We had a nice Thanksgiving at my sister’s house, along with my mom, my brother, and the kids.  My other sister, wanted to have Thanksgiving with just her immediate family – but we popped in to say hello for a few minutes since my two sisters live across the street from each other.  (Although until a couple of weeks ago they shared a house – but that is a looooong story and I won’t bore you all with the details).

We provided the plates, napkins, cups, turkey, stuffing, a few veggies, two appetizers and two desserts for the Thanksgiving meal.   We even provided one of the tables – since my sister just moved in a couple of weeks ago she doesn’t have a kitchen table yet or have her kitchen stocked up yet.   She  made the potatoes, yams and green beans.  My brother brought a cherry pie.  All togther there were six adults and four kids, and everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable meal.  The next day my hubby, Teacherman, made a wonderful turkey and rice soup.  Friday and Saturday we spent home, getting a few chores done and a little shopping.

Sunday the weather was very nice so we headed up to New York on the train to visit Dylan’s Candy Bar.  We had been looking forward to it ever since we heard about the candy store on a tv show. It is located on the corner of 60th and Third.  It is three floors of sugery goodness with a huge variety, including nostalgic candies from decades past.  They had free samples of candies and candy cane milkshake to try.  The first floor (entrance) had many, many bins of candy sold by the pound and there were a variety of containers to chose from to scoop your selections in to, and a lot of holiday goodies.  On the bottom floor was a chocolate fountain with a varity of items to dip into it (for a small fee), a large variety of fudges and other items.  We didn’t make it to the top floor – but upstairs is the cafe and party rooms.

My daughter, Angelgirl, picked out a small gift for each of her friends for Christmas and filled a small container with a variety of candy from the many bins for herself. I picked out a nice tree ornament for us. Teacherman picked up a few candy bars for friend’s. I had fun picking up a few gifts too – for three friends at the office, Mama Kelly, and the most fun was putting together a container of goodies for my 2 Goddess-daughters (Mama Kelly’s girls). The container was $10 for all the candy you could stuff inside, so I picked up a wide selection and tried to get the most unusual items I could find from the bins. In one container I put all the gummy, sour, sugary treats and in the other I put a variety of chocolate items. Once the containers were full, I looked around for tiny candies that I scooped over the top and shook it down so the little bits filled in every bit of space. It was a bit of struggle to get the lids closed but I did it. When I got home I divided everything equally into zip lock bags. There was 20 or more different kinds of candy all together, and I can’t wait to share all the goodies with them. 

From there we strolled over to Central Park and took a horse and carriage ride around the park.  It was the first time for Angelgirl, and she really enjoyed it.  Then we  stopped in FAO Schwartz  (toy store) and saw the big piano just in time for the show where they perform a few songs and after wards they let in small groups of folks at a time to hop on the big piano keys.  I also picked out a small but fun Harry Potter gift for my two Goddess-daughters.  I resisted the urge to get anything for myself. 

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Xmas!   I have all my shopping done now and only a few  more items have to arrive in the mail, everything else is all ready.  I even picked up wrapping paper, gift boxes, etc. this weekend.   I’m looking forward to wrapping and putting the presents, gifts bags and baskets all together.  I can’t wait for the holidays!   **big grin**

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:candy, gifts, new york, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Comments

Give thanks for blessings
great and small
Give thanks for family
friends and all

Remember people in your life
who happiness bring
and little joys that
make your heart sing

Give thanks for tables
full of food and love
and all of the gifts
of the Gods above

Remember those
who lack enough
and those for whom
times are tough

Vow today to
never forget
that life’s to short
to constantly fret

Be more grateful
Be more forgiving
Make every day
a day of Thanksgiving

- Mama Kelly 2009

Blessings to you and yours
today and always

Written by Mama KellyTags:poem, poetry, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of our household’s favorite holidays.  It is a day to sit around relax, spend time together, and stuff ourselves silly on all kinds of good food.

I came home form work a little less than an hour ago and after some well deserved R&R I am off to do the bulk of my cooking for the big day and I thought that I’d share with you all this year’s menu.

