Tuesday, November 20, 2012

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS


I had another slow weekend which has been pretty typical around here lately.  Papa came to visit on Sunday and I baked some cupcakes.  Remember the box of Hot Chocolate cupcakes I posted about last week?  Well, I made those.






Well, tomorrow I am going to make ahead whatever I can make ahead.  Emily is making the stuffing from scratch, as in with stale bread.  I've always used Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix (an ode to my late sister, Leslie, who worked for Pepperidge Farm for 25 years).  But Emily wants to do it the old fashioned way and actually, I'm curious.  Her recipe is very different from mine.  She also wanted to brine the turkey and I put my foot down...that's rather involved and she has never made so much as a chicken before.  But she's a big help and if Abby doesn't help, we'll make her clean the bathroom.  And, one last thing...thanks for all of the recipes and tips for roasted sweet potatoes!  They were all really good, but the Oscar goes to...The Summer Kitchen Girls who gave me a recipe for a sweet potato souffle!  Whoa!  They said it's like eating dessert!  I'll let you know how it turns out and post the recipe in case you'd like to try it for Christmas.

Friday morning we leave for Cedarburg, Wisconsin for our 3 day anniversary trip.  The B&B is booked, I ordered a bottle of champagne and box of chocolates as a surprise for The Husband and in return I want him to take me for a carriage ride!  Can't wait!

Happy Thanksgiving to all and I'm sending much love.  I am so thankful for your friendship and so much more.  See all of you next week! :)

46 comments:

Helen said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Jane ... to you and your loved ones. Enjoy that
get-away!!

Julie Marie said...

Hi Jane... such a fun post!... I love your little critter ornaments, of course!... and your bedroom with all the color is fabulous!... I am so happy to see ladies using color once more, not just ALL white... don't get me wrong, all white is pretty, but those colors in your bedroom are so cozy and warm and inviting looking... hope all goes well for your hubby, and I also hope you have a wonderful time this weekend... Happy Anniversary to you!... let us know how the sweet potato souffle turns out, and please take pics!... sounds interesting... Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your family!... xoxo Julie Marie

Olive said...

Happy Thanksgiving Jane. Have a lovely time away. I am cooking up a storm starting now....

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

I love to hear about your Thanksgiving! And right after that your Anniversary getaway! Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

Desire Empire said...

Happy Thanks Giving Jane. I hope it all goes well.
Carolyn

Donna said...

It's hard to believe the holidays are here again already! Your anniversary getaway sounds so fun and romantic! Have a great time, and Happy Thanksgiving, too!

Barbara F. said...

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving with your family. I can't wait to hear about your trip. I am seriously putting these places on my "wishful travel" board on Pinterest! xo

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family! I listened to Christmas music on the radio for the first time today :-)

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

I will be remembering your sister, Leslie, as I make my dressing with Pepperidge Farms, too.

I love your Christmas dishes.

Fondly,
Glenda

NanaDiana said...

What a great, newsy post, Jane. It sounds like you are going to have a wonderful Thanksgiving with a NEW stuffing recipe. My dil always brines her turkey and it some of the best I have ever had. Gotta love those kids.
I hope you have a good night- xo Diana

Primitive Stars said...

Evening Jane, love your bedroom, so pretty and cozy.......cute little ornaments.........That's so wonderful go are going away for your Anniversary......have fun.......Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, Hugs Francine.

Shirley said...

Hi Jane, Thank you for stopping by and your prayers. They mean the world to me right now. Your Thanksgiving sounds like a fun time and I know your anniversary trip will be fun. A carriage ride would be enjoyable especially with the holiday season getting started. It would be fun to take and look at Christmas lights. Hope your hubby's surgery goes well and he has a speedy recovery. Take care and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Hugs and Prayers from Your Missouri Friend.

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, beautiful table, love the winter-berry dishes and the ornaments are so cute I saw hem at the Walgreen in Sault Michigan!

RURAL said...

Jane, I am still fixated on the Andrew Wyath painting, it's not a print? You own one of his paintings....

I know all that information in the post and I fix on the painting...it's just that I love his work, I saw a exhibit when I was in art school, and it stayed with me forever.

Whoops, Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy the time with family.

Jen

My Grama's Soul said...

Hi dear Jane....looks like you are busy as usual. I love that you let us know about so many details in your life....everything from decorating to
Thanksgiving dinner...to your soul mate's upcoming surgery. I do hope everything turns out alright for him...he is a special guy, I know you know this!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...don't work too hard...and enjoy you time away.

xo

Jo

Melanie said...

Christmas ornaments and music already?! Say it isn't so! lol I'm one of those who dreads the holiday season and all it entails. I do enjoy some of the decorating, but then I get so sick of it that I can't wait to take it all down! I know, I know...Scroogey. There's a lot of reasons I don't really enjoy the season, but I'll spare you.

I do love the ornaments you found at Walgreens though. I saw a similar one at Meijer, though an owl, and was very tempted to buy it. And then I realized it would just be a waste of money (even though it was "only" $3.99) because we don't put up a big tree anymore and we already have a gazillion ornaments.

Love your new bedroom curtains. The pattern and color is really pretty.

Well, if I don't talk to you again before you leave for C'burg, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you and Al have a fantastic time in Cedarburg! Let me know how you liked it, OK? Me and the hubs are thinking of going for an overnight trip again before Christmas.

Charlene said...

I love your dishes & think you should use them whenever you want...Have fun on your Annv trip to the B&B. Hope you get your carriage ride. Hubby just got our new hot tub wired. Hope we get to use it this weekend. Have a great Thanksgiving. HUGS!
Charlene

Sarah said...

Jane, stopping by to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and to say, I'm thankful for your sweet friendship.....Sarah

It's me said...

