Christmas Ornaments, the race begins!!!!

Every year around this time I get into the race, the ornament making race that is. Last year unfortunately I messed around and drug my feet and ended up not making anything, even after the wonderful Barb went out of her way to mail out some great christmas ornament directions she was using for herself. I still remember the amount of envelopes she had to send out LOL

So this morning I decided it's now or never, I dug out the fabric I wanted to use, I got out the directions and started cutting. I'm making the Be Warm Snow Man Pillow Ornaments.

I've decided to go with a country look this year, so all my backing for the snowmen is out of fabric swatches I have laying around. I'm probably going to make a tree skirt too, not sure yet.

Here they are all cut and ready to be embroidered, sewed and filled. That's what I plan on doing this weekend and since the kids want to help, I've promised that they get to do the best part, filling them in.

BUT that is not all I'm going to be doing this weekend......I'm also going to be making some gift jars for friends and family. I'm going to be using pint jars to make Flavored Cocoa Mix and Creamy Cappucino Mix and then next weekend I'm going to pull out the bigger quart jars to make some Minty Holiday Candy Cookie Mix and Cranberry & White Chocolate Scone Mix. YUMMY!

By the time I had stopped messing around with all these ideas and getting everything ready, I realized that it was way past lunch time and though I had given Nicholas his lunch, I was now starving. So I sat down for a quick light meal, nothing like some freshly baked Portuguese Rolls, some smoked ham and swiss cheese and some veggies on the side with ranch dip. Oh and the Diet Coke, can't forget the Diet Coke, sheesh!


But switching gears now, I have to tell you I must have the kid with the weakest immune system on earth, literally all you have to do is look at Jasmine and whisper the word "cold" and she's done.

Yesterday afternoon the kids went outside to play, everything was fine, but within 30 minutes there were clouds in the sky and the wind seemed to have picked up. Now I'm not talking COLD blasting wind, I'm talking a little breeze that felt wonderful, people......well apparently that was enough for Jasmine. She woke up this morning with the sniffles and now she's got a full blown cold, coughing and fever and congested.

It's going to be ONE of those nights!!! So she's in bed, asleep, waking up every few minutes to cough or moan or ask for some water. She's determined to beat this cold real fast because Sunday they have a birthday party to go to, obviously if she's not any better they'll be staying home, I just can't afford to let her miss another school day.

Just seems that everywhere I turn there is someone sick, it's that time of the year for sure.


And that's it for me, you will I'm sure notice that I started this post just before noon my time and it's now 10:30pm when I'm finally ending it.

Life just does that to you, between crafts, sick kids, house chores, cooking and cleaning and taking out dogs and all that other fun stuff, I completely ran out of time for blogging. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Have a wonderful friday night, I'm off to climb into my warm comfy bed, prop myself up on the pillows and watch Most Haunted and then fall asleep while I dream of a white christmas, too bad I'm in Arizona and the only white I see is the Salt Factory just across the road LOL

God Bless,

Slow Cooking Thursday

All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.


Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

Thank you all for participating, I've loved all the wonderful recipes you've shared ;)
I found this recipe online a long time ago and I can't remember where I got it, but it's really good.

PEPPERY POTATO SOUP

2 cans (141/2 oz each) chicken broth
4 small baking potatoes, halved and sliced
1 large onion, quartered and sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, sliced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon butter


Combine broth, potatoes, onion, celery, flour, pepper and salt in slow cooker; mix well. Cover; cook on LOW 6 to 71/2 hours.

Stir in half-and-half; cover and continue to cook 1 hour.

Remove slow cooker lid. Slightly crush potato mixture with potato masher. Continue to cook, uncovered, an additional 30 minutes until slightly thickened. Just before serving, stir in butter. Garnish with celery leaves and parsley.

Wednesday - Giving Thanks!

I'm again participating in Kelly's "Giving Thanks" celebration. If you want to read more about it, go on over to her blog at "There is no place like home".


-What you are thankful for
-Thanksgiving traditions or memories
-Recipes
-Craft Ideas
-Decorating ideas
-Your menu
-Cleaning/Organizing "before" and "after" pictures
-Anything having to do with Thanksgiving!

I don't think I have to tell you all that I love cooking so obviously I had to share recipes for this post.

