by Sharon | Nov 24, 2016
Thanksgiving Day finally arrived and here in Southern California I can hopefully say so has fall!!!
I was out and about yesterday wearing my sweatshirt with a hood — it was supposed to be windy, and I like to cover my ears on windy days.
I did some shopping . . . parking was a bit of a nightmare . . . but I was able to get some exercise . . .
I usually don’t like being in crowds, but there is an energy in the air when preparing for a holiday dinner with family and friends.
I’ve heard so many times how important it is to “live in the moment.” This isn’t easy to do . . . we think of the past and are bombarded with thoughts about a future event . . .
I was thinking of papercrafts . . . all those projects I started and didn’t finish . . . But, then thinking ahead to spring . . . and this great Bungalow Sizzix Die i have . . .
But it could be for Christmas . . . everything is adaptable for any season . . .
It is a cozy little place I would like to visit for Thanksgiving, too.
And then my thoughts shift to the Sizzix Surf Shack . . . There’s something quite relaxing and mellow about that, too . . .
I have a friend who has a beach house in South Carolina . . . the hurricane did quite a bit of damage, but she’s fixing it up . . . and took a picture of a couple of alligators soaking up some rays in her yard . . . I can appreciate this Surf Shack on stilts . . . don’t want to get cozy with the wildlife . . .
There is so very much to do . . . and so little time . . . Amazing how difficult it is to stay in the moment.
On this Thanksgiving Day it is worthwhile to take a moment and reflect upon the goodness we have in our life . . . good friends . . . a loving family . . . being able to play a musical instrument, draw or paint a picture . . . do papercrafts . . . or whatever you find enjoyable and relaxing . . . I have a neighbor who enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles . . . Some people enjoy reading or watching movies . . . Others like to shop . . . There are those who love walking and taking pictures . . . It’s all quite wonderful . . . We do have much for which to be thankful . . .
Today is beautiful . . . no matter the weather . . . there is beauty to see . . . And a feast to share with family and friends . . .
This is a wonderful day to celebrate . . . maybe not for traditional reasons, but reasons of your own . . . It is your Thanksgiving after all.
Many of you may be anticipating Black Friday . . . or Cyber Monday . . . or both . . . or just take a deep breath . . . relax . . . and live in the moment.
Until next time . . . Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | Nov 4, 2016
Snack recipes are always welcome for Thanksgiving . . . Or between Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Here are my suggestions for making this delicious snack for your family and friends.
Harvest Chex Mix
Ingredients:
- 1 box Rice Chex Cereal
- 1 bag Bugles
- 4 cups Pretzels
- 1 cup Candy Corn
- 1 cyo Candy Corn Pumpkins
- 1 bag Reese’s Pieces
- Feel free to add pieces of your favorite left-over Halloween candy
Sauce Ingredients:
Yes, there is a buttery brown sugar sauce that goes over the mixture before popping it in the oven.
- 3/4 cup melted Butter
- 3/4 cup packed Brown Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 275°F
- Melt the butter in the microwave
- Add the brown sugar and vanilla extract to the melted butter and whisk until combined and dissolved
- In a large bowl, add the Chex, bugles and pretzels
- Pour the sauce over this mixture and toss gently until evenly coated
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper
- Divide the mixture on the two baking sheets, spreading in an even layer on each baking sheet
- Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes
- Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Put the cooled mixture into a large bowl
- Add the candy
- Toss to combine evenly
- Store any left-overs in an air-tight container
Well, there you go! It’s a great treat that will give you a fun Fall taste.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | Nov 1, 2016
One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is having an extra piece of pumpkin pie to take home.
For many of you, you may be getting a head-start on Black Friday . . . 
I do hope you made up some of these boxes for your guests to take home a piece of pumpkin pie.
Click the picture on the right to be taken to the PDF for downloading and printing.
I like to do as much as possible a day ahead. Then while the turkey is roasting in the oven, I go out and rake up leaves. There is something invigorating about this little bit of physical labor in the fresh outdoor fall air.
It’s amazing how quickly these leaves get raked up and put in the yard waste barrel.
I then relax on the front porch with a hot cup of coffee admiring my yard before cleaning up and working on the vegetables for my Thanksgiving dinner.
I like having a relaxing day . . . no major rushing around before my family and friends arrive. I do like to have everything ready so I can relax a bit.
Jigsaw puzzles and Thanksgiving seem to go together. It’s a time to get a bit nostalgic.
I hope your Thanksgiving Day, however you celebrate it is blissful.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | Aug 1, 2016
With the August heat, thinking about fall is refreshing.
I enjoy thinking ahead for fall decorating and I’m even open to Christmas decorating. Now is the perfect time to be looking ahead.
I enjoy the different seasons of the year . . . fall being my absolute favorite. I love thinking about the falling leaves and the pumpkins and that slight nip in the air. The transition from summer to fall is always exciting for me.
When I saw this fall tree, I thought it was perfect. A great project to get started thinking about. Gathering up all kinds of goodies that represent the season to me. Pumpkins, candy corn, ghosts, jack-o-lanterns . . . witches, scarecrows . . . muffin tins, pie tins . . .
I’m sure your tree would be unique. Just as mine may be, too. I don’t think “gingerbread” men cookies, but I’m not one to criticize. I might want more cooking utensils and maybe an old hat and boots . . . a few of my favorite books that represent the season . . .
Such a fall tree could go through the process of the kids starting back to school and then moving into Halloween and moving into Thanksgiving. I wonder if this tree would make the transition into Christmas . . . something worth thinking about.
Fall is a process. It’s a time of harvest . . . so there would be corn and pumpkins along with other fruits and vegetables. There may be scarecrows and black crows . . . maybe a raven . . . skeletons and who knows what represents fall to you.
Fall is an interesting transition period. It seems to be as colorful as spring . . yet in a different way. It offers two celebrations . . . Halloween and Thanksgiving. Both times of pumpkin pie and other sweet treats. Caramel corn, caramel apples . . . dressing up in costumes to run around the neighborhood . . . maybe getting scared by someone coming out of the darkness . . .
We do see school buses and children walking to school carrying books or wearing backpacks. It’s a new school year . . . trying out new recipes of pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins and apples — baked and put in pies and cakes and cookies.
The trip to the pumpkin farm is always delightful . . . picking out the right pumpkins to carve for Halloween . . . Then picking out your costume . . . and the planning of your own Halloween party . . . or one for the kids . . .
Fall is definitely an exciting time of year.
And during this latter part of summer we’re preparing for the children to get ready for a new school year. Some of you may be planning the last vacation of the summer. Hopefully, you’ll be visiting family and they will be visiting you. It’s fun when all the cousins get together.
Family is wonderful. It’s great to spend time with them . . . Taking a bit of a break from all our busy routine to relax and enjoy the company of family we haven’t seen in awhile. This is usually great for all concerned.
It’s a time to discover that you do have more in common than you once thought. That’s why these times between holidays are important to get together. It can be much more relaxing and casual.
This would also be a great opportunity to collect items for your fall tree . . . things from your summer vacations and things you learned from loved ones. It is all part of you and what these seasons and holidays represent for you and your family. We are definitely a product of our ancestry.
These are just some thoughts.
It’s important to take a moment out of our daily schedules and think about fall and other seasons. It’s also good to observe how others view the season and what the stores stock up on and what may be missing . . .
I’m always looking for things that aren’t usually stocked . . . but they have plenty of other stuff I have no interest in at all. Do you find that, too.
Enjoy your remaining days of summer . . . and recognize how fall is creeping up on us . . .
Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
