Holiday Happenings

 Well, my magazine spread is complete!  Thanks to Albuquerque the Turkey!  He turned out so cute.  I saw this pattern and drafted it myself.  It was originally supposed to be a pillow, but I already had 2 pillows, so a matching wall hanging was needed.  Albuquerque is musically inspired........

(Sing to the tune of Clementine..........)

Albuquerque, he's my turkey and he's feathered and he's fine, and he wobbles and he gobbles and I'm awfully glad he's mine.

Albuquerque, he's my turkey and he's comfortable in bed, so we're having for Thanksgiving, we're having Pizza Hut instead!  

(substitute the restaurant of choice in the blank)

I can still remember when Sarah came home from kindergarten singing this song.  It became an instant family classic.  We also have a couple of favorite Thanksgiving books that we like to read......Turk and Runt, and The Night Before Thanksgiving.  Chances are good that we will still dig them out and read them when she is home next week.

I did spend a couple of days sewing last week, besides quilting a turkey.  And we butchered a pig.  We were almost out of sausage, pig broke his leg, so.......  Unfortunately, we were also low on the special sausage seasoning that David likes.  We get it from an Amish store and they hadn't had any that last few times we stopped............supply chain issues?  We did pick up a package of smoked sausage seasoning.  So I got online and googled 3 different sausage seasoning recipes and made up enough of each for about 2lbs. of sausage.  Everyone took some of each kind home to try.  So far, we have tried the smoked sausage.  I liked it, but my picky hubby (he did pick me, so I can't complain too much) said it was ok but not really a breakfast sausage.  I used the rest of the package on pizza and it was delicious.  Tonight we browned recipe #1 and used it in an omelette.  It was excellent (before it made it into the omelette even!).  Picky hubby even said that maybe we didn't need to worry about getting his special breakfast sausage seasoning if we (me) could just mix this up from what was in the spice cabinet.  Of course, we still have recipe #2 and recipe #3 to try.  I'll keep you posted and the share the winner!  I know sausage seasoning is as important in your home as it is in ours.

On Friday evening, we snuck Willow into the hospital bazaar at the Martin Center where I work.  They had a wonderful photo place set up and we took some Christmas pictures (which will be revealed later).  David had given her a bath that morning, so she looked and felt wonderful.  She then spent the evening crashed on the couch.  She came in the house again first thing in the morning and joined us on the bed.  I left her and David there when I went to shower and when I came out, this is what I found.

The rule here is "Last one up makes the bed!"  She was very content there.  She did move a couple of hours later.........

I'm assuming she's in her "teenage" dog years because she finally surfaced just before noon.  Apparently have a photo shoot the evening before can really take it out of you.  You may think that being such a sweet puppy and having a bath and getting her picture taken would have given some hope to making Santa's nice list.  NOT!  She managed to shred the one remaining dog bed Saturday evening.  

I also want to share a couple of new additions to my south kitchen window area.........

This little plant is growing from cuttings from one of the hanging baskets I had on the deck this summer.  The cute kitty planter is actually pretty old.  It was given to me when I was in the hospital in the eighth grade and had my tonsils removed.  Truly an antique!

And quilt friend Becky brought me this beautiful African Violet.  I love the dark leaves on this one.  I'm hoping I can keep it alive.  If I can keep it going for a month or so, I will try repotting it into something bigger.  I even bought plant food for it.  The little plant hiding behind it is trying not to be shown as it is also from my plant cuttings and is just not doing as well.  Maybe Violet will inspire him.

Thanksgiving plans are in the works.  We are traveling to Omaha to visit my cousin's family.  I've made one batch of noodles and will do some more this weekend if not before.  I also made a big batch of peanut clusters for my in-laws.  Willow and I took the Stampede out to deliver them this evening when I got home from work.

If I don't blog before then, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  

Christi