Thanksgiving Feasting From My House...

                                                      My Gram's Cranberry Jello Salad. I love that I read the recipe from her handwriting on this recipe card. I have a whole file box of these cards... I'm thankful to have a remembrance of her at my Thanksgiving table. She was a special lady! Domestic Engineer  extrodinare! Her house was always quaint and lovely. Her food was delicious. I strive to have the same said about me.

This was taken before it was completely set hence the bubbles...

Seating for 12, Clarice kitty photo bomb lol....

Our feast... I made all of the sides myself, from scratch.

My Pilgrims and Indians...

It has been a crazy week. Cooking and cleaning and organizing and carrying food back and forth to the garage refrigerator. Now that Thanksgiving is over, the arduous task of switching the seasonal decor to Christmas is pending. Here I go...I'll start with a Christmas song here is a linkThe Christmas Song written by Nat Kinghttp://youtu.be/4RSh95IyQQQ Colec

I hope you are enjoying this long weekend. Feasting on Thanksgiving dinner leftovers and pies!

A SoundCloud Day

Something More Than Nothing

I'll Be Home For Christmas

Lost In The Game

Working on perfecting my originals and my latest cover that I arranged...

It's a SoundCloud Day... I really wish that I was good enough at this to get paid! Or at least find /gain some fans lol.

If I could be good enough to get paid my life would change drastically... If I were good enough I could...
Feel better about my contribution to my family... I would feel my own power coming back to me. I could feel empowered and heard! I would be able to start saving for the retirement that I don't have because I stayed home and raised my family. 401K's don't exisit for homemakers...

I would enjoy knowing that I can make it on my own if I need to! I can only imagine what it would be like to make enough money to feel capable of making it on my own.

I'm sure my grown kids would get the biggest kick out of watching Mom succeed in something for herself! I bet they would be just amazed. I'm sure Zoe would be in shock. She has watched me this past year try very hard to do " Something More Than Nothing ". She knows that I'm making a real effort. I don't know what she really feels or thinks about it. Given her age, I bet it embarrases her!  I'm careful not to impose much of this on my family. My husband doesn't get nor does he like my music. He has told me this. I let it go in one ear and out the other... Musical taste is subjective. I only play when he is at work. Kind of my secret life... He chooses to not want to be bothered with it and well, that's fine. He doesn't believe in my ability to make anything with music happen for me... If Zi got paid he would probably pass out. He's so sure that I can't do anything it propels me into to wishing/pushing like hell to show him that I can!

I haven't a clue as to what I can do to promote myself and see... I wouldn't know where to start... Who to approach, how to play the game. If anyone has any help for me on this please message me here in the comments section! I can't tell you how much I would appreciate the help!

What Does It Cost To Be Comfortable And Pain Free

Modern day dentistry... I have plenty to say about my experience as a kid with dental work. I was one brave kid and just went with it,  fillings and getting baby teeth pulled. Years and years of ortho only to have it slip and move on me. Amalgam fillings need I say more? All of the fillings that I had done when I was young need to be redone. So I am having to spend a lot of money and time in the dentist chair. I am so annoyed by this. It is so costly that I have put work that needs to be done off until, I am in pain. Not a wise plan I can see as I await, sitting in a dental chair.

I guess I should be greatful to have some dental insurance. It still amazes me how much just one tooth can cost to have fixed. Ugh! Money, money, money makes the world go round. If you don't have money you have to go into debt just to get out of pain. The valuation on certain professions and services just amazes me. The things that we as consumers are stuck having to pay extreme amounts of money for. Tooth pain is diffently something that has to be dealt with! Theyv'e got us on this and they know it! So we will pay...Critic's Choice written by Chicago

Here is a song about critics... Maybe can also apply to dentists? ..lol. No, mine is a nice man. An expensive nice man who can smile all the way to the bank... Enjoy my money, to be out of pain may be worth it!

Garlicy Mac and Cheese Casserole... My New Creation?

