Prairie Flower Farm Christmas Cookie Cookbook

It's here! Linda and Tressa have gotten it all ready! Stop by and receive their GENEROUS download of the cookbook they have put together! How sweet and thoughtful and kind of them to do this! Click HERE!

Black Friday! Not this Momma!!

I am fascinated by people who have the energy, strength, stamina, and will to take on Black Friday. I'm not that strong...mentally or physically. I found a camera on line (mine died a couple of months back and I'm bumming off whoever will let me around here!) and so I decided to get up at midnight to get it on line. That is the extent of my attempt at Black Friday. But my daughter told me not to bother...not to ask questions....just forget it. I think that means Santa might deliver one!  YIPPEE! So with that...I did nothing for Black Friday! I watched it on the news (people being trampled and people camping out), and I heard stories about it. My niece in law and her momma went to Toys R Us at 9:50 p.m. to get in the doors at 10:00...they sat in their car for 2 hours waiting on the line to go down just to get IN the door. Got in at midnight and then put someone in line immediately as the line to check out ran around the perimeter of the store.  They got 4 items, made a stop at Walmart on the way home and 2 of the items were cheaper at "Walmart's Everyday Low Price!" Go Figure! 
How was YOUR Black Friday! Are you a snoozer who misses out like me or were you up and out the door at midnight?

I also did not hit Cyber Monday.  Any updates on that one? 
My shopping is not complete, nor is it even half done. I'm still waiting on some lists from some people in my family. I won't mention names...they know who they are! But I'm not stressed...I'm telling myself it is not worth the stress! It will all get done! 

And I'm patting myself and my helpful hubby on the back because:
*We did get Fall/Thanksgiving boxed up and carried to storage.
*We put up lights before December and before it was freezing outside. That normally doesn't happen around here!

So what is there left to do....
*Bake
*Wrap
*Cook
*Shop
*Decorate
*Mail cards
*Put up the tree
*Family picture
*and ....
*and ....

Darb and I are starting a Proverbs study. 31 Proverbs....31 days in December! Want to join us? 

Happy Monday! 

1 Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

Christmas Giveaway!

I have been so busy that I have not had a time to put any giveaway’s together, but tonight I filled some Christmas boxes and would love to ship one to you! THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS.
A comment is all that it takes to enter!!

Teresa at A Baby Changes Everything is hosting the Christmas Giveaway and you won't want to miss it!

Enjoying Today!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and it is always such a wonderful day. It's really one of my favorite holidays.  

Here's my "why" list:

Low key and laid back

cooking in the kitchen

football 

guitar playing

Macy's Day parade on TV

lots of great food

no stress trying to shop

lots of great food

family together

warm and cozy fire

watch a Christmas movie

and lots of great food

My husband wants to start a new tradition...annual football game in the backyard. I think he thinks we are the Kennedy's of Kansas. I also think the forecast is cold and dreary!

I've loved this holiday since I was little. We usually spent it at my Grandparents with Aunts and Uncles and Cousins. I never made it to the "BIG" table as I always sat at the "card table" with the cousins. But that was okay. I was special enough in my Grandma's eyes to help in the kitchen and set the tables. I felt important and she let me sit on the counter and watch her and help her make the most wonderful dishes for our meal. She had this white dish that was always handy for her to "pinch" in grab salt for whatever she was making. I never understood how much to put in when you would not measure it. When Grandma passed away, I asked for that dish.

 At Grandma's House

I like the taste of turkey
Any time throughout the year
But it never
seems to taste as good
As when Thanksgiving's here.

Could be it's all the trimmings
That are cooked with it to eat-
But I think it's
eating at Grandma's house
That makes it such a treat!

~Author Unknown

It is in my spice cabinet now. I need to use it more, but am afraid I'll break it. Isn't that crazy?

I don't have grandbabies, but I hope to someday. And if I do, I'm going to plop them on my counter right beside me and tell them about my Grandma while we cook. (Now Lace says I'll be a bossy Gma and make them mind and tow the line, like I did with my own kiddos! She's a little dramatic and tends to embellish! I beg to differ...I think I'll spoil them rotten.)

I think Thanksgiving is for 

remembering fond, loving, memories of the past 

and also 

making fond, loving, memories for that day. 

 A Thanksgiving Alphabet

T...Turkeys, tablespreads, being together,
H...Happiness and homes to protect us from all weather,
A...Aunts and uncles, a reunion in Fall,
N...Nieces and nephews, family members all!
K...Kind-hearted kin coming over for dinner,
S...Surely you'll have fun, but you won't get thinner!
G...Gourds and pumpkins, mouths open wide.
I...Indians and Pilgrims we remember with pride.
V...Very special times-there could even be snow.
I...Imagine what it was like at Plymouth long ago.
N...Never forget how the settlers led the way,
G...Giving thanks and blessing this special day.

