2012 Thanksgiving

We had a lovely, casual and relaxing Thanksgiving this year with all the kids in attendance.  Josh and Lily had plans with her mom on Thursday and her dad on Saturday, so we took Friday.  It was our first time to have no feast on the actual day (Thursday) so I did some baking and cleaning and then we ate dinner at Burger King!  Jes spent the whole weekend with us which is always excellent!  On Friday, I roasted a turkey in my new convection oven and it turned out just fine.  We always have the same thing for Thanksgiving dinner and everybody has a favorite menu item.  Dad makes the cornbread stuffing which only he and Jes eat.  (Yuck!  But for cornbread stuffing, I hear his is excellent!)  I make Squash Stuffing Casserole which is Kate and my favorite Thanksgiving food ever!  Josh loves the sweet potatoes with marshmallows (but this year they were "too sweet").  And for everyone, the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls with butter (Josh had eight!) and corn are must haves.  Jes made some yummy fresh cranberry orange sauce which Dad refused to eat in favor of the can shapped glob of jellied stuff.  But I loved it!  I baked a delicious apple pie on Wednesday that we ate on the spot.  I made a homemade pumpkin pie for Friday but it had egg shells in it and was a big disapointment! Next year, I'll try again. 

 

We have so much to be thankful for!

I LOVE those cute cheeks and that handsome beard!

After dinner, the girls played Sequence. 

Softies For Babies!

Ted and I spent the day at Ragsdale's Auction House up Hwy 7 in Dover.  I was so excited when I saw two large bags full of new, hand crocheted baby blankets in beautiful colors! I was sure they would be snatched up quickly and probably go for more then I could pay.  I was wrong.  I got them for $15!!!  All 23 of them! ClaireAnna and I took them to Choices Pregnancy Recource Clinic the next Monday.  What a joy to be able to give something so beautiful to the mammas and babies that are helped there! 

 

First Shot. First Kill

ClaireAnna went deer hunting this year, for the first time, and took this young doe with her brother's rifle in the bottom hay field at 218 yards! What an exciting night!

 

How You Doin?

We finally realized that it was time to find a replacement for Bocephus.  Ted decided he'd like to try a breed new to us called the Maremma.  We found this adorable guy at Iron Star Ranch, in North Fork, AR.  We are so grateful to owners, Greg and Jan, for allowing us to adopt him. 

 

This photo was taken at Iron Star Ranch as we were first getting to know our new pup.

 

He rode on my lap in the truck, all the way home.  When I did put him on the floor, he just climbed right back up.  He's a cuddler!
 

Maremmas are a livestock guardian breed that originated in Italy, so we all decided that the new pup needed an Italian name.  We tossed around several: Vinnie, Mario, Fredo, even Pasta! But everyone finally agreed on Joey. 

As in...Joey Tribbiani!

 

 

I'm sure our Joey we grow up to be just as handsome!

 

I think he's saying it right here, "Hey, how you doin?"

For now, Joey lives in a large pen with two dairy goats who spend the night with him, but go out to pasture during the day. 



Please don't poo in my food bowl, thank you very much.

Joey will guard the goats and the sheep and hopefully, the entire barnyard.  We have no doubt that he will be a wonderful addition to our family!

Come back soon! These goats are only interesting for so long!