December Daily 2014 smash book

Thanksgiving 2014 

 

Spent the morning watching the Houston Texas H-E-B Thanksgivin  Day parade from a parking garage. Was way too crowded to get to the parade on the ground. No room to walk through let alone for a stroller or wagon. Looked like a scene from "the walking dead" tv show with zombies converging. 

People brought ladders to see over the crowd. 

Santa Claus closed out the parade on a fire truck. That was cool. 

Crowd leaving parade. 

Being locked in the parking garage because there was no attendant for 90 minutes AFTER the parade was over was no treat. Especially since the wait was longer than the parade lasted.  Grateful for electronic pacifiers to entertain the baby cubs waiting in the vehicle. Paying $20 for the privilege of being locked in was mean and greedy of the owners. 

Thanksgiving dinner 2014

The turkey fresh from the oven.

For thanksgiving 2014 we are in Texas. The best turkey recipe we have found is Alton Brown's turkey brine recipe. Makes a lovely golden brown, juicy, and delicious turkey. No basting required.  

 Our turkey before its spa day aka brining. You soak the turkey in a clean for food only 5 gallon bucket with a brine solution for 8 hours. Drain and bake.   

A turkey would not be complete without its supporting cast members. Homemade stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and dinner rolls. 

Dessert was pumpkin pie. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 

Summer of color 4 chalolenge week 1

Six projects for the 6 weeks of  the Summer of Color 4 Challenge for 2014

The colors for the SOC4 Week 1 are Aqua blue, yellow and a splash of Hot pink.

I decided to go with crochet. I did two round dishcloths and a mini hot pad.

Here is the front of the mini hot pad.

Here is the back of the mini hot pad.

Here are the two round dishcloths I crocheted.

Joined Summer of Color

I recently joined Kirsten Van Valkenburgh's Summer of Color 4 challenge. Here is the link: http://www.twinkletwinklelikeastar.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-summer-of-color-2014.html

Join me.

Peacocks are heads above the rest.

Feeling the paints calling my name. Wanted to paint something more than a canvas. My eye spotted this plain white styrofoam head. .An ideal canvas.

I adore the peacocks vibrant plumage and confident walk. The peacocks glorious fan of feathers and colors makes you take notice. The long graceful neck. Simply thinking of the colorful peacock can help to rejuvenate your mood and elevate your self esteem.  



Peacocks have long in human history and across many continents and cultures symbolize some of the best human traits. A peacock is a symbol of  purity, chastity, grace, beauty, refinement, incorruptability, kindness, good will,  integrity and more. They are pure of heart, loyal, and faithful.


Peacocks are a picture of a strong family bond. The male peacock will go above and beyond to attract his hearts desire. Using his best assets his extravagant tail in the courtship. Peacocks are also very protective of their young ones. If you survive childhood you are one strong peacock. They can eat posinous plants so they have the ability to thrive even in the face of suferring.