I make a lot of food, especially considering we are only 5 people.  But, half the fun of the holiday is that we live on leftovers all the way through Sunday.

Most of dinner is made by me (thus the upcoming hours ahead in the kitchen) but I do supplement here and there with pre-made items as I can frankly only do so much.

As I am every year I am grateful for the ability to feed my family.  I am grateful for the happy yummy sounds that will be made.  I am looking forward to serving my family off my grandmother’s china, lifting a glass of champagne and being grateful for making it through another year.

May each of our readers here in the US have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with friends family and feasting.  For everyone else may the holiday season start off happy for you & yours and continue on as such all the way through the new year ahead.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Appetizers/Light Lunch – laid out around noon

Gherkin sized pickles – both sweet and sour
Olives
marinated mozzarella balls
various cubed cheeses
pepperoni, sopresatta, genoa salami
fried ravioli w/ sauce
deviled eggs
spreadable port wine/cheddar cheese & crackers
cocktail franks

Dinner – served around 4pm

Turkey – deep-fried by the men
Bread Stuffing w/ apples sausage and caramelized onions
Candied Yams w/ mini marshmallows
Mashed Potatoes w/ roasted garlic
Spicy Peas & Mushrooms
Cheesy Cauliflower
Oven-fried Artichoke Hearts
Mizeria – cucumbers w/ sour cream
Cranberry sauce – from a can
Rolls – from a can
Gravy – from a jar

Dessert – served around 7:30pm

2 Mrs Smith’s pies – sweet potato and cherry
3 kinds of cookies (store-bought)
fruit
nuts

Written by Mama KellyTags:cooking, feast, holiday, Thanksgiving

While Samhain was only a few days ago we all know that Thanksgiving will fast be upon us.  With a few weeks to prepare it is a fitting time to consider what traditions you might want to add to your own holiday dinner, while keeping in mind that a ritual need not be formal or lengthy to be powerful.

Fill a bowl with pieces of construction paper cut into the shape of autumn leaves.  Over the next few weeks encourage your family members to write the things they are grateful for on them and place them back into the bowl, unsigned.  During your meal, and perhaps for the rest of the weekend, make a point of pausing to read these statements aloud.

Alternately (or also), pick up an inexpensive journal and over the course of the holiday weekend encourage your family members to write a paragraph (or more) of their favorite memory of the previous year.  Keep the journal with your holiday table trimmings and add to it each year.

Make a point of donating food at a local collection spot (school, library, supermarket, church).  Bless the food at home first though with words along the lines of  “may you never hunger, may you never thirst.”  Encourage the kids to help pick out the foods to donate and bring it to the donate site.

Remember it’s never too late to start a new tradition.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:simple rituals, Thanksgiving

I am thankful for having enough food to fill my table. I am always aware this time of year of those who struggle just to eat every day, never mind put out a feast.

I am thankful for GamerDude being in charge of deep frying the turkey. Not only did it save me from having to get up at 4am, but it spared me the torture of smelling it all day long. I am the only person I know that gets queasy at the smell of roasting turkey, even though I don’t have any trouble eating it.

I am thankful for knowing how to make Mizeria (I am the only person in my family who knows how).  I am grateful to being able to serve a side dish that reflects the history of my dad’s side of the family while we eat off my maternal grandmother’s china.

I am grateful for the convenience of canned biscuits (so little time this year), although next year I plan to try and make them from scratch.

I am grateful that my first attempt at making gravy from scratch for a holiday with just fat, seasonings, flour and broth worked out well. The only complaint was that the color was a bit odd, but I think that was due to the fact that I added a splash of wine for depth of flavor … next time I’ll use white instead of red.

I am grateful for helping hands (Miss Artistic and Gamer Dude) who peeled pounds of sweet and white potatoes and allowed me to make two fabulous side dishes. Candied “Yams” with butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of black pepper (topped with marshmallows). Mashed Potatoes with butter, milk, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and freshly roasted garlic.

