We found out this past week that....

We are overjoyed that we will be adding another little girl to our family. My Sweetie and I were really hoping that Sissyboo would have a little sister to grow up with. One of the reasons would be that I often admire the relationships my friends have with their sisters and how close they are. Although, I often pray that all of my children will remain close to each other as they grow older.

Now the real fun begins, decorating the nursery! Several years ago, I discovered the artist Maud Humphrey (Humphrey Bogart's Mother!). My love of all things Victorian and nursery rhythms are intermingled in some of her artwork. Here are samples of some of her art that I am planning on having in the nursery:





I am also perusing crib bedding. I fell in love with this one and am thinking this may just be the one.



For some reason I have had a much easier time planning this little girls room than I did with Double D's. I guess I am just a girlie girl through and through.

Thanksgiving Day Menu

( Cooking Thanksgiving's Turkey Last Year. The Turkey was so small!)

Thanksgiving Holiday Menu for Tomorrow:
Roast Turkey with Gravy
My Sweetie's Special Stuffing
Overnight Salad
Cranberry Pineapple Jello Salad
Sweet Potato Casserole
Broccoli Casserole
Kings Hawaiian Rolls (this is not a typical Thanksgiving roll, but I just love them!)
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Bars
Sweet Tea and Sparkling Grape Juice

Thanksgiving Mantel

Just wanted to post a picture of my Thanksgiving Mantel. It is pretty simple, but I wanted the print to be the focus.

While you can't really see the print in the picture, it is called The First Thanksgiving 1621 by J.L.G. Ferris. The print is an actual page out of 1917 edition of Ladies Home Journal.

Here is a better version:

If you would like to check out more artwork by this amazing artist, go to the American Gallery. He is best known for 78 scenes from American history, entitled The Pageant of a Nation.

Thanksgiving Past: 1977

This Thanksgiving, I was recalling various Thanksgivings that I have spent with my family and one that always come to my mind is Thanksgiving 1977. I was only 3, but it still made a lasting impression on me. Not for any one thing, but the fact that most of my my Mom's 7 siblings, along with there spouses and my Grandmother were all gathered together at my Aunt Marilyn's home. I still have visions of my Mom and Aunts in the kitchen, working away. I can still taste my Mom's homemade buttered noodles.

As a child there is nothing more fun then being with all your Aunt's and Uncles and more importantly cousins. Have I ever mentioned that I have 19 first cousins on my Mom's side! I have always loved being a part of a big family.

So here are a few pictures from 1977 for my family to look and laugh at:




That's me with the ponytails! Happy as a clam!

As I prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I am planning on doing a series called "Counting My Blessings". So, with this post, I would like to say that I am blessed with an amazing God fearing and loving extended family.

My Gurley Candles

Ever since I can remember, these pilgrim candles have always had a place on our Thanksgiving table. It was a little tradition in our family. I am not sure where they came from, but they were my Mom's, making them very important to me.

Over the years, they have traveled from my first tiny apartment in Cedarville, Ohio to my current home outside St. Louis. I just don't think it would be Thanksgiving with out them being displayed.

One year, when I had moved, I could not locate my candles in all of my boxes. I thought they were lost forever, so I typed in pilgrim candles and found the same candles in a smaller version from The Vermont Country Store. (If you are ever feeling nostalgic, check out their website for all types of goodies from the past).
This year, I was trying to find out more information about the origins of my candles and found that these candles are all over Ebay! I found that Gurley Candle Company was the maker and that this company started back in the 1930's. There are quite a few originals for sale and for all different holidays.

I also discovered that The Vermont Country Store had purchased the original candle molds from Gurley years ago and now sells reproductions (shown here below).
While I am sure people my age would consider them tacky, I love my Gurley Candles. I love them even more now, because of all the oohs and aahs I heard from 2 year old Sissyboo when I put them on display this year!

Meal Plan Monday

Good Monday Morning! It is a chilly fall day here in the St. Louis area, a perfect day for staying in and taking care of my sick little ones. Everyone here is fighting off colds including yours truly!

Even if we have to stay indoors today, the beautiful colored trees outside help cheer us up. As I have mentioned before, we live in a newer home in a new development so there are not very many mature trees close by but further away past the field behind our house. However, we have six smaller Cleveland Pear trees that have finally turned red within the last week. Even though they are smaller trees, we sure love watching the leaves change as do the children. Sissyboo loves going outside and collecting different colored leaves.

Here is our menu for the week as well as some of the recipes (just click on the link):

Monday: Marinated Baked Pork Chops and riced potatoes

Tuesday: Beef Bulgogi (Korean Beef) with rice

Wednesday: Clam Chowder with homemade bread

Thursday: P.F. Changs Lettuce Wraps

Friday: Taco Bar with hard and soft tacos

Saturday: Pizza

Sunday: Homemade Sushi (California Rolls)

Can you believe there are only 10 DAYS until Thanksgiving? Have a blessed week.

Lori

Honoring A Veteran, My Grandfather Keith

I never had the pleasure of knowing my Grandfather Keith. However, I have spent so many hours talking with my Grandmother about him that I feel like I do.

I have stood on the steps where my Grandmother stood as she looked across the church lawn and saw him for the first time. I have stood at the doorstep of the house where they raised their family of eight children. I have put on his military jacket that still hangs in my Grandmother's closet.

When my Grandmother talks about him, she still has a twinkle in her eye and tells me that he was the love of her life.

On Veteran's Day, I would like to remember my Grandfather Keith. In the midst of World War II, my Grandfather then 29 years old with three small children at home, joined the Army because he felt that it was his duty as an American.

My Grandmother kept every letter he ever wrote her and he kept all of hers. While reading over some of the letters, I distinctly remember that even though he said that it was hard leaving his family that he wanted "to look back on this part of his life and be proud of it".

I am always so proud to say that my Grandfather was a World War II Veteran and for the sacrifices he made for all of us.


Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.
Winston Churchill

Cousins

I recently snapped this photo while my nieces were here for a visit.

My nieces "Lovely" and "Kind Heart" take the best care of my little ones. They just love my children so much it just touches my heart in so many ways. We are all so blessed to have these girls in our lives. Their parents, my brother and sister-in-law are raising some of the most amazing girls I have ever known. Their kindness and thoughtfulness is beyond compare.

When the cousins are close by, my Sissyboo literally can not stop smiling! You can see as the girls hold hands and walk up the street, that she is in heaven.

"Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends."

Meal Plan Monday

Good Monday Morning! I realized I haven't blogged in two weeks but hopefully that will change this week. It just seems that there is always something hindering me from blogging, plus I am exhausted by the end of the day. While I usually have great pregnancies, with this one, I am just really exhausted by 8 PM!

Here is our menu for this week:

Monday: Juicy Roasted Chicken with veggies

Tuesday: Broccoli Chicken Braid

Wednesday: Pork and Sauerkraut with Mashed Potatoes

Thursday: Chipotle Tamale Pie

Friday: While watching the Cooking Channel this weekend we came across the show Brunch at Bobby's. He had so many good recipes that we are going to try for dinner: Cheesy Hash Browns, Sauteed Mushrooms, Roasted Tomatoes, basted eggs and bacon.

Saturday: Dinner Out with the family

Sunday: Pork Chops to Live For (crock pot recipe)

I hope you all are doing well. We here at My Magnolia Cottage are getting ready for the holidays. My Thanksgiving menu is already planned and the children's gifts have been purchased for Christmas. (Have I ever said how much I love to plan?)

Have a wonderful week!