Getting my Shine on!

I was able to find another faux wreath & along with my leftover ornaments another wreath was born.  Anyone who knows me, knows that "shiny" is not really my thing.  I'm a more "natural" look type of girl, but I have to say making this wreath let me get my "shine" on!!  I'm much happier with this one than my first wreath.  Happy to say it is now hanging in our spot at Hart City in Elkhart, Indiana.  I am hoping it will sell as there were so many offerings of wreaths from the other vendors.  It was like a Christmas wonderland at the mall.   Green faux trees, twig trees, white faux trees.  Whatever your pleasure, it was available.  Lovely to look at, but I'll be heading out this weekend to forage for whatever fresh pines I can find.  Time to make a statement on my rickety front porch. 

All that glitters is not gold

Remember a few posts back where I showed a pictured of the "goodies" we picked up the day of the Washington Street sales?  In the picture, were a couple of boxes of red & gold ornaments that I planned to use for a wreath along with a faux green wreath that I picked up at Goodwill for a dollar.   Well, finished the wreath & thankfully on that same day I was able to buy one big box of red glass ornaments of different sizes for a couple of dollars as it turned out I needed all of them for the wreath.  It was a big wreath & my picture is not the best, but it does show how it turned out.  It looked a whole lot better in person & has already gone off to a new home.  I'm now working on a second one, much smaller with the gold ornaments & some red ones.  I have to say, other than the tons of hot glue, this is one easy & inexpensive project for something that normally sells for big dollars in the catalogs.  There is still time to make one.  Goodwill usually has boxes of ornaments for a good price as well as the wreaths.  Most of the Dollar stores have a good supply of inexpensive ornaments, so grab your glue gun, lots of glue sticks & get to gluing.  I remove the metal cap, but not necessary.  Just start placing the bulbs in a pleasing pattern & glue.  I attached a ribbon bow, but again looks great without.  For the red wreath, I didn't have enough gold ornaments to use, but any combination works well.  Enjoy!

It' "Gobble, Gobble, Gobble" Time

Seems like October drags along & rightly so as I always want to hold onto the last glimmer of the fall season.  Watching the leaves turn from the lush greens into the vibrant golds, reds & russet browns always makes me melancholy.  As gorgeous as the days are with clear blue skies, crisp fall mornings, I know that soon the trees will be bare & the green grass covered by fluffy white snow.  I admit it, I don't like winter, never have for as long as I have been around.  It is just something we Michiganders deal with.  But, I still don't like it.  I like to look at the first snowfall, but then would be just as happy for it to leave.  Now, what does any of this have to do with "turkey talk?"  Just that when October leaves, it seems the days fly by quicker than politician's blink and before we know it Thanksgiving is upon us. 

I have had the luxury over the last 30 years to not have to cook Thanksgiving dinner.  I was so fortunate to live next door to my in-law's, Mike & Jeri Bobik and she loved to cook and was an excellent cook.  She cooked the turkey, the mashed potatoes, yams, jello, the salads.  My only contribution was a bowl of cranberries, because I love cranberries.  Love the color, love the taste & could eat them everyday.  After the passing of both my in-laws, my sweet younger sister extended the invitation to spend the day with them.  The first year, I brought probably a corn casserole & since her husband deep fries their turkey, I ended up roasting a small bird so that we could all enjoy the "traditional" bird that is expected.  I have no problem roasting a bird, but had never really tackled bread dressing or a pumpkin pie!  I'm not a pie maker, never have & probably never will be, but, my mother-in-law was a fabulous cook & her bread dressing was delish as were her pumpkin pies.  My sister-in-law, Penny Klett (Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen.blog spot.com) is also a fabulous cook & on a particular year added "Mom's bread dressing & Pumpkin pie" to her blog spot.  Eureka, I could finally make the mouth-watering bread dressing & hopefully the desired pumpkin pies.  I printed the recipes, gathered my ingredients & proceeded to put together the bread dressing.  I assured my sister not to worry as I had this part of the menu covered.  So I'm ready with recipe in hand, adding the bread, the celery, onions and butter......so much butter it seemed for one loaf of bread, but pushed on placing the mixture into my trusty 9" x 13" baking dish.  Something just didn't look right & definitely did not look like the much remembered dressing my mother-in-law served.   I re-read the recipe & yes, I had all the correct ingredients, but again, something just didn't look right, so I called my sister-in-law to ask her what I was doing wrong.  Well, come to find out there was slight mis-print in the recipe & either I had to much butter or not enough bread, can't remember exactly which, but I baked the dressing & took it as my offering & much to my surprise, everyone loved it & I left my sister's house at the end of the day with an empty dish.  The pumpkin pie.....need to leave that for another day as that was by my own admission a huge mistake.  How was I to know that the recipe was for two pies and not one.  I'm not a pie baker & realized that day exactly why I am not. 

The moral of this lengthy story is that for many years, we as a small family,  were very fortunate & thankful to have had someone who enjoyed cooking a "Thanksgiving dinner", but even more thankful for the memories of that round oval table in the dining room, covered with so many delectable dishes, witty conversation and more importantly time spent with two of the most wonderful people to grace a table, my in-law's, Mike & Jeri Bobik.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone near & far.