Where Oh Where…

…did Fall go?

The snow has been falling steadily since 7am this morning on our hill. Yes, we live on a hill which means for me “the driving in snow wimp” I’ll be stranded on this hill today and probably for most of tomorrow. Sometimes getting down the hill works but coming back up the hill doesn’t. Our daughter is a little concerned about her flight out of Seatac tonight. She’s headed to Florida to see her Marine who gets leave Thanksgiving weekend. She has all night flights with planes changing in San Jose and Atlanta. We’re praying for the best for her. Time will tell. Dear will be driving her to the airport not Mrs. Wimp. Our Thanksgiving company arrives tomorrow night from California. We already had our Thanksgiving meal at home but we are looking forward to being with a house full of our friends on Thursday. I’m bringing the Yams and a few other treats.

So how’s the weather where you are and what are your Thanksgiving plans?

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Snowflakes ~ Mosaic Monday

It’s always a surprise event when we see snow falling down instead of rain in the Seattle area.

We had some flakes falling from the sky today. They are threatening us with more for tomorrow. Time will tell. For the record ellen b. does not enjoy driving on snowy and icy roads, so if the threat of snow becomes reality, I’ll be in my house trying to stay cozy and warm on Monday. Some of you are really having snow events as usual for us it’s a novelty.

Visit Mary at Little Red House to join in on Mosaic Monday.

My God, I Thank Thee ~ Hymn

My God, I Thank Thee

My God, I thank Thee, who hast made
The earth so bright,
So full of splendor and of joy,
Beauty and light;
So many glorious things are here,
Noble and right.

I thank Thee, too, that Thou hast made
Joy to abound;
So many gentle thoughts and deeds
Circling us round,
That in the darkest spot of earth
Some love is found.

I thank Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain,
That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain;
So that earth’s bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

For thou who knowest, Lord, how soon
Our weak heart clings,
Hast given us joys, tender and true,
Yet all with wings;
So that we see gleaming on high
Diviner things.

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store;
We have enough, yet not too much
To long for more:
A yearning for a deeper peace
Not known before.

I thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls
Though amply blessed,
Can never find, although they seek
A perfect rest;
Nor ever shall, until they lean
On Jesus’ breast.

Words: Adelaide A. Procter, Legends and Lyrics, a Book of Verse, 1858.

FFF ~ Family, Friends, Food!

Time to look back and remember your favorites from this past week. Visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to join in this worthwhile experience.

My favorites from this past week revolve around our immediate family being reunited for a few days.

Here are the guys, my husband with our sons. I love this photo of the three of them.

Our girls Katie and Laura with their special aunt Lana.

We took advantage of my sister being here so she could take a photo of all of us together. This will probably end up being our Christmas photo this year.

Our Thanksgiving gathering on Sunday is definitely a favorite from this past week.

Last but not least our son Dan made it safe over the passes to his new digs in Eastern Washington. He started his job at his new location and is pleased with his surroundings. We are looking forward to my brother and SIL coming to spend Thanksgiving weekend with us. So much to be thankful for.

Psalm 40:16 (ESV)

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the LORD!”

What are your favorites from this past week?

Tablescape Thursday ~ Early Thanksgiving 2010

I’ve posted some photos of our early Thanksgiving meal already but wanted to add these for Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. If you want to see some great table settings click on over and check all the latest posts.

The table was set for 12. Since I only had 10 of my Yorkshire dishes I added these two Johnson Brothers Plates to the mix.

These are the Yorkshire Staffordshire Ironstone plates, a country road with a hay wagon. The colors were perfect for Thanksgiving.

Wouldn’t you know when I went to pull out my green goblets there were only 11. I scouted out a local Antique Mall hoping to find at least 1 more but there was nothing close to these so when I came across a set of 7 amber colored goblets at a good price I decided to mix and match 6 of each for the table.

I was real happy to find these bird place card holders last week. It’s not easy finding non-Christmas themed holders this time of year. Our daughter Katie printed the names on each card for our table.

