Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Giving Thanks


 
A perfect time to stop and give thanks...
 
for moments wih family and friends, both near and far away...
 
and for all things around us....
 
So Happy Thanksgiving!!..

40 comments:

jan said...

Great pictures Coreen. Perfect for Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for my friends here at Carol's swamp.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Coreen said...

Just wanted to be sure to wish
everyone a Happy Thanksgiving..


Unknown said...

Yes, I agree with Jan. Beautiful pictures -- sky, water, tree's and deer. Great photography and they show just how beautiful Connecticut is.

Unknown said...

Carol, You're right... things have been hectic.

Good luck on that cake creation you're working on. I don't think I've ever seen it at the Kroger's here (and I frequent 2 of them, and a third one occasionally). Love their bakery.

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

(I had a bunch of stuff I was going to talk about from your link Carol, but I started to write it.... and as usual, got too wordy -- then lost it all. I gave up after that.

... funny thing is, just writing it (even though it ended up not being shared with anyone) had a good therapeutic effect on me anyway.






Carol said...

Yes, very beautiful pics. I really enjoyed them. Is that your crick? Has it had more water than usual?

Where ya been Coreen? I was starting to worry that some homeless, angry person came and moved in with ya.

I had this feeling you would have some pics up this morning.

Carol said...

Night before last, I went to bed early, I was pooped. I headed that way at about 9p and fell asleep rather fast. Then I was wide awake at 1a. Doesn't really bother me anymore since I can take a nap during the day.

It wasn't so bad because I ran across that Craig Ferguson late, late show. He's a hoot! Sorry I've missed out on him for so long.

Carol said...

Chloe, I bet that Tuxedo cake is at one of your Krogers because I know you have fancier Krogers over that way. The ones here in town don't carry it but the one where TW lives upgraded to being a more gourmet store. They order the cake from somewhere. Call some of your stores and ask if they have them.

I just added up the cost of making my own cake. It was close to the same as buying it but even more than that because I had to buy things I didn't have here to make it. I moved most of that stuff to the camp and just haven't needed it back here until now.

It took a lot longer than even driving 20 miles to go buy it and I wrecked the kitchen several times over. It was kinda fun but I wouldn't do it again until I've had time to forget how much trouble it was. I did take a pic to post later. It's not as neat as Krogers. Actually...mine look more decadent. It's going to be death by chocolate.

Carol said...

We're having turkey, cornbread dsg, GRAVY, sweet potato souffle, roasted Brussels sprouts, yeast rolls, and death by chocolate. I had to go get my turkey roaster from the camp to bring to TW's house so she could use it to bake the turkey. I brought her the turkey also but it was still a little frozen. I had it in the frig since Sunday but it was still frozen. Hope it's thawed out by now.

Unknown said...

"And I am aware that I can be totally unreasonable, both in speaking and writing."


Carol, I copied this from the previous post, and can't let it go.

I only know you from what you write here, but I have to say I've never known you to be 'unreasonable'.

You have an opinion -- you throw it out there, and you're willing to discuss it.

I see a rational, open minded person. Things can make sense to us, without them making sense to others, because no one else has the whole equation we're using.

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving (again) to you Carol, and you, Jan, and you, Coreen.

And to any of our 'friends' who might possibly peek in.

Carol said...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL. I'm thankful that I found you new friends and reconnected with an old one.

Coreen said...

It's a beautiful morning...crisp & sunny...just right for Thanksgiving...

Carol, Jan, TW, Chloe, & anyone else who drops by...enjoy the day..they seem to pass even more quickly as the years go by...












Coreen said...

And Carol, sounds like you & TW are having a nice traditional Thanksgiving feast...wish her a happy thanksgiving for me...& tell her just think only 2+ months til
pitchers & catchers report!...

Am sure the cake will be great...

Oh & no the brook in the pics not in my yard, but in Fairfield, next town over...across from a church near Samp Mortar lake...a place you can pull over & sit at a picnic bench & just enjoy the day...



jan said...

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you, Carol, Coreen, Chloe, TW and anyone else who might drop by. I too am so thankful to have my friends here - I love each of you for all of your comments and beautiful posts.

Enjoy all the F words on this Thanksgiving - food, fun, football, family (put them in your own order).

jan said...

I am thankful for so much:

I am thankful for:
The men and women in this country who fight for our freedoms.

The freedom to vote for the candidates of my choice to govern the country I live in.

The freedom to worship the religion of my choice in the place I choose.

The freedom to express my opinions openly without threat of imprisonment or death.

I am also thankful for:

John
Good friends with whom to share thoughts, feelings and experiences

Life and reasonably good health
Ryley

Children and grandchildren - especially those who live close

A sister, who despite a chronic illness and prognoses by docs - is still alive so we can laugh as we share stories of our younger lives.

A job that is fun and meaningful, and pleasant and reasonable people with whom to work

A home that is warm and provides sanctuary










Carol said...

