Joyfilled

Been hearing a lot about this RSV. Anyone know anything about it. Hospitals are getting full, and it affects mostly children, stuff like that. With 4 kids at home 11-3, it makes me a little nervous....

What is it with loved ones passing away on important days? My BIL died on my niece's birthday (his daughter). They brought him back and kept him on life support, but ended up dying the next day. Then my Mom passed away last year (2021) on my Dad's birthday. For the rest of his life, his birthday will be the anniversary of the day she died. For the rest of MY life, his birthday will be the anniversary of the day she died. It's sad. I'm thankful for God's comfort....He is good, and takes care of my heart.

This is AWESOME!! Sounds a lot like my little town, down to the three churches, etc. I would like to do this. I realize that most people have somewhere to go, but it would be nice to do something for those that don't. For example, our family. It's just us, DD and her DH, and my Dad. Next year my Dad may be in Africa, so it'll be even more smaller than it's been in years past. I only have enough space in my home, but if we did it at church....so, something to consider. I'm thinking that buying Thanksgiving plates, etc. now may be a good idea, as everything should be on clearance here soon if it isn't already. I just hate the plates that fall apart.... Another idea I've had is instead of Thanksgiving dinner, have a Thanksgiving service the night before, and have a pie social after, where everyone brings pie to share. Then if you have relatives from out of town, you have a chance to feed them variety without having to make it. It would be so nice!! Thanks for sharing, Dee. It sounds so very nice.

I'm so sorry, Momo. I understand to some extent. Our daughter died a few days before Thanksgiving 7 years ago (only lived about 48 hours), and this year it hit me hard. I pray that you are able to find comfort and that your heart will find Peace.

What a great memory, Dee!!

That's funny....we don't like turkey by itself that much, either, but you know....TRADITION!! That said, we LOVE using the leftovers. Turkey Wild Rice Soup, Turkey Pot Pies, etc....yummy!! We also do ham for Christmas. We use the leftovers in soup and sandwiches as well.

Can't say I blame him! It's a lot of work! I'm thankful for a bunch of kids running around who still think it's fun to stack the wood!

My Dad just turned 80 and he enjoys helping us with the wood....but that's just it, helping, not in charge of. There's a difference!! 😊

Post pictures!! 😊

That's wonderful, Dee!! Can you tell me more about your gathering? Is it like a potluck, or who provides the food? We live in a small town, and I think that would be a nice thing to do!!

I'll tell you what, it was a BEAR to move. It took I think 5 men to get it up the porch steps and into the house.

Little Sister, we bought ours when our, *ahem*, benevolent government was handing out money. We have 4 kids at home, so we saved up what they sent and were able to get it! We believe it's one of the best investments we've made!

We've been using canning jars for drinking for a long time now, I stole the idea from one of my friends when I lived in MN. They hardly ever break, and with kids, that's been really helpful! Here's the recipe! My biggest tip is to make sure that you mix the pudding and the pumpkin well. I didn't when I first started making it, and it looks terrible!! Still tastes good, just not very nice to look at. Know that people won't want to cut into it right away because it looks like an under cooked pumpkin pie. Once it's opened, it disappears! Sometimes I even cut into it so people will know what it is. It's yummy! This is how I have it written in my notes: Double Layered Pumpkin Pie: 8 oz of cream cheese 2 cans (15oz) pumpkin 2 Tbsp milk 4 (4srvgs) pkgs vanilla instant pudding 2 Tbsp sugar 2 cups milk 2 tubs cool whip, thawed 2 tsp cinnamon 3 graham cracker crusts ½ tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground ginger Mix cream cheese, 2 Tbsp milk and sugar in a large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Gently stir in half of the whipped topping. Spread unto crusts evenly. Pour 2 cups of milk into large bowl, mix in pudding. Add pumpkin and spices, mix well (mix will be thick). Spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set. Top with remaining whipped topping. Makes 3 pies. DO NOT DOUBLE!!

By the way, that was my plate, and I couldn't finish it all. A lot of food!! Leftovers today. Yum!!

Both my hubby and I wrote that we were thankful for our wood stove on our Thanksgiving tablecloth. 😂 @euphrasyne I'm off to Church in a few minutes, but will when we're home! 😊

We always celebrate the weekend before (so, today!), and decorate for Christmas on Thanksgiving Day. We always have the same menu, and do try to invite others that don't have a place to go. Our menu: Turkey Mashed potatoes Gravy Sweet potato casserole Green been casserole Cranberry/Orange souce Double layer pumpkin pie Pecan pie Sparkling Juice We go around the table and say what we are thankful for, and hubby reads a Psalm of Thanksgiving. We also have a table cloth that we all write on what we are thankful for with a permanent marker. We use it for 5 years, then start a new one, that way each kid will have one to take with them if they want to when they move out. We make enough for at least one leftover meal, plus croissant sandwiches with cranberry sauce and turkey. We make broth with the bones, and will make wild rice turkey soup with it sometime later next week. I love reading about your traditions!! Whether it's Mexican food or special china, I think having traditions and special time together is the best.

Well, I do believe I did it!! We baked everything except the turkey and sweet potato casserole, as we wanted to be sure the turkey had even heat the whole time, and ran out of space for the casserole. That means that I cooked the potatoes on the stove, as well as the cranberry/orange sauce. The green bean casserole and dressing were baked in the wood stove, and....pecan pie!! I only made two kinds of pies, and one of them doesn't have to be baked (double layered pumpkin pie). It was so rewarding to cook and bake in it!!

Thank you, ladies, for your ideas and comments!! I have to say that I envisioned me telling my husband that 6 ladies brought chocolate chip cookies, and him wondering what the problem with that was.... He is going to make some of his bars and send them with me so I can bring extra cookies home. Smart man, that one. I've sent our pastor a write up to print out and put in the bulletin, and I'm hoping ladies will come. A few friends and I are going to bring soup and bread for supper, and we'll have a couple of prizes for best cookie (best flavor and/or presentation) and most festive dress. I've done a couple of these before, and it really is a lot of fun. I'll see if I can find some pictures, and if not, I'll take some that night and post them!

I'm hosting a Cookie Exchange for the Church ladies next month. Have you ever been to one? What made it successful? What did you like/not like about it? Any thoughts or ideas about it? I'm asking each lady to bring 3 dozen cookies, 2.5 to share and 1/2 to eat while there. I'm thinking about 20 ladies will come. We (some friends and I) will share soup and bread for dinner, and hot chocolate bar. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them!

Yes!! I've seen recipes for all kinds of things, including tortillas, croissants, etc. A little strange, but we'll give some of them a try!!

This sounds great!! I must be hungry, my mouth is watering....

I have to admit that I'm pretty intimidated....hubby is going to use our first discard to make waffles tomorrow morning because I can't figure out the bread thing quite yet. Ugh.

Not sure I've ever heard of it!! I'll have to look it up, because I have yogurt making already, might as well get another use out of it!

Sorry, I thought I had replied to this! I have a book about dairy stuff....I can't remember the name of it, but I really should look into it. So much to learn!!! I have a friend that gave me rennet! I would rather not take it from the goats stomach....😅 Thanks for your advice and encouragement!!!

There's so much to learn!! And....a lot can be done without living in the country. Soap making, bread making, knitting, sewing....lots of things that don't require farm stuff. I want to do it ALL. Not sure it's a good idea, though....haha! But I'd at least like to give it at try! And...you've had a rough couple of years (well....to some extent we all have!)....take it easy on yourself.