Black Friday

It sounds like an ominous name but I guess the merchants call it that because today is the day the they turn a profit...so instead of in the red, they are in the black today.  Went shopping with Jenny and stopped at the museum and for lunch.  It was a pleasant morning but tiring.  Jenny got some real good bargains.  I got a package of candy canes for my hot chocolate.

Tags: Black Friday, Christmas shopping, transformers, ben10, cabbage patch kids, care bears, Christmas crafts,

TEST YOUR
KNOWLEDGE OF KNOVEMBER

1. In the ancient Roman calendar, November was which month? First — because "novem" meant "new" Ninth Tenth Eleventh The Romans didn't have "November" — it wasn't a month until 1422 2. Who was the Pilgrim leader that invited neighboring Indians to the first Thanksgiving? William Penn William Bradford Miles Standish John Bunny Button Gwinnett 3. November 1st is "All Saints' Day" ... what is November 2nd? Saint Patrick's Day Saint Christopher's Day Saint Swithin's Day All Souls' Day Nothing 4. Who is commemorated with Bonfire Night on November 5th in England? William Shakespeare King Arthur Guy Fawkes Winston Churchill Lord Byron 5. What is the birthstone for the month of November? Diamond Topaz Ruby Sapphire Emerald 6. Name the Native American chief who was invited to the first Thanksgiving feast? Squanto Chingachgook Massasoit Jamiraquoi Pocahontas 7. What famous speech was given in November, 1863? "I Have a Dream" Emancipation Proclamation "Go West, Young Man" The Gettysburg Address "Yes Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus" 8. What is the flower for the month of November? Poppy Morning Glory Chrysanthemum Primrose Calendula 9. The end of what ... is celebrated in the U.S. every November 11th? Daylight Savings Time World War I World War II Autumn Baseball season. 10. Which country first adopted Thanksgiving as a national holiday? Canada Mexico England United States Spain 11. What mountain climber reached his peak on November 15, 1806? Admiral Byrd Sir Edmund Hillary Zebulon Pike J. Tuzo Wilson James Audubon 12. What astronomical event happens in November? Halley's comet Perseids meteor shower Lunar eclipse Leonids meteor shower Solar eclipse 13. Which Thanksgiving dish is known to scientists as "Meleagris gallopavo" ? Cranberry sauce Turkey Stuffing Ham Mashed potatoes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSWERS (access each link below for lots of interesting details) 1... Ninth 2... William Bradford 3... All Soul's Day 4... Guy Fawkes 5... Topaz 6... Massasoit 7... The Gettysburg Address 8... Chrysanthemum 9... World War I (Veterans' Day) 10. Canada 11. Zebulon Pike 12. Leonids meteor shower 13. Wild Turkey

This year's Christmas Parade

It was a cold (34) windy day and the snow started to fall right on schedule.

Tags: Christmas Parade, Santa Claus, Christmas Crafts, Carols, Christmas Shopping

    

       My Grandchildren

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Frogs and snails,
And puppy-dogs' tails;
That's what little boys are made of.

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What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice,
and all that's nice;
That's what little girls are made of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter

Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans

 

Peel and cube the sweet potatoes. Bowl them in water until they are tender enough to pierce with a fork. Drain and mash

In a large bowl mix the sweet potatoes, 1 cup brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, spices, milk and melted butter.

Pour the sweet potato mixture into a buttered 2 quart casserole dish.

Combine the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree F oven for 40 to 50 minutes. The center will be almost set when done. It will continue to set as it cools.

Serves 6 to 8.

OLD SCHOOL DESK

We learned to read and write And we learned to spell At the old school desk With a hole for the inkwell. We scratched out our initials To say that we were there, But it's been so long now, No one would really care. Funny thing memory - I often think of something that actually took place when I was a kid and it seems like last month - what is more amazing I want to talk about it with my daughter or son and I am taken up short realizing they were not there - it is so hard to take in that they do not share the same stories and history that float in my head.   I will dig up the Cannas soon...and maybe even clean the garage so I can fit my very old car in it when the weather is too cold  and snowy for it to be outside.  Tomorrow I will take Owen to the dentist, he needs caps, last time he had a tooth pulled  and a spacer put in.  He does very well with the dentist.  The dentist office has two computers for the kids when they are waiting and in 'the chair' there is a tv on the ceiling that plays kid videos.  I stay with him and he whispers to me to make sure I am still there.  My sweet boy.

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member -
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds -
November!
-   Thomas Hood,