Our Thanksgiving week

 

Life has been FULL around here!

Last Monday evening (11/24) the women's group at church had our annual Christmas party at Hoss's.  Yes - a Christmas party before Thanksgiving!  That's how the calendar worked this year.  

 

I decided to tackle making an apple pie, including the pastry, on Tuesday.  It's been a few years since I made my own crust, but I was very happy with how it turned out.  Anthony said my apple pie tasted like one from a restaurant, and I took that as a compliment.

Also on Tuesday I decided to try a new turkey idea from an Alton Brown video - brining and thawing simultaneously.  I thoroughly cleaned our smallish cooler, unwrapped the frozen turkey, removed the neck and giblets, and put it into the cooler.  I poured a mixture of boiling water, dark brown sugar, and kosher salt over the turkey, then filled the cooler with ice, and closed the lid.  It sat there until Thursday morning.  Occasionally I would kick the cooler a bit to be sure I could still hear ice in there.  Sorry, no pictures. At the Thanksgiving meal they all declared it the best turkey I had ever made.  Guess I'll be doing that again!

On Wednesday I was eagerly tracking Destiny's trip from Indianapolis.  (Ozzy didn't come because of work, but he wished he had.)  She and I also talked on the phone for quite a while as Destiny drove.  They arrived about half an hour before we were leaving for our Thanksgiving Eve service!  So they came with us!  That was so special!  I loved watching how well he uses crayons now.

After church we went to Walmart to get the last of the groceries.  It was SO FUN to shop with them again.  Elizer wanted me to take a picture of him taking care of the green beans, hahaha!   That face!!  I just want to kiss my computer screen looking at it!

On Thursday morning I was up and showered and decent before anyone else was awake.  I got busy getting the turkey ready for the oven, and after a while Destiny woke up to help me with all the food prep.  She's an old hand at it from helping me so many times over the years.  Dick and Elizer had fun in the living room.  They wanted me to take a picture of their tower, and on the second picture you are supposed to find Grandpa's foot, haha!

Elizer wanted to help with food prep too.  Dick took these pictures.  I said, "No pictures from behind!"  But of course he did anyway, haha!

Random pictures here - the turkey after I had already removed the legs and thighs, a picture Elizer had colored with Grandpa, and the table they had gotten set up.  We had those paper table cloths again for coloring and drawing.  

Destiny blew up the balloon hats I had gotten, and Lori and Austin put them on as soon as they arrived!

Anthony had made scrumptious smoked ribs which he added to our cafeteria line.  We also had: rolls, sweet potato pudding, gourmet potatoes, baked corn, green bean casserole, stuffing, gravy, cranberry applesauce, apple pie, and pumpkin pie.  WAY TOO MUCH!!  Destiny and I had also made two kinds of cookies - peanut blossoms and molasses ginger snaps.

After dinner the younger boys played (not always quietly or peacefully), the men put the food away (most of it on the side porch) and relaxed and watched TV, the rest of us played games.  First of all Dictionary - our traditional homemade version of Balderdash, then Blokus.  We had so much fun!!  I love that Austin wanted to play games, even though he was back and forth between the table and the piano all the time!  Destiny LOVES traditions, and playing games is one of them. 

Our overnight refrigerator.  We were fortunate to have very cold weather and no worries about prowling animals. 

On Friday morning I slowly, but surely put all the leftovers into labeled containers in the fridge and washed all the pots and pans.   Elizer spent a long time with the play doh.  Destiny made some hot chocolate which he loved of course!

Early afternoon we went to Kid2Kid, our favorite consignment store, and met Lori there.  Destiny and Lori had fun getting baby girl things.  Destiny also found a diaper genie.  She also got some size SIX clothes for Elizer.  She sold them some of Elizer's outgrown clothes, so had credit toward the purchases.  

Then we went back home to work on gingerbread houses.  

Notice how everyone seems to be laughing except me?  I am NOT a crafty grandma, so this project was giving me a headache, hahaha!

