It's Thanksgiving week and I have much to be grateful for--my health, my family, my ongoing pursuit of my goals.
I'm taking this week off to finish writing my fourth Golden Heart entry, prepare for Thanksgiving feasting, and decorate for the Christmas holiday.
I'm planning lots of adventures during the month of December. Travel to fun places, another trip to a Tennessee winery, pampering myself after a hard two months of writing, writing and MORE writing. I'm so excited to start posting about these adventures next week.
The last Golden Heart entry must go out by the 30th--overnight mail. I'm not sure how good it will be, but it ups my chances for two of my other entries which I think are strong. I enter the Golden Heart because it is a great way to push out a new story and a great way to force myself to write a synopsis. Finaling is a bonus that I would love to happen -- who wouldn't want to be in that golden circle? But to be honest, I'm more interested in generating stories that will sell one day.
Everyone who finals deserves to be there. Everyone who doesn't final should not believe that they didn't deserve to be there. I've read a lot of wonderful entries as a judge and many did not final. So there you have it--one entry must have many kind judges who read the story without prejudice and malice and are receptive to the story.
This is subjective.
But I digress. I'm back in my writing dungeon and I'm working hard. See you all in December!!
Happy Thanksiving :-)
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 26, 2010
Black Friday Bail Out--Today's Motivational Post is Blacked Out by Shopping Frenzy
There's a little tradition in the United States called BLACK FRIDAY. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, millions of Americans get up super early and go shopping for amazing deals at their favorite retailers. Why do they get up early, brave the cold, bump against the burgeoning crowds to shop for deals when they could be sleeping? Well, the deals are pretty danged amazing.
Confession: When Darling Teen was a lot younger, I'd take advantage of the sales for Christmas shopping. Later I used the deals to buy my required black tie event dress at a super discounted price. Trust me, there is nothing quite like trying on a formal gown when you look like death in a skillet and you're one cup of coffee away from a caffeine from a compulsory trip to the ladies room located at the opposite side of the department store.
I gave up BLACK FRIDAY five years ago. I started shopping online. I no longer needed the sales. Often times, most of the stuff is just that. Stuff. And it's stuff we don't need or want. But my Darling Husband and Darling Teen have taken up my BLACK FRIDAY mantle. Every year they get up and make a strategic plan and, armed with my meager list of two or three things, they go shopping for my Christmas presents. It's quite cute. And they have a great time. But honestly, I usually don't have much to put on the list. It's not about the list, it's about the companionship they have and the relationship they build while they are shopping that counts.
Confession: They don't get up early. They leave when they are ready. And they have learned that if there is an ALABAMA or AUBURN game on Black Friday, they will have zip to battle in the crowding department.
And what do I do while they are gone? I start getting ready for decorating for Christmas. Down come all the autumn colors and back into the attic the various items go. Then I clean--dust the surfaces that haven't been dusted in a while hehe-- then I start putting up the easier decorations. We save the tree for the family to decorate together.
Confession: Every year we have an annual argument about the placement of my Darling Husband's beloved "chair" which is strategically placed to watch the flat screen television. This place is right where the tree must go. It's never pretty. There is also the musical dance of the furniture which must be endured. No. We are not a Norman Rockwell painting when it comes to the positioning of the tree.
Usually we eat leftovers that night. But this year we may not have many, so we might just have pizza or a store bought Stouffer's Lasagna. This is our calm before the tree positioning argument. We have a laugh or three, drink a bit of wine (or a lot), watch a few movies, and hang out.
The best part about bailing out of BLACK FRIDAY? Sleeping in!
Do you shop on BLACK FRIDAY? What's the best deal you ever got? And if you bail out of shopping, what do you do instead?
Confession: When Darling Teen was a lot younger, I'd take advantage of the sales for Christmas shopping. Later I used the deals to buy my required black tie event dress at a super discounted price. Trust me, there is nothing quite like trying on a formal gown when you look like death in a skillet and you're one cup of coffee away from a caffeine from a compulsory trip to the ladies room located at the opposite side of the department store.
I gave up BLACK FRIDAY five years ago. I started shopping online. I no longer needed the sales. Often times, most of the stuff is just that. Stuff. And it's stuff we don't need or want. But my Darling Husband and Darling Teen have taken up my BLACK FRIDAY mantle. Every year they get up and make a strategic plan and, armed with my meager list of two or three things, they go shopping for my Christmas presents. It's quite cute. And they have a great time. But honestly, I usually don't have much to put on the list. It's not about the list, it's about the companionship they have and the relationship they build while they are shopping that counts.
Confession: They don't get up early. They leave when they are ready. And they have learned that if there is an ALABAMA or AUBURN game on Black Friday, they will have zip to battle in the crowding department.
And what do I do while they are gone? I start getting ready for decorating for Christmas. Down come all the autumn colors and back into the attic the various items go. Then I clean--dust the surfaces that haven't been dusted in a while hehe-- then I start putting up the easier decorations. We save the tree for the family to decorate together.
Confession: Every year we have an annual argument about the placement of my Darling Husband's beloved "chair" which is strategically placed to watch the flat screen television. This place is right where the tree must go. It's never pretty. There is also the musical dance of the furniture which must be endured. No. We are not a Norman Rockwell painting when it comes to the positioning of the tree.
Usually we eat leftovers that night. But this year we may not have many, so we might just have pizza or a store bought Stouffer's Lasagna. This is our calm before the tree positioning argument. We have a laugh or three, drink a bit of wine (or a lot), watch a few movies, and hang out.
The best part about bailing out of BLACK FRIDAY? Sleeping in!
Do you shop on BLACK FRIDAY? What's the best deal you ever got? And if you bail out of shopping, what do you do instead?
