I Gave Thanks

Thoughts and Quotes: Very thankful, incredibly grateful, unbelievably blessed.           Unknown

And I hope you are as well. Even with the China virus and all its offspring, our rotten economy, politicians trying to change us to Socialism, a biased judicial branch, our country flooded with thousands more illegals to care for, and violence wreaking havoc, we still live in a great country. We just need to get back on course where we feel proud to say, "I'm an American."

Thankful for thrifting: Yes, I've been stopping in when I'm running errands. Just see what I've found.

$1 for the pair

Signed mug $2 - $8 on Etsy

Stampin' Up set - $3

$4

Forgot I already had one.

 

But they're different shades of brown

$5 tablecloth - folded in 1/4's - doesn't it remind you of Monet's gardens at Giverny?

$6 - I would chosen other colors, but I love the little "ruffled skirt."

Red tag 75% off items, so 25 cents each - 3 of these to use for mini-bouquets

4 of these- dessert size

5 dinner plates - they look like the ones I gave David

And four shallow salad bowls to match

 

6 of these

Now I have three shades of peach - surely there can't be more

Thankful for Aldi: Where I found three-wick candles for Christmas at $4.29 each.

Thankful for flowers: A just because gift from Niece Leslie.

Thankful for my Lil' Bro and Lil' Sis': For spending $9+ on shipping to send tomatoes so I could make Fried Green Tomatoes.

An encore the first day, because one plateful was not enough.

Thankful for talented friends: Who make handmade Thanksgiving cards.

Katie Sue

Jean

Thankful I have goals: And that I'm feeling motivated to get back to work. I thought it would be a perfect time to do the Thanksgiving photos for the Everyday Celebrations book. I still need to make Grasshopper Pie and Beef Stew (darn! just did that when David was here), then I'll have eight of the twelve finished except for invitations and menus.

Table

Food

I wasn't thinking, and too late. I should have put the mashed potatoes between the peas and dressing. Too much white in one area. Oh, well.

Everyone has their own traditional recipes for Thanksgiving. So I might show my fun decorations I've picked up at thrift stores (turkey salt and peppers came from Cracker Barrel), and the fun little church Martha gave me and I keep gluing back together. Got the roof on crooked this time.

I didn't do so well on my November Bucket List. 

I voted on November 2.

I bought a turkey.

I've been thanking God for my blessings.

I put the electric blanket on, but it was in the guest room.

I've been stocking up for winter each time I shop for groceries.

I'm in the process of getting out winter clothes - it's coming.

I made a pumpkin pie. I use Nagi's recipe. Click Here.

The pie always cuts perfectly clean.

I made real cranberry sauce. So easy.

I had grilled cheese and cream of tomato soup for lunch.

Perhaps I'll do better in December. Here's the list.

DECEMBER BUCKET LIST

Send some Christmas cards 

Listen to Christmas carols 

Wear red lipstick and nail polish 

Wear Christmas jewelry and accessories 

Make peppermint hot chocolate 

Make five kinds of Christmas cookies – give them away 

Decorate a tree 

Buy a poinsettia 

Eat eggnog ice cream 

Make an eggnog pie 

Hang a Christmas wreath on your door 

Buy a new sweater or coat 

Go out one evening to view the Christmas lights. Take a thermos of hot chocolate or cider along.

Watch some Christmas movies. 

Shop at a mall to see all the decorations. 

Work on your goals for 2022 so you’ll be finished by New Year’s Eve. 

GET READY FOR CHRISTMAS

SHOP EARLY

DIET NOW - GOODIES WILL BE EVERYWHERE

WALK OFF THE POUNDS

PREPARE A BUDGET FOR 2022

PLAN YOUR CHRISTMAS DINNER

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

                                                                                               

 

 

China, Day 5

 Day 5, April 1, 2003: 

Breakfast was at 7:30 - mostly American but with some lovely tomatoes and cucumbers.

There was rain that morning; a light steady warm rain. I decided I didn't want to tour the dam site and hear about hydroelectricity. I went down to the library and found a lovely table and chairs with a view of the towering dam and low misty clouds in the background. I was so happy. I finally had peace and quiet and comfort. I was writing away and then two British ladies from our tour came in and started chattering. They finally pulled out their books and started reading, but one kept going sniff-pause-sniff-pause-sniff-pause. I could stand that about fifteen minutes and went to my room. 

I had a little table if I sat on the bed and a lovely view of the side of the ship pulled in next to us.

There is only one docking facility, so the ships park one next to the other and if you're the ship with the dock, part of your area is roped off while the ship's passengers next to you climb up some little stairs between ships and cross over to the dock. Walter said that he's had to cross three ships to get to the right one at times. OSHA would have a fit in this country!

There they go, crossing our ship when they disembarked.

I got back to my writing and at 11:00 I had a nice cup of lemon herb tea which I made with a tea bag I brought from home and the hot water from a thermos pot in my room. I had a sweet little white porcelain cup with a navy blue ring and a knobbed lid to match. I also had tea bags in a round white porcelain dish with a lid and the ship's emblem in navy blue, but it was Chinese tea which is nice with Chinese meals but not with journal writing. Lunch was at 11:30, so I went to check on the rain and have a look around. Still raining.

I had lunch with David and the Cambodian couple. David and I decided to go to the library and stay inside. We'd run out and take a photo and then back to the nice dry comfy area.

Notice the tiny people on shore and the water level markers higher up.

What an incredible place! The colors were breathtaking - greens and browns, white running to black with all shades of gray in between, some yellows. The scenery was constantly changing. The clouds and mist only enhanced the mystical beauty. The rain fell steadily, and we were hoping there would be enough to raise the river so we could continue on to Chongquing by ship instead of transferring to hydrofoils and buses.

We stayed in the library from 1:30 to 6:00 without even a break to "sing a song." Everything was so beautiful, we were afraid we'd miss something. When the weather got too misty and rainy to see the scenery or take photos through the windows, we'd look at the library books - lots of coffee table type books with great pictures.

See the little donkeys on the slope.

By 6:00 p.m. it was growing dark and time to change for dinner. China is a huge country, but has only one time zone.

We had wonderful fried chicken drumettes for dinner with some Chinese ribs, rice, and lot of nice vegetables - green beans, bean sprouts, that Chinese green stuff, and pea pods. Also sosmething called jujubes. They look like grapes with stems like a cranberry and taste like a cross between a prune and a date. 

At this point, we had formed our little "group" - Conne and David from Ohio, the Cambodian couple and myself. Walter, or guide, joined us. He's Dutch but sort of red-headed. So nice and so capable.

I got to my cabin at 8:00; showered and did my laundry. I decided to read my book, which was beginning to seem never ending.

At this point, I stopped journaling, but I have lots more photos to show you.

To be continued. . . . .