And THEN Frank and the girls arrived!  He brought all his Thanksgiving leftovers - his turkey, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, cranberry relish, Pernil.  He is a really good cook! 

Lots more gingerbread house fun!  And more eating too!

They stayed overnight.  I put up the queen air mattress in the living room.  Alaya and V'anni slept on that, Frank slept on the big sofa and Jada slept on the love seat.  Sorry, no pictures!

On Saturday we just hung out at the house, pulling out all the games and activities.  It was crazy town, let me tell you!

A picture of the gingerbread houses.  And Destiny and Jada enjoying leftovers.  That's what we had all day!  SO MANY DELICIOUS LEFTOVERS!!  Especially with the addition of Frank's things.  I had sliders rolls, so warm turkey sandwiches were a favorite for the kids. 

Around 4:30 we met Anthony's family at Get Air.  Time to get all that energy out of our house!

Afterward we came back home to divide up the leftovers into containers.  I labeled each container.  Some things for Frank, some things for Lori, some things for Destiny, and some things for me.  

Then we had to say our goodbyes.  It was around 7 pm and they had an almost three-hour trip home to Reading.  It was so great that they came all the way here!  It was a wonderful chance for Destiny to be with her dad and sisters and for Elizer to play with his aunties!  

On Sunday morning Destiny and Elizer left for home around 8:30.  I kept track of them all day, and was so happy when I got the text at 4:03, "I'm home!" 

The kids at church had a short practice of the songs for their upcoming Christmas program.  Then they participated in our Hanging of the Greens worship service.  

I slowly worked on music plans the rest of Sunday, feeling worse and worse as the day progressed.  

I realized when I woke up on Monday morning that it was trying to settle into my voice.  So I am doing all the things to get better before our very necessary choir practice on Thursday.  Thankfully I did not need to cook or go anywhere yesterday.  And we got snow early this morning, so it's another stay-at-home day in which I am doing no talking or singing, and I'm drinking/breathing hot tea, taking zicam and lozenges and Mucinex to keep things loose.  I'll take some prayers too!

First thing Monday morning Destiny texted me, "I'm so sick!"  Cold and sore throat too.  So I guess we shared it.  Unfortunately she can't take some remedies because of being pregnant.  

Here are pictures I took this morning.  The snow has stopped falling now. 

I'll finish with this precious school picture of Elizer and a picture he made for Destiny while they were here.  He took it to her and said, "Here's a Christmas present for you."  Awwww!!  It even has a bow on top! 

Oh!  Today in Portland someone is having a birthday.  Brennan is TEN!!!  They had a party for him on Sunday.  He is a Steelers fan, can you tell?  Mike grew up in Pittsburgh.  They plan to visit Pennsylvania next summer and told Brennan they will take him to see the Steelers stadium so they can take a picture of him there.  How cool is that?? Look at the Steelers Jenga game they gave him for his birthday!

Music and insurance

 

Life is not slowing down!!  

Last Saturday (November 15) was our annual gingerbread house decorating party at church.  Hunter went somewhere else with Lori that day, but I went anyway to take pictures and see what everyone was doing.  It was a bit early in the season for this activity, but Curt and Louise, who head it up, will be leaving for Florida soon for a few months. 

On Sunday morning we had a wonderful time at church.  First of all, for me, it was the Sunday for the praise band to be there, so that always makes our music so much better.

Then there was a Quilts of Valor ceremony.  Ten veterans received quilts in honor of their service to our country.  My good friend Peg is an avid quilter, and she was the emcee for the ceremony.  She always adds humor and so many personal anecdotes.  She read a bio of each person as they received their quilts.  We learned SO much about each one that we never knew.  There were definitely tears shed.

On Monday Dick took the day off work, and we went to talk to an insurance broker about our ever-increasing Medicare Supplement premiums.  We started in 2016 (when I turned 65) with Mutual of Omaha.  It seemed affordable then, but the premiums have dramatically increased each year.  We are now paying $787.70/month for the two of us, PLUS $130/each for our Part D prescription insurance through Humana which will soon increase for 2026.  

