Thursday 12 November 2009

November = 11


















Whose house do you go to for Thanksgiving? Here in Canada we have Thanksgiving in October (where it should be har har). We go to Ben’s house or Jacquie’s. This year we went to Jacquie’s but it was hosted by Ben and Chrisy.

What are you thankful for? I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my grandchildren (Josephine and Domenic); my children (Angelique, Nadalene, and Nathan); my son-in-laws (Don and Charlton); and my husband (Wahid). I am thankful for the healthcare system that we have in Canada. I am thankful that my Mom (Daisy) is still here and that I can see her whenever I want (and want I do, it just need some action to get me there).

Do you love stuffing? I love homemade stuffing. I love it how my father makes it with pork sausage and celery and bread and poultry seasoning. This year Chrisy made it and honest to God it was delicious. You would have thought she had made it forever. Chrisy, I have to tell you Grandpa would have loved it.

Any people you love born in November? Oh yes, Wahid and Nadalene are both born in November.

Does November mean Christmas? No, it doesn’t mean Christmas but it does get me in the mood to shop for Christmas. November or the first snow which ever comes first will get me thinking of Christmas. As soon as we would see snow Jacquie and I would be off in her car hightailing it to Winners.

63 comments:

Mother Moon said...

what a lovely picture.... so peaceful.. I love the post.. Yes, I do like that Canada has Thanksgiving in October... It just seems to fit there.. Always thought it was too close to christmas here in the states... My birthday is in November... And yes it does get you in the mood for christmas shopping although i do mine year round.... Love stuffing... nice and moist in the middle and a little crusty on the corners... My favorite is the cranberry sauce ... yum... what a wonderful way to start out the day.... such nice memories and good things to look forward to....

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Oh, yes Renee - I love Thanksgiving. I even love some of the commercials with xmas music - I'm sure I will be tired of them by the 20th of December or so - but right now they are putting me in the mood.

I see you are on the verge of having your 400th Follower! Congratulations.

Arija said...

There is always so much to be thankful for dearest Renee. If you have the time to pop over, have a look at my remembrance day post, you will understand.

LuLu Kellogg said...

This year we are staying home, cooking a turkey with homemade stuffing and watching movies all day. Nice and quiet! I love homemade stuffing too! My favorite thing along with pumpkin cookies with white chocolate chips...YUM!

Love,
LuLu~*xoxo

Ces Adorio said...

I hope they don't make you clean the turkey pan?

magikalseasons said...

Beautiful post! I'm thankful for my family. I love stuffing with lots of sage. Today is my birthday and one of the best gifts is connecting with my blog family. I saw a bluebird today even though it was 20 degrees here today. So I'm thinking it's my lucky day! I'm so in the holiday mood. Today I'm finishing a smiling snowflake. Wishing you a wonderful day too.:)

Silke Powers said...

What a great post, Renee! I LOVE Thanksgiving, everything about it - the coming together of family and friends, the cooking that lasts all day, the relaxed atmosphere, the leftovers, and this year I'm especially excited that my dad will be here for Thanksgiving from Germany! Family and friends - such a great thing to be thankful for! I'm thankful for you, my friend! Love, Silke

Mother Moon said...

would love the cranberry recipe... I never turn down a good recipe... If you ever look in my cookbook cupboard you would understand completely... just email it to me... address in my profile... thanks :-)

Caroline said...

Well, being British and married to a Dutchman we don't have Thanksgiving, but have often enjoyed helping American and Canadian friends celebrate! We have several family birthdays in November - it's a good month! Happy Birthday to Wahid and Nadalene!

Deborah said...

Beautiful picture. I cannot list my thankfuls here, for it would take up pages and pages, for I have been very blessed this year. Mostly I have been thinking, since Ryan is finishing up this tour in Iraq, that I made it through quite swimmingly because of my special bloggy friends. To know that every single day someone cared how I was, that feeling is what life is all about. Human connection. I have a plaque on my wall by my work desk that when I purchased it, I loved the idea, but in truth had none: "Yaya's - a group of three or more women whose hearts and souls are joined together by laughter and tears shared through the glorious journey of life."

My oh my, I now have my Yaya's. You, Renee, are The #1 Yaya. All my love to you, Deb

angela recada said...

Your favorite stuffing sounds delicious. My mother-in-law makes incredible stuffing, too.
:0)
There's just something about holiday foods. I couldn't imagine feeling this warm and fuzzy feeling inside, if we didn't have the food and the music and the people we love in abundance this time of year. I even love the snow, for a few days anyway.
:0)
Hugs and love,
xoxoxo
Angela

Wine and Words said...

