A Surprise for Me!

Today for family day, all of Mel’s kids and grandkids, were due to come over along with my folks for dinner. Mel was making my favorite turkey dinner, with chestnut stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, gravy and of course, lots of turkey.
However, when the doorbell rang and I went to open it, thinking it was Taft or Luke, there stood my daughter, Amanda! Oh I was so surprised and I started to cry! No sooner had I stopped crying with happiness then my Uncle George and cousin, Janet arrive too! I was so shocked by this surprise party for me!!!
I am afraid I am a real emotional person. All of this love and caring for me, struck a very soft place in my soul and I cried like a baby.
I have dreamt of someone giving me a surprise party all of my life, but I am such a detective that no one has ever even tried to do this. My sister planned well and I didn’t have a clue!
We had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all of the trimmings. This is my favorite meal and at one point Maria, my niece said that it felt more like Thanksgiving than some Thanksgivings that they’d had. This made me feel even better because here we were, all of the family together for the first time in many, many years and it just felt so right.
I’m still floating on cloud nine right now with so much happiness. I fear I am over using that word right now, but happy I truly do feel!
To end, here are some pictures from my day.

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My Uncle George hugging a teary eyed me.

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Me, Amanda, Uncle George and my mother. (Janet is in the background)

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Taft, Abby and Luke.

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Getting ready to blow out those candles!
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My daughter, Amanda.
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My sister, Mel, Taft, helping me open my gifts and me.
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A very happy me.
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Taft and me.
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My parents, my sister and me.
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Amanda and Janet
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Me with my favorite cousin!
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My parents with me and my daughter.

Going To Visit The Family

I awoke to gray drizzly weather in New Hampshire. Dreading the ride south to my sister’s in such conditions, I made coffee, showered, dressed and left home at 7:30 AM. I’m a “Granny Driver” and I estimated it would take me more than my usual 4 hours to get there.

No sooner hd I hit the highway then I was faced with snow! Great. The snow turned to ice and then to rain, heavy rain. I wasn’t a happy girl.

I’ve never really liked to drive. I hate traffic of any kind, but most especially tucks. So, I live in the country where I don’t see much in the way of heavy truck traffic, but I love my sister so I was determined to make the trek.

By the time I got to the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border, the precipitation had stopped and it was just cloudy. Cloudy I can deal with. I drove on, through endless “road work” areas, and eventually hit Connecticut. I drove by Pam’s mother’s town and I waved! (I did this for you Pam!)

Then I arrived at my sister’s house a mere 3 hours and 45 minutes after I left my home! This is a personal best, time wise.

We picked up my grandnephew, Luke from pre-school and took him out to a kids play place that also served really good pizza. My nearly 4 year old grandnephew snarfed down 4 slices of the pizza! Trust me, we were amazed! The kid is just not that big! We had a grand time with him though and I enjoyed every moment of it.

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Then we were off to meet up with my old grandnephew as he got out of school. Taft is in first grade. He was so happy to see his Auntie Em, and brought me in to meet his teacher, show me his locker and his classroom.

My goodness how the kids have grown, and how fast the year has gone since I have seen them.

Thursday 13 #26

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Why I Am Looking Forward To Thanksgiving

1. Chestnut Dressing. This is a family tradition and both my cousin Janet and I are addicted to this.
2. Pumpkin pie. I think this is my all time favorite pie. Made with a little bit of brandy, Mmmmmmm!
3. Mashed potatoes with butter, not gravy. I know a lot of people like gravy with their potatoes, but not me. Gravy is for the turkey and stuffing.
4. Butternut squash made with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. This year I will have my own squash on the table.
5. Turkey. The best kind of poultry ever. I just love it!!! The day after Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches are the very best!
6. Apple pie I love that too. Let’s just say that dessert has many layers in our house!
7. Cranberry sauce. It is the perfect condiment for a turkey meal!
8. Plum pudding with hard sauce. My mom makes the plum pudding from an old family recipe. It’s fabulous!
9. Gravy. Home made and smooth. (God willing that my gravy will be lump free this year!)
10. Pickles, and relish and olives. We love to have these on the table to dress up the meal.
11. Pearl onions. Not one of my favorites, but Hubby really loves them.
12. Fresh green beans.
13. The traditional, day after turkey sandwich. 2 slices of hearty bread toasted. Mayonnaise and cranberry sauce spread on each slice. About 2 Tbs. stuffing spread on the toast, and then several slices of turkey. My all time favorite sandwich and one I look forward to every year!!!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.



