Larry, he made two rings that consisted of two cheeses, 6 meats wrapped in dough and  baked.  He got the recipe on  Facebook.    Also has pepperoncinni in it.  We all have left overs and it was delicious.

Thanks, Jean, there are days I feel older than my age.  Sunday when we had retrieved my camera from Mr Burger, as we were walking to the car, I said to Tom, "Sometimes I feel like an old lady" and Tom said, "Well, you are!"  With friends like that, who needs enemies!  I get many compliments on not looking my age and I appreciate them.

I don't think I explained the bland pumpkin pies - Tom did the work but I gave instructions and/or suggestions.  When it came time for spices, I read from the label I had in my hand and Tom put them in.  We made two pies and I only gave him the spice amounts for one pie and it did not dawn on me until we were on our way home what I had done.  So it is my fault the pies had little taste.  Other than that, they were fine.

Today is a lovely day and nearly 50 degrees now.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I really enjoyed see your family picture!  If I didn't know your age, I would guess you were between 70 and 75. 

Shelley and Claire left this morning, for the long drive to the Central Valley.  They were here for four days, which was just about right, because I had completely lost my voice by Thanksgiving night. Oh well, nothing I can do about it, except to stop taking, and hope that my one working vocal cord, will recover the following day.  This morning I have my voice back, but I will keep conversation to a minimum today. 

Beverly and FlaJean - Nice to see you posting here.  I hope we hear from you again soon.  Jean, I've been thinking about your grandson, and hope that he's doing better?  I remember you saying a while back that he was in a new drug trial?

Larry - Thanks for posting the humor, this morning! I've already copied it and sent it to my husband!

Good morning from a cold Interior! We will get our first twenty below of the season tonight, and our high will only be minus two. However, these past two weeks they have been wrong so we shall see. My balcony thermometer reads plus three right now, and we have a sizeable humid blanket of fresh snow which belies any suggestion of a drier cold spell.

My turkey was 18.9 pounds, what was I thinking! I split it into three pieces and cooked the first part in the crockpot that afternoon seasoned but alone. I then placed my root vegetables, onions, carrots, russet potatoes in with the other two smaller pieces and seasoned with Umami sauce which is a mild version of a local hot sauce. It cooked overnight. I deboned the earlier meat, refrigerated it, and this morning I did the same to the second half.

I made gravy from the drippings, separated everything into large freezer bags and will have over twenty Thanksgiving meals in the coming year. Those twenty meals will probably, (Actually will be); broken down further into more meals so again, what was I thinking!

I spent a nice day at home on the couch reading and playing on the computer and playing with Farrah. She has become very insistent on playtime, coming to get you and verbally letting you know, she wants to play. She loves her motion toy! I spent an evening hour or so with friends and we had wine, cheese, crackers and a lovely evening.

MaryAnn, what a nice family photo and it sounds as if you had a really nice family holiday! Actually everyone's holiday sounds very nice!

Larry - I'm not sure if you have me mixed up with the other Marilyn?  The one who has the Therapy Dog, and is married to Keith, doesn't post in this discussion, or in SS.  We are the only two Marilyn's in Seniors and Friends, but I put an e, at the end of my name to tell us apart. (My last name begins with E . . . Erickson).  I think Marilyn, only posts in Bosom Buddies, but not sure? Not a big deal - lots of people get us confused.  Another thing - she has a picture and I don't.

Marilyne, would you like me to use your FB photo and make you an avatar?

Patricia - Thanks for the offer! I think I'd rather have something with my husband and me.  The one on FB is with my brother.  I'll look to see if I can find anything, and if not, we'll try doing some "selfies", or have someone take some pics before Christmas.  I have a cute one of Winnie, that I might send you.

I don't think two people would work in an avatar, sizewise, but one of Winnie would be sweet!

Send them all to me and I'll see what I can do.

Thank you Marilyn and Patricia for the comments on our family picture.  Maybe at Christmas I can get another with more family members.  Norm had three sons and two of them have died.  At Christmas we try to have all of the next generation present, too. 

I dare address Marilyn without the 'e' because I know the other Marilyn does not post here.  I get brave sometimes.

This morning Kendrick got on my bed and started pawing around.  I thought he wanted the top of the blanket over him and tried to accommodate him but he got out from under the blanket and continued pawing.  Eventually he got the blanket separated from the sheet.  I saw what he was up to, held up the blanket and he got on top of the top sheet and got under the blanket.  When I got up, he did not move and was there for over an hour.  He does need more attention than I can give him.

Weatherwise, we've had a lovely day today with the temperature at 58 degrees.