I am grateful for the happiness that came from a day of family time.  No arguments.  No problems.  No teenage drama or angst.  I am grateful for being able to sit down and play a game (albeit incomplete) of Wizardology.  I am grateful that I watched bits and pieces of the parade, especially the end where I waved at Santa like a lunatic.

I am grateful that everything made it to the table hot.  I am grateful that I managed to not forget to serve anything. I am grateful that I cooked so much the night before and only had to do a couple of small things on Thanksgiving itself.

I wish I had taken pictures of the kids (so this one from Halloween will have to “do”).  I wish I had taken time to sit in front of the fire in the fireplace. But, I am glad that after dinner, and with dessert as an intermission that our evening ended with even more family time … watching Hellboy II … and laughter …. and togetherness. 

I am blessed to have spent the day with those I love.

I am blessed with a roof over my head and food on the table.

May you be so blessed!

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:Thanksgiving

May your day be filled with family, friends, and feasting.

May your day be filled with peace and laughter.

May you celebrate all that you have to be thankful for.

May you be showered with blessings this holiday season.

Mama Kelly & Lady Rose

Written by Mama KellyTags:prayer, Thanksgiving

Well its been a busy few days. 

Monday I worked until 5:00 and then ran errands.  I hit the Farmer’s Market for some of what I needed for Thanksgiving dinner and then went to Office Depot and Toys R Us to pick up a few things for Yule.  I came home, the kids came home from Tae Kwon Do, I fed them a light dinner and then GamerDude and I went to the supermarket for the rest of what I needed.

Tuesday I worked until 7 so I could do the commission based projects I’ve been doing a couple of nights a week. I made an extra $55, not enough to cover all of Monday’s shopping, but still enough to help. I came home tired and cranky but relieved that a day off in within my sight (even if I am not paid for it thanks to my Scrooge-ish employer).

Today I worked from 8-3, straight through eithout lunch. In fact, as this post publishes I will be walking out of work for the day and heading home to start cooking.  My general plan is to make most of my side dishes tonight and wrap them up in foil pans.  On Thanksgiving itself I usually make just the few dishes that I can do on the stovetop and the men deepfry the bird.

All i have to do at that point is toss all of my foil pans in a hot oven an hour or two before the bird is ready to carve and dinner is a done deal. Once dinner is on the table I have to toss frozen pies and chestnuts into the oven so they cook while we eat and we will be all ready for a yummy dessert after everyone digests.

I am hoping to have a restful day, filled with laughter, family time, and dare I wish for it a bit of relaxation. Tomorrow is my first day off after working for 25 days in a row and I need the break, especially as I do not have another planned day off until Xmas (where I have managed to save enough money to take off Xmas, as well as the Friday and Saturday that follow it).

Blessings

Mama Kelly

PS: Don’t forget to:

post in our forum and share what you are most grateful for this year

leave a comment and congratulate the winner of our first tangible giveaway here at 2Witches.com

Written by Mama KellyTags:Thanksgiving

This week will find many of us celebrating Thanksgiving, a day which is at once a secularized American harvest festival and a day to remember everything we have to be grateful for.  Many of us will be either serving or partaking in a feast which is a wonderful act of sympathetic magic as by preparing so many dishes not only are we celebrating the bounty of the earth but we are showing the Divine that we trust that we can feel safe putting so much of our stores into just one meal. That we will have “enough” to see us through the dark months of the year.

I am grateful for the side-project at my work that has allowed me to earn a few hundred dollars “extra” over the past couple of weeks. 

I am grateful for the knowledge that Miss Artistic will help me prepare Thanksgiving dinner, as she does every year, and that Princess Nibbles is excited about being given more important tasks this year, suited to her “I’m 9, I’m not a little kid anymore” status.

I am grateful that Princess Nibbles has managed to cling (albeit desperately) to her belief in Santa for another year, even though I’m a little sad that I really have to break the bad news (that I’m fairly certain she expects anyway) before next year.

I am grateful that Miss Artistic has fairly quickly forgiven me for “ruining her life” by working out a regimin with the Child Study Team at her school intended to help me help her stay more on top of her homework assignments.

