Holiday wishes

Thanksgiving is here... and with it comes the hubbub of the Christmas season. Tomorrow marks a day called "Black Friday"... the biggest shopping day of the year. I am definitely not one for big crowds (they make me extremely crabby) and I rarely get out for this chaotic day... however, this year might be an exception. Scott is leaving town for the weekend and I feel like it's my only opportunity to get away... or is it because I want a new pair of boots that were in today's shopping ad? Hmm... what shall I do?

Because Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, I would like to thank my Auntie Peggy for her wonderfully, delicious cranberry chutney recipe. I made it for the first time last year and couldn't resist digging out the recipe once again. It smells so good when cooking and afterwards you can enjoy with your turkey dinner, on a sandwich, or on a cracker with some brie. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

Auntie Peggy's Cranberry Chutney

12 oz. bag cranberries - cleaned and sorted

1½ cups sugar

⅓ cup brown sugar

½ cup golden raisins

1 cup water

Simmer over medium heat until juice releases from berries. Reduce heat and stir in the following:

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. cloves

¼ tsp. allspice

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped apple (unpeeled)

Simmer until thick (approx. 30 minutes). Refrigerate

Serve with poultry or pork

Last 6 weeks in the refrigerator.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A good day to be baptised

It's sunny and warm... what better day than today to baptise baby Ginger?

This is the dress that Scott's mother and Maria wore. Now it's Ginger's turn. I tried it on her to make sure it fits, considering she's much chubbier than Maria was, and it's a little snug around the neck. Good thing she'll only be wearing it for a little while.

I spent all morning cleaning the house in order to make it presentable for our guests this evening. Nothing fancy... just Grammas, Grampas, Nonnys, and Godparents. We ordered a cake for the first time from a specialty bakery and found out when I went to pick it up that it wasn't quite what I had ordered. I asked for no roses... I got roses. Argh!!! Oh well, it's just cake. Hopefully it tastes good.

Sounds like fun!

I've been given the chance to partake in the most exciting opportunity... The Table & Chairs Project. It's been created by Machel Spence who is a flickr friend of mine. On one of her travels she found the teeny tiniest table and chairs set... i mean TEENY... smaller than dollhouse size. She plans on sending the set in the mail to her flickr friends so they can incorporate them into a photo. I suppose it's like a chain letter of sorts. Maybe kind of like the movie "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". Anyways, it sounds like so much fun and I'm already brainstorming about what i could do with this itty bitty prop. I probably won't get them until Christmas time, so stay tuned for a possible wintery scene.

Other than that, not much else going on. I'm hoping to get some jewelry made for Wintergreen before the holidays so i can make some cash. We'll see if it happens.

Ginger just turned 3 month old yesterday. I can't believe how fast the time is flying by. She gave me her first giggle and is now rolling over onto her back. She's such a joy to have around.

Maria's busy as usual and looking forward to a couple night stay at Nonny's house.

Perhaps I'll try posting again later this week.

30 days of gratitude

So I've decided to do my first photo challenge... 30 days of gratitude for the month of November. I found out about it on flickr and i think it'll be a good way to put my feelings into my photos rather than just snapping away. Hopefully it'll also help me to be more appreciative.

I'm grateful for...

my new dishwaher

all the things my mother ever taught me

and a happy and healthy 2 year old.

Feel free to follow me on flickr as i battle my first photo challenge :)

I didn't need a new table:)

What a really wanted was a long, old farm table but i settled for this due to lack of space.

I love it and i'm keeping it just the way it is... peeling, chipped, and worn.

Trick or treat... a day late

Maria was a chicken for Halloween.

The cutest chicken ever.

A big weekend

Yesterday was Scott's birthday so I baked him a pie. My intentions were to make a two crusted apple pie, but only one crust turned out. I resorted to apple crisp in a pie crust. I was a little worried that the crust would turn out soggy but it didn't. It was delicious! I would make apple crisp like this more often if I didn't have to deal with that darn pie crust.

Maria's going trick or treating this evening with dad while Ginger and I stay home and pass out candy to all the ghouls and goblins. Halloween has never been my favorite holiday, but Maria's been talking about it for the last month. She'll be a chicken this year and I'll be sure to post pictures of her in her costume... that is if she can stay still.

Happy Halloween!

Go away!

The rain and dreary weather will not stop! You can only handle so much rain before you begin to go crazy. I can only imagine how people out in Seattle or Portland must feel.

Yesterday I decided to get out of my slump and bake some cupcakes with Maria. The mix was from a box but they still turned out delicious.

She made sure to touch, pick up, and smell every single one. I even caught her taking a little nibble. Naughty girl :)

Of course in the end, she only ate the frosting.

Well rested

Other than being terribly ill with an awful cold, I am happy to say that I'm well rested. Ginger is officially sleeping through the night. She's only two months old! Is this possible? Is this healthy? Yes... and be glad.

p.s.

the dishwasher is wonderful!