Family Thanksgiving 2016

Thanksgiving 2016

Front:  Audrey and Shawna

Back, left to right:  Ryan, Blaine, Logan, Regina, Johnny, Angie and Steven

My family

Johnny's sweet grand-niece took the picture.

What a sweet day it has been with too much food although it was all "plain" food, nothing fancy.

All my family was home. 

Thankful for a wonderful time today with the people I love.

I love you.

Almost Home

"60 miles.............almost home", he says.


As a mom I love to hear this.  Almost home.  My baby boy............42 years old.............is coming home.  Long drive from his new address, Ohio, but I will be so happy to see him.  I have wondered all day how his trip home was going and now he's almost home.


Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  He's almost home.


I love you. 

So, Let Me Ask You This

Are you known for a catch phrase?  A phrase you use in almost every conversation?  Well I don't have one either..........  That is I didn't think I had one until it was pointed out to me.


Wednesday morning while my daughter was at our house, we were discussing how often some people repeat certain words.  I said I didn't have one.  Then the hubby pipes up a little too quickly and says, "Oh yes you do.  You say 'So, let me ask you this' all the time."  My daughter gasps and laughs loudly and says "I was going to say that.  Mom, you say that all the time."  Those two had a merry old time with me.


Today at lunch, my daughter asked my grandson if Nana had any phrase she used a lot.  She prompted him and told him it started with 'so'.  The just burst out laughing and said "so, let me ask you this".


For the last two days, I have caught myself saying it or almost saying this phrase a lot.  So I guess I do.  So, let me ask you this.  Do you have a phrase that you use so often that you don't even know you use it?


I love you.

Enchanting Evening Lingers On

Good morning.


I've had my first cup of coffee and now sipping on my second and my fingers are literally flying over the keyboard.


Yesterday, I got my new key for my car.  I told you about that, didn't I?  Misplacing or LOSING my car keys??  I don't know, but the bottom line is they are gone.  Well, the place where we got the key was just across the street from a restaurant where we once ate.  I say ate because we went there once............a little special place that for one, we couldn't afford more than once, and two, they went out of business not long after we ate there.


Oh, what a wonderful little place.  The menu was on a chalkboard easel with only three or four items; the chef's picks which included a nice dessert.  It was an intimate inviting little place with dim lighting and candles on the tables.  (Don't you miss that?  Candles on the tables?  and a quiet place--do you miss that?)


Oh, what a nice evening we had, one that comes to mind even 44 years later.  The table was set with a full silver service arranged next to the plates.............and I'd be lying if I said I knew what those four forks and all those spoons were for, even a spoon at the top of the plate.  But, as far back as 1972, I knew enough to use the outside pieces first so I did okay, although it was a bit intimidating.  The food absolutely delicious and the chocolate mousse was by far, the best thing I'd ever eaten. 


Well, my coffee is wearing off, but the memory of that enchanting evening lingers on........all these years later. 


I love you.


     

I Lost My Keys

Good evening. 


I have been looking, almost non-stop since 12:30, for my car keys.  We have searched high and low and no luck.  We've looked in the car, in the baskets, in the drawers, and in every cupboard.  Even the freezers and refrigerators.  I have even resorted to looking in the sugar jar.  At this point I am beginning to think I have dementia so I am looking in the oddest places.  (Okay, I am joking.........a little...........I think.........maybe.) 


So we have given up the search although every 15 minutes I jump up to search again...........to no avail.  Tomorrow will begin the task of making another key.  I didn't want to waste my cash on a new key, but I sure don't want this to happen again with no extra key on hand.


Today I am reminded of the time mom lost her wedding ring.  She looked high and low, too.  Every person that came to see her for the next month looked for the ring.  Well...............we found it..........
A little too late for mom to know, though.  We found it when going through the sewing machine drawers after she had passed away....................there was the ring.  Sad that she didn't know. 


Here's hoping that I find my keys before my demise. 


I love you.  I gotta get up and hunt keys.

What a Wonderful Day

What a wonderful day...... 


ooh.........it's hot!  It's hot here in Oklahoma.  76 degrees as I type, here at 4:30 p.m., November 15, 2016.  It's not suppose to be hot.  It's November for Pete's sake.  Are we going to wear jackets this year?  I digress.


So what better way to entertain ourselves and little Audrey on an unusually warm day than an impromptu visit to the ZOO.  What a wonderful day for a 2 year-old little gal, running from exhibit to exhibit, slide to slide, playground to playground.  She was so happy all morning, but in her tiny soft little-girl voice she asked if we could go home to Papaw and Nana's house.  So only after a couple hours, she was tucked in her car seat heading for home, her head hanging down, eyes closing from time to time. 


What a day!  We debated about taking her because, let's face it, it does take a bit of effort.  We quickly found out that that bit of effort was the best part of our day.  What a wonderful day.


I love you.  Hope you had a wonderful day, too.


The zoo is changing, lots of renovations, but I could still make out the old landmarks from 1958.  So many memories................  Memories of picnics at the lake..................Memories of the monkey boat....................Memories of Judy the Elephant...............

Craving Italian

Hello.  It is hot in Oklahoma.  How about where you live?  Tomorrow the temperature is suppose to be in the high 70s and 81 on Wednesday.  It sure doesn't make me think of Thanksgiving, but here it is!!!  People, we have about 10 days to get that coveted turkey.  Can you only imagine the chaos of grocery stores this weekend?  I think I will make my way there this week and keep that bird frozen until I thaw it.


For weeks now I have been in a culinary slump.  I can't think of a thing to fix for dinner, but yet, I keep gaining ounces a day which really translates to pounds.  UGH  So tonight (craving Italian) I thought I'd be creative using pre-made ingredients I found in the pantry.  I was feeling like Pioneer Woman.  Marinara over polenta just like the package recommended.  Well............it was a looser.  Oh, it wasn't quite as bad as I go-on.  Each ingredient on its own is pretty good, but the flavor of Trader Joe's Tomato Basil Marinara over Trader Joe's tube of polenta just didn't taste as good as each of one individually.  But the sautéed chicken was good.  Next time............


I loved the marinara even though the hubby said it wasn't the best he's ever had..........hey, he's a man.  What does he know.?


Memory:  We didn't have much Italian food when I was a kid, but mom could make a mean spaghetti with meat sauce using the old Kraft box.  Spaghetti, can of sauce, and a package of cheese.  What more do you need?  You'd open up that can and pour it over the cooked ground beef.  Pour that over cooked spaghetti, and top with that cheese in the silver envelope.  Remember that?  Was that box enough spaghetti for a family of seven?  I guess so because we sure didn't use two boxes.


I love you.  By the way, I am no Pioneer Woman.