Well, I'll ditto that except for the kids, grand kids, a John, and a job. For the houses, I'll add more entertainment and less heat. I'll change the job to being thankful I'm retired for now. I'm also thankful for our extended great weather. Theres much more but I'm on the iPhone now.

Unknown said...

" For the houses, I'll add more entertainment and less heat."

Ha! I bet you won't be wishing for less heat once winter reaslly gets here!

I agree with the way Jan called home a sanctuary. I feel the same way about mine.
The entertainment is very important, Carol. Go out an buy yourself a big screen TV -- just make sure it's smart (I'd recommend 'Sharp'). It's nice having a tv that's smarter than I am. 'Course, this damn computer is smarter than me too, and so is my phone (I finally broke down and got the Iphone, Carol -- since I knew how to use an ipod, thought it would be easy to use the iphone too. But I still only on make and take calls on it. I'll get around to utilizing all the goodies sooner or later.) One thing I'm sure of, watching TV on a computer is not the same thing as watching a great movie on a great big TV screen (and I sit real close too.... I feel like I could walk into the same room with those characters on the Tele.... nothing like it).

Going to theater movies has lost some of it's allure (for one thing, there's no pause button).

I know how shallow this sounds, but I work hard and I really enjoy my toys. :)

Carol said...

Chloe, I meant that my places have more entertainment but less heat.

Carol said...

I have more entertainment than time to enjoy it, especially out at the camp.

I have enough TVs. The largest is here at the house. I do love the pause, fast forward and rewind on my DVR. I wish I could do it with my radio in my vehicle.

Carol said...

I also prefer watching movies at home because of those features and I need to get up frequently to walk around. My concessions here at the house offer a much greater variety. Even my Orville microwave popcorn beats movie theater popcorn.

Carol said...

I want y'all to know that my cake was to die for. It was the best cake that has ever passed through my lips. Better than Krogers because it was so fresh. Very light and moist but stuffed with calories, I'm sure. Each of my layers was at least an inch tall where Kroger's is less than an inch. It was at least 6 inches tall. It even looked pretty. Unfortunately it was a bitch to make and I have to have a special occasion to make it again. Wouldn't want that cake sitting in my frig because I would eat the entire thing myself.

I sent Twin home with a large slab and left TW one. I may have taken a hair over 1/3 home with me.

Our Thanksgiving dinner was a big success. Since we all only like the white meat on the turkey, I brought all the dark meat home for the fur babies. They were very thankful.

Carol said...

Just to keep the day from being totally perfect, I tried to slice off one of my fingers. I was trying to cut off this plastic turkey leg holder. A split second before the knife sliced into left index finger knuckle, I was thinking...this isn't smart. I wish that thought would have come just a couple of seconds earlier. My laceration could probably use about 5 sutures but I didn't have any around. I would have had to totally amputate a finger to go to the hospital.

Unknown said...

Carol, You cut yourself even more than I do. 'Course I don't cook much any more, so that's helped a lot too. Duct tape That's what we use around here for bad cuts. When hubby gets one on the job, that's all that's handy, and it works amazingly well.

Not to wear though, Emma and I get the antibiotic band aids, even at the first sign of a scratch. Like you, I avoid the Emergency room at all costs.

Your dinner (especially the cake) sounds so good. Glad to hear what a great day you had. Ours was great too. We had key lime pie for desert (delicious!).

Now it's quiet, and I'm going to find a good movie on my TV with some interest characters (hubby is in watching his already, and Emma is asleep) and meld my mind into their fictitious life.



jan said...

Carol & Chloe, your thanksgivings sound good. Have not heard from you as yet Coreen.

Sorry about your finger Carol. Hope it heals ok. I have done that so many times. Your cake sounds divine.

We went to my oldest son's house for dinner. Lots of children and grandchildren. Enjoyed but glad to be home.

Unknown said...

I know that feeling, Jan. Always good to get back home.

Unknown said...

The french movie I just watched made me think of your river, mainly because it ended with a song called 'The Water'. I used to love the water/ocean so much when we lived on the Pacific. Every chance I got I'd squeeze in a trip down to the beach, which was only a 30 minute drive at the time to Santa Monica (Ca.).

I don't bother here to visit the gulf, and although we have some beautiful lakes nearby, we rarely stop to enjoy them when we're passing by them (for some reason). Well, a lake is definitely not like the ocean. We have such fond memories of the ocean and the beautiful mountains, but neither of us are homesick in anyway and have always felt greatful to find our way to where we are now. We got here just in time, before things started to take off again.

But, anyway.... this is the American song from the french movie (they usually of English language music in their movies -- I don't know why.... French certainly is a beautiful language) ended with and I thought it quite beautiful. It signified the lead character's moving on with their life (letting go of the past).
The water

.... even saw a french movie a while back that had the end scene using Elvis Presley's "I can't help falling in love with you" . It reminded me of what a beautiful voice he had (before Vegas), and it had so much meaning: seeing that the French love our American musicians so much. The ending theme of the movie blended in so well with the song, that I had to watch that part again (2 or 3 times). Another button I use a lot on my remote: backup.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

The water: copy and paste version (I need sleep)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4QQ7HYYdWw

Carol said...

