THANKSGIVING EVE 2010

It was very foggy on the old farm this morning.The barn was enveloped in a dense fog and the road below was even harder to see.I'm glad I can wait awhile before traveling this morning.
Hubbie and I took our time doing the chores this morning,enjoying the peace and quite of the early morning.
After breakfast hubbie went to work on daughter's brakes on her jeep and daughter and I headed to Ashville to buy a mixer.
We went to The Kitchen Store and I got a surprise, the mixer I had driven all the way over here to get,I couldn't use. The bowl was large enough but the head of the mixer didn't lift,you had to take the whisk off to get the bowl out. So I had to buy the 5 quart ,which I could have gotten here in town for the same price !
Daughter and I had lunch at J&S cafeteria in the same shopping center.
We headed over to the farmers market , we bought some Poukan fruit,which I hadn't had before but it was good when the man gave us a sample of it. We also got Lee fruit and apples,we also bought a wreath and a swag made from fresh Fraser Fir that smell so good and Christmasy.
We had driven over on the back roads but decided to take the Interstate back home. As soon as we got on the entrance ramp I said "holy cow" this may have been a a mistake as traffic was bumper to bumper in all lanes going both ways. Luckily we kept moving and made it to our exit before an accident a little later brought traffic to a stand still for hours.
I am mad at myself tonight as I took my camera today and made several pictures but tonight when I went to down load them I found the card still in the computer from the last time I downloaded,grrrrr !!!!
Luckily the fog pictures from this morning were taken on my big camera which did have the card in it !!
Hubbie and I worked on a new bird house project tonight to sell at market,I'll have pictures tomorrow. There was a learning curve to this as we found out what works and what breaks !!!
The turkey is thawed and everything is ready to be cooked into a delicious Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.HAVE A WONDERFULLY BLESSED THANKSGIVING DAY !!!!!!!!

BUSY MARKET DAY

I am totally mixed up on what day it is this morning,I never go to market on Tuesday so now all week I'll have no idea what day it is because this seems like a Thursday or Saturday.
Hubbie is off today and I'm sure glad because I was busy this morning with all the orders I had. He stayed until after lunch,he went and got us lunch at Hot Dog World, I had their vegetable soup and it was very good.
All the orders got picked up and I sold a lot of the extras daughter and I had made. Thank you Lord for a very productive day.
After market I made Avon deliveries and picked up supplies for Saturday baking and Thanksgiving dinner.
I didn't get home until after 5:00,hubbie had just gotten home from helping #1 son work on the freezer part of his refrigerator. All the food he had in his freezer thawed and had to be thrown out,so sad. Hubbie thinks he needs a new thermostat,but probably should call a repair man to be sure.I thought this was a great fall display idea,I'm growing me a bunch of pumpkins next year.
Daughter and her "little sister K" came in with things they had bought for an angel tree child from K's church. They wrapped it and got it ready to go then ate supper with hubbie and I.
I watched Carolina b-ball game, hey,they won one !!!
After the game I spent the evening working on a Christmas project.
Today has been a cool yucky day, it rained a drizzle part of the evening and feels colder tonight even though it is still 50 degrees at 11:30 tonight.
Thankful tonight for the graciousness of our loving Lord.
Good Night and God Bless.

LOTS AND LOTS OF CAKES MADE TODAY

Up to chores early this morning so hubbie and I could get an early start on a trip today.
Hubbie had a dentist appointment at 11:30 with his new dentist at the foot of the mountain in a town called Columbus,NC. We both love this little old fashioned town so we wanted to go early and walk through the downtown area which is probably no more than 1/4 mile long.
There isn't much there except a couple small eateries and a hardware store,but there was a large thrift shop and being thrift shop shoppers we headed in to check it out.
This was one of 2 very large thrift stores in the area. In this one I found an old snow sled, a Merry Christmas rug that is big enough to go in the sunroom,and a couple more random things.

