Linda at 2nd Cup Of Coffee hosts a Random Dozen on Wednesdays and here is her Thanksgiving edition and my answers!! If you would like to participate, just click on here!!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous?

We will be having the traditional foods which include turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, noodles, rolls, green beans, salad. And I can hardly wait! :-)

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")

My computer! It helps me with so many things. Typing letters to friends. Making posters/signs for church, etc., looking up info on the internet, listening to music, keeping in touch with old friends and making new friends, journaling on my blog, and I could go on and on. I don't know what I would do without it, though now that Jaylon is here I don't have very much time to be on here. He is napping at the moment! :-)

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.

I am thankful for the love that the Lord has for me. It is never-changing. Sometimes that is so hard for me to comprehend, but I know it is true and real! He's has proven His love for me time and again!

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.

Well, one year, many, many years ago, Cool Whip made an accordion-type container/dispenser for their Cool Whip. In the afternoon, after dinner had been over for awhile, I jumped up from where we had all been watching TV, ran into the kitchen and got out the Cool Whip, put it to my mouth and started to squeeze a little taste into my mouth when all of a sudden someone reached around me and squeezed that thing for all it was worth and I about choked and died as my mouth and cheeks filled to overflowing with Cool Whip!!!! It was my brother-in-law Bud! We all about died laughing after I got done choking!!!

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?
I will be taking a nap in the afternoon after dinner. This is a given!

6. Do your pets get any left-overs?

Yes, we give our dog Rocky, who is an outside dog, the turkey carcass. Now, I know alot of people say that you shouldn't do this but we figure that he eats dead animals (we know he does) and the good Lord only knows what else, so why not let him have a treat aka the turkey carcass?!

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?

Ed always prays...spontaneously...and we always hold hands. Except on Father's Day and his birthday; then, I pray. :-)

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?

No, we will be napping or watching a movie or reading a book. Or I will be playing games with Erin's family at her aunt's house!

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?

Welllll.......seeing as how I looooove oyster dressing, I will be making a dish of oyster dressing and one regular dressing. I can hardly wait!!!

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?

Yes, I think it is so important that we know why we celebrate Thanksgiving and the other holidays!

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?

Peach, because it is Ed's favorite and I'm not a big dessert fan! Give me noodles! dressing! potatoes! gravy! rolls! He can have the pie! :-)

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)

No, my sorrow doth lift on Turkey day! :-)

Monday's Random Musings!

Mrs. Nurse Boy at Poop On Jelly hosts a Monday Random Musings at her blog and here are my few musings!!

Little Jaylon is home with his Mommy today as he has been running a fever since yesterday morning. We aren't sure if it is because he is cutting more teeth or what but I will let you know when we find out anything. I can't wait to hear how he is doing this morning. Here is a picture of the little guy that I took last Friday!

That's a picture of him taking a bath in grandma's sink! :-) He loves splashing all around so I had to let some of the water out! :-)
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Ed and I have all of our outside Christmas decorations up!!! They look sooooo pretty!! We had so much fun doing this together! Used to, I did all of the outside decorating myself because he just wasn't into it but as the years have passed he has begun helping, especially as I got to the place where I couldn't any longer.

Last year, we didn't even put up as much as a single red bow or light because I was recovering from my hip surgeries but this year!!!! Woweeeee!!!! We've got it ALL gussied up!!!!!! *smile* Especially because of little Jaylon and it being his first Christmas!!

And I've always felt that having some outside decorations up is my way of saying Merry Christmas to those driving by and to our neighbors. I'll post some pictures later!

I haven't seen little Jaylon since last Friday and I am missing him. *sigh* Hopefully, I will get to see him today and cuddle him a little.
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I am taking my sister Debbie to pick up her food from the monthly give-a-way at Smith Chapel. She is doing remarkably well in her recovering. She still isn't smoking and has no desire to! Thank you, Jesus!
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The Ohio State Buckeyes beat Michigan!!!!! Yayyyyy!!!! It was a good game, though we could have played better but a win is a win, especially over Michigan!!
Too bad the Bengals lost! :-( and they were on such a good streak!
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My oldest nephew, Brian, turns 40 today!!! I have a nephew that is 40!!!! Wow.....it doesn't seem possible! But it is and he is a great guy. He has been through some really difficult times the past two or three years, but God has been faithful and Brian is still standing! Here he is with his three precious sons!


