Cole's Thanksgiving

Just sharing the pictures from our Thanksgiving...Enjoy! We did!

These are our place settings...little pilgrim ships. They have everyone's name on the sail AND M & M's in the ship. They were delicious. They were made by the efforts of Julie, Kylie and Nana. Nana decorated the tables. Beautiful!

This is the FOOD table before the food is on it.

This is Kylie's decorating ideas....props provided by Nana.
oh, back to the eating table

Time to eat!

We had 2 tables. All in one room. Worked out great.

The other table.

The food table FILLED with the food!

I'll describe what you see from the back and left to right:

mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce

Turkey, gravy (middle-ish), green beans (made with fresh beans!), pomegranate jello, plain red jello, ham

The turkey. Thank you.

Another view of the table

The other table.

Teo, entertaining himself.

That is Silvia sitting by Christopher. Silvia is Gil's cousin.

Hmm...did I not take a picture of the DESSERT table?? How strange of me...

It was filled with delicious items. Sad you missed seeing it.

We had a great time.

If you were not on these pictures, PLEASE post pictures of YOUR Thanksgiving!

Lettuce be Thankful

Growing lettuce in NOVEMBER in Arcadia, CA. Beans are right over there, out of the photo. I'll tell you how our salad is in a couple of months.

Lost phone...New phone!

Ok! After keeping my old phone with its missing back piece for 5 years I truly lost it...unless SOMEONE decided to throw it away and not tell me...so I have a new phone! But almost all my numbers were lost so please send me your numbers. At least one from EVERY family...more if you want to!

And while I am communicating - here is a message for all family still in Salt Lake for Thanksgiving - Can we get together for some pie later this evening? You know me...queen of the last minute! We have movies and food and philosophy to discuss!

I love you all! Happy Thanksgiving to all...and to all a Good Night!
Tatia

P.S. In case you have lost my number - here are a few clues...
Begin with the last two digits of the year I was born
Then the household cleaner I use
and finally, the age I wish to be when I am resurrected!

Thanksgiving Menu!!!

OK. My girls all like to watch cooking shows on TV, so when we realized we were NOT going to St. George for Thanksgiving Haley went online and found some new recipes for us to try...Here is our Thanksgiving menu:

Foolproof Turkey Breast by Guy Fieri

I just made a brine with kosher salt, brown sugar,
molasses, fresh sage leaves and peppercorns (lots of water).
It smells divine. Tomorrow we will rub the turkey
with lots of different spices and lemon zest...

Honey Glazed Roasted Vegetables:
the glaze is made of olive oil, honey, fresh thyme sprigs
and sherry vinegar...




Browned Butter and Hazelnut Mashed Potatoes - I also have to make some of Nana's mashed potes for Sophia!


Green Beans sauteed with lemon and garlic


Haley wanted Stuffed Sweet potatoes with Pecan and Marshmellow streusel (a recipe by Tyler Florence) but was ultimately overruled and so we will be going with Allysa's sliced yams with pecans, cranberries, and maple syrup.

I found a Poached Pear, Macadamia, and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese recipe from Food and Wine Magazine. I have to poach the pears
today in red wine, sugar, lemon peel, anise seeds,
a cinnamon stick and a vanilla bean!

And finally the Stuffing....courtesy of Stove Top mixed with applesauce. It really is Delicious!

For dessert, Haley wanted Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Spicy Caramel Apple Sauce and Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise ( recipe by Bobby Flay) and Chocolate, Chestnut and Orange Trifle by Giada. We are going with Apple Crisp and Pumpkin Pie!
Oh! The kids are also making a Turkey Gobbler for a centerpiece/appetizer.
What are you eating?

Just Wondering?

Are You Smart?

If yes, then spell it in the comment section!

So Photogenic!

Look what I found while looking for pictures of Zak as a baby??
Kind of gross and shocking.
I remember Mom saying it wasn't too painful....
She is a brave woman. Remember this picture?

No one made a better witch. You are the standard!!

The Christmas Tree!!

Nana and Bumpa have their Christmas tree up. We have ornaments for all the children. Here are a few. . .

Here's the top of the tree, very beautiful.

Here is Griffin's snowman and Katys tiny shoe that she wore first.

Here is the 'cut glass' Angel that is hanging for C&G's baby girl.

Here is the bear that Steven made in sixth grade for his "home ec class. He has been on my tree since Stevens sixth grade!

Julie wore a yellow ski outfit when she first started to ski. She became a fabulous skier.

Here is the sock monkey for Teo. He loves Curious George as did Tanner.

Here is Kylie's little angel. Been on my tree for 10 or 11 yrs.

Wow! Christopher has been on my tree for over 25 yrs!!

This is Tatia's. She is an Alligator Mom!!

Here is Quinn. He is a red bear! Rather appropriate, huh?

Zak IS A new red delightful sock! His old ornament was damaged with the broken water pipe in the garage at Oakhill.

