The Gigantic Reveal

Last year I thought I would like a little red deer for on my front porch.  I even put it on my non resolution list this year.  But when I was looking for a pattern, I came across a pattern for a moose.  And instead of red deer of any size, this is what I ended up with.

Hoping this gigantic moose will help me win the Dodge City yard decorating contest.

Crossing number 25 off with a big flourish.

Good Cookie Number Two

Mexican Wedding Cakes-Little crumbly cookies also known as Russian Tea Cakes or Snowballs.

Why I made them:  My Aunt Ag used to make these at Christmastime.  I think they are a wonderful traditional Christmas cookie. 

Recipe I used:  Aunt Ag is famous for leaving out an ingredient when she gives out a recipe (not to mention that my mom is currently on the outs with her), so I used Paula Deen's recipe because I trust Paula with a recipe whose main ingredient is butter. ( Like any good food blogger, I am including pictures of some of the ingredients for you.  In case you don't know what pecans or powdered sugar look like.)

 Because these are Mexican wedding cakes, I used up the last of my Mexican vanilla in them.  (I would like a new bottle of real vanilla for Christmas.)

These cookies can be shaped in balls or like crescent moons.  I did some of each, but the crescent moons looked like the slugs that Ron Weasley coughed up when his wand malfunctioned, so I didn't make many of them.  

 And now a picture of the cookies going into the oven, in case you don't know what an oven looks like.

And the final product all double rolled in powdered sugar.

How they turned out:  Just like they should.  

Who ate them:  Not the Goob--nuts again.

Not the STP--wheat flour.  Since these are already on the crumbly side I did not try them gluten free.

People at work that I shared Thanksgiving dinner with.

People who cared for my dog while I worked on Thanksgiving.

My boss, whose husband deep fried my turkey while I was at work on Thanksgiving.

Me.

Finishing This Up

91.  I'm thankful my Mom doesn't use a computer, so she will not see the pictures of the inside of my refrigerator.  Her worst suspicions confirmed.
92.  I'm thankful my parents took pictures of us when we were kids.  Both snapshots and professional pictures.
93.  Thankful for each of my brothers and sisters.
94.  Thankful for their kids.
95.  Thankful that the STP is taking the Goob on college visits.  Thankful for the relationship they have and that they are good car travelers.
96.  Thankful for the Word of God
97.  Thankful for Thanksgiving.  It is good to give thanks.
98.  Thankful for traditions.
99.  Thankful for naps
100. Thankful for dreams.

One Good Cookie

The Pecan Tassie--miniature pecan pies with lovely golden brown crusts and sweet and gooey pecan filling.

Why I made it:
I bought a mini muffin tin at a yard sale this summer.
My mom made these when I was little.
I like them.

Recipe I used:  This one from Southern Living

How they turned out:  Decent.  Certainly good enough to eat.

Who will eat them:  (Not the Goob, because they have nuts.

Not the STP because they are not gluten free)

My small group.

People working Thanksgiving Day with me.

Me.

It's Time

How you know it is time to clean your refrigerator:
Some unidentified person who lives in your house spills grape jelly on the bottom shelf.  And ignores it for two weeks.

And the same or another unidentified person inexplicably smears it on the inside of the refrigerator door.

Seriously, why?  (And why am I showing you this?)

This is the shelf that I didn't think had a problem.  Amazing what a stack of leftovers and a gallon of milk can cover up.

And this is the unidentified actively fermenting food item from the back of said shelf.

Which remained unidentified even on closer inspection.  

But by mid-morning the fermenting, moldy, outdated food was removed; the shelves were cleaned and returned. And I had moved past appalled, through adequately humbled, to accomplished.

 Even the refrigerator itself was thankful.

Thanks Come Easy Today

81.  garage sale finds
82.  a mini muffin pan
83.  online recipes
84.  internet access restored
85.  the Hallmark Christmas movie marathon
86.  a clean refrigerator
87.  carpet
88.  snow
89.  sunshine
90.  waiting and having something to look forward to

Going Seventy

71.  My loan officer
72.  That I don't have a parole officer
73.  that the SLD can see the squirrels out the window
74.  The energy she has to chase said squirrels from the yard.
75.  Weather forecasts, so I can prepare myself for a 60 degree drop in temperature--with blowing snow
76.  Friends who would still be my friend if I changed my name
77.  Friends who help me with my tech questions
78.  Soup in cans--ready to serve
79.  Applesauce.  I think this probably makes my list every year, but I am truly grateful for this addition to any meal
80.  My girls.

I know there is no order to this list, but I am somewhat embarrassed that the girls come in right after applesauce.  Can I just repeat how fond I am of applesauce?