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And here is Jaylon and Mommy have a cute moment at Olive Garden last week when they took me out for my birthday! :-)

I looove this week!

BECAUSE Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! No gifts required. Just the presence of friends and family and lots of delicious food. Waking up to the smell of turkey roasting in the oven. (I put my turkey in the oven during the night.) A relaxing morning at home, making noodles and rolls and all of the other luscious food that comes only at Thanksgiving. :-) The afternoon spent relaxing and visiting, playing games, watching football, taking a leisurely after-dinner stroll, sharing leftovers. Yep, it's my favorite time of the year!

When I was a little girl, I was always the first one of us five kids up in the morning. I would mosey into the kitchen and there would be dad, rolling out noodles for dinner. He was always so cheerful in the morning! He would be wearing his usual gray work pants, white t-shirt and houseslippers, his hair freshly combed, bent over the table rolling out the dough, humming all the while.

He would tell me to go wash my hands and face and then I could help him. He had one particular knife that he cut the noodles with and I still have it today!

He would roll the dough up, slice it into these little rolls and then I would shake out the noodles. Then he would lay them out to dry on newspaper placed on top of the washer and dryer.

Then he would get the roll dough that had been raising and, with a grand flourish, punch it down!!! I was always amazed at how it deflated! Next, dad would commence to greasing pans and then yanking off a piece of the dough, shaping it and slapping it into the pan with a swoosh of his arm! He always made everything so much fun!! :-)

My Random Dozen!!!

Linda, at 2nd Cup of Coffee hosts a Random Dozen every Wednesday! Here are mine! If you would like to participate, just click on the icon above!

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be?
For some reason that even I can't explain, I've always had somewhat of a desire to be really good at basketball. Go figure. :-)

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision?
A bit of both, actually. As far as the research part goes, I don't go overboard or fret over it. I do a reasonable amount of research, then go with my gut! :-)

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name?
Belle Plymouth? Good heavens! :-/

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food?
Favorite music because I can always sing. Well, if I'm still allowed to sing, that is.

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference?
My preference is somewhere in between those two! :-)

6. Your favorite tree is?
Ohh, definitely a weeping willow tree! They are so beautiful and graceful and I don't have one in my yard...*sigh*.

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you?
6

8. Has H1N1 touched your family?
My niece and great niece and another great niece and nephew have had the H1N1.

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing?
I am somewhat analytical, especially about emotional/psychological things.

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala?
My DH husband says I am more like a cat because I can sleep anywhere/anytime! Ha.Ha. :-)

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago?
Yes, I do. They are one of the most precious things in life that I have!

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why?
Well, I would probably observe for a minute or so and see just how fast the express lane is moving and if it isn't, I might very well take the regular checkout lane.

Unbelieveable!!!