So here's my menu for this year:

Deep-Fried Cajun Turkey

1 12 pound fresh or frozen turkey, thawed
4 ounces Cajun Seasonings ( I used Watkins 5 Spice Powder & Cayenne
Pepper)
3 gallons Peanut Oil

Remove giblets and neck from Turkey and reserve for other uses. Rinse Turkey thoroughly and pat dry, drain body cavity well. Place Turkey in a shallow dish or roasting pan. Rub outside of turkey with half of Cajun seasoning to cover well, cover and refrigerate 12 hours.

Drain body cavity well, and rub with other half of seasonings mixture, sprinkling some into the body cavity. Pour oil into a deep propane turkey fryer or 26 -quart stock pot and heat to 325 degrees. (If you are unsure about fryer size or how much oil to use, place turkey in pot prior to seasoning and fill the pot with water just until the turkey is covered. Remove Turkey, this is the amount of oil needed).

Place turkey on fryer rod. Wearing heavy duty gloves or an oven mitt, lower turkey into hot oil with the rod attachment. Slowly increase heat to oil until temperature returns to 325-350 degrees. This may take some time. Fry turkey 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in a meaty part of a thigh registers at 180 degrees. Remove from oil, drain and cool slightly before slicing. Yield: 14 servings.

Momma's Corn Bread Dressing

2 cups corn meal
1 tsp Watkins Baking Powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs, beaten
2 cups buttermilk
2 tbsp, Watkins Original Grapeseed Oil
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
12 slices day old bread, crumbled
2 1/2 cups Watkins Chicken Soup Base (mixed to pkg directions)
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Watkins Sage
1/4 tsp Watkins Pure Black Pepper
1 tsp Watkins Poultry Seasonings

Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; add 2 eggs, melted butter, oil and stir well. Place a well greased 10-inch cast iron skillet in a 450 degree oven for 4 minutes or until hot. Remove skillet from oven and spoon batter into skillet. Bake 450 degrees for 35 minutes or until corn bread is slightly browned. Cool, crumble into a large bowl. Saute celery and onion in butter until tender. Add sauteed veggies and remaining seven ingredients to crumbled cornbread, stirring well. Spoon dressing into a lightly greased 13x9-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 30 minutes. Yield: 8 Servings

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

1 1/2 lbs yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered length-wise
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 Tbsp heavy cream
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp milk
Salt and Pepper

1 Put potatoes into a saucepan. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add water until potatoes are covered. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15-20 minutes, or until done - a fork can easily be poked through them.

2 Warm cream and melt butter, together, either in microwave or in a pan on the stove. Drain water from potatoes. Put hot potatoes into a bowl. Add cream and melted butter. Use potato masher to mash potatoes until well mashed. Use a strong spoon to beat further, adding milk to achieve the consistency you desire. (Do not over-beat or your potatoes will get gluey.) Salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 4.

Candied Sweet Potatoes

6 large sweet Potatoes
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp Watkins Pure Vanilla Extract
1/3 cup half and half or milk
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup flaked coconut

Cook sweet potatoes in boiling water to cover 30 to 45 minutes or until tender. Let cool to touch, peel and mash. Combine sweet potato, 1/2 cup sugar and next four ingredients; beat at medium speed with a electric mixer until smooth. Spoon into a greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Combine 1 cups brown sugar and flour; cut 1/4 cup butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Stir in pecans and coconut, sprinkle over casserole. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly around the edges. Yield: 8 servings.

Whole Grain Pan Rolls

1 cup water
1 cup honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup regular oats, uncooked
2 pkgs active dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1 large egg
2 1/2 cups all- purpose flour

Combine water, honey and flour in a small sauce pan and heat till butter melts. Remove from heat and cool to 120 degrees. Combine wheat flour, oats, yeast, and salt in a mixing bowl, stir well. Gradually add hot liquid mixture; beating at a low speed with an electric mixer, add egg. Slowly add enough all-purpose flour to make a soft dough. Turn dough out on to a heavily floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes). Shape into 24 balls and place into a lightly greased 13x9-inch pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 1 hour or until dough has doubled in bulk. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Yield: 2 dozen rolls

Best Green Bean Casserole

INGREDIENTS

* 2 (14.5 ounce) cans green beans, drained
* 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
* 1 (6 ounce) can French fried onions
* 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place green beans and soup in a large microwave-safe bowl. Mix well and heat in the microwave on HIGH until warm (3 to 5 minutes). Stir in 1/2 cup of cheese and heat mixture for another 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer green bean mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle with French fried onions and remaining cheese.
3. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven until the cheese melts and the onions just begin to brown.

