Thanksgiving Throwback Thursday on Wednesday!

Happy Thanksgiving All!!

Thought it would be fun to do a little Thanksgiving Throwback Thursday
on Wednesday!

Starting out with Thanksgiving 2008 -
we went to see the movie Bolt after dinner --
great movie --
I may or may not have caught a teensy nap during the movie! :)

Thanksgiving 2009
Unseasonably warm that year -- loved it!

Thanksgiving 2010

Mr. Tennis and Miss Maddy -- his tie matches her dress!
Adorable!


Thanksgiving 2011

We enjoyed raking some leaves at Thanksgiving in 2011!

Thanksgiving 2012

Fun little photo shoot around Thanksgiving 2012!


Thanksgiving 2013

Jumping for joy last Thanksgiving!!

Wishing you all the very best Thanksgiving!

Constructing a Pot-Topper

Tis the Season . . . 

to start the holiday decorating!

It was warmish on Saturday, so Maddy and I cleaned up

the leaves and disgusting frozen pumpkins from the

front yard and trimmed branches.

We knew the cold would be back

and it was -- by late Saturday!

Soooooo, on Sunday, we headed

over to our local garden center, Earl May, to

put together some pot-toppers.

Earl and his workers had put the greenery together

on Styrofoam blocks.

Then, they had all kinds of goodies to add

to the greenery  -- acorns, ornaments, flocked branches,

colored leaves and berries!

Our job was to do add whatever the heck we wanted!

It was so much fun!

We wished we had arrived sooner so we could

put together more fun greenery!

Definitely marking our calendar to do this

every single year. 

They also provided some hooks so we could place the toppers

on a pot of dirt and secure it.

Last year, I purchased pot-toppers and they cost

at least $10 to $15 more each plus had less add-ons!

We had such a fun mother/daughter afternoon 

of holiday fun!

The Polar Plunge

Baby it's cold outside!!

Brrrrrrr!

We went from 50 degrees to 10 degrees overnight last week!

That was a rude awakening!

There is just no easing into cold weather this year!

And then we had some snow . . . on Saturday!

Miss M was thoroughly disgusted!

While she likes the snow well enough, she really wished for a LOT

of snow and on a school day -- yes please!

However, Maddy and Muffy just had
to get outside and enjoy some
fun in the snow!
Scotties love to rub their faces in snow,
don't you know!

And we were happy to see that Muffy's favorite
bench for terrorizing squirrels that dare to walk
along the fence is still available.
Squirrels beware!

That Elusive "Perfect" Photo for the Card!

Yes, we joined the throngs of

families attempting to get that "perfect" photo

for the annual Christmas card recently!

Even though she is getting older and has more patience with me,  

it can still be a bit of challenge as someone gets bored,

tired, wants to dance and/or do cartwheels. 

When I start to see 

the always attractive "eye-roll",  

 I know my time is up!

While I enjoy dragging her

out for photos, we might still be

trying for that perfect shot, however, the weather

has turned on us!

We knew it would happen and our lovely fall

couldn't last forever!

But . . . who expected ice and January-type

temperatures in November???

Not me! 

So, one of the photos recently taken will have to do!

And I jumped in and got a great sale on Shutterfly today

- so they said anyway.

I feel a bit ahead of schedule this year!

We'll see how long that lasts!

Making any headway on your holiday list yet?

Mini Blueberry Pies for Mom

My sweet Mother's birthday was this past Sunday.

I have been thinking of her a lot lately and missing her so.

Maddy, Mom and me from 2009

Fall was her favorite time of year and one of her (and our favorite activities) was baking pies --
her specialty was apple pies!
Of course, she made the crust from scratch and baked each pie with the
perfect amount of juicy apples and love.

Once in a while my Dad would buy a frozen apple pie he found
on sale somewhere and would attempt to say it was as good as homemade.
She and I both turned up our noses at those!
There's just no beating one of her homemade apple pies.
You should have tasted her homemade dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls!

So, in honor of her birthday the other day,
I made . . . mini blueberry pies!
Although they looked a bit messy,
they were delicious and I know she would have loved them!

Recipe and directions from the Pioneer Woman.

My Mom would have loved her and her fun cooking show!

Thinking of you on your birthday and every single day Mom.

You are loved and missed.

It's Friday - TGIF

Yippee - it's Friday!

Just a few random thoughts and updates from me today.

Jane LOVED these very cool works of art in the bear area!

Last Friday - one of of the coldest days we've had

so far, Maddy and I headed to 

the Number 1 zoo in the country -

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo -

with Catherine and the little kids!

Even though it was cold and windy initially -

we had a great day!

The zoo has plenty of indoor exhibits and that saved

us!  The aquarium there is world-class!

First time that I've ever been in without a thousand other

people!  So cool!

We also saw some favorites  - the Big cats

and the bears!

It was a great outing! 

 Thanks for inviting us to 

tag along Catherine!

And, I leave you with this --

 Cboo at Halloween! :)

What you are doing this weekend?

Make it a fun one!

Hello November!

It happened again -- I blinked and 

October was over 

and 

November was here!

We had a definite taste of November and very

chilly weather on Halloween! 

We are talking the 20s people!

You know what that means . . .

time to get out the vests with furry hoods and pull

on the comfy and warm boots!

Muffy has been a little under the weather, so

we took her on a fall photo walk Sunday afternoon.

She kind of enjoyed the walk, but

she is not a fan of the wind blowing 

leaves around! 

The wind makes the terrier in her want to fight those wild leaves!

You know what we love about November?

There are still some leaves on the trees and Thanksgiving and family 

and pumpkin pie and feeling thankful!

Hello November!