The Tale of the Thanksgiving Miracle of 2009

Recently I mentioned that my son, 20, now has a girlfriend. (His name is not actually "20" as it appears in this awkward sentence. It is Jordan. He is 20 years old.) I am very happy about this situation because she is a great girl. I keep trying to make a good impression on her, and yet, I fail.

But this is the tale of the Thanksgiving Miracle, so I'll move on from that unpleasant topic.

Interestingly, since the girlfriend, I've noticed that Jordan is more in touch with his nurturing side.

For instance, he and his girlfriend bought a fish together, a male Beta named "Barry," short for "Barracuda."

I asked him, "So, does this situation make this fish my 'grandfish'?"

Yes, apparently, it does.

I would have preferred to have a LEGITIMATE grandfish, but I have vowed to love this fish unconditionally.

So when he came home for Thanksgiving break Wednesday night, Jordan came in the door with laundry, Barry and a live plant in tow.

I'm having visions of diaper bags and car seats because everyone knows once you have a fish AND a plant, you're just a step or two away from a dog. And then everyone knows what happens after that: diaper bags, strollers and car seats. Oh wait a minute, that's just MY dog. Most people have a baby after the dog and then get the car seats, etc.

Anyway, Jordan brought Barry in a small container and proceeded to put him back into his regular bowl furnished stylishly by the girlfriend with snazzy black pearl foliage and sparkle rocks. Did I mention I like this girl?

As he did this, he told me all about how talented and brilliant Barry is. It seems that Barry has been following Girlfriend's finger up and down. He has also been anticipating his feeding. And he blows bubbles.

Not that I'm bragging, but have you seen my grandfish??

So Barry gets all situated in his bowl, and we put him in the family room. Jordan is on the computer, and I'm watching TV. Occasionally I glance at Barry and note how talented he is.

However, at one point, Barry looked ... sleepy.

I said, "Jordan, does the fish sleep a lot?"

He said, "Yes. He always does that."

I said, "OK. But does he kind of float like that when he sleeps?"

So Jordan goes to Barry and says, "Uh oh." He pokes him with his finger. Barry does not respond.

You can imagine what was going through my head: "The Girlfriend is never going to trust me or my household again!" In an instant, I considered the old sit-com switcheroo where you run out and buy a look-alike replacement and hope the owner is none the wiser.

People on Facebook offered helpful ideas such as: "Maybe he died of SFS, 'Shaken Fish Syndrome' from the car ride."

Jordan tried several times to revive Barry, mainly by poking him, but alack and alas, Barry appeared to have already crossed The Rainbow Bridge.

So my son, being the man of honor that he is, said, "Guess I'd better go make the bad news phone call."

I yelled after him, "Tell her it wasn't my fault! Tell her I didn't cause it!"

So he broke the news and walked away with the fish bowl.

The next day was Thanksgiving. Later in the day, I said, "So did you flush Barry?" Because I'm all sensitive and everything like that.

And he said, no, I put him in my room.

???

I'm not sure why he did this, unless he just needed "time" before the flushing ceremony. But he's 20, not 2.

Anyway, Jordan went to his room and returned with unbelievable good and joyous tidings: "Barry is alive!"

"What?" I say in disbelief. "But I saw you poke him and how he floated! He was, as Ebenezer Scrooge said about Bob Marley (wait, that was Jacob Marley) 'deader than a doornail!'"

Jordan said, "I know, but I just saw his fins moving. It's like he's hibernating or something."

And do you know that as the days have passed, that fish has rebounded. Not 100%, but he's returning to us.

Apparently, he still has work left to do here on Earth. And I get another chance to win over the Girlfriend.

And that is the story of the Thanksgiving Miracle of 2009.

How was your Thanksgiving?

Today's the Day!

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous?

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?

6. Do your pets get any left-overs?

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE! BE BLESSED! BE A BLESSING! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Random Dozen ~ Thanksgiving Edition!

In addition to making this a Thanksgiving theme this week, we are bumping it up to the beginning of the week to prevent a "meme tank" on Wednesday and Thursday. That is, I think we'll be too busy later to get our Random on. So let's do it now.