I want to walk that path, the picture is so lovely! I am thankful my UTI is starting to abate...boy am I thankful. And I LOVE stuffing, except when we go to Mrs. Sorensons house and she makes it with liver and raisins in it (can you imagine?. I am a very traditional Thanksgiving meal type girl. Don't MESS WITH IT! I am a Vegan for the most part, but I wait 12 months for that one dinner and I chow down. DON'T MESS WITH IT!

Marion said...

My oldest daughter was born in November as was one of my sister's and a niece and nephew. We used to have big Thanksgivings at my Mama's, then it moved to my house when Mama moved to a small apartment, but when my two girls grew up and got their own homes, we took turns going to their houses. This year we'll be at my oldest daughter's for Thanksgiving and at my youngest's for Christmas. (Mary Mace, my only granddaughter, will be 6 on Christmas Eve, so it'll be fun to be at her house for her big birthday).

We always have cornbread dressing, my Mama's recipe, and her Mama's before her. Lots of sage, onion, celery, chicken broth, giblets, cornbread cooked the day before and a few slices of bread. On top of that is rich, dark, slow cooked giblet gravy. And I make a Sweet Potato Souffle with a pecan topping that is so good it tastes like desert. The best part is all the leftovers to eat all weekend.

I'm thankful for my family, my home, my health and wonderful friends like you, sweet Renee. Love, Hugs & Blessings!

Betzie said...

I agree...is there anything better than Thanksgiving stuffing!!!??? I want that recipe!!! Made me so hungry for it!! LOL
I am thankful for so many things, too many to list, but mostly for my children, my dear parents who still grace this earth at 90, and my home and country.
For this moment I am thankful I just got my kitchen floors clean and have this moment to relax on my computer! Always love visiting you Renee...xoxo

Anonymous said...

Love the photo!! Gorgeous shot. The last few years I've spent Thanksgiving by myself. My work schedule didn't allow me to go home. But, I spent the day putting up my holiday decorations, watching my favorite movies and eating lots of junk food. I really enjoyed myself. This year I think I'm going to my best friend's place.

Annie said...

I am without family here and my friends are all mostly hermits, so it is rare I go anywhere for Thanksgiving, I cooked last year for a few friends, but I have too much going on this year to do it. It is okay as I can be thankful everyday. Mostly I am thankful for family and friends and my animal kids. And my health.
Love to you Renee. xoxo

Unknown said...

MMMMMMMM made me hungry har har...

Love you Lovey

xoxoxox

Doris Sturm said...

Hi Renee...I am thankful for my family and friends. I spend holidays with my pets because my entire family is in Germany, except for my daughter who lives 3,000 miles away - so we write and call each other and that has to be enough!
That's why I get so nuts over my dog, who is my serogate baby (he, he, he) and I get absorbed in my crocheting and knitting because it gives me a sense of purpose, be it ever so humble.

I enjoy my blog friends and am thankful I have this computer becauser I don't have TV, so I do everything online, blog, shop, movies, music...research, you name it!

I think about you often, Renee, and wish you peace and comfort.

Hugs,
Doris :-)

Angie Muresan said...

Renee, I so love this post that I read it twice! I am thankful for so much, but at the top of my list is that God has listened to my selfish prayer and allowed my mother more days amongst her children and really young grandchildren who really need to know what an amazing woman their grandmother is. Secondly I am thankful for my two lovely babies and my darling husband, who couldn't really be a better man. Thankful also for my health, for my two sisters, for my dad, and for my two brothers, and for friends near and far, young and old.
And somehow, it does make sense for Thanksgiving to be in October.

Marie S said...

I love and am grateful for my family too. I am not however in love with driving to see them on thanksgiving. LOL! It will probably take us 6-8 hours to get there. It is crazy, and they are not even that far away. I am though grateful that my MIL is still alive. This is her holiday.
I am grateful that we can go. My brother in law makes some incredible stuffing too, mmmmmmmmm and cranberry sauce.
I like November and it is my birthday month too.
I am grateful for you. I am grateful for how you help me remember the finer things in life. I am so grateful for miss Madi.
Love and hugs my pretty.

Marie S said...

28th

Art by Darla Kay said...

I agree, lovely photo Renee!
I'm so thankful for my family, my 'real life' friends and all my cyber friends, like you! The world is good!