The weather, that is!!! It is warm and sunshiney today in SE Ohio!! I believe it is in the 70's, though I haven't had time to look at the thermometer.
Ed and I are going to put up Christmas decorations tomorrow. Yayyyy!! I know it is a tad early but we want to do it while the weather is nice.
Last year we did not put one decoration outside because I was still recovering from my surgeries and we just didn't feel like it BUT this year! We.have.the.boy!!!!! :-)
I don't know that I am going to put up a tree in the house this year though I will put up lights, garland and other decorations that he won't be able to reach easily. I just don't feel like struggling with keeping him away from a tree, lights, and ornaments. We'll see.
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My sister Debbie is going home to her home today!! Isn't that just wonderful?!??! God is soooo good! She is doing so well! We've taken to calling eachother every morning like we used to before she had her surgery. I love her so much!!
Her youngest son, Shawn, lost his job as a truck driving-in-training because when her surgery was rescheduled they would not allow him to take the time off, so he quit. BUT, another trucking firm hired him and is going to finish training him! God is so awesome! Shawn had to quit a job that he had worked at for years because of some health problems but was eventually able to go to truck-driving school. Even in a bad economy and job market, our God is able!!
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Our local football team, the Logan Chieftains, are playing their second play-off game tonight against Brookhaven from Columbus. We are undefeated while Brookhaven has a 9-2 record. Brookhaven is a top-notch team but we are looking for a great victory tonight! Daniel and Erin are going to the game with friends and Mawmaw and Pawpaw Dunnells will be taking care of little Jaylon tonight. He will have a ball!!!
AND the Buckeyes play Iowa tomorrow afternoon for the Big Ten title! Go Bucks!!
So it is indeed an exciting weekend of sports around here!!! :-)
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Well, I am going to finish this up and get myself outside to enjoy the beautiful weather!! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!! :-)

Fall Into Flavor!

Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee has been hosting Fall Into Flavor over HERE! Here is my recipe for the week and if you would like to join and share, please do!!!

My contribution this week is a recipe that I got from an Amish cookbook a few years ago and it is one of Daniel and Erin's favorites! Every time I ask them what they would like to eat it is always "Dutch Potatoes"!!!

Here's how you fix 'em!!

Dutch Potatoes
Scrub and bake 5-6 nice size potatoes.
Bake them in the microwave until done but not
too soft and mushy.
Remove the skins.
Melt a very liberal amount of butter or margarine
in a big skillet. Slice the potatoes and add
them to the skillet. Salt and pepper liberally.
Brown them thoroughly though don't get them too
crispy. You might need to add more butter/margarine.
Once you have them at the desired brownness,
sprinkle two or three tablespoons of flour
over the potatoes.
Next, pour one to two cups of milk over the potatoes and
slowly turn with a spatuala, mixing the flour and
milk together, which will make a gravy/sauce.
Add milk if you need to, to get the desired
consistency.
Then cover all of this with a 2-cup package of
shredded cheddar cheese or another flavor of
shredded cheese that you like. I also put dots of butter on the

top and let it melt down through the potatoes along with the cheese.

My family prefers cheddar.
These are Daniel and Erin's favorite potatoes!
Enjoy!
Oh, and this is not diet food!
You have been warned!
:-)

Saturday....in the park.....

Wellll....yesterday.....I went to Miller Park in Lancaster to watch my great-niece Chloe cheer with her squad in a cheerleading expo. Chloe is a sweetie! AND a very good cheerleader! I like to think that she inherited her cheerleading abilites from me as I was a cheerleader 7-11 grades!!! Yayyy!! *smile* (Makes me ache just to think about the moves I used to be able make...*groan*)


Anywayyyy......moving right along.....afterwards, I went to April's house to see my sister Debbie who is doing maaahhhvelously after her surgery!! She is planning to return home on the 20th!


At three o'clock, Debbie and I headed back to Miller Park to watch her grandson-my great-nephew, Cade play in his championship football game.

We sat UP on the sidewalk and watched the game which was DOWN a short ways in this little valley-like park but it was close so that we didn't have any difficulty seeing the game or players. Our spot was great for watching the game but there was a stiff, cold wind blowing right at us! That wind had my hair blowing straight back! I could have won a Don King impersonation contest!!! My forehead hasn't had that much exposure in years!!! Egads!!!

And have I ever told you that you could show home movies on my forehead? It's just that white AND high! AND my forehead actually got cold! I was freezing and it isn't used to being exposed to the elements like that!

BUT, in spite of the wind and all, we had a great time even though Cade's team lost.

Chloe is a cheerleader for the team that was playing against Cade's so after the game was over, they were all in the middle of field for trophy presentations so Debbie asked me if I would take her back to April's. Of course, I said yes because I wanted to get home before it was dark.

Sooooo, we pull into April's and Debbie just remembers that she doesn't have a key but maybe they left a door unlocked.

