Thanksgivng Day Review

It's been a busy few days around my house and I haven't had a chance to write a blog post until now.  I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

I cooked and baked all day Wednesday and part of Thursday until it was time to take everything to our son Steve's house.  My daughter-in-law, Sharon, made some yummy side dishes [corn pudding, cheesy potatoes and strawberry pretzel jello salad] to go with the turkey, dressing, homemade cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and rolls that I made.  We sat down to eat around 3:00 p.m.  As you can see, there was a bounty of food and no body left the table hungry.

We had a smaller group this year.  Our daughter and son-in-law were in California visiting our grandaughter Tiffany and family, and granddaughter Brianna just started a new job in Nashville so she couldn't make it home for Thanksgiving this year.  Steve invited a young man from church to have dinner with us since he didn't have any family to share Thanksgiving with.

Our son Jeremy and family joined us shortly after we ate.  They came from our daughter-in-law's family's gathering.  While the guys watched football, Sharon got out two totes of family pictures for us to look at.  You don't realize how quickly time has passed until you look at photographs.  My hubby likes to take impromptu shots, hence the 'deer in the headlights' expression on my face!

~ Daughter-in-law Samantha and granddaughter Izzy ~

~ Daughter-in-law Sharon and mother, Sheena ~ 

~ Steve and Jeremy ~

~ Grandson Landon and Jeremy ~

Granddaughter Ellie - Another one of Jerrys impromptu shots!

~ Granddaughter, Brooke, with her cat, Gus ~

After we looked at pictures and allowed our dinner to settle, it was time for dessert.  Our daughter is usually the pie maker but since she was in California the dessert making fell to me.  I made an Apple Crisp in a 9 x 13 dish and Pumpkin Squares [pumpkin pie filling on a baked crust also in a 9 x 13 dish].  

My family loves to play games, so after dessert the games began.  My hubby and I were the first to leave around 8:30 p.m. because I had to get up early yesterday morning to go to work. It was a very enjoyable day with much to be thankful for.

Today was a work day for me as well, so I'm enjoying a quiet evening at home with no work or responsibilities tomorrow except for church.

How did you spend Thanksgiving?

Toy Soldiers and Nutcrackers

My hubby and I took our daughter and son-in-law to Detroit Metro Airport on Sunday for their trip to California.  The passenger drop-off area for departing flights at McNamara Terminal was decorated with Toy Soldiers.  So cute for the Christmas Season.  

I made a quick stop in a Dollar General store looking for candy/cookie tins for Christmas gift giving, and saw the cutest cloth Nutcracker napkins - a package of 4 for only $3 made in India. I couldn't resist and bought three packages.  

I love toy soldiers, nutcrackers and anything associated with the Nutcracker Ballet.  

Harney & Sons have a Nutcracker Blend that's a black tea with chocolate, almond and hazelnut flavors for $16.96 plus shipping.  It's their newest holiday blend and it comes in the cutest tin filled with 30 sachets. I've just ordered two tins - one for me and one for a gift.

And I just discovered Reese's has peanut butter Nutcracker candy.  How fun!

Tomorrow will be a food prep day for me getting ready for our family's Thanksgiving dinner.  I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving as we reflect on our many blessings.

Books

My posts are few and far between these days, but I wanted to let you know I'm alive and well. I've been busy scanning photos for another Shutterfly photo book for my married granddaughter's Christmas present.  She's 33 years old and it wasn't until 2006 that I began taking digital pictures, so that's 15 years of pictures to scan and edit after sorting through all my pictures deciding which ones to use.  It's been a huge, time consuming project, but a wonderful nostalgic walk down memory lane and I know she will appreciate it.

Below is a screen shot of the cover taken from my Shutterfly project page.  I'm hoping I can finish the book tonight.  She was born in 1991 but we only took movies that Christmas. ;-(  I'm going to see if photo prints can be made from movies, but even if it's possible they won't be done in time to go in this book.  

I went into Walgreens this afternoon to have some photo prints made and a book in the photo department caught my eye.  I'm a sucker for books especially ones pertaining to history, so this $23.99 book came home with me.  I can hardly wait to sit down with it with a cup of tea in hand.

It has a chapter on Shopping in Detroit [which, of course, includes J.L. Hudson's], The Thanksgiving Parade, Christmas Cards [before emails, texts and the high cost of postage], Holiday Food and Cooking in Detroit, and so much more.

