Really Kinda Random: Thanksgiving Edition

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!  I decided I wanted to do a Really Kinda Random post today, even though it was Thanksgiving--mainly because I have TIME today!  ;-)

I am linking up with Cindy at Live a Colorful Life for Really Random Thursday.  Hop on over there to check out more random posts.  (Cindy's random posts are always awesome!)

Because it's Thanksgiving, this won't be completely random....I'll tell you about some random things that I'm thankful for!  ;-)  (This is not ALL I'm thankful for....just a few small things [some not so small] that make a big difference in my life....)

I am thankful for chocolate.  Yes, I really am.

I'm thankful for friends out in blogland who share wonderful recipes.  Donna wrote about this Triple Chocolate Quick Bread she made with her daughter.  She blogged the recipe here.  I thought it sounded good, so Sweet Pea and I made it one day.  It was wonderful!  I think I'm going to make this as the Christmas gift for our neighbors this year.  Seems much easier than all the cookies and candy.  And this year, I'm all about easy.  You have got to try this.  Though Papa Pea said, "Why don't you call it what it is?  It's chocolate cake!"  I am sticking with it being bread.  You have got to try it!

I am thankful that we have the wherewithall to purchase tickets to shows that come to campus.  A few weeks ago, I finally got around to purchasing our tickets for the year:  West Side Story, Mannheim Steamroller (next week!  can't wait!), Hair, and Celtic Woman.  We almost missed West Side Story, because I had waited so long to call and get all our tickets.  Sweet Pea went with us, as she LOVES this show.  She was glued to the stage the entire time and was mouthing the words to all the songs.  It was pretty amusing.

I am thankful for friends and family members who give me hand-me-downs!  My friend's mother is moving.  She had this lamp in her house and gifted it to me as part of the moving process.  I love how the antique bobbin is used as the lamp base!  The fabric on the shade seems a little dated, but I'm thinking if I put it in my new sewing room, where I hope to paint the walls turquoise, it might fit in nicely.  I'll have to think abou whether or not I want to recover the shade.....Ideas?

I am really thankful to lovely friends and bloggers who do awesome giveaways and that Mr. Random chooses to bless me now and then.  My good friend Terri has started a new business selling her hand screenprinted designs.  (She designs them herself.)  She had a giveaway to announce the opening of her new business. And I won this set of butterfly cards.  They are so beautiful and very professionally printed.  I just love them.  Thank you, Terri!  Go visit her shop to see more of her work!  (These would make great Christmas presents, and what a nice way to support your small, independent business people at Christmas!)

She also threw in some other goodies, which I believe she is offering now in her shop as well.  So awesome!

Even her note to me was so professionally presented.  (Sorry, I forgot to take a photo before I tore into it.)  Here is how she sealed the envelope.

And here's the notecard that was inside.  Just wonderful.  Made me feel so special!

I am thankful for so many sources of quilting and other crafty inspiration that surround me.  I finally had a chance to read this magazine, which has been sitting around my house for a while.

I really want to make this.  Bad.  I'm thankful for pinwheels.  I love them.

I am thankful for a husband who loves to cook....so I don't have to, because I hate it.  I'm also thankful that he's not very rule-governed.  We didn't feel like a big turkey dinner this year, not because Papa Pea doesn't want to make a big meal for us.  He'll make a full-on turkey dinner any weekend of the year, just because he feels like it.  But not today.  Today, he decided he felt like making lasagna....from scratch.

I thought this was a funny picture.  He and Sweet Pea made pie crust last night, and this morning, he made pumpkin pie.  He had it sitting on the counter, while behind it he's making lasagna.  The only thing in it that is not homemade is the sauce...we like Classico.  But here you can see him spooning in his own, homemade ragu for inside the lasagna.

But of course, mostly I'm thankful for the wonderful people in my life.  My family and my friends, both real (people I've met in real life) and imaginary (those of you bloggers with whom I interact but we've never had the chance to meet in real life).  The wonderful people in my life are so special to me.  And I am thankful that Sweet Pea likes to craft with me.  She's really getting into paper crafts these days, which is kind of fun for me.

Well, it's 64 degrees here today, if you can believe it.  We may go for a bike ride.  Who knows.  I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving if you live in the U.S.  If not, I hope you are still having a wonderful day!

I feel a little bad, because we didn't do a big turkey dinner and invite my students over who didn't have other places to go. But to be honest, I really needed some down time!  So, I'm taking it today.  In the next three weeks I have Sweet Pea's birthday to worry about, getting all my Christmas shopping and baking done, finishing up the semester, getting all the finals grading done, and getting grades submitted.  After that, the holiday traveling starts.  So, it will be crazy.  Today is my calm before the storm!  I'm trying to savor it.  Hope you get to do the same!

Until next time,

Comments

[Mary on Lake Pulaski]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Stephanie!

[Lynn]

Happy Thanksgiving! I am doing the whole turkey thing today. The turkey is in the oven and the sides are made up as much as they can be ahead of time. I'm "resting" in my sewing room until I need to attend to the dinner again.

[Amy]

Happy Thanksgiving! I'd prefer that meal over turkey anyday ;)

[Donna]

Papa Pea is right the bread is like cake! Yours bread looks delish too. After today I wished I had made something easier! I did the turkey and all the sides and was exhausted after. Lasagna sounds wonderful and a husband to cook it! The pie looks wonderful.
Glad too that Sweet Pea loves paper crafting with you!
Hugs,
Donna

[Cathy]

Mmmm yummy! I vote for lasaga too! I tried to convince te family last year to ditch the turkey for lasagne at christmas but i was out voted!

[liveacolorfullife]

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm very thankful that you are my friend.

[Catherine @ Knotted Cotton]

What a happy collection of things to be thankful for:-) A husband that cooks, too!

[jenclair]

Since we had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner last weekend with all of the relatives, we, too, had a non-traditional dinner yesterday.

Love your thankful list, and there is little better than a husband that cooks. Same situation here!

[carolld]

Great post. Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and got some well-deserved rest. Love that lamp. I've already forwarded that Bread recipe to my daughter. I can't wait to try it.

[kathy olkowski]

I have a wooden rocker that is made out of the same rolled fabric rope back & seat. I love it! I need to paint the wood frame. Clever...and I would eat lasagne any day! Ineed to go make me some chocolate bread NOW! Very fun post!

[terriaw]

Wonderful randomness and things to be thankful for! It also makes me happy to hear you like your stationery goodies.

[Kim]

What a nice "blessings list." Some of the same items are on my list, especially the husband who cooks. He, too, will randomly cook a turkey dinner with the works, and cook something not so traditional for holidays. Sounds like you have a busy few weeks ahead of you. I hope you're able to find some down time in there and enjoy the holidays.

[Maggie Szafranski]

Happy Thanksgiving! I got behind on my blog reading with the weekend festivities! We all have so much to be thankful for, and your friendship is one that I am thankful for! The pumpkin pie looks delish!

[Doris]

I am SO coming to your house next year! (Not a fan of turkey, and I love me some lasagna) and Pumpkin Pie from scratch? Anyday of the week...

[Thimbleanna]

Sounds like you had a great Thanksgiving -- Lasagna and all LOL! Would you care to panic now with me? I can't believe Thanksgiving is over -- I haven't done one. thing. Christmas related. OUCH!

[Deb]

Sorry - I'm a week late saying "Happy Thanksgiving" where did the week go?!?! Sounds like you had a perfect family Thanksgiving - that's what it's all about. I really like random blogs and the little lamp!