Best Ever Pumpkin Pie

1 3/4 cups canned pumpkin
1 3/4 cups sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs, beaten
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
9 inches pie shells, unbaked

1. Combine pumpkin and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes.
2. Pour into prepared piecrust.
3. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to 350 degrees; bake 50 additional minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Cool on a wire rack.

Slow Cooker Caramel Pear Cake

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 cup flour
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 1 tsp. baking powder
* 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
* 1/2 cup whole milk
* 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans
* 1/4 cup chopped dried pears
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 1 cup water
* 1 cup pear nectar
* 2 Tbsp. butter
* 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

PREPARATION:
In large bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add milk and oil and mix just until combined. Stir in pecans and dried pears. Spread in bottom of 3-4 quart crockpot. In small saucepan, mix brown sugar, water, pear nectar, butter, and ginger.

Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour over batter in the crockpot.

Cover crockpot and cook on high for 2 to 2-1/2 hours until a toothpick inserted 1" into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove cover from crockpot, turn off crockpot, and let cake stand, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes to cool a bit before serving. There will be a tender cake that has formed over a caramel sauce; turn the servings over as you scoop them out of the slow cooker. 6-8 servings

Hot cocoa anyone????

I just finished making this winter template and realized that I'm missing snow and cold weather. Here we are in the middle of November and we're going to reach record highs AGAIN, it's 73º right now and supposed to get higher by this afternoon. What is this?!?!?!?

I'm used to winter time, snow flakes outside, the cold brisk air hitting your face as you walk out the door and the smell of hot chocolate or a hearty stew or soup cooking away on the stove. *sigh*

So after looking at my blog I decided that I can't enjoy all those things here in Arizona, but there's no reason why those lucky ones can't right???
To start my post off today I'm sharing a recipe for a wonderful yummy Snow Cocoa!



The weekend is over and I wish it wasn't, I'm not ready to go back to real life, I want to hide away in the house for a couple more days, doing nothing, seeing nothing, saying nothing, just being.......you ever want to just BE??? Be content with what you have and who you are and where you live???

Cause I am, truly, no really, I am reaching that point in my life where I am just happy and truly content with what I've achieved and where I am at this time......what a great feeling!

So after taking these last 3 days to hang out and let it all go, I am now faced with a house screaming for attention and before you even roll your eyes or wonder "goodness how bad can the house be?". It's NOT bad at all, but I'm a neat freak and I get annoyed with dog hair on my couches (which btw if anyone has any tips on how to minimize it or fix it, please please, let me know), or tons of toys all over the living room floor, or kitchen counters with splashes of whatever drink was spilled or crumbs laying around. Even seeing a dish or two in the sink gives me hives. Well, not really, but you get the idea!!!

I won't even mention my computer desk because it has this way of looking cluttered and messy even when I am done cleaning. I sometimes sit and wonder, do I really need thousands of game, software and miscellaneous CD's?? Or all the pens and pencils, books, coffee mugs and wrappers from whatever candy I happened to grab on the way to the computer???

Well I'm baring it all for you, not in that way sorry, but I'm showing you what I need to do today and if you're easily offended you may want to skip this part.

That's all clean laundry just fresh out of the dryer and waiting to be folded, which means if I don't get my happy behind off this computer and start doing just that, I'll end up with creasy clothes and I can't stand that. Oh lookie another thing to add to my list of stuff that drives me crazy LOL
Wasn't that bad was it???? I love how the office chair is in the middle of the living room and Nicholas doesn't even have his clothes on yet, yep, it's early and he's had his breakfast but went right to playing with his toys. If I didn't remind him to get clothes on he would be happy walking around in his undies all day long.....what is it with kids and clothes???? Or maybe it's just MY kids and clothes, I don't know!

I just want to stay and chat but if I don't get going now I won't get anything done. I'll probably come back later today with a little more to add to this post, until then I hope you all have a great tuesday.

I'm sending a huge hug and kiss to my family back in South Africa, can't wait to see them all next year.

I wish it would rain!

I truly do miss the rain, I miss the smell of it and the darkness and coolness it brings, I miss snuggling in front of the tv and watching movies while the rain drops pitter patter outside and most of all, I miss sleeping at night and hearing the drops fall against the roof.........there's something very calming and relaxing about rain and I for one miss it terribly.

We have a couple clouds outside so I'm wondering if I may get lucky today, who knows?

I just now finished visiting all the ladies who left a wonderful Slow Cooker recipe yesterday, I seem to be completely out of touch with everything and everyone, it's like I'm on this never ending roller coaster and I keep trying to make it stop so I can get out and stretch my legs and catch a breather, but it just keeps going and going.

It's been a great relaxing weekend, I can honestly say that I've done NOTHING, I've slept in, I've had donuts for breakfast, I've had my slow cooker making the meals and we've played with the kids, watched movies and played games on the computer.....now I know why they have these long weekends spread out through the year, it's to make you recharge and feel ready to take on the world.

Since today I'm still relaxing and forgetting about the laundry and the house cleaning and everything else that requires my attention, I'm putting of posting my Menu Plan until tomorrow, I don't want to get sucked into Bloggyland because well....it's addictive and it literally keeps me captive for hours on end.

So I'm headed out, but I leave you with some Bloggy News....

There is something wonderful going on that I should bring to your attention and that is Kelli's Giving Thanks feature this week, you can read more about it in her post here. I'm going to participate today with a Thanksgiving Planner for 2 weeks before the day.

For more great recipes, decorating tips, thanks, menus etc go on over to Kelli's blog.


Thanksgiving Planner

* Draw up a guest list, and then invite each person via phone or email.
* Plan the menu. It's easiest if the host (you) handles the main dish or anything else that doesn't travel well (i.e. turkey and mashed potatoes) and willing cooks supply the rest.
* Are kids on the guest list? Think about age-appropriate ways of getting them involved or keeping them entertained.
* Start downloading dinner music.
* Clean out the freezer.

Ten Days to Go

* Call to confirm "maybes" from your guest list so you can establish a final head-count.
* Assess tables and chairs, table linens, etcetera. Do you need to borrow anything? Make arrangements now.
* Purchase your frozen turkey if it's too late to order a fresh one.
* Finalize your shopping list. Break it down into what can be purchased ahead, such as canned goods, and what perishables should be picked up closer to the day. Make your first shopping run. Don't forget the candles and firewood.
* Get started on make-and-freeze-aheads such as casseroles and pie crusts.

One Week To Go

* Clean out the fridge.
* Start thawing your frozen turkey. Note that thawing in the fridge will take one day for every 5 pounds of meat. A 15-pound turkey will require three days to thaw thoroughly.
* Polish silver and wash glassware.
* Clean house and make sure you have what you need for houseguests.

Two Days Before

* Purchase fresh produce.
* Make pie crusts and refrigerate (if you haven't gone the frozen route).
* Clean and press table linens, set the table or decorate the buffet, lay out serving pieces, and set up the bar.

One Day Before

* Wash and prep produce.
* Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavity and make turkey stock for gravy.
* If you're brining your turkey, give it no more than a 24-hour soak.
* Assemble stuffing but do not put it in the turkey until just before roasting. Better yet, put it in a separate pan, moisten with your homemade turkey stock, refrigerate, and bake it on Thanksgiving day.
* Bake pies.
* Arrange frozen dinner rolls on a sheet pan and thaw overnight in the fridge. (Otherwise, thaw at room temperature on Thanksgiving morning.)
* Make one more quick run with the vacuum cleaner and dusting cloth.
* Purchase and arrange fresh flowers.
* Make sure your camera is charged and ready.

Thanksgiving Day

This is when all your advance work pays off and you look like a genius. Yes, there might be dishes to be prepared on the day, but you won't be in a panic. Do remember to map out oven and stove time for items brought by guests. Here's what you might have to plan for:

* Stuff and roast turkey (or bake dressing).
* Mash potatoes.
* Make gravy.
* Toss salad.
* Warm or bake bread and rolls.
* Arrange appetizer platters.
* Whip cream for desserts.
* Chill or open wine.
* Heat cider, make coffee.

