I find it amazing how fast the year has gone by. Before you know the Thanksgiving Holiday will be upon us and the preparation for holiday parties are near. If you work and have a family sometimes it might feel downright stressful. Remember to sit back, take the time for some relaxation & schedule a day for some sewing fun.
During the holiday keeping the house clean is a daily chore Instead of doing all your cleaning in one day: break down your chores into smaller segments. You might want to choose to clean the bedrooms in the beginning of the week or tackle that closet that guests might see a week before. Above all else don't take it all on yourself. Get the kids and husbands involved too. Have them set the holiday table. or vacuum their rooms. I find leaving a list for my husband produces more results than if I tell him what to do. and always say thank-you after it's done. Even though we may not receive that special thank-you; it goes along way when dealing with your spouse.
Donating to a local charity group is also rewarding. If you belong to a group or organization and you do a grab bag for Christmas, you and your members may choose instead to adopt a family through your local helping hands. Your group can donate a meal, or adopt a family with young children to buy gifts for. Including the wrapping paper to parents allows them to share in the joy of giving to their children.
At Thanksgiving make sure that you give thanks to all the wonderful things in your life .Remember to count your blessings everyday and give thanks for the gift of life.
For my recipe this month I've included a favorite of my family.
"Carrot Soup". For ease in prepartion you may use the small carrots that are peeled and washed.
To prepare ahead and freeze: After boiling the stock with the onions and carrots remove the bay leaf and puree the soup in the blender.Place in a large container and freeze.. When ready to serve place your soup into a stockpot. Set your burner to low and heat till thawed and warm. Add the cream, milk,and the roux and cook till thickened. Season as desired.
Did You Know: That the bay leaf can add great flavor, but if the leaf is ingested that it can cause stomach upsets. To be on the safe side I always remove and discard after cooking.
The next few months I will be focusing on entertaining. Oh what fun! For November's project I will be providing you with directions for easy mitered corner dinner napkins. Add a monogram using your embroidery machine for that special touch. I hope you enjoy this project. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me.
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday
Debbie Quinn