This insurance broker said she would never recommend Mutual of Omaha for a Medicare Supplement, because they are notorious for starting out at a reasonable premium, then making dramatic increases each year.  Well darn!!!  I wish the broker who advised us in 2016 had been smart enough to know that then.  GRRR.  

She was doubtful we would be accepted by any other insurance company for a supplement plan due to some of the medical issues we have had, so she showed us a Medicare Advantage plan.  We have been mulling over things this week, talking to my friend at church who recommended this broker to us, and also to my sister Mary Ellen who encouraged us to go through the medical underwriting process to see if any other company would accept us for a Medical Supplement plan.  

This evening we had a phone appointment with the broker. She took us through the questions for medical underwriting.  Then she submitted them to Humana for a Medicare Supplement plan she was recommending.  I was accepted, Dick's is pending.  She said they will probably be calling him in a day or two with more questions.  The premium would be so much lower than we are paying now.  I am PRAYING Dick will be accepted!!  

On Monday evening we had a concert at church by the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus.  An older gentleman from our church has sung with them for 50 years!!!  However he was not able to be at this concert.  He is very ill in the hospital.  In fact just yesterday he was moved to a nursing home.  He has sung with my choir for over a year now, a beautiful tenor voice. I am SO SAD!!!!!

On Tuesday morning we woke up to a complete surprise!  It was icy, so schools were delayed two hours.

The rest of the week was filled with cooking and Christmas program planning and practicing.  Not only is my choir working on a musical, but the children will have a program too - both on the same day, December 14.  The children will present theirs in the morning worship service, and the adults in the evening.  I'm in charge of the music for each.

Our weather was cloudy for 13 days straight!!! When I saw the sun on Saturday I was ecstatic!!!  I even sat on the front porch for a while!

I splurged a bit on Saturday when I saw an ad for a personalized book for kids.  I submitted some pictures of Elizer just to see what it would look like.  WELL!!!  When I saw the preview of the book, do you think I could resist???  

So this is Thanksgiving week!!  Destiny said they'll be coming!  I guess Thanksgiving and camping weekend are two traditions she feels she can't give up, even from a distance.  

I have SO much to do before Thursday, and not just food prep.  Music prep and food prep are the themes of my life!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Baby Shower and Birthdays and SNOW!

Since the time change I've been getting to see some beautiful sunrises from our kitchen windows.  When they are spectacular like this I go out to the front porch for a better view.

We've had some REALLY windy days and nights this past week.  After one very windy night I found my front porch pillows had been blown to the side of the house - thankfully not down the street!  Our trash can had been blown off the side porch too.  As you can see, we have leaves.  Not our leaves however.  We don't have any trees except evergreens.  But the wind has a way of bringing our neighbors' leaves into our yard.

Saturday was a big day!  There was a baby shower for Destiny at the East Petersburg Community Center - same place we had our Witmer gathering two weeks prior.  I had been watching the East Petersburg weather forecast for two weeks and PRAYING for a warm, sunny day.  And that's what we had!!

We were the first ones there around 12 noon, followed very shortly by Destiny's mother Enid.  And then Destiny arrived with her sister Jada.  They had been at their dad's house in Reading overnight (our son Frank.)   Because my sister Mary Ellen is an East Petersburg resident, our reservation had to be done by her, so she met us there with the key and she also helped with some of the setup.  

Before long that stark room looked like a baby girl party!

Dick ran some errands (ice, water bottles, a balloon pump.)  And THEN he went on the best errand - to pick up Elizer from his daddy's house where he had been for the previous two days.  I was SO eager to see him - first time since mid-August!  

I think Sam and Steph and the kids were the first guests to arrive.  They soon got busy with the corn hole game Mary Ellen had brought. 

There is new playground equipment in their park, and Dick took Elizer there.  He met up with our friend Kevin Harley, husband of Wendy - my dear Manheim Christian Day School co-worker.  They have four beautiful daughters who were some of my best singers.  I follow each of them on social media.  WELL, Kevin was there with three of their granddaughters, and Elizer had so much fun with them! 