                                I have found that these are a nice topping for a lot of things...
I was so excited to find this baking dish today. I bought it at Michael's craft store. They had a  50% off sale on their harvest inventory. I bought this lovely orange baking dish for just $4.99! It is a lovely find, a new treasure that I'm excited to own. I love a good bargain! This cleaned up nicely and will be ready to use again on Thanksgiving for my candied yams.

                                          This is a variation on traditional Mac and Cheese. I boiled a package of small elbow macaroni noodles until they were almost soft. About 7-8 min. After boiling them, I rinsed the noodles with cold water.

While the noodles were boiling, I minced probably 4 tablespoons of garlic. I satueed these in 2 teaspoons of butter. Set aside.

Grate 3 cups of your favorite cheese, I used medium cheddar. Sharp could have been more distinct in flavor.
I also assembled my béchamel sauce. This is really easy... In a medium saucepan, heat 4 cups of milk to just a simmer and set aside-

*In heavy bottomed large pot, melt 1 stick of butter. Add 1/2 cup of flour to the melted butter and quickly wisk it. This will make a smooth thick sauce. Add the hot milk and wisk it all together. This will thicken. I added 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper to the béchamel.

I sprayed my baking dish with cooking spray for easier cleanup later... I poured the noodles into the baking dish, sprinkled granulated garlic and some parsley into the noodles. I folded the sauteed garlic into the noodles to disperse them evenly. Pour your béchamel sauce on top of the noodles. Stir just a bit to incorporate the sauce...

Lastly, I poured about a 1 1/4 cup of these fried onions into a ziplock bag. I took my heavy rolling pin and rolled it over the bag to ground the onions into crumbs. Evenly sprinkle the onions on top of your casserole. Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 23 min.  Let your casserole rest about 15-20 min.

Enjoy! We loved this and I will make it again! I may make it again for my Christmas party. Good ole comfort food...

Enjoy!

Roses Are Blooming With Temps Still In The Mid 80's!

In ways you would never guess that the holidays are right around the corner. It seems strange that we still have 80+ degree temps. I see Christmas in every store but the weather is incredibly nice here in Phoenix. These flowers are from my planter in the front yard.  I keep seeing news reports about people having to navigate in the snow. I guess we should be so greatful for this wonderful weather. I am enjoying the cooler nights and mornings. It does not however inspire or suggest that Christmas is coming...

I am however plugging along. I have a plan and some organization regarding gift giving. I am making progress with my goals for the holidays. I have gathered up my favorite few family recipes for the upcoming Thanksgiving feast. I will probably post some pics along the way with recipes. It seems as if recipe posts and pics are more interesting to all of you than my music videos... Lol well with me you will get both.

                                                         Alma Mater written by Chicago

Here is a SoundCloud... This is my most played SoundCloud post this week...
Don't Leave Me Now written by Roger Hodgson

I wonder why this is getting so many plays? This is not a very popular song, not a well known hit. Sometimes, I just want like to play. I lose myself in playing my keyboard. It's mindless sometimes... I don't have to think, no stress just me doing my "thing". What it is for me? Relaxing, rewarding and sometimes so gratifying! Spiritual even sometimes...

Combat Shopping? Decorating For Christmas Is More Fun!

It's almost time for this. I have been comparing prices of food for the past few days. I am planning on putting together gift platters for Christmas. I have in mind all that I want to include in these. I will post pics when I assemble them. I love planning and budgeting.

Like most cooks, I am gathering my recipes and planning out the Thanksgiving feast. I think that this year I will buy a prepared pumkin pie from Sam's Club. I always make pumpkin pie and I think it will be nice this year to enjoy a Sam's Club pumpkin pie. My daughter Britt raves about this store made pie. She keeps telling me how delicious it is. She makes wonderful pumpkin pie and if she says it's good, I trust her! I may however make a cherry pie just to have something for those who aren't crazy about pumpkin.

I will be most likely cooking for 12 of us. My Gram had some really great jello salad recipes so I always try to include one of those in our  big meal. Either a cranberry salad or a fun apricot jello salad with a unique cool whip topping that is topped with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. This one is my personal favorite... My Grammy Ruth was a wonderful cook and decorator. I admired and appreciated her efforts always.

I make my stuffing with celery, onion, mushrooms, cornbread, cream of mushroom soup and I throw in a handful of craisins. Delicious! My family asks me to make deviled eggs to add to our feast. I usually just bake yam rounds with butter and salt and pepper. I love fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes. I found a nice roll recipe in Ree Drummonds Year Of Holidays cookbook. I think I will keep it simple with steamed broccoli. I have made green bean casserole for years. I always end up throwing so much of that away that I decided to keep it simple this year. 

We will toast with wine and sparkling cider for the kids and non drinkers like me... Coffee and dessert will finish off the evening. Hopefully a nice walk around the neighborhood too. It is back into the 80's all this week. I know that much of this country is freezing their tails off. We are still overheating here lol. Waiting for cool weather! Not looking forward to having the oven on all day cooking my turkey in a small house when it is close to 90 degrees outside. 

Since we moved to AZ it has been my tradition to decorate for Christmas the weekend right after Thanksgiving. No shopping involved! The Phoenix area is crazy on Black Friday! I remember abolutely cracking up when my then 16 year old daughter Delcee and I tried to shop during the holiday season. Women were getting aggresive and pushy in an isle... Delcee looked at me and with an annoyed teenage look she exclaimed, " Combat Shopping! " OMG that was so funny to me. I couldn't quit laughing. It was just...funny and so insightful... Lol Combat Shopping... So, this taught us that shopping Black Friday in Phoenix is too frustrating. I would rather decorate anyway!

This was my other life...Single Mom of 3. Delcee was the youngest, Lexie in the middle and my oldest Britt. 

All of my lovely daughters will also be cooking for their families for Thanksgiving. I am a proud Mom! They all enjoy cooking, and are gifted with mad culinary skills lol! 

Lexie, Zoe and Delcee

Zoe and I a few months ago..

Britt with Baby Aaron and Adam

Britt with all of her kids...

This song reminds me of Thanksgiving.

Nous Vivons Ensemble written by Gordon Lightfoot

I'm Dreaming Tonight, Of A Place That I Love...

The last two days I have been working on writing an arrangement of the old Christmas standard, I'll Be Home For Christmas...
I'll Be Home For Christmas

I also posted a version of this on SoundCloud.
I'll Be Home For Christmas" SoundCloud "

 I have to say that this was a real challenge but also rewarding. I'm happy that I was able to take the time to learn this. Fun! I hope that is well recieved. It is a real twist on the original song. I hope it is still recognizable?

I'm thinking that I will learn another Christmas song to add to my channel. Any song choice suggestions?

Gram's Choir, Boy I Would Love To Do This!

This makes me laugh. Awful hair ... I want to redo this  video lol. It is what it is. However, I do like the arrangement that I came up with. The old standard with some different chord progressions...

My arrangement of, The Christmas Song

I was working on this last year at this time. I was so excited about it. I am trying to put together a couple more Christmas songs to post on my channel after Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to get my  7 G-kids to sing a song or two with me. I asked them if they want to be part of Grammy's choir. I am hoping that they will. I want them to sing the children's accompaniment on John Lennon's, So This Is Christmas. I can envision this. I want a YouTube video of me doing a Chistmas song with them! That would be so special to me! 

They are not close enough in miles to me, to make this easy. Everybody has busy schedules, it would be difficult to find the time. Still, it is something I would love to work with them on. We have a big Christmas party and I think it would be fun to sing a few songs with the kids. They would have an auidence and people enjoy hearing kids sing at Christmas. It would sure make me happy to do this with them!

Fall Has Finally Arrived In Phoenix!

Fall Is Finally Here In Phoenix!

