A Mother's/Homemaker's Work Is Never Finished

These pictures are just a simple metaphor for the many tasks that we do every day that we must do, and re-do, and re-do, and re-do, and re-do, and re-do, . . . . Well, you get the idea. But, when they are done, they really are so very worth the effort, now aren't they??

Before:

After:

And, just as Brianna is so adorable, and simply loveable whether her hair is done or not, those who truly love us probably don't care if we have dishes in our sinks, or toys on our floors, or laundry on our couches, when they drop by, so long as we make them feel welcome and loved.

Simplification, Clarification, and Stuff

O.k., so, when James and I lived close to family, we would go to one of our parent's homes for Thanksgiving dinner, and we would bring . . . the ROLLS! Yup, that's it. Rolls. So, when you live far from home, and you decide it's important enough to you to continue the traditional dishes that made up your family's Thanksgiving meals, then all of a sudden, your menu looks fairly complex. Instead of 5-11 families contributing, it's just you. So, that's why there are so many things on our menu. Truly, it isn't as bad as it seems. The recipes are fairly easy, and the pay-off for me is worth it.

That being said, James and I discussed it last night and we decided to save the Green Jell-O Salad and the Wassail for our Christmas or New Year's Celebration, in order to simplify things a bit. We even discussed the option of buying Sam's Club rolls, but then we decided that our rolls "rock!" So, they stayed on the menu.

Also, this year, we decided to substitute Corn Pudding for our Green Bean Casserole. I found a recipe online, but I would be interested in anyone else's recipe for Corn Pudding.

O.k., that's enough about my Thanksgiving meal for now. Now onto some clarification. I believe that Ben's "O-R-A-N-G-E" song was learned at school. He may have changed the lyrics a bit, but for the most part, it came from school.

And the quote, "Let us not have tears. Partings are a natural part of life." is, indeed, from Anne of Green Gables, one of my all time favorite shows! (Eight hours is worth it just for the kiss at the end!!)

Thanksgiving Dinner Planner

A few years ago, I decided to lower my stress level for future Thanksgivings, by compiling a Thanksgiving Dinner Planner, comprised of the recipes that I use and the general time-line for preparations. I also compiled a detailed shopping list based on these recipes, but, hey, I'll save that for tomorrow's post. Not a very exciting post, but this is my blog, and my personal history; and if it happens to lower someone else's stress level this season, then all the better. Happy Thanksgiving planning!!

Thanksgiving Dinner Planner

Saturday before. . .
Thaw Turkey. (I found out the hard way that the Monday before isn't always early enough. Nothing ruins a Thanksgiving dinner faster than a turkey still frozen in the middle.)

Monday before ...
Orange Slushy Punch
1 can (46 oz.) Pineapple juice
2 cans frozen Orange Juice
Juice from 2 lemons
6 c. water
4 c. sugar
2- 2 liter bottles of Sprite or 7-Up
Boil water and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Mix in the rest of the ingredients, except the Sprite. Freeze. Before serving, add Sprite and "slush up." Serve.

Day Before Preparations. . .
Green Bean Casserole
3/4 c. milk
1/8 tsp. Pepper
10 3/4 oz. can Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 (9 oz.) Pkgs. Frozen cut green beans, thawed (or two cans French cut green beans)
1 ½ cups FRENCH’s French Fried Onions
In 1 ½ qt casserole, mix all ingredients except 2/3 c. French Fried Onions.
Bake 30 min. at 350° or until hot; stir. Top with 2/3 cup onions. Bake 5 min. or until onions are golden.

Wassail
2 ½ c. sugar
4 c. water
10 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1- 6oz can lemonade concentrate
1- 6oz can orange juice concentrate
1 gal. apple cider
Mix sugar and water. Bring to a boil. Add spices and simmer 1 hour. Remove spices. Add frozen concentrates and water that each calls for. Add cider. Serve hot. Makes 2 gallons.
Note: May also add orange or lemon slices as garnish. This drink will make your home smell heavenly, and it tastes that way too!

Green Jell-o Salad
1- 3oz. pkg. Lemon Jell-o
1- 3oz. pkg. Lime Jell-o
Add 2 cups boiling water. Let cool, but not set.
Add and gently stir in:
1 large can crushed pineapple with juice
1 lb. Cottage cheese
1 c. cool whip
½ c. mayonnaise (optional)

Watergate Salad
1 pkg (4 serving size) Jell-o Pistachio Flavor instant Pudding & Pie filling
1 cans (20 oz.) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 c. miniature marshmallows
½ c. chopped pecans
1 ½ c. (½ of an 8 oz tub) thawed Cool Whip
Mix dry pudding mix, pineapple, marshmallows, and pecans in a large bowl until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Cover. Refridgerate 1 hr or until ready to serve. Garnish with additional Cool Whip and pecans.

