Mixing New With Old....

Can you believe tomorrow is December 1st ? I have been waiting all year for this, my favourite month. I love the sounds.. the smells... the colours.. just everything about this season makes me joyful. Mr D and I love a tradional Christmas and being relatively still newly weds (almost five years) we have bought our family traditions to the marriage...but are still looking to start our own..

So heres one we are starting after dinner tomorrow.

Why we havent done it before..I dont know... but its a bit special and we are looking forward to it

MrD likes to go to sleep with the radio playing quietly. His job can be so stressful that his mind dosnt rest. So if he wakes up in the night... the soft music will lul him back to sleep ( I dont have that problem...I can fall asleep on a pin head......)

Anyway ... overnight the radio station has changed to wall to wall Christmas music (yay!!)... so this morning I woke to this tune...

And so it begins...Prepare thyselves for lots of festive fotos....Maaan... I love this time of year.... time to get these decorations up.

Wheres my Peppermint latte??

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Stuffed... Like a Turkey...

I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I had a lovely day with my Honey and I am absolutely stuffed...

As usual I spent most of the morning in the Kitchen.. but thanks to my trusty lists... everything ran smoothly.. and apart from the last minute rush to get everything out at the same time... I didnt even break a sweat. 

Maybe because the weather was so much cooler than previous years.. and Im so glad we were having dinner at home because it poured with rain all day. We even had time to phone family and Face time the kids in the UK

Night before prep of vegetables and side dishes helped a lot so in the morning I got up early to stuff the turkey... As you can see.. I plaster my turkey in bacon... just like my mum and Nana used to do. As well as keeping the turkey moist.. although these days.. especially with a Butterball... its not really needed.. but it does give it a lovely flavour.

Does anyone else do that?

Then I just put the ham into the slow cooker... and later cooked the veggies... 

and baked the Green Bean casserole, Stuffing and Roasted Potatoes. 

And as requested.. made devilled eggs for the first time ever..

and they were a success...even if a bit rough looking

Happily there were no cooking disasters...and there is loads of food left over. Turkey Pot Pie and a curry is on the menu. MrD said the turkey was the most flavourful and moist one I have done to date. I have a lot to live up to for the Christmas one... 

Yes! We are having another one in a few weeks.. Thanksgiving was all about the US... Christmas is for a British dinner... complete with Brussel Sprouts (I can hear the groans from here),sausage wrapped in bacon and Christmas Pudding.

So true to my word... I said no Christmas til after Thanksgiving...but now... ....

Watch out world... Mrs Claus is on her way....

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Happy Thanksgiving...

The Turkey is in the oven...the ham is in the crockpot.. 

the stuffing is made and the veggies are all prepped

Just time to wish all my American friends 

a very Happy, Blessed and Peaceful Thanksgiving.

Love and Hugs

 MrD and Me xx

Toddler (and Teddy) Treats....

It was a very rainy start to Thanksgiving Eve...

and the forecast is rain sleet and snow for the next ten days..

It makes me feel like Im back in Wales... not Southern California...

After being treated to breakfast out by hubby...

the day became very busy...

 but not too busy to stop for half an hour and join in the fun on Facetime...

and watch my granddaughter (and Teddy) make Chocolate Crispie Cakes

You know... my grandchildren are always teaching me something...

Todays lesson... 

you cant have too many sprinkles on your cake........

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Choosing a Turkey.....

Having the right Turkey is obviously crucial for your Thanksgiving table. It has to absolutely perfect...especially for the dozens of photos you are going to take of it 

Here are my top tips...

 

So.. your bird has to be the right size.. shape.. and feel. It cant be the first one you pick up. Its best to go from freezer to freezer...digging to the bottom of the pile... examining every label. Pat it... stroke it... shake it... listen to it... Dont be afraid of keeping your other half waiting... the process essential. Take your time.. and dont worry that the ice cream in the cart is melting.

Then when you think you have the right one... you have to put it back.. 

and go back to the very first one you picked up.

The whole proceedure is so important.. I like to leave it to the expert.

For my next post... Choosing the right green bean for your casserole.

P.S.... Hes going to murder me when he reads this....Lol

Love and Hugs 

Phoebe x

Whats For Dinner~Meal Plan Monday

A busy couple of days ahead.. but it will fly by. The good news for me is MrD is only in work today and tomorrow then he has five days off.

