Giving Thanks



The Thanksgiving holiday was a time to gather with Family and Friends enjoying the time together along with great food.  It's good to be thankful everyday, but in the midst of our busy lives having one day to slow down and enjoy together as we count the many blessings in our life, is one to be truly grateful and thankful for.  I enjoyed having the house full and the joy of us all spending time together, sharing stories and laughter, and eating.  Lots and lots of eating!

Our guests were Hubby's parents, his brother and his wife, both of our daughters, our son-in-law, and our granddaughters, and a family friend.  With ten adults, two sweet and energetic little girls and three active and lively pups all together here, we managed a good-timing time!  We had much of the traditional goodies for our Thanksgiving dinner with of course, thee always the star: the turkey.  It was accompanied by a very tasty smoked-ham, prepared and brought by my Father and Mother-in-law.  Along with sides of stuffing or dressing (we call it that since we don't stuff the turkey with it); candied sweet potatoes, topped with marshmallows; green bean casserole; mashed potatoes and turkey gravy; macaroni salad (my-cheesy macaroni pasta shell salad); deviled eggs; whole cranberry sauce and jellied cranberry sauce; and fresh baked french loaf bread.  Also for desserts, chocolate cream pie, pecan pie, and a chocolate fudge bundt cake.

Everything was placed out on one table for buffet style serve yourself plate filling.  That's the way to do it!  It was a delicious dinner and I feel sure that everyone was happily full and satisfied by the end of it.  I'm glad that others did capture some photos of the day,  I was too busy most of the time to think about taking photos (can you believe that?). That was far from my mind while preparing and serving up the grand spread of a meal that was, I feel, overall a success!  Even if I did forget to add the celery and onion to my stuffing/dressing, or if the mashed potatoes could have stuck to a wall because they were so thick (a quick fix by the sis-in-law made them all better).  But hey, if that was the worst of it then in my book I shall go on and toot my own horn (beep, beep) 'cause I didn't let it bother me really, it was simply laughable!

I am very happy and thankful to have gotten to be hostess to a fun and great group of people that I love.  Also for having them all here in our home and that I was able to prepare some delicious food for them, and to enjoy it along with them.  That's Thanksgiving to me!


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The Hostess and Host!
Me and the Hubster

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Our Daughters and their Grandmother-(Hubby's Mother)
Three beautiful women!


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How do you seat ten at a table for six?  
The addition of a  4 x 8 sheet of plywood, equals instant larger table, along with chairs from another room.  Thanks to the Hubster for this idea, and friends giving us the idea years ago!
Although I was a bit skeptical, it worked out perfectly!

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Our Daughter and Granddaughters

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Our Daughter
...and part of me cooking away to the left.

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Marty's Parents, His Brother and wife, Me and Marty

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Family and Friends gathered together




Thankful!...
~ Tammy ~



~ Tammy's Tip Today ~ Kitchen Tip - Cupcakes


Kitchen Tips and Helpers  



Try this the next time you make cupcakes!
For dome top cupcakes fill 3/4 full.  Oven at 350 then reduced to 325 bake for 25 minutes 
- or - 
For flat top cup cakes fill 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 22 minutes.  










Outdoor Project: Complete



~ The Big Reveal ~



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As I sit here looking out from our newly finished covered deck, I am feeling satisfied and relieved to be at this point, finally!  Although over a week ago we thought we would be completely finished officially, we have yet to get the final inspection and completion of the workings of the fireplace.  Maybe tomorrow, maybe I don't know when, but it will happen and so we wait!  

The process has been relatively smooth with only a few glitches along the way, oddly enough most of which has been the fireplace.  The project took a little longer than was planned, and has been all too consuming of our time, but it's so worth it!  We can now do all of the finishing touches, adding the furniture, and making it welcoming and comfy cozy!  I love the look of our new covered deck and patio, and I am very pleased with our dream turned reality.  I look forward to years of enjoying the extra space and added improvement to our home!


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UPDATE!

Late this evening we finally have fire, and TV too!
Now all we need is a final inspection, also to add furniture and our finishing touches.



Calling it officially complete!...
~ Tammy ~



Aeon @ 10 months



I sure do have a handsome dog!  Aeon is developing well and is really growing into a fine looking golden retriever!  I love his personality and sweet nature.  He is just at eighty pounds now, and has slowed in the weight gain.  He seems to love having a routine, and knows when things are off kilter.   The positive dog training classes were a good learning lesson for us as well as for him, Aeon graduated on Sunday with high praises from the trainer.  I feel it was definitely helpful and when we work with him using the techniques learned with repetition, he appears to know and understand what is expected.   Recently after being out of our usual dog food and then getting something new, Aeon has become a bit picky about going back to the original food.  Oh well, we and he will figure it out!  Always interesting having a pet to share life with, and we love sharing it with our Aeon!


