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?

Happy Turkey Month!

      Here we go again with another new month! Hard to believe but I welcome it! Funny how the seasons change and so do our tasks! We have been experiencing some cooler weather this week and just when I get acclimated to it, BAM, it's supposed to get to eighty Saturday! Just the same as Spring! We have to beware this time of year, as well as in the Spring for tornado season. I'm not worried at this time since there is not even a chance of rain in the forecast! 

      I haven't canned anything this week, can you believe it? Well, except for a small batch of bread and butter pickles. That's one way the tasks have changed! Another is, I'm going to bring in some of my basil and mint to grow in the winter. I read to do that in a new book I received on how to make your own herbal medicines and teas. I've also been doing more cleaning of the house! Yuk! But it has to be done! I received two books, and the other one is about essential oils. The only thing I've made is a vapor rub. It smells almost like Mentholatum! I love that stuff! But I'm almost out, so I made this and hope it works just as good. I know it's healthier, at least!

      Randy got the fence fixed so Daisey hasn't gotten out in a couple of days. Yay! She was so funny, squeezing her body through a six inch square almost like nothing. Then she'd walk around nibbling on the green grass, and finally onto the porch. She stood at the door looking in like she was a dog! She even stood on her hind legs as if to open the door! I bet she could eventually figure it out!

      Two major events are occurring next week! April is having her baby on Tuesday and our apple trees are being shipped or sent on Wednesday. I think they are supposed to be here then. Skylar tilled the holes for them and I put lime in the holes to prepare for the trees. It will be several years before they bear fruit, but that's o.k.! Hope ya'll are having a good week so far and a very nice weekend as well. I am praying and thinking about all of those affected in the Northeast. Blessings from Bama!

Cooked apples to be made into fried pies.

Four half-pints of Bread and Butter pickles.

I made these fried pies with one of the bags I put in the freezer.

Daisey is inspecting the door knob!

She thought she was going to come in when I opened the door!

It was dark when I took this photo, but it is a whole chicken on the rotisserie  on the new grill. It turned out delicious!

I love the angle of the moon this time of year! It was quite bright not to be dark yet!

Baked beans and fried cabbage to go with the chicken! Yum!

I believe this is the book that most of the people on the internet have been using to get their teas, tinctures and salves recipes from.

I'm using this book to 'erase my wrinkles' as soon as I find all of the essential oils! ^_^!