Happy Thanksgiving....my love !!...xxx...

Paula@SweetPea said...

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and a great time in Wisconsin this weekend.

We have that same print in our office.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Have a wonderful thanksgiving, Jane, I happen to love your table setting!

Laurel@ChippingwithCharm said...

Happy Thanksgiving Jane...enjoy :) Laurel

Theresa said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you dear friend! Enjoy your Family time and your weekend away:) HUGS!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Jane, and have a wonderful trip! My daughter is hosting again this year so I just have a side and a dessert to make. I'll do those today and get them out of the way. My son arrived last night from NY and it's great to have him back. Hopefully, next year it will be permanent!

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Hi Jane...I love the flowers your husband insisted on! We will be having turkey here with all the kids and grands except for Michael, Corrie has to work the next day so we won't see him. I don't like that but what can I do, he is an adult:)
I hope your stuffing is fabulous, I have always used the stale bread too!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving♥

Knitty said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Unknown said...

Jane,

I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Guess what? I've decided I will cook instead of going out for Thanksgiving dinner! It just didn't feel right.

Love your curtains in your bedroom. Off to start cooking!

Have a great holiday!

podso said...

Love your bedroom curtains. The room looks nice. By now you probably have your table set and are working in the kitchen cooking ahead. Have a wonderful thanksgiving. I heard you all had a bad fog this morning!

Lori E said...

You always say you aren't doing much and then you show us a ton of stuff!!! lol.
You tucker me out just imagining all this busy stuff.
My husband finally "got it" once we got our cabin and he had to shop for and prepare the food for up there because I am not usually there. He really learned how involved it is and he is usually cooking for a group.

Deb said...

Happy Thanksgiving Jane & Happy Anniversary ♥

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Hi dear Jane,

Yep, I KNOW I shouldn't be perusing blogs, but I needed to just sit for a few minutes (after cooking all day long, or chopping and prepping all day). Have the table semi-set, and lots done now.

Love all the photos. I'm doing a dry brining now. I am thinking you are going for the wet brine. Let us know how it works.

Yes, the slaw was made with the Joyce Chen spiralizer, which I bought from Amazon (of all places). It makes lovely little strings and/or chips. So easy too.

Happy holidays to you and yours,

Sharon

Anonymous said...

Jane, this is the first time I have heard someone mention making their stuffing with stale bread. That's the way I was taught by my Mom. A combo of stale toasted white bread, Pepperidge Farm cornbread stuffing mix and my own skillet cornbread. It's my fave part of the Thanksgiving meal. Since it's just Bobby G. and me I am making just a small batch. I hope you and your family have a wonderful day tomorrow and then a fabulous time on your trip. xoxo

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

Jane! Enjoy those potatoes tomorrow...you are just going to LOVE them....forget Christmas...you'll want them again when you get back from your get-away (happy anniversary!)
Do have a lovely Thanksgiving with the family & a fun time with the hubby!!

Mary said...

Happy, happy Thanksgiving Jane dear - and our best to Alan too. Hope your upcoming trip is a wonderful time - you both deserve this fun getaway together.

Much love, Mary & Bob

Unknown said...

Happy anniversary!! Looks like your trip will be so romantic!! Wanted to tell you happy thanksgiving! I need to go read about the surgery? Take care. Xo

Debbiedoos said...

Hope you had a fabulous day Jane. LOVE LOVE LOVE the curtains. Those are so my taste. They will make you smile every day you look at them.

Lynne said...

Happy Anniversary! Enjoy your champagne and the carriage ride in winter wonderland!

I love the smell of a real Christmas tree. I too am hope to convince Mr D. to purchase a smaller tree. Currently, I am loving the simple trees on the European blogs.

The Husband has been in my prayers.
He must me on top of the moon right now with the rise of the Fighting Irish! (You know I raised a "Sport's Guy"...I'm on top of these things!)
The best of blessings to you and your loves!
~Lynne
w/L.

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Jane,
I am super in love with those curtains!!
And those little ornaments too, need to find some!
I so love getting caught up with your family life!
I sure hope you and Al are enjoying Cedarburg, can't wait to hear all about it!
Big Hugs to two wonderful friends,
Cindy

Maria Elena said...

Jane, I hope you had a super great Thanksgiving! I am still trying to recuperate from my ten hours in the kitchen! :) I love your table, your cute ornaments and your bedroom looks so warm and pretty!!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Pondside said...

Good morning Jane! By now you are well into your day and your weekend away - enjoy every moment!
Like you, I make my stuffing from stale bread. The only thing is that we eat so little bread anymore that there isn't ever any left over. I end up buying a loaf to let it go stale on purpose!

myletterstoemily said...

hi blondie!

your cupcakes are so cute in their
cellophane wrappers! i love the
darling Christmas plates, too!

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving Jane...and are enjoying your time away. Can't wait to see how you liked the B&B. I've been eating since Thursday! It all stops tomorrow and not a day too soon. ~Ann

Sonia said...

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Love the Winterberry pattern and that you used them at Thanksgiving! Always nice to have our special family times...hope you have a fantastic week!
Miss Bloomers

Elaine said...

Hope your turkey came out well since your daughter had never done one before.

I undercooked one once and nearly killed my family. We ended up eating pasta!

Looking forward to photos from your trip.

Anonymous said...

I looked for a small living tree over the Thanksgiving weekend to put on the farm table in our den but wasn't happy with anything I saw so my plan is to just cut tall branches from our pines and fashion them into some kind of "tree" and call it a day. I found an old well bucket that I will use as a container. And frosted pinecones may be the only ornaments on it. LOL...we'll see. xo

Lisa Montsion said...

I love the food that comes with the holiday season.

lisa