It almost takes my breath away to realize Christmas is only 35 days away.  So far I've only purchased two gifts so I need to get busy.  Have you started you Christmas shopping yet?

Mediterranean Dining

Yesterday I drove to the area where I grew up to have lunch with some of the gals I went to high school with.  They choose a different restaurant each month and this month was Olga's Kitchen [a Mediterranean chain restaurant].  I like Shawarma Chicken so ordered that in a pita wrap with curly fries. Yum!  It was enjoyable visiting with them and getting caught up on their news and other classmates.  We are at the age where deaths among classmates is more frequent.  So grateful for the blessing of health.

When I left there I made my hour-long journey back home and stopped at the bakery to pick up a birthday cake for my hubby.  His odometer officially rolled over to #78 today and our grandson turned 16.

We met our daughter and son-in-law at another Mediterranean restaurant [Ike's] at 5:30 for Lebanese food.  They serve the best warm rolls with hummus. I ate the lemon lentil soup and Greek salad that came with my entree but brought a take-out container home with the rest of the meal and had it for lunch today.   I did, however, save room for cake!  ;-)

He declared it was a good birthday with much to be thankful for and now he begins a new year.  We were sorry we couldn't celebrate with Landon but we will see him at Thanksgiving.

A Busy Weekend

Happy Veteran's Day! 

Yesterday, following morning worship service at church, we went with our son to Veterans Tribute Park in Oakland Township for a ceremony honoring veterans.  It's a beautiful park established in 2018. The rain stopped long enough for the observance ceremony that began at 1:00 p.m.

We arrived early so were able to get some pictures.  Below is my hubby standing in front of the Air Force monument, the branch of armed forces he served in from 1966-1969.

Dave Sokol, who serves on the Board of Directors for the park, attends our church.  A West Point alumni, he opened the ceremony by welcoming everyone.

A soloist sang "God Bless America."

Our son, Steve, said a few words about the significance of Veterans Day and offered a prayer of gratitude and God's protection.

The event was well attended in spite of the inclement weather.

After the ceremony, we joined Steve's family at P.F. Chang's for a birthday dinner for my hubby.   His birthday is actually tomorrow, the 12th, but we celebrated early with them.

Last Friday night was a gathering of a different nature with four of my maternal first cousins. I'm the oldest surviving female cousin [two are deceased] and several of the younger cousins couldn't make it.  Two who share my birth year but are a few months younger live in California - a bit too far to attend. I took lots of nostalgic pictures to look at and we had lots of fun reminiscing.  My mother was one of seven children, all deceased now.

The two gals standing next to me are sisters, and the two gals seated are also sisters.  I hadn't seen my cousin, Sylvia [bottom right], since 1989 - 35 years, yikes, that was a long time!  We said we wouldn't wait that long in the future!  ;-)

[Tammy, Mary Lou & Sylvia]

[Cindy and Me]

They felt I resembled my mom, and the older I get the more I can see my mom in my pictures.

It was a very enjoyable weekend.

A Halloween Event at The Whitney

The Whitney Restaurant [where I work as Tea Director] had their annual Halloween Adventure on October 30th, 31st and November 1st.  This was the 10th year.  My hubby and I were gifted with two tickets [$199 per person] for Friday night. 

The event started at 7:00 p.m.  I'm never there at night to see the new entrance sign all lit up and the lights inside the mansion shining through the windows, so I couldn't resist taking a photo.

We were told costumes were welcome.  Some guests came in costume and others in normal attire.  My hubby and I wore simple, conservative Halloween outfits.

Friday's event was very well attended and I think most of the first floor dining rooms were used. We were seated in the Music Room where there were only a few empty seats.

Reagan, one of the servers, oversaw the Music Room and was assisted by other servers.

The event opened with all the guests assembling in the Great Hall for an opening toast to the Whitney family.  Since my hubby and I don't drink champagne [or any alcoholic beverage] we toasted with a non-alcoholic bubbly drink.

Then we went into our assigned dining room for the meal to begin.   The Whitney is known to be haunted with documented para-normal activity [although I've never experienced any strange happenings in the six years I've worked there].  I don't delve into the spirit world, but both Mr. & Mrs. Whitney died in the mansion, and for a period of time the mansion was occupied by the Wayne County Medical Society where it was a hospice for tuberculosis patients, some of whom died in the mansion, so there's plenty of fodder for ghost stories - especially at Halloween.  Below is the evening's menu.