Slow Cooking Thursday!

All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.


Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

Thank you all for participating, I've loved all the wonderful recipes you've shared ;)
I found this recipe online a long time ago and I can't remember where I got it, but it's really good.

SMOKEHOUSE CHICKEN

1 whole chicken
1/4 cup liquid smoke


1. Rinse chicken inside and out, and pat dry.
2. Place in crock pot, breast side down.
3. Pour liquid smoke over top.
4. Cover and cook on low until done, about 10 hours, or until chicken is cooked to desired tenderness. (some crock pots cook faster than others, even on low).

If desired, salt your chicken inside and out before placing in crock pot. I've recently learned that some liquid smoke has added ingredients, and that will also affect the results -- the kind I use is only "water and smoke." Also, cooking times vary with different crock pots and with the size of your chicken. When I prepare this, I use a chicken weighing between 4 and 4 1/2 pounds. Your chicken may be done in less than 10 hours -- use your judgement based on past experience with your crock pot.

Anne of Green Gables!

Do you know that I absolulely love, no I mean LOVE Anne of Green Gables??? I've made it an habit of watching the movie every year around Thanksgiving and I get giddy with excitement just thinking of it, so when I was at YouTube earlier today I was thrilled to find the whole movie on there, now I can watch whenever I feel like it, though I still have to buy the DVD's because it's well worth it.

Though I like knowing that I can pop by YouTube and watch some of it when the mood strikes me. So for all the other Anne of Green Gables lovers out there, here's the link to the Amyofgreengables videos, enjoy!

In the meantime if you like audio books like I do and want to listen to the book while working on the computer, here's a link to the Anne of Green Gables at Librivox. Oh Librivox you have no idea how much I have grown to love you.

We're finally starting to see some fall weather here, it's getting cooler in the mornings and darker earlier in the day, usually by 5:30pm it's already dark outside and I just couldn't be happier. I truly am a Fall/Winter girl, that's when I'm truly happy. I like seeing clouds and rain and knowing that I can grab a cup of tea or coffee and snuggle in bed or on the couch with my favorite book.

Even reaching for the warm soft feel of the yarn as I knit a scarf or blanket, it's just one of those 'aaahhhhh' feelings.

As you know a lot of us have been sick with a cold, Jasmine seems to be doing fine now and she's back at school, next week she's being tested for the Gifted Program so she's excited and insists that she does not need to practice anything because she's doing so good.....stubborn like daddy I tell you.

Nicholas is also doing ok, he seemed to have gotten a little better when his sister was really sick but now he's walking that fence with me, we're both balancing not quite sick but not exactly fine either. I keep pushing and prodding and trying to tilt our bodies to the good side of the fence but somehow we keep floating back to the other, I guess it takes practice LOL



Tomorrow I'm making my Grandma's Gingersnap Cookies, I do so every Fall and they never seem to last very long, eaten just plain or made into cookie sandwiches, either works for us, we're not picky. But the aroma that takes over the house while they're in the oven is to die for. Give them a try when you get a chance!

For dinner tonight I'm making some Beer Battered Fresh Fish Fillets, some homemade fries and a salad to go with it.


Well it's dinner time and I'm going to finish everything up and then put away some laundry and change all the linens on the bed. Yes it's the end of the day but the housework never ends does it???

I'm hoping to get some reading done tonight as well and then watch my Ghost Hunters Findings Episode, it's the one where they show us all the evidence they captured during their live show last week. I'm excited, Jeaneene, hope you're watching LOL

Oh and I just got my Netflix movies, Mary Queen of Scots and You, Me and Dupree.....hope they're good.

Have a wonderful night everyone and God Bless,

Book Reviews and a Day in pictures!

I have but ONE book left in this Trilogy and I'm just loving them. The Tucker Mills Trilogy is written by one of my favorite Christian Authors...Lori Wick!

In the first book "Moonlight on the Millpond" we follow the story of Maddie and Jace as they grow to love each other and struggle with the questions they have about God and believing in him, faith and trust and being a Christian. In this book we also get to know Cathy and Doyle who are like parents to Maddie, Woody Randall who is Jace's uncle and owns the local sawmill and who Jace works for and Eden, Jace's sister who has looked after him for years and feels entitled to run his life and tell him what to do.

