GIVING THANKS, FOOD & FOOTBALL!

Mr. Turkey hiding in my geraniums! (metal yard stake from Pack-n-Mail, Ennis, TX)

Looking forward to watching the Dallas Cowboys play today (on TV----wish I were going to the game!). Go Cowboys! Are you a football fan? Will you be watching the game???

Wishing you a fun, safe & Happy Thanksgiving! Patti

A few favorite quotes:

"We can learn so much by observing the way our pets rejoice in life's simplest moments. For a dog, every morning is Christmas morning. Every walk is the best walk, every meal is the best meal. Take time every day to celebrate the many gifts that are hidden in the ordinary events of your life." - Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Psalm 136:1

Speaking of football games-------"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence." - Erma Bombeck

SEEING RED!....AND WHITE....AND SILVER.....

Glitter Star!

Red, white and silver: the colors of our office's tree this year....

Sunlight streaming through the office window...

Cranberry/orange scented candle!

Decorating the dental office, where I work, for Christmas today!

PLAID & POLKA DOT PUMPKINS!

LOVE these metal pumpkin stakes I found at Briar Patch II in Waxahachie, TX!

Thanksgiving's almost here! Hope you have a wonderful holiday! Patti

ALMOST THANKSGIVING!

Some photos of Mom & Dad's beautiful Fall decorations.

I really hate to say goodbye to the Fall decorations at the end of the week. But getting out the Christmas decorations makes up for it! I LOVE going through all the boxes, pulling out ornaments I've forgotten about, enjoying the memories associated with them, and deciding which decorations to use this year! I've been going through a few of them little by little recently and will share photos soon! I don't have the Christmas tree out yet---that may have to wait until after Thanksgiving. I can't wait till the radio stations start playing Christmas music! (Do you ever listen to your Christmas CD's during the year like I sometimes do?) KLTY, my favorite station here in Texas in the D/FW metroplex played Christmas music all weekend a couple of weekends ago (a Christmas music preview) and it was wonderful! It definitely got me in the Christmas spirit!

Have a great evening! Patti

FOXY!

If dogs could talk, I'm just sure that's what Foxy was asking!

Meeet Foxy, the C-U-T-E Pomeranian who stopped by our family's early Thanksgiving celebration yesterday (see post below)! She's my parents' neighbors' pet. They give her treats and lots of attention when she stops by! So, of course she stops by often when she's out! (I wonder if she makes the rounds of all the neighbors?)

Hope everyone had a great weekend and that you have a

safe and Happy

Thanksgiving this week!

Sweet Dreams! Patti

EARLY THANKSGIVING & FAMILY FOOD TRADITIONS

~~~During this season of Thanksgiving, I'm so thankful to the Lord for all the blessings this year----health, family, friends, a wonderful job when sadly so many are out of work....the list goes on....

~~~We had an early Thanksgiving today at Mom & Dad's while my sister was in town. Dad fixed a turkey on his new rotiserrie out on the grill (it was so tender and you could taste that awesome smoked flavor!) and Mom fixed her famous dressing (YUM!). We had all our traditional sides, such as brother Dwayne's Green Bean Casserole with a Kick (every year it gets hotter...per our request! We LOVE it! The special ingredient is Tabasco!), as well as a new butternut squash recipe that Mom tried out from The Dallas Morning News . (It was a winner!) With cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper, it was different and delicious.....and also packed some heat! (In case you couldn't tell by now, my family loves SPICY!) Dad also did something different this year (besides the rotiserrie turkey)---he fixed ribs! Yum! Of course, they were tender & juicy!!! And you know our desert table was overflowing with goodies (Gena, don't forget---I want that "Pumpkin Pie" Cake recipe...please!!! It was outstanding! It was a cake that tasted just like pumpkin pie! Like a delicious pumpkin pie!) It was a very special Thanksgiving and made more so by having my sister there, as she doesn't get to fly in every year (we missed H, though!); while here she made her ultimate homemade Apple Pie (totally from scratch!)---deliciousness in every bite! Besides immediate family, we also had some other very special guests (and the goodies they brought were also so yummy!). -----And lest we forget: Foxy, my parents' neighbor's Pomeranian stopped by.....Can you say C-U-T-E?

~~~I think maybe a lot of people are having an early Thanksgiving. When I was at the grocery store yesterday picking up a few last minute ingredients for my casseroles, I had to also get a bag of sugar and there were only 3 bags left of the medium size! There was a huge empty space on the shelf! Also, the grocery stores were extra crowded all week and especially yesterday!

~~~Whether you celebrate early, on Thursday, or the weekend after, hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving! Patti

BLACK AND WHITE QUILT !

(double-click to enlarge photo)

Had to share with you this black and white quilt displayed in the Creative Arts Building at this year's Texas State Fair! It's done by Sandra S. Davis. Isn't it awesome! I love the embroidered baskets! The quilts are hanging way up at the tops of the walls, so this photo was snapped from floor level and at an angle. It's so much fun walking around the room looking at all these! I'm sure they hang them way up there, so people don't touch or damage them. (The card in my digital camera started going bad, so my brother snapped this for me with his iphone. Thanks, Keith!)