We drove through Columbus and back to the dentist office. They had told Hubbie it would take at least an hour so I dropped him off and headed over to the neighboring town called Tryon,NC.
Tryon is another old town,it's historic main street well preserved,right down to this large working clock.
I had no idea what this next statue was all about so I took this photo so I would remember to look it up.In looking up the name Nina Simone I discovered that in 1933 a colored girl named Eunice Waymon was born in Tryon. She was an exceptionally talented young lady and was her church pianist at the age of 10 years old. As she became a famous singer,song writer and pianist she changed her name to Nina Simone. Growing up in a predominately white town in the south she became an active civil rights leader. She died in 2003 and this little park was put up in her honor.

This rock church was so pretty with the rock walls reaching all the way to the sidewalk.
After reading about Nina Simone I wondered if this was the church she had grown up in.Most of the store fronts were lined with greenery which gave the town a very warm and welcoming feel.Taking a road that looked like it was off the beaten path I found this old barn just right off the side if the road.Looks like it had seen better days.And this side road that looked as if it had been a long while since any cars had passed over it.This was the small brook that ran under the above bridge. It looked so peaceful as it meandered among all the fallen leaves.
As I got back to Columbus I stopped at Wendy's for lunch,I figured I had better eat before I picked hubbie up because he probably wouldn't be eating for a little while.
I drove around a block off the main street just to see what was there and I found this neat little fountain.The water in it was a really pretty aqua color, it was in another small park but I didn't see the name of this one.
I picked hubbie up,they didn't have to pull his tooth but almost totally rebuilt it,hopefully it will last.
We came back up the mountain and got home about 2:00.
Hubbie went out to blow more leaves while I baked more cakes as I got an order from 1 lady for 12 cakes this morning.
I iced 12 caramels and some chocolates,leaving 6 more caramels and 6 coconuts for tonight.
G-son came while his dad went to talk to lawyer about his disability payments. Hubbie took him up to our church's new playground for awhile.
There wasn't much supper tonight as daughter came in from work and went straight to baking.
I did weekly paperwork and bagged my Avon orders tonight.
It is 10:00 and I am still waiting to get back in the kitchen for my icing, I have a feeling this is going to be a late night.
When daughter finished wrapping her things we all packed and boxed orders and put most of them in the van already. Hubbie is off all week so thankfully he is going to help tomorrow at market.
Now I 'll start my icing,I was right this is going to be a late night for sure.
THanking God tonight for wonderful Blessings on this Thanksgiving season.
Good Night and God Bless.

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

Woke to another beautiful day this morning.
As I did the chores before church I thought about how extremely lucky I am to enjoy this beautiful weather.
Church was a lesson from Luke about the beginning of the journey of the birth of John the Baptist.
We sang all the old traditional Thanksgiving songs which I love and it just makes me feel very thankful for the life I have been blessed with. Thank You Lord !
We had lunch with #1 son ,#2 son and g-son today as the girls were both working .
Spent the afternoon just relaxing. It was a little cool outside about 57 degrees but the sun was wonderful.
Tonight as I shut all the chickens in their respective houses I watched the moon rising over the horizon. Tonight is a "Blue Moon" because it is the 3rd full moon of the fall season.Glad the clouds held off so this moon could be seen. As daughter and I stood and talked you could almost see the moon slowly rising higher and higher in the sky.

Tonight I watched Carolina loose another b-ball game. Maybe I'll watch Duke tomorrow night !
Then I did what I only do maybe 2 Sundays of the year ,I baked cakes. Since I will be going to market on Tuesday this week and I have a bunch of orders to get done and daughter will be baking tomorrow night ,tonight was the night.
There was no service at our church tonight. All the churches in the community take turns hosting a community Thanksgiving service and this years was at a Hispanic church.
We have never attended this community service because I always have to work on this Sunday night.

