Happy Thanksgiving!

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!

Southern Flames Postcard for the ISGB Gathering

Huh? She lives in Minnesota, you might say. What's with the Southern Flames?

Well, the truth is, I happen to be the northern most member of the Southern Flames, a chapter of the ISGB, (International Society of Glass Beaders) formed in Atlanta, Georgia.

In March, I made a trip to Atlanta to visit Marcy Lamberson and take a class with Caitlin Hyde. Since I was a non member of the Southern Flames, my class cost me an extra $25. I was offered the option to join the Southern Flames and use the extra $25 to do so. So, I did!

Long story short, as a result, one of my beads is included in the Southern Flames post card. (Check out row 3 and move over to the 3rd bead.) That should be my bead. I'm proud to be a member of the Southern Flames! I plan to continue my membership in future years! Check it out! I love the beads in this post card!

In Thanks for all the Blessings

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Customs vary from family to family, but, on this day, during our get together, there is generally a turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole. pies with real whipped cream. To that I add some traditional food that I grew up with. This year it will be Carne Adovada (Chile Pork) and Red Chile and Cheese Enchiladas.

Our gathering is one of friends that have become "family" through the years. Our children have grown up. Now some of them are married. There are grandchildren. (Here's where I need to remind MY ADULT CHILDREN that my biological clock is ticking, and I don't want to be drooling and in diapers when my grandchildren are doing the same.) Enough said about that.

We do have a separate table for all the children, including the adult children, because they don't like the topics we, parents, discuss. Not only that, we can't all fit at one table any more. I'm really not sure, but I don't think we ever could.

So, we gather. We toast the one who left us way too early. We celebrate those who are still with us. We enjoy the company, then we hear Bob say, "Boy, Terri, that couch is calling my name."

That is the beginning of the end of our gathering.

We put the leftovers in plastic containers to send home. (Mark always gets an extra helping of the Chile Pork.) We sort through the food. We throw away the disposable plates. We lend a helping hand to the young parents as they gather their children to go home.

The football game is turned off for a bit. We hug. We say good bye. We think about next year when we gather again.

If anyone ever asked me what I was most thankful for this year, I know I'd have to say, our gathering. We are both friends and familiy. We are growing up and older together.
God brought us together for this celebration. What a wonderful blessing this is!