Decking the Halls

And the tree, and everything else.

I have boxes and boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations.

My granddaughter and I have a tradition now of putting the tree up the day after Thanksgiving.

I told her I wasn't going to put the village out this year and she said but nannie I look forward to that. So I put it out yesterday (there are boxes and boxes of that, too).

My tree is full of my many different collections through the years. I collect Coca Cola, Santas (and Coca Cola Santas), penguins, snowmen, angels, etc etc. This tree has no theme, its just 40 years of collecting.



Do you have things in your Christmas collection that always make you think of a certain person? This music box is one of my favorites and it always reminds me of my parents. They gave it to me for my birthday one year. My dad knew how much I love all my Christmas decorating.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all are having a wonderful day. We did our family dinner yesterday so today was just hubby and me.

Pictures later.

Why can't I have a phone?

My granddaughter is 8 going on 18.

This is a picture taken at Olan Mills almost 2 years ago.

Our conversation

Her-Nannie I need your phone.
Me-Okay
Her-Why don't I have my own phone?
Me-Cause you are 8 and don't need a phone. Who would you call.
Her-My friends. They all have phones.
Me-Well that is a question you need to ask your mom and dad.
Her-So you are saying I can't have a phone?
Me-I'm saying that is not a Nannie kind of question to answer, that is a mom and dad kind of question.
Her-So you are saying No, I can't have a phone.
Me-Don't put words in my mouth. I'm saying you have to ask your mom and dad.
Her-All the kids on the bus have a phone.
Me-Let's go eat.

She had me laughing out loud. We have the funniest conversations sometimes.

Have I told you I love being a grandmother.

Butternut squash soup

I've been trying different recipes and made one recently from a link on Casey's Musings blog. It was very good, too.

I wanted to try something a bit different so came up with my own recipe today. I loved the one with roast apples and butternut squash but wanted to use less pans.

So here is what I came up with.

Butternut squash-peeled, seeded and cut in chunks
1 large carrot cut in slices
1 stalk celery chopped
1/4 cup onion chopped
2 cans chicken broth (you could use veggie broth)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp oil
1 tablespoon butter

Heat the oil in a large pan with a lid. Add the veggies and saute til lightly brown and becoming tender. Add the butter, seasonings and broth. Cook til all vegs are tender.

Cool and use an immersion blender to puree the soup (or put in in a blender be careful if it is hot it will spew out of the lid)