Well, I’m almost done with my Christmas shopping. I have a few gift certificates and a few books still to pick up, and I’m waiting for several things to be delivered; otherwise, I’m pretty much done. Yea!!! I even spent some time this weekend wrapping and got almost all my family stuff wrapped. I still have friend-of-the-family gifts to wrap, but that’s not too bad. My house looks like the Christmas wrapping bomb went off, and of course I still have baking to do, but I at least feel like I’m making some real progress and that I may actually come out the other side of this someday. Of course, I can’t help but wonder if I’m sort of kidding myself about how close to being done I am, because, every time I turn around, there’s someone else I have to get something for - co-worker, daughter’s teachers... Oh well, for now, I feel good.

Christmas bomb went off in my house





Also, had lunch over the weekend with my granddaughter. All she wants for Christmas...



...is her two front teeth! Hahahaha

I just saw a story on channel 2 news about a number of places in WNY with job openings. Don't know if anyone is interested, but these are hard times for many - hoping maybe someone can use this info. Here's a link to the channel 2 news story which has info on the jobs/companies hiring and some of the details.

It's really crappy outside. This kind of reminds me of the just before Thanksgiving storm we had in 2000 when so many people got stuck all over the city. First, it was the thunder storm (which we just had) then came the snow/wet rain - which we're having now. Now I'm really wishing I were in for the evening but still have to go out in a little while - I have to start planning better and pay more attention to the weather.

I really don't ever want to see one like this again... it was kind of creepy weird.
(2000 Storm pic)

Well, my mom was right - I spent two days cooking, will be cleaning up for another two and we managed to demolish the meal in about 20 minutes. Of course, we all had to wait a while for desert as we ate too much dinner, and needed to clean up a little mess between courses. Anyway, here's dinner.





And my friend and her son brought these pies - pumpkin, cherry crumb, chocolate cream.




And my sister made the other two pies - pecan and pecan with chocolate chips.



Everyone went home with leftovers and I have enough for another couple of meals. A 22 lb. turkey is pretty big. Anyway, now I kind of have turkey sleepy syndrome - but I think the coffe is helping to counter act that a little at least.

Hope you all had a good evening.

No work today - trying to get my prep done for tomorrow’s dinner. Will be having a houseful. I laugh when I think about my mom saying once, "Thanksgiving dinner takes two days of prep and cooking, another two days of clean-up, and they’re done eating it in about 11 minutes." Now there’s perspective (maybe next year we should go out to dinner). Took a little break from my prep to have something to eat - I LOVE Harvard beets and think everything in the world should be the Harvard beet juice magenta color.



HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A FABULOUS THANKSGIVING!




Pilgrims' 1621 Thanksgiving

The tradition of the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving is steeped in myth and legend. Few people realize that the Pilgrims did not celebrate Thanksgiving the next year, or any year thereafter, though some of their descendants later made a "Forefather's Day" that usually occurred on December 21 or 22. Several Presidents, including George Washington, made one-time Thanksgiving holidays. In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began lobbying several Presidents for the instatement of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but her lobbying was unsuccessful until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation (below).

Today, our Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. This was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941), who changed it from Abraham Lincoln's designation as the last Thursday in November (which could occasionally end up being the fifth Thursday and hence too close to Christmas for businesses). But the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving began at some unknown date between September 21 and November 9, most likely in very early October. The date of Thanksgiving was probably set by Lincoln to somewhat correlate with the anchoring of the Mayflower at Cape Cod, which occurred on November 21, 1620 (by our modern Gregorian calendar--it was November 11 to the Pilgrims who used the Julian calendar).

Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation that follows is taken from the collection of Lincoln's papers in the Library of America series, Vol II, pp. 520-521.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

Abraham Lincoln
President of the United States


Much left to do preping and cleaning - So here at the end - a little Thanksgiving Pooh...

Thanks to all for the well wishes, and for the info. This has been one nasty flu that just seemed to hang on endlessly. My daughter was throwing up for 3 full days every time she ate anything, and it attacked my lower intestine for several days - maybe it's just the way our bodies work that it bothered us differently - I don't know. We then spent another couple of days of severe headache (which has been the case for both of us since this started) and just generally not feeling good. Anyway - we are FINALLY on the mend and starting to feel better, yay, just a slight lingering headache. Looks like tomorrow we'll both make an attempt at getting back to our normal routines. Today I lysol sprayed and/or lysol wiped the crud out of everything in my house - doorknobs, faucets, toilet, beds (changed bedding too), kitchen everything, etc., hoping to avoid anyone else coming in here and catching anything or reinfecting ourselves (if that's really possible).

For those who didn't get a flu shot - after this last week, I highly recommend it! Though we've obviously had one strain already, I think I will make appointments this week for myself and my daughter to go get shots if we still can. I sure don't want to spend another week down for the count.

OK - I officially HATE the flu, and am really mad at myself that I did not take myself and my daughter to get the flu shot. I was planning on it but the time just sort of got away from me. As if being sick isn't already bad enough, I'm sick to death of jello, chicken soup, crackers, and rice! No wonder people die from the flu, it's not really the flu at all, it's the stupid, bland food they have to eat while they're sick!

