Happy Thanksgiving!

I think it's a swan, not a turkey, but we'll just use him to wish you a 

Happy Thanksgiving, anyway!

Apple carving courtesy of Pippo and YouTube.

O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. 

Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here. 

Thank you for our health, our work and our play. 

Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence. Open our hearts to your love. 

We ask your blessing through Christ your son. Amen.

 From Celebrating Faith: Year-round Activities For Catholic Families, by Mary Cronk Farrell

What's in the Kitchen?

Doing a lot of cooking in advance of the Big Day, mostly because I wanted to deliver a Thanksgiving dinner to my grown boy who won't be able to be with us for Thanksgiving for the first time, ever.  #sadface

I made a turkey that we've been eating for the past couple of days, rehearsing for Thursday.  I also included his favorite sausage/mushroom dressing, green beans, sweet potatoes, and cinnamon rolls.  Dangit, I forgot the cranberry sauce!  I left it on the kitchen counter!

The true highlight, of course, will be Pioneer Woman's Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, which are pretty heavenly!  When they came out of the oven and needed to be frosted, I realized I had already used all the milk, so we were forced to improvise and use egg nog.  That icing is pretty. amazing.  Let me tell you!

Catching Fire Premiere

Sorry for the rotten ipicture!

All dressed, braided,  and ready for the Catching Fire premiere last Thursday!   We weren't planning to see it so soon, but there was a last-minute change of plans and the four went to the 8:00 p.m. premiere.

For someone who enjoyed reading the book and dressing as Katniss for the movies, I can't believe she doesn't want me to knit her one of these awesome sweater/vest/cowl thingies!  It's already been copied to Ravelry.

Anyway, she's seen the movie twice already.  Dh and I saw it Saturday.  I thought it was pretty awesome, but it has a terrible ending.  There's not the least bit of resolution to keep you content until the next one comes out!  I'll just have to re-read the book so it feels complete.

Have you seen it yet?  What did you think???

Finished "Color Affection"

 After blocking, it's much bigger than I expected.  Merino is very stretchy and blocks out much larger.  In fact, I have a shawl that I've blocked twice and it can still be blocked again because it's still a little puckered!

 It think this is just gorgeous!  And the softness is incredible---not a bit of scratchiness.  Soft, light and very warm.  It would be perfect if it were my colors.  I'm dying to make one for myself in colors more suitable for me.  Like blues.

Indian Summer Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
Sunny and warm.  Dare I say "hot"?  Last week all the wimpy southerners were freezing because the temp was as low as 27 overnight; now it's warm---so warm I started sweating while walking the dog!  Feels like it's close to 70.

I am thinking...
A million things as usual.  This morning, (why is it always Monday?) I was full of negativity.  Just tired of being me.  Tired of writing complete sentences, too, I guess.  So God has given me something else to focus on instead of myself---a sick child.

I am thankful...
For my hard-working husband who whispers words of affirmation in my ears on Monday morning.

From the school table...
Only one student, and my knitting.  The sick one suggested he might read Thucydides to keep up with his work, but I said no.   The book would be too heavy for his weakened hands to hold, and I don't think his fevered brain would retain much at all.

In the kitchen...
Egg drop soup with lots of garlic and ginger.

I am wearing...
Jeans with a 3/4 sleeve cotton top.  Toms.

What I’m doing with fiber...
Knitting a pair of Porthos socks.  They're going to be beautiful if I have the stamina to make 2 of them.  If you'll recall, I hate knitting socks.  Don't ask why I'm doing this.  ;-)

I am wondering...
If it's the flu.  Really weak.  High fever---at least 102 by my maternal thermometer, which is far more accurate than any digital thermometer I've owned since mercury went out of style!

I am reading...
I finished reading Seabiscuit last week.  Really enjoyed that, and I'd like to see the move, but it doesn't seem to be available for streaming anywhere.  Drat it all.  All these TV providers are in cahoots with one another to make us use all their services!

I am hoping and praying...
...for Thomas Peters' continued recovery
...for the souls of the faithful departed
...for all those lost and surviving in the Philippines

I am looking forward to...
Thanksgiving break!

I am hearing on my ipod...
Since I'm between books, I can catch up on some of my podcasts.

One of my favorite things...
My breakfast on Instagram:  http://instagram.com/p/g3K_g8yHr8/
And that's "hot" coffee.  I don't know what "hit coffee" is.  ;-)

A few plans for the rest of the week...
School?  No School? Thanksgiving feast at school?  Or not?  AHG?  or not?  All things up in the air depending illness and the spread thereof.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
I got nothin.  Go look at my breakfast, again.  :-)


Hosted by The Simple Woman's Daybook

I Stand with Thomas Peters Day

So, I was not going to blog today.  It's been...what...a week?  I've been focused on other things like knitting, working on the school newsletter, and a class I have to teach Saturday.  Not necessarily in that order....but maybe.  ;-)  I'm just not feeling the blogging this week.  Or the social media.  I don't think I've been on Twitter for about a week.  I pretty much just want to see a few cute babies on Instagram, and I'm done!

BUT, I did sign up for #IStandWithThomasPeters social media day.  Which is today.  I've been following Thomas Peters since before the papal election, but he really caught my attention when he opened the @ConclaveChimney twitter account!  That was too funny, but he is such a great, young voice for the truths of the Catholic faith.

Somehow, I found out on Twitter about Thomas's diving accident, almost immediately, when it was first posted there, and have been praying fervently for him ever since.  We never want to think about something so devastating as a Spinal Cord Injury happening, or think that it could happen to someone so young and newly married with an exciting future ahead.  I can imagine how I might respond to such a thing happening to me, and I fear that it would not be with as much grace and faith.  His journey has been inspiration in terms of miracles and the faith of Thomas and his wife, Natalie.