I only took a picture of the appetizer [Crispy Shrimp Sticks] which were yummy, and the dessert.  I had begun eating the Caesar Salad, and Red Wine Braised Short Rib with Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes and Honey Butter Glazed Carrots, when I realized I forgot to take a picture.

After our main entree, the Music Room guests went outside to the Carriage House where we went upstairs to tour the second story, which is also said to have para-normal activity by the former caretaker, Grace Whitney Hoff [Mr. Whitney's eldest daughter] and some children. None of them chose to reveal themselves to us during the tour, however.  [Thank goodness!] 

From the Carriage House, we walked over to the Canfield building [a vacant building behind the restaurant owned by The Whitney] where a Magician entertained us.

Then we went down to the basement of the Mansion [which used to be Mr. Whitney's billiard room] where Dye Paranormal, a ghost hunting husband and wife duo, shared some of their experiences in the mansion using their paranormal equipment.

The last entertainment segment took us back inside the mansion to the second floor [which was the ballroom when the Whitneys occupied the mansion] for some musical entertainment [vocal and piano].  The performers were very good and this was my favorite entertainment segment.  

When they finished their entertainment, we went back down to the Music Room for our dessert - an Orange  & Chocolate Mousse Dome, after which the event concluded.

The photo below is Maddie, one of the servers.  Most of them were dressed for Halloween and I wish I would have had time to take all of their pictures.

Below is a group photo of Music Room guests.  When we left the basement segment, Reagan walked us all to the front of the mansion for a photo by the entrance sign.  

It was a nice evening and I hope you enjoyed attending vicariously.  I went home and got ready for bed so I could return to The Whitney the next morning [Saturday] to prepare for Mansion Tea.

 

Halloween 2024 Recap

Sorry this post is a day late, but I was too tired to write it last night when I got home from our son's house.

I made and took dinner out to him and his family yesterday in honor of his 55th birthday. We arrived at 4:00 o'clock and all the food was prepared and ready to eat except reheating the soup [Minnesota Wild Rice - one of his favorites].

Daughter-in-law, Sharon, loves to decorate for all the holidays so her house was very festive. Her table was set and ready for our arrival.

I also made a Spinach & Strawberry Salad, and Marsala Meatballs and Linguine.  If you're not a fan of mushrooms this recipe won't appeal to you, but Steve and his family like them as well as my hubby and me, and they're very nutritious and high in fiber.  The excellent recipe is from Food Network's Giada De-Laurentiis, and is said to be very popular at her restaurant. The linguine is tucked underneath the meatballs. You can't really see the Marsala sauce the mushroom were cooked in, but it's there.  He had enough left over to enjoy today.  Dessert was a Boston Cream Cake - another one of his favorites.      

Brooke has a fur baby named Gus so Sharon made cat sugar cookies in his honor.  ;-)  My hubby had one with his coffee this morning and said it was yummy.

Brooke works at a child care center where all the workers dressed up today.  She was Jessie from Disney's Toy Story.

But before all the trick or treaters started arriving at 6:00 o'clock she changed into a matching outfit she bought for her and Gus.  He was actually the star of the evening.  So many of the children [and some adults too] wanted to pet him, and he allowed it.  He's all tucked under a blanket on her lap so you can't see his outfit, but it matches Brooke's pajama bottoms.  He was so patient while he was being dressed.  ;-)

[Steve, Brooke & Sharon]

The rain held off for the trick or treaters and it was unseasonably warm [low 70's] but a bit breezy.

I only took a few photos of the trick or treaters.  Some of the little kids were so cute, but I didn't ask permission to take their pictures as I know some parents are leary of that.

Couldn't resist this costume on the right!  ;-)

The Whitney Restaurant where I work hosted a Halloween event last night, which will continue tonight and tomorrow night.  My hubby and I are going tonight.  I will try to post pictures.

When we got home last night my two It's a Wonderful Life cookbooks were waiting on the front porch for me.  I glanced through the one written by ZuZu Bailey [Karrolyn Grimes] and it looks fantastic.  She is 84 years old.  The man who got the idea for her cookbook lives in the neighboring city of Troy, MI.  More about the books later...