All sorts of deadlines are floating around my brain this morning. 13 days until my craft show and 18 days until Thanksgiving. Which means LOTS of to-do lists and lots of busy, busy naptimes ahead.
On my craft show:
*Painting: I have lots of painting to do. I think I am going to stick with slates, baskets and wine bottles. Ornaments are typically my biggest seller, but the lady I am in cahoots with ONLY is selling ornaments, and I certainly don’t want us to be competing.
*Florals: I have about six florals to work on. Large wreaths, swags and a few smaller ones as well. I have a fair amount of dried flowers hanging on my rack so I will probably do one or two strictly of dried flowers and use the rest to intersperse with silks. Working with florals is one of my FAVORITE craft show activities-I could do this all day every day. IF it were not so expensive to do. I always have a hard time giving them up, too.
*Sewing: This category I will get to if I get to it. One of those extra projects by the very miraculous possibility that I finish EVERYTHING else on my to-do list. I have a new fleece to make buntings with. If I get ANY sewing done, it MUST be this. Blues and turquoises frame the bright yellow rubber duckies. Cute as can be. I also may make a few pillowcase dolls. If I can find the doll forms.
*Etc.: I found a lovely candle craft that I may try my hand at as well. I LOVE it!
*Business: I have to print off some new business cards since I can’t be reached in Candor anymore! And of course, the typical pricing and packaging.
On THANKSGIVING:
This is going to be the first year ever that we are all alone for Thanksgiving. I was feeling pretty forlorn about it all, so I decided to invite a family from church. They were unemployed and so couldn’t afford it, and I was sad not to have anyone to share it with. So we both win. Besides, I absolutely LOVE their family.
Now, I am trying to decide how to make this Thanksgiving memorable for our family and to establish our own traditions. How do you all make your Thanksgiving special? I would love to hear your input. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! Oh-and some more advice is needed-about the turkey. Any foolproof suggestions? We are having five adults, two older children and of course-mine. How large a turkey will I need? Thanks in advance for your helpful advice…I sure do need it.
I am thinking elegant yet informal. Right now I am pouring over all the possible books and magazines I can think of, in hopes of finding some elegant but simple dishes to prepare-IN ADVANCE! And some ideas to make the setting enjoyable.
As for me-these are some ideas I have been thinking about to make the day less hectic and MORE enjoyable.
*I am going to make place setting cards for everyone so I don’t have to tell everyone where to sit at the last minute. I think I will write names on a leaf with a gold pen. Maybe. Or maybe figure something out with the MANY acorns EVERYWHERE here!
*I am going to set the table the night before. I did this once and it worked heavenly. No rushing about.
*My mashed potatoes I am going to make in the morning and put in the crockpot to stay warm. There is nothing like making mashed potatoes minutes before the dinner and leaving the kitchen a mess-any possibly your shirt!
*I will have hors d’voirs so that our guests will not be STARVING if the meal is not ready exactly when I thought it would be.
*I plan to have a variety of games available so that after dinner, we can have some fun!
*For beverages: I have an antique beverage warmer that I will fill with mulled cider or hot cocoa. Matt will surely bring out some of his hard cider. I will have a pitcher of water with lemon wedges and of course, some wine and sparkling grape juice. Remember my obsession with glasses? Well-Thanksgiving sounds like a great opportunity to make use of the monogrammed ones I received as a Christmas gift once. I *think* I have enough large ones for water and small ones for wine.
I am sure as time progresses, I will come up with some more ideas but that is what I have planned for now.
Some books I have been looking through are:
Styling for Entertaining by Susie Coelho
The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook by (duh) Beverly Lewis
Country Decorating through the Seasons: Deborah Morrell and Gloria Nicol (I REALLY love this book.)
Autumn by Susan Branch (This is a part of MY collection and I am so pleased it is. I love this book.)
Betty Crocker’s Best Bread Machine Cookbook
Oh-and everything Martha Stewart that I can get my hands on. I just love her ideas.
