Food, Family, Craziness

With Tyler's Momma, Pam

Pam, Me, Aunt Tammy, and Aunt Jan

Mom's Macaroni and Cheese

Green Bean Salad

I don't have tons of pictures from Thanksgiving Day. Though I didn't vocalize it, I definitely had hopes of showing off tons of pictures like this blog, or this one — didn't happen. Not only did I not take pictures of everything we ate, I also only got a few pictures of family and decorations. I think most of this was because our trip to visit family in Florence, SC was such a whirlwind of events.

Since both families are in the same town, we maneuvered back and forth between them. We visited with my parents on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, Tyler and his brother went duck hunting, and we did a joint Thanksgiving meal with some extended family on Tyler's side. My parents were there as well. My mom brought her amazing macaroni and cheese, and I helped Tyler's mom make green bean salad, recipe via Jamie Deen. Both were amazing. Thursday night we had the annual Flower's family watching of Christmas Vacation. It's a pretty crazy time, but lots of fun. Friday we got to see my sister and parents, and Saturday we went to the Hicks family reunion. After all of this, we finally headed back home, to Charlotte. I'll post more about life in the country soon.

Family Heirloom Macaroni and Cheese

As silly as it sounds, this macaroni and cheese is kind of a family heirloom in the Turner clan. My Dad's mom made it and then taught my mother to make it after my parents got married. I love it. Seriously. The day after Thanksgiving, we had pizza for dinner. I only had one slice so I could have some macaroni and cheese on the side. My dad makes fun of how much I love it.

Turner Macaroni and Cheese

- 1 box large elbow macaroni (yes, size does matter)

- 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (buying the block and grating it yourself tastes better)

- Milk

- 1 egg

- Salt and Pepper 

1. Boil the box of macaroni in salted water until they are al dente. 

2. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray. 

3. Create layers of noodles and cheese (3 layers of noodles, 3 of cheese). 

4. Make sure the top layer of cheese completely covers the noodles.

5. Mix the egg, salt, pepper, and one cup of milk, then pour over the macaroni and cheese.

6. Pour more milk into the casserole dish until you can see milk when you move aside the cheese on top with a spoon.

7. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the cheese browns and the noodles are not sitting in milk.

8. Let cool and serve*.

*You can serve the mac and cheese immediately. However, I prefer 1-day-old mac and cheese. This year my mom made it on Wednesday, and it was perfect reheated on Thursday. I think the extra 24 hours gives all of the ingredients time to mix and mingle and taste amazing.

Lincoln - The Aftermath

We went and saw Lincoln, the movie, yesterday afternoon (Many thanks to the Vaughn family for hosting E while we were at the show). I'd heard mixed comments on the movie. Mostly everyone said it was fantastic and pretty historically accurate.

However, most of my friends had not seen the movie, so I wasn't sure what to expect.

I loved it. The lighting was spectacular and Spielberg's use of windows, mirrors, and shrouded images were epic throughout. I reminded me of Jacques Lacan's idea of the "Mirror Stage," where we see images of ourselves outside of our inner beings in a mirror. I felt like this idea connected to Lincoln because of how we view history, presidents, and truth in history. In reality, we only see a reflection of the actual Lincoln, the actual president, in history books, in movies, and in stories. The same as a mirror. When we see ourselves in the mirror, we only see a picture, an inverted one at that, of what and who we really are. Ok, enough philosophy. I liked the mirrors. The end.

Lincoln

Tyler

Lincoln and Tyler. Can you tell the difference? Tait, Leigh, and I thought Tyler's mane was starting to resemble Honest Abe's because he hasn't gotten a haircut in such a while. This will soon be remedied, though I may have my very own Abraham Lincoln when we're 75. 

I think the most frightening thing about the Lincoln movie was the aftermath. In typical Tyler fashion, he's suddenly hooked and he can't stop starin', but in a completely different way. It's like his Mt. Everest expedition he took earlier this year. He didn't climb the mountain (he's never really climbed a big mountain), but he adventured through all things Everest —books, movies, documentaries, articles, memoirs, novels — you name it, he probably looked it up or read about it. 

Now, instead of an Everest kick, he's on a Abraham Lincoln kick. I do believe he's watched interviews about the making of the film, the historical accuracy of the film, and even started a book analyzing his presidency, including secondary and primary sources. I think we're going to have many nights that look like this:

Tyler and his Computer

The non-frightening thing about the aftermath of Lincoln? Tyler is actually reading. When he's interested in something, he will read for hours and hours about a topic. Hope for the future! If you haven't seen Lincoln, it's worth the money (says the woman who attended a matinee at Cinebarre and rarely sees movies in the theater). 