I'm thankful for so many things these days.

Love, Darla

Alexandra MacVean said...

Each year is different for me. Really. And this year, I have NO idea what Thanksgiving will mean for me...good possibility of eating a TV dinner and watching the parade. =/ It sucks not having a REAL family..one that loves you and accepts you and doesn't hurt you.

Despite all that, I do my best to focus on happy things, what little there are. I am thankful for my puppy who has been there for me no matter what. (Man, I often wish I had a dog's life..haha) I am thankful that I have been blessed with many talents, although I still struggle with using them. I am thankful for my job, a place to live, and my car. And I am thankful for you!!

PS I LOVE stuffing, too!

Susan Hopkirk Artworks said...

Dearest Renee,
I am just chomping at the bit to get to Thanksgiving! I wish it was in October for me. Thanksgiving opens the Christmas season wide open for music, lights, food and much more. Unfortunately with all those wonderful things comes stress. I do it to myself; it’s just that I want everyone else to enjoy Christmas as much I think I am. You know what I mean? I guess it’s because I grew up having wonderful storybook Christmas'.
So for me this time of year brings with it joyous memories and traditions that I would love to hold onto, nevertheless realizing with passing time brings change – some good, some bad. Happily sometimes these changes can usher in new traditions to carry on bringing new lasting memories.
This year I will thankfully continue my traditions of having Thanksgiving dinner at my mother and father’s house with all of my family in attendance. We will enjoy a wonderful meal together that includes my mother's delicious homemade stuffing - which was passed down from her mother. I inevitably will eat far too much. I never learn.
Renee thank you for sharing your thoughts of this wonderful time of year which has led me to leave this rather lengthy comment! My apologies, but I guess I had to vent - in a good way.

XOXOXO,
Susan

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post Renee...
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday... no gifts, just good fun and food. But since my family and my sisters family are not seeing each other right now it's a very sadden Thanksgiving... I love to cook Thanksgiving dinner! I saw my son yesterday and talked about this years T-day and suggested we go out to eat since it's just the 3 of us... NO!!!

I'm thankful for my family, that we still have a roof over our head, my son has a job. Lot's of things...

I love the Christmas season also...but am bit tired that they start it in October and not after T-day....

Much Love~
Pattee

Karin Bartimole said...

November is a good month - November 11th an excellent day :) It's my sister's birthday, and my wedding anniversary (just celebrated #20), and later in the month is my husbands birthday. Add Thanksgiving for us in the U.S. and it's a fine month for remembering and feeling gratitude.
I am so grateful for having you in my life, my dear friend.
love you,
Karin

RNSANE said...

I love Thanksgiving. It is such a special time...this year, we will celebrate at the new home of my son and his soon-to-be wife up in the West Sacramento area. It will be a very special time for me, watching my middle son and the lovely girl he has chosen begin their own traditions. I am actually glad not to be slaving in the kitchen for hours and will contribute only one or two special dishes.

Elizabeth said...

That is a lovely photo -- and a cheerful post. I, too, adore stuffing -- any kind, even from the box, actually! And it's good to hear someone looking forward to Christmas. I, too, love it and almost dread the annual complaints about it.

Stacey J. Warner said...

Lovely post, I love Thanksiving and I usually end up somewhere different every year. This year I'm having the Thanksgiving I've only dreamed about with MANY friends, great food, live piano playing, etc.

I'm thankful for the health and well being for friends and family.

Be well,
much love

soulbrush said...

lots to be thankful for, lovely post. xx

Julie said...

Hey Renee--

Oh man, the stuffing you described sounds awesome! Do you happen to have a recipe on hand? I think Thanksgiving would be great in October, then the holidays aren't so crowded together.

Baino said...

GAH Christmas. . .it's half way through November already and I haven't given any more than the food a thought! Unfortunately we don't celebrate Thanksgiving but it sounds like a feast. I'm crabby at the moment over work but that makes me even more thankful for my hearth and home. I never looked so forward to walking through my front door as I do each evening, made nicer by the onset of spring and hot weather. It's Friday Renee! Have a wonderful weekend.

india flint said...

hi Renee
thanks for stopping by
best wishes
india

Dede said...

The picture is beautiful! Thanksgiving is family and a few close friends. They all gather here. I love the smells of this time of year, everything seems to be so alive and energized. Everything seems to be so cozy. Oh and all of the fresh baked breads and pies.

(((HUGS)))

Manon said...