In conclusion…
Two words for you… EXPECT PICTURES!
Naturally....
11 comments:
I made a really yummy "Apple and Herb" stuffing last year...it also had almonds in it...At our house I like to have lots of appetizers...relish trays everywhere...I am sure whatever you plan to do, you will definately far exceed any of my plans :-)
This could quite be up your alley...though I would never be brave enough to try it...You could get some small pumpkins and clean them out and serve a course of soup into them?
Last year I made thanksgiving dinner for my family and I tried a new way to cook my turkey, it came out so fresh and juicy and it only took 1 hour. I deep fried it in a turkey fryer, which comes with a large pot. You cook it in peanut oil, it was a lot of fun to watch it cook, this should be done outside not inside. But if you choose to cook your turkey in the oven, than May I suggest taking butter and rubbing the turkey with it and cooking it breast side down, the butter helps give it a golden brown color, and cooking it breast side down helps it to stay juicy.
My favorite side dish is Green bean cassorle, which to me is so good.
i hope this helps
Your Cousion
Christina
Along the same note as Wendy's, if you hollow out a larger sized pumpkin, and fill it with a cheap arrangement of "harvesty" flowers, along with a few leaves tucked in here and there (you can use silk if you don't have anymore left around your house) with a long taper candle on either side, it would make for a beautiful, elegant, and affordable decoration for your table.
For your place settings, once again, if real leaves are unavailable use either silk leaves, or cut fall patterned scrapbook paper into a leaf shape for you gold ink- It will be memorable whatever you do, because you put on the best parties ever!!!
Just don't forget the sweet potatoes :)
Hi Rebecca!
My mom did the hollowed out pumpkin to serve stew in. It worked great!
Also, have you seen those bags that you put a chicken or turkey in, put it in a roaster, then put it in the oven? I think Reynold's puts them out. Let me tell you-they WORK. I did that one Christmas when we were alone in MD. The turkey came out very moist and looked like it was from the cover of a magazine. It sure beats opening the oven and basting it all morning! ;)
I say, "stick to the basics" that everybody loves. You've already talked about mashed pototoes. Then you could do dumplin' noodles in broth or stuffing, greenbean cassarole, corn, cottage cheese, rolls, a salad, veggie tray, deviled eggs, olives and pickles. The last four things you can just have out for snacking before the meal. Make your desserts the day before. The greenbean cassarole can be assembled the day before and put in the fridge.
Anyway, I think the main thing is stick with a few things you know how to make well and it'll be great! I think if you do too much "new to you" stuff, then you might feel flustered.
We always have other singles and families for Holidays and making it as informal as possible is always best for us.
Main thing is to enjoy yourself. Don't try to impress, just serve.
I am so excited about this thanksgiving! It only going to be the 4 of us- and I am SO ok with that. Usually for us, the holidays are very rushed here and there from Denver to Divide and back again so I can't wait for this year's holiday where we can relax, watch a few parades, cook together and relax as a family. Ahh. I've been loooking forward to this one for quite a while. I'm finally going to get to brine a turkey (like I've been dying to try) and of course potatoes and green bean casserole, and probably squash puree and I'm also going to try to make a pumpkin cheesecake. Now if I can only get Tim to stay home and watch the kids so I can go shopping the next day- black friday- another one of my favorite holidays! :)
Inviting an unemployed family to share your Thanksgiving. Oh you are such a sweetheart! Hugs...
An AWESOME twist to the usual green bean cassarole...use cheddar cheese soup instead of the cream of mushroom soup. It is divine...we tried it once & never went back to the old way.
I'm sure whatever you choose to do, it will be wonderful. =)
Victoria
Great ideas everyone. Thanks for the input. It is fun to plan-especially with help!
Mrs. Bonnie-with that fabulous idea, you have helped me come up with SOMETHING to do with all these crazy acorns (besides make acorn people!)
Just do what you do best....and then share the snapshots!
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