As Martha would say ... "it's a good thing"

My daughter and her friends did something special yesterday. Instead of a birthday party, she and her girlfriend invited a group of their classmates to join them in packing christmas stockings for children in an afterschool program at Abraham House (http://www.abrahamhouse.org/) in the Bronx.


Wonderful stockings from the Christmas Tree shop (Karenne's fav place) were filled with candies and treats for the children aged 7 - 11 years. Each girl brought in lovely gifts for their stocking buddy - it was wonderful to see.




We wrapped up lots of games for them to enjoy ... note the Battleship ... the Engineer said this was essential!

Each stocking received a tag and letter from the girls.


It was an afternoon where the girls laughed and chatted together whilst doing something nice for someone else. Sister Joan who collected the gifts was grateful and overwhelmed. She shared with them a little bit about Abraham House and assured them that their afternoon of stocking packing would bring great joy to the children who would ultimately receive these gifts at Christmas time. I hope this will become a small tradition that our girls will enjoy.

Giving Thanks

We had a great day on Friday celebrating and being thankful for the small things in life....children entertained with various games, husbands outside doing manly things like chopping wood for the fire, 2 glasses of red wine, a chunk of brie, and a jar of fig jam (who needs a turkey?). The menu was spectacular. The Goddess outdid herself with the wonderful array of dishes enabling us to all have our fill and then some!


With Thanksgiving done and dusted for another year, we settled down on Friday to enjoy left overs. The Goddess, our #1 Electrical guru and Jman returned to NY with us so that the engineers could commune over the boiler that was having some issues. With the boiler fixed, we settled in for a lovely lunch of left overs, some beers and the post thanksgiving football game.


Thanksgiving A Celebration for All


T'was the day before Thanksgiving and all through the town, every creature was stirring and running around!





Well, nearly everyone! I left Rose to "babysit" Maxie Man while I braved "it" at Stew Leonards with every other last minute Diva. The ritual of thanksgiving dinner is wonderful and a place like Stew's makes sure you have enough of everything!!



(these are for Baileys)


Do you think the trolley is going to cave in?

Yes, Bing was singing in the background!


and then for those (like me) who wish to get a jump start on the next celebration, you don't have far to look for the basic requirements!





( these photos are for mum)

Thanksgiving is one celebration that I will continue to celebrate in the years to come. Crossing all denominations and all nationalities and unifies young with old and families with friends.

As I write today there arethousands of kitchens across the country bustling with families as they prepare for tomorrow. If you would like to see our menu, we will be spending the day with The Goddess and like many before her, she has the meal planned right down to the last string bean!

Tomorrow we will give thanks. But today it is all about who gets the last crab rangoon!....It is a chinese feast of mini proportions (we don't want to be full for tomorrow) to celebrate The Goddess's birthday!

Enjoy your day with your family.

Sallianne

Alyson, the JMan and Friends!


Kitchens, Treehouse, Intrepid and Dance Class


It was a week that had something for everybody! Firstly Max got his dream kitchen, and has been busy cooking up a storm of cars, carrots, beads, and little tyke people!

There is never a week that we don't invest in water play. Usually we sit in the sink. This week I tried the "stand at the sink" option, but learnt that if one wishes to put ones head in the water, one will find a way to do it!

Then Tuesday was Treehouse Day. With the theme of being Thankful, I decided that we would create Thankful Treasure Chests. The chest was a water bottle and the children filled their chests with sand and various treasures.

I took glass pebbles and made little message pebbles with mom, dad, sister, brother, treehouse, love, God, peace, joy, family and the children mixed these pebbles with various little treats.



At the end of the night during closing circle, the children were able to share what they were thankful for. It was once again wonderful to find a vehicle on which these special kids could ride and share some of their inner most feelings. Once again, I felt priviledged to be in their presence.

The weekend came and with it the excitement of Sunday!! For Neil it was like Christmas...he, and the Goddess's boys gathered in NY to go to THE INTREPID! Whilst a very cold day, they had a wonderful time, did not get to see it all and were very grateful that the organized Sal had booked tickets ahead of time. So whilst the boys were in Militaria heaven, Flossy and her dearest friend went off to a wonderful dance studio just south of Times Square, where they enjoyed a dance class and got up close and personal with Alyson Stoner and Jordan "Jman" Francis (stars in Camp Rock) plus Kishaya Dudley (Choreographer - Camp Rock). They had a wonderful time.

Another new week has started and we are a step closer to visiting home. Bags are half packed, entertainment material for the flight is being gathered .... I asked the Enginner to start this and he went and got HIS book! He actually thinks that Mr M is going to sleep!! Flossy claims she isn't taking any clothes because Aunty Sa is going to help her shop when she gets home!

The stores are filled with Christmas, the radios are playing carols, the tree has been erected in the middle of the Rockefeller plaza. The air is getting colder and the bags of salt are now sitting at the front of all stores. Whilst I have come to love a cold christmas, I can not wait to sit in the sunshine on the porch at Kelman, with my Dad and watch the little boys chase Millie around the garden. Not long now Papa!

Flea Market Finds, Ugg Boots and Squirrels

I had every intention of writing to report in on our morning away. Flossy offered to babysit on Sunday morning which meant she lay on the couch wrapped up in her doona whilst Maxie Man trashed the joint.

We arrived home from our favorite flea market and gloated over some of our lovely things

Old Baby's cradle to go under the Christmas trees filled with gifts...


Lovely vintage ephemera for some of my favorite girls....

Old Ice Cream tub for my ribbons.....


Fresh vegetables and cranberries (plus card from the Goddess!)

After unpacking the collection, it was time to relax. Maxie Man discovered the Engineer's Uggs!

This morning I awoke at 4am to scratching sounds....


The baby squirrel liked the warmth! So he and I had a stand off for about an hour with the front door open (who loves heating the street?) and broom in hand, I was able to coax him outside.

So now it is 6:30, which is really 7:30 because my body can't switch over...so it will be dinner, a glass of wine, a tim tam (we ration them) and into bed to read and watch the election results.

Sal
P.S. I so hope he gets in!!!! I have booked Rose and Neil into a Washington DC hotel to see the inauguration and parade...they will freeze their butts off but it will be worth every minute.