Author Unknown

Wishing you and your family a wonderful and  thankful day. Count your blessings, give thanks to our God for everything, remember and be thankful for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and if you have the opportunity....do something wonderful for others.

Prairie Flower Farm Giveaway....Don't miss out!

Now for some fun!!!!! Lets have a Prairie Flower Farm Party!

I will have the party go until Nov 30th.

One Kit and bias tape!

I have also put a Winter All Year Long Quilt Kit together for the quilt for your convenience. It is $20.00/$4.95 priority shipping. It includes floss, red, yellow, green, blue fabric, and muslin. I have a lot made up, so I can get them mailed out soon!

I have downloaded all my quilt squares and am excited to sit and stitch this winter! She is such a spiritual, sweet, special, (did I say sweet?) CHRISTian lady! She always give praises to our God and Lord Jesus Christ.  I am ALWAYS uplifted when I click on her blog! Her words are such inspiration to me. If you haven't met her, you will be blessed to visit her here. Maybe you will win the kit and if you don't, you can always buy the kit!!

Jonah and the Great Fish

Today for Lord's Day sermon, Uncle Don spoke on Jonah and the Great Fish. He said to the "world" it might be considered one of the biggest tall tales in the Bible...but to Christians it is God's Holy Word. 
How can a man live in a great fish for 3 days/3 nights? I don't know...but God does.  
How can he be vomited up and told by God to "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee." 
I don't know...but God does. 
To Christians:
"FAITH is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."(Hebrews 11:1)

"With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26)
 

That's all I need to know! Jesus is my hope and therefore my faith doesn't waiver.

 

Today I Met the Boy I'm Going to Marry..."not what you think...I've already done that!"

My baby performed in her High School Musical this weekend.  It was called The Leader of the Pack...the Ellie Grinwich Story. My baby was Ellie. I didn't even know who Ellie Grinwich was so I Googled her and learned a lot. She wrote and produced many famous songs with Jeff Barry such as Da Doo Ron Ron, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Going to the Chapel, I Can Hear Music, Leader of the Pack...just to name a few. She has practiced 4 NIGHTS/week for 10 weeks.  So the fam has been kept in the dark for a few months.  We knew no lines, no songs, no costumes, no nothing!  We got to watch and it was FABTABULOUS! We were so proud of all of the cast (but especially Ellie!) She had a huge crowd of family there to support her (Thank you everyone for coming! Darb appreciated it so much!). It was a lot of singing and dancing with a band down in the pit which made it even more exciting. Here's some pics to share our weekend with you.

 The Jivettes

 Ellie and Jeff begin their relationship!

 Today I met the boy I'm going to marry!

 Going to the chapel and I'm gonna get married!

The marriage breaks up!
This Momma honestly thought she was having a break down or stage fright or nerves and was ready to bolt from my seat, knock people down, climb over seats, pull my baby off that stage...But oh NO NO NO...this girl was just in character over losing her man! And yes...I'm glad I didn't make a fool of myself.

Da Doo Ron Ron

Thank you Naynie and Auntie L for the BEAUTIFUL flowers!  How sweet!

Dani's 100th Giveaway

Dani at Eagles Wings is giving away some adorable tea towels... 

Stop by!

As I've just hit 100 followers...its time for a giveaway and this one is a goodie...I"m giving away 4  redwork towels....these are so nice....the towels themselves are very high quality..the best you can find with all 4 edges hemmed and a hanging loop....I hand  embroidered them with a vintage pattern of baby birds..sorry the photo lighting is poor...we've had some gloomy days and it's hard to get the lighting right. This giveaway will be only for 7 days and will end next Friday, the day after Thanksgiving., Nov. 26..this will be the last giveaway for the year.....that way, if  you are the lucky winner, you will receive them before Christmas....

Fall Ladies Day

Today was our Annual Ladies Day. The "theme" was SOS (Selfishness Or Selflessness). It was wonderful and so uplifting. We had 3 speakers and my daughter Lacey Jo was one of the speakers. She did an awesome job (I'm a little partial!) It was so heartwarming for this momma to hear her speak and know that God is first in her life and she has grown to be a lovely young lady and  new wife. I'm very proud of her.  We had a delicious breakfast and then ended our time together with our annual Taco Salad lunch which is always a treat. My sister in laws and I giggled because as hard as we tried to keep our taco salad small...it ended up being HEAPING on our plate! HA! It was very edifying and encouraging to be with other Christian women who strive for the same things.  We are all very busy with our individual lives and jobs and families and responsibilities and yet we have a common bond of God our Father and Jesus our Savior. What a comfort to be around these ladies of all ages. 
A scripture and a few pics to leave you with.