Chloe, that song could be my theme song. I need to be around water. The water sustains me. I'm not a big swimmer like Jan is but I just love being around the water. I put in the swimming pool just for the ambiance.

When I was a kid in school, I used to dabble with drawing these fancy houses. That's how I spent a significant amount of my class time as a kid. I'm lucky I made it through school. All the homes I drew had a stream running through them.

I'm not drawn to the Gulf here in La or SE Texas because it's so muddy. That's from all the silt/mud coming from the Mississippi river. It does clear up some when you get farther west along the Texas coast. I don't mind the muddy rivers, that's Louisiana.

That's what I miss the most about not being at the camp, watching the river run by. And I feel better when the water is moving. It's beautiful when it's glassy still and I can see the mirror image reflection of the trees in it but I breath easier when it's moving. After dark, when I can no longer see outside, it doesn't really matter where I'm at.

Carol said...

TW called me last night. She actually woke me up and it scared me because she usually goes to bed way before I do. She told me that she went to bed and was dreaming about that cake I made. She said she woke up and ate about half of what I left her.

That amused me because when I told her I was making the cake she said she wasn't that crazy about dessert and probably wouldn't eat any. I knew better. She did recommend that I make this lemon meringue pie that I perfected several years back. That was when I was staying with mom. At that time I had a lemon tree that put at least 300 lemons on it every year and I was looking for ways to use them. I'm not that crazy about lemon desserts even though I like lemon on everything else.

I found that pie recipe in one of mom's the Southern Living cookbooks. It's called "Best Ever Lemon Meringue Pie" and it really is best ever. I tried several other recipes before finding that one.

Carol said...

I need to give credit to the lady who came up with the recipe for the Tuxedo cake I made, just in case someone wants to try making it. I didn't make my cake from scratch though, I used a box Fudge Swirl Cake mix from Walmart and it still took me 4 hours and 22 minute to complete the task. I wouldn't try rushing any of the steps. I used the longer end of the range of time for putting it together. And my total time doesn't include how long it took me to clean the kitchen afterward.

Tuxedo Mousse Cake

jan said...

Wow Carol, that is a lot of time for a cake. But sounds like it is worth it.

I read through the recipe. I may try it one of these days.

We had all pies this holiday. Have you guys ever seen the movie "Michael" I love the scene where they are all in a cafe and order One or two of every kind of pie and the lead female gets up and sings (with the band) "I love pie"

When I was a kid, I loved cake more than pie - now I prefer pie. Our taste buds do change as we grow up and then grow old.

Carol, would have loved a piece of your Tuxedo.... cake.

Unknown said...

Carol, LOL about TW eating cake in the middle of the night. That's when I love eating something sweet too (if I wake up with something specific on my mind). I just sit in my easy chair in the corner of my F.R. and chow away (undoubtedly think of how great life is) -- and it gives you the quiet, uninterrupted time to concentrate on each, delicious morsel. (I did laugh that you knew right to the minute how long it took to make.... wow, a lot of work is right).

Yep, when I heard that song, I thought of your river (feel like I've been there through all your beautiful pictures). I know your love of the water, and I'd have it too, with a river like that yours nearby.

I knew when we moved here that I didn't want be too far from the ocean (regardless of where we moved). I've heard it's prettier past Corpus Christi too, and I don't know why we've never taken that drive.

I didn't always realize it, but my biggest love affair is with the tree's -- I'd never had the opportunity to live surrounded by so many before in my life. I'm sure I wouldn't have liked it as much here, if we hadn't found our tree house. (the privacy is nice, too).

jan said...

Chloe, I love the song "The Water" It does sound like it could be Carol's song. I want to adopt it too. Water has always been important to me too. I should live close to the ocean. The water and the sound of the surf sooths my soul. I also love it that with the tide everything is washed away every few hours. It is the ultimate cleansing.

Thanks for posting the "Water" I loved the singers too. They should do an album together. Their voices are amazing together. I listened to each one's music as singles and they definitely sound better together.

Georgia said...

Carol's cake was the absolute best dessert I have ever had...far more work than I would care to take on but she was hell bent on making it. I'm glad she did..!!!!

We did have a great day.... aren't we all blessed beyond blessed? And yes Coreen Spring training before you know it....time flies by it seems the older I get.

Georgia said...

I'm concentrated mainly on my Saints rally now.....really hoping at least for a winning season, but would take hosting the Super Bowl instead and being the home team!

Georgia said...

Back to Carol's cake.......Martha Stewart would have been impressed. Hmmmm..... I still have some, may have to have a couple of bites with my coffee.

Georgia said...

Happy week-end to all..! Looking for a miracle today for LSU....ya think Auburn will beat Alabama?

jan said...

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