Soooooo, I checked the front door....locked. I checked the back door.....locked. So, I walked ALLLL the way back around the house to the car. Debbie says, "Did you check the garage door?" Nooooooo. Soooo, I walk ALLLLL the way back around the house to check the garage door. It was unlocked!!!! BUT...the house door was locked! Rats!

Sooooo, I just go back to the car and we decide to wait for someone to come and let us in. I mean, what choice do we have, right? I didn't have my cellphone.
We're listening to the Ohio State game when Debbie tells me that she has her cellphone but she thinks it is almost dead. I try to call April but she doesn't answer, which I should have known she wouldn't because she's involved in the trophy presentation back at the park. So, I get the idea of calling her daughter, Kaitlin, because teenagers always have their cellphones at the ready, BUT just as I'm dialing, the phones dies!!!!! Argh!

Once again, we just decide to wait for someone to come home. I put first dibs on the bathroom when we DO get in the house!

We waited for almost an hour but we did enjoy listening to the game and just relaxing. I finally arrived home at about 6:30pm.

Debbie and I always manage to have an adventure! :-)

An overdue picture!

I haven't posted any pictures of my favorite little baby boy lately, so here are some of the latest:

We were all loaded up and on our way to visit with my sister-in-law Sandy! This was last Thursday! Jaylon is such a pleasant little traveller!

And THIS is where I found him the other day:

"Wheeee....this is fun!"

Repenting? *smile*

"Maybe I can sneak out...."

Random Dozen #10

Linda at 2nd Cup Of Coffee hosts a Wednesday Random Dozen! Here is my random twelve for you viewing pleasure! Join in if you'd like and link up at Linda's!

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
I would wait it out for a reasonable amount of time. Five minutes? I’m going through!

2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
No, I don’t believe so.

3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
Well, I endeavor to reply in MY comments, but sometimes I am not able to, meaning: I don’t have the time available at the moment!

4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
Hmmmm….it’s been awhile since I’ve watched a Disney movie. I do love Cinderella! “Cinderelly….Cinderelly….we will help our Cinderelly….” *smile*

5. Do you recycle?
Yes, we recycle cans, aluminum, and glass. Sometimes we recycle paper and cardboard but most times, we burn it, as we live in the country and can do so.

6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Games of chance. I just don’t have the patience for games of strategy. I don’t find them fun at all.

7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
No, but I have dreamed dreams that I wished I could close my eyes and take up where they left off!

8. What did you learn from your first real job?
That I never wanted to carhop again as long as I lived!!!! Oh my!!! It was a nightmare!!

9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
I borrow from our wonderful, local library. AND if they don’t have the book I am wanting, they will either buy it or do an inter-library loan! It’s the best library in the world!!!! Once in a great while, I will buy a book if it is one that I want to keep for reference, especially cookbooks!

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
Leg warmers. They really do keep your legs warm! I had been looking for a pair at yard sales and the local thrift stores, when my pastor’s mother gave me a pair last winter! *smile* I usually only wear them at home!

11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
Usually in November. I know that I can save money by buying a year before during after Christmas sales and so on, but it just isn’t the same. We don’t do a lot of buying and gift-giving during Christmas and neither of us are fond of shopping, in the first place. BUT, we love to be in the stores the day before Christmas! People are bustling about, the music is playing, and it just FEELS like Christmas! We usually pick up a few last-minute gifts and such that we hadn’t planned to buy. It is always a special time for us! A tradition, if you will! *smile*

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
When I found out I was pregnant with Daniel! And I was at work!!! I smiled the entire day!!! It was such an unbelievably wonderful feeling!!! My sistger, Bev, who was the office manager for our family doctor, called me at work that morning with the results! I still get excited just remembering it!!!

Late Monday Randomness!

"Late" seems to be the operative word in posting to my blog "lately". Har. har.

Sooooo....here is my random offering from the happenings of the weekend and before.

Oh, and I am posting this in conjunction with a Monday Randomness that Mrs. NB started at her blog over Y'HERE!