I just loved the interaction between all the characters and even Eden who annoyed me so badly became one of my favorites in the end. The book ends with Jace and Maddie married and expecting a child.

Now in the second book "Just above a whisper" we are again following the story of Jace and Maddie as they grow in their marriage and in their relationship with God, but we are also introduced to Reese Thackery who is an indentured servant to Mr Zantow. When he dies, the local bank gets ahold of her papers and wants her to work for them until the debt that Mr Zantow owes is paid off. The local pastor gets in touch with an old friend who is the owner of the bank and asks for help in getting Reese released as a servant.

Conner Kingsley we meet in the beginning of the book as he at the age of 12 years old, travels with his sister in a carriage, they are attacked and everyone is killed and Conner left for dead with a cut on his throat which affects his vocal cords....he had to learn to talk again and now only whispers. He along with his brother is the owner of the bank and comes to Tucker Mills to fix the problem with Reese..........I'm sure you can already tell that these two will fall for each other, but not before overcoming some obstacles in their path and growing in their love for the Lord too.

LOVED LOVED both books and am now starting on "Leave a Candle Burning" the third and final book in the trilogy. I can't wait!



Jasmine is back at school, she has a bit of a cough and is still sounding sick but no longer has a fever which is great....I also can't keep her home indefinitely until she is 100% because that would probably mean missing school for the whole winter. Yeah, not going to happen.

We're all slowly getting better, I tend to take the longest to get over things and I think it's because as a mother I can't exactly go lay down and take a nap or sleep in or rest, I have to be the caretaker and the one making everyone feeling better. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining and I'll gladly be the one holding on the cold a little longer as long as my kiddos are fine.

It's a cooler day here in Arizona, though we've been above average and in the 90's...can you believe that??? Boy do I miss Idaho and the cooler temps, by now we would be looking at maybe getting some snow, that's one thing we'll miss for sure.

Curt is working day shift still and he's been loving the recognition he's getting here. After being in the military for 16 years it's nice to feel like you're rewarded and acknowledged for all your hard work, he's been getting awards for Crew Chief of the Month and Cleanest Jet and so forth, he loves it.....though he still wants to go back to Mountain Home and has actually already put in for it LOL

Yeah, I think we adopted Idaho as our home state and just fell in love with it, now we miss it terribly and can't wait to return in 4 years when he retires......if we're lucky we may go back sooner, who knows with the military right???

So here's my day in pictures:

Dishes to be done in the sink.........

The last of the laundry to bet put away, it's such a small pile it won't take me but a minuteA package ready to be mailed to South Africa tomorrow morning....YAY

A chicken waiting to be roasted for dinner......

A small pile of paperwork waiting to be filed

And what are the pugs up to today? Well napping of course....Bella in her bed

Lola on the couch

Before I leave I want to bring to your attention a couple of things going on in Blog land.


The wonderful lady at Overwhelmed with Joy is hosting a Pay it Forward contest, she's giving away 3 or I think now it's 7 really good books, so if you're interested in entering, go on over to her blog and add your name to the list......and all you gotta do is mention the contest on your blog, just like I did, wasn't that easy and well worth 3 great books???

The amazing Kelli at There's no Place Like Home is going to be doing a great feature next week, she's calling it "Giving Thanks" and it will run through next week, she'll be sharing recipes, craft ideas, Thanksgiving menus etc, but the fun part is that we get to join in because she'll have a Mr Linky up everyday.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is one of my all time favorite blogs, this woman can COOK and she's hilarious too.
She's doing a whole series of holiday recipes and cooking lessons including start-to-finish Thanksgiving turkey with all the fixings. She is amazing, so go on over and see what she's cooked up so far and laugh along with her witty way of writing.

And that's it, I know there's a ton of Bloggy Giveaways going on but I am too tired and sick to go looking for them all, I'm sure you'll come across them on your own :)

I'm about to go do all the things I have on my list and then maybe see if Nicholas doesn't want to lay down with me for a bit, not to nap of course, we can't tell him that because he'll quickly get up and say "I'm not tired". *snicker*