PREVIEW today; post and link TOMORROW.

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous?

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?

6. Do your pets get any left-overs?

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE! BE BLESSED! BE A BLESSING! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Sad Today

I wrote about these girls last week having a rare (11 people in the world kind of rare) genetic immune deficiency disease and how my church sponsored the Be The Match event to try to find stem cell donors. And then this week's newspaper column (yesterday) was also about them.

Last night the family announced on Facebook that the 15 year-old, on the left, has been diagnosed with Lymphoma as a result of the disease. Please pray for Karly.

I babysat her once when she was a tiny little thing and her mother was taking her older sister to a doc. I still remember how cute she was and how beautiful and sweet she is today. Please pray for the Koch (Cook) family, esp. Kelsey (21) and Karly (15). This is heartbreaking, but God has her in His hands.

Column Today About Finding Thankfulness and Joy in the Middle of Suffering

Please click the button to read today's column in the Muncie Star Press. Have a great weekend.

Socks

It has happened again. I have selected a pair of socks that slide down my feet and bunch up under my arch in my shoes.

The last time I did this, I got so frustrated at work that I yanked them off and threw them away in the trash can under my desk.

Not a big deal if you live in TX, but in Siberia, you also get the sting of "no sock" remorse five minutes later.

ARGH.

Cracking the Dozen--Not Eggs & the Winner of the Apron

I'm not sure how much longer I can keep coming up with riveting questions about bananas and first loves, but I'll try for a while longer. By the way, if you have any great questions, please send them to me and I will give you cred in the meme.

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be?

Way to start with an easy one: Running.

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision?

I do some research, but the problem is, there's so much conflicting info out there that it's overwhelming and MORE confusing. So often, I go with what feels right, unless I've read some glaringly bad info on a product. I went with the gut feeling regarding a TV recently, and so far, so good. Hey ... What was that boom-poof over my shoulder just then???

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name?

Ann Cherokee. Not cool.

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food?

Food. I'm doing that for most of my life already, no biggie. Right now I'm more addicted to my playlist. Playing as I type this: Broken Glass by the Eurhythmics & Sing a Song, Earth Wind & Fire.

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference?

I am of the latter persuasion. Ripe. This might be the dumbest question yet, Lidna.

6. Your favorite tree is?

Weeping Willow.

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you?

I think about a five. Jorge has just cleared his throat over there. Perhaps I shall amend my answer to "2."

8. Has H1N1 touched your family?

No.

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing?

Waaay analytical. When I took the GRE for some graduate courses, the adviser said I scored extremely high in analytical thinking. That was the first time I knew what it meant to be full of questions, particularly the "whys." Break it down, turn it around, pack it up, throw it in the truck and giddy up is my motto. Since about 5 seconds ago.

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala?

I have days when I'm private and independent, like a cat. I have days when I'm cuddly like a Koala. And then I have days when I am friendly, have accidents and chase "squirrels" in my dreams, like a puppy.

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago?

I do now, on Facebook.

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why?

OK, I just read the other day that you are always better off (faster) to choose the express line. But then you don't get to read People for free in line. :)

And the lucky winner of the apron is Linda (aka "Mocha Lid") from Mocha with Linda! Woo to the Hoo! Only four people qualified for this drawing because the stipulation was that you had to have participated all five weeks of the Fall Into Flavor meme. Wow, four people out of 6 billion in the world did my meme for five straight weeks! Yesssss! I'll send it off right away, Lid, so that you can wear it while preparing some buttery good recipes for Thanksgiving!

Random Dozen #12--A Dozen Dozens--Get It??

A dozen dozens--oh that joke is rich. In my head.

This means, of course, that I have now conjured up 144 different questions (uh, aren't you glad they're different?) which have managed to draw interesting "reviews" from readers. Not all positive, but quirky is the new normal. Like Dwight Schrute.

I'm not sure how much longer I can keep coming up with riveting questions about bananas and first loves, but I'll try for a while longer. By the way, if you have any great questions, please send them to me and I will give you cred in the meme.

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be?

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision?

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name?

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food?

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference?

