Where's the pause button?

I did a double take when I looked at my calendar this morning... Christmas is a week from tomorrow??!! Where's the pause button?Yikes, this month is blazing right past me. And, it hasn't helped that I have been out of town the last 3 weekends in a row. Also, I now have a cold and it's been pouring down rain this week. Bring it on! I will conquer over this holiday frenzy and somehow come out alive! Yesterday, I frantically mailed out the holiday cards, (phew). Amazingly, I have managed to complete some holiday gifts.

A little birdie told me...

I just listed these little cards on Etsy today. It's a set of 6 small notes cards and envelopes. I love the deckled edges on this paper. I'm sure I will have a lot of people to thank next year, will you?  www.etsy.com/view_listing.pho?listing_id=18460567

Auburn, California

Went to Northern California this weekend for a family wedding in Auburn. What a great little town!  Friendly people and wonderful old buildings. Check out the awesome retro signage..... graphic designer eye candy!!

My Grandma's original recipe card. Great piece of vintage!

Sweet, sour & yummy! 

Here's my Grandma's Cranberry recipe. Since she passed away, I took over the task of making this classic side dish and it's still quite a tradition in our family. I have relatives that wait all year long just to sample this delicacy of gelatin & fruit!  Now I must tell you that Grandma forgot to list one important ingredient on the card, 2 packets of Knox gelatin! First time I made this it didn't set up and made a huge mess as I attempted to free it from the jello mold. 

A painting by my Dad....A visit down Palm Springs memory lane and the long gone Chi Chi club.

It's back to reality after a relaxing trip to Palm Spring for Thanksgiving. There's nothing better than stewing yourself in a hot tub after a huge turkey & pie feast! Then we relax at Grandma's condo, play cards & dominos. Catch up with relatives that we don't see often enough. My Mom, Dad & Uncle grew up in Palm Springs in the 50's. When we are together at Thanksgiving out come the stories of how things used to be "back in the day". How as teenagers they worked at local soda fountain shops making date shakes and then cruised Palm Canyon Drive at night.  

My Dad is the true culinary artist of the family. What a beautiful apple pie! Every year we feel bad about cutting into his beautiful dessert creation. But we get over that very quickly.

I am soooo looking forward to devouring a slice of this tomorrow!!!

My daughter's turkey hand. 

It's sort of a headless turkey but cute just the same. 

We wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.