I haven't looked in a while, but Lake Michigan had loads of whitecaps on it today.  In case no one knows (or cares), Grand Rapids has a minor league baseball team with the name of Michigan Whitecaps.

Today is the second anniversary of Norm's death.  He is much better where he is and Dot has finally adapted to living alone and now likes it.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann,  I wanted to let you know that I thought your family picture was very good.  The little girls are so cute.   I am sure you had a nice visit with them all.

Tom does resemble Norm a little bit.  Is  "Cate" his daughter?   The one who comes to your place to take care of the cat?  Not sure as I don't recall you ever mentioning a "Cate".    Just being a little curious !!!

I have a very difficult time getting out of a soft seat,  like sitting on a sofa.  I would much rather sit on a straight back chair.  I feel like I am always sinking down in a sofa or soft chair.  And, I really am not that comfortable.  When I go anyplace,  someone will ask me if I don't prefer to sit in a soft chair, but I honestly don't.  I can sit up a lot straighter in a straight chair.

Patricia,  it sure sounds like you are all fixed up with enough turkey dinners to last you for a good while.  I am not big on turkey, so I opted for ham at my grand-son's house yesterday.  Today, I was out and picked up a piece of fried chicken with a couple sides for my supper tonight.  I didn't get any left-overs to bring home as pretty much everything was gobbled up.  There were about 25 people for the dinner and everybody ate very well.  What was left over from what I took I just left there. 

Sounds like everyone had a nice day.

I didn't do much today, as when I go out,  I need the next day to rest up.   I will be going out again tomorrow to our local county Agriculture Center, who has a wonderful Holiday Market with lots of crafts, baked goods, winter produce, and entertainment.  I am going with my DIL and some of her friends and we will go out for lunch afterwards.  Looking forward to going.  I have a hard time walking, but this place is very handicapped accessible, and I just take my time.  I can always sit down for a bit on my walker, if I need to rest a bit.  I am looking forward to going with these being with these nice girls.

W Joan,  the meat rings that your son made sound like something my nephew made using the Pillsbury crescent rolls.  He had gotten the recipe off the Internet. Layed out the dough and filled it with meat and cheese and then folded the ends over and baked it.  It, too, was delicious.  I have asked him for the recipe.  Real easy and quick to make.

I need to get supper dishes cleaned up and straighten the kitchen up a bit.  And, then probably watch something on the Hallmark channel and probably fall asleep,

Have a good evening/

Joy

Joy, yes, Cate and Annie are one and the same.  When she was born she was called Annie because they had a dog with the name Cadey so they couldn’t call the baby Catie (for Catherine), so said they’d call her Annie.  Her middle name is Anne for me, just spelled different.  Along the way in school, she decided she wanted to be called Cate and most everyone has adapted.  She answers to either as our family calls her Annie, Tom’s family calls her Cate, however, they slip sometimes and call her Annie and her maternal grandmother calls her Annie. 

In that picture, I would have been better with a pillow behind me so I would not have sunk into the cushions as it looks.  I was comfortable at the time but didn’t realize how it would look.  When I go somewhere, I look for the smallest chair.  I love rockers, but if a large upholstered chair or couch is offered, I’m likely to take a straight back chair.

I just finished my Friday night TV watching which consists of Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and Washington Week.  And the cat just came into the room kind of telling me he wanted some attention.  I’ll go sit in the living room with him before 10 pm.

Mary Ann

 

JOY, you hit the nail on the head.  Dan got it off of Facebook and he added a bit more cheese than it calls for and it is very very good.

The new pictures of Shan and Oscar I promised.

Mary Ann,  I kind of thought that Annie and Cate were one of the same.  She sure is a pretty young lady.  Good that she will answer to both names.  That is usually the way those kind of things work out. 

W Joan,  I really want to try that recipe sometime during the holidays.  I have had it on several different occasions and it is really good. And, easy to put together.

MarsGal, cute pictures of Shan and Oscar.  Beautiful animals. 

I am supposed to be going out about 9:30 and it is now almost 8 a.,m. so,  I better get a move on.  It takes me so much longer now to get ready to go anywhere.  Sometimes I feel like "is it really worth it" ?  I am going with my DIL and some of her friends to our local Agriculture Center where they have a Holiday Market.....  lots of nice crafts, baked goods, winter produce and just a nice atmosphere. 

So, I am wishing you all a great Saturday.

Joy

I just went back to my last posting and see that I repeated myself.  I should have done that before I started.  LOL   Anyway, I think it will be a nice day !

