THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

From our home to yours, May you remember the Lord and celebrate all He has blessed you with each day, and tomorrow as we celebrate Thanksgiving as a nation blessed by God. Enjoy your family, friends, and strangers as you prepare or take part in sharing your abundance.

Blessings,

Mrs. Mac

Political Correctness Gone Mad

As seen in my local op-ed pages this past Sunday:

PC: 'Turkey Day' a bone in the Gullet ... "On Nov. 27 our nation will look back on its history, look around the table and celebrate Thanksgiving. But not the folks at the bank in the Prairie Shopping Center. Their billboard substitutes the words "Turkey Day" for this national holiday. I called and asked why. The answer: Using the word "Thanksgiving" might be offensive to someone. Their preference is to substitute the commonly consumed main dish for the name of the holiday. What's next, Happy Boxed Chocolates Day for Valentine's Day? Happy Fruitcake Day for that other holiday "PC" people shudder to mention? If you think "Happy Turkey Day" is more of an insult than "Thanksgiving," please let all food-naming-substituting businesses in town know that North Idahoans are still in favor of gratitude on November 27." by: A.H. CDA Press 11/23/08 Coeur d'Alene

Saturday's Menu

1. sleep late (the Mr. had Nathan duty last night, PTL)
2. visit the library with Nathan and throw in a trip to McDonald's
3. clean house
4. take a nap
5. read a book
6. take a bubble bath
7. do some laundry
8. read the paper
9. make dinner
10. go to bed

As you can see, I have a very 'productive' day planned. I was happy to read that Cheryl received our very valuable Sisterhood Scarf. To all of you with snow, enjoy it, play in it, make snow ice cream while it's still clean and white. Have a great weekend. Hugs

Things That Go Bump and Hiss in The Night

Question: How far (is too far away) from the back door should the outside trash can be?

Answer: When things go bump and hiss and scare the bajeebers out of ya and you have to walk a ways in the dark ... is too far for me!

Living in the North Woods away from city lights affords a person great star gazing opportunities. It also makes for a scary trip to the trash can after dinner in the dark autumn sky. I must first turn on all outside lights, mind you no flood lights, and still there is a path with forty feet of darkness on the nightly trek. Nerves must be mustered up and eyes must adjust to the lack of sunlight to scan the woods for wild and woolly creatures hiding in wait to do .....what? Last week it was a strange horse snort of a sound coming from behind the garden plot. I presume this may have been a moose and turned back inside. Last night, I called in the dawg for her supper and nightly bedie bye routine only to find her sad little face with a few gashes below her eye. This I presume came from one of our neighborhood hissing does (as in female deer). I know you're thinking I could take out the trash in the morning, but by the end of the day it stinks. If I leave the bag in the garage, the dawg will have a midnight snack. So you say, just move the trash can near the back door ... but then it would be too heavy come trash day to wheel it through the landscape rock in the backyard. Hubby is working the night shift. So I'm just about outta options. Tonight I just might be packin a pistol ... sshhh.

I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety.
Ezekiel 34:25

What's Cooking?

This week I've been in the kitchen making batches of delicious beef jerky. The process is very simple and with my convection oven's drying setting, takes very little time. I usually wait until I can purchase London broil on sale to use. The meat is sliced thin, then marinated 24 hours. From Cabella's I have purchased stackable drying racks for oven use.

Chicken stock is easy to make also. When I purchase twin packs of whole chickens from Costco, I cut up the meat and repackage in smaller portions for the freezer. The chicken backs are saved and frozen separately as well. When there are at least eight backs, they are turned into a delicious stock by simmering with celery, onions, carrots and herbs. The liquid is strained and defatted, then stored either in freezer containers or canned for the pantry shelf.

Photos: chicken stock simmering, beef jerky piled high for brief high heat temp for food safety.