Philippians 2:1-8 (King James Version)

 ¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
 ²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
 ³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
 ⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
 ⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
 ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
 ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
 ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

It's Getting Close!!!

Over the River and
Through the Woods
Over the river and thru the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and thru the wood,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh, hear the bell ring,
"Ting-a-ling-ling!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

I remember this poem/song when I was little.  I even remember singing it in music class.  Mrs. Disney would come to our classrooms and we would stand by our desk and sing.  She would bring this small electric stringed instrument and strum it as we would sing.  
Thanksgiving is getting very close and I'm really excited. I really like this holiday...it's low stress and I love the traditional menu of all that food. All the "boys" on my in law side have a tradition of camping the night before Thanksgiving.  It's a MALE thing! Actually I'm glad I don't have to go! The girls and I get up early and put the turkey in and start the cooking. We turn on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and eat cinnamon rolls and have coffee while we cook where it's toasty warm. Then later that night  (AFTER football games!) we watch A Miracle on 32nd Street, and eat leftovers. Love the movie...and then I'm officially in "Christmas" mode!

We generally have the same ole' thing on our Thanksgiving table, but the kids like their favorites and like the traditions. Turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, broccoli/carrot/cauliflower casserole, pie, etcetc....Do you have traditions of food at your table? I just might want to "steal" one of your yummy recipes!!  Do you have a special way to decorate your table?  This year I'll have to do all the pies (YIKES!) My Grandma Vivien always did them and then my mom so I guess the torch has passed. I hope hope hope I can somehow even begin to come close to their wonderful expertise on making pies.
It's going to be a little different this year as my dad passed away in July and my mom is in the nursing home. I can hardly wrap my mind around it. So many of you have gone through this and I know it is just part of it. Not sure if Mom will get to come to our house...but very much hoping.  I have honestly only spent 1 Thanksgiving not with my parents (that was the year my husband and I snuck off for a 10 year anniversary cruise). The past 5 or so years we have moved Thanksgiving to my house as it was easier on my parents. This year will be so different without them and I know it will be hard on my family. We do however have something new to celebrate...and that is a new member of our family. My son in law...Blake!! We are so happy our family is growing and we love him dearly. (And perhaps someday I'll get to have little babies filling my kitchen!....hint hint) :0) I feel so lucky we get to have them for this holiday...I realize I will have to share them with his wonderful family. We usually also get together with my in laws side.  That is a big family (30 now) and it is growing and everyone is expanding into their own little families so it's harder to find time to get together. 
My wish for you my cyber-world FRIENDS is that your Thanksgiving is a blessed and happy one. I hope your family is together and it is a day of joy and blessings. I hope that God is the biggest part of it. I hope when you bow your head in prayer, all your prayers are answered. They are for sure heard. You make my days very special when I get to touch base with you. Your blogs are such an uplift to me. I feel so blessed and I must remember to count my blessings....and you are one of them!

Blessed Femina Giveaway

Found a new blog from another blog!!! Thanks Carrie! That's how this Blogging world works! HA! Jen is having a APRON Giveaway! YEA! Go here!

My heart is overflowing with
gratefulness... for 2 beautiful blogging years.

I have been blessed beyond measure to meet
so many dear ones.

Each and every one of you have gifted
me with your visits, comments, insights
and delightful blogs.... I thank the Lord for you!!

In honor of this Special Week~

I will be hosting a Give Away!

Good Ole' Fashioned Trick or Treatin' Fun

Halloween night for our family is just good ole' fun! We gather at Grandma and Grandpa's for a afternoon/evening of food and fun.  There were about 25 of us and candy galore! The kiddos had fun going out and trick or treating! Here are just a few pics....

 Miss Kansas and Aunt Tan

 

 P King, Aunt Tan and Lace

 

Jenna Bear, Darb the 80's girl, and Naynie the Southern Belle

J

Jockey Dakster and 3 Musketeer R Bob

 Monkey Bubbie

 Momma Shanna and Jenna Bear

 Today is R Bob's 9th birthday!! Haywee Beth loves her Reedie Bob

Gpa Nelson and Baby B

Renaissance Mom (aka PB Kisses blog) and Miss Kansas

Tomorrow is a very important day!! 
Don't forget to.....