Dee-lish-us!

Guys..I got a hankering for a Big Mac yesterday.  Haven't had a Big Mac Attack in a LONG time.  I succumbed to such an attack probably 5 years ago, and I was very disappointed by what I got.  Then, it had been even longer since I had had one as I don't eat junk food any longer...well...I DO have Krystals when my middle boy visits.  He can't wait to get over there as there are no Krystal's in Charlotte.  (Steamed little burgers, steamed bun, diced onion, mustard and a slice of dill pickle)  They are addictive, I swear.  Back to the Big Mac!  I got home and unwrapped it and Land O Goshen (old cartoon saying)--Snuffy Smith) it was just deliciously dripping with "special sauce" instead of being as dry as the Sahara desert as it usually is here in this town...why I quit stopping there for lunch.  (this town serves the dryest ANYTHING there is in it's many fast food places..horrible!) So, it was just so delicious looking with the sauce leaking out...it was hot...not warmed by that infernal light...plenty of lettuce was falling out.  What a delightful mess.  I sat at my table with the plenty of napkins supplied and loved every luscious bite.  It was all over my hands (and I am fastidious) and many bits  and sauce drops dropped onto the plate.  I ate them all.  Gathered them with my fingers.  OH, that was so good!  WHAT a treat!!  Made the rest of my day! 

Hired the leaves to be done by pros.  My lawn man quit with no notice.  These guys were faster than Superman!  They had the BIG industrial blowers...and you may imagine my yard with giant trees woods.  The front and side yards were pretty covered but my back yard was  close to knee-high in leaves.  I have a chainlink fence around the immediate yard that was installed to keep the kids in.  My land goes all the way down through the woods to the Co. line.   The leaves are many many! They got it done.  I gave permission to open the gate and blow them into the woods. 

This is my area all the way down to the Co.line. These leaves are blown into the yard.

Well, come one..get in the car.  We're leaving. 

The Day After

 This was a delightful easy Thanksgiving for which I am more grateful than what may come across here.   

Nothing marred the gathering.  No overt sadness, just gratitude for being together.  By the way, the all kids were talking about high school teachers and memories.  They were funny enough that even I, not a participant with them, was laughing.  Sitting around talking is a singularly wonderful thing. 

The turkey was tender (sorry, Tabbies) and the dressing was moist to a perfect degree.  I made the cranberry sauce myself so it was good too.  The mashed potatoes were amazing.  I can't make them that good anymore.  All my self-indulgent bragging about the two desserts were well founded.  My goodness, they were good.  I am tired of desserts now though, and  I will happily go back to my more spartan diet.  The gravy and rolls were perfect too.  Had to give my DIL credit here with everything except what I brought. 

I hope your day was perfect.  That it was warm, there were sunpuddles for you to enjoy, and that perhaps you joined the many others including me and the boys, taking a walkie after the feast.  Strong sun, very cool.  Just the boys and me.  The youngest wanted that walk with just us. Christi and James didn't mind a bit.  Erich was missing from us, but not our love for him.

Today, the sun is just breaking thru the mist.  Going to be nice.  Colder'n who dunnit out there though. 

Before I go, I want you to see my new tongs!  Katie showed them but you may have missed them.  (of course they won't be used except maybe a cookie.)

Bizzy Bizzy

 Well sir, I just finished the homemade coconut cream pie.  I think I totally outdid myself and I don't mind saying so.  (as usual.) I could not wait to see what the filling tasted like as I got ready to pour it into the pie shell.  After getting as much as possible into the shell, I was able to scrape the pan, and oh boy...I could hardly wait to get the first scraping to taste.  WHOA NELLY!  Good, I reckon if I say so myself.  (Which I do say so at every opportunity I can create!!)

It's to serve my middle boy as he arrives late into the evening.  It will be raining there, along the way, through the mountains and here.  He deserves as large a piece(s) as he wants.  Me too, of course. 

I have a doctor's appt. at 1pm this afternoon.  I can't see my DR.  so it will be an NP.  I want to have my eyes assessed and I hope to request 6 more tablets of antibiotic.  I will see the eye Dr.  however 4 December.  I hope this is over.  

We are going to have Thanksgiving at my youngest's home.  So looking forward to that.  I'm making a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting to take with us to their home.  Staying away from much of the coconut cream pie will be harder than not eating too much cake.  One can always have chocolate cake but the pie means some real work.  I'll probably be like Katie and roll on the floor trying to purr after the first forkful. 

I wish I could make some of both desserts for each one of you.  I am grateful for your friendship and caring.  How wonderful if we would be able to sit together and have a good meal,  a delightful dessert, and talk...the thoughts of all of us, twining together in a sparkling imaginary cloud over our heads.  We'd talk for hours.  We already actually do know much of one another.  Our cats and dogs, and just we ourselves can't keep our personalities away from what our pets say each day.  I have found that true as each time I have had the good fortune to meet and sit with one of the blogging family, there is no strangeness.  Not on my part at least.  Goodness knows how I strike the other blogger.  They may be reeling as they head to their vehicle and holding their heads.  

Rain. T'ain't Much But It's Better Than None *revised w/translation at the bottom*

Trying to get up the nerve to go out in the misty rain.  I am such a wuss about getting my hair all frizzed out.   Wear a hat, say you?  Yeah, but.  That's better than total frizz, but still, if I had my druthers...which I do not, I would have nothing up there.  You know the old saying.  If that's the worst you have to have to deal with, be grateful.  It isn't, but I am. (grateful.)  My knees are coming along nicely as is my eye.  At least I have not posted pictures of my eye so I did have a care not to make you shudder.  I chronicled its look each day so the Dr. could see its progress if he wished.  I have a follow-up on Monday as it is still there, however, it is a minimal problem now. 

I made one heck of a great, moist pumpkin bread yesterday.  A different recipe. I still have over 3/4th of it.  I wrapped it tightly and placed it in the fridge. Took a good serving to my stylist at the salon. 

Katie wrote quite the blog a few days ago about me.  Well, both she and I co-wrote.  But the night before last, she absolutely punished me to the max!  She crossed the Rubicon (the barrier I reset against her landing on my head all night) and...absorbed all the heat my head had to offer all night while settling her rear on my shoulder joint,  until I woke up at 3 with pain there...and tried to shoo her back. 

You all know, well, some of you do anyway,  that I am from and live in the South. 

I found this next on a local online place for us here in my city.  Loved it, because it is completely true.  While at work in my particular career, I used many of these  I will show in a minute here, and so much more while supervising, and in other circumstances where I could.  Comes naturally.  But, I know when it's not appropriate of course.  This made me laugh when someone posted it on the local page. 

For non-Tennesseans, here's a translation.  

Q.  Did you eat?  

A.  No.  Did you?  You want to?  Alright, Let's go.

Howdy!

 Here again and waiting to get better.  Have an eye problem and wish it was over with.  Maybe in another week.

I was experimenting with my boy's 50 mm lens a while back.  Thought I would show you a few.  With that lens....there is no adjusting the lens to bring things closer as with my usual lens (which was out for repair... $$$$$$$$$$$. You get a closer picture by walking up to whatever you want a closer view of.   I have shown you at least one photo maybe here or on FB one, but here are a few more.  I ran across them last night.  

I have slowly but surely having a railing put up on my small side porch by the carport.  We all use that door more than any and a rail is badly needed/.  I have had a tumble occasionally for the past 25 years  Friends are always complaining about that entrance and I hurt my knee (again) there a week ago.  That did it.  I started casting around to find someone to build a rail.  My DIL volunteered her brother.  

Here you are!  

I cropped the picture you see just above this one.