The Turkey that could

So, I got this free 19.5 pound turkey on Sunday night. We thawed and got it ready for battle (I mean cooking). We decided to do something called the Sittin Turkey. It is a very cool device that my parents got us for Christmas last year. Basically it mimics making a "Beer Can Turkey." So Roon cleaned and spiced the big girl up this morning. I cut up onions and shoved them up into the top of turkey. I filled said Turkey device up with amber beer. Then came the problem. How does little ole me - get big giant turkey onto said device without dropping the bird or losing the beer. So I gathered my strength (and I am still recovering from surgery mind you) and held all 19.5 pounds of giant turkey in left hand and tried (with all my might) to get turkey on device. I LOST!
All my pretty onions came out and bird was flopping about on arm....Very sad sight. Being the determined girl I am, I tried again. This time I went as fast as humanly possible. Loaded bird onto right arm, holding onions in with fingers, moved device and plop! Now my bird is not as pretty as the box and is kinds lop sided, but I did it!
See picture below:

So then I tried to straighted the bird up and it looked like she was going to walk away - Please see exhibit 2 below - "Walking Turkey."

But Alas I decided she looked ready for the oven. Getting her in there was a fun time too. Bean just watched me and said "Mommy that is not going to fit." And yes it did not - but I finally got the second shelf out and got the bird in.


I am victorious! Now hopefully this will be some Rockin Good Turkey!

Christmas Fun - Getting to know you

My friend sent this to me and I thought it was good blog fodder for the Season. Here are my responses:

Christmas Fun
Welcome to the 2007 Holiday Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends! You know the drill. Don't be a scrooge! Fill it out, pass it on.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate, but I did just try the new Starbucks Peppermint White Hot Chocolate Mocha and it will make you say “Hot Toddy” It is so GOOD! I need one right now!

2. Does Santa wrap the presents or just sit them under the tree?
Both – depends on how busy Santa is

3. Colored or white lights?
Colored

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No – gotta protect the cat

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Day after Thanksgiving usually – but this year they are still not up yet ;)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Date Nut Rock Cookies (I know sounds gross – but they are sweet to your mouth)

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
My Dad decided that he was tired of us kids getting up at 5 am or earlier every year to open presents and check out Santa stuff…so he decided to wrapping paper the hallway shut until they (my parents) were ready to get up and had the camera engaged. If said wrapping paper barrier was broken we were busted. We tried getting our cats to break it down to no avail. They knew better.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Second grade or so…I snuck downstairs and saw them putting together toys…..I was said, but I also felt loved cause my parents went to all that effort for us! At least I knew why they were so dog tired every Christmas morning.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Not usually, but sometimes we do

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
With everything you can imagine…I collect Gingerbread men and woman so I try to buy a new one for my addition every year….Roon has an entire set of silver plated ornaments from when we was growing up that his Mom collected.

11. Snow: Love it or hate it?
LOVE IT, also.

12. Can you ice skate?
Yes – but I can’t go backwards

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Oh I can’t pick just one.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Celebrating Jesus & being with loved ones!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Driving to see Christmas lights

17. What is on top of your tree?
When it goes up there will be an Angel.

18. Which do you like best giving or receiving?
Both – But I love seeing the joy in people’s face when they open their gifts

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
The Carpenters Christmas CD – ALL OF IT – EVERY SINGLE SONG OF IT! I also like Perry Como’s “Do you hear what I hear”

20. Do you like candy canes?
Yes – but I have Overdosed on hard candy during my surgery non-eating fast…I was allowed to suck on hard candy – so I will probably pass on the canes this year.

21. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
A Christmas Story and while not a Christmas movie Die Hard – it is always on TBS and I always have to make sure that Bruce Willis really gets everyone out of that building safely. I also really love all the cheesy ABC Family Movies…anything with the former cast of 90210 says Oscar ya know.

Umm Umm Good!

We did not cook a turkey this year - yet anyway. I went and grabbed my free turkey from Kroger's last night though. All 19 pounds of it is thawing right now. Roon said get something small...well small is relative right? The only turkey's left were the big and mighty large ones! I did make some yummy mash potatoes this year. I got the recipe off the pioneer woman cooks. If you have not visited her web site - you should. She provides pics and comments that will knock your fuzzy slippers off. She has this picture of mashed potatoes (all waiting to be mashed) and it says "hello lover." So true....who does not love some good mashers. These are really yummy and can be made ahead. Happy Eating!