Sunday Evening Thanks

61.  Sunday Night Football with nachos
62.  Pecans
63.  Recipes from Pinterest
64.  Accomplishing things 'on the list'
65.  A husband who loves me
66.  Patience
67.  That Senior year is only nine months long
68.  Grace
69.  Mercy
70.  Snowflakes

Second Half of One Hundred

51.  Spaghetti squash
52.  Silver curls
53.  Warm clothes
54.  Mittens
55.  That my Aunt Mo taught me to knit
56.  That I had an Aunt Mo
57.  That I learned to crochet
58.  That there were older women in my life who taught me that what doesn't look significant right now may well be the stuff of treasured memories and heirlooms when I am an older woman
59.   For my first born daughter who sucked the sugar starch out of the snowflakes and taught me that what doesn't look amusing at the time may well be the stuff of treasured memories and great stories
60.  Laughter

Maybe I'm Thankful

The ballet was delightful, even if my date did not realize he was on a date.  So there was no dinner out.  But I am not crossing number 40 off my thankful list.  Cause I was thankful just for the anticipation of spending the evening with my love.  And he's not the only forgetful/clueless/paying less than full attention one in this relationship.  So I am going to pay him back repay reward him by forgetting the adjective he used after 'shrill' to describe my interaction with him this morning.

41.  The ability to forget
42.  Oatmeal with brown sugar  (maybe I am only thankful for the brown sugar.  I am eating the oatmeal in an attempt to lower my cholesterol)
43.  Hugs from my very tall son (and kisses on the top of the head.  Wasn't it yesterday he was sitting in my lap and I was kissing the top of his head?)
44.  My job (Even if I have to work this Saturday, I am thankful I don't have to work them all)
45.  Kayak rudders (even if none of my three kayaks has a rudder, kayak rudders played a part in getting me to Hawaii.  Gotta love that)
46.  Esther.  And finishing strong.
47.  Cookies
48.  Cherry jam
49.  Homemade cookies filled with homemade cherry jam
50.  Being wealthy enough to have a home and the ingredients for cookies and jam.

A Man, a Plan...

31.  palindromes  (Draw, O coward!)
32.  checkbooks
33.  a stack of bills --marked 'paid'
36.  Lumosity--every day I exercise my neuroplasticity and regardless of my score, it tells me, "nice job!"  Plus it has this page where it keeps track of my brain for me.  How good is that?
37.  tickets to the ballet
38.  A handsome man to accompany me to the ballet
39.  A night off to attend the ballet
40.  Dinner out before the ballet (Not sure the man knows this part of the plan!)

Quick List Tuesday Thanks Giving

24.  Thankful for numbers
25.  Thankful for November
26.  Thankful for sunshine
27.  Thankful for fallen leaves
28.  Thankful for my Bible Study ladies
29.  Thankful for answered prayers
30.  Thankful for couches

Looking for Things

21.  Thankful I did not eat a veggie wedgie last night.  My stomach is upset enough this am without an explanation.  And as much as I wanted to see a veggie wedgie appear at my door last evening, I do not want to see one reappear anywhere this morning.
22.  Thankful for a day off and the STP to spend it with me.
23.  Thankful WalMart is only 60 miles away.  And that I have a car with heated seats.
34.  Thankful I have a wall to hang the STP's antelope on.  (The STP asked if I was thankful for the antelope yet.  Let's settle for being thankful for the wall today.)
35.  Thankful for intestines.  (Clearly I don't appreciate them enough when they are working properly.)

Sunday Thanksgiving

11.  Fellowship dinner
12.  My church family
13.  My pastor
14.  The book of Esther
15.  Worship music
16.  Lazy afternoons
17.  An evening with no meetings
18.  My Sunday school class
19.  People who hold me up in prayer
20.  Memories of Sundays past

Things I wish were on my list:  Fox's Veggie Wedgie and time spent with Don and Julie.

Day 306

The year is flying by.  Less than 60 days left and still 20 out of 54 things remain on the non-resolution  list.  While there has been significant progress on #25, it is time to abandon the list for a time in order to begin a new list.  The Thankful List.  A Ms. Brenda's blog tradition since sometime in the last decade.

Things I am thankful for (with the by-now-you-should-know-this caveat that they are in no particular order):

1.  My beloved  iphone  (seriously? that's at the top of the list?)

2.  My beloved husband (whom I still love despite surprising me with an iphone)

3.  My big room (so I have a place to hang the antelope head)

4.  The veterinarian ophthalmologist (tried to talk the Goob into pursuing this field--couldn't see himself saying 'better here or here' to cats.  Not to mention spider eyes)

5.  The SLD seeing out of both eyes and the end of eyedrops in sight

6.  Having new things to be thankful for every day.  Every year.

7.  The Goob (even if he won't pursue the career of my dreams)

8.  Fresh fruits and vegetables

9.  Fresh starts

10.Kids who have their own thankful lists

Bring it November.  I have my gratitude attitude up and running.