I know you know that I miss Canadian Thanksgiving!! I seem to be under a lot more pressure here with Christmas fast approaching. People already have their Xmas decorations up..... I like to do one holiday at a time...lol!
I would love to make all my gifts.... those are the best... I can't find the time.... but that's what I'd like to do. One of my favorite gifts of all time is when my daughter, Alex, made a cd for me of songs that reminded her of me.... that touched my heart!!

Have a great evening girlfriend!!

love,
manon
xo

Micki Wilde said...

We don't have Thanksgiving in the UK but I sure do love my stuffing, I make a sage and onion stuffing with apples and honey MMMMM love it!!

No birthdays for us in November but my sons is December the 8th and I still don't know what to get him this year....i'd better get my thinking cap on ;)

Micki x

secret agent woman said...

Generally to my Mom's house for Thanksgiving, where she very kindly makes somethign seafood for the pesca-vegetarians in the family.

Both my boys were born in November, and I am especially reminded of my gratitude for them this time each year.

zoe said...

beautiful photo...
fall is my favorite season, i love the crisp air, and i always associate it with starting school :)
..i'm thankful for cats, and birds, and my beautiful angel of a husband, and for bright colors, and for your blog, which is always a source of beautiful thoughts and images!
big hugs!

yoborobo said...

Whaddya mean, October! haha! Okay, you can have it in October, if you INSIST. :) I love November. We have a great big old Thanksgiving feast and eat and drink far too much, then get sleepy and talk until we are yawning more than talking and then we hit the sack. And then (best of all!), we have leftover everything for breakfast. I make cornbread stuffing the way my great-grandma did. It is delish. I was born in November and so was my sister.

Now I am very hungry for stuffing and cranberry sauce. LOL!! xoxo Pam

studio lolo said...

Thanksgiving has mixed conotations for me.

As an adult I know enough to embrace the time with family and friends and count my blessings.I don't feel we need one day to do that. I try to do it every day.

As a kid it was too much drinking that ended up in bloody beatings. I still cringe when Thanksgiving comes around. Post traumatic stress.

This is the first Thanksgiving in 17 years that I will finally be with some of my family again. I'm looking forward to it. My favorite niece is cooking and hosting it. And this is the first time she'll see me eat turkey because I was a vegetarian for most of her life! (I know, most people don't go back to eating flesh.)

I don't like stuffing. Ick. That's all. Just ick.

I do know this though. When I count my blessings this year you'll be among them.

I love you.

xoxoxo
Lolo

Ingrid Mida said...

I could eat a whole plate of that kind of stuffing! It sounds delicious!

YayaOrchid said...

I ♥ this post Renee! The picture too. We've spent the past 3 or 4 Thanksgiving Day celebrations at my Sweetie's Sister's house (S-I-L), it was more conveniently located for more family, plus she just has a humongous house, very beautiful!

I LOVE my Mother in Law's dressing! It's pork sausage with cornbread,poultry seasoning, mushrooms,etc. MMMM...delicious! She gave me her recipe, and now I make it too, but with a twist, I like to add dried cranberries and dried cherries, plus pecans.

Oh, how your post has me thinking about the beautiful Holidays coming up. Thank you!

Rosaria Williams said...

Ah, shopping weather, and eating weather. We used to do Thanksgiving at my house. Now, every year, we regroup somehow. This year, Hubby and I are going down to California to have Thanksgiving with my sons. I will do most of the cooking. Looking forward to it.

Anonymous said...

Mmm...turkey, pumpkin pie, stuffing, green bean caserole...wine, wine, wine....

...then food coma, food coma, food coma...

I don't like to rush holidays, but after Thanksgiving dinner, I start putting up the Christmas decorations. When I was a kid, I would always put up the worn out manger scene made of cardboard cutouts as soon as Thanksgiving dinner was over. And when we got around to decorating the tree a couple weeks later, I would always unscrew each light on the tree until all the colored bulbs were perfectly distributed.

I pay attention to the details - ESPECIALLY around the holidays!

Ces Adorio said...

I love Thanksgiving, I love Christmas, I love New Year's Eve and Day. I make a big deal and a grand celebration, then I crash from exhaustion. I love setting the table. I LOVE DISHES! Yes Ces and Her Dishes! Hahahah! I even do a dress rehearsal of my table. YES! I love using every dish and server. The kids and the Viking help and anyone I know who does not have any place to visit or spend Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Eve is welcome at our home. Then after our Thanksgiving dinner we go to my friend for a second dinner. We don't eat but we spend the evening with them and they sing Karaoke until 4AM! CRAZY! But this year I want to stay at home and party until nighttime in our own house. I love the holidays. They remind me so much of my happy childhood. For that I am thankful. This will be Daisy's second Christmas. She will be one year old on Thanksgiving.

