5 thing Friday: cards, decorating limbo, Charlie Brown, knees, warming plate for coffee

 This is the second time I have ordered cards from Shutterfly that do not turn out as planned.  You can't tell it from my photo of a photo, but the picture is overly red.  Not flattering.  

 Someone please help me decorate the kids' tree.  Anyone?  

And, I can't reach my crutches!

For Hubby's office party we were treated to cocktails at Roaring Fork downtown, then this fabulous concert!  It was a real shot in the arm for me.  I have always loved the music to the Charlie Brown specials.

 

 Hubby got his fair share of stares with his sparkly red tie, Santa hat, and battery operated Christmas lights.

Ok, but the point is I didn't fall down and we walked a city block to get from the restaurant to the theater, although I'm not gonna say the whole thing wasn't challenging.  You can't get tipsy if you have to crutch it.  Bummer for me.

Gratuitous photo of healing janky knee.  

I can bend it 102 degrees and can fully straighten it!

If you like to sit at your desk and drink coffee you need one of these plug in coffee cup hot pads.  Best thing ever.  No idea where we got it from, but Amazon has them.  Go get one!  I have used mine every winter for years.

Gina

Men can decorate for Christmas, too

Since I was still on crutches the day after Thanksgiving, Hubby offered to help decorate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think he did a good job!

Gina

Mealplan Monday #140 and My Grad

Scout's photography interests do not include taking portraits, but he agreed to take a few of his sister at Thanksgiving so she could slip them into her announcements.  

Monday -  Thanksgiving Shepherd's Pie, rolls

Tuesday - Fish Tacos, pico de gallo, guacamole
Wednesday - Burritos with Chili, salad
Thursday - Pulled BBQ Chicken crock pot, buns, tots
Friday - Hamburger Helper, peas and carrots
Saturday - Dad grills
Sunday - Stew crock pot, rolls
Dessert will be ??
Hubby is still doing the cooking so I let him pick what to cook!

Gina

Family Christmas photo 2014

Maybe because they know that if they assemble and cooperate for just three pictures, we'll get one good one.  It doesn't have to be perfect; no family is perfect.  We don't all have to have a matching outfit, or fuss over our hair.  We didn't even have to travel any further than our own home.  We just have to be our natural selves - that's the beauty of the family photo.

This is Our Tribe.

Gina

Brine time

The Girl and I had a little too much fun making pies and brine the day before Thanksgiving.  

We set everything out on the kitchen table, make a couple of Rum Chata cocktails, and got to work! 

 I read the recipe out to her and she did all the mixing and such.

The brine was fabulous and the bird was so good.  We did a small bird for Thanksgiving, so we might buy another that we can brine and smoke for meals over the holidays.  Here is my tried and true brine recipe:

Camp Rustown Brine
*for a 12-18 pound bird
2 c. kosher salt (NOT iodized table salt)
3 T black peppercorns
1 c. bourbon
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 T dried rosemary
3-5 dried bay leaves (depending on their size)
the peel of an orange
2 gallons warm water

 We added the water to the ingredients just before brining, stirring to dissolve the salt.  Then Hubby loaded the bird and brine into a small cooler, added a bag of ice to the top, and set it in the garage overnight.  The next day we "spatchcocked" the bird and roasted it - took about two hours at 325 for our 13 pound bird. It came out moist, seasoned, and fabulous!

We also made three pies.

I am so looking forward to next year and trying new recipes, doing my own shopping and cooking, enjoying the holiday that much more.

Gina

Mealplan Monday #139 after Thanksgiving

my birthday flowers

Monday - Grilled chicken quarters, dutch oven potatoes, salad
Tuesday - Pot of Beans with smoked turkey
Wednesday - Hamburger Helper, broccoli
Thursday - Chili Dogs, chips, coleslaw
Friday - Chicken and Rice, green beans
Saturday - Dad grills
Sunday - Sausage links with BBQ beans (freezer clean-out), corn
Dessert is maybe Cranberry Bars.  {Hubby and I came up with this menu together - "guy food"} 

Scout and The Girl at Turkey Trot 2014

Gina

5 thing Friday - end of marching season, cranberries, thrift and prep, Monopoly, graduation

 I'm glad marching season is over...it will be good for Bubbie to concentrate more on his classes and get some stuff done for Scouts.

But going to my last game before the surgery was bittersweet - the show was so darn good this year.  I am already making a list of all the things I will not miss out on this time next year...

 I read on someone's blog where they did the cranberry sauce in the crock pot and it intrigued me.

 

 I tried it, and you know what?  It worked out just fine.  I might do it that way every year from now on.  Maybe use a touch less liquid, though, so I don't have to cook it longer.  This is my big crock pot because Hubby bought the giant bag!

 Simple tablescape using what I could easily reach and already had.  There is Fall potpourri and some gold painted pinecones in a wooden bowl with a candle in a vase from the Dollar Store.  I've had those S&P shakers since right after I got married.  The burlap is a remnant over a thrift store tablecloth.

 The kitchen sat quiet and idle while Bubbie and I waited for the Turkey Trotters to return.  Everyone pitched in to help prepare the house and the meal - that was so appreciated.

 So we played cards and I cracked open a bottle of the anniversary wine from Flat Creek. {My birthday flowers are still alive! I combined the roses from Hubby with the mixed bouquet from a friend.}

We taught Hubby how to play Monopoly.  He was Daddy Warbucks and won, much to The Girl's dismay.

Big things are happening in December.

Gina