Today was a sad day........
This is the body of the young soldier from an earlier post that arrived at the local airport this morning. Bless this family, I have heard them talking on the news several times and they seem to be handling the death of their son well. He had wanted to be in the Army since he was 6 years old,so they have the comfort of knowing he died doing what he wanted to do.
God bless them and all the young men and women serving overseas in harms way.
Good Night and God Bless.

MEMORIES FROM NOVEMBER 1990

This Saturday before Thanksgiving market day was pretty busy,although we didn't sell
out we did sell quite a bit. Daughter stayed and helped me until a friend came to go do a practice run for a race the annual Turkey Trot they are in on Thursday.
As I left market there was a roar not usually heard in down town.The annual "Toy Run" came into town a little after 2:00.These big burly motorcycle riders looked funny with all these stuffed toys hanging on the back of their cycles.It is always a wonderful turnout and the many toys hauled into town will make many youngsters very happy this Christmas morning when otherwise they might not have gotten any toys.
As I left town I thanked God for the many generous people that make events like this successful.
After shopping for supplies for Tuesday's orders I made it home at 4:00.
As soon as I got unloaded I went to work making the 7-layer salad and rewrapping several cakes to take over to sis-in-laws Thanksgiving gathering.
I got to rest my burning feet about 30 minutes before chores and then we needed to be over there by 6:00.
Everyone was joking about the new"untraditional" Thanksgiving dinner sis-in-law fixed.
A choice of regular spaghetti,baked spaghetti,or chicken alfredo with rolls,and my 7-layer salad or greek salad from Hot Dog World was the menu.

We had a much smaller crowd than usual.
This year it was just mainly immediate family and closest friends.
I only ate some of both the salads as spaghetti at night would not be smart unless I actually wanted heart burn to keep me warm tonight !!!

I got most of the ingredients for my Thanksgiving day lunch today and we are having an old fashioned meal with Turkey,dressing, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole,mashed potatoes,corn and green beans and my mom's blueberry/grape jello recipe for dessert.
The eggs,potatoes,corn and green beans will come from my farm.

It is time for the next decade November pictures and again in 1990 I didn't find many pictures from November.My second oldest niece was born in November and here is daughter with her on her second birthday.And yes everyone is opening a present,my mom always got all her grandkids presents on each ones birthday.I ran across this amazing photo in my files. This is hubbie's grandparents house up near the top of a nearby mountain called Sugarloaf Mountain.
I have many fond memories of Thanksgiving and all other holidays at this house. His "Granny" as everyone called her even in her mid eighties prepared meals for a huge family crowd on all holidays and every Sunday after church. She was an amazing lady, had lived in these mountains all her life,never drove a car,always wore an apron,grew a huge garden,milked a cow twice a day for most of her years, and truly loved mountain living.
I only wish I had come to know her earlier than I did, back in her more actively farming days. So much knowledge died with these old timers who knew how to live off the land and enjoy doing it. I did gain bits and pieces of information as we were around her more than most of the family because we kept cattle on her pastures for several years before she died and I felt I had known the only grandparent I had ever had. The sun circle around this house puts me in mind of a halo,I'm sure just like the one she now wears proudly everyday up there in Heaven,reunited with her husband and only son who both died before her. She has now been joined by 2 of her 6 daughters. Happy Thanksgiving Granny!This evening when we got back home we relaxed while daughter made 6 pumpkin rolls.
It looks like there has been a powdered sugar hurricane in my kitchen !!!!
Watched a show on how when Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida years ago it destroyed a snake pet hatchery,turning thousands of Bermese Python hatchlings loose in the Everglades. Now the state of Florida issued 15 Python hunting permits to attempt to curb the population growth of the snake. These huge snakes that grow to 15 feet are damaging the fragile species that live in the everglades,along with terrorizing the residents and tourist who live and visit the area. It was a very interesting story.
Thankful tonight for the graciousness of a loving God.
Good night and God Bless.