I am grateful that I have managed to compile a small collection of rather cool presents so far for this Yule.  I am trying to find things they will really love and not focus as much on “filler” kind of things.  I am trying to find novel and unique items and trying to patiently wait for sales on said choices.

I am grateful that I have the day off for Thanksgiving.  It will mark the end of working 25 days straight, nothing compared to my 83 day stint earlier this year, but still fatiguing.  Yes it stinks that I will not be paid for the holiday, but I can make up nearly all of my hours working a little later on the days I do go in on.

I am grateful for my friends.  I am grateful for my father (despite his Mr Grumpy personality).  I am grateful for GamerDude who I met over 23 years ago.  I am grateful for my girls.

Please post in our forum and share what you are most grateful for this year.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:prayer, Thanksgiving

I am a fairly good cook.  Hubby would say I am a very good cook, but hey he loves me and he’s not exactly unbiased.  One thing I am very very good at is cooking large amounts of food.  This comes in very handy at the holidays, specifically Thanksgiving.  I take the idea of a Thanksgiving Feast and I run with it.  Who cares if it is only the five of us?  Who cares if I make so much that it is all we eat through the Sunday after the holiday?  Yes it is a lot of work, but it makes me very happy to put out a huge spread on this particular holiday. 

This year’s planned menu includes:

• Turkey (deepfried by the menfolk)
• Smashed Potatoes with roasted garlic, cheddar cheese, and sour cream
• Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Mashed Carrots & Turnips
• Spicy Peas and Mushrooms
• Mizeria (Polish cucumbers & sour cream)
• Cornbread stuffing with sausage and onions
• Rolls (usually from a can)
• Cranberry sauce (again, from a can)
• Gravy (making from scratch this year)
• Pie (Mrs. Smith’s)*
• Baked Apples (new addition this year)
• Nuts in the Shell (new addition this year)

I also plan to get some baby carrots, celery and cucumbers; make vegetable dip and whip up a batch of devilled eggs so we have stuff to nosh on before dinner.

Now I state again, this is the planned menu.  It is subject to change without notice and is based on how much help I have in the kitchen and how much physical and emotional energy I have come Wednesday at 3:30 when I get home from work.  WIth luck, plenty of Advil, and 3 sets of helping hands I can (probably) get it all done. 

I am looking forward to sitting down and eating a plate full of sides and just a token amount of turkey (I really don’t like the smell of turkey and so I am never really thrilled about eating it).  I am looking forward to serving my family off my grandmother’s china, lifting a glass of champagne and being grateful for making it through another year.  I am looking forward to all of the happy yummy sounds that Gamer Dude and the girls will make.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Inspired by reading Patty’s post : Giving Thanks

* The plan is to pop these in the oven just as everything is set on the table so they will be fresh and hot when we are finally able to think about dessert.

Written by Mama KellyTags:Thanksgiving

Lady Rose’s Thanksgiving Vacation – Nov. 2007

This is third (and final) day of photo sharing for this week. (Day 1 was photos of my new tattoos, and yesterday was Halloween 2007). To read all about our Thanksgiving vacation see: the turkey, the beach and the moon = The perfect Thanksgiving. Below are some photos that give you a good idea of what a wonderful time we had. (Note: The beach house was two floors each with an identical kitchen, living room, three bedrooms and 1 and 1/2 baths with just some slight variations on color scheme and decor).

Front and Back of the Beach House:

Front with welcome flag. That is our good friend B. who came to visit!

Back, with first floor porch and 2nd floor deck.

Inside Beach House:

Me in the kitchen (unaware of the camera)

Living Room

Three the Bedrooms (King, Queen, two twins) – all had tvs and dvd players

Beach view from the Deck:

View to the right.

Another lovely view to the left.

The Full Moon:

Me (Lady Rose) with Teacherman (hubby) and Angelgirl (daughter):

Wishing everyone health, happiness, and bright blessings for the holiday season and into the New Year, now and always, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:photos, Thanksgiving