Goodbye Turkey-Hello Santa

Thanksgiving was a success, we all ate all that we could and then sat around all fat, dumb, and happy. We all kept saying how full we were, then someone would want a piece of pie, or one more helping of that fruit salad, or another dinner roll. You know how it goes. My grandaughter got my tree put up and decorated, and it does look pretty, everyone complimented her on a job well done. Of course I have tons of leftovers....(if everything was so good-why didn't someone take some of those leftovers home with them?)

Now it is time for me to send out my Christmas letter to my kids and grands. It is basically an agenda of what, and when everything, will take place at my house this year. We always have a lot of fun. The grands draw names, the adults play the Dirty Santa game, we have a game called the Brown Bag Special, and we have a game for the kids-an Auction. This was a lot of fun last year-I buy several gifts, and we hand out this money that we printed off on the copier. They get to bid on these gifts, that they dont know what is in the package. We laughed so hard last year watching the kids with this game-we had as much fun as they did!

The lady that I "sit" with is getting a little better-Praise God! She seems to be clearing up in her mind. At least she doesn't think everyone is trying to murder her any more. Poor little thing, she wouldn't hardly close her eyes, out of her fear of someone trying to "do away with her" (as she put it).

I am putting up some pics of some of the people that I love so much-my girls, and a few of the grands. Just to let you see what keeps my heart beating.

Secret Santa Gift is Shipped

My Secret Santa gift is being shipped out today!! I cannot wait to see when he/she gets it! It was a lot of fun-trying to shop for things for a person that you don't even know. It made you really think about that persons' likes and dislikes. It has been a great experience for me. While I was wrapping those gifts, it really made me start to get into the Christmas Spirit. I do not mean to offend anyone by my use of the word "Christmas" - that is just what it will always be to me. If you chose another word, that is okay by me, I won't be offended, either. Lets all just let the holiday be what it is to you. I have a "Christmas" tree, too. I also put out a small Nativity scene most of the time. That is just what it is to me.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! I give thanks for my family first, our freedom and our country, our brave soldiers fighting to keep us free and safe. I am also thankful that I have a job- there are so many who don't. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and plenty of food. I am thankful for all my friends, and all the love that is shown to me by my family and friends.

I wish everyone a safe holiday weekend.

My Menu for Thanksgiving

Turkey

Dressing

Turkey Giblet Gravy

Hash Brown Casserole

Garlic and Onion Green Beans

Deviled Eggs

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Fruit Salad

Yeast Rolls

Cranberry Sauce

Pumpkin Pie

Lemon Pie

Thats all folks............

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

One week until Thanksgiving, I have pretty much purchased all my ingredients needed for my Turkey Dinner. I will only have about 5 people at my house. My middle daughter is cooking and invited everyone, but since I am only off that one day, I decided not to make the drive to Arkansas. I also have a tradition with my youngest grand daughter-every Thanksgiving she puts up my Christmas tree and decorates it for me. She always does a w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l job of it. I am so happy that she wants to do it, now I need to devise a way of bribing her to take it down for me...... Any way, due to time restraints, I will be cooking, and Georgie, lilest Bean, my ex-mother-in-law, and my hubby will get to pig out to our hearts content. We will also indulge in some really good wine.

Normally I am soooooo happy when the holiday season starts, and I was for a short time this year. I have taken care of this lady, who is 94 years old, for almost 6 years, and she is really going downhill fast. She was officially diagnosed with Alzheimers about a year ago, and was doing fine up until her son decided to get some eye surgery done to lower the pressure in her eye. That surgery put her into a downward tailspin. Now she is combative, doesn't know any of us, won't take her meds, forgot how to walk, and refuses to eat much of anything. WARNING!!! Never let anyone do surgery on an Alzheimer patient, or a person with advanced Dementia. The anesthetic does weird and crazy things to their already mixed up brain. The surgeons will not always tell you about these risks. Her Eye Surgeon never brought it up. The doctor(her Internist) says he doubts she will bounce back from this considering her age. I stay with her 5 days a week, so the last two weeks have been really hard for me, both mentally and physically. You would not believe how strong a 94 year old woman can be when she wants something or does not want something. I have pulled a muscle in my bicep and yesterday I sprained my wrist. None of this happened because I was forcing anything-I don't believe in forcing someone to do something, it is all a result of trying to help her in and out of bed, chairs, and her wheel chair.

So-needless to say, I have been very pre-occupied with her, and have forgotten all about my holiday spirit. I am so afraid something is going to happen to her, I don't even relax when I go home at night. That and the fact that my brother is just hanging on by a thread, makes it hard to be real happy.

I really do need to get with the program-I know that,so-Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope your table is full of good things to eat, and all the chairs are full around the table, too.

Today in Tulsa

Today it is a warm blustery day here in Tulsa. As of today we have had 28 people in the state of Oklahoma die of the Swine Flu! That is pretty scarey to me! Are you going to get, or have you gotten the H1N1 flu shot yet? I will get it when I can get to the clinic. I am pretty sure that I would qualify-as I am a diabetic. What do you think? Do you think that it is safe?

We are supposed to have some cooler weather next week, I have to admit it-I am ready for some seasonal weather.

Pictures and stuff

Halloween has come and gone...I drove over to see my kids in Arkansas, they needed some blue grease makeup and some liquid latex for the boys costumes. They were having a hard time locating some liquid latex, I found some here, so I decided to just drive it over, and I could take my halloween goodie bags over to the boys- instead of mailing them. The boys dressed up as the "Blue Men", you have probably seen these characters in a commercial on t.v. Here is a picture of them in their costumes. They turned out pretty good, don't you think? I did not get any pictures of my other grands in their costumes.

I love this time of the year-leaves falling, trees changing color, a cool crispness to the air. The smell of wood fires, the sounds of the winds blowing at night, and all the festivities that come with fall and winter.

I am starting to buy gifts for Christmas, and for my SS partner. I do love this part of Christmas-the giving part.