My First Turkey

I am so impressed with my efforts today. At Thanksgiving we got a turkey (on sale, yippee) and since we ate with friends we did not cook it right away. It had been thawing in the fridge for a couple days and today was the day. Out of the fridge it came and into a bag (thanks "H") to cook. I'd never used a bag before.. heck I never made a turkey before... My DH, ever so brave pulled the items out of the birdie, and into the fire it went! Three hours later, concerned about the timer thingie not popping out... thoughts of cardboard, turkey jerkey, and various other deserty objects...I checked the birdie many many times til.. finally POP the thingie went. Out it came and it looked great but the test was still ahead. DH carved and sampled as the job was completed. The birdie passed the test not a dry bit in mouth! Yay. Mashed potatoes and stuffing completed the meal. "H" I forgot to use the potato water in the gravy. Doh. The gravy turned out great too. Yay! So needless to say we ate well today and the remains are on the stove simmering away making stock.

I am thinking soup tomorrow or the next. :)

Now I've got to run and make peanut butter cookies for a Christmas meal tomorrow at DH's work.

Remind me to tell you about a score I made yesterday at Goodwill!

Progress

Wrapping is done. Yay! Now the packaging and mailing. I am on the hunt for one more box. My mother, at Christmas time is a menace, as she always tries to guess (and often is correct) her presents before she opens them. This year I predict I have her... she will have several that she will not be able to guess I know it I just know it!

Here's a picture of our tree. By day....By night.... Oh so pretty.

It was too cold to spend any length of time outside today. We saw a variety of temperatures on the way to church... anything from 10 above to 14 below... who knew what it really was. It is saying -9 now. Brrrr.. It sure is pretty tho - we got some snow :)

Africa Update

I should be wrapping my pressies but alas I am on the computer instead. I had to update the background. Fall seems as tho it has flown by and the snow about to be falling outside is signifying that even tho the calendar doesn't say Winter yet... Winter is here :)

A little more than one and a half of us can go to Africa now! Yay. I had a fund raiser jewlery party last night. Four lovely ladies attended and I think all had a wonderful time. Money was raised for the mission trip AND some shopping got done. "S" was our jewler and she donated her time and profit for this show to the mission trip. She has been so very generous as is her company, Premier Jewlery. Please support them if you can. http://www.premierdesigns.com/index.php
Sparkles Sparkles Sparkles galore.

Today I helped a gal who is working on a Christmas party for approx. 70 senior residents of a nursing home in the area. We packaged up pressies for each and lots of goodies! I sure hope each person likes their gifts and can feel the love that went into choosing and wrapping them.

Thank you to each and every one of you who has contributed to the Kenya fund so far! We could not do this without you.

Let it snow!

ok, I've been busy...

Not much of a great excuse but I have been busy.

On a completely random note... we've been buying limeade from the store already mixed and ready to pour. Yum! I got to thinking.. I bet I can make some of that and do it for cheaper... so I am now armed with recipes and I will be getting some limes tomorrow.

I think I will be trying this one:
http://laylita.com/recipes/?s=limonada

Limonada
2 limes (or lemons) (or mixed) quartered
8c cold water
1/2 c sugar
--in blender: toss in limes and 4c water and sugar - blend til frothy/foamy - strain - add remaining 4c water -- serve over ice MMM good.

the runner up is a recipe for concentrate: http://www.cookingforengineers.com/recipe/66/Limeade

to make the Limeade Concentrate:
1c lime juice (about 6 limes)
1.5c sugar
1.5c cold water - mix sugar and water while heating - then add to 1C lime juice
this is your concentrate

the Limeade
add 1c concentrate to 2c cold water - mix and serve.

I will report back!