It’s nine p.m. on Thanksgiving day. Rather than taking a Thanksgiving hike as we have done in recent years, we shared Thanksgiving dinner with good friends today. Otherwise, we’d be driving home from the mountains in the dark right now. I am thankful that we had friends to share the day with this year, and I am glad we aren’t driving right now. Our company has gone home, and we are cleaned up and ready to settle in for the evening.
Earlier this week, I came across a recipe for a grain free stuffing that sounded interesting. I thought that I would make it for Thanksgiving. I recalled planting a few turnips in my fall garden, and headed out to see if I could find some. It turned out that I had just enough to make the stuffing. I’d never eaten turnips before, and only planted them on a whim. I made the stuffing last night and it was really good (and for the record, mine didn’t look anything like the picture included with the recipe.) I didn’t think it was quite as tasty when we reheated it today, so next time I will make it the day we are to eat it. I was excited to be able to use both sweet potatoes and turnips from our garden to make it.
There was borage blooming in our garden the day I pulled the turnips. The borage I planted this summer reseeded and I guess it thought November would be as good a time as any to bloom. We had a decent frost last night (not our first) so I’ll have to go see how it’s doing tomorrow. I suspect that was the last of the flowers until next year. It was a thrill to see that one little blossom.
The girls and I have been working on our storytelling skills with a little help from these cards. We take turns drawing cards and adding to the story using the picture on the card for inspiration. When I was a little girl, my mom used to tell the most amazing stories and she didn’t need any help. I didn’t inherit that talent at all. Beatrix though, she’s showing some promise in the storytelling department.
I’ve not cheated in the toast with butter department at all. I did make lemon blueberry muffins using coconut flour though. I am used to the texture and slight weirdness of grain free baked goods and thought this a perfect way to get a good dose of butter. (recipe from Practical Paleo) I did however cave in the caffeine department. I made it an entire week, then practically collapsed last Sunday and required a cup of green tea to recover. Ha. But seriously, that’s not really an exaggeration and it’s been one cup each day since. I tried. Maybe I’ll give it another go one day when I don’t have any children or nursing babies waking me at night!
This evening I am feeling so grateful for many things including: friends far and near, community both locally and online, a warm fire, and a cross stitch sampler to work on! I hope you’ve all had a nice day, whether you were celebrating or not. I am going to go settle into a chair with my sampler!
p.s. No giveaways this weekend! I’ll be back on Monday!
Baby by the Sea says
Good job, mama on the strength to not cheat on the diet. I try to avoid yeast and feel so much better when I’m strong enough to avoid the dreamy foods that contain it. The cross stitch sampler — is it different work for the fingers than knitting? I mean, sometimes my fingers get stiff from knitting and I need them to still be busy. That one looks dreamy. And those story cards are the best. Our three year old loves them as much as the seven year old.
Happy Thankful season.
Ginny says
Cross stitching is different. The two weeks or so that my shoulder was out I couldn’t really knit without pain, but I could cross stitch. My fingers get stiff as well sometimes and don’t want to knit. I think that the cross stitching is a good way to keep them busy. This sampler is great because you get little doses of gratification as you finish each letter or motif. It’s addictive!
karen says
Sometimes it’s nice to not travel. All of our family are a distance and I love to see them but the driving can be a chore. Lucky for me all of my kids are grown, but when they were little it was a challenge to get out the door.
I am a big coffee fan in the morning. I have to have two cups every.single. day. Just sayin’
Marie-Josée says
Cute ladybug on the first photo!
Melissa says
Mmm nice to hear a good turnip recipe…will try. It is the only veg that doesn’t “please the pallet” in this house. But its a beautiful veg and always does so well in our garden. Maybe this will change some minds! And I love love your sampler!!!
Liz H says
Happy Thanksgiving.
I’ve found it easier being totally caffeine-free while I do have small children waking in the night, mainly because I get to sleep so much more quickly.
Michelle says
Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving:-) Your sampler is coming out beautifully!!
Becky says
We love the eeboo products! Glad to hear that you had a lovely holiday and had the surprise turnips.
Kimberlee says
Sounds like you had a most lovely Thanksgiving! I’m glad you found a happy way to get some butter. (though frankly just a smidge off the stick is good too in a pinch) Enjoy a blessed rest of the week! ( and we enjoy storytelling here too – my kids make storytelling blocks that they sell in their shop – so fun!)
Jennifer Miller says
We did the pre dinner walk with the dogs this year. I think, that way, for sure they would get a walk in before we stuffed ourselves! Happy Thanksgiving.
PKJ says
It’s so lovely when you can use things from your garden to celebrate your bounty. I love that!
Heather says
Happy Thanksgiving, Ginny. Have a good weekend.
Missy says
What kind of muffin tin is that? It looks like pottery and I do love pottery! How well does it work?
Nadja says
Sounds like a lovely day.
And when it comes to “caving” in the caffeine dept., remember that green tea is good for you! I just can’t get over a cup of coffee in the morning. Grew up in Germany, and coffee is a way of life…everything stopped in the afternoon for coffee and a pastry or slice of cake…
Crystal says
Sounds like a great evening 🙂 happy day to you too!
Ann Voskamp says
I count you a gift, friend!
so.
Wendy says
Happy Thanksgiving!!!