November 23, 2015: Looking Back

 I posted a blog entry each day for the entire month of November 2011, being reminded of this thru social media with those time hop reminders. You know those ones that pop up daily to remind you of what you did on this day, in this year, or that year. It's been fun to look back and be reminded of those memories. Truly something I have missed. 

Life truly does go by so quickly. So much has happened over the years, things I should have been documenting all along. But then you hear things that discourage you, and disrupt your writing habits. Words that make you feel vulnerable and suddenly just a bit anxious about sharing with readers. There also comes a time when you tell your heart to write anyway, because this is my place to document my memories, my life. 

 
 So I'll sit and remember....
My family has grown so much.
                                 
                                      Tonya and her family. Laci 6/Mia 4/ Noah 2
                                                  (May 2015)
                       
                                                         

Kristina and her family

Harper 2/Brooklyn 1

(September 2015)

                                                  Beth and Momma (me)
                                                     on her wedding day
                                                            (June 2014)

 I am going to try again. Maybe not every day, but as often as possible. 

It's chilly outside tonight and there is a warm fire burning in the wood stove. I'm making plans for Thanksgiving, or ThanksFamily, or whatever one chooses to address the 4th Thursday in November. 

In my home it's a time to spend being together and looking back on the past year and sharing the things that we are thankful for. It's about slowing down and catching up with one another. It's a time for being held close, and letting those we love know how very much they mean to us. It's for remembering those from the past, keeping them alive in our hearts. It's for creating a haven for love to grow and hold us close for the days still yet to come. My home is filled with love, laughter, family, friends, and really good food. In trying to keep up with 'preserving a past to be proud of', it's my hope that each person takes a few memories home with them to store up in their hearts. Traditions to carry on for the future generation. The little ones too will remember these times, and it will teach them that home is where you find your very being, within the love of your family, and these very moments shared together.                                                           

                                                                   

                                                                     

The Girasole Lady

Remembering November, and Other Thoughts

If one word could described November for me,
 it's Plenty. 

*We had the precious addition of a Gran-SON, yes a BOY, on the 13th.  

Noah Bryce Edwards. 

*Mia had a trip to the ER for respiratory distress, Bronchitis.
she's fully recovered and feeling like her perfect self now

*All the Gran-kids had been sick with colds. 

*I've been watching Harper 4 days a week, she's BUSY and has learned to WALK.
She will be a year old on the 22nd!!!

*I almost warded off two attempts of the cold virus attack on myself, which sadly ended in a relentless cough for 2 weeks. 

*My baby, Beth, turned 27 on the 12th. 

*My sis, Jen, came for a weekend visit (pre-Thnksgiving) the first weekend in November.
Together we put up 3 batches of Pomegranate jam.

*I planned and executed a very successful Thanksgiving Turkey meal,

 -cooking for somewhere around 20ish adults and 6 babies-

*I cooked 2 turkeys this year- one 23lb and another 12lb
(which we demolished for turkey sandwiches on Friday) 

*I repeated the same hustle and bustle for a Saturday Ham meal.  

*Not only were the usual family members able to be with us this year, we had an extra special visit from my cousin, his beautiful wife, and their adorable 6 month old baby girl. 

*My brother, sis in law, two nephews, and my Sis in laws Mom, were able to join us this year as well.

*I cooked.

*I cleaned. 

*I took care of people.

*It's what I do. 

*It's who I am.  

*We finished the back porch addition, just in time for all the festivities, 

the weather was amazing, and we were able to fully enjoy the extra space outdoors for socializing and eating. 

*Our home was filled with love, laughter,and loved ones, making memories to last a lifetime. 

*I couldn't have asked for more. 

*Well maybe except, that I have absolutely NO pictures of any the above.
It just wasn't in me this year to take the extra time out for picture taking.
-unless you count the turkey brine in the stock pot that I made on Tuesday evening-

I started out with the best of intentions...
 Yep- it's true.

