Hello December!

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December 1st?  How did that happen?  I honestly think that 2010 has gone faster than any other year for me.  Time is flying.

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I can't believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone.  I had such a nice relaxing Thanksgiving break.  Baby Sister was home from Chicago for five nights.  It was so nice to have her at home with me!  We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at our Mom's house. 

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Here's the table:

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The dinner plates are my Mom's part of my Grandma's china.  My Mom has two sisters and the china set was divided up among the three of them.  I knew that I would never have much of my Grandma's actual china, so a few years ago I started looking for the pattern on Ebay.  I have quite a few pieces including the salad plates, sugar & creamer, gravy boat, and salt and pepper shakers.  It doesn't even matter to me that they weren't my Grandma's - when I look at them, it reminds me of her!

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We have quite a few bloggers to thank for our delicious meal.

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First, Sarah at Clover Lane.  She posted this super easy appetizer recipe a few weeks ago.  It was SOOOO good.  We all devoured it.  Serve with slices of crusty fresh bread.  Oh - one addition I made - I added flat leaf parsley.  I was at the market before Thanksgiving and thought that the recipe called for it so I bought a bunch. When I realized that it actually called for green onions, I just decided to add both.  We all thought the parsley tasted good. 

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No finished picture, but we also made The Pioneer Woman's Green Bean Casserole.  It was good and we even liked it better the next day!

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And, of course, Smitten Kitchen's Apple Pie with her Pie Crust.  I've said it before, but her pie crust recipe, and directions are my favorite.  Again, sorry, no finished picture - just one right before it went in the oven.  I guess I was too busy eating!

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I won something last week - A Martha Stewart Turkey Platter!  I entered a giveaway on Kevin Sharkey's blog and was one of the five winners.  Just when I thought I couldn't love Martha any more, she up and sends me a platter!  OK, so she probably had no idea this contest was even going on, but I'm still pretty happy about it!

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They sent the platter so that I would have it in time for Thanksgiving, and included a letterpress note card (with Martha's name on the back!) with a handwritten note thanking me for reading the blog. 

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The big event of the weekend was going to get the Christmas trees!  This same scenario plays out every year - My Mom finds her tree in about ten minutes.  I wander around for another 30 minutes or so looking, and looking and finally settle on a tree although I am never quite sure about it.  Then, I get it home, set it up, and declare that it is my most favorite tree ever.  And guess what?  This year's tree definitely is my most favorite ever!  It really is!

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{me with Baby Sister}
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Cutting down the tree...
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And here's a sneak peak of my decorated tree:
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I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Happy December!
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