My son can cook!

      Last night, dinner was on Skylar! I needed to hold a flashlight outside for his Dad, so dinner was going to be delayed. Unless Skylar wanted to hold the flashlight! He had a choice; cook dinner or hold the flashlight. He chose to cook without any hesitation! It was a simple meal: chicken Alfredo. First, he seasoned the chicken with some spices and a little hot sauce, then he sauteed it. I put the water on for the fettuccine, since it takes a while to come to a boil. After the chicken was done, he removed it to a cutting board where it was cut in small pieces. Next, he made the alfredo sauce, using garlic, butter, milk, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Everything turned out delicious! He did a great job! I liked the Alfredo sauce OK, but I prefer it without the cream cheese. They both loved it that way! I am so glad that he has been in the kitchen enough that he can follow a recipe! I know if he is ever out on his own and gets hungry enough, he can survive!

      We are transitioning from Thanksgiving to Christmas! All the boxes are out and the tree is getting decorated. It won't seem like that long and we'll be taking it down! Oh well, we'll enjoy it while we can! Our temps have been so mild during the day that I've spent a lot of time outside raking and bagging leaves. These will be such good mulch for the garden! Plus, it gives me exercise and a chance to be in the sun and breath fresh air! I also broke down some boxes and put in the paths between the garden beds. I need a lot more boxes to finish!

      I was hoping to get some KuneKune pigs for Christmas, but we just don't have the right space to keep them. I saw them for sale on Craigslist. I am so disappointed! I really thought they were different from other pigs, but they are basically the same. Maybe one day I'll have acreage enough to have all the animals I want! What do you want for Christmas? I'll have to think about it some more. Hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend! Blessings from Bama! Roll Tide!

Skylar cooking chicken Alfredo!

I was so glad to get the pecans shelled and chopped! The five pounds turned into eight, one cup bags. I used two cups for roasting, and the rest went in the freezer.

The deal I got at Aldi: four bags of cranberries @ .49 a bag. I also got celery for .19. Do you put all of your eggs in one basket?

I decided to dehydrate the cranberries. They smell so good in here!

Skylar's chicken Alftedo!

Did you have dressing or stuffing for Thanksgiving?

      Personally, I prefer dressing. That is what I grew up with, so that is what I make. It is very delicious! I make mine from Gladiola cornbread mix, so it's not exactly from 'scratch'. I like the way the cornbread mix turns out, and it's not sweet, as some might think. I chop onions and celery and add fresh eggs to the mix, as well as cream of chicken soup, poultry seasoning, cooked shredded chicken, and chicken stock. Some people make biscuits and add, or bread but I don't. It turns out really good and tastes good for several days. I haven't found a stuffing that I like because I associate stuffing with the stove-top kind! I'm sure there are good recipes for it, but I'll just stick with my dressing.

      It was nice to have almost all of the family here to eat and fellowship with! That little Riley is already growing up! She's gained a pound in two weeks! That's OK, since she was small to begin with. We had the girls with us for several days, so I didn't get to write like I thought I would. It's nice to have the house quiet and back in order again! But it was fun while it lasted!

      I hope to find some good prices when I go shopping at Aldi tomorrow. They usually have their hams marked down after the holidays along with other produce. Hope I haven't missed anything! I'll let you know next time if I got a good deal. I did get a good deal on pecans: 5lbs. for $12.50! I am going to get some more soon. Hope ya'll have a good week! Blessings from Bama!

Yasmine loves to hold the baby!

The making of my dressing.

I cooked a hen in the crockpot to go in the dressing. I only used half of it, so I shredded and froze the other half. I used the bones and inner parts of the hen to cooked up a nice chicken stock in the slow-cooker. 

What's left of the Thanksgiving dinner. My Mom and I both made dressing. Mine is in the white dish. They were both delicious!

That was the best pecan pie and sweet potato casserole I've ever eaten!

The collie took to Rubi that day.

Family enjoying the warm temps Thanksgiving day.

Can't forget Daisey and Delilah!

The girls love to swing! Amber has lost a lot of weight! I wished she would do it the healthy way!

Nanny and three of her greats!

Here's all four.

She's looking at the camera!

They are so cute!

I got two quarts of chicken stock.

Five pounds of pecans  turned into this. That is honeycomb I'm trying to let drain of all the honey so I can use the wax.

We didn't add honey to the jars, they just seem to fill up!

I guess ya'll were wondering where I've been!

       I just now got back on the internet! We got knocked off the other day and had to get a new modem. I don't know if lightening got it or what, I'm just glad to be back! I really got a lot done this week since I couldn't get online, but I still missed reading and posting! Hope everyone is O.K.! 