Jennifer

Thanksgiving 2012

Have I ever told you about my lovely sister, Jennifer? She's the older sister, much more patient and loving sister, and she was graced with long, slender legs. I call her "Jen" now but used to only call her "Sissy." She called me "Misk" circa 1990. Sometimes we still bust that one out.

Jen and her husband, Darren, live in Winston-Salem with their daughter. Before last week, I was sworn to secrecy, but they are expecting their 2nd baby in April 2013. They find out in just a week about the gender! I am so excited to be an aunt of two. She barely looks pregnant, too.

I think this is the place where I'd insert all of the fun, charming, witty, dazzling things we do together. But in reality, Jen and I just live life together and that is what I'm thankful for about her.

Life doesn't have to be grand, unique, and extra special for us to enjoy it. I think at our last get together, our "excursion" was to the new Trader Joe's in Winston. In this season of life, kids and everything, it's fun to just do life together and love each other in that place.

Jennifer is one of my favorites and while we don't look like sisters, I'm thankful we get to learn and grow with and from each other.

Classic Eyes Shut Pose

Craft Night - Paper Bag Flowers

When Kristin and I decided on a craft night a week ago, I sat down to figure out what to make. I had plenty of ideas but didn't want to run out and spend a ton of money for this particular one.

I found this fun, crafty idea on Pinterest. Then I discovered all it took were brown paper bags and hot glue. Sign me up! We already had both at our house, and I was set for a fun night of crafting.

The flowers were really simple to make. The tutorial linked above gives good instructions, but I found it was fun to play with the number of petals I put on the flowers. I also put little buds in the middle of each of my flowers instead of leaving them blank. The blog suggests hanging them on the wall with putty, but I hot glued on a little piece of twine to the back of each as a hanger.

I ended up making six and gave my sister two when we visited last weekend.

Kristin and I also decided they would be fun to make with white paper bags for her wedding next August. We may be having another craft night for some white flowers before next August.

Favorites

A gift for Jen

Small, Medium, and Large Flowers

The first Flower

Sweet Thanksgiving Breakfast

This morning's breakfast met all of my expectations. Tyler and I sat down after he got back from duck hunting with his brother, and we ate pumpkin bread and apple crumb cake. The pumpkin bread came from my Mom's friend's store, Green Acres. The apple crumb cake she made yesterday. It was a perfect start to a great day with family and food.

Hope you all are having a day full of blessing, yummy food, and better fellowship.

A Week Without Sweets

Yum.

It has been over a week since I've had dessert, and I'm itching for some. I've been doing a fast from sweets until Thanksgiving Day, but I definitely will enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie on the best day for pumpkin pies of the year. However, since last Sunday, Nov. 11, I have not indulged, even when my husband brought home Swiss Cake Rolls.

When I walked in to see those Cake Rolls on the counter, I was instantly offended. How could he possibly bring home something sweet when he knows I'm fasting from them? Of course, I then realized it's not really a fast when there are no opportunities to say no. It's just going without. A real fast is when the yummy thing you so desire is right in front of you and you still say no. Obviously, I didn't go to Amelie's or Menchie's this past week. It would have been too tempting (flee from temptation, right?), but I did resist Swiss Cake Rolls, Eggnog Cake (it looked amazing, Katy), Ethan's Halloween Candy bucket, and a sweet Reindeer Cookie a little boy I sometimes watch made and offered me today. I felt so bad telling him no but wanted to stick to my guns. I've only got 36 hours left.

This sounds quite silly in the giant spectrum of life, but I love sweets. I could give up salty foods and eat sweets all day long. It's definitely been a week of reminding myself of truth, namely that sweets do not provide lasting comfort to my soul, but only give a momentary glimpse of deliciousness and then land on my thighs.

Look for a piece of something sweet and delicious on my blog either for breakfast or lunch time on Thursday. I cannot wait to see what it will be. But for now, I will dwell on these words from The Valley of Vision:

"Thou hast shown me that
the sensible effusion of divine love in the soul
are superior to and distinct from bodily health,
and that oft-times spiritual comforts are at their highest
when physical well-being is at its lowest." (157)