You can read about their journey here.

You can support them by praying, making a donation toward their massive medical bills, and sharing through your social media outlets.

God bless you!

(I'm linking up with LMLD today.  No PHF, just Real.)

PHFR - Vampire Bride edition

{pretty}

I posted this on instagram (scboyle, if you want to find me there).  Love this nude nail polish I found!  It's Revlon Gray Suede.  

The textbook is Writing With Ease, 6th grade.  Not pretty, and not my favorite, but a good exercise in narration.  We do learn some interesting things in reading the required passages.

{happy}
Mom's not really happy when there are donuts in the house, but the children are.  Somehow, don't ask, this babycakes donut maker ended up in my house.  I wanted to see if it worked, so I tried it out with the primal donuts on the right.  They're made with coconut flour, sweetened with maple syrup and very dense.  Oh, frosted with maple syrup glaze, too.  The sugar on top is what keeps us coming back for more, not the innards.
The ones on the left are Barbara's Cake Doughnuts (for her, I'll go ahead and spell doughnuts correctly.  Otherwise, it's just too long a word!)  Even though they're supposed to be deep fried, we abandoned all sense of rules and structure and baked them in the babycaker.  They cooked perfectly in, like, 3 minutes.  Buuuutttttt (but, not butt), they were dry on the outside because they weren't fried, so the cinnamon-sugar wouldn't stick.  We were forced to glaze them first, before adding more sugar!
Note to self:  Next time someone wants to make donuts, go to your room to read until they are finished, cleaned up, and put away.
Or, just say No to donut-making.
{funny}
She's funny here, but after a couple of hours of playing Vampire Bride, I was over it.  School was not getting done!
{real}

Summer might be really hot, but I've suddenly realized that it's the only time of the year when we don't have the sun constantly in our eyes!  Unless you're out only at high noon, the sun is low in the sky most of the day, and that makes lots of  blinding morning and afternoon commutes!

Hamburger Cupcakes

Meg, the Budding Blogger, has been dying to make these cupcakes disguised as hamburgers.  I finally told her she could do it as long as I didn't have to do any of the work.  She attempted to document all her steps, as any self-respecting food blogger would!

That missing cupcake is because someone went a little crazy with a sharp knife on my silicon muffin pan.  Grrrr.

Brownies that were made a day in advance, giving pickers opportunities to pick!  We had discussed making them in a 9x13 pan so there would be more, thinner, brownies, but she forgot.  Personally, I liked the thick brownie burger patty (because who doesn't like more chocolate?).

The lettuce is coconut flakes dyed green.  The ketchup and mustard are buttercream, dyed to match.  She did a great job pulling together pinks and purples to make the red.  It was a little easier, I think, to get the correct mustard color which was frighteningly accurate!

The taste was very sweet, but the textures was very much like a real, albeit slightly overcooked, crusty burger.  It was weird that it felt like a burger in your mouth, but didn't taste like one!

We all thought they were pretty awesome, but as with real hamburgers, one is usually enough.  ;-)  

Autumn Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
Blue skies with a few puffy clouds.  It looks like a gorgeous fall day!  It was hard to get up this morning, thanks to DST.  The Sunday morning extra hour of sleep is awesome; the subsequent days not so much.

Candy Corn nails for Halloween

I am thinking...
Too much about my stupid thyroid.  My metabolism is grinding to a screeching halt; my temperature is really low, and it's really depressing.  Hair is falling out and really dry, too. Weight gain.  Ugh.  What's worse is the doctor who tested my TSH this summer and said my thyroid is functioning fine because TSH is normal.  Grrrr.  So that means there's no help without paying lots and lots of money to a doctor who does tests that are actually useful.  Call me frustrated.

I am thankful...
That our insurance hasn't changed dramatically compared with the horror stories I'm hearing and reading about.

From the school table...
It's Monday, and they're up and working hard.  Well, they're taking a break to eat pancakes right now....

In the kitchen...
Chili last night.  PW posted a chili recipe that sounded intriguing, so I combined some of her suggestions with my recipe, and managed to win the Chili Cook-off at the neighborhood Fall Festival!  Of course, the competition wasn't too stiff with only 3 entries, but still.

I used ground turkey which I almost never do, but her recipe called for chicken, and turkey is what I had.  Plus, if you're feeding the neighborhood, it's cheaper than beef.  I also added beer and 1 chipotle pepper per her suggestions, but I'd rather leave out the beer and use 2 peppers next time.  I used my regular spices in it.  Yum!

Mummy pizzas before Trick or Treating

I am wearing...
Workout clothes.  Color me Hopeful.

Not everyone can get away with this look!

What I’m doing with fiber...
Getting close to the end of Color Affection, but the rows are really long, and the main color ball is getting really little!

I am going...
Just to the dentist and after-school pickup today!  woot!

Pippo's 8.5 lbs. sorted

I am reading...
Finally finished Harry Potter last night.  I need to finish The Disappearing Spoon in the car for book club.

I am hoping and praying...
----for the souls of the faithful departed
----for Elizabeth DeHority
----for the continued recovery of Thomas Peters
----for family members

I am looking forward to...
There doesn't seem to be anything exciting on the calendar, so I'll be looking forward to those moments when I get to sit down and knit!

I am hearing on my ipod...
Since I don't have any books left on there, I can start catching up on podcasts!

Around the house...
Loads and loads of laundry since the last few days were busy.  Good thing there aren't 6 children at home anymore, or I'd be reaaaaalllly unhappy about that!

One of my favorite things...
Not.

Tracts in the Halloween candy

A few plans for the rest of the week...
I'm going to try to get a few blog posts out that have been fermenting.


Hosted by The Simple Woman's Daybook