6. Your favorite tree is?

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you?

8. Has H1N1 touched your family?

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing?

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala?

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago?

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why?

Preview of This Week's Random Dozen and Weekend Wrap Up

I forgot to do my wrap-up yesterday, so I'll briefly share. (Don't you cringe when someone says that because you know it won't be brief.)



Summary: Went to Indianapolis Art Museum, saw the special exhibit "Sacred Spain," which was basically 17th Century Spanish renderings of Baby Jesus (He gets a capital "B") and Jesus on the cross. I'll bet you didn't know that Baby Jesus was a chubby little white baby with blond curly hair, blue eyes, and only surrounded himself with toys of prophetic significance. yeah. If we portrayed him this way today, we would see him grabbing candy halos at the grocery check-out with angels helping him hold the candy up to Mary.


Then we went to the Imax to see "A Christmas Carol" in 3-D. Recently this movie has been the number one movie in the nation, and I think it merits the attention. We loved the 3-D effect, and the writing did not stray far at all from Dickens. I felt like I was IN the scenes, especially ones with falling snow. Incredible. One day soon, we will not be able to distinguish animation from real people/scenes.
Sunday, church, then helped people swab the insides of their cheeks to send off to the Be The Match Foundation to help two young sisters in our church who have a rare (only 11 people in the world) and grave immune deficiency disease. I'm praying I'm "the match" for a stem cell donation (simple procedure like donating plasma). There were 860 who swabbed (registered to donate stem cells) and they raised twice the amount of money they aimed for to pay for the testing. Praying for a miracle. Their blog is Dancing Through the Rain.

Finally, I ended Sunday night by working at Oneighty, where it was Parents' Night, and it was really fun.

OK, here's the preview:

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be?

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision?

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name?

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food?

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference?

6. Your favorite tree is?

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you?

8. Has H1N1 touched your family?

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing?

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala?

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago?

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why?

Tomorrow we answer the questions and link up!

Last Week for Fall Into Flavor

As Michael Jackson once said, "This is it." This is the final curtain call for Fall Into Flavor 2009.










If you participated all five weeks and would like a chance to win a brand new APRON! just let me know in the comments that you did participate each and every time and would like to be in the drawing.

Here is my final installation for Fall Into Flavor:

This is an old, old recipe called "Husband's Delight." I have no idea why, because there are no remote controls or skimpy outfits involved, unless you want to wear one, of course. Personally, I have found that wearing remote controls can be pretty darn uncomfortable, but suit yourself.

Ingredients:

(warning: this is kind of salty)

8 boneless chicken breasts
8 slices of bacon
1 4oz. pkg. dried beef
1 can mushroom soup
1 c. sour cream
optional ~ slivered almonds

Directions:

Line flat baking dish with dried beef. Wrap each breast with a piece of bacon. Arrange chicken on beef. Mix soup and sour cream well. Pour over chicken. Bake uncovered at 325* for 2 hours or until chicken is done. Sprinkle almonds last 30 minutes if desired.

Thanks for making this a fun little meme again this year. Happy Cooking! Good luck to the apron contestants!

The REAL Friday's Fave Five

The reason I said, "The REAL Friday's Fave Five" is because I accidentally published half a post yesterday. Aye carumba. I've only been at this blogging thing four years, and this week I managed to both mess up my Mr. Linky for Random Dozen AND accidentally publish a post too early.

I don't catches on too fastly?











Here we are at Friday again already! Here's my list of faves this week. Go see Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to link up and read. Happy weekend to ya.

1. New Camera
It's not fancy, but compared to the one I was using which probably manufactured when Kennedy and Krischev duked it out, it's a real thrill. And it's pink, which is kinda cute. It's the first colored techie thing I've owned since toy radios and record players when I was a kid.











2. My kid who turned 17 last Saturday. At lunch that day, she announced, "I can go to R rated movies now." And then she saw my face and remembered that the Law of Home often trumps the law of the land.

Then she said, "Next year I will be 18, a legal adult." And I said, "Yes, and that also means that the bad things you do today might get you a slap on the wrist, but next year, they will send you to jail."