I was helping to slice apples for the apple bar.  I can't believe I didn't even take a picture of it.  Caramel and all kinds of goodies to dip into.  After everything was set up and ready, Destiny got dressed and her mom helped her to do her hair. 

We had a lot of food!  Enid's brother Steven brought some good yellow rice and chicken.  Enid's mother had made pasteles, which we boiled in a big pot (you can see it in the picture above) for an hour or two - tripping the breaker and causing a panic!  But Dick got us back in business again.  I had made two kinds of cookies and also brought veggies and dip and chips and salsa.  Destiny got a big pumpkin pie and some mini individual pumpkin pies from Costco.  And of course there was cake.  

I was so busy I didn't get pictures of everyone or all the food. 

Lori and Hunter came.  Frank came with Alaya and V'anni.  Their mother Lauren was there with her older daughter Nicayla and her friend.  Destiny's brother J'von came with his girlfriend Leslie.  Destiny's friend Amber, who had come along from Indianapolis, was there, and was such a big help in setting up.  Destiny's sister Keshila (Enid's daughter) was there with her husband and two children. Enid's sister Perla was there with two of her adult kids and grandchildren.  Ozzy had worked for Frank for a couple of days and he came with him.

There were some really fun, hilarious games.  I sat at a table with Lori and Hunter and Sam and Steph, Sammy and Bianca. We had lots of laughs.

Elizer was having fun with all the kids, but especially with Keshila's son.  They were doing activities at the next table, and Lori and I were listening to them talk.  I said, "Oh my goodness, I could just eat him up!!  He sounds so cute!"  

Hunter and Elizer obliged us for some pictures!

I almost forgot that it was my birthday!  74 years old!  Destiny got everyone's attention and brought out a cake that Dick had gotten for me.  It was so much fun to have so many grandchildren together singing "Happy Birthday" to me!

Official pictures!

Lots of people helped us to clean up when we were all finished.  We were a tired bunch!  Destiny, Ozzy, and Elizer were going to Frank's house in Reading overnight and leaving the next day, so we had to say our goodbyes.  Such a short time together!  Sigh.

As we always do when we're in East Petersburg, we checked out "our" house.  Our first house.  We bought it on our 7th wedding anniversary in October 1978.  This view is from the back, which faces the park.  The front of the house is right up against Main Street with only a sidewalk between.  The picture on the left is when we lived there, the picture on the right is current.  

We went to Mary Ellen's house for the night and to church with her in the morning - James Street Mennonite Church in Lancaster city.  It's a wonderful church, and we felt very much at home.  They have excellent musicians!  I took a picture of one of the hymns we sang.

Mary Ellen made delicious white chicken chili for our lunch.  After lunch Dick took a nap and we sisters talked about end-of-life issues.  We're at the age where such things need to be discussed.  I appreciate her thorough guidance.

Then we said our goodbyes.  And of course we needed some pictures!

It was nearing dark (which comes TOO early now) as we drove toward home.  Beautiful skies!

We had a stop to make along the way home!  It was Sam's birthday!  We met them at our favorite place - Brother's Pizza in Newport.  As always, we had the most fun together in our cozy corner up on their balcony. 

I wanted a picture with Sam, but first of all we had to clean the food out of our teeth, hahaha!!  Steph was across the table snapping away.

Sammy's hair has really grown, and it's SO curly!!  He could have a good fro if he wanted, haha!  Bianca was her usual delightfully dramatic self!

I even had a birthday balloon to bring home with me.

On Tuesday morning we woke up to SNOW!!  NOOOOO!!  It was a terribly cold, windy day.  Yes I know, it's pretty. 

I decided it was time to use the electric fireplace.  And while I was at it, I added some "seasonal" music.   But I'm really not ready for all that.

On Wednesday evening, instead of our monthly baking class at church we had a glue gun party!  We glued a bunch of gingerbread houses together so that on Saturday when we have our gingerbread decorating party for the kids, they can just have fun decorating instead of taking so long to keep their walls standing up.

That's all till next week!