More time with my Hubby... thats a wonderful way to start a week of Thanks

Then next week... he has just one day in work... On Tuesday.. be will be having his surgery... At Last! It will be about six weeks re-cooperating time... which will take us into the new year. Im looking forward to him being home

Food wise... its a no brainer.. a couple of easy meals ...then its Turkey Fest. With leftovers.. sandwiches.. curry and pie... the bird will soon be gone

And then this weekend... everything changes for Christmas...

I cant wait!

Weekly Plan - 25th November 2019
 
Monday              Grilled Ham, Tater Tots, Egg, Peas

Tuesday              Slow Cooker Boneless BBQ Ribs, Onions, Mushrooms, Baby Red Potatoes

Wednesday         Chicken Tacos

Thursday            Thanksgiving Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Corn ..etc
                             
Friday                 Leftovers

Saturday             Turkey Curry and Rice

Sunday                Leftovers

Sunday Thought ~ Colossians 3:17

Thanksgiving Week...

so...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

A Note to My Grandson....

A Very Happy 7th Birthday to my first Greatest Blessing

The day you were born there was a massive thunderstorm and the bridges leading off our island were closed due to gale force winds. I paced the floor for hours waiting for the phone call to say you had arrived..... then I cried... just like your Daddy did

When they put you in my arms I felt that I had been waiting for you all my life. My heart was full to bursting and I was totally smitten

You are soooo wickedly funny .. have the biggest smile and the kindest heart. You are clever... talented... and so eager to learn.

It's been too long since I saw you in person.. but I love our weekly Facetime chats.and you teach me so much. I am now educated in all things dinosaur....and how to bake a cake. 

I am so very very proud of the amazing young man you are turning into. Dont ever change. No wonder your little cousin adores you so much

I cant wait til next Summer when I will see you again. 

Prepare for the biggest hug...ever!!

Happy Birthday H

Lots of Love Nana xxx

Five Friday Favourites...

Its been a while.. but this week I'm joining in Fridays Favourite Five hosted by Susanne  over at Living to Tell the Story. It should be fun

Crafty Friend

We have had our first Christmas gift... and isnt it wonderful. We have such talented friends. Miss J hand painted this on wood from an old packing crate. She admits the design isnt hers... but I think its amazing. Thank you..and I cant wait to put it up after Thanksgiving.

She Said Yes To The Dress

Technology is wonderful. This week my daughter went to look for her wedding dress.. and although she is back in England...I was able to go too...via Facetime. We wernt hopeful in finding one first time...as she had very definite ideas about what she wanted... But when she tried on the third dress...we all heard her gasp from behind the curtain. As the curtain was pulled back... we all knew this was the one. And I must admit...when she tried the head dress and veil on... I cried. Heaven help me on the wedding day. And thanks to technology... MrD paid for the whole ensemble over the phone.. Then it was HIS turn to cry....lol I hope Im as lucky looking for my outfit

Booked

And to follow on from the last post... the Little family have booked their flights... and two weeks after the wedding... the three of them will be flying out here for their Honeymoon/ Vacation. I cant wait to take Little Miss to Disneyland!

The Christmas Gift

My daughter and her Little Family  have travelled from Newcastle to visit family in Wales. This morning Little Miss went to take visit her great grandparents... my mum and dad..in their final resting place  in the little village of Ruabon  where  I grew up. She took them a Christmas basket of silk flowers.. and placed a robin on the grave. My mum loved Robins...her Christmas cards always had a robin or two on them. She used to say... when she was gone...if we ever saw one to think of her. We were all thinking of her.. and dad.. today

Panad

And finally.. you cant go to Wales with out having a Panad ( cup of tea) especially of you drink it ever so nicely.... And if you are very good.. like Little Miss...you can have a gingerbread man too! Me .. myself.. well.. Rydw i'n hoffi coffi.. (I like coffee)

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Thanksgiving Prep and Christmas Cranberry Apple Jam

After an unexpected early morning jaunt with Hubby to deliver some boxes machine parts and pick up a very nice pumpkin spice latte it was back to the grind. The thunder and hailstorms we had yesterday and over night had finally stopped... and it was nice to see blue skies again. 

I must say though... this morning was decidedly chilly. I even wore a cardigan... which... with my hot flashes..is quite unusual.

But Im glad as its feeling less like the eternal Summer... and more like Fall.. very appropriate for the Holiday Season. Although... I think it will be a while before the heating goes on... 

