Blessings Abounding . . .

Hi Folks! I know it's been a while since my last post, but - like most of you - I've been busy cooking and eating and having a great Thanksgiving. For me it started on Tuesday when I drove the 25 miles to pick up my Mama and bring her up here for the weekend. While dinner was cooking we sat down and made a list of what we would have, and what could be cooked on Wednesday and what would have to wait until Thursday.

Wednesday we pretty much stayed in the kitchen all day. I did most of the cooking that day and Mama kept the dishes washed up for me as I worked. We did the chocolate delight pie, cranberry salad, deviled eggs, watergate salad, bourbon glazed carrots, and brined the turkey.

Thursday I got up and put Hortensia (the turkey) in the oven. This was Mama's day to do most of the cooking - beans, dressing and gravy, etc. - so I kept most of the dishes washed up as she cooked, and set the table and started getting serving pieces ready for each dish. I also went outside to see what kind of flowers I could find to make an arrangement for our table. I was amazed! I knew the mums would be there, but there were also yellow buddleia, a few pink and yellow roses, Chinese snowballs, a dried hydrangea bloom, and a few other bits and pieces. When I walked into the house with all those flowers, I felt like I'd harvested God's bounty!

We had planned on eating around 3 pm. That way we wouldn't be too stuffed by the time bedtime came around - HA! But we also just planned on eating when it all got ready! But, do you know that when we sat at the table, hubby said "Well, you made it! It's 2:58!!!"

The three of us had a great meal, and of course were too full for dessert, so we saved that for later. Mama and I cleaned up, put all the leftovers away and took a break for a while. Of course hubby was watching football!

Our very special day ended on a very special note. One of the local meteorologists on TV had told on Wednesday night that the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Atlantis would be going over Thursday night at 6:41 pm. About 6:35 the three of us wrapped up in coats (it had gotten cold!) and waited out in the driveway, looking toward the northwestern sky. It seemed like ages, but in fact it was only 5 or 6 minutes before I saw them! The space station first, followed by the shuttle. And man, were they moving! But it was so amazing to stand out in our front yard, looking up into that clear, star filled sky, and watch those 'vehicles' so very far away passing overhead. It really made me thankful for many things.

And, after we got inside and warmed up, we all wanted dessert, so we pigged out again!

Friday started off a bit rough. About 1:30 my bladder rebelled, so when I got back to bed and tried to go back to sleep, there was no way it was going to happen. Hubby was really stuffy and snoring a lot, so I got up and went into the office and closed the door. I worked on a couple of projects and waited. I knew hubby was planning on getting up around 2:30 to go SHOPPING!!! It was Black Friday, after all, and we'd looked at all the sale papers on Thursday, and found a great deal on my DREAM present for this year at a really good price.

Anyway, before long he was up and I saw him out of the house and went back to bed and still didn't sleep well - I was too excited, because even though I know I can't get it until Christmas, I can't wait to get this gift! I have the sweetest husband, especially at Christmas time, because he really works at buying my gifts. He always spends way too much money, but it is the one time a year he really goes all out, and gets so much joy from seeing me opening my goodies. I truly think that his Christmas gift is seeing me happy about what he got me. I am blessed, and grateful!

When I got up around 7:30 hubby was in the living room with the girls. He had been back home by 4:15, successful in his quest. Man, I'm excited now!!! Oh, and the gift, well . . . I can't tell you until Christmas, but it's electric powered, it's useful in a creative sort of way, and it rhymes with cricket. That's all for now!

I got Mama up and we head for the hills of North Georgia. We rode and rode and rode, mostly in Coopers Creek WMA and then back through Ellijay so Mama could stop and get more apples from the apple houses. We came home in time for hubby to watch most of the Alabama/Auburn game, and had leftovers for dinner.

Saturday I took Mama home with a few errands along the way, came home and had leftovers for dinner - again!

Today I went shopping to pick up some stocking stuffers, wrapping paper and such, came home and had . . . you guessed it! Leftovers for dinner. But, I think that's all except for some turkey soup that I'll make tomorrow. I've had 4 days worth of dressing, gravy, green beans, corn pudding, etc. and I'm kind of tired of it . . . until Christmas!

It's been a great Thanksgiving weekend, and I'm going to leave you with a few pictures of our bountiful table. Have a great week! Becky

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