I'm such an inspiration to my children.

3. Spending time with the boy and his new girlfriend. This is new territory for him and for us. We're muddling through it OK, I think. She's still hanging in there, anyway! Here they are looking at the scrapbooks I made for him when he graduated high school.


4. My favorite veteran, my dad. Here are my parents in 1942. Next month they will be married 67 years.

5. Christmas music. Yes, I allowed myself the privilege of beginning this week. When it 32* here yesterday, I demanded the right, in spite of protesters everywhere on FB and blogs. BTW, Hall and Oates have a Christmas album. :)

Random Dozen # 11

1. What was the last song you listened to?

Barely Breathing by Duncan Sheik. It's the first one on my playlist below. Love, love, love this clever song.

2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything?

Yes, "irresistible" impulse sale items. Or souvenirs. Souvenirs are the worst! Or maybe I just pick bad ones. And items with Yorkies on them bring out the kid in me, but I have finally stopped that (on the outside, not on the inside.)

3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing)

I'm thankful one of my boyfriends broke my heart so that I didn't end up with him. Turns out it would have been a fate worse than death.

4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year? If so, do you have a favorite float or balloon?

I'm usually cooking as well as trying to watch, but I do enjoy Snoopy and Garfield. If only they would make a giant Yorkie parade balloon. Wait, I didn't say that.

5. Share a quote, scripture, poem or lyric which has been an inspiration to you lately.

Our faith and our friendships are not shattered by one big act, but by many small neglects.-- J. Gustav White

6. This is meant to be a fun question, and this is a G-rated blog, but please share a “guilty pleasure,” something that you enjoy that’s probably not the most edifying, time-worthy or healthy thing you could be indulging in. Did I mention this blog is rated G?

Some of my music is so bad, but I love it. Case in point: the music of WHAM. Yes, it's on my Playlist.
Facebook
Caramel Apple Spice Cinnamon Dolce syrup in cider.

7. What Thanksgiving food are you looking forward to?

Dressing (or stuffing, depending on your region)and mashed potatoes. Carbs = holiday happiness.

8. What is your favorite book to read to children, or what was your favorite childhood book?

I wrote about my favorite childhood book here called The Snowman's Christmas Present by Irma Wilde. And I loved reading all kinds of books to my kids; it was a daily favorite activity. I'll choose one, though, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.











9. Do you collect anything? (Feel free to post a photo.)

No, but I kind of wish I collected the Willow Tree figurines. However, this is not likely due the "souvenir/tchotchke" factor mentioned above. And I want you to really like that answer because I had to go through a lot of Google searches to find the correct spelling of "tchotchke" at 4:42 am.

10. Gift bags or wrapping paper?

I use the bags a lot, but I prefer paper on packages.

11. Share an after-school memory from when you were younger. What was your routine like on an average day?

In high school, I would come in the back door (required by Mom) take off my shoes (required) carry my back pack to my room (required) go to the restroom, get a glass of Hawaiian Punch and watch Merv Griffin. After that, it was usually homework. I was a good student, but I had my priorities.

12. True story: Once, in a job interview, I was asked this question and told there would be no clarifying; I simply had to answer the question: “When you’re fishing, do you feel for the fish?” So what about you? Do you feel for the fish??

Quickly I tried to decipher the hidden meaning in the question, such as:

Does it hurt a fish to hook it? If I say yes, it shows compassion.
But what if it's caught by a net? Suffocation, still not loads of laughs for fish.
What if she means do you wave your hand around in the water (feeling) trying to grasp a fish?
What if she's talking about recruiting members and I say yes and the correct answer is "Use all means possible to get customers in here, including nets and hooks in the jaw?"

Bizarre.

I said yes but he interviewer didn't comment on my answer at all. I truly have no idea what that was all about because it was for a Weight Watchers job, not a deckhand position on an industrial fishing boat or the lobster killer job at Long John Silver's.

But I got the job. And I never put hooks in the clients' mouths to keep them from eating or anything because I'm so compassionate and feel for the fish and everything.

Thanks for playing this week!

I've Heard You Have Some Randomness to Share??

