Happy Monday my Friends!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Even amongst such crazy times. We had a nice one here. I made the full meal and it was just the kiddos and I. They got together with their Dad later on and I sent food with them. I then brought food to my Mom and wore a mask the whole time and visited with her a bit while she enjoyed her meal. The kids have been working for their Dad, and he's still in a public environment. With the ways the numbers are up I felt better to be extra safe for my Mom and that's why I didn't have her come and eat with us.
Then this weekend was spent cleaning, shampooing carpets, and hauling out Christmas stuff. Yay! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...🎶🎼
🎄 🛎 🦌 🎁 🎅 ⛪ 👼
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING
I made a special breakfast for my sweet home schooling girl this morning and made chocolate croissants. I had croissant dough to use up and filled them with semi sweet chocolate chips, brushed with cream and sprinkled on sugar before baking. I might have naughtily had 2 of these along with my coffee for breakfast. 😉
HOW I AM FEELING THIS MORNING:
I'm feeling a bit sore, but very happy with all that was accomplished this weekend. I have yet to get the downstairs tree up. The kiddos helped me haul some things and we'll decorate that one together because it has all the family ornaments on it. I've also accomplished quite a bit of Christmas shopping already! Mostly online sadly. I plan to get a bit more done today and will even start wrapping gifts this week and getting them under the tree. I think just being in the festive spirit helps life to feel a bit more normal.
ON MY MIND:
The world, as always. Wanting my older relatives to be especially safe. Wondering about how the holidays will even work this year? But leaving a lot in God's hands and not dwelling or letting worry get to me.
I was chatting with Scott today and helping him with ideas for his daughter. I think they're going to try to come for a visit in a few weeks so we can do Christmas with them during his weeks off. ♥️
AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I still have some bins to haul back out to the garage. Dishes to do. But overall things look bright and festive and decorated around here. It makes me happy 😊
CURRENTLY READING
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan. It's all about the relationship between C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman - the woman that would become his wife. I hope to finish it up this week.
ON THE TV TODAY:
HGTV shows, holiday baking shows, American Housewife, Greys Anatomy, The Spanish Queen, The Good Doctor, Mad Men, Great British Baking Show, The Undoing, The Bachelorette, The Crown, Hallmark movies
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY - leftover turkey tetrazzini and that will be the last of the turkey gone! Salad
TUESDAY - not sure yet? Maybe something easy from the freezer?
WEDNESDAY - caramelized pineapple chicken tacos with red pepper crema (HF meal)
THURSDAY - nacho mac and cheese with tortilla chip crust & sour cream (HF meal)
FRIDAY - soy glazed chicken with broccoli and buttery rice (HF easy tray meal)
*I have eggnog to use up - so might bake eggnog cookies this week
**Also, wanted to share that one of the ways I used up leftover turkey this weekend was to make thanksgiving tortilla pizzas with it. May sound weird, but the kids agreed they were yummy!
First I brushed tortillas with olive oil and baked at 400*for about 3- 5 mins. Took them out smeared on a layer of leftover mashed potatoes, a bit of gravy, pieces of turkey and shredded cheddar cheese.
Then back in to bake for another 5 mins until cheese was melted.
Served some cranberry and leftover salad on the side. It was really good!
TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:
Just sit with all the lights off but the Christmas tree and twinkly ones around the house and listen to soft Christmas music and sip some cocoa or creamy chai tea. Tradition my daughter and I have loved for years. Read, work on a secret homemade gift for Scott, wrap presents while watching hallmark movie, bake cookies
FROM THE CAMERA:
For thanksgiving this year I cut a couple corners, but made most of the things I always make from scratch, I still did. I love cutting up and toasting my own bread (I did white & sourdough this year) for dressing. I sort of made up a recipe long ago and it's so good! I'll put it on here one of these days so I have the recipe here. I also always make a big pan of PW's make ahead pan of mashed potatoes and they are a trillion calories but so yummy! And they make things much more convenient on Thanksgiving day so I can watch the parade. Lol And I made Chef John's pumpkin pie this year. You can look it up under that. It's a bit more rich (3 egg yolks!) than other ones but it's got lots of spice which I love and is very creamy. I didn't do the Chines 5 spice it said in the recipe, and did ground cloves for that part instead. It was fabulous!
Back to feeding the birdies now that there isn't a black bear issue for the season. Lol PS: my fella and his daughter MADE those suncatchers for me because they know I love stained glass 💕
God sure never fails to stun with the sunsets around here
Thought I'd share a bit of my holiday decorating in the daylight:
And the twinkly time at night:
Caught this shot outside before I had fully decorated it
Really looking like Christmas around my northwoodsy home 🏡 ✨ 🎄
PRAYER LIST:
I pray for an end to this virus. For peace, healing and unity in our world. I pray for anyone sick, suffering, isolated, and afraid - for their peace and comfort. Please Lord give strength to those fighting the virus on the frontlines. 🙏