Right after Thanksgiving the weather turned COLD...

It seems each year in November I spend a fair amount of time in thought to myself.

I thought about how the last two plus years have been at home since leaving my office job...

I thought how I'd noticed the shadows in my home, as the sun changes them from day to day, especially in the late afternoons. Something I had not taken the time to notice while I was busy working.
I know that must sound a little weird, but in the absolute quiet and stillness
(you know that moment that rarely happens)
I notice how the inside looks, all the while barely noticing it for so many years.

I thought about sewing, quilting, gardening, books, and my family and all the babies that surround my daily life.
That how when I left my job I had only one gran-baby, and now I have FOUR.
Laci-4
Mia-3
Harper-1
Noah- 1 mo.
It's only been 2 1/2 years since then.

I thought about people who have passed through my life,
some staying that I thought would go,
and others drifting that I thought would never leave.
Sometimes, it's painful.
 I learned that this year.
It's ok, I'm ok too.

I thought about some changes I would like to make for myself.
Not big, just small things.

Learning that I just cannot be ALL the things.
Each night I pray for kindness, patience, and compassion.
Each day striving to do better than the day before. 

I thought about spiritual things....
am I religious person?- No I am not
am I a spiritual person?-yes I am
Is there a difference?
To me there is..
I personally do not feel the need for an external validation of my spirituality.
Does that make me a bad person? - No-
It makes me a quiet person...

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands. 
~1 Thess. 4:11

The Girasole Lady

This Fall

This Fall, so far, lots of things have been happening here at Girasole Farm. 

We are patiently awaiting the arrival of Gran-baby #4- a BOY! 

I suspect he will make his grand entrance this week or next. 

We're still working on the back porch addition, finishing up the roof. We have the posts set and the cross beams up. It's been a work in progress that's for sure. 

Caveman's last day of work for the year is November 15th, and he will return to work on January 6th. 

This is the time of year when the long, long, work days of Summer really pay off. YAY! 

We've collected wood from the mountains, and officially had our first fire in the wood stove just a few days ago. 

 I spent a day baking a cake with Laci and Mia. 

I can cook a mean pie, but cake..well... 

I'm not so good. 

I can certainly make a tasty cake, but let's just say there is severe lack in presentation.  

In my cookbook obsession, I purchased this book on cakes...

Most of the recipes make nice small 6" cakes. 

The pans used are 6" round, 3" deep, although the only pans I could find were 2"deep. 

Isn't that cake on the cover lovely?

Simple, clean, and beautiful. 

That's what I tried to achieve...

but it didn't turn out so well...

Yummy none the less. 

I had positively adorable helpers...

Mia

Laci

We had a really great time together! 

That is what really mattered. 

Then there was Halloween...

 which consisted of a Butterfly
(Laci)

A Little Stinker Skunk

                                                                                                                    (Harper)

                                                                          A Ladybug

(Mia)

 Ryan, Tonya,

Laci and Mia

Kristina and Harper. 

In other non-pictured news-

Cousin Aletha came for a visit. 

I put up 3 batches of Pomegranate jam.

I painted  and re-decorated the Hall bathroom.

My sis and her boys came for a unexpected, Pre-Thanksgiving visit, this past weekend. 

My head is swirling with all sorts of ideas for Thanksgiving.

We are blessed enough to have some extra special family coming to be with us this year. 

My home will be full of family, friends, and LOTS of babies this year. 

Our hearts, as always, will be filled of  love, contentment, and peace. 

I see skies of blue, 
And clouds of white. 
The bright blessed day, 
The dark sacred night. 
And I think to myself, What a wonderful world. 

-Louis Armstrong-

The Girasole Lady

Post Thanksgiving Morning

Good Morning

Another successful Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, good food, and good times. 

I'm in low gear this morning.

Caveman has already headed up to the mountains, with his brothers, to cut firewood. 

