Thanksgiving!

It was a busy week, purposely so.

All of my family was here, as I knew they would be.  Jeffrey helped baby Michael with rides on Tank,

 while Nora made sure Bebop got plenty of hugs.

 Aunt Cass helped Nora ride the rocking horse!

 Getting the food all set out!  Of course, we had to garnish the turkeys.

 Our friend Greg's son Scott brought along his hover board, and gave his own baby a ride on it....

 Followed by giving Nora a ride.  She actually looks pretty pleased!

 My 3 beautiful daughters with Nora!

 You know what everyone is thinking: "Hurry up and take the stupid picture, because we're hungry!" Except for baby Michael, who's thinking:"Oh, I can play with Bebop!"

 More pictures of food, in case you missed them.

And what meal would be complete without lots of desserts?

How was your Thanksgiving?  Doubtless much less complicated, but just as much fun.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Pumpkin Bread

It's less than 2 weeks until Thanksgiving, and time to warm up. What better thing to try than Pumpkin Bread?

PUMPKIN BREAD

3 cups flour

1.5 cups brown sugar 

2 tbsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp ginger 

1/2 tsp nutmeg 

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp baking powder 

1 small can pumpkin 

4 eggs

2/3 cup shortening

1/2 cup milk 

Mix half the flour with the brown sugar, then stir in all of the remaining dry ingredients.  Add the pumpkin, eggs, shortening and milk, and beat until smooth. Spoon into 2 greased 8" x 4" loaf pans, and  bake at 350F for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Optional: You can add craisins to the batter; I did that with one of my loaves.  Patrick liked it plain, Ryan loved the loaf with craisins, and Ryan's friends, who were here for game night, devoured it all.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Out My Kitchen Window

To the north, storm clouds gather.  Here, the sun shines bright.

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Election Day!

I voted around noon; Patrick and Ryan went with Thatcher shortly thereafter.

No, they didn't let Thatcher vote, but he was good for amusing a few people while he waited.  And I'm thinking it should be a finger food dinner tonight, so we can opt to watch the news stations. Or just share with Thatcher.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Sunny and 47

It was sunny and 47 today, so I decided to take a walk around the yard.  Of course, Thatcher came, too, and terrorized all of the squirrels he saw.  But those sneaky little creatures fly up trees, and Thatcher says that's not fair!  So while he never catches any, he continues to believe in his abilities.  And I enjoy my fall color.

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Another Birthday

Mark was home for fall break a couple of weeks ago, and when I wanted to bake a birthday cake for him, he turned me down cold.  He was not having a birthday this year.  Of course, you do not say things like that to this mom!

Mark's in college in Philadelphia, about 125 miles south of here.  And it just so happens that Jeff has a house about 5 miles from Mark's school.  You see where this is going, right?

Yes, I took over Jeff's house.  I brought stuff to serve dinner; oh, don't get excited.  It was frozen lasagna that I dressed up by adding sauce and cheese, then heated per the directions, along with a salad.  And Jeff asked Mark to come over about 6PM to help him move a new bathtub he had bought into the house. 
 

So...Mark was particularly surprised to see me and Ryan in Philadelphia on a Monday night (he claimed that he thought the sisters might be there).

Cake was involved, of course.  The giant flame atop the cake was an Incredible Candle, which, when first lit, looks like a blowtorch on top of your cake.  It's great fun.

Uncle Jeff let little Nora walk on his dining room table, a stunt she thought was great fun.

Then Tank wanted to know why he wasn't sitting at the table.

All in all, it was a successful birthday surprise.

And now it's November.  Time to start thinking about Thanksgiving...

Happy Thursday, everyone!