Power Shopping & Lobsters

Halloween was a busy day for me. I used the day to shop. Mmmmm. My very favorite type of sport. I’ve been called a “Power Shopper”. True. Given a deadline and a list of people to buy for I can get the job done in half the time of most mere mortals. Today was just that kind of day.

I was blessed with a beautiful day. Bright sunshine, warm temperatures and great sales. So off I went to enjoy myself. Which is exactly what I did. Osh Gosh B’Gosh, Liz Claiborne, Wal-Mart and grocery shopping too. All of this was done in less than three hours with everything on my list acquired!

It’s quite funny, but I truly am obsessed with Greta and her pregnancy. I realized this when I was leaving Wal-Mart and the alarm went off and I found myself telling the security lady all about Greta, and even showing her pictures!

So, what do you think?

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As I finished up my shopping I looked at my cell phone and realized that Hubby would be about finished at his health club, where he is doing rehab on his knees. I called his phone but got no answer. Oh well. I no sooner had hung up, but my cell phone rang and it was Hubby! I invited him to lunch and he accepted!

We met at a Chinese Buffet nearby and enjoyed a quick lunch and conversation and then we said good-bye. He was off to the dentist and I was off to the Vets to get Greta’s food and then to the Post Office to get the mail.

When I arrived at home Greta met me at the door much the same as she did yesterday. Happy, but a tad frantic.

For our Halloween dinner I made boiled Maine lobster and asparagus! Yum!

Everyone can come on over for some Halloween candy. We didn’t have even one trick or treater this year!

And how was your Halloween?

Doctor’s Report

We drove down to Boston to see Dr. W. on Monday. My appointment was at 1, so we arrived early and grabbed lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, took a walk and then arrived at the office. My eye was tested and examined and at the end of the appointment it was decided that I still have to keep my stitches in. My next appointment isn’t until January, so they’ll be in through the holidays.

On the way home we saw one accident after another. It was rush hour and the traffic was horrendous! I’m glad that Hubby decided to drive me because they dilated my eye and I couldn’t see very well.

We were about half way back when the cell phone rang and Emily called because Greta wouldn’t go out to do her business. All she did was lie around. That got me worrying about my little girl.

We got home and Greta met me at the door with these little cries and yelps. I thought for sure that she was ill. But I got her outside, and then brought her in and fed her. She was ravenously hungry and ate her dinner quickly. She then tried to edge out Fritz for his dinner. So, I decided that perhaps she needed more food.

Greta has finally settled down and relaxed. I sure hope she is okay when I go away on Thursday to see my sister and her family.

Weekend Happenings

Greta plump girl

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Every morning when I get up, I look carefully at Greta and ask her the question we all want an answer to.

“Are you pregnant?”

So far she hasn’t answered. She just looks at me, like I have lost my mind rolls over and then goes back to sleep.

Still, I look at that belly and I see how much she is sleeping and I think that the chances are very good that she is.

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I go to the Ophthalmologist’s in Boston on Monday. She will look at the stitches and the healing in my eye and determine if I can finally get the stitches out. Since the stitches don’t bother me at all, it really doesn’t matter if they have to stay in longer, but I would be thrilled if they could come out and I could see light at the end of this post operative tunnel.

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It was cold and windy here today and we even saw some more rain. Ah, summer is gone and winter is on it’s way. I can feel it in my bones.

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We went to see Flags Of Our Fathers yesterday. What a truly amazing movie. It’s a Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg production (Eastwood directed). I was so impressed with not only the direction, but the cinematography as well. And the acting was great. I’m not one for war movies, but this is a must see.

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Who among us forgot this was the weekend to “fall back” time wise? I admit, we totally forgot and found ourselves up early. It gave me a good excuse to make French Toast!

Death By Chocolate Cake

Strategy. Yes, I have finally figured it out. Do you ever go out to a nice restaurant, eat a meal and then never have room for one of their truly luscious desserts? Well last night I decided that I would be truly clever and eat light, so I would end the meal portion of our evening, hungry.

We were out with my cousin, Janet and good friend, Mary Ellen. Everyone ordered normal meals, but me. I purposely ordered a smaller meal. Salad and an appetizer with three large scallops. It was delicious, but definitely small.

When we finished, Hubby and Janet were both stuffed, but Mary Ellen and I were only marginally filled, so we ordered dessert. She got the cheese cake and I got “Death By Chocolate, Chocolate Cake”, with coffee.

Each bite soothed the wild beast within me. Every moist touch of chocolate frosting sent waves of pure lust through my soul. Yes, this is what life is all about.

I can’t say I will do this each time I go out to eat, but every once in a while…