Aeon is happy and ready for training class!

"Good boy" not jumping on the trainer to greet him!
Although this doesn't happen every time, Aeon is doing better in that regard!

Doing "leave it" with a cookie on his paw was quite an impressive test, that he passed!


Learning to go to a spot and then be rewarded, without even being told he figured out he would get a treat if he walked over to the mat.


Such a good boy!  Happy, smiling Aeon!


Who's a spoiled pup?


Sometimes Aeon just looks like he needs a photo taken of him, so I grab my camera and take the shot...


... or two!



Love, love this handsome fella!...
~ Tammy ~


PiƱa Colada Cupcakes


With it being Fall I know that most of the recipes right now are all about pumpkin, but perhaps not everyone is into that, present company included!  Don't get me wrong, I don't dis-like pumpkin, but it's not a huge favorite of mine either.  How about a taste of the tropics?  Pineapple and coconut!  Yum!  Do you like piƱa coladas?  If you have ever had a piƱa colada beverage you know what I'm talking about, that pineapple and coconut combination is a wonderful pairing.  The smell and taste provoke thoughts of tropical islands, and are a delight to the senses.  I can just image sitting on a beach with my piƱa colada drink in hand, dressed up with it's little umbrella.  Are you with me?  These cupcakes make for a great dessert after dinner or a nice snack.  They're a perfect treat for Fall, Summer, or anytime!



Thanks to Kraft for having this great recipe idea.

SIZE-WISE - These refreshing tropical cupcakes, with their built-in portion control, make enough to serve a crowd.

HOW TO STORE - Keep refrigerated.

STORING COCONUT - Store unopened packages of BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut at room temperature. After opening, place the package in an airtight container and refrigerate or freeze for up to 6 months.


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I certainly didn't know that Cool Whip makes a Whipped Frosting!  They sure do. They have different flavors too, such as Vanilla, Cream Cheese and Chocolate...mmm!



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Here's a funny ad for Cool Whip Frosting.

COOL WHIP Frosting | Mistreated Cakes Commercial



Enjoy!...






Outdoor Project: Almost there!


"Are we there yet?"

...a funny phase we often say when we get on the road to take a trip somewhere.  We've been on this home-improvement journey for a while now.  I've felt unable to convince others that we're "almost there" if I couldn't even convince myself!  But truly we are...almost there!  The deck is finished and all of the painting and staining.  The fireplace finishing details will be completed tomorrow. There are no - trucks, crews, dumpsters, piles of lumber, concrete, stone, or debris in our driveway or yard as of today!  What was estimated to be a five to six week project, was about eight!  We have just a few finishing touches to complete now and this will be a worthwhile home improvement that we hope to enjoy for many years to come!  "Almost there" feels truer than ever!...



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Final sneak peek!

A room with a view!

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It meets with Aeon's approval, he loves spending his mornings out here with me as I enjoy my coffee morning!



Almost there!...
~ Tammy ~




November memories...






On my 20th Birthday, 33 years ago today Marty and I said "I do, to have and to hold from this day forward"...and forever more!  Still going even stronger!




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Just a couple of young kids in love!



Time flies when you're having fun!...



FALL-ing back in time


tick-tock, tick-tock, back went the time and clock!



Somehow the hour we gain in November more than makes up for the hour we lost n March!?!  Some say it just makes for another time of year where our bodies are confused as to what time it really is!


As is well known now, the fall-back day-light saving adjustment began yesterday, and it always seems to me that it's the time of the dreaded darkness.  The shorter days are the beginning of my longing for Spring, and I start saying "Hurry up March!  Come on Spring!"  It truly is an adjustment for this Spring & Summer lovin' gal!  Those dark and earlier evenings are now marked as "dark-thirty" and they feel so long.  OK so it's an extra hour and an earlier sunset, but the missing hour feels more like lost hours!  And so now the days will be shorter for a while, as my longing for Spring will continue!  

Daylight saving time returns at 2 a.m. March 9.



Come on Spring!...





Now November






Here we are now at November and I find myself thinking about how there is so much to like about that.  November being my mother's birthday month and also mine too, along with my wedding anniversary on the same day as my birthday as well.  Those are a few good reasons for celebrating.  Also the holidays will be in full swing by month's end.  There's much to do and much to plan in the days ahead while looking forward to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  That's when we'll be sharing time together with family and friends enjoying all of the many blessings of life, and there's much to be thankful for.  Yes, there is a lot to like about November!



Here's to a November to remember!...



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Tammy is the design enthusiast behind the blog, Tips, Treats & Treasures, where her creativity is explored with a mixture of her artistic abilities and style through her home decorating, thrifty finds, DIY and creative craft projects, along with her family favorite recipes. She shares through her blog her ideas and helpful tips on everything she has learned over the years and much of which she is passionate about in the hope of inspiring others, with her own unique style storytelling.