Pudding pie
Graham Cracker crust
Pudding flavor of choice
Follow directions on pudding package for pie. Top with Cool Whip or whipped cream.

On Thanksgiving Day...
Turkey
Prepare Reynold’s cooking bag according to directions. Preheat oven following directions that come with bag. Rinse turkey thoroughly, pat dry w/paper towels. Place turkey inside bag. Place the following ingredients inside the turkey:
1 ½ tsp salt
½ + 1/8 tsp pepper
1 raw onion , quartered
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
Several sprigs of rosemary, thyme, parsley and sage into turkey.
2 bay leaves
Rub outside of turkey with vegetable oil, or unsalted melted butter.
Place uncooked stuffing around turkey. Continue with directions that come with Reynold’s bag.

Stuffing (requires stove top & then oven–with turkey)
1 Bag of unseasoned stuffing
1 cup sauteed onion
½ cup sauteed sliced celery
Salt (required!)
Pepper
Sage (optional)
Butter
½ cup Buttermilk
1 cup chicken broth
Saute onion and celery in butter. Add to dry stuffing along with chicken broth and buttermilk. Add salt/pepper and sage as desired. Arrange around turkey and in turkey if desired.

Butter-rich Rolls
1 c. water
1 lg. Egg
3 1/4 c. bread flour
4 T. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
3 T. Dry milk
1/4 c. butter
1 ½ tsp active dry yeast or 2 tsp. Rapid rise yeast
Egg glaze:
1 lg. Egg, beaten
4 tsp. Water
Make dough in bread maker. Form dough into balls. Brush egg glaze generously over formed dough balls prior to baking. Bake at 375° 10-15 min.

Sweet Potatoes (requires stove top and oven)
1 ½ lbs (approx. 2 medium) sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed. Cook 25-30 minutes in water. Drain water and add:
½ cup sugar
½ cup milk
1 egg
3 Tbsp. Butter cubed
½ tsp vanilla
Stir to break, but not mash. Pour into a 2qt. buttered casserole.
Crumb Topping
½ c. brown sugar
1/3 c. flour
2 Tbsp. Butter
½ c. pecan pieces
Sprinkle crumb mixture onto sweet potato mixture. Bake @ 350 for 25 minutes.

Mashed Potatoes
Several white (Russet) potatoes, peeled, and cut into 1 ½ inch chunks. Chop up ½ onion add to potatoes. Cover with salted (abt 1 T.) water and boil until fork tender (about 10-20 minutes). Remove from heat, drain water. Mash up. Add butter (quite a bit). Add evaporated milk until desired consistency.

Turkey Gravy
Chicken broth
Flour or corn starch
Neck meat
Boil turkey neck and giblets with salt and pepper. Shred neck meat, throw giblets in garbage. Add chicken broth to turkey broth and drippings. Add neck meat. Bring to a boil. Add flour or corn starch to some water, then add to boiling broth mixture to thicken. Boil until desired thickness.

Don’t forget to cook the green bean casserole!

O-R-A-N-G-E

The Birds and The Bees and an Open Can of Worms

I was watching a show with Ben, set in pioneer times. In the show there was a woman giving birth in the next room, and, though it was tastefully done, you could hear her cries of pain. I explained to Ben that it REALLY hurts to have a baby.

Ben then wants to know where the baby comes out of the mommy's body. In our house, we refer to all private body parts as "parts." (You know how technical we doctor's families can be.) So, I say, "From the mommy's parts."

Ben pats his chest and says, "Oh, that's why these are private parts on girls."

I laugh and say, "Actually, the baby doesn't come out of those parts. The baby comes out of . . . the lower parts."

Ben asks, "You mean where you pee??"

Figuring that is technical enough I answer, "Yup!"

Then, with a touch of awe in his voice, he points to the now delivered baby on the screen and says, "How did that big baby come out of that tiny little hole??!?"

I respond, "THAT'S WHY IT HURTS SOOOO MUCH!!!"

The Princess and the Teeth

Brianna has been teething again (has it ever really stopped??), and her poor little gums have been so sore that she has been just miserable. All day long she asks for food or drink, but then it hurts too much to actually consume it, and she ends up screaming. Poor little thing. We do our best to numb her gums and give her Tylenol or Ibuprofen, but sometimes it's just too much for our little Princess.
I was surprised last night to wake up at around 3:00am to hear her calmly saying "Ow. . . . Ow. . . . Ow." Now, I love my children, but I am not one to jump up in the middle of the night if things sound under control. So, I laid there, hoping against hope that she wasn't really in that much pain and that she would just go back to sleep. Then she yells, "MO-om, NEeed You!" I swear, it was that clear. I laughed out loud as I got up to rescue her.
I was having trouble locating the Tylenol, but I found the stuff to rub on her gums. Normally, she kind of fights against this at first, not last night. Not only did she open her mouth right up, but she kept giving me the tube and signing "more". Considering that she must have been in a great deal of pain, I am amazed at the fact that she was simply delightful. She was cheerful and talkative. She found the lights and shadows of the night fascinating.
All in all we were up for about an hour, but she truthfully made it a wonderful hour with my sweet girl!