Truly Thankful

Here it is almost one week before we Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. Yesterday I was watching the food channel to get some ideas for preparing dinner next week. It struck me funny (in a sad sort of way) that the host was sitting around his table telling his friends he was thankful for being so 'lucky' ... on and on about his good luck. Now this host might have actually meant blessed ... but because he's on TV used the word luck (let's hope so). To have luck means you have no faith in God; you just happen to fall into good space at a good time in the universe. With the way secular values are becoming predominate in our society, we need to be shouting out each and every blessing God has given us. Don't let our collective Christian voice be snuffed out in the 'new world' ... these are fighting times.

"The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God. "

Psalm 9:16-17 (NIV)

Sunday After Thoughts

Three weekends ago, the Mr. and I went to a local church we've visited before. Mr. Mac actually attends there somewhat regularly. I went there a few years ago and left bawling as there was not a place for Nathan. So on our visit we stopped in the 'cafe' after the service for a coffee drink (seems coffee and Christians go hand in hand these days ;) ... there I met a mom with a special needs daughter that hangs out in the cafe during the service. The worship and message are piped in and there's a TV screen too. She encouraged me to come back with Nathan ... so today was the day to give it a try. He was not willing to go in for worship ... too loud ... so we sat on a picnic table outside in the cold until that was finished. Then Mr. Mac found a booth/table where Nathan became comfortable and we were able to listen to the Bible study. A little bit of bribing was involved to get him inside ... but he managed just fine. God is always so good.

Sunday Thoughts

I'm wondering if Barack Obama is having second thoughts about what he's stepping into. I'm also wondering if John McCain is a little bit relieved that he didn't get elected. What a financial mess the new president will assume once in office. He's not my choice for president, but he surely needs all the prayers he can get. Take time today to pray for our country's leaders both outgoing and incoming. Pray for the jobs that will be lost in the current financial tsunami and that we collectively learn from this debacle. Pray for our troops in far off lands serving our country. Pray for God's wisdom and peace to reign.

Just Clean Up Your Own Messes

Here's what I found out on the counter this morning ... after going to bed with everything in its place. I wonder who ..........

House Keeping Survey

Update below
Just out of being plain nosy ... how easy or difficult is it for y'all to keep a clean house? I know we live in a lackadaisical society ... you can see signs everywhere from the way we dress, keep up our cars, style our hair, etc. Did you grow up in a clean or messy environment? Were your clothes, sheets, hankies ironed each week? Did your family have a cleaning routine? For example: Monday..washday, Tuesday..shopping, Wednesday..bathrooms/floors, etc. Our lives are more complicated now even though we have more gadgets to make it easier (dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, etc.).

I am a full time, stay at home wife, mommy, grandma and my cleaning chores are endless. I can only imagine how these chores get piled up for those of you that work outside the home AND have families to take care. In our disposable, get all you can get society, do you think that less is more?

Tomorrow I'll share the way it was when I was a child and we can compare notes.
November 13, 2008
Today I made a conscience effort to 'put away what I got out' ... and clean up each and every mess as I made one. You know what ... even with interruptions ... watching grand baby ... running errands ... etc., when I thought about the whole process of being tidy and acted on it, everything fell into place today. I grew up in a home that was organized and cleaned by schedule. Pop was a drill sergeant and kept us on our toes. Grandma was set in stone for routine but made her work seem effortless. Never complaining ... just had a job to to and did it. Sometimes I find myself needing to clean off some of my 'plate' to allow the proper time to make my homemaking skills count and be consistent. Hubby will be pleasantly surprised to not find one cup in the sink when he gets off work late tonight. Let me see come morning what 'junk' he leaves setting around when I get up. I may have to get tough!

WWII Letter to H.K. in honor of Veteran's Day

3-3-45

United States Navy

My Darling Daughter H.K.,

Haven't had a letter from you for quite a while, so better get busy and see what's the matter with you. I got the one you sent me with the pictures in it ... and I think they are swell. How did your skirt fit and did you like it? Tried to get one that had the anklets and bracelets to go with it but couldn't find one. Why don't you sit down and write me a nice long letter about how you are coming along in school and about your dancing school. It's so hot here it's hard to write without sweating all over the stationary. Grandma C wrote that she sent you a picture. I had one taken with a friend of mine so will send it to you. It isn't so good, but maybe you can make out who it is. Tell mother I will write her too. I won't be able to write as often from now on, at least for a while. The other fellow in the picture is our quarter master and lives in New York. I showed him the pictures of you and he thinks you are some kid. How's Betty and Aunt Junie and Art? Tell mother I had a nice long letter from Uncle Earl not long ago and Lynn had been sick but is better again now. Haven't a lot of time to write now, but will write you again as soon as I can.