We had a wonderful time around the table. We decided to serve Susan’s Champagne Punch while waiting for the turkey. It was very tasty with the hint of cinnamon and cloves.

On Thanksgiving Day I’ll be sharing this punch when we join friends for a 2nd Thanksgiving meal. Life is rich!

Looking forward to seeing more Scapes around the Blogisphere.

Thankful for my Man!

Not only does he help in the kitchen but on this day he vacuumed the house and steam cleaned the kitchen floor! Thank you Dear!

Thanksgiving Is…

…a time to gather family and friends around the table.

Thanksgiving at our house is a very traditional meal with few changes if any. We stuff the turkey because we enjoy the taste of the stuffing that cooks in the bird. We include mashed potatoes to go with the gravy. One thing that would cause an uprising around here is if I left out the the candied yams smothered with marshmallows that get browned in the oven. Cranberry sauce is good for color. This year I added some steamed green beans stir fried with onions and bacon. Dessert always must include a few pies like pumpkin, pecan and a fruit pie. Truth be told I don’t bake pies, gasp! My dear friend Beth volunteered to bring the pies after I asked her to and they were really good! Thanks Beth.

We celebrated early this year since our kids were all available on this Sunday.

We take time to thank God for loving family and good friends and all His goodness to us. What a blessing to sit around the table with loved ones and enjoy good food together.

The girls…

The guys…

Dan’s friend Jamie since 2nd grade with his sweet family.

Jamie’s parents, Dave and Beth with Dan. Good friends since Dan and Jamie became friends in elementary school.

We tried a fall champagne punch.

The sugared rim was fun.

At the end of the festivities we loaded up on the couch to watch the Major League Soccer semi-final between L.A. Galaxy and Dallas.

Can you count all the pairs of feet?

I’ll post more photos of the table for Tablescape Thursday.

In a Bit of a Fog…

Not quite sure how much to blame on the “turkey effect” or just the activity involved in getting the turkey to the table.

As soon as I have access to my cord to upload some photos from our Thanksgiving meal yesterday I’ll share.

Hope your new week is starting out well.

Lord, We Thank Thee for the Pleasure ~ Hymn

Lord, We Thank Thee For the Pleasure

Lord, we thank Thee for the pleasure
That our happy lifetime gives,
For the boundless worth and treasure
Of a soul that ever lives;
Mind that looks before and after,
Lifting eyes to things above;
Human tears, and human laughter,
And the depths of human love.

For the thrill, the leap, the gladness
Of our pulses flowing free;
E’en for every touch of sadness
That may bring us nearer Thee;
But, above all other kindness,
Thine unutterable love,
Which, to heal our sin and blindness,
Sent Thy dear Son from above.

Teach us so our days to number
That we may be early wise;
Dreamy mist, or cloud, or slumber,
Never dull our heav’nward eyes.
Hearty be our work and willing,
As to Thee, and not to men;
For we know our soul’s fulfilling
Is in Heav’n, and not ’til then.

Words: Thomas W. Jez-Blake

Today our family is celebrating Thanksgiving early with a meal together. God is ever good to us and we’ll take time today and everyday to thank Him and praise Him. Blessings on your Sunday!

Carpe Diem ~

Seize the Day…

We are taking all the time we can to enjoy each others company for the days we have together right now. Tomorrow we are going to have our Thanksgiving meal early, all together, with 7 more joining us. The turkey is thawing. The yams, potatoes, gravy, green beans are waiting to be prepared. My sister is bringing the rolls and wine. Dan’s long time friends who became our good friends are joining us. Dave and Beth are bringing the pies. Jamie and Sarly are bringing their sweet babe. We’re going to make a champagne punch I saw on Susan’s Between Naps on the Porch. Josh and Laura will mash the potatoes since I’m still having a tennis elbow issue. Dear will carve the turkey. Katie will write the names on the place cards. I’ll make myself a note to remember to take photos. Life is rich.

Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage