Happy Thanksgiving!

   I love Thanksgiving. A food centered holiday is something everyone needs. Today we're going to my dad's side of the family for Thanksgiving dinner. I have to get ready to go, but I just wanted to wish the internet a Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm Thankful For...

• ...every horrible musician that ever lived. Don't get me wrong, I love the great ones too, but this is thankfulness for anyone whoever had the guts to try, even if they failed.
• ...my brother. Even though he's a pain in the butt most of the time, I still love him and I'm glad he's around.
• ...ice water. I drink several glasses of it a day. I don't know where I'd be without ice water. My dad grew up on soda. They never drank water. I don't think I could survive on just soda. I need my water.
• ...my mother. She's a fantastic lady and a wonderful mother. I'm glad to have her.
• ...the basic necessities of life that I take for granted. I don't really understand what it's like to go without food or water. I'm blessed to have all those things.
• ...my father. Dad is an amazing guy, who I inherent most of my traits from. He's funny and kind and I'm lucky to have such an amazing guy for a dad.
• ...Readers Digest magazine. I love Reader's Digest. I have a stack of them that reaches from the floor to my knee. Those are some awesome magazines.
• ...all my extended family. Even though they all aren't the best people, they're still my family and I'm thankful that (even though I dread going to some of them) they try to organize family dinners and such.
• ...being homeschooled. I love being homeschooled. Yes, I have friends. Yes, I'm educated, I just do it at my own pace, in my own home. I have a flexible schedule, and I don't have to wake up early. It's a win-win.
• ...my homeschool group. They are a group of fantastic (and some not-so-fantastic) people that enrich my life. I'm so thankful to be able to attend.
• ...all my readers, commenters and followers. You guys make blogging worth it! I love and appreciate every comment I receive. Thank you so much for what you've contributed to my blog.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. In two or three sentences tell us what Veteran's Day means to you.

   To me, Veteran's Day means respecting those who bought our freedom with their lives. Several of my close relatives have served, and that is something to commend them for.

 2. What's your favorite film with a patriotic theme woven into the storyline?

   This is a hard one. I guess I would have to say Molly. It's an American Girl movie about a girl on the home front during World War II.

 3. Flu shot-yes or no? If you answered no, do you plan to get a flu shot? If not, why not? Have you ever had the flu?

   Definitely no. Our family stands strongly against vaccines. I've had the flu before, and it wasn't fun. Sickness is never fun.

 4. I've seen lots of people posting pictures of their Christmas trees up and decorated. Many stores have had Christmas on display since well before Halloween. Red cups are back at Starbucks, sans the holiday decor, and that has some people up in arms. What are your thoughts on all the holiday ruckus this second week of November?

   I don't mind early Christmas stuff. Some people get bent out of shape because 'we're ignoring Thanksgiving' but I don't agree. When Thanksgiving comes, we celebrate it, it isn't as big of an event. I attend several Thanksgiving dinners. Just because Christmas stuff is out, doesn't mean we don't celebrate Thanksgiving too. We just don't put up Thanksgiving trees.
   On the Starbucks cups, I like the minimalistic look. I honestly think people are just overreacting. Whether the cups have the décor or not, the overpriced coffee inside is still they same.

 5. What 'critter' are you most afraid of encountering unexpectedly? Why that one?

   I don't have one that I'm most afraid of. I'm not unnecessarily skittish about snakes and spiders and stuff, but I'm not searching out encounters with them.

 6. Do you like building things? What's the last thing you 'built'?

   I do like building things. I helped my dad install windows last weekend, and though it wasn't really building anything, it was a project that's related to building.

 7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude...what are you most grateful for that brings beauty to your daily life? 

 

   An essential oil diffuser my mom bought. It changes colors and emits a cool vapor that diffuses the oils. It adds a little splash of color to our living room and a soothing scent to the air.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

   I've recently gotten into a cooking phase. Yesterday, I made Lemon Butter Herb Pasta, turtle brownies and a potato thing. Today, I hope to make something else delicious. I made an All Recipes account yesterday and I'm quite excited to get to use it.

 

Bits and Pieces

   I've never liked to cook or bake, but last weekend I was watching Food Network. I marveled at how wonderful the food looked and how simple the recipes were. I was inspired to cook, so I grabbed a favorite recipe book and started flipping through the pages. I decided on Chicken Tetrazzini.
   I started making it, and only then, did I remember, how much I disliked cooking. I continued with the recipe and threw it in the oven. I cleaned up the kitchen and set the table. Fortunately, it turned out okay. Though now, I've decided that Food Network isn't the channel for me.

 

/\/\/\/\

 

   The weather is beautiful today. It's so lovely and enjoyable. We have the windows and doors open, letting the fresh air in. It's also inspired a small cleaning spree that's freshened up the indoors, too. Everything's cleaned up and fresh. It truly is a wonderful day.

 



/\/\/\/\

 

   Yesterday, I had a hair appointment. It was a rather late birthday gift that we never got around to doing. My appointment was at twelve and we didn't leave until 4:30. My reddish-brown hair is now a very dark brown with blue and orange streaks.

   I love it, but I must say, it doesn't feel like my hair anymore. The shampoo from the salon made my hair crazy soft, and it still smells vividly of flowers. It's also several inches shorter, which makes it all the more different. It feels weird to see a lock of hair hanging beside my face appear orange or blue, but I truly do like it.

 

/\/\/\/\

 

   I've been enjoying the leftover Halloween candy that we didn't give out to the trick-or-treaters. We have a few that come around our area and we always buy candy in excess. We don't celebrate Halloween, but we did go trick-or-treating for a few years when I was younger.

   Mom hated doing it, so she made a deal with us: we don't go trick-or-treating and she would buy us a bag of candy. That's been the tradition ever since, and I have to say, I'm too old to go trick-or-treating, but she still buys us a bag of candy regardless.