Day 533 ~ Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a most

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I am thankful for a wonderful family!!


What's coming up?   Hmmm.... 
I think I see another challenge off in the near distance. . .

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 521 ~ Keeping Tradition Alive

Plimoth Plantation

When I was little (60s, 70s and even in the 80s) Halloween showed up in stores at the beginning of October each year... there were even neigborhood bar-be-ques (block parties) for Labor and Memorial Day. When Thanksgiving would come around, it was about being with family, very subtle at that... and Christmas/Holiday decor would go up the night of Thanksgiving.

2012... 
Halloween showed up while I was shopping for school supplies at the end of August... Thanksgiving is given a shelf or two ;) if at all! Except for Hobby Lobby where they really give us Thanksgiving! They have a beautiful collection for sale all of October through November.  {and} Christmas ... well with all it's decor and glory, including Christmas movies being shown on television, "Christmas" items showed up on shelves the moment Halloween did!


I guess the point I am trying to make is that the way holidays are being drawn out has been driven by the retailers.  After all do they ask us when we want the sales?  No.  As time has gone by they have stretched the dates more and more.  It is more about numbers than tradition to them.

As far as my childhood holiday traditions I acquired...  Those are my traditions and if they are that important to me, It is up to pass them on... I do not HAVE to follow the retailer's lead.

I am thankful for tradition!

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 170 ~ Turkey Encore Presentation

I must say that after over twenty-four years of cooking turkeys I have it down!  (wink, wink)  I really do.  Not a one of them has come out less than perfect!  Not  a dry one in the bunch! (knock on wood)

I have roasted, fried and smoked.  All methods have turned out a delicious turkey and, it is still up for debate as to which way is the best.  

Today I roasted turkey number two... poi-fect!  Turkey number two?!  Huh?  (you ask...)

Well...

Eight years ago on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Dean and I found ourselves without any left overs to enjoy on the famous "day after."  As many others do across our nation, we too enjoy the proverbial  "day after" Thanksgiving turkey sandwich with stuffing/dressing and cranberry sauce on it.  One word... Nummmmy!

In more recent years I have added my mom's (mother in law) turkey soup recipe to our tradition on the day after the "day after" (Saturday.)  I have never tasted anything as good as this turkey soup recipe, a family recipe none the less.

So, let me make this clear.  On Thanksgiving I assisted my mom (mother in law) in cooking our turkey dinner (and this year I volunteered to cook Dean's aunt's turkey for her,) by making the green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and onions with white sauce.  Then today Friday I cooked a little Thanksgiving dinner for us so that we can enjoy leftovers for the next few fays.

Did You Know that President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving?

Did You Know that in 1939, 1940, and 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November to lengthen the holiday shopping season?

Did You Know that according to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest turkey recorded was 86 pounds? 

 

I am thankful for the continued love and support my family shows me.

Blessings to all!!

195 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 169 ~ Being Thankful

It's after eleven at night and I am still full from today's Thanksgiving feast!  Wow!  How blessed are we?  

courtesy of Bing images

The turkey was perfect, the mashed potatoes smooth and moist, the green bean casserole was better than perfect, yams? well they were divine, and the gravy, well what can I say? ... it was just right!  and the pies...  out of this world!

How blessed are we?  VERY!

We had a wonderful time.. family and friends, great company... what more can one ask for?  Not a thing.

All well worth getting up at O dark thirty!   

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.    ~  Johannes A. Gaertner

I am thankful for a perfect Thanksgiving!

Blessings to all!!

196 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 168 ~ Happy Thanksgiving Eve 2011!

It's finally here!  Thanksgiving eve 2011...  What will tomorrow bring?

Courtesy of Bing images

With all the preparation underway... the only thing left for me to do is wake up at six in the morning so I can tackle Tom (this is what I always call our thanksgiving turkeys) and put him in the oven by seven... and then off to the airport!  Alysia's flight gets in at 7:30 which after some thought is not a bad time to get in.  At least it is not at eleven or noon!  (wink, wink)

I really love Thanksgiving!  It is all about giving thanks and being grateful for all in your life.  No presents, no sales, and free turkeys!  I also love the fact that most of the supermarkets have some type of a incentive for a free turkey.. most of which is buy $75 to $100 worth of groceries and you get to walk out with your own Tom!  I really hope they never do away with this.

Well, I can honestly say I am ready for tomorrow.  Sure there are a couple of things that didn't get done, which happened to be on someone else's to-do list (and I won't mention any names but he sleeps next to me every night), even so I think Alysia will be comfortable and every one will enjoy dinner regardless.

Courtesy of Bing images

I know, I know... it's just that I like everything just perfect... down to the salt and pepper shakers on the table.  All the bedding is clean, towels and toilets too!  And the actual dinner is not even at my house!  Wait until you see how we set my mom's table tomorrow.  It is absolutely Thanksgiving!

So it is off to bed early.  I should be able to get a good night's sleep being that I stayed up most of last night thinking of what needed to be done today.  (laughing to myself- doesn't take much to amuse me!)

I wish you all a juicy Turkey, perfect mashed potatoes, the sweetest candied yams and the best green bean casserole ever!!  And I won't even bring up dessert.


May you enjoy your family as much as your meal, and may you also know when to keep your comments to yourself and when to chime in!  (that last one is more for me - somehow, my shoe sometimes finds itself in my mouth and for the stupidest reasons too!)

God Bless you all and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.
~J.A. Shedd

God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.   ~Izaak Walton 

I am thankful for the faith I find within me in when I need it the most.

Blessings to all!!

197 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 167 ~ And The Madness Begins!

And...    we're off!!

So the countdown begins to Thanksgiving dinner... for some of us because we are cooking and others... well because they are looking forward to indulging our harvest creations.

With one day, seven hours and counting for my turkey to be delivered, (Yes... delivered.  I volunteered to cook Dean's aunt's turkey this year-  she has her hands full taking care of Dean's ailing grandmother,) the madness in the preparation has officially began.

courtesy of Bing images

From the moment I woke this morning I knew I had to tackle a heavy to-do list just so that everything around the house is nice, in preparation for our house-guest.  You see, I want everything just right!

One great thing about all of this is that I am getting quite a few things done around the house that I have wanted done for a while.  Today I spent my day laying a terracotta pathway to our home, touching up a couple of walls with paint, fixing a curtain rod, a couple loads of laundry, ironing... and on top of that, the car had a car wash and oil change and Calley had a play date! 

PHEW!  What a great day!!!

I wish I could say that I was preparing for the arrival of my sons for the holiday... wouldn't that be the most amazing holiday ever!  Or my sister or mother for that matter- especially since my sister has been saying she is coming for five months.  I was so looking forward to spending the holiday with her.  I am so sad and disappointed.  

As far as my mother is concerned... I am very disappointed that she does not want to spend more time with her family.  There's always something.

Well, I am happy and thankful to say that I will be having a friend come visit for the holiday.  Alysia is a great gal and a great friend.  I really can't believe that she has taken the time out of her busy schedule to plan her visit with us.  I am so blessed to have a friend like her.

So tomorrow comes day two of the madness.  Ai ya yai!  I don't even know how it will go... but I will give it my best shot!

You see tomorrow not only do I have a few more things to take care off on my to-do list, but then I have to help my mom (mother-in-law) with her to-do list, and then finally come back home and start cooking for the big feast the following day.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.  ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

I am thankful that I am part of such an amazing family!

Blessings to all!!

198 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.