I really wanted to go to the Forgotten City movie tonight but my kid is sick with the flu so I’m pretty homebound right now. Since I was home with the sick one today anyway, I decided to do some baking for my daughter’s school. They do a staff appreciation thing once every couple of months where parents donate stuff and then it’s put together in a basket or bag and the teachers can have the stuff at school or they have something to take home. This month they were asking for people to bake loaves of bread for the teachers. I said I would make some banana & banana/nut bread mini loaves. Well, as I wasn’t going anywhere anyway, I thought I would make some extra breads to donate for the teachers. Earlier this week, the woman who’s in charge said they still needed some more people to commit so I thought this might help out. Anyway, it’s been a very busy day and now I’m exhausted. I sure hope the teachers like them.

4 Blueberry with walnuts and pecans
3 Blueberry with chocolate chips, walnuts, and pecans


6 Corn bread with cheddar cheese and jalapeno peppers


5 Pumpkin with cinnamon, clove, and cranberries
3 Pumpkin with cinnamon, clove, cranberries, and pecans


4 Banana
4 Banana with walnuts
4 Banana with chocolate chips and walnuts


Now - my mess to clean up...


A friend of mine stopped by and dropped off these chips for me - she goes to Canada frequently and that’s where she gets them (I’ve never seen them here). They’re my very favorite - yum.

I started my Christmas shopping this weekend. I keep vowing that I am not going to wait so long but then always end up putting it off. This is actually kind of early for me though, so at least I’m making progress. I have gotten to the point over the past couple of years where I do at least 50% of my shopping on-line, and more if I can find what I’m looking for. I really don’t like fighting the crowds in the malls - bah humbug! Sometimes I think the worst part is actually trying to figure out what to get people. Luckily, I did happen to find one perfect gift. That one you only find once in a great while. My daughter and her best friend are huge fans of the movie (and soundtrack) RENT. Anyway, the play is showing at Shea’s in January so I bought tickets to take them. I got great seats (3rd row in the balcony) and I can’t wait - I think they’ll be really excited. If only figuring out the rest of the gifts for folks would be that easy - ugh!

Also, I know there are many worthy organizations gathering gifts for the needy, but if anyone is looking for someplace to make an unused donation (toys, books, clothes), the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Buffalo and Erie County puts on a "Christmas is for Kids" project every year with gifts going to children who suffer from mental illness and their families. Most of these are families living in poverty and have very few resources. The group is providing for a higher number of kids this year than they originally expected and could really use some additional donations. If anyone is interested or would like further information they can contact AMI Buffalo at 832-4035. I know they would totally appreciate anything someone could give.

Started this morning with my granddaughter arriving at 6:30; I was babysitting today while mom and dad went to work. My son, who lives upstairs from me, didn’t actually have to work until about 11:00, so he stayed downstairs, mostly sleeping on the couch, until he had to go get ready. No big deal, I had to get up early anyway because I had to put the ham in for 10-12 hrs. of slow cook since I was having my entire family over for dinner tonight. Got that prepared and started then left son and granddaughter to go meet my regular summer camping group so we could make our reservations for Allegany for next Summer. Initially things were not going so well there as a number of the regular cabins we reserve each year in a group were taken. Things weren’t looking too good and we were pretty surprised and frustrated (we’re usually very adept at our marathon booking method) but we ended up getting a group of cabins together on another trail. It’s a trail we’ve camped on in the past, but not for a number of years now. That reservation stuff is pretty cutthroat and they book up fast. Next year when we book we’re going to have to figure out some other approach. Anyway we have our 10 cabins, in what a friend once referred to as “Cheektowaga in the woods,” and we should be good to go.

Came back home and got back to work on prep for dinner. My granddaughter helped me make a salad, had some lunch and then we kind of hung out, played Lego’s, watched some stupid Disney channel stuff, read a couple books, and didn’t take a nap (damn). Her mom came and picked her up at 3:00. They were invited to stay for dinner but had other plans. All in all we had a good day - but I really could have used a nap.

Finished getting dinner together - had my mom, brother and nephew, and sister and niece over as my mom is leaving later this week for her annual wintering in Florida. We had really good ham, au-gratin potatoes, asparagus, and, of course, the salad granddaughter and I made. Also put out a shrimp (which I hate) appetizer and a bread, bruschetta, olive, and cheese tray appetizer. It was really quite a spread. Laughed ridiculously because I got some of the shrimp juice on my shirt and made some comment about how it stinks and that I had shrimp-boob. This was really only hysterical because anyone who has seen me would know that shrimp-boob is an absolutely absurd oxymoron in my case. Sometimes it’s good just to be silly. Had coffee and delicious cannolli cake from Tops for desert- I’ve decided this is my new favorite cake-it was so freakin good!

Days like today kind of remind me how lucky I really am to have family close.

Now I’m just tired and think I’m going to go and watch what's left of Brothers and Sisters and try not to fall asleep while doing so. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
. Betting I for sure won't make it till the News.