This was the breakfast offering for my DH on Saturday morning!

Anytime I ask him what he would like to have to eat, he ALWAYS requests this, whether it is for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Though, in the heat of summer, sometimes he will request a chef salad for lunch or dinner.
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I went to visit my nephew, Troy, on Saturday afternoon. He has been having some health problems and has a doctor's appt. this morning, which we are all fairly anxious about. But we know the Lord is in control and has it all in His hands.

So, here is Troy's big baby......as in dog.....as in big Weimaraner! As you can see, modesty is not one of her virtues! LOL


Here is Troy and his baby (I don't know her name!):

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My sister Debbie is doing so remarkably well! Thank you, precious Lord Jesus! We
had been so concerned about her recovery because of her years of smoking and breathing complications but all is well and I believe she is going to feel better than she has for a long time once she is completely recovered! :-) She has not smoked for a month!!!! Yayyyy! We are so proud of her!!!
Here she is hugging her post-surgery pillow! :-)
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I am soooo thankful for the sunshine this week!! It makes me feel so much better to have the sunlight shining through my windows even if it does show me the dust and dirt that I need to be cleaning! :-)
"The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my "grandbaby" and babies don't keep."
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And speaking of grandbabies, mine is awake from his morning nap and making cute noises, so I'm gonna go, snatch him up and have me some cuddles with him!

Have a blessed Tuesday!!

Fall Into Flavor! :-) A day late! :-/

But it is still a really good AND easy recipe!!! :-)

Ro-tel Chicken


6 chicken breasts, cooked & chopped (I season these with Montreal Steak Seasonings)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can chicken broth
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed
12 ounces spaghetti, cooked & drained


In a dutch oven mix and simmer together: soup, broth and tomatoes. Then add the the cheese and stir until melted through. I season and grill boneless chicken breasts on my George Foreman grill. Add the chicken. Mix. Add the spaghetti. Mix. Salt and Pepper to taste.
Put all of this into a 9 X 13 dish and bake at 350 degrees until heated through.
I like my a little more moist than the recipe calls for and sometimes have added a bit of milk to it before baking!
This is very filling and delish! :-)

What to do!?!??!

Okayyyyyy.....if I am to continue this blogging, I figure I am going to have to start getting up at 4am to do it! Because.....once the boy gets here, I'm done for! Especially now that he is crawling! And is he ever a cute crawler!! :-)

I've endeavored to blog while he is napping but by the time HE is napping, I need a nap, too! :-/

Soooooo....I thought.....I'll blog after he goes home. BUT.....by then, I'm too weary to blog.

Orrrrr.....if I do log on to the internet......there's email to check, read, reply, etc. News to catch up on. Blogs to read and respond to. Facebook.

My blog ends up coming in last for some reason, where it used to be my priority. How did everything get so out of whack?

Oh yes.....the grandbaby. And he most certainly IS the priority! He is adorable! Wait until you see him in all of his cute-new-sleeper-adorableness!!! Coming soon to THIS blog and FB!!! :-)

Oh, and let me say....little Jaylon is such a good baby. He is! :-) And I am so thankful to the Lord for it!!! He will sit and play and entertain himself even at his young age! So it isn't that he is being bad that takes all of my time. I think it is just that I'm a TAD bit older and slower and endeavoring to take care of this bundle of lovableness the very best that I can!


My sisters and sisters-in-law took our sister Debbie out for her birthday dinner BEFORE she had her open heart surgery. We went to the local Bob Evans and had a wonderful time! Here is a picture of us afterward! Front row, from left to right: Me, Bev, Debbie Back row: SIL's Sandy and Cheryl


As we came out of the restaurant that evening, we were greeted by a breath-taking evening sky!




AND, speaking of Bob Evans....I had the Heritage Chef Salad and it is to die for!!! You might want to give it a try. After seeing it, the girls all wished they had gotten one, too!
Okay....I need to go do a couple of blog things that I've joined, so I'll post at ya later!!! :-) Have a great Tuesday!!!