Kismet

Bragging rights

They weren't all well thought out, or newsy or even interesting. But I did it and I am proud of myself. I've been consistent 3 years in a row. Bring on November 2009!

I hope you were entertained a little bit. It was a great exercise and I would encourage you to try it yourself next year. 

Thanks for tuning in. 

~K!

Tagged

DotBlogger over at Absolutely Fabulous tagged me for a meme. I am to pick up the nearest book and turn to page 56, read the fifth line and tell you what it is. 

I happen to be reading a book by a new favorite author. The line reads;

"So it was a still night, and therefore his spent breath was probably hanging sullenly in the air right above the lazy fans."

Here is what I like about this sentence, it paints a picture. I can see the breath hanging, the fans turning. I love the use of the word lazy here. I am not crazy about the word 'sullenly'. Maybe because it reminds me of a naughty child. But 'still night' and 'spent breath' they just reel me in. 

I've been known to read books and underline, highlight or mark words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs that grab me. I love words. 

If you want to play along just leave me a comment and link back to me when you do it. 

~K!

P.S. One more day of NaBloPoMo :)

Bargain hunters

I can't believe this. Honestly? For a bargain? 

I'm all for getting the best buys and am even willing to get up early to do it if necessary. But I won't put my safety at risk even during economic hard times. 

Ridiculous.

How was your shopping day?

~K!

Give thanks

Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough. This day and this life ... are God's gift, so give thanks and be joyful always. 

May your heart overflow with gratitude for all you've been given today, and always.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

~K!

Craft time

This was our home-school project today. Mason isn't the best crafter. He doesn't like to color but he was enthusiastic about collecting the leaves and got the small pine-cones  on his own accord. The wigwam was part of a craft package we bought and we think it fits the theme perfectly, even if we don't have any pilgrims represented. 

We learned about Miles Standish and the Wampanoag people. Mason was amazed to learn about how hard life was back in 1621. This site was enormously informative. 

So tomorrow we go to our daughter's and gather to give thanks for all the bounty and grace God has given us. 

I hope your holiday is filled with family and friends and bounty.

Happy Thanksgiving. 

~K!

Dinner table convo

Mason and Bailey like to play cat and mouse war type games. They have a hideout under the bush across the street. But the last time they went to their hideout the neighbor lady told them she'd seen a rat under there (or at least that's the story I got) and that fascinated Mase. 

At dinner tonight:

"....and a big rat jumped out at us! So we're going to need Jill's dad cause he's tough and not afraid of anything."

Pause

"Grampy, can you handle a rat bite?"

The imagination of children.

~K!

Philisophical Questions

Do you think good condition used gifts are ok to give to children?

Do you think one should ever do business with close friends or family members?

Do you think it is ever ok to take your pet when you visit friends?

Do you think it is ever ok to ask someone their income?

Talk amongst yourselves. Let me know.

~K!

Cobbler

Last winter I splurged and bought these slippers from LL Bean,

and may I just say how very much I love them? I wear them every day. They are soft and cozy with a thick sole that allows me to go out to the mailbox. I've even been known to 'accidently' wear them out to the store. 

But all that heavy use took it's toll and wouldn't you know it, I blew out a seam. Right where the leather upper meets the sole. I was crushed. It didn't stop me from wearing them. But eventually I decided I needed to have the hole patched. I set my handy husband to the task and tonight he brought my slipper back to me. He had used a hot glue gun and mended the seam.. Pretty slick. 

But now I am wondering if LL Bean would mend or replace them for me. I'll have to look into it. 

Do you have a favorite article of clothing that you can't bear to part with?

~K!

Trying new things

Have you ever brined a turkey? I know it is a pretty popular practice these days but I've never done it. But I am going to this year. I happened to have a good sized turkey in the freezer so I pulled it out early for Thanksgiving and bought a pre-mixed brine mix.

It lists ingredients as sea salt, brown sugar, cranberries, apples, garlic, orange peel, juniper berries, black peppercorns, thyme, rosemary and sage. Hope it tastes as good as it looks. 

I also bought this:

 

Canterbury Organics Rosemary Sage Cornbread Dressing Mix. I usually make my own cornbread dressing but this caught my eye so I bought it. Why not.

One other thing I wanted to show you is this beauty:

 

Sorry for the quality, their website was down. It is Brent & Sam's Pure Naturals ginger spice cookies. I needed ginger cookies (as well as Amaretto cookies which I can't find) for the crust of the cheesecake I am making. I ran across these and well, let's just say I had to go back and get another box :)

And finally there is this:

 

Vanilla Chai low fat yogurt. Sooo good. It is my new obsession. 

Here's the recipe from the Rachel's website for the cheesecake:

Vanilla Chai Cheesecake.

A wickedly delicious dessert lightly laced with chai spice and lined with a fabulous cookie crust.

Ingredients:

Crust
1/2 cup	amaretti cookie crumbs ( oz)
1 cup	gingersnap crumbs (5 oz)
3 tbsps	butter, melted
Filling
2 (6-oz) containers	Rachel's™ Vanilla Chai yogurt
3/4 cup	sugar
4 (8-oz) packages	cream cheese, softened
2 tsp	vanilla
1/4 tspeach	ginger, cinnamon and cardamom
pinch	salt
4	large eggs

Method:

Place the yogurt in a strainer lined with a coffee filter and set the whole assembly over a bowl. Refrigerate for 40 minutes, allowing some of the liquid to drain from the yogurt. Discard the liquid.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F.

In a medium bowl combine amaretti and gingersnap cookie crumbs with butter. Press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake crust for 12 minutes. Cool completely.

Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Using an electric mixer beat together softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, spice and salt until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed and scraping sides of bowl after each addition. Stir in strained yogurt.

Pour mixture over crust and bake for 50 minutes or until cheesecake is set on the sides and still shimmers slightly in the center when shaken. Cool completely. Remove sides from pan, gently cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Serve with fresh berries or caramel sauce.

Yeild: 12 servings
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Baking Time: 50 minutes

Are you trying a new recipe for Thanksgiving? Share it with us. 

~K

Love Actually

I love that movie. And Hugh Grant. And oddly enough, Alan Rickman. 

From this......

to this.

It's my lil secret. Now you know.

~K!