Good Morning

What a lovely morning! Just right for a great new day of expectation! Excitement builds and adrenalin flows as I ponder what this new day may bring! Adventure beckons and the thrill of exploration permeates the air! it is great to be alive and able! Praise God for His wonderful blessings!!!

Thankgiving Memories

I remember my dear Granny. Next year the angels will celebrate her 25th year in glory. She was the quintessential granny. She was a marvelous cook, her love for her family was boundless and she was fun-spirited. What she didn't have materially she more than made up for from her heart. Thanksgiving at her house was a time of real celebration at the table. She always served at least two meats, one was invariably a pork roast. Her mashed potatoes were to die for, and her biscuits were sublime. But everyone looked forward to dessert! There were always a least 3-5 choices including coconut cake and pumpkin pie, but my favorite was her apple sauce cake with caramel icing. No one can make it like she did, and thankfully you didn't have to wait until Thanksgiving to get some. She had one everytime I remember being at her house.

Now going to stay at her house was a little different for me a city girl. Granny had no indoor facilities. I hated nighttime- going to the Johnny was no fun. And I invariably had to go!! She did have a chamber pot under the bed for very cold nights deep in the country where she lived. I just don't think I could make it that low to the ground anymore. Whoa!!

She did have electricity, and plumbing in the kitchen, but she cooked on a wood stove and the furnace in the living room was wood burning. Those two rooms were always hot! But the bedroom in the early morning was icy. I always wanted to sleep with Granny. She slept on 2 pillows and under at least 2 wool quilts. It was like sleeping by a huge mountain. Thankfully she was a peaceful and quiet sleeper. The cover was too heavy to toss and turn under. But she'd get up bright and early and always had the kitchen toasty warm by the time I had to arise. I remember counting 3 then throwing back the covers and running lickety split into the kitchen before my feet turned blue. No time to put on slippers. Dad will rale at me, "Carolyn, go put your shoe and socks on, but I'd whine, " BRRR,too cold to go back for 'em." Then he'd go get them and help me with em. Mom and Granny would be startingon the dinner feast even as the breakfast table was laden with sausage gravy and homemade biscuits. Yum! I wish I had some now!

Giving Thanks

Kelli of There's No Place Like Home is hosting a fun meme to prepare for the holiday! Go to her site for the details!
Our family has some interesting every changing Thanksgiving traditions. I grew up going to my grandmas' houses. They lived in the same town and Thanksgiving was a food fest. we went hungry and came home stuffed to the gills, but it was great seeing the family all gathered together. When we adopted Amanda we continued going to the country but this time it was to my parents' home, so I must confess I have only truly ever baked about 2 turkeys in my whole life!
Then when Amanda was about 6 we started doing Thanksgiving at Myrtle Beach where Amanda's favorite cousins from Columbus, Ohio, Chris and Tom, would come to their beach home and my parents and we would rent a condo nearby and do it all grandma style. We really enjoyed those years. Even when Amanda started dating Joshua we'd bring him with us for the week! Then, they got married, so now we do Thanksgiving at their house. First, at their basement apartment near the campus, and this year in their beautiful town home they have been so fortunate to live in while their finish their dissertations. The wonderful news is today is Amanda's very last day to work in her lab. Thankfully she is on the downhill side of finishing her paper which she defends a week from tomorrow! Then she can begin to focus on Thanksgiving! With one great huge sigh of relief!