"Let us not have tears. Partings are a natural part of life."

Today our sweet little Dolly found a new home. I told Ben last night that someone was going to come and get her today, he seemed totally unphased. Dolly did seem a bit nervous when I grabbed her dog-house and put it over our gate, and gathered up all of the dog things from the back yard. Poor dog. But it is for the best. We are not a dog family. Sometimes it's just best to realize your limitations and to accept them.

I have been laughing hysterically as I flashed back to this post. Just so you know, most of the "Pro's" on my list proved to be myths. Interestingly, with Dolly, so did most of the "Con's". She didn't even have a wet nose.

Truly, I experienced way too much dog-induced guilt. Those sad little eyes staring at me through the sliding glass door . . . ALL. DAY. LONG. I wish her the best, and I can't wait to get my screen door replaced and keep it open ALL. DAY. LONG.

Oh, and ten points to whoever can identify the movie quoted in the title of this post.

All We Need Is Love, Love. Love Is All We Need.

Wow. I am so naive. I watched the movie Hotel Rawanda a couple nights ago. It is a true story that takes place during the genocide of Rawanda. It was heart-wrenching. It is worth watching. The main character is a reluctant, but very true hero. I only hope I could do as much good in such trying circumstances.

There is one quick scene in which the background to how the Rawandans had arrived at this is explained. I learned that when the Belgians occupied Rawanda, they literally went through the country measuring the width of people's noses, judging the lightness or darkness of their skin, and the height of their stature. Based on these physical characteristics, they divided the people into two categories of people. This division remained after the Belgians left, and, as one group turned against the other, eventually resulted in the senseless slaughter of one million people.

Satan is so cunning. One million people murdered, and all he had to do was convince people that the division was real. Real enough to kill for.

Oh, how the world needs more love!! Please love your neighbors! Forgive someone who's been a real jerk to you! Take time to really get to know someone! Practice random acts of kindness! Give where you can! Serve where you can! Be a force for good in your sphere! Please.

Please.

Feeling Random Again

Ben got into an Eeyore mode last week, and it lasted for a few days. He would go on and on telling James and I how rough his life was; how he never got to do anything fun; how he always had to do all of the work; how we were always mean to him, etc., etc.

On one of these days, we had just been to the library, and walked across the parking lot to the park to enjoy the beautiful day. (Note how he doesn't get to do anything fun.) Ben decided that he was a king, and that I was visiting him in his kingdom. I was playing along nicely, but he definitely had the Eeyore tone in his voice. (Note how I'm always so mean to him.) Then he pointed out the three flags flying in the breeze.

Me: Oh, those are nice flags! Are they for your kingdom?
Ben: Yes, they’re mine, . . . but even the flags don’t respect me.

Now, to this point, I really thought that Ben was being melodramatic, but seriously folks, when even the flags don't respect you? I, honestly, don't know anyone who has ever had it as bad as Ben -- and that's a fact!!

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I'm starting to believe that the American Dental Association, along with Weight Watcher's, secretly promotes Halloween -- especially the Trick-or-Treating!

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James didn't sleep last night. Nope, he was up all night working on a lecture he had to give today.
I definitely understand the stance that some of the Old School doctors have about James' generation. You know, about how they just don't work as hard, and about how they don't take patient care as seriously.
Ya.
And you wonder why we're on a count-down?!

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Ben has had a cough and a stuffy nose for a while now. As we were watching a movie together, he pointed at the character who was having a hard time walking on an injured leg for the first time, and said to me, "I breathe like that Dad, out of my mouth. I don't think my lungs are connected to my nose anymore."

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I've taught Brianna to say "Eye, yi, yi!" : )

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I guess I should say, that James' program really is top-notch. He is getting excellent training, and has had many, many positive experiences. We are grateful that he has had this opportunity, we only wish there was a more humane way to gain this experience.

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Brianna was the cutest little chicken the world has ever seen for Halloween!!! And Ben, well, he wanted to be Spiderman, but wasn't allowed to wear the mask to school or to the church activity. So, he decided to wear his costume without the mask, and he called himself Peter Parker. Clever child!

Something to Make You Smile

My sister e-mailed this to me, and it was just too funny! I've watched it over and over, and I can't keep from laughing. Hope you enjoy as well!

click here