What did you do on Black Friday?

Ready to be shocked! I slept - yep! I slept until 10AM! My dear hubby entertained the Bean and let me sleep in all morning. It was joyous. Now - don't get me wrong, I love a good deal and I have been out with the crowds in Black Friday's of past. But, since I am still recovering, and there was nothing I felt that I had to get - I thought this was the best option for me this year. I still contributed to the retail sector, nabbing some $1.99 paper from Office Depot with free shipping and some cute outfits for the Bean from Gymboree (using their 30% holiday sale and my 20% coupon) I scored some good deals still. Hope you had a peaceful shopping day!

Thankful I am

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reflecting on all that I am blessed with and hold dear. This past week has been rather stressful, and quite frankly tough on all our family. But, if it were not for the hard times, I don’t think the good times would be appreciated nearly as much. Thank y'all for all your prayers about my surgery, for the Bean and for my scratched cornea….still not sure how I managed to scratch my eyeball in recovery??

I am thankful for:

• For my Faith in Jesus (he sustains me in my greatest times of need)
• I have a wonderful and adoring husband (granted this past week has pushed him over his care taking capacity)
• I am a Mommy (it is my greatest joy and privilege)
• I am a daughter (I have learned that I am loved unconditionally)
• For Family (the older I get – the more I realize how much I appreciate them)
• I am a friend (I hold my girlfriends dear to my heart)
• For Music (music takes me to certain times in my life and captures memories for me)
• For food – (cause y'all know I like to eat)
• For health (having been not feeling well these past few days – Wow – it is a blessing to feel well)
• For Hope, Joy and Faith….they are what bring happiness to our home!
  
  Happy Happy Thanksgiving!

Do you likey my new blog design?

I do! Please let me know what you think. I entered a contest on bloggygiveways.com and entered to win a blog makeover. I did not win, but Christine graciously offered to design 5 blogs for the first five commenter's on her blog. I think the design is so sweet. Christine is thinking about starting a blog design business. I hope she does.
Thanks Christine - you rock!

Out of the mouth of Bean

We took Bean trick or treating in my Aunt's neighborhood as has become our tradition. Here are some of her remarks to the neighbors.

• Wow this house has a lot of stairs (as she tries to force herself in said house)
• I like your dogs, I have a dog, her name is Alex
• I can't tell your dogs Happy Halloween as they are not dressed up
• How many pieces of candy can I have
• Your house smells

It is funny what kids say.

Meat on the Cheap!!

Something I do to save money on meat is look in the clearance meat areas and the big meat tubs in the center of the meat section. A few days ago I came across packages of fully cooked chicken and hamburgers marked at .99 cents. I picked them up to inspect closer and see if there were any flaws. A meat market employee came out and told me what a deal these were and how good they are. I asked her if something was wrong with them and she said "Oh Nothing, we must clear out some room for the Turkeys." Sweet! She told me all her favorite varieties and pointed out the regular priced items still on the shelf. These are regularly $8.99 clearanced to$.99. Rock on with my meat self. I thanked her so much for her help and snatched up ten packages. God works in the most wonderful ways. Thank you for my wonderful meat find. Hope this tip helps you to be on the lookout for meat deals. Happy Shopping!

My new CD mix makes me oh so happy.

I have made another CD for my listening pleasure. Here are my selections thus far...but I feel it needs a couple more songs...Any suggestions are appreciated!

• Only You, Joshua Radin
• Heavenly Day, Patty Griffin
• The Way I Am, Ingrid Michaelson
• Bubbly, Coco
• Gravity, You Are I Am
• Come Out of the Shade, The Perishers
• Somebody's Me, Enrique Iglesias
• Sitting, Waiting, Wishing, Jack Johnson

I LOVE that Enrique song!! I saw it on the TV show "How I Met Your Mother." That show is hilarious...if you don't watch you should...it is Legend (wait for it) Dairy!