Ces Adorio said...

Oh, your title says November 11. My mother died on November 11th...I miss her terribly.

GlorV1 said...

I love stuffing Renee. Pretty much make it the old fashioned way. Apples, onions, raisins, and all that good stuff. Oh boy now you really got me thinking of food. The mashed potatoes and all that turkey gravy. I like the white meat myself and I definitely have to have cranberry. Mmmmmmm. I'm hungry now. Beautiful post and I love the picture. No matter what, we always have to keep the faith. Take care. ::hugs::

Barbara said...

No big Thanksgiving for us this year, I fear. Our big holiday will be Christmas this year. All of us are so spread out. I wish I had family closer. Just our son, Brian, and maybe a few friends. Sigh. Sorry I've been so absent. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Renee! xoxo

kj said...

beloved renee:

i am sending you a thanksgiving turkey stuffing recipe.

i dare you to publish it!

love
kj

tomkiddo said...

I don't celebrate Thanksgiving actually. Oh yeah, my brother is born in November, yesterday is his birthday :)

Bella Sinclair said...

Oh my gosh! That's MY stuffing! I make that stuffing, too, and I love it. No stuffing with raisins, thank you.

God bless all the November babies.

xoxoxo

Unknown said...

Christmas is coming, for me this means planning for Spain where I always spend Christmas... can't believe it is nearly here, haven't even started shopping yet - I will get there hahha
November birthday, yes my DH,Stuart was born on Bonfire night and is oh so grateful that he wasn't called Guy!
I have so many wonderful friends born in November too.
I love stuffing, my mum used to make it and then mix it with a little mashed potato before stuffing the bird, delicious. Christmas one year the in-laws came to us and I did the stuffing a la my mum and Trish my mum in law LOVED it, let me tell you she is the BEST cook so this absolutely made my Christmas...
cranberry sauce and bread sauce are necessities for Christmas dinner too.
That and lots of Love make it perfect xxxx

MuseSwings said...

Hello Renee! Thank you so much for your wonderful comments and song which I sang while reading them! I have turned into a true hermit and have not been visiting blogs much lately. Not even your wonderful blog. Happy belated Thanksgiving! Looking forward to ours in two weeks - its in November when it should be har har har!

Ces Adorio said...

I make the same stuffing but instead of bread I use cornbread muffins that I baked.

Javajune said...

happy thanksgiving to you dear girl. I'm thankful for my family and friends like you and yes I love stuffing. Thanksgivings at my house, guess I better get planning!
xo-jj

Debra Kay said...

I was born in November-an auspicious month. This year I am having the family dinner at my house. Small house, small family, but I'm planning some big treats nonetheless.

Jen said...

My boyfriend's birthday is in November, and he's turning 30 this year- a big one! Everyone keeps telling him that your 30's are basically like your 20's, but with more money. He's keeping his fingers crossed!

I love stuffing too- all kinds! I'll be splitting the holiday between my family and Joe's, so we'll be quite stuffed!

Enjoy the snow! I envy you for that!

Daria said...

Thankful for every day ...

Hope you are doing well.

rochambeau said...

I adore learning about you through your soulful and frank accounts of your life. You are grateful for the right things.....The people in your life & stuffing of course. ;-)

Happy weekend.
Not a day goes without many prayers and great thoughts surrounding you and Jacquie.

Lots of Love,
Constance

Susie Lubell said...

November means finally fall here. A little cooler and a few leaves change. Kind of pathetic for Fall. But I'll take it. And it's my mom's birthday! She asks me how you're doing at least one time out of the seven times we talk on the phone everyday...xoxo susie

Amy C said...

what great things to be thankful for....
My husbands birthday is in November, I love him so much.

Gberger said...

I've been away, but I am now getting caught up, and loved reading this. I love Thanksgiving! It's so nice to picture you and your family, enjoying your traditions. God bless each one of you!
I love stuffing with sausage, too, and love the whole Thanksgiving tradition. May it be part of our daily lives always, even out of "season!"

nollyposh said...

My first~born was born in November <3 November people are gorgeous and very deeply loving <3