Here is a new red stiletto! It represents Jessa, another one represents Mo, and I have to buy two more as they suit Allysa and Haley better that their old ones!

Remember Joshua Mudgeon? who was supposed to be our second son. But, alas, he never came! So he remains an Angel on our tree every year.

I actually bought this iridescent tree for Morgan this year but even tho I have not conversed with her - I am thinking she wants to be a gorgeous high-heel!

This angel went on the tree when Katy was born.

This next little angel is "Mimi". I hope you all know the story because I am getting very tired.

At last, the jumping frog that represents CMP diving into the pool when she was just 18 mos. I know you think I am exaggerating but NO. She squatted down just like a little frog, then jumped into the pool head first and swam underneath the water!! I wish we had had a video of her doing that!! I know I still have Adam's silver apple, Tim's Tiger, at the top of the tree, Mat's flying donkey that I love for it represents many things to me. Haley's "Bunnies" and Chase's polar bear and Allysa's ballet shoes (she was always going to be a dancer and wear 'piple') and Jenna's little dolly, and Daniel used to be Winnie the Poo but now is the gorgeously attired reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh. Bethany's custom made ornament has been on the tree since she was born and meant everything in the world to me But I have just worn myself out and cannot bear another picture. I love you all.

Cold Sores 411

I went to the Doctor today and had a long conversation with her about cold sores which I found very frustrating and disheartening. So in my need to vent I will share with you all of the information I now know.

1. Cold sores are a virus.

2. Once you get this virus, it NEVER goes away. It stays in your body forever. You can NEVER get rid of it. (It is also a type of Herpes.)

3. The virus will come and go as it pleases. You CANNOT prevent it. THERE IS NO CURE! Which means all those medications and over the counter topical ointments only treat the symptom. They do nothing to limit the cold sore itself.

4. Also the cold sore will run it's course whether or not you use any medication, it matters NOT. Put alot of stuff on your mouth, or don't. The cold sore doesn't care.

5. Outbreaks can occur through stress or low immune system. So stopped getting stressed and don't get sick anymore.

6. You can get rid of your toothbrush after a cold sore, but because the virus remains in your body, it will still come back anyway.

7. There is one medication that "maybe" can help - it is mostly used for shingles. But, again, it only treats the symptom not the cold sore itself. AND it only lessens the length of time by a day or two. Meaning, if your cold sore has a 7 day recovery cycle, this medication might make it 5 or 6 days. What is the point???

I'm not sure I feel better. Still aggravating. I hope you found my info useful. Oh - don't kiss someone with a cold sore because then YOU will have cold sores for life too. Yuck!

For Nana: This Little Light of Mine

This Little Light of Mine from The Lower Lights on Vimeo.

I know you love this song, Mom.

Enjoy!

Have you SLC people heard of this band, The Lower Lights?

I had not. They sound great.

Here's a little show info:

http://thelowerlights.com/shows/

**Note: I hated to push down my previous post, but for Nana, I did. Now, keep clicking down and read about what I read.

Nice Title, Ken

For all of you Ken Follett Fans - I slogged through this 985 page book. Now here is my review:

The story would have been fine to good, in a 350 page book. It was like reading a history book! Ok, Ken, I know you researched and you like WW1. I finished the book because I usually really like Ken Follett (Pillars of the Earth; one of my favorites). I thought it would get better. I hated to quit just before it “caught on”. Really, if you like the first 200 pages, then you will like the book. It is a HUGE story of WAY too many characters. The writing is fine, but not luscious. I didn’t slurp up his sentences. I didn’t find myself reading parts allowed to Kerry. I did find myself skipping all the long and boring conversations between people talking about how the war was moving on; and war strategies. That helped me finish the book. There are TWO more books like this coming. What a drag.

And one more fallen Author: Sophi Kinsella.

I have LOVED all of her shopaholic books. I was so excited to read this one.

This one I just could not stomach even though it was the same character. She now has a daughter that is terribly spoiled; a husband that does not seem to connect. He only seems to connect with his business. She seems like an idiot mother, unaware and raising a daughter that will be a menace to society. Then there was the language. I just can’t read that. Can’t even think of parents speaking that way to each other in a most casual way. Really, disgusting. I stopped reading it. I did skip huge hunks to get a gist of the story; that was only ok. It wasn’t even a nice try.

I hope I have saved you all some wasted reading time. Although I wonder if I would have believed it if I had read it on a blog. Give them a try if you want and let me know what you think.

Oh - and Kerry just read the new John Grisham, The Confession. He didn't think that was the greatest either. I am not picking that up either.

I AM currently reading this book: The Book Thief

I am really enjoying it!

Different sort of book, different perspective. I AM reading parts aloud to Kerry (although I know that is not his favorite thing, sometimes I read something that is SO good, I have to share it).

It is about WWII; Nazis, Jewish, German, orphans, survival. Really, it's good.