I braved the trek through Garner to get to Fareway in Clear Lake – the road construction is beyond description. And my van has been gone 46 days! I hate driving a different car especially on narrow roads with construction equipment towering above me.
I got all my stuff for Thanksgiving – Becky is doing the turkey, dressing, potatoes and gravy and having it at her house so I’m bringing the side dishes – corn, green bean casserole, relish tray, apple salad, and dessert – I hate pumpkin pie so I’ll bring something else – maybe I’ll just pick up a pumpkin pie for Tom.
Jenny and Ryan are coming from Louisville and sadly Ryan is very allergic to cats so cannot visit my house. Ryan is the band leader that I’ve talked about – Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band. Ryan is a vegetarian so the menu gets altered a bit – quite a bit!
Reader photos
And here is our newest fun! It’s a crinkly tunnel for cats! with a bed in the middle and holes with a hanging ball on opposite sides. Too fun!
I really liked the quilts in the previous post too. The cat house, bed is really cool looking. It looks like the cats love it.
My mom was the best baker I’ve ever known.
For Thanksgiving, I use her recipe cards, pie plate, and rolling pin and try to make the rolls and pies like hers. They are never as good.
There is a lot of road construction on the interstate in Colorado. Those people know where they are going and the speed limit is just a suggestion. Scary. I put my car in auto pilot going the speed limit and it stays in the lane. I’ll be glad when it’s over.
Jo – the Garner road construction is finished!!!! It has been 6 weeks of hell and a pilot car. I’ll bet you’re biased about your mom’s baking – yours is likely a carbon copy of hers and yes, the sides are the best! I bought a jar of large olives – nothing fancy – it was $9.99!!
I couldn’t reply on your last blog post so I’ll reply here. Love all the great reader pictures. The turkey figures are great. When reading this post I couldn’t figure out why you had a picture of your silverware. I had to look closer. Then I saw a cute cat looking back at me. That will teach me to look closer at all the photos.
Marie C – Mortie is EVERYWHERE!
Mary, There wasn’t an option today to leave a message from your post on 11-21-2025. I did love the photos, and it’s peek-a-boo to Mortie as we see you! My daughter’s street has just about every house in some phase of decorating for Christmas holidays ahead. I do love no snow. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Rick and all your readers and those that comment as well. . . I am going to do our Christmas cards early this year as well…almost in the spirit of all the work and festivities ahead!
Love the tunnel. Like you, dislike the hairdo.
Oh Mortie, everyone loves you! You are just a hoot!
It was a beautiful day here!
Have a great evening!
Several years ago my daughter Becky & her husband treated me to a long weekend in New York City for my Birthday. Part of it included seeing the Broadway Production of Wicked. It was amazing !!!! We even were able to sip special Wicked cocktails in our seats as we watched the show. I loved every moment. At the time, the city was kept very clean and it was actually safe to walk around. We visited many sites but the area around where the Towers were destroyed, was a cold, sad area. You actually felt like you walked into a bubble of Sadness. Now, you couldn’t pay me to go there. Friends say the filth and creeps who live there are beyond belief. Totally unsafe and doesn’t look like things are going to improve any time soon. So sad.
Barbara – isn’t that sad? Why would New Yorkers let it get that way?
Mary, I really don’t get why they let the city go to pot like that. Guess it’s happening in many of our country ‘s cities. Poor leadership over the years for sure.
as a vegetarian I have never imposed my preferences on anyone friend or family. Makes for a lot less tension at any get together. There us always plenty that I can eat . It is not something that i even consider to be anyone else’s concern/business . Be kind to those who are not on a vegetarian diet. Have you ever heard of a gathering being strictly for the diabetic or gluten free or other dietary restrictions ??? Why should i expect the menu to be adjusted to vegetarian for the rest of the folks at the table. ???
Sorry about the rant.
I so love your blog. Not being a paperpiecer i made a mistake and picked up the sewing machine pattern that is paperpiecing just because i saw Country Threads as the creator. Trying to figure out how to make it applique
Brenda – can you show me this pattern by Country threads that is paper pieced?
OMG, your van story reminds me of a winter in Cleveland when I had to ride the bus for weeks while my car’s gas tank was back ordered!! lol They finally dipped it to seal it. Spent many nights waiting for a cab in the back of the mall. ( why didn’t my husband pick me up??!! Ha ha) Those were the days working for So-Fro Fabrics.😂 I was made of tougher stuff back then.
My first introduction to Country Threads was through your books at the library. Now I have quite a few.
Cats are so funny. That tunnel sounds cool. Mine just likes to sit on a stack of boxes in the corner of my living room!! Mortie is right at home now!!
Carolyn – it’s hilarious to watch Mortie dive into that tunnel full speed!! Your winter in Cleveland sounds horrid / I got my van back on Day 49
When we were watching the game last night, I commented that was an awful hair style. The two swingy parts at the front would drive me nuts and they don’t frame a face nicely.
Vicki – I didn’t mention where I saw it but yes, we were also watching the game. Why wouldnt she include those locks into her updo hairdo ??!! It was terrible!’
I love any quilt with those stars!!!!! That is a great quilt!!!! I completely agree with your comment about that hairstyle! Who would EVER think that is attractive? But you see it often right now. It’s horrible!
Definite smiles this morning as I read the blog.
Good morning, I love the book Beyond the Battlefield,so many pretty quilts. I don’t have cats but love looking at them,( family is very allergic) . I have a dog and I know how easy it is to spoil them.
I did the thanksgiving shopping this past Wednesday so I’m ready to cook. My daughter does the pies . It’s my favorite holiday.
So, if you are traveling please be careful and safe. Also love the funny.
I’m completely in love with Mortie! So photogenic! And I need (my cats need) one of those cat tunnel/bed things! Amazon? Love that Thanksgiving cartoon—I’ll send you my favorite!
Sue – yes, the tunnel is from Amazon. I’ve seen it surrounding and under the Christmas tree – maybe it would keep the cats out of the tree? Yes, Mortie poses for me all the time and I can’t resist taking her picture!
How do you make apple salad Mary’? I love thanksgiving foods whether it’s squash recipes, cranberries, or pie fixings.
Love spotting the kitties in their spots around your home. And all the cute stories from owners.
Tomorrow night is the Hallmark movie about the Bills. Since it was filmed in Buffalo there are lots of familiar places to see.
Kathy – Apple salad is just a concoction Mom made when we were kids – cut up apples, little marshmallows, banana, grapes – dressing is equal parts Mayo and Miracle Whip. As an adult I add nuts but I won’t next week because some don’t like them. Rick and I aren’t picky but many of my family members are and I really miss the side dishes
Our mother added raisins & the nuts, no banana or grapes but same dressing.
Pat – nice to know!!! I’m going to try it – I like nuts so I also keep a portion for me but my extended family does not – and another form of grapes ! Raisins!!! Must be a Midwest salad?
Kathy / – recipe incomplete – I now use Miracle Whip and Cool Whip -much better
Ok that’s sold me….I’m going to the store in the morning and make this dish up. Sounds so good. Thanks Mary and Pat.
Sides are my favorite part of the dinner!
Cranberries are the best.
OMG I have that pattern book too! I guess I never noticed who it was by (bad, bad me!) I bought it because I loved the patterns and use of fabrics!! I should send it to you for an autograph! Oh boy, do I feel like a dunce.
Mortie is adorable. I bet Mortie and Minnie would love romping together. Minnie is growing and what was really orange on her is turning to a soft peachy color which makes the white look striking. I told her she can grow up but can’t change, she still comes running when I call her and reaches for me when she is in the tower. She likes to cuddle with me so I hope she never loses that desire. Yesterday she discovered how much fun it is to be under the sheets when I change the linens. Why is it they stay under the sheets until you leave the room because Olivia does the very same thing.
There is still a lot of road construction here too, but they are in a rush because the asphalt companies will close soon. I’ve learned how to avoid those areas but found one round about that took all summer is finally finished.
Nelson has to go to the vet this afternoon. The vet said when he was just a baby that he may have chronic ear infections because of his long floppy ears and he grows a lot of hair in the opening of his ear canal. He won’t stay still long enough for me to cut the hairs out and I refuse to try pulling them out. You would think if they knew he will always have ear infections that I could just get the drops but no, they have to see him. Every time I walk in the vet’s office it’s around three hundred dollars! You would think if they knew there is a chronic condition, like Bette’s feline herpes affecting her eye, that they would just give you the meds you need, but no, they need to see them at least once a year and give them an annual checkup!
Well, have a fabulous Friday everyone. I have applique fever, finished one small Hatched and Patched wall hanging that I hope to border today and now am working on another one cuter than the last. Blessings!!
I’ll send you an autograph sticker to put in your book. Give me your mailing address – we used to do this all the time and I’m quite sure there are still come stickers in the shop.
That picture of Mortie is adorable. I’ve thought of getting our cats a tunnel, but always decide against it because they seem to play with something new for a few days and then don’t touch it. They are much more interested in cardboard boxes and things that cost nothing. Have a good day everyone.
Thank you for the info on the quilt! Had to giggle to myself as I have that book in my stash! It’s fun seeing how fabric choices can change the look of a quilt! Have a great Thanksgiving!