Show Us Your Life - Favorite Books

It's been a while since I participated in the Show Us Your Life meme from Kelly's Korner.  I am an avid and voracious reader, and have been since I was a young child.  So, the hardest part about this was deciding which books are my favorites. 

Long before I ever learned to read, Corduroy was my favorite books.  My parents have told the story many times that they thought I had learned to read at three years old because I could follow along with this book so well.  Then, one time, they realized I was "reading" pages ahead of the story.  Turns out, I had memorized the book.  When Princess E was born, this book was in her library.  Oh, how I loved Corduroy.



When I was a little older, maybe 3rd grade or so, I discovered Paddington.  Paddington was a polite little bear who was sent from his home in Peru to England.  His adoptive family found him at the Paddington Station, so that was his new name.  He had a fondness for marmalade sandwiches and a penchant for creating mischief.  This reminds me, I need to suggest this book to Princess E.



I love a good mystery.  My taste in story lines has changed quite a bit, but I think I read most of the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries.  I remember watching The Hardy Boys on TV, too.





Now, the Baby-Sitters Club came after I was an adult.  However, they have recently become popular again.  Princess E is working her way through the series now. 



In high school, I enjoyed literature...when I was able to read it for pleasure.  Edgar Allan Poe was, and is, one of my favorites.  By the way, if you have never heard "The Raven" recited by James Earl Jones, you have missed an incredible experience.  I highly recommend it.



As an adult, I discovered Piers Anthony and the Magic of Xanth series.  He has a rather unique writing style that would not appeal to everyone, and it definitely is not appropriate for a younger reader.  These stories are a cross between science-fiction, fantasy and mythology. 




My favorite suspense writer is Mary Higgins Clark.  Her stories are filled with suspense and I struggle to put them down.  I also appreciate that these books are appropriate for anyone mature enough to handle suspense. 


Robin Cook, MD is another of my favorite author.  He presents thrillers based on what could happen if our medical technology were used in an unethical manner.  What if? 



Just last year, I was introduced to Nicholas Sparks.  So far, I have read The Wedding, The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe.  No, I have not seen any movie adaptations of his books.  I've spent a lot of time in the areas where these book are based, and his writing allows me to sit in the room or walk down the street with his characters.   



There are so many more incredible books and authors.  Jeanette Oke, Karen Kingsbury, Patricia Cornwell...my list goes on and on. 

Please visit Kelly's Korner and explore the other favorite book posts.

Show Us Your Life - Thanksgiving Recipes and Traditions

Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner is hosting the Blog Carnival Show Us Your Life.  Head on over there to see all the exciting entries.

I want to share my favorite Thanksgiving Recipe, too.  It's a simple one, you see. 

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The Queen's Recipe for a Low-Stress Thanksgiving Dinner

Ingredients:
Several Men
Several Women
Several Children
Enough vehicles to provide safe passage to all

Directions:

Load men, women and children into vehicle(s).  Use care to ensure all passengers are seated and secured with webbing.  Using vehicle(s), provide safe passage to a pre-determined, meal vending location.  Disembark passengers.  Escort passengers to interior of structure.  Follow instructions for seating and selecting morsels.  Dine comfortably among treasured friends and family.  Pay for meal(s).  Leave substantial tip.  Using same vehicle(s), return passengers to original location.
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Now, in all seriousness, we do go out for Thanksgiving dinner at least half the time.  Quite frankly, our extended family has a lot of very picky eaters.  Planning a meal at home that is satisfactory for all seems to become more difficult as we age.  Let me explain. 

First, there's the turkey issue.  Seems like a given, being Thanksgiving and all.  Nope.  Not so simple.  A couple of folks don't care much for turkey.  Not a problem.  We're a good sized group, so we'll just throw in a ham.  That still isn't enough.  Nope.  We need to add chicken nuggets to round out the meat selections.

Now that we have enough types of meat, we need a couple of green vegetables.  Green bean casserole is always a good choice.  Yummy!  But wait, we have to make something for those who don't like cream of mushroom soup or those crunchy onions.  We'll just make some plain green beans, too.  Good idea.  We'll also serve a mess of greens, probably collards.  That's an easy one.  Either you eat them (gross!), or you don't.  Unfortunately, it's not that easy.  No, we need two different serving bowls of collards.  One for those who like them hot and another for them that like to eat their greens cooked and chilled.  We also need a vegetable for those who don't eat collards.  Let's just make this simple, we'll make squash and carrots and peas, too.  Somewhere in there, everyone ought to be able to find a vegetable made tot their satisfaction.

What about starches?  Don't we need starches?  Of course we do.  Let's start with corn pudding.  But, just like with our green beans, we need to have plain corn as well.  We can't forget mashed potatoes and gravy, lots of gravy.  Mmmmm....  Lima beans.  We definitely need lima beans.  Sweet potato casserole, too.  Oh wait, we have to make two types because we have to have one without nuts.  We need an excuse to make that delicious pineapple casserole, too.

The rolls are probably the easiest part.  We just buy snowflake rolls and serve them warm.

Finally, what do we want for dessert?  Pecan pie, of course.  (I'm probably the only southern woman who will admit to not liking pecan pie!).  Ice cream.  Pumpkin pie. 

I don't know if you've kept count, but in addition to the turkey and ham, there were 16 dishes to prepare in the main course.  Only one of those can really be made ahead.  So, that is 15 dishes to prepare in one kitchen.  Everyone I know has a 4-burner stove, one oven and one microwave.  Even cooking multiple items in the oven at once, it is still very difficult to properly cook so many dishes at one time. 

So, for that reason, we ususally go out.
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Last year, we did something new.  I hope it will become our new family tradition.  Last Thanksgiving, our church hosted a thanksgiving dinner for the community.  Those who are without extended family or who just wanted to come were welcomed at our church.  The deacon body set the simple menu and church members prepared food in their own kitchens to share.  There weren't many from our community who came last year.  Just a handful.  A retired couple.  A small family.  If only one had come, it would have been worthwhile.  We all ate together as a large family.  The food was good, the fellowship was even better.  I hope we can do the same this year.

Show Us Your Life - School Pictures

Ah, school days. Kelly is hosting the blog carnival, Show Us Your Life. This week, the theme is School Pictures. Here are mine for your enjoyment and/or mockery.

Kindergarten and First Grade

Second and Third Grades

Fourth and Fifth Grades

Sixth and Seventh Grades

Eighth and Ninth Grades

Tenth Grade

So, I bet you are wondering why there are no Eleventh and Twelfth Grade pictures. I skipped the Eleventh Grade, so I never had a picture. My Senior portrait is hanging at my parents' house, so I don't have it in a digital format.

You can probably tell my age just by the outfits and hairdos.

Okay, now head on over to Kelly's Korner to see everyone else's school pictures.

And, don't forget to check out the $10 Gift Card giveaway to Stop & Shop here.

Show Us Your Life Friday - Baby Shower

Kelly over at Kelly's Korner is hosting the blog carnival "Show Us Your Life". This week's theme is Baby Showers.

I was blessed with two baby showers before Princess E was born. I only have digital photos of one of them.

Two of my aunts gave me a shower locally. It was held at our local rescue squad, since we were both active members at the time. I wish I had digital memories to share.

For the last 10 years or so, I've been blessed to be part of a group of friends in the internet world. This was back before blogging became so popular. This group of ladies would gather each summer for a mini-vacation. In 2001, I was unable to attend because of my late pregnancy. Much to my surprise, and with the assistance of a certain king-husband, these wonderful ladies planned a surprise virtual baby shower.

I didn't think much of it when packages began arriving at the house. We traditionally exchanged sweet remembrances during our trips, and since I wasn't going to be there, I just assumed I was being included in the fun. We had scheduled a phone call so I could be sure have a chance to talk to everyone. When the first phone call came in, I was instructed to open a specific box. Inside that box was a tablecloth and some other decorations. It was at that point I discovered we were having the shower. After that, my instructions were to open all the shipping packages (with help) and get ready for the next call. Here is what I found inside those boxes:

During the next call, the all gathered round the phone while I opened the packages one-by-one. I was waving at the camera, knowing this photo was going to end up being emailed to all my internet friends.

This last photo shows all the lovely gifts these ladies sent for our Princess E.

Now, why don't you head on over to Kelly's Korner and see even more great baby showers?