Musings of an everyday woman . . .

Reflections on living and loving life . . .

Aloha Friday #24 December 10, 2010

Filed under: Aloha Friday,Christmas,Holidays — everydaywomanusa @ 11:30 pm
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My “Aloha Friday” question this Friday is . . .

What favorite holiday traditions do you and your family enjoy?

In other words, what’s a tradition that you and your family hold dear, that without which, the holidays would just not be the same?

If you’d like to participate in more Aloha Friday questions, click on over to An Island Life for Kailani’s “Aloha Friday.”

 

Meeting my Super-Hero Blogger—Pioneer Woman–in Person! December 13, 2009

Yesterday, I had the time of my life when I traveled to NYC and had a chance to meet my all-time favorite blogger, Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, in person! 

She’s even nicer, more down-to-earth, sweeter—and even taller—than I expected!

My daughter, Abbie, aka The Farmer’s Daughter, and I went by train, and then taxi to Chelsea Market to meet up with Ree.  Anyone who knows Ree, knows how much she LOVES babies, and she was all over the fact that Abbie’s pregnant and was quite chatty.  She wanted to know when the baby is due, if it’s a first, etc., etc.  (March and yes!)

Abbie wore a top that left no doubt as to whether she was indeed expecting, or not.  Here’s a closeup:

P-dub was all over that!

She was quite gracious, too.  When someone asked for her expertise with a camera . . .

. . . of course, she obliged . . .

When we first arrived at Chelsea Market, we found it to be a magical place.  It’s a huge building, which was orginally a Nabisco Factory, but which is now filled with shops, stores, eateries, and tons of Christmas Decorations.  We saw. . .

Upside-down Christmas trees. . .

and lots of decorations from recycled products . . .

A CD-tree, for instance . . .

. . . and fabulous creations from old plastic cups . . .

As we joined the queue to meet Ree, we had no idea how long the wait would be, as the first people in line had arrived at 8 am for the 11:00 book signing!

We chatted it up with those around us.  There was a couple behind us who traveled from Massachusetts, a little bit further than us, coming in from Connecticut.  The woman, a food blogger known as This Week’s Menu, gave me a great idea, which you’ll see at the end of the post.

With all the visiting and comparing notes about blogs and other interests, the line moved quickly, but it continued to grow and grow and grow . . . behind us!

When it was our turn to meet Ree, I felt I had to ‘fess up to something . . . remember when my hubbie and son were in Oklahoma and they wanted to surprise me with Ree’s just-released cookbook?  Well, they arrived home with a bright, shiny, colorful Pioneer Woman Cooks book, all full of wonderful “cowboy food,” as Ree calls it, but with a suspicious signature . . .

Ree laughed and quickly added her own, authentic signature!

Like I said, Ree is incredibly gracious!

Thanks for an fabulously fun day, Ree!

So . . . in the spirit of this giving season, I’m giving away an AUTOGRAPHED copy of Ree’s famous cookbook, which is currently on the New York Times Bestseller List, as a gift to one of my readers.  (Andrea~thanks so much for the idea!)

This book is oh-so-much-more than a cookbook!  It is a storybook of Ree’s family and adventures on her Oklahoma ranch, bursting with wonderful pictures and stories of her family, both the human kind and the animal kind!  You will surely adore it! 

It also has wonderful recipes, too.  Our daughter, Abbie, recently made us Ree’s Sticky Buns and they are to die for!

So . . . if you’re interested in entering a random drawing for this fabulous book, just leave a comment telling why you’d like it, why you like Ree, or both!

DRAWING TO BE HELD CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24th, AND THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED THEN, SO PLEASE ENTER AND CHECK BACK!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM EVERYDAY WOMAN!

Hugs,

Ruth

 

ALOHA FRIDAY #22: Are you doing the “Black Friday” thing? November 27, 2009

Filed under: Adventures,Aloha Friday,Holidays — everydaywomanusa @ 9:49 am
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Just wondering, how many people ventured out, after “stuffing yourself” with turkey and trimmings for midnight shopping, etc.?  Some friends I know start at midnight or even at 4 am, in search of good deals. 

So, my “Aloha Friday” question this Friday after Thanksgiving is . . .

Are you doing the “Black Friday” thing?  If so, did you find any great deals?

 If you’d like to participate in more Aloha Friday questions, click on over to  An Island Life for Kailani’s  “Aloha Friday

As for me, I think I’ll do some online shopping today; try to get some of my “mountain” of coursework done; perhaps start some Christmas decorating; and yes, I do have to go do some usual errands later in the day.  I’ll see what the crowds are like.

Whatever you’re doing on this day after Thanksgiving, ENJOY!

 

Giving Thanks . . . November 26, 2009

Filed under: Family,Farm,Holidays,Reflections — everydaywomanusa @ 7:37 am
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As this new day dawns—Thanksgiving Day— I think it’s appropriate that I take just a few minutes before the busy hustle/bustle of this holiday weekend takes over to give thanks.

In short, I’m thankful for:

  • Four generations of family members to celebrate the holidays with
  • An 87-year-old mother who inspires me on a daily basis
  • A grandbaby on the way (OK, you’ve heard this before!)
  • My wonderful husband who supports me even when he thinks I’m crazy (as in currently pursuing my Doctorate)
  • Three grown kids who make me intensely proud!
  • A career (working with kids and adults) that I love
  • Purposeful work at school and home
  • Our family farm full of animals and adventures
  • Friends who “hold me up” and occasionally, let me “hold them up”
  • A positive attitude despite everything around us in the news–and world–that could make us pessimistic
  • “Enough” of all of the above!

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR ON THIS DAY OF THANKSGIVING?

 

FACES of HALLOWEEN!!! October 31, 2009

Filed under: Halloween,Holidays — everydaywomanusa @ 8:23 pm
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Here are some “Faces of Halloween” I saw today . . .

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My hairdresser greeted me at 8 am this morning with eery, cat’s eyes!

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A giant spider along the hayride trail on the farm.

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A life-size chocolate chip cookie at the farm market!

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Mr. Pumpkin Head.

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More Pumpkin Heads.

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“Double Dorothys” came trick or treating!

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. . . as well as a “Wicked Witch!”

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Trick-or-Treaters came by the wagon full!

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We had traditional pumpkins,

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Pig Pumpkins,

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and Spider Trees!

What does Halloween look like from your vantage point?

 

Happy 4th!!! July 4, 2009

Filed under: Adventures,Holidays,Summer,Workhorses — everydaywomanusa @ 10:04 am
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Hope it’s a fun day for you, whatever you might be doing!

Last night, we watched some great fireworks (which were shot off from a barge on the Sound) with friends, which was wonderful.

It’s amazing that the show went on, after a severe summer thunder-and-lightning storm, which threw torrents of rain just hours before.  The sky looked like ominous, as we raced to get the horses, including Annabelle and her new baby, Isabelle,  into the barn.  We—and them—got soaked to the bone, then we listened to the thunder and watched the lightning spark all around us, from the safety of the horses’ stalls.

The horizon right after the storm.

The horizon right after the storm.

 HAPPY DAY TO YOU AND YOURS !!!

Oh. . . I found this pretty mermaid in our pool . . . might you know her?

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