Hi Everyone. I awoke to a 32 degree morning but it is now sunny and clear and the temperatures are to go up to the mid=60's this afternoon.  I hope to go to a meeting this morning and then spend the rest of the day resting and watching college football as this is the last regular Saturday of the football schedule and many schools play instate rivals.  Clemson and South Carolina play as do Georgia and Georgia Tech.

Yesterday we did finish up all of the Thanksgiving left-overs for our dinner last evening.  Pat didn't go out to shop but did participate in Black Friday from her easy chair.  She has become quite a proficient shopper from that location.  She ordered several Christmas gifts including her own from me as she found what she wanted, one of those special  cooking pots that does a variety of things. So the majority of the Christmas shopping is now done other than to write some checks.

Joan, it sounds like you had a Stromboli.  Yours sounds much better than the one we had that we got at Costco earlier this week as it had a lot of dough but not too much meat and cheese.  Pat likes to use the pepperoncinni peppers also in cooking. 

Mary Ann, you created a Thanksgiving memory with your spices and the pumpkin pies. 

Marilyne, it sounds like you had a delightful time with your daughters.  When your voice gave out at least the daughters could talk to each other and you could listen.  Glad your voice has recovered.  I didn't have you mixed up with the other Marilyn.  I think what happened is that I accidentally copied that comment to the other Marilyn from the Christian Photographers discussion as I usually write only one daily and copy it to the other two discussions and hers was the first comments I had made in that discussion after my own comments on my day. 

Patricia, that must have been a job just getting your 18+ pound turkey home much less cutting it up and cooking it.  However, you certainly will have some good eating in the days ahead. 

Mary Ann, it sounds like you didn't have your bed made up just the way that Kendrick wanted it--you will have to do better.    It sounds like you had a very nice day yesterday. 

Joy, like you I thought Tom looked a lot like Norm.  I hadn't seen a picture of Annie before and she certainly is a beautiful young lady.  I will take the soft chair or sofa any day over a  straight back chair.  However, I think we made a big mistake when Pat got the soft recliner as now she has two pillows and two neck pillows at her back.  I hope you enjoy your day at the Holiday Market. 

MarsGal, thanks for the pictures of your cats.  That little Shan is so cute and in the first picture it looks like the bigger cat is looking after the little one as he sleeps. 

Good Morning:  I'm slowly recovering from all the company, and all the leftovers!  Nothing left in the way of food, except for some sliced turkey, so I think we'll have turkey sandwiches for dinner tonight.

MarsGal - I love seeing the pics of Shan and Oscar!  Oscar is a beautiful big boy, and Shan is adorable.  Such a pretty blond color.  Now you'll have to show us what Lucy looks like? 

Larry - I still like the soft chairs, but only if they are high enough to get in and out of easily.  If they're low to the floor, then I have a hard time boosting myself up.  I made a big mistake when I chose a soft mattress.  I was thinking it would be comfortable for me because I'm thin and bony, and a firm mattress was too painful on these old hips. (I mostly sleep on my sides) Well, the soft mattress has become much softer, and now it's hard for me to turn from side to side.  Seems that I can't win with mattresses!!  They are so expensive, that if you are dissatisfied, you have to make the best of it.   

MarsGal, Oscar and Shan are two cute cats.  I’m glad they are getting along together.

Joy, today Tom, a friend and her son and I are going to the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum here.  Tom said the other day that he had never been there so today is the day.  I have been there a few times but they do change the displays so I won’t be duplicating myself.  Tom checked and they do have wheelchairs so I should be able to get around OK.  It is an interesting place and there is a replica Oval Office.  When I was there many years ago, they had a display of gowns worn by Betty Ford at various times.  It probably was at least 10 years ago that I was there with my friend, Jim, and he died in 2013 and it was some time before that.

I just got in from putting out the trash and I’m just recovering my breath.  That is a feature of my A-Fib after bending over which was necessary.

Yes, Larry, those pies created a memory, one I hope will not be repeated.  Usually when I bake two pies I would have the makings for two pies in one can and then the spices would read right. 

Annie/Cate has pretty strawberry blond hair but she enhances the length with a fall that I call a rope.  I think her hair doesn’t grow very fast which is surprising because her mother has a lush head of hair.  Tom’s hair grows fast too.  I wish she would do away with the “rope” because her natural color does not show.  We don’t like her lifestyle but she is a very loving  young lady.  When she got to James’, she immediately went to the kitchen to help Alicia.  She dearly loves her little nieces but, like me, does not see them often. 

Annie’s mother, Sue, had her DNA tested and connected with a slew of people.  Sue was adopted and was reluctant to look for her birth parents because she was afraid of hurting her mother.  Her mother had even encouraged Sue’s brother, also adopted, to look for his birth parents.  I don’t know about the father, but he did find the mother and they have gotten together several times.  Sue’s new family is mostly in Texas and Arizona so I can’t see everyone getting together often, but Sue and her friend have been in AZ and contacted her birth family there.  Now, you would think Sue had invented the whole process!  She is so enthusiastic about having made contact.  Annie and James are happy about it too.

Norm looked a lot like my dad, so Tom has a Tock resemblance.  Supposedly, I look more like my mother.  I do know I used to sound like her.

Mary Ann

Marilyne, I’ve been wondering how the Whole Foods turkey dinner turned out.  My daughter called them but it was too late to get turkey and only had ham.  So I called Cracker Barrel and got the family dinner for 6 and my husband picked it up.  It was good but their dinner provides slices instead of a whole turkey.  I would have preferred the whole turkey.  Usually my son-in-law would have cooked, but his father just got out of ICU and entered a nursing facility and he drove home for Thanksgiving to see him and provide moral support to his mother.  Our daughter couldn’t go as she just started a new job so there were just the three of us.  We enjoyed the food and had fun playing a game.  I just got over an operation so I wasn’t much help.

Our grandson has had some success with his treatments but had to stop them temporarily because of some side affects.  He keeps working and has a hopeful outlook and also has a sweet supporting wife.

I just returned from a great afternoon with Tom, his friend, Mary, and her son, Ian.  We met at the Gerald R Ford Museum and Tom got a wheelchair for me.  The first thing we saw was many Christmas trees decorated in different manners and all were pretty.  We then went to the second floor and saw some of the displays, some with Ford, others more topical.  There are replicas of the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room.  We saw a short video of Ford's life.  I would like to have gone to see the burial site which is on the property but we also were going to eat at a Mexican restaurant, then Tom, Mary and Ian are going to a movie.  Tom brought me home after the restaurant because I did not want to go to the movie - and I have no idea what they will see.  I had a chicken and cheese quesadilla (no, I did not take a picture) and it was good.  I am not much for Mexican food. 

When I came into the house, I took my purse to my bedroom and there was Kendrick lying on my bed.

The Museum has changed much since I last saw it.  They change the displays every so often and I don't know how often that is.  There was a lot about the protest times some in the US and some in Ethiopia and Bangladesh.  Most of the leaders I had heard of.  They had pictures of presidents since Reagan with popular singers of the time.  The only singer I did not recognize was a Bret Michael with President Trump. 

While eating, Mary asked me who was my favorite Rock and Roll singer.  I just looked at her.  R&R was not popular when I was young and I told her I was more into Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and others of that time.  I think her music era is about when my era ended - when everyone sang songs written by others.  Much has changed.  Mary is about the same age as Tom - 60.  Anyway, I had a good time.

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone. It is a beautiful, clear and chilly Sunday morning here in South Carolina. I have my kitchen work done and just made Pat's breakfast.  She is going to go to Church this but not Sunday School so I will come back and get her before Church.  We will go out to eat.  I am taking my Chromebook back today to Costco as the Chrome browser keeps crashing.  I will try to get another one as think the one I have is just a lemon.  I will rest this afternoon and then watch some football and that will be my day. 

Marilyne, we have foam mattresses and they are not too easy to turn on.  I usually sleep mainly on my back due to the CPAP machine and sometimes I have to get up because my hips start hurting.   

Mary Ann, I see you enjoyed the Museum trip and with the wheelchair you didn't have to do a lot of walking. We have never visited a Presidential Museum and am not likely to do so in the future.   

Jean, glad the Cracker Barrel dinner was good.  We thought about that but our granddaughter and son wanted to do the cooking so went the traditional way.  Nice that there are alternatives.  I hope you are recovering well.

Dot and I did our usual today and we changed our menu a bit; Dot had her oliveburger and I had my regular hamburger.  Instead of pie, we split a long John filled with marshmallow instead of lemon custard.  Not as good, but it was the last long John so what do you do?  We had a different guest minister at church and he graduated from high school with one of our members.  In fact, they graduated from the same high school I did, the high school that is no more. 

Larry, I would not have visited any presidential museum if the Ford Museum was not in Grand Rapids.  I’m not so into museums that I would travel the country to visit any of them.  But when it’s a home town president, that’s different.

I have a foam mattress and I love it.  This new one has a memory foam on top, but I can’t notice the memory.  The mattress it replaced was also foam.  I haven’t noticed any problem turning in bed.