The push for the pre Thanksgiving "Big Clean' is almost over... and once again Im left wondering... why do I do it to myself? I tell myself that its because the day after Thanksgiving the Christmas decorations are going up and it will save me some time...but I know darn well that the mop, bucket and dusters will be out again in a couple of days. I must say tho.. there is great satisfaction in everything in its place, sparkling and smelling clean and fresh. And I love it when its all done. Does anyone else go cleaning crazy before the Holiday seasons start?

The Thanksgiving recipes are out and this week there is an unbaked Apple Pie in the freezer and I have made this years supply of Christmas Cranberry Apple Jam.. I have used this recipe for many years. This time I doubled this recipe so I could give a couple of jars as gifts. The jars were processed in the canner so we will have plenty to last us possibly til next Thanksgiving

Christmas Cranberry Apple Jam

(this recipe can be doubled...just as I did)

This recipe is so quick and easy. The jam is not too sweet..not too tart..and absolutely delicious with your Thanksgiving/Christmas Turkey. Its also lovely on toast, bagels or served over cream cheese as a dip. Both apples and cranberries are naturally high in pectin, so you won't need any additional pectin to help this jam set, as long as you cook it until thick and syrupy.

12 oz. pkg. fresh cranberries

2 medium (sweet) apples, peeled and diced

1 1/2 Cups sugar

1 Cup water

2 Tblsp honey

1 Tblsp butter (helps reduce foaming)

• Combine the apples, cranberries, honey, sugar and water in a large pot (use a big one, this jam will bubble) 
• Over high heat. bring to a boil
• Add butter
• Cook for 10-15 minutes, until the cranberries pop and the apples soften
• you can use a potato masher if you prefer a smoother jam
• Simmer until the liquid in the pot begins to thicken 
• Ladle into sterilized jars, wipe rims, apply lids and process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes. 
• Label nicely and store in a dark place or distribute to those you love.
• Any unpopped jars will keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Cosy Morning....

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Double Anniversary....

November 19th is a bitter sweet day for me. It's the happy anniversary of my arrival in the US and the start of my new life

But...its also a sad day. The anniversary of the death of the most amazing, gentle and wickedly funny man who loved me unconditionally...and from who I got my sense of humour, my fear of spiders... my love of "lightcakes" and my baby blue eyes.... My dad! Thirteeen years today we lost him after his brave battle with cancer...and I have to admit.. this morning I shed a few tears. But he brought so much laughter into the world...its hard not to smile. Always the comedian!

But..I know where he is... and he's with mum so happy and at peace. It's a comfort...but the lonliness for him is immense

Love you and miss you always Dad. 

Until we meet again xxx

Whats For Dinner~Meal Plan Monday

At this exact time...five years ago.. I was packed and ready to leave my home in Wales...to embark on the biggest adventure of my life. My entire belongings were crammed into two suitcases, a carry on bag and two boxes that had been forwarded to my new home in the US.

Although I knew it was a leap of Faith... and I knew I was doing the right thing...it was a huge wrench. My "things" had gone ahead... but my heart and my love was being left behind with my children... who although grown were..and still are...my babies. I would never had done it without their blessing.

These five years have been the most amazing I have ever known...and apart from all those wonderful moments spent with my kids growing up... have been the happiest I have ever known. Mainly due to the amazing, kind, funny, God loving man I travelled over 5,000 miles to marry

Im so grateful for my life...and its many blessings.. and I pray that it will just keep getting better...

I have a feeling...it will

So back to now.... and its the week before Thanksgiving...and everything is under control. The "Big Clean" is underway. This weekend we are getting the turkey... a frozen Butterball which will be defrosted in plenty of time. As usual I will prepare it the same way my mother and my grandmother did... covered with bacon. I think they did it to keep the meat moist.. not really needed with these modern turkeys infused with butter.. but its a tradition. 

Also this week I hope to make my mincemeat for my Christmas (yes I said the C word) mince pies. I was going to make a traditional English Fruit Cake this year...but MrD doesnt fancy it...so maybe next year. No doubt he will want plenty of his favourite Chewy Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookies

So how are your Holiday Plans coming along? 

Have a great week

Weekly Plan - 18th November 2019
 
Monday              Leftovers of yesterdays Roast Chicken, Potatoes and Vegetables

Tuesday              SkilletVeggies with Smoked Turkey Sausage

Wednesday         Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday            Crispy Beef , Stir fry Vegetables
                             
Friday                 Homemade Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pizza

Saturday             Baked Ziti

Sunday                Church Pot Luck and Baptism