Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Before

This year our turkey was only 26 pounds. It was finished in just a few hours.

After

Meat's back on the menu, boys!

Little orange guys all over the place

Carving. One of many of my fondest memories of Pop (FIL) is Thanksgiving and carving the turkey

Lodi, CA wine

Cheers!

Walking the neighbor's horses back...

Beautifully plump doe

I received a beautiful gift box of samples from a dear woman after I was unable to attend her craft fair. I should post all the items but somehow I didn't get a full photo. This table runner is adorable.

Prepare ye the way... for Advent.

Setting up our rather large Nativity set. As a wedding gift we received a beautiful Fontanini 5" Nativity set from a group of people. Beautiful! Every year since (now 25 years!) I have added to it (and we have been given gifts) and now we have a good sized Bethlehem. Every day in Advent we put up a couple/few of the villagers. The child who puts them up has to tell a story about the "person" and his relationship to the Christ child (or the Passion)

The palm trees need some work so we will make new leaves.

Then we made some Advent Peg People (Saints)

Rather than the tedious painting we opted for Catholic Icing's beautiful artwork that we would simple Mod Podge on. I couldn't find our Mod Podge so I googled how to make it at home. SIMPLE!
Homemade Mod Podge:

1 cup elmer's/craft glue

1/3 c water

Stir until incorporated. Voila! Done! Worked beautifully!

Making some really nice buns.

Before Thanksgiving

 

Last of the dental appointments. Cool dude.

New York meals (though I can't remember actually eating these things when I lived in NY.

"Uncle Pastuso, they're ripe!"

NY cereal

I was rather disillusioned by how many Christmas decorations were up at the beginning of November.  I suppose with covid everyone wants the year over faster? 

The kids are working on their "Clue" movie. 

Watching the plays (see other post for pictures from the play

SERIOUSLY! Who in their right mind...? 😝

I was cleaning out my handy rolling cart that has (supposed to have) school supplies on it... seriously... a circular saw blade? Hasn't come in handy yet for school...

Seton home study has a great series of DVDs for art classes. These pencil drawings were part of the program. 

I felt very safe at the bank drive-thru. Video drive-thru. 😒

What beautiful cupcakes! I wish I could decorate like this!

HFH homeschoolers gift fair

We brought back some Brussels sprouts. Marigold loves them especially raw. I like them baked in olive oil and then drizzled with balsamic vinegar

Hunting season! There was some confusion on which way was up.

Talented Belladonna made stockings for the wedding couples for their wedding gift.  They are so beautiful!

Eowyn is a catechist at our church. She's so diligent and goes the extra mile. She was making them advent wreaths.

We enjoyed a delicious meal thanks go an extremely generous Christmas gift (from 2019). 

We had a huge meal with leftovers for 2 more meals and we still have money on the gift card for a date.

We had our first (significant) snowfall that stayed for a day.

FAINT OF HEART, SKIP THIS BIT OF FARM LIFE....

Then it was butchering time. We butchered 10 turkeys (sold 6). One of the kids took these photos.

FAINT HEARTED MAY RESUME HERE....

Pippin, Bilbo, Poppy, and Marigold all enjoy a good meal of chicken gizzards, and hearts. The rest of us at BBQ.