1. What was the last song you listened to?

2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything?

3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing)

4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year? If so, do you have a favorite float or balloon?

5. Share a quote, scripture, poem or lyric which has been an inspiration to you lately.

6. This is meant to be a fun question, and this is a G-rated blog, but please share a “guilty pleasure,” something that you enjoy that’s probably not the most edifying, time-worthy or healthy thing you could be indulging in. Did I mention this blog is rated G?

7. What Thanksgiving food are you looking forward to?

8. What is your favorite book to read to children, or what was your favorite childhood book?

9. Do you collect anything? (Feel free to post a photo.)

10. Gift bags or wrapping paper?

11. Share an after-school memory from when you were younger. What was your routine like on an average day?

12. True story: Once, in a job interview, I was asked this question and told there would be no clarifying; I simply had to answer the question: “When you’re fishing, do you feel for the fish?” So what about you? Do you feel for the fish??

Now let's get crazy and link up!

Preview of this Week's Random Dozen and the Friend Who Shall Remain Nameless

But I'll call her, "Lois." And no, Lois is not me. But both Lois stories are absolutely true.

Lois had a gyno appointment. When she took her morning shower, she hurried so that she wouldn't be late. After toweling off, she grabbed her daughter's lotion and applied it before she dressed and quickly left.

At the office, Lois was completely prepped for the exam, and you know exactly what I mean.

The doctor walks in, greets her, assumes his position and appears to be taken aback.

"Well," he says, "I see that you got all dolled up for me today."

Stunned by this weird statement, Lois thought maybe she was one of the statistics who finds out that her gyno is a perv.

But then he explained that Lois was extra shiny all over, in fact, sparkly--unbeknownst to Lois, her daughter's lotion was glitter lotion.

****************
Another true Lois story:

Lois was driving through a DQ with two teenage daughters, and in the midst of ordering, became tongue tied.

After several attempts to pronounce the item correctly and be heard through the speaker, she slowed her speech and clearly requested:

"That's two Penis-Buster Parfaits." (Peanut Buster Parfait)

Her daughters are still in therapy.

****************

Not a Lois story but DQ related: Another "friend" whose name starts with "L" (wink, wink) was at a drive through and asked her kids what they wanted. Her 10 year old son reading the menu replied, "I want a brassiere burger." (Brazier Burger).

Who knew the DQ menu could be so racy?

***************

**NOTE: This is a Preview brought to you by the 2nd Cup Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a Preview. Should this be the actual day to link up your post, you would receive an announcement advising you to post, link at your earliest opportunity and run to a nearby shelter. However, this is only a preview. Tomorrow is D-Day.**

1. What was the last song you listened to?

2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything?

3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing)

4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year? If so, do you have a favorite float or balloon?

5. Share a quote, scripture, poem or lyric which has been an inspiration to you lately.

6. This is meant to be a fun question, and this is a G-rated blog, but please share a “guilty pleasure,” something that you enjoy that’s probably not the most edifying, time-worthy or healthy thing you could be indulging in. Did I mention--G rating?

7. What Thanksgiving food are you looking forward to?

8. What is your favorite book to read to children, or what was your favorite childhood book?

9. Do you collect anything? (Feel free to post a photo.)

10. Gift bags or wrapping paper?

11. Share an after-school memory from when you were younger. What was your routine like on an average day?

12. True story: Once, in a job interview, I was asked this question and told there would be no clarifying; I simply had to answer the question: “When you’re fishing, do you feel for the fish?” So what about you? When you're fishing, do you feel for the fish??

Fall Into Flavor Week #4-One Week Left!

I can hear her now: "Look at this. Mmm--MM! Sweet Po-tay-ta Cassa-rohl! HAHAAHHA!"

That's my Paula Deen impression in text. Kind of loses something in translation, doesn't it.

Anyway, this is not a PD recipe, but it's so good it would make her launch into that attestation above.

If you've always made candied yams or sweet potatoes one way, you might consider this recipe for Thanksgiving. Then again, your family might shoot you if you've got a traditional recipe that must not be tainted.

So try this at your own risk, but it's the best way I've ever had them, including those of my growing up years. And wait until you see how simple it is!