Us girls...we have a shopping trip planned later today.  

We'll be heading downtown a little later on, nothing big, just fun local shopping.

We are not ones who brave the early bird crowd and shop. 

The sun is brilliant this morning, and even though the temperatures will be cool, it will be a lovely Fall day for strolling the street(s) in town. 

We'll feast on left overs this afternoon, and enjoy this precious time together. 

The Girasole Lady 

   

Getting Ready For Thanksgiving

This week has been a busy one for sure. 

I love the time leading up to Thanksgiving. 

I've spent the past few days putting some TLC into my home,

cleaning, rearranging, and adding some final Holiday touches here and there.

My sister and little boys are staying here visiting for the entire week. 

We've been scheming crafting and decorating ideas together.
Today we all went to Kristina's to set up Harper's Nursery.
Tomorrow there will be pie baking.

♥ Happy Thanksgiving ♥
The Girasole Lady

November 24th: Thanksgiving

My heart is full, along with my tummy.

A picture says a thousand words, which is more than I can say tonight.

Just a few of my favorites pictures for today. (more picture taking tomorrow)

 Kristina. Brandon, my nephew. My sis Jen (Brandon is one of her 2 sons and she is having another son-due in March!)

 Tonya and Baby Mia

 My sis, Jen, and her husband Robert. (My sister wants everyone to know she is 6+ months pregnant and doesn't always look like a big red bouncy ball!)

 My mom, Sharron, and Beth.

 Brandon again.

 Kristina and Baby Mia (the stickers all over the window are courtesy of Laci)

 Beth.

Maverick

Laci-tuckered out after all the festivities of the day.

More tomorrow-I'm off to sleep now.

The Girasole Lady

November 20th: A Heart Full Of Thanks

I can't remember where or when I first read this poem, but it remains one of my favorite.

A Heart Full of Thanks

For November days and steady rain

Snow and sun and gathered grain

For pumpkins in a wagon

Skies dark and bright

A field full of broom sedge

Orange in the misty light

For family and friends

And matters of the heart

For joys and sorrows----

And courage to take part

For cold winds and warm fires

A cat on my lap

For feasting and foolishness

And a child taking a nap

For good times and bad times

For the time that lies ahead

For all the gifts of life

And love not left unsaid

Please join us for a family Thanksgiving

Friday November 24, 2006

In November 2006 I sent personal Thanksgiving invitations to each of my family members.

I knew everyone was already coming, but I wanted them to know how much it meant to be together as a family.

I think I'll use it this Thanksgiving too, in one way or another.

The Girasole Lady

November 19th: Turkey Time Line

I use a time line when preparing my Thanksgiving dinner. I write my time line beginning with the time I want everything ready to eat, and write it out backwards. I read about this in Martha Stewart magazine,  it really helps to keep everything on task and run efficiently. 

I cannot tell you how it helps to keep me focused, and really lets me enjoy the time with my family and friends. I literally tape the schedule on the cabinet or fridge, that way when someone pitches in to help they know exactly where we are in the process and what needs to be done and when.

Another thing I started doing a couple of years ago was to make the mashed potatoes in advance and then keep them warm in the crock pot. I use red potatoes and mix them with butter, sour cream and cream cheese.

I brine my turkey for 24 hours before cooking.  This is the recipe I use for the brine and cooking.

I'm very traditional when it comes to Thanksgiving meal. It's turkey, stuffing (Grandma's Stuffing from the Susan Branch Autumn cookbook) , mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh bread, cranberry, olives and a green salad. Oh yes- Pumpkin pie & whipped cream. No flairs or fancy stuff.

This morning I grocery shopped for just about everything we need. Now I'm ready!

(Thanksgiving table 2009)

I am so looking forward to getting all ready for family to arrive.

Yum- pies and breads to make, even all the cleaning and tidying. Putting the little personal touches in place to make it all the more special.

"At the table one never grows old"

The Girasole Lady