A Post Thanksgiving Post

We had a most wonderful Thanksgiving at my step-sister's house about an hour away.  

A lovely day spent with nieces and nephews that now live all across the country and with my sisters and brother that I don't get to see very often.

Yummy turkey, delicious cranberry sauce, and fantastic green salad!  Oh yes, I do like yams too.

But, I know you will be appalled when I tell you this, but I do not like mashed potatoes (yeah, I know - I made them this year - everybody said they were delicious) or stuffing.  Blech!!!

Well, I just had to share with you the beautiful table my sister set (with the help of her friend, Sue) 

The weather was sunny and bright - a bit chilly - but a heater and a little fire pit helped keep it comfortable.

Beautiful chargers at every place setting....

and gorgeous little bouquets with autumnal (one of my favorite words EVAH!) colors.

 Doesn't it all look so inviting?  I told her I was just going to have to blog about it!

And then another of my step-sister's made the most gorgeous cupcakes!  Brown butter pumpkin with caramel icing and sea salt - at least I think that's what they were (besides delicious, of course). 

 I thought they were from a bakery! 

Hope your Thanksgiving was exactly what it should be - a day for giving thanks for what we have.  I know I am thankful for all my family!

AND

I am thankful for you!

Thanks for buzzing in,

Happy Thanksgiving to You!

I hope this Thanksgiving finds you with many blessings to give thanks for.

One of the things we are thankful for is family.

We will be with my family this year here in California.  In our family, as I imagine many of you do, we farm out the dishes to different family members.

This year I am making homemade cranberry sauce (one of my favorite dishes to make), homemade rolls, and a dessert that is NOT pie.

So I thought I would share with you my cranberry sauce recipe with you since Williams-Sonoma was kind enough to share it with me a several years ago when I bought their cookbook.

Enjoy!

Apple Orange Cranberry Sauce

1/2 orange

2 cups water

1 tart apple (such as Granny Smith)

3 cups fresh cranberries

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp cloves

1.  Juice the orange half and save the juice for later.

2.  Remove the white pith/membrane from the orange rind and then cut the rind into a small dice.

3.  Put the diced orange rind into a small saucepan with the water, bring to a boil, and cook for 10 minutes.  Drain and then set aside.

4.  Quarter the apples and then chop into small pieces.  Place in a medium saucepan.

5.  Sort the cranberries and toss any soft ones.  Add the cranberries to the apple along with the reserved orange peel, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves.  

6.  Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cover partially.  Simmer gently, stirring occasionally until the sauce has thickened and the cranberries have burst and the apple is tender, about 10-15 minutes (but tonight it took about 20 minutes).

7.  Let cool or cover and refrigerate overnight.  Bring back to room temperature before serving.

Makes 3 1/2 - 4 cups of cranberry sauce.

Worker Bee is hoping there will be leftovers!

Tomorrow morning I'm making my rolls and prepping the chocolate croissant bread pudding (remember....something that is NOT pie).

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you know what a blessing you are in my life!

You are very much appreciated.

With honey,

 

It Snowed, It Snowed, It Snowed!

This was the happiest Thanksgiving ever for Baby Bee!

This past week we flew to Louisville, Kentucky to spend Thanksgiving with Worker Bee's family.  Family came from Minnesota and California (like us).  Every single grandchild was there and every son and wife. The adorable great-grandchildren were there too.  Worker Bee comes from a family of four boys and for all of us to get together makes for a large, loud, and wonderful group.

But, I must confess, this was not what made Baby Bee so gloriously happy.

Wanna' know what sent her over the moon?

*S*N*O*W*

Yes, it snows in California, but not in our part.  The last time any snow stuck was 2000?  

See?  I can't even remember the last time it snowed.

Now Baby Bee has been to the snow in the mountains near us but she has NEVER seen it snow.  Every winter we hope and pray for a bit of snow fall, but it hasn't happened yet.

Well, when we got to Grandma's house after enjoying our Thanksgiving feast, Worker Bee's brother texted us that is was snowing in Indiana and we should see what was going on in Louisville.....

Yep!  *S*N*O*W*

Do you see that look of pure joy on her face?  