Ingredients:
40 oz canned yams, mashed
3/4 stick butter or marg.
2 eggs, beaten
1 t. cinnamon
1 c. milk
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 T. cornstarch

Topping:
1 c. crushed cornflakes
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. coconut
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Directions:
Mix all ingredients for the casserole. Spread in 9 x 13" pan and baked at 400* for 15 mins. or until thickened.
Meanwhile, melt butter over low heat in a saucepan. Mix all topping ingredients, add to butter and mix again.
After the casserole bakes 15 mins, spread topping over and bake another 15-20 minutes. Keep an eye on the topping so that it doesn't burn.

So ... whatcha got cookin' for us this week?

She's 17 Today--I'm Still Holding On

Newborn



5 Years Old



Middle School



Even after they grow too big for your lap, you still hold them in your heart.



Happy Birthday, Kristin!

I'm Answering the Random Today

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?

I confess that I have run it before. If I feel very vulnerable and scared at 2:00AM, I might do it. Otherwise, I am a rule-follower.

2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?

Hmmm. Eat less, move more.

3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)

This was a set-up question for my own research. I never quite know how to handle responding. How do I know how the commenter will most likely see my reply? If it's more of a sensitive issue than the usual, I like to reply via email, but not everyone has her address on her profile.

On FB, I comment right under their comments because I know they will receive a notice saying that I have added a comment. Leave it to humans who have a less than stellar record of communicating face to face to come up with a way to make communication even more fuzzy!

4. Your favorite Disney movie is:

Robin Hood. Ooo de lolly, ooo de lolly, golly what a day.

5. Do you recycle?

I'm trying. I got some bags and everything. (fail)

6. Games of strategy or games of chance?

Strategic word games. Not Chess or Checkers or Stratego--they're spin-offs of math/logic. WORDS. They're the language I speak.

7. Do you have any recurring dreams?

Yes. Several times a year I dream that I'm with a group of people, usually family, and someone has died, but no one but me seems to comprehend the gravity of the situation. I keep asking people to call 911 or the mortuary, but they just seem to want to sit around leisurely drinking Mint Juleps and fanning themselves. I end up raising my voice, and still they just look at me like, "What's the big deal? We'll get around to it." There have been times when I've had to load the body up in my car and deliver it, and let me tell you, I was not a happy camper.

8. What did you learn from your first real job?

I learned:
Which parts of a chicken are which
That people really do eat livers and gizzards
That restaurants are not clean
That girls who act like friends can be mean
That not everyone treats you like Grandma and Grandpa do
That paychecks are small, very small

As you can see, I have been able to apply many of these lessons to Life, most especially at a picnic when doling out the exact pieces of chicken that people are requesting. I'm the only one who does this with 100% confidence and the intrepidness of an army General. I control the bucket of chicken because I earned that right when I was 16.

9. Do you buy or borrow most books?

Well, I borrow most, but this is a sore subject. I have a love/hate relationship with my library that I'm going to post about someday. Let's just say that right now, my face is probably on the "most wanted" poster behind the Reference Librarian's desk. I may be a library criminal, but it's in the vein of the more noble criminals like Robin Hood or Bonnie Parker of Bonnie and Clyde. I'll spill it--sing like a canary--someday, Mac, when I get the chance. (I watched a Bogart movie this weekend.)

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?

Flares. I almost got sick to my stomach when they first started to come back in, but when they were no longer trendy for the 2nd time, THEN I jumped on the bandwagon.

As an aside, when I went shopping yesterday, I noticed huge cowl necks are back (70s) and shirts with a metallic thread running through them. In my high school sophomore pic, I have on a cowl neck with a fabric scarf tied in knots at the ends wrapped around my neck. Deja vu.

11. When do you start Christmas shopping?

Why did I bring this up? *Palm-Face* I would say I usually start around November 1, but it's a slow start. The older the kids get, the less fun it is, too. It's not as fun to buy an Ipod as a battery-operated dog that does back flips.

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?

