Thanksgiving Football!!!

There is nothing quite like a unique themed party which becomes an annual family tradition.  I can honestly say my favorite party of the year is hosted by our friends Dana, Sherman, and their children. What's not to love about a family football game held on Thanksgiving morning?!?! Plus there is the added bonus of friends, food, a bonfire, a signature cocktail, and dogs....LOTS of dogs. 

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We prep our Thanksgiving meal the night before to make sure we have time to make buttermilk pancakes with Vermont maple syrup for the hungry players.

Guests arrive to the lovely mountain home with a football field set up in the back field.  Players pick teams and the football players and the audience all join in for the National Anthem.

Nothing like the National Anthem on a Thanksgiving morning

Nothing like the National Anthem on a Thanksgiving morning

John and Sherm are the stars of the the National Anthem singing!!

John and Sherm are the stars of the the National Anthem singing!!

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Some of the dogs like to play football.

Some of the dogs like to play football.

Some dogs prefer to watch the line judges eat donuts.

Some dogs prefer to watch the line judges eat donuts.

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Our amazing hostess Dana making her signature cocktails....."FANNIES"!

Our amazing hostess Dana making her signature cocktails....."FANNIES"!

The bondfire crew, chatting and drinking fannies during the game.

The bondfire crew, chatting and drinking fannies during the game.

Newest puppy in the neighborhood. 

Newest puppy in the neighborhood. 

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The purpose of the new goal post was a little confusing to the canine team. 

The purpose of the new goal post was a little confusing to the canine team. 

The St. Lawerence crew has a pow-wow.

The St. Lawerence crew has a pow-wow.

And then a cocktail for good measure.

And then a cocktail for good measure.

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Time out for a quick strategy meeting.

Time out for a quick strategy meeting.

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another fabulous Thanksgiving morning!!! 

Middle of the Night Mother

Setting tables is one of my favorite things. Sometimes I like my tables to be very glamorous. Sometimes I like them to be rather odd and quirky...Vermonty and festive. 

Lucky for me both my grandmother and mother collected gobbs of table setting goodies and my mother-in-law's pieces complement everything I have.  As I've been setting the table I've been counting my blessings.  Here are a few of the things I'm grateful for at 1 am.

1. The two youngest children upstairs with their gaggle of childhood friends all home for the holidays. My front hall is filled with shoes and I hear laughter wafting down the stairs.

2. The video our two middle boys sent us from Oregon. They made a cake today to bring to a friendsgiving party they are attending tomorrow. Oh, how we miss them, but how wonderful for 22 and 23 year olds to be out in the world finding their way.

3. The two oldest boys who are in Europe. The youngest of the two, celebrating a huge accomplishment and the oldest just arriving in Venice, my all time favorite spot.  Can't wait to talk to my Italian traveler tomorrow and share my secret spots in the city I know best.

4. Our oldest daughter and her darling beau arriving tomorrow. We have a lot of adventures coming up in the next few weeks! 

5.  My dreamboat. My apple pie baker. The head dishwasher who cheerfully cleaned up after his whirligig wife, who prepped about 8 Thanksgiving side dishes this evening. 

6. The movie channel which played Jimmy Stewart movies all night while I chopped a bazillion vegetables. Rear Window is just starting and I will have to tear myself away to sleep.

and... 

7. My St Lawrence girls.  We left an amazing girls weekend with a challenge....and a hilarious bet....to start the Whole 30. With no end date and hilarious consequences to those who fail to follow through. On day 9 and I feel FANTASTIC.....going to power through Thanksgiving. 9th day off booze, sugar, dairy, and carbs. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

 

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Coming home to find this pie made by my husband was dreamy.

Thanksgiving morning! 

Thanksgiving morning! 

One more child....

I grew up in a tiny one square mile town with several large families. My childhood friends were the youngest of ten, the youngest of eight, the youngest of seven, one of six, the youngest of five, The oldest of four, etc, etc, etc.  Of course, there were plenty of us with one to three children, but I was completely in heaven when I visited the homes of the big families. My own siblings are 12 and 14 years older than I.  When I was little, there was a house full of teenagers. Their friends were a part of our family.  I loved the chaos. I stayed awake as long as humanly possible every night so I wouldn't miss overhearing one teeny detail of conversation and the happenings of my teen siblings. And then...they went off to boarding school and college...and things got quiet. It was at about that time, I decided I wanted to have ten children. 

