This 'n That

While we've been in MS I've been able to get a little crafting done. I got this idea off Pinterest and from a friend of mine who sells them. The one below is for my Mamaw's house, and of course the one above is ours with all our little names hanging below. Both of these are NO trouble to make, and I would love to paint and sell some, but for some reason I'm not the best sales person. Maybe one day.

Emily & Joseph both got new boots from Williamsville, and Emily was showing them off. She's a real country girl, but now it's time to head back to GA tomorrow (for 21 days at least). Then we'll be heading back to MS for Christmas. Pray for our travels tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

We celebrated Thanksgiving day yesterday with all my moma's side of the family. Everyone came up to my parents house this year instead of meeting down at Newton at my Mamaw's house, just to do something different. Emily is showing off our "Give Thanks" banner I made to help remind us of what the day is all about.

We have everybody's pilgrim and the 3 little Indians around our "Tree of Thanks". Everyone was asked to write something they are thankful for on a leaf and attach it to the tree. I'm not sure everyone did it, but maybe next year we'll get more into the spirit.

We even had all our silverware decorated and below are "treats" for everyone to take home. It is a squirrel on a log and inside it are a small bag of nuts.

As you can tell the kids enjoyed their food, especially Joseph. The sweet potatoes were his favorite! They even had turkey sippie cups to drink from. Joseph wasn't too sure about his but he tried it anyway.


We had the most desserts this year than ever. I made Pilgrim hat cookies, and pumpkin dip, and home-made apple pie. Joseph just LOVES the pumpkin dip. It's very healthy for you so I don't feel guilty letting him indulge in it. He was licking his bowl trying to get every bit out of it!!!


Below are the main cooks for the day.

After lunch we had to get everyone organized for a family picture. My brother and his family wasn't here this year, but we still got a photo of everyone present. I wanted to do something different this year...we always seem to either make our family photo all around the couch, or on a porch swing, so this year we ventured out into the yard around the tractor and trailer. Joseph just had fun with Papaw on the tractor while we waited on everyone else to get outside.



They actually turned out pretty good. Only one problem I thought I had moved over enough so Emily could be seen good but Joseph and I almost cut her off. BUT other than that they turned out great!!!


Below are all the great grandkids with Mamaw Costilow. Isn't it sweet!!! She is the only great grandparent left in both mine and Glenn's family. Such a sweet picture!!!

John Michael and Emily were waiting to go on the hay ride and Lindsey and Joseph just told us bye, to go on, because they weren't going with us. Joseph didn't nap during the morning so he was ready for a nap after our family photo shoot.


OH before I go any further, Glenn went hunting early Thursday morning and got himself a bobcat cat (40 lb. big one). He said he's clearing them out so they won't kill his turkey's for turkey hunting in the spring. We had to come see it on our hayride. This was our first ever Thanksgiving Hayride. All in all I think they all enjoyed it. Some who went on it are more "city folk" but they faired pretty well. I even drove the tractor down and then gave it over to Glenn to drive back out.




We had a fun Thanksgiving all in all (except for missing a few of our family members). We ALL spent more time talking and having fun outdoors instead of stuck in front of the TV watching football! There is nothing wrong with football mind you, it was just our goal this year to get everyone minds off of the "worldly" things like football, shopping, etc...and more on being thankful and grateful. I'm not sure we accomplished it all the way, BUT we did just sit around outside on the back porch and talk, more thank usual. And the hayride got some of us who don't get outdoors much, back out in to nature to see and realized all the beauty God has given us. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, no matter how you spent it. Just remember that every day should be a day of "Thanksgiving" not just the 4th Thursday in November.

Alot of Fun, Now it's Done

Wednesday was our last day of molasses making. The weather was a little cooler so it made it feel more like molasses making weather. I think daddy made 50-60 gallons of molasses this year. (I'm not sure on the exact number). The photo above and below is one nice sight!!! You can't imagine how good it smells too if you've never experienced the process. These pictures don't do it justice because the sun was shining through the roof as the steam rose up from the pot. It looked like gold as it dripped off the dipper.



The pot is empty but the jars are full!!! I think we saw a few jars at Williamsville for sale, and daddy still has a little left if anyone is interested in purchasing any for all your Christmas baking. It makes the best molasses cookies, and gingerbread.

On our last day we had T.J. come out and join us, and he and Emily got to fish. The fish weren't biting as good on Wednesday, but he did catch him one. It's been a fun time, but I think we're all glad that we're done. We're all tired but enjoyed EVERY minute of it.

Mississippi Fun

Our little Emily has been getting some driving practice in. All the days we've been making molasses she likes to "drive" the truck back and forth from the house down to the molasses mill. She's actually pretty good at steering believe or not. We may have trouble on our hands!!!

Last night Glenn & Joseph were playing with Mamaw Costilow. We are blessed to have her up here at Philadelphia staying while we're here. As you can see they were having some fun!!! He was just a cackling.

Yesterday we made molasses again, and we had some of our relatives come up to help and watch. Our cousins on my Mamaw Alford's side came up from Byrum, MS. Adeline and Emily played so well together (she's in the 4th grade, and Emily thought she was in the 4th grade as well). They got to fish again and they caught another load of catfish. This time daddy cleaned them for her to take home and cook. Adeline's daddy is my 2nd cousin, Mark Beason. For those of you who read Mississippi Outdoors he is the editor of the magazine. We were excited that Mark's wife, Sandi, and Adeline could come up for the day.
As you can tell from below Glenn got first hand experience at cooking today...the pot almost boiled over a few times.

And lastly I have to post about our little concerts we've had almost every night and morning. They both LOVE the piano and LOVE to sing so they've been in hog heaven.