      Of course I got to spend some time with the new baby! She is so adorable! I still love the puppy, just not the messes she makes! My apple trees came in so I dug six holes and got them planted today. I didn't realize they would have such a good root system and be the size tree they are! The tilled area wasn't deep enough so I got a good, sweaty workout digging! The nights are cool but the temps are getting into the low sixties during the day. It felt like eighty while I was digging! I'm so thankful for cooler weather since I've been working outside so much this week! I have been raking leaves and now have eight bags full! I need that many more for the raised beds. I'm really trying to get the soil amended correctly so our veggies will produce next summer. I dug some of the basil and brought it inside so we'll have fresh basil for awhile. I also want to try growing some other herbs inside, too. 

      I'm not ready for Thanksgiving, by any means! I don't have a thing cooked yet! I don't usually cook anything ahead of time anyway! Just the day before! Everyone will be here that day and my Mom will bring food, so there will be plenty! I hope your Thanksgiving will be a nice one! I truly hope to write some next week! Have a great weekend! Blessings from Bama!

Riley's first ride from the hospital!

I finally had the occasion to bring this out!

The two pie pumpkins fit perfectly inside! They steamed nicely too!

Steamed pumpkin and seeds.

Pureeing the pumpkin.

Three bags, two cups each of pumpkin.

I think she's getting hungry, Momma!

Have to stay bundled at Aunt FeFe's cold house!

Look at that stretch!

That is so sweet!

Would you like to see a beautiful baby?

      I'll have some photos of the new baby to show you at the end of this post. You know I always have pictures! Her name is Riley Cheyenne and she weighed 5lbs. 9oz. and 19 inches long. She's a little on the small side but not preemie. The whole family congregated in a small waiting room while April was giving birth to her! The hospital was really nice, and state of the art! They really have the security thing down too. We had to sign in at the front desk before getting on the elevator to go where April was in waiting. They took our picture and we had to wear it for ID purposes. Then after the very long wait for Riley, we had to go all the way back downstairs and get our ID's updated to her new room. There is an intercom at the locked doors going to the wing where the rooms are, and NO ONE is admitted without the correct ID! It was a bit aggravating and I understand wanting to keep the babies safe, but I think that was a little much. We were having to carry around jackets, kids, April's stuff, Riley's stuff, you get the idea. I'm just glad it's over and we will go back to Birmingham Saturday to get them and bring them home! Hopefully, we won't have to pay $9 to park this time! No wonder there weren't many people visiting in that hospital! The most people we saw there were the staff and patients! Sorry for the rant, I just had to speak my mind!

      I harvested some eggplants, jalapenos, and tomatoes from the garden yesterday and today! I was surprised they were still edible after the light frost we had last night! The temp is warming into the 60's today so the house is quite warm now.  Ya'll have a great weekend and I'll see you next week! Blessings from Bama!

Meet Willie, the expectant Father!

And here she is, Riley! April was so happy she has "white people's hair!"

Her first bath!

All dry and clean! I was so surprised I got to be here during this time with all the security and stuff!

Aren't you going to hold me Aunt FeFe?

April's first time to hold Riley!

The proud parents!

In the meanwhile, Randy played with the other two. Yasmine was at school.

Me and three of my girls! 

Our first fire, yesterday!

My last harvest for the year! A book I borrowed from a lady down the road. I can't wait to read all of the recipes!

Rubi's first bath!

Skylar is doing a good job taking care of her!

Can you say fried, green tomatoes?

Our waiting is almost over!

      April's baby will be born tomorrow morning, bright and early somewhere around 8:00! Probably later, but that is the projected time for her c-section. The birth is taking place at the beautiful, brand new UAB Women's and Infants clinic in Birmingham. The baby's name? Still a question for me! We are so excited and can hardly wait to welcome her to the family!

      I thought my apple trees were scheduled to be here this week as well, but they aren't scheduled to be shipped until the middle of the month. We have another surprise addition to our homestead, Rubi, a six week old chocolate lab! She is so cute and so smart! Of course, since the weather has turned a little cooler here these past couple of days, she is inside! She actually has been very good! I'm thinking of getting some puppy pads so she'll stop 'using' the kitchen mat! She always goes there, so maybe she'll use a pad!

      We've had lots of family here since Friday! Of course I'll have lots of photos at the end of this post! Hope you all had a great weekend and are staying safe and warm! I'm getting used to a colder house, since we only have heat in our bedroom! It's not bad though, so I just wear warmer clothes! Stay in touch for pictures of the new baby later in the week! Blessings from Bama!

Yasmine and Layla playing with the 'new' car.

Look at that cute pose!

I couldn't get her to look at the camera, but she's cute anyway!

They love the ice cream cone!

Look Aunt FeFe, I can drive!

Layla likes to drive too!

Her feet can finally reach the pedals, so she is learning how to peddle!

Inspecting the new addition.

Skylar's baby!

Eeww, puppy breath!

Awww, how sweet!

Winterlynne came to drive the car the next day.

She's such a cutie!

April holding Rubi.

Her eyes are blue! Will they stay that color?