1. The first time I made the cheerleading squad.
2. When Jorge and I knew that he was offered a "real" job after graduation, which meant we could forge ahead with wedding plans.
3. When I won the local bridal sweepstakes contest that year.
4. When Jorge bought me a Camaro.
5. When Clinton Kelly emailed me.
6. When I met a goal weight.
7. When my son's high school soccer team won the sectional.

Random Dozen #10

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
5. Do you recycle?
6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
8. What did you learn from your first real job?
9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?

OK, now let's link up 1970 square dance style and share the Random Dozen fun!

Let's Talk Toilets & Preview This Week's Random Dozen

I don't have much confidence in home decorating. You all know that when I choose a wallpaper or paint or buy a lamp or a rooster statue, you usually read me asking in a whiny voice, "Does this look OK ...? Which one would you choose?"

But now I never have to worry again about how to decorate the most troublesome spot in my home: the toilet.

What? You too?

Yes, how many times have you stood in the threshold of your bathroom, cocked your head and said, "Something's missing ... something's just not right ... OH, I know what it is! I need a toilet poster!

Well now we can breathe a collective sigh of relief, no pun intended. The Wow Toilet has just the flair for you and me.

The ad says, "Does your toilet look this boring?" and there it is--a big ol' white boring toilet just like mine. How did they know??

Check out the Wow Toilet and tell me which design you like best.

I think my toilet would totally rock the salamander on bamboo selection.

In other toilet news, what is up with these wimpy water-saving toilets that won't flush anything bigger than a garbanzo?? It's like they made all the new toilets for rabbit dens.

I was at Lowe's recently looking for a kitchen faucet, but I glimpsed some power flushers that had a crazy name like, "Big John," and I thought, "That's exactly what we need." Seriously. We have one clog a day, at least. But les power toilettes, ils sont tres expensive.

Guess I'll have to add old fashioned power flushers to the nostalgic list of things I miss from childhood, along with Jiffy Pop and transistor radios.

I did see one ad for a garbage disposal for the toilet.

Mental image = Ew.

And now here's your preview for the post you will link to here tomorrow:

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
5. Do you recycle?
6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
8. What did you learn from your first real job?
9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?

Come back to tomorrow to link your answers!

Pepper & Fall Into Flavor

Recently a friend shared about her toddler grandson who stuck part of a crayon up his nose.

(To the mom of this toddler I say, "Be of good courage; this stage lasts but a short time, and then in the blink of an eye, he will wreck your car.")

A quick-thinking relative told them to put pepper under his nose so that he would sneeze the crayon out.

To be honest, when she got to that part of the story, I was a nay-sayer because pepper never makes me sneeze when I cook, but it worked, and they avoided a trip to the ER.

So I was telling Kristin about this as I was cooking, and we decided to try it.

She sniffed first and had quite a sneezy facial expression but never sneezed.

Then I sniffed it, still talking about how it never makes me sneeze.

About the time I finished that sentence, I cut loose a sneeze that felt like it had drilled a hole through the earth from China, shot up into my feet and slammed into my nasal passages.

And then, you know what happened next.

So I RAN to the bathroom, tripping over Zoe who was barking and going crazy because I was sort of "barking" and going crazy myself.

Yeah, so after a few moments I returned and began the whole seasoning process again, a humbled and cranky middle aged woman, victim of her own pepper assault.

And so now we're all in the mood to cook. Let's Fall Into Flavor.



The holidays often mean carry-ins. A co-worker brings these Wonton Sausage Flowers to our carry-ins, and we snarf them down like only a church staff can.

Wonton Sausage Flowers

Ingredients:
24 wonton wrappers
1 pkg of bulk pork sausage
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. green pepper
1 clove garlic
1 3oz pkg cream cheese, softened
2 T. Chopped green onions.
Cheddar cheese for sprinkling

How to:

1. Oven 350*. Lightly grease miniature muffin pan.
2. Cook sausage, onion, green pepper, celery and garlic. Drain. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in cream cheese.
4. Press wontons into muffin pan so that edges extend over top of well.
5. Place 1 T. of sausage mixture into each wonton.
6. Bake 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown.
7. Transfer to platter and dollop each with cheddar cheese.

Let's link up!