FRIDAY BIRDS

Cakes, cakes and more cakes, my phone was ringing with orders while I fed the chickens this morning. I'm glad everyone waited until the last moment to call !!!
I was able to add several extras to the baking plans this morning thanks to a few extra supplies I have stock piled.
I was finished by lunchtime even with icing 6 caramels, these new ovens are making a difference in my baking time,I'm so glad.
After lunch and a nice vitamin D break out in the sunshine doing some bird watching I headed to work at church.
When I got home I relaxed for a little while doing more bird watching. I had some new visitors today.
I saw my first White Throated Sparrow of the winter season but didn't get a picture of that one.
But I did get a couple pictures of this Yellow Bellied Sapsucker that showed up in this tree but never came to the suet feeders.On the side of the tree he was very hard to see as he blended so well with the bark.This little Gold Finch has lost all its brilliant coloring for the winter.Love this little big eyed Titmouse,he was pecking on the side of the feeder,answering a fellow Titmouse who was in a nearby tree pecking.The colors on this House Finch as so pretty, he looks almost hot pink.This female Downy Woodpecker looks so smart and clean in her black and white feathers.And I surely couldn't miss these beautiful Cardinals that make my back yard home year round.I have 2 pots of petunias that are still blooming like it is springtime again even with the upper 20 temperatures we have had the past couple nights. They are hanging under the trees so that is keeping the frost off them. With the forecast for next week saying by Friday we are going to get 23 with 45 during the day I will move all my pots into the greenhouse. This is later than I was expecting to do this.
Today's temperature got to 58 after a morning temperature of 28, it was another beautiful sunny day.
After supper and a short visit from my cousin Mike,hubbie and I went back to finish work at church.
When we got back Carolina was playing basketball on TV. I watched until half time and then gladly went to ice my cakes !!
Yeah, they lost,and they should have, honestly none of them could have hit the ocean with the ball if they had been standing on the beach!
I iced another 6 caramels, 1 chocolate, 2 coconut and boxed most of my orders. I have 12 orders so tomorrow may be a crazy day. I am making a 7-layer salad for hubbie's families Thanksgiving supper tomorrow night and I was going to make it tonight but I don't have room in the frig to put it so I'll make it tomorrow evening.
Thanking God tonight for my health and all the blessings He gives me each day.
Good Night and God Bless.

TWAS THE MORNING OF THE STARLING !!

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter!
And what to my wondering eyes should appear but 1,000's of Starlings over shadowing the morning sun.
From treetop to treetop they paused only for a moment .
Before swooping to the ground to get right to work feeding on whatever they could find. Gleaning and searching their rest is a brief one.Now fly away, fly away,fly away all, please take your deafening chirping and move right along, over the pasture and over the creek,now fly away, fly away, fly and be gone !!!!
In the bright morning sunshine these handsome birds take on an irredescent glow. But as pretty as they are nothing in the numbers that they have is a welcomed sight. I was just hoping they didn't spot my feeders !!
It's funny how there always seems to be 1 or 2 that stay behind and make my yard their winter home. It makes me wonder where the large flocks really settle down.
As I left for market they were heading over the creek to the neighbors already.

Market was slow today,maybe Saturday will be a better day.
Ran errands after market and looked for a new mixer. No one in town seems to have the one I want, I want the Kitchenaid Pro 600 which is a 6 quart size. I have to call Ace Hardware tomorrow and if they don't have it ,I found it in a couple stores in Asheville.
Hubbie and daughter went to a new dentist this afternoon and they both really like him.
We arrived home about the same time. After we unloaded the van,daughter made supper while hubbie and I did chores.
Daughter is in the Christmas spirit tonight already putting up her decorations and listening to Christmas music. Still a little early for me, I like Thanksgiving decorations.
It was 29 degrees this morning with a very heavy frost and the high today was 54 but sunny.
Grateful to God for His never ending love .
Good Night and God Bless.