back and blogging...

Last week, when I mentioned that I was going to be taking a few days off and spending time with family over Thanksgiving, I didn't say that I would be in Idaho during that time.  We left our house to head to the airport at 4:00 a.m. Thanksgiving morning to catch a flight...at 12:30 in the afternoon, we were in Twin Falls, Idaho being picked up by one of my nephews.  Our timing was great in that my brother had a feast of appetizers ready for us as soon as we came in the house.  Do you get the idea that food is an important part of life in my family?

Here is a pic of Brother Tim, the main chef all weekend. 

My brother is a great cook and is he is adamant that Thanksgiving meals not be traditional when they are on his watch.  So, we've had everything from homemade TurDucEn (a turkey stuffed with a duck which is stuffed with a chicken, all layered together with 3 different stuffings) to this year's fare...beef tenderloin encrusted with cocoa powder.   Definitely non-traditional...definitely good!

As usual, there was so much food that I felt like I needed to be rolled out of their house to my parents' home down the street.

Here's a pic of my Mom and Dad, sitting on the hearth "warming their old bones" as they like to say! :)

Obviously, Thanksgiving totally wore out somebody...Smokey the 15 year old cat...this was him on Friday morning, totally wiped out and sleeping in the sunshine.

On Friday, my sister-in-law, Carmen, and I went junking.  We hit a number of thrift stores as well as antiques/collectibles stores...plus a Christmas store and a kitchen/cooking store, both of which were amazing.  I ended up finding some great buys on an old wood frame, some silver salt and pepper shakers (which I make into Christmas ornaments), rhinestone jewelry, zinc jar lids and old glass pearl beads.  All in all, a very successful day.

  I was fortunate to be able to celebrate my birthday while I was up in Idaho.  Brother Tim had engineered a birthday pizza party on Saturday night...he prepared all of the dough and we made our own pizza which he baked in their ovens...definitely a ton of fun.  Here I am (looks like I should have napped with Smokey :)), enjoying my pizza creation.

Here's Vern with a cheesy grin to accompany his cheesy pizza...he really made an awesome pie.  The only downside is that Ashley came down with the flu on Friday afternoon and ended up staying in bed Friday and Saturday...I missed her...and was sad that she missed out on the family fun.

We flew home on Sunday, so it was a quick trip...but definitely a fun one.

I'm currently working on three different projects...look for sneak peeks in the very near future...

Hope you had a fun weekend!

Comments

[Bree]

Happy Belated Birthday and Thanksgiving to you! Looks like you had a fabulous time! Big hugs!

[Pam]

Happy Birthday Carol! Your family is cute :) and that cocoa encrusted beef sounds amazing! I love cooking too and love trying new things - that one sounds like something my hubby would love. Can't wait for the sneak peaks! Selfishly, I'm glad you're home - Lol!

[Regina]

Hi Carol. Happy Belated Birthday. You look Mahvelous!!

I heard about the turkey/duck/chicken thing. Sounds like everything was good. Your brother looks like a happy chef.

Regina

[Carole]

Happy Birthday! Love the jacket you're wearing in the pizza picture. It would have fit right in with the Color My World online class you taught on BPS. Hope Ashley is feeling better.

[paige]

happy birthday sweet carol!
i love all the pictures
xo

[Lori Hunsaker]

Well happy belated b-day!! Nice to see pictures of your sweet parents and other family members

[LenaS]

Happy Belated Birthday to you. Glad you're home safe. How was the weather up there? We'll be heading up there soon by car. We have gone through Twin Falls before. I even did a trip there to see the Falls...wasn't impressed as they had not let the water go at that time. It's a lovely area though. It's about 18 hour drive to our destination, but I will have my son help this time. We are hoping for snow without the cold! LOL! The turkey, duck, chicken, stuffing layer thing sounds intriguing...any pic of that? And choco on beef? What an adventure. I will try to get to your class. Thank You...love the spinners.

[melissa cavanaugh]

Hey Ms. Carol
I can't believe I missed your birthday, I was at SE last night and saw your beautiful spinner... wish I didn't have to work, or I would definately be in class, if you have any kits left, can you let me know? Thanks

I hope this is the best year ever for you... happy happy birthday :-)