Thanksgiving Candids

 My nieces and nephew.

 Three Granddaughters and one step granddaughter with their Mema (my MIL).

My brothers, and sisters and mom and myself.

My three being silly!

I wish I took more pictures.  I just forgot. 

And a Very Happy Birthday to my sister today!  She got her favorite treats from me....Mallo Cups.  They aren't sold around here any more so I order them special for her every year!

The end of the hens....for this year!

Today was the day!

The chickens have been molting for well over a month.  Even though we have had some of the most beautiful November weather on record, I was getting maybe one egg a day.  The hens are almost two years old and it was time to say goodbye.  I will be getting either four or six new pullets in March next year.

My brother-in-law Joe came over to do the deed.....He and hubby did the killing and Joe and I did the plucking and cleaning, etc.

For those of you who do not want to see this process, please proceed with caution.  The pictures aren't grisly but they are a true representation...

First off, Joe cut off their heads and let them bleed out.   You can't really see much above.
Next,  Joe started plucking feathers.......

I channeled my dad.  I asked him for strength and all of a sudden, I started plucking the second one!  This one was the Silver Wyandotte and was my dad's favorite!

Here is one almost all done....

Joe is scraping the last of the feathers.  The big pot held the boiling water, which we dipped them into to help get rid of the hardest feather quills.  

I offered Joe one of the soup chickens.  He told me my sister would not want that in the house.....I need to have a discussion with my sister!

So, I froze two chickens for another time and two went into the pot for soup.  

I think tomorrow, it will be chicken with rice soup for dinner.....

The Turkey

I got my turkey from Stone Gardens Farm again this year.  I asked Stacia for a 25 lb. turkey.  My sister was also making another turkey for our evening meal (or leftovers for everyone to take home).

When I got to Stone Gardens, Stacia said Maria, I had to give you a bigger turkey this year.  There were so many that were 30 lbs., so I upped your bird - I hope you don't mind.

Well, I got a 31 lb. turkey.  It was huge and heavy!

I should have taken some before and after pictures.  But here are the after pictures....I placed organic bacon on mine to give it more flavor!!!

The cover would not fit on my pan.  I had to use foil to cover the whole thing.  The bird was just too big!    It cooked for 10 hours and then I shut off the oven and it sat there for another two hours.  It was moist and delicious and it took both myself and my son to get it out of the pan.  It sort of fell apart though.  It was so perfectly cooked!  Next time, I'll need a rack to be able to get it out of the pan....on second thought, next time I'll ask for a 20 lb. bird and maybe get a 25 lb. turkey....so it will fit perfectly!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Where ever you are, I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings...


Please eat a lot!!!

Photo credit

Getting ready

Last night, we had our annual 'getting ready' for Thanksgiving get together.  We (the entire family) got together to make the ravioli for Thanksgiving day.  It was a great night!  Approximately 400 ravioli made for tomorrow's dinner.

Merry Christmas from Heaven

About three weeks ago, I had received an e-mail from the Catholic Company, an online company selling Catholic/religious articles for confirmations, communions, Christmas, etc........I have purchased from them on occasion.  The email was a poem entitled "Merry Christmas from Heaven"

The tears just started flowing and I hadn't even read the poem yet.......

Last night at Zumba, one of my wonderful friends who has been with our Zumba class for almost two years, gave me a gift.  She didn't think I should open it right then and there and in my heart, I knew what it was because she has been so good to me during this time after my dad's death.

It was the Merry Christmas From Heaven poem and the Christmas Ornament.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN

I still hear the songs,

I still see the lights

I still feel your love on cold wintry nights

I still share your hopes and all of your cares

I'll even remind you to please say your prayers

I just want to tell you, you still make me proud

You stand head and shoulders above all the crowd

Keep trying each moment, to stay in His Grace

I came here before you to help set your place

You don't have to be perfect all of the time

He Forgives you the slip, if you continue the climb

To my family and friends,

Please be thankful today

I'm still close beside you,

In a new special way

I love you all dearly,

Now don't shed a tear

cause I'm spending my

Christmas with Jesus this year

Copyright 1989 John Wm. Mooney, Jr.

Thank you, Jenn, from the bottom of my heart.  I love it, and I can't stop crying.   Thank God I didn't open it last night.