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Grateful Hearts Lead to Happy Hearts
Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, of sharing a meal with friends and family, and of remembrance. I love everything about Thanksgiving from the warm autumn colors, the parades, the football games (well I could probably go without the football), the comradeship, and the food. Can't forget the food.
This year we're sharing Thanksgiving with our new friends. We're having a huge feast which will include our spatchcock turkey, all the trimmings, smoked turkey breast, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, two pies.... ah.... food baby is on the way! I can't wait to break bread and share this day with them.
Imagine if we carried that spirit forward into all of our days? What if we opened our hearts to living a life of gratitude and giving all year round? Charities require more help during the holiday season, but wouldn't it be great if people gave to food pantries all year long? To homeless shelters? To (fill in the blank cause)?
I try to live a life of giving and service as well as one of gratitude. I admit, sometimes I have to dig deep for the spirit of gratitude when the clouds of loneliness, winter weather, and darker days descend. But I make the effort because if I can find something to be grateful for, then I can find a smidgeon of happiness in my day. A ray of light. And then I can carry that light into the world. And then maybe someone else's day might be a bit brighter.
One trick I learned was to write down 5 things a day that I'm grateful for. For instance, right now I am grateful for my health (which is a huge one), my darling daughter's spirit, my husband's job security, my new friends, and my writing community. I could list of a lot more things to be grateful about, but you get the picture. Having positive things to be grateful for helps me smooth away the rough edges of the things I am sad about, or the things I miss right now.
Confession: No, I am not Polly Anna and always filled with sunshine. I do bask in the sun a lot (I am like a cat that way), but I have days where growling is preferred to purring.
We all struggle with our own inner demons and disappointments. It is in how we handle them and work through them, that we show the measure of our willingness to be lights in the world. When I practice gratitude, I realize how blessed I am and I can't be grumpy anymore. Or maybe I just won't growl as much.
This year we're sharing Thanksgiving with our new friends. We're having a huge feast which will include our spatchcock turkey, all the trimmings, smoked turkey breast, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, two pies.... ah.... food baby is on the way! I can't wait to break bread and share this day with them.
Imagine if we carried that spirit forward into all of our days? What if we opened our hearts to living a life of gratitude and giving all year round? Charities require more help during the holiday season, but wouldn't it be great if people gave to food pantries all year long? To homeless shelters? To (fill in the blank cause)?
I try to live a life of giving and service as well as one of gratitude. I admit, sometimes I have to dig deep for the spirit of gratitude when the clouds of loneliness, winter weather, and darker days descend. But I make the effort because if I can find something to be grateful for, then I can find a smidgeon of happiness in my day. A ray of light. And then I can carry that light into the world. And then maybe someone else's day might be a bit brighter.
One trick I learned was to write down 5 things a day that I'm grateful for. For instance, right now I am grateful for my health (which is a huge one), my darling daughter's spirit, my husband's job security, my new friends, and my writing community. I could list of a lot more things to be grateful about, but you get the picture. Having positive things to be grateful for helps me smooth away the rough edges of the things I am sad about, or the things I miss right now.
Confession: No, I am not Polly Anna and always filled with sunshine. I do bask in the sun a lot (I am like a cat that way), but I have days where growling is preferred to purring.
We all struggle with our own inner demons and disappointments. It is in how we handle them and work through them, that we show the measure of our willingness to be lights in the world. When I practice gratitude, I realize how blessed I am and I can't be grumpy anymore. Or maybe I just won't growl as much.
Happy Thanksgiving & Enjoy Your Day!!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Spatchcock Turkey for Thanksgiving--Strike a Pose!
I don't cook the big Thanksgiving bird in the oven. I grill it. Here are some fun pictures from 2009, and videos of our Thanksgiving feast in preparation as well as a link to how to properly spatchcock any hen/bird for the grill. I'll be too busy grilling the bird to post on Thanksgiving Day, but I had to share these hilarious photos. And if you plan on spatchcocking the big bird, do so with assistance. It is hard to cut out that back bone. And it's even harder to break the breast bone. But oh, the end result is so worth it!!
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| Be afraid. Be very afraid. |
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| Putting yummy spices between the skin and flesh. |
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| I believe she's a dead bird. |
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| Instructing the future cook so I can retire. |
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving Part 1
Today I am thankful for the following:
1) my family; their health and their love and their support
2) my friends, near and far for the same
3) sunshine and blue skies in NOVEMBER Hallellujah!
4) music
5) Facebook-for helping me keep in touch with my friends who live in other countries and my friends here in good ol' AL
6) my cats-Mischief is just a funny girl, always a bit quirky. And Clancy is my lovebug--
7) comfy chairs and a roof over my head--how incredibly blessed am I? I am blessed!
8) my health--you don't know how important it is till it is threatened
9) the people talking in my head and telling me their stories-honor to be picked
10) God-for loving me and giving me a purpose in my life and for knowing me before I knew myself and sending me out to the world to be a friend, a mom , a wife, a writer, a person of worth because He loves me and I know Him.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
1) my family; their health and their love and their support
2) my friends, near and far for the same
3) sunshine and blue skies in NOVEMBER Hallellujah!
4) music
5) Facebook-for helping me keep in touch with my friends who live in other countries and my friends here in good ol' AL
6) my cats-Mischief is just a funny girl, always a bit quirky. And Clancy is my lovebug--
7) comfy chairs and a roof over my head--how incredibly blessed am I? I am blessed!
8) my health--you don't know how important it is till it is threatened
9) the people talking in my head and telling me their stories-honor to be picked
10) God-for loving me and giving me a purpose in my life and for knowing me before I knew myself and sending me out to the world to be a friend, a mom , a wife, a writer, a person of worth because He loves me and I know Him.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
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