She was on the phone calling my family back in California.  They put her on speaker phone so everyone could hear how happy she was.  I just wish I had a video camera (or thought to use my cellphone).

Isn't it beautiful?

When we woke up in the morning we found.....

Baby Bee has a snowball waiting for her in Grandma's freezer for the next time we visit.

We loved how we could see the bird tracks in the snow.  

Do you remember the first time you saw it snow?

Do you still get that same feeling of delight?

Thanks for coming by today.  

Lucky Me! I Won a Delightful Giveaway!

Aren't bloggers the nicest people?  At least the ones I've met sure are!

Not too long ago I happened upon this creative lady, Sue over at Gossamer Creations.  She was having a giveaway and I was the lucky winner!  You have to see what she has over at etsy shop.  She also has this great website The Gypsy Factory.  

What a lovely presentation!  I'm saving the lovely black ribbon!  I know it will come in handy.  I think it might be some of that bias tape I keep reading about.

 Just look at all the lovely treats!

 A tiara of course!  (What bee would be complete without one?)  Can you see the pretty blue ribbon/bias taps peeking out from the back of this?

 Sweet little cake or other sign!

 Now I just adore a scrumptious cupcake and won't these be lovely sitting on top of all that fluffy icing?

 And (my personal weakness and favorite) a Make a Wish banner!  I love it!  

Do you see the coolest tape she used to edge the cardboard that was in the package to keep everything safe?  Isn't she awesome??? 

Please be sure to go see her lovelies over at her etsy shop!

Oooooh - I'm going to be bad here because I didn't ask permission, but I hope she'll forgive me....

Here are some of her sweet Christmas creations:

Now I hope you all had the most wonderful Thanksgiving!  My family and I spent the day with my husband's family and I am so glad we did!  It has been 19 years since we last celebrated this holiday together and this might the first time when all of us - every single stinkin' relative - were able to be there! It was marvelous!

Now - let the Christmas fun begin!

Thanks for buzzin' on by!  

Are you ready for some peppermint mochas?  

Don't you think it's time we enjoyed one together? 

That has got to be my favorite Christmas treat!  What's yours?

Sweet buzzin's,

Happy Thanksgiving to One and All!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my dear friends!  

Enjoy your turkey and pumpkin pie!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a blessed day and thank you for coming to visit!

I appreciate your comments and your quick stops by Sweet Bee Cottage.

Uh oh!  Better get back to finishing the mashed potatoes and sweet onion zucchini bake.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving!

It's beginning to look a lot like...Thanksgiving?

I know the stores just seem to skip right over Thanksgiving, but I refuse!  The Halloween decorations are piled high in the sunroom, patiently waiting to be packed away, but my "I can't wait to put the old away before getting out the next" condition returned with a vengeance.

So...

Above is the top of our piano.  It's an upright grand so it's huge!  Baby Bee just started lessons this year.  I've played since I was seven myself.  It has been so delightful to play duets together.  The look of pride and joy on her face just melts my heart.

That is a gourd I bought at our local fruit stand about 4 or 5 years ago.  You can still hear the seeds rattling around inside it.  I should go buy another one this season.  It seems to be a better lifetime investment than some others I have made.

Don't you just love the sign?  I found it on ebay. They even sent me a sweet little Thanksgiving ornament with my order.  I've had it for a couple years.  The glittered pumpkins were from Walmart last year I think.  I bought tons of them.

Can you see the beaded Indian corn in the little jar?  I just picked that up on clearance at Michael's.  All the other little goodies in this jar were also from Michael's.  I keep reading about Hobby Lobby and it sounds fantastic.  Do you hear that Hobby Lobby?  We need you here in Central California!

Aren't they sweet?  These were my mom's and she wanted to get rid of them.  I screamed,

"NO! DON'T THROW AWAY ANOTHER PRECIOUS CHILDHOOD MEMORY!"

Okay, I exaggerate - she asked me if I wanted them.  I don't even remember them from my childhood, but they were too cute to go to the thrift store.

Here's their dinner.......I'm not sure if he'll be able to make the shot with his little ceramic musket....

Well, thanks again for stopping by!

Come back tomorrow when the whole Sweet Bee Family gives a review of this recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts from one of my VERY FAVORITE blogs.