Love to you and all,

Daddy

(Letter written by my maternal grandfather to my mother when she was nine years. Grandpa was serving our country during WWII in the South Pacific on the LST 1000)

Itching To Get Out

Since Nathan was home sick with a cold all last week ... unfortunately the Mr. caught it and has been hacking non stop ... then I watched the little grandson three days in a row, so today was a much anticipated day to myself. A little rainy outside ... but I had a wee bit of spare change to get the economy going once again. While out, I picked up a snow blower ... last year we could barely keep our driveway cleared using our ATV 4x4 with attached snowplow. While this winter isn't supposed to be as historic with record snowfall, I wanted to be more prepared. A mega-warehouse was also on my list; this time I purchased a new set of stainless steel pans. When my daughter Elizabeth got married two years ago, I gave her my vintage classic Faberware pots and pans, replacing them with some inexpensive annodized non-stick ones ... Most times I use my handy cast iron skillets ... and I'm not too sure how safe the coated pans are ... supposedly you're not to heat them screetchin hot. After stopping by a friend's place for tea and pumpkin empanadas, it was time to make my way home. Did I mention how much fun it is to go shopping alone? ;) The Mr. is working tonight ... so no cooking either :0)

Photos: My driveway last winter ... style of new pans

Our Special Day

November 8, 1980:
Happy Anniversary Sweetheart! Remember when we just started out in our married life? Full of such promise ... yet living on a shoestring budget. You have always made me feel safe and protected. Never once have I doubted that the Lord would provide us a home through your hard work...Thank you for sharing the memory making process we have both lived through. We're not quite ready for the rocking chairs ... but just in case you want to sit a spell, let's meet on the porch after dinner to try them out. You bring the hot cocoa, and I'll bring a few quilts. Our love for each other will take the chill right out of the night time air.

All my love,

Babydoll

Photo: vintage 1983 photo of Mr. & Mrs. Mac & Mac Jr.

Saturday Minutia

After spending at least five hours yesterday working into the wee hours of this morning on transferring HOA info into my brain and onto paper, today will be a must have nap day. It's raining out which is always good weather for a snooze. My washing machine is humming away with two loads to go, and I'm just about to make my way down to the kitchen from my upstairs office to put on a pot of coffee. Nathan has military cadence music drifting up to my perch; he's sure to be dancing circles in his room. Mr. Mac must have his earplugs in or a pillow over his head wondering why he ever gave the little fella that particular CD. Today is also our twenty-eighth wedding anniversary so the Mr. and I are dining out here tonight. Did I mention he likes his new job now? It was touch-and-go for the first few weeks ... making me wonder if he could find his groove once again in law enforcement. Hugs.

Hold On To Your Bonnets

The American people are in for a wild ride. While a lot of blame can be laid at the feet of George W. Bush, he alone did not get our country into it's current funk. There are many political and economical factors that have contributed to his disdain. It's always easy to blame the guy at the top of the pig pile, but he has been held up there by members of both parties. There is no perfect politician ... and THE ONE that is being ushered in may be charming, smooth talking, good looking, but he has a mysterious and daunting past.

The shift in America ... moral issues, corruption, deceit, deviant lifestyles are shoved in the faces of God fearing people who have been told they are hateful homophobes, bigots, zealots for protecting unborn life above the right of a woman's choice. How has evil become good? How can darkness creep in and take root in our society? When evil becomes good ... good people become evil by hiding. If you have Judeo/Christian beliefs .... now more than any recent time ... LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 14:16 (NIV)

Regular Post Resuming Soon

Stay tuned for a new post hopefully by Friday ... I'm 'nursing' my election 'hangover' away ... plus wearing my many hats this past week. See you soon. Hugs