family

It’s hard to believe that Turkey Day is upon us once again!  I hope you will be enjoying time off with family and friends.  Here are a few great recipes that will be part of our family dinner this year. A couple I’ve made before with great results & a new appetizer. 

1. Roasted Turkey recipe. We’ve been using this recipe for the last 3 years and it never disappoints! Forget the whole turkey and just use fresh turkey breast. This option is quick, easy and very juicy. Carving a whole turkey is so over-rated!

2. Chocolate Bread Pudding with Bourbon Pecan Caramel Sauce. I made this dessert for a dinner party back in February and it was a big hit.  It’s so easy and the best part is, it can be made a day ahead of time.  I’m always up for a time saver!

3. Sausage stuffed mushrooms. A new recipe for this year. I saw it being made on an episode of The Barefoot Contessa and it looks really good.  I haven’t made a turkey day app so this will be a nice change.

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes?

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year and a half since we last saw my brother.  How time flies!  It was great to spend some time together and even though it rained most the weekend my husband and brother were able to play a lot of golf on Saturday.  By a lot of golf I mean 27 holes and that, my friends, is a lot of golf!

Anyway, while the guys were out for a few hours I was able to spend some time on a project that is long overdue.  I bought some fabric during my last visit to Chicago at Ikea with the intention of making some simple envelope style pillow covers and it’s been sitting in my stash ever since. 

I realize this isn’t the most challenging project but it was a project I was finally able to check off my list and that feels good!

Have you been able to check anything off your to-do list lately?

Today I participated in a papercrafting workshop at Red Lead.  I learned about the store through Beth’s blog. It’s a great store but sometimes I get overwhelmed by all they have to offer and I never know what to do with it hence the need for the workshop.

The shadow box workshop was ideal because it combined painting, papercutting, fabric and sewing.  I decided ahead of time to personalize the project with a favorite photo of my grandparents.

Having never taken a workshop on this before I learned that there were quite a few supplies missing from my tool kit but fear not the ladies of Red Lead have everything.  They have paper, 50 kinds of glue and all kinds of vintage images and trinkets.  The list goes on and on.

The thing I enjoyed most was learning some new techniques.  They have some fun workshops coming up in April and although, I’m not sure the finished product is my style I’m still curious to see how it works.

It feels like I’ve been away for a lot longer than a week but simply said…I’m glad I went to England but I’m glad to be home.  It was a roller coaster ride but as I recover from jet lag and process everything that happened I can honestly say it was worth it!

Pearl Close (home of my grandparents)

Each morning my Mom and I went to visit my grandparents.  My mom had already been there for a week and had a great routine going.  We cleaned the house, ran errands, and prepared their lunch before heading out for a couple of hours.  The tasks were minor but definitely things that can be overwhelming to someone that has only been home from hospital for 10 days and slowly recovering.

The weather was the typical English winter.  Cold, wet and cloudy.  We did have a couple of sunny days which is when I got out the camera and took some photos of the town that my Grandparents live in called Chilton.

Local farmers on horseback riding through town

My mom and I were staying in a cozy little cottage on a farm in Kirk Merrington.  It had 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with a kitchen that felt like home away from home.  It was a great retreat from a long day.  Several night we just stayed in and watch telly! It’s a lot roomier than it looks and the view out back was very peaceful yet beautiful.

Meadow Cottage (our home away from home)

View from the back patio of Meadow Cottage

We were able to do a little shopping, and visit my favorite city, Durham, which has a cathedral that’s over 1000 years old!  Yes, that’s right.  It was originally built in 1093.  It was a very cold day and we only spent an hour or so walking around town after meeting my aunt and cousin for a coffee.

Mom in one of the narrow street of Durham’s city center

I know that I will look back on this short week and remember it fondly.  Not only for the time spend with my grandparents but also the time spent with my Mom. No one would guess that they are her in-laws and to me the term sounds silly as they have always treated her as their own daughter. My only hope is that my Gran continues to recover and having seen the caregivers and medical staff attending to her, at the house, I know she’s in good hands. It’s just a reminder of how important life and family is and how we can’t always take the little things for granted.

I will return next week with some projects I’ve been working on while away and the February giveaway is almost here!  Yikes!  I better get crafting!

Goal! III film Well folks I will be taking a break from work, blogging and even the United States for a while to visit family in England. I don’t usually get too personal on my blog but my Gran isn’t well.  She’s been in hospital but is now home and showing signs of improvement.  I feel that now is the best time to go over and spend some time with her.  My Grandad is taking great care of her, and doctor’s say she’s getting better but with her age and condition its unpredictable.

While preparing for my trip I’ve been going through some old photographs and scanning them to save to a cd.  This has always been a favorite of mine.  It was taken while my grandparents were on their honeymoon in 1949. The light isn’t great but I love their attire and sometimes wish we all still dressed this way.