Week 48, 11-20-2016

Thoughts and Quotes: This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.                                                                               Psalm 118:24

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, being grateful is on my mind; however, all days should be reminders to be thankful, because we have a limited number of them. Each day is a blessing, and we should indeed, rejoice and be glad in it.

Tasting: My friend John's birthday was this week, so he and his wife Katie, my brother Bill and I went to Famous Dave's for the Feast for Two. A more apt name would be The Feast for Two, or Three, or Four. I took a photo of John and Katie's feast. They had brisket and Bill and I had pulled pork. You always get ribs, half a chicken, and either brisket, pulled pork, or smoked sausage.

This is the poster in the window - their photography is better than mine.

They've won lots of trophies. If you have a Famous Dave's in your area, give it a try. I think you'll like it.

I made John a no-frills birthday cake.

I used Hershey's cocoa recipe for Deep Dark Chocolate Cake. If you don't have it, here goes:

DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE

From Hershey’s Cocoa

1-3/4 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup cocoa

1-1/2 tsps baking soda

1-1/2 tsps baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup oil

2 tsps vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour a 13 X 9 baking dish.

Combine dry ingredients in a large mixer bowl.

Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.

Beat 2 minutes on medium.

Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).

Pour into baking dish.

Bake 35-40 minutes or until done.

Note:  Cake can also be made in a Bundt pan, tube pan or layers. Adjust bake time.

I used Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup cocoa powder

3-3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Blend cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer.

Beat in the vanilla.

Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar and beat until fluffy.

Time for Others: Katie is a card-making machine. Just look at all the Christmas cards she's finished already.

While I, on the other hand, just finished mailing my Thanksgiving cards. I'm so happy I'm not entering them in a contest, because they'd be in last place. For some reason, Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me. Fortunately, I had eight cards left over from last year (sorry, I forgot to take photos) which I mailed to my out-of-state people. Then I whipped out two each of these and mailed them on Saturday.

and these three for friends who are coming for lunch tomorrow.

Things that Grow: We've had such weird weather this year, 70's part of this week, even 78 one day. Look what I found blooming in my backyard. They think it's spring.

Thank you: Brother Bill found these for me at the flea market (Thrifting runs in our family).  You'll see the goose candle holder very soon.

I might redo the Cabbage Patch table so I can use the bunny napkin rings. I've also added more cabbage dishes since I took these photos. 

Tips: Pepper's cone collar is fastened with two black plastic pieces which looked uncomfortable, so I came up with an idea. Katie said that I should send this tip to Heloise. We got such a good laugh out of it, I thought you might like to see my solution. Yes, it's a panty liner.

Temptations: Joey and I went to the open house at Scrapbooks Forever in Branson. The store is rather small, but jammed with all kinds of goodies. There were lots of half-price items, so easy to get carried away and indulge. We also had Christmas yummies for munching, and I hope my Walmart doesn't carry those white chocolate-covered star pretzels, because I'd probably eat the entire package during one episode of Chopped. We did a make-and-take. It's supposed to be a package tag, but mine will be a bookmark. The photo doesn't show it, but his hat trim, beard and mustache are glittered. I'll show you the glue.

I'd never heard of this (that's why we go to open houses, right?), and it stays tacky forever until you add the glitter. So, if you glitter your card and the phone rings, you can come back and the glue will still work. You can also use it for bonding as well. For permanent bonding, use while wet - for temporary bonding, let dry. 

I also bought a tool for picking up tiny things like pearls, gemstones, dots, etc. It's sticky on the end, and I think it's probably magic.

I bought some stamps. Hate wooden stamps now, but at half-price, I couldn't resist.

The circles and branches were also half-price.

Only one punch, half-price

Dies, swan was half-off

Half-off

Joey found these. They're $2.99 each. The colored part shows the words. You can't see it in the photo, but the Thank You has a little flower, Let it Snow has a snowflake, Jingle Bells has a bell (of course), Happy New Year has champagne glasses, and Merry and Bright has a Christmas star. The little extras are separate so you can use them without the words if you wish.

Embossing folders, half-off

Embellishments, all but the doilies half-off.

3-D Paper

I won this by finding a blue star (I had a hint from one of the ladies) and the one on the left also has another sheet of stickers on the back side.

If you're a crafter, this store is a must when you're in Branson. The ladies are so knowledgeable and so sweet. I was asking for a metal shim plate because some of my dies don't cut properly. They told me not to buy one - just put my dies from that certain company face up instead of face down, and it would probably do the trick. Who knew? Saved me some bucks.

I sent out invitations for a Quack, Quack lunch tomorrow, but change of plans. We're having a routine lunch with my standard ham menu, so maybe the week after Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned.

I didn't have enough paper to make them all the same, so two of each. 

HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING

EAT HEARTY, FOR JANUARY 1 WE DIET

INCLUDE A RELISH TRAY FOR SOME CRUNCH

SENDING LOVE YOUR WAY

THANK YOU SHARING MY LIFE