the patch on my paper in my struggle to draw the father?

I don't draw men well.

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Tomorrow IS Thanksgiving Day!

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My Rose Petal Blessings

I got up at 1:00 this morning to check the fire in the wood stove. It had gone out – completely.

I knew it would take a while to get going again, so I decided to chillax using the computer while I waited.

For entertainment, I went to Rose Petal Blessings Stephanie’s Etsy shop to browse her lovely handmade gifts.

 

These two beautiful tote bags were my favorite items. I thought about how nice it would be to send one to my sister Rita. I also thought about what fun it would be to have one for myself. But I could not decide between the two.

At 3:00 a.m., I decided to go back to bed. But I could not sleep. For 45 minutes I lay awake, imagining all the good ways I could use Stephanie's tote. I decided to get up and purchase both bags.

What lovely gifts they would make. Although I really wanted one for myself, I could not justify spending the money on myself, so I settled on sending both totes to two of my sisters.

My sister Joy is always doing nice things for me. She sent me this adorable teapot picture frame...

And this very homey tablecloth. 

I think she would like to receive a special something in the mail.

I am excited about these totes arriving at their destination and the pleasure they will bring to my dear sisters. Thank you, Stephanie, for your pretty little totes.

 

By the way – I did get myself a little something extra special - 

Stephanie's Tea Cup Coasters.

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Only 2 days until Thanksgiving Day!

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Persimmon Bread Recipe

Persimmon Bread 

Makes two 9x4x3-inch loaf

• 1 cup persimmon pulp (I used 3 very softened ripe persimmons)
• 2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• (1/3 cup water if needed to puree the persimmons) 
• Note: I did not need the water for my ripe fruit.

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Grease two 9x4x3-inch loaf pan and set aside.

Puree Persimmons in blender. (Add a little bit of water if needed.)

In a small bowl, whisk together persimmon pulp and baking soda. This will thicken the pulp a bit.

In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, salt, oil, eggs, and spices. Add walnuts. Once ingredients are well incorporated, whisk in the persimmon mixture, all at once, into the dry ingredients. Fold to incorporate. Once no flour remains, pour into the loaf pan and place in the oven.

Bake loaf for 55 to 60 minutes, until a skewer inserted in the loaf comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack to cool to room temperature before serving. Loaf lasts well wrapped at room temperature for up to five days.

Recipe adapted from Joy the Baker

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Linking up today with:

Making Your Home Sing Monday
and

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Only 4 days until Thanksgiving Day!

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Morning at the American River

This week, my husband and I went down to the river at 7:00 with our morning coffee.

What We Called a Photo Safari - (Riveting ☺) story HERE.
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Next time, I should wear galoshes.

It was a beautiful morning.

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Only 5 days until Thanksgiving Day!

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Morning by the Fireside

You know how much I love sitting by my wood stove.

Cozy by the fireside, I am working on a doll for one of my nieces.

Here I am having fun with the watercolor setting on my camera.

So many great ways to waste time with a digital camera.

I take photos of everything!

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Only 8 days until Thanksgiving Day!

 

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A Happy Mess

I woke up this morning to find this cute little mess. 

My daughter had been working on building her gingerbread house the night before and left it to dry.
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Only  9 day until Thanksgiving Day!

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Lovely Gifts of Autumn

~ Our dentist gave us these lovely chrysanthemums and persimmon fruit ~

~ So sweet and delicious! ~

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Only 16 days until Thanksgiving Day!

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Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

A reheated piece of cauliflower crust pizza. 

It taste even better the second day.

I made pizza for my family on Saturday. I am on a low carb diet, so I could not eat their pizza. I thought I would try this recipe for cauliflower crust pizza. I have to say that it did satisfy my pizza craving.  However, I think you have to like cauliflower to like this recipe.

Prosciutto Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

Ingredients
      Crust

• 1 small head cauliflower, chopped (about 5 cups)
• 2 ounces shredded Asiago (1 cup)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or oregano
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Olive oil, for brushing

      Topping

• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella (6 ounces)
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce
• 4 slices prosciutto (1 ounce), sliced into ribbons
• Crushed red pepper flakes, for sprinkling
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

Directions

Special equipment: A pizza stone or baking sheet; a pizza peel, flat cutting board or cookie sheet; and a clean kitchen towel.

Preheat a pizza stone or clean baking sheet in an oven to 475 degrees F.

Add the cauliflower to a food processor and pulse until finely ground and the consistency of couscous; you should have about 4 cups.

Transfer the cauliflower to a large bowl. Add the Asiago, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few turns of black pepper and combine until the mixture holds together when pinched. Pour onto a clean kitchen towel and wring out as much moisture as you can.

Line a pizza peel, flat cutting board or cookie sheet with parchment and brush with some oil. Spread the cauliflower mixture into a 12-inch circle. Slide the parchment onto the preheated pizza stone and bake until barely golden and darker at the edges, about 15 minutes.

Remove the crust from the oven, sprinkle with the mozzarella and spread the marinara over the top (this keeps the crust from becoming soggy and the cheese from sliding). Scatter the prosciutto across the top and sprinkle with a good pinch of crushed red pepper. Slide back onto the pizza stone and bake until bubbly with browned spots, about 4 minutes.

Sprinkle with the basil just before serving.

Watch how to make this recipe. 

{Food Network Kitchen}

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Linking Up today with:
Making Your Home Sing Monday

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Only 18 days Until Thanksgiving Day!

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This Time I Have Longed For

There is no better time of the year

Than when it is cold outside

A season of warmth and good cheer

When I can snuggle up to my cozy fire.

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 

Psalm 37:4

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Only 20 days until Thanksgiving Day!

 

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First Apple Pie of the Season

Okay - I know! It's very rustic.

But it was delicious!

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Only 24 days until Thanksgiving Day!

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Celerating Autumn

Making my home sing through the little touches

 My daughter make

A lovely little cake

So like the beautiful leaves scattered on the ground

Every year, on November 1st

I hang white lights in our front windows.

It's our start the the holiday season.

This simple little tradition makes our house so cozy and my family so happy.

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 Today we had our first rainy day of the season.
Praise the LORD for the rain!
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Only 25 days until Thanksgiving Day!

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Linking up to day with
Making Your Home Sing Monday 
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