Mary Ann

Good Afternoon from the Interior! Not much new here, the temperature highs and lows are within three points of each other and Farrah is busy sleeping off a morning playtime, and I have been perusing DNA videos. Otherwise, the only real news is an expected warmup for Thursday!

MaryAnn, I have never heard of a pastry Long John.

MaryAnn, when I went in to get my new mattress they had me lay on something, that measured what type of mattress I would need.

I must say, it is the most comfortable one I have ever had.  But I use a stool to get into bed. (4.10 and shrinking) The women who cleans for me has to make the bed

Patricia, I had never heard of Long Johns either until we moved to Oklahoma/Texas.  In the Pacific Northwest (Seattle), they were called "Maple Bars".  Down here, they are the same shape as maple bars, but but rather than dipped in maple frosting, they are usually dipped in chocolate and usually filled with some type of custard.

Mary

MaryTX - I've never heard of either Long Johns, or Maple Bars??  Here in California, I think they are referred to as Eclairs.  Usually filled with lemon cream, custard, or some kind of fruit filling, and then dipped in chocolate.  Could be that we do have both of those pastries you named, but haven't seen them.  I don't get around much anymore.  (Wasn't that the name of an old song? LOL)

Mary Ann - I've never been to a Presidential Library or Museum, but sounds like it would be interesting.  There are two in Southern CA, but I've never been to either one.  They weren't around, way back when I lived down there. 

I think the Maple Bars and Eclairs are the same as Long Johns.  Today ours were filled with a marshmallow filling but sometimes we're lucky and get a lemon custard which we prefer.  I would not say ours are dipped in chocolate, but they were covered with chocolate.

Marilyn, if I had to go to Lansing or Detroit, I would not bother to see any presidential museum, maybe any museum at all.  It helps that the Ford Museum is only seven miles from here (we do not live within the city limits). 

Gloria, I did lie down on a mattress in the store, but the owner didn't do any measuring.  I need a double bed mattress and they only come in one size.  We just had to be sure the mattress was comfortable and even by lying on it, it is hard to pick a mattress by lying down for a few minutes.

Mary Ann

We had leftovers from Thurs. tonight for dinner.  A bit left and it will go into the Freezer.  We decided we cannot eat anymore of it for a bit.  Good but get tired of it soon.

We are experiencing a bit of rain the last few days.  Better than snow for sure.  Gets cold at night  but we stay warm.  Hope you all had a great Holiday.

Here is a copy of the cat toy all cats seem to love! This link should work for everyone.


https://www.facebook.com/293078757873121/videos/296395410874789/

Angel, I could not stop watching! lol

Hi Everyone. Once again we have truly beautiful clear and crisp morning.  We will get to the mid-60's again this afternoon.  This will likely be a fairly busy day as need to take my Hyundai in for an oil change and then will go with Pat over to the nearby shopping center.  While she gets her hair cut at Great Clips I will pop in to Walmart to get a few travel size toiletry to take as a donation tomorrow when we go to our Senior Monthly Luncheon.  These are being collected for a charity project.  This evening is our monthly Men's meeting at 6:30.  A friend is picking me up.  I told him by the next meeting, which I think will be in January, my eyes will have been fixed and I will be able to pick him up. 

Yesterday after Church we went out to eat and then on the way home we stopped at Costco (and so did a lot of other people) and returned the Chromebook and then purchased another one.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that this one will be fine.  It didn't take very long to set it up as I remembered the process for the setting from doing it a few days ago.

Mary Ann, Pat and I both had cheeseburgers at the Sunshine Grill where we had our lunch yesterday.  They fry them on a grill and they are very good, reminds us of the way hamburgers used to taste when I was growing up.  They were served with a big serving of potato salad.  I like those filled Long John pastries.  I haven't had one of those in a long time. 

deAngel, when we went to get the new bed for our son recently he had been there earlier and picked out what he thought he wanted.  However, when he laid down on it again he found it was very difficult for him to roll over so he tried a lot of different ones and found one that he liked that was about half the price of the first one.  Needless to say that made Dad happy.  Our housekeeper also changes our linens. 

Mary, any pastry dipped in chocolate and filled with a filling has to be good. 

Marilyne, I have also heard of the pastries being called eclairs. 

Joan, too much of anything soon loses its appeal.  You can enjoy the dish later when it comes out of the freezer.

Patricia, I watched the video of the cat toy and can see why it would keep a cat interested for a long time.  Does Farrah ever try to get under the canvas to get to the mouse.  Does she tire of trying to catch it as would think the cat would get frustrated?

Bubble, I had to watch it to the end as well.  However, that one cat was just watching and not participating.