IF IT DOESN'T MOVE, DECORATE IT!!!

As I have mentioned before, our home is to be on a holiday house tour on December 6th to benefit our local Community Concert Association.  Their advertisement states that "The event is a tour through distinctive and historical area homes beautifully decorated for the holidays."   

Oh my --- I certainly hope our home lives up to the hype!

Consequently, we have been in the Christmas mode for two weeks now.  Plus, we have cleaned, and then cleaned some more.

Anything that doesn't move has been decorated -- even in the mud room where this chicken resides in her coop year round.

Several years ago I admired this hen on the blog, 
Rue Mouffetard; and the next thing I knew, the generous Sue had sent me her sister hen.  Read about Matilda's arrival here. 

This year, I opened the door and invited Matilda to the Christmas party.

Stay tuned -- I'll be posting some of the more dignified decorations later.  For now, I must get back to the tasks at hand!

I'm joining the following:
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Common Ground for Christmas Open House on Dec. 9
Art and Sand for Sweet and Simple Christmas on Dec. 11 

PUMPKIN MUFFIN BITES

I've been busy, busy getting ready for our home to be on a holiday house tour on December 6th to benefit the local concert association.  But, Thanksgiving needs my attention, also; plus I had two occasions last week that required some goodies to share.  The easy recipe below fits the bill as they freeze well, and made enough to serve at both coffee occasions plus enough for Thanksgiving breakfast.

Pumpkin Muffin Bites

Combine the following in large bowl:

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Combine in large mixer bowl:

3 cups granulated sugar

1 can (15 oz.) pure pumpkin

4 large eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup orange juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees; line mini-muffin cups with paper liners.  Beat pumpkin mixture until just blended.  Add flour mixture, and stir until moistened.  Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 3/4 full.  

Sprinkle batter tops with granola.  I like Quaker honey, oats, and almond granola.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Makes 96 little muffins.  

Since my son is allergic to tree nuts, I sprinkled his share with cinnamon and sugar.

I'm joining the following:
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

NOT ALL SERVICE MEN ARE WARRIORS

I'm late in posting a Veteran's Day post with just a few thoughts --

  I certainly appreciate the dedication of those who serve in the military and have sacrificed.  However, my family has been on a different road of service.  They have always been farmers and ranchers and were needed for agriculture deferments. 

Grandfather's registration in 1918 indicating agriculture deferment during WWI

Father's registration in 1945 indicating completion of service of an agriculture deferment during WWII

Last week, my grandson was doing a report for school on his family veterans.  He had to go back to 1812 to find a grandparent on the paternal side of my family who actively served in a war.  Wyatt's research found that the great-grandfather of my grandfather was killed during the War of 1812.  My grandfather and this ancestor were both from the tiny town of Parkman, Maine, but were on different paths of service to their country.

This got me to thinking further about my family's involvement in wars, and I realized that not all service men were warriors.   With deferments, the farmers and ranchers were not without obligations to the war effort.  They were involved considerably in supporting the troops, and the families who remained at home, with food and supplies.

In some of our family ephemera, we even have a shipping receipt that an ancestor supplied the U.S. Army with thousands of horses during World War One shipping them to Europe.

My grandfather was awarded The Skelly Award for Superior Achievement in Agriculture for "contributing generously and importantly to the war effort of the United States and our Allies" dated June 19, 1943.  This was a national award and I remember it as a big deal for our family.  

Here is a picture of my family on the day in 1943 he was honored for the award -- my grandparents in the middle and his two sons who worked with him on the farm and the ranch and their families.  A third son was not granted an agriculture deferment, and was serving in Africa at the time of the picture.

My grandfather was fortunate to be honored for his service.  But how many were denied the opportunity to serve their country in the military because they were farmers; then toiled at home doing their part, and were never recognized?
I thought this quote was interesting on the bottom of the award -- "Food will win the war -- food will write the peace."

Maybe we should have a "Thank a Farmer/Rancher Day" to honor their contribution in securing the freedoms we enjoy.

PRE-HOLIDAY RANDOMNESS ---

We're gearing up for the November and December holidays around the Salmagundi household.

1.  The last rose of summer -- there is something so vibrant about the last roses of the season.  Evidently, this buggy-leaf-thing thought so, also.  We've finally had a hard freeze; rather late for this part of the country.

2.  The house is a mess.  Bob is doing some long over-due maintenance painting.  We have a long hall with many doors and woodwork to be done.  In the process, we're starting to clean and clear out stuff to make room for the Christmas explosion.

3.  We have two family birthdays before Thanksgiving and one between Thanksgiving and Christmas to add to the festivities.

Our daughter's birthday is this week.  She is in her 10th year of being free from Stage 4 brain cancer -- a real miracle!  She has struggled with the results of the surgery, the effects of all of the radiation and chemo; so she endures a lot but continues on with such a cheerful attitude.  Each birthday is a special gift.

Happy Birthday, Jenni!

IN PURSUIT OF PLAID

Alison at The Polohouse  is hosting a Tartan Parade on November 2nd.  I've always been in love with plaid, so didn't want to miss this opportunity to show my plaid addiction.  Check out her blog for more inspiration from other Tartan addicts.

Every little girl growing up in the 1940s had a plaid dress -- I was no exception!

And every teenager in the 1950s had a plaid shirt and a plaid picnic blanket -- then lived in a college dorm with plaid curtains and dreamed in her plaid pajamas of that special boy that was at another college hoping to share a home with him someday.

And, now, sure enough --

a home together (for 57 years) with plaid pillows on every chair and bed!

More pillows ---

And more pillows ---

Plaid on the walls ---

Stacks of tartan throws ---

And, at Christmas -- that is when the plaid really comes out to play.


Maybe I should have forewarned Bob all those years ago about all of the plaid he was going to have to live with.  About 35 years ago, there was a slight, little,  problem -- on a SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, we hung PLAID wallpaper together during the game.  I should have known better than trying that!

In addition to The Polohouse I'm joining the following:
The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday