Today is a simple blog. A blog of thanks.
First of all, I’m thankful for today, which is the one year anniversary of the first day of the rest of my life. Two simple yet life altering things occurred on this day last year. One, I finally mailed my Golden Heart entry, cutting it so close that I had to overnight it. Two, I received a short, inauspicious email on one of my Yahoo loops about a little contest that would occur the next day called Deidre Knight’s “She’s Just That Into You” Speed Dating contest. I was exhausted from the marathon of putting together the GH entry, but I thought, what the heck—I’ll give it a shot. Man, am I glad I did!
You all know of the amazing, dream-like year this has been for me. I’m constantly thankful for the amazing support each and every one of you has shown. I have no idea how I came to be so lucky to have you all in my life, but I’m so happy that you are :)
I’m thankful for my little house, and my three pups, my tall, dark, and handsome hubby and our Thanksgiving dinner for two.
I’m thankful for Alton Brown and his ridiculously awesome recipe for the world’s best turkey. There is nothing like bringing that iconic, perfectly browned bird to the table and watching it disappear before my eyes.
I’m thankful for traditions, for gigantic balloons, for overzealous flag girls and smartly outfitted marching bands. I’m thankful for the dog show that I would never want to watch on any other day, but somehow has me riveted on Thanksgiving. Oh, and I’m thankful for the movie “Best in Show” which makes me snicker while watching the dog show.
I’m thankful for generous offers from neighbors, for delicious desserts, for the joyful screams of sugared-up kids . . . and the blissful silence of our own home.
I’m thankful for cyber-shopping and free shipping, ‘cause there ain’t no way I’m losing precious sleep to stand in line at o’dark thirty for a cheap tv or one of three Xboxes. Jus’ sayin :)
I’m thankful for fresh-cut Christmas trees, and good ol’ boy farmers with long grey beards, overalls, and a ready laugh.
I’m thankful for gaudy, multi-colored lights covering the yard in house in the most National Lampoons Christmas Vacation-esque way. It’s so much more fun to be colorful than tasteful ;)
Last but not least, I’m thankful that this week, I learned I am not the only one who screams like a girl when a radioactive spider pops up out of nowhere. Not naming any names, but his name rhymes with lurk and is regularly preceded by ‘Captain’ thanks to a certain Starship Enterprise commander in the 60’s.
Tell me the one thing you are most thankful for this holiday season! What traditions are you looking forward to this Christmas? And have you ever heard your husband scream like a pre-teen at a Justin Bieber concert?
Today’s recipe is one that I originally got from my mother-in-law, and have used at every pot-luck and Thanksgiving day feast since. It is simple, utterly delicious, and wonderfully easy.
Homemade Cream Corn
½ block of cream cheese, softened (4 oz.)
2 Tbsp butter, softened
2 Tbsp water
2 tsp sugar
1 bag frozen corn
Combine in crockpot or in a medium saucepan on the stove over medium low heat. Stir occasionally until well-heated through. Enjoy the deliciousness and numerous accolades :)
Hahaha, good list. My husband doesn't scream like a girl, but he makes a good grossed-out face. :)
ReplyDeleteMmmm, cream corn. Now I want some.
LOL Sonja, I'll give my husband a pass since said spider *did* land on his bare chest. Still, I'm so glad I witnessed it! Yes, bestest cream corn in the world - go forth and try it :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Erin, on all the wonderful things that have happened to you this past year. It's great to see them happen to someone so genuinely nice. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for a lot of things too, because the past year or so has been challenging! But I'll list two things that made me happy: getting a batch of your delicious cupcakes in the mail, and making the apple pie recipe you posted. Who wouldn't be thankful for those? :)
Lovely, lovely! I try to be grateful every day, but there's something to be said about putting it all down in a list, too. I think I'll do the same.
ReplyDeleteOMG, poor guy! I'm laughing hysterically! I have not see S scream like that, but I've seen him do the "hop, skip and leap like a ballerina" dance to get anyway from a cockroach with a Napoleon complex. I almost peed my pants.
ReplyDeleteI think the thing I am most thankful this year (after my family!) is that I joined RWA, and HCRW, and met all you wonderful, mad, lovely ladies -and men. My life is forever changed, and I am so, so grateful for all the support and encouragement I recieved this year. And, by the by...I sent off my own GH submission packet today.
Overnight, of course. :D
Someday, Donna, I'll be able to hand you a fresh, un-squished cupcake in person :) And I'm so glad the pie worked out for you - there is NOTHING like the joy of eating a homemade baked good :) Thanks so much for the kind words, and for stopping by to say hello!
ReplyDeleteEliza, there is certainly something smile-worthy about putting down the things that you are thankful for. I love looking back on posts like this and being reminded of the feelings I had when I wrote them.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for dropping by - I'm so thankful to have 'met' you this year!
Hooray for getting the GH submission off, Dana!! I'm so excited for you - I love seeing how much you've grown in the short amount of time I've known you. I'm so glad you joined the group - I'm better for knowing you, my dear.
ReplyDeleteOh, and GOOD LUCK tomorrow at the Lady Jane's Salon RDU reading! You'll be marvelous, I just know it!
Hahah! I wish I could've seen that scream -- hilarious. I've never heard Ryan scream like that, but I have seen him shimmy and shiver over a spider dangling too close for comfort. And thanks for the vote of confidence on my Charlie Brown wonky but colorful lights:) I'm thankful for my very own home to put said wonky lights on!
ReplyDeleteYAY for your great year! I know there will be even more to come, dozens and dozens of them. :D
ReplyDeleteAnd I would have screamed over the spider, because I HATE them. While the husband runs as fast as he can in the opposite direction of snakes.
I'm most thankful this year for the support I have from people like you, my family and that I got those darn GH entries off yesterday.
Wonky lights rule! Kara, you and I were cut from the same mold when it comes to decorating our houses. And, you may not have seen Ryan scream *yet*, but we'll see what happens when Aragog lands on his chest ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I must say, sister, that I am VERY thankful for you!
Oh lord, Marquita - I don't know where I'd be without you and my other writer friends. We keep each other sane! And super, duper congrats for getting your GH entry off!! The trick now is forgetting about it until late March ;)
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for my wife who tells the world that I scream like a girl at a Justin Bieber concert.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the record, she would too if she was relaxing in the bathtub when all of a sudden a spider falls on you then starts running towards your face.
LOL - I never said I wouldn't scream in that situation. It was just freakin hilarious to hear *you* have said reaction :) You're a good sport, dear husband - and I love you all the more for it -mwha!
ReplyDeleteGotta love being thankful. :) Love your list. And all spiders freak me out. They are my husband's job to take care of.
ReplyDeleteThanks Aimee :) As for me, I never want to lose the precious seconds of possible spider escape time by calling hubby - I almost always do the dirty work myself, lol!
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for you too:) And Kirk's comment made me laugh:)
ReplyDeleteKirk screaming like a girl -- reminds me of our ping pong matches!
ReplyDeleteyou're going down Andy!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for inspiring me to keep on the good fight and write. I loved following your journey. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet thing to say, BookGeek! Thanks sweetie :) And by the way, good luck on starting your own business! That's very exciting, and I hope it goes smoothly for you.
ReplyDelete