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The cooler weather is finally here! It feels like fall here in Phoenix. At 7:00 am it is 55 degrees outside! This is amazing! This means I can jog when I want to! I’m not limited to working out in the early morning. We can spend evenings on the patio. I can plant flowers in the tree ring in the front
yard now. I can hack/ trim the big tall oleanders.

I put Halloween away which took hours to pack up properly. Thanksgiving is prevailing here now…

As many of you, I did some Christmas shopping over the weekend. It’s nice to get that figured out early when you have a big family. I do a little here and there for months before Christmas. I have ideas and lists. I do this to keep the cost down while still having a nice season. As I said in a earlier post, I see why QVC and catalog companies hit you up for Christmas item spending so early. For those of us who try to budget our holiday spending. Just as with shopping sales and comparison shopping, you have to be organized.

The presents that I buy are not grand, just well thought out and presentation is key. So I make homemade tags with each G-kids name to put around the stuffed animals necks. And adorn presents
with candy-canes, nice bows cutesy stuff. I love to buy the G-kids new PJ’s for Christmas. That has been my tradition every year. Along with a few little toys or a stocking filled with little things… 

Zoe and I are making homemade bread in little loaf pans to give to friends, relatives and neighbors. I bought some Dickson’s pepper jelly spread as a gift to go with the bread. Also, regular fruit jams will
be added to the gift platters. I chose bread as a theme this year. My Uncle Ed loved to bake bread and he gave me a recipe for his special olive loaf shortly before he passed away this year. My way of honoring his memory I guess. I will sure miss him this Christmas!

Love you Uncle Ed!!

I put Halloween away which took hours to pack up properly. Thanksgiving is prevailing here now…

As many of you, I did some Christmas shopping over the weekend. It’s nice to get that figured out early when you have a big family. I do a little here and there for months before Christmas. I have ideas and lists. I do this to keep the cost down while still having a nice season. As I said in a earlier post, I see why QVC and catalog companies hit you up for Christmas item spending so early. For those of us who try to budget our holiday spending. Just as with shopping sales and comparison shopping, you have to be organized.

The presents that I buy are not grand, just well thought out and presentation is key. So I make homemade tags with each G-kids name to put around the stuffed animals necks. And adorn presents with candy-canes, nice bows cutesy stuff. I love to buy the G-kids new PJ’s for Christmas. That has been my tradition every year. Along with a few little toys or a stocking filled with little things… 

Zoe and I are making homemade bread in little loaf pans to give to friends, relatives and neighbors. I bought some Dickson’s pepper jelly spread as a gift to go with the bread. Also, regular fruit jams will be added to the gift platters. I chose bread as a theme this year. My Uncle Ed loved to bake bread and he gave me a recipe for his special olive loaf shortly before he passed away this year. My way of honoring his memory I guess. I will sure miss him this Christmas!

Seasonal Bargains, Buy Fall Decor Now!

The fun things that you can make with a glue gun and some gems. I bought the gems from Michaels craft store. Now is the time to find some fall treasures there. They were having a 70 % off sale on fall garlands and fall merchandise. Some of it was 40% off. I think that I will run into JoAnns fabric store and see what they have for bargains. I love to feel as if I got a deal when I buy my seasonal treasures. I had some clear glass etched dessert plates. I spray painted the back of the plate with copper colored metallic spray paint. It filled in the etching so the design is really noticeable. I like the design. I just wanted to embellish with the leaf gems. I have enough gems to make another one of these. Then I will have set for my Thanksgiving table.

I found these plates at Walgreens of all places. I looked at CVS and they also have fall items on sale. I saw a cute table runner that I wish I had bought now. Lol

This one I really love. The design is just fun and vibrant!

I have a lot of Halloween to put away before I bring my Thanksgiving decor out lol. I enjoy decorating for the holidays so much! If only I could make money doing it lol! I would dearly love to make some extra money for the holidays... My goal is to make the Christmas money this year. 

I see that many retailers are having like a Black Friday today! I am going to look online to see if I can find some deals. 

I hope you enjoyed Halloween last night!