I'M BACK!!!

Hello there bloggeroos and Happy Monday!

I can say those words with glee because I decided to give myself an extra vacation day today.  That's right.  I'm still home.  As a matter of fact, I shamefully rolled out of bed at 10AM.  I haven't done that in ages.

Now you'd think I've been partying all this time.  In reality I've been staying up late watching Christmas movies.  Now that we have Direct TV (and they should pay me for this free advertizement) we have Hallmark Channel along with Lifetime and all those other cool stations that are showing tear-jerker Christmas movies.

I'll be hopping around and visiting in just a few minutes, but first I think this is the perfect moment to give everyone...well, the bird.

MY RECIPE FOR DRUNKEN TURKEY

14LB TURKEY

2 TBSP PARSLEY

2 TBSP ROSEMARY

2 TBSP THYME

2 TBSP BASIL

2 TBSP SAGE

2 CELERY STALKS CHOPPED

1 ONION CHOPPED

1 ORANGE CUT IN WEDGES

CRAM IT ALL UP THE BIRD'S...CAVITY

FOLLOWED BY AS MUCH CHAMPAGNE AS YOU CAN FIT IN THERE.

POUR THE REST OF THE CHAMPAGNE OVER THE BIRD.

FEEL FREE TO SAMPLE SOME.

COAT BIRD WITH LIGHT BUTTER SPRAY

SEASON WITH LEMON PEPPER AND ALL SEASON SALT.

BAKE AT 325 FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS OR UNTIL THERMOMETER POPS OUT.

BASTE OFTEN.  I PREFER THE FLIP THE BIRD OVER METHOD MYSELF.

...^-^...

NEXT...SUPER AWESOME SWEET WINE ALERT.

Nightie Knight - $12.95

Red

A super sweet, grapey red wine. Perfect for those cold nights curled up in front of the fireplace. Made with the sweet wine lover in mind.

 

For those of you who live in Nebraska, it is sold at the Council Bluffs Hyvee as well as the above listed winery.  Sorry for all of you who will be missing out.  Trivia:  Did you know dessert wines although very sweet actually have the highest percentage of alcohol.  Not to worry...you can't even taste the stuff.  :)

WAY COOL STUFF:

Remember that Holiday Blog Hop I entered, which was highly entertaining.  Well, I won this.

You are not alone
Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.
Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

Show More

Show Less

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Is that cool or what?  I plan on reading it immediately.  Thank you to Jenny at http://jennysimaginaryworld.blogspot.com/ and Megan at  http://megandolan.blogspot.com/ and to all the participants who made the bloghop so much fun.



ALSO:

TODAY IS CYBER MONDAY...which turns me into a complete cyber whore...another reason why I'm late this morning.  So I bought cute little KINDLE.

This means I can finally read all of your books without straining my eyes on my laptop.

YAY ME!!!

FINALLY: And I will not take up more of anyone's time.  Unikorna asked to see a picture of me cooking the turkey at my kitchen.  Unfortunately, I didn't get her comment until after Thanksgiving and no pictures were taken.  I will, however, give it my best for Christmas.

So how about a cute pic of me and hubs at fancy smansy piano bar instead.

                              

No he doesn't play the piano, but each time I see this picture I like to pretend.

See you all around.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Did anyone do Black Friday?

...^-^...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Are you really going to eat me?

YUP.

Short and sweet here.  I'm taking Thanksgiving week off.  Everyone have a good one and enjoy time with your families.  I will have tons to say when I return.

...^-^...

 

HOLIDAY BLOG HOP

Hello fellow bloggers.  First of all I'd like to thank all of you for all your well wishes and emails.  You are all too awesome for words!!!

Now on to the blog hop.
Jenny from  Jenny's Imaginary World is having this blog hop.  I'm posting this a little early.  It's not till the 15th.  250-words of a cute holiday story.  I cheated, couldn't get my top muse to shut up.  And I try not to butt heads with Helen.  Anyway, I'm close to 500-words, which kinda disqualifies me, but this is for fun, to meet new bloggers, and to encourage everyone to check out Jenny's blog.

Anyway, nothing spells warm and fuzzy like family, friendship, and kids.  And because I just couldn't help myself, I tossed in a fantastical twist.  Hope you all like it.

Devin leaned against the window sill while fingering the rim of his baseball cap, his sole focus the sound of the children outside.  There were three girls about his age, playing hide-and-seek.  One of them laughed, and the sound evoked a similar bubbling in his throat.  Her two friends ran and hid as she counted.  He held his breath, waiting for her to give chase and aching to join them.  More than anything, he needed a friend.

"Dad, why did we move?"

The older man fussed with the pages of the morning paper before setting it down on the table.  "Devin, you've asked me that question every day for a month.  And my answer is still the same.  You're ten now, and that means you're starting to show.  We have to keep the secret.  At least here we have a chance at a fresh beginning, with new people."

"But we're so alone."

"Just give it time, son.  Look, the season is changing.  Soon we'll see snow on the ground and the holidays will be upon us.  They celebrate something called Christmas here.  You get presents and..."

Devin tuned out the rest of the conversation because the redheaded girl laughed again, a musical sound that reminded him of his big sister--before she was captured.  He had to meet her.  Placing the baseball cap on his head, he crammed down his antennas.  Then he hurried outside, running smack into the girl and sending the baseball cap flying.

He watched her lips part with surprise.  A million thoughts raced through his head, but no excuse or lie could cover the dangling proof of his ancestry.  Maybe they could make her forget like they did the others.  It was a simple procedure.

"Oh, you're one of us," the girl said.

"What?"  He searched her head for signs of antennae, but there were none.  "You look nothing like me.  You're not even green."

"But I am like you."  With delicate fingers she brushed fine crimson locks aside, revealing a set of pointed ears.  "After a year we transform on this planet.  This is all that's left of my antennas."

"You're a darkling too?"

She smiled, revealing two rows of pearly-white teeth.  "The natives call us fairies." 

A knot formed in his throat.  "I'm Devin," he said, lifting his hand to touch her. 

She reached out her hand and brushed the tips of his fingers.  "I'm Ivy."

The other two girls came out of hiding.  They studied the pea-colored boy on the ground and sent their friend matching inquisitive glances. 

Ivy laced her fingers with Devin's and said, "These are my sisters, Axia and Nola."  To her sisters she said, "This is Devin, my new friend."

They bunched around him.  Their proximity enveloped him like a cozy blanket, reminding him of home.  Ivy hugged him.

And his heart grew wings.

Happy Holidays to all my blogger friends who help give my heart wings!