As a teenage girl and young woman, I would happily announce that I wanted ten children. When I was in college, my father told me he needed to have a conversation with me. I knew from his tone of voice and the way he sat me down that it was serious. He told me that it was important that I stop telling boys I was dating or potential boyfriends that I wanted ten children. In his mind, this was going to drastically downgrade me in the "eligibility for marriage" category of any young suitors. Perhaps, he thought, he would have to start acquiring cows for a dowery to go with this completely illogical daughter he apparently was preparing to marry off at 20.  What he didn't realize was that this parent-child moment only encouraged me to continue talking about wanting a big family.  I knew I would need a partner who shared my same goal. Or was as crazy as I was. Little did I know that after a divorce, a few years of single parenting of 5 small children, that I would find that very man. An amazing man with two young boys who wanted to marry a woman with 5 children. At the time, my father was at the end of his life and in the throws of dementia, but oh how he would have loved this man, who dearly loved his daughter, and shared her love of this big crazy family. Seven children within seven years of age!

We lived in a big old higgilly pigilty farmhouse in Vermont. Each of the many tiny bedrooms was full. And then....kids starting going off to boarding school and college. We quickly went from 7 to 2 in what felt like no time. It was at this time that our two youngest children switched schools to a small Independent school two of our older boys had attended. At one of the new student orientation school dinners, I was approached by a friend at the school who asked me if I would be willing to take an International student. It would "only be for one month, a child from Spain" she said. There was a binder of applications and I could choose my student. Faster that you can say "Her husband wasn't there and she decided to take an 8th child without discussing it with him" I was pawing through that binder!!! With five sons and two daughters, I knew for sure I was picking a GIRL!! And I found one, one that shared several interests with our own youngest daughter. I was going to pick HER!! But then I turned the page. And I saw a girl named Patty. (My beloved mother's name). And even better...she was a TWIN. I have twins. I get twins. I had to have the twin named Patty!!  Deal Done. Signed on the dotted line. Give me Patty. And oh, yeah, I need to tell my husband...one more child. We just got one more child! YIPEEE!! Oh, and yes, I did read her interests on her application. Not one. Not one was similar to our daughter. I just picked a girl who doesn't particularly like sports and loves shopping, for a girl who was the captain of the soccer and basketball team and didn't know the names of any brands of clothes. (A Vermonter who didn't even understand how an department store worked. Truth.)

Courteney and Patty at Niagra Falls 

Courteney and Patty at Niagra Falls

 

Fate would have it that picking an 8th child who shares the name of your mother and the birth story of your sons, is the very, very best way to bring a new member into your family. That day changed our lives forever. Our smart, beautiful, smiley, funny, laughing girl arrived a day or two before school started.

Courteney and Patty at the top of Empire Bluff, Michigan

Courteney and Patty at the top of Empire Bluff, Michigan

Our lives have changed forever. Our girls have become sisters. Our other kids have a new sister. Our family has a new Patty. And our daughter Courteney, has an entirely new and additional family in Spain. 

Sisters forever

Sisters forever

The girls now go back and fourth every summer. There have been a total of 4 trips so far. Patty travels with our family and is completely and totally one of us. She has spent a summer with us in Michigan and gotten a Canadian stamp on her passport. Courteney travels to Spain where she is loved and cherished by her Spanish family. She not only has the most amazing Spanish parents, she also has a new twin brother, aunts and uncles, cousins, and abuelos. In fact, Courteney accompanied Patty on her high school class graduation trip to Ibiza (I know!!! What was I thinking?!?!) and the girls were lectured up and down on safety in both English and Spanish!! 

Patty experiencing a small town American parade where the septic cleaner throws toilet paper! 

Patty experiencing a small town American parade where the septic cleaner throws toilet paper! 

I am eternally grateful to Courteney's Spanish parents who share their precious girl with us and treat our girl like their very own. 

 

Can't wait to see where in the world this adventure takes the girls! 

Can't wait to see where in the world this adventure takes the girls!

 

 

 

Visiting Puddy in Palmetto Bluff

How lucky am I to have a sister who lives in Palmetto Bluff?!?!

The newest Montage Inn at Palmetto Bluff 

The newest Montage Inn at Palmetto Bluff

 

My sister Puddy and I have a code for gift giving, if we want to hint to the other about the gift we are going to give the other, we say "it's a one for you, one for me". This obviously means, "I liked it so much, I bought myself one too."  (Those are usually the best kinds of gifts!) (And our favorite kind to buy!)

Fire pits on the May River

Fire pits on the May River

Many, many decades ago we started using another phrase.  While divvying up some family treasures our darling (and only child) father suggested his daughters share the last few left over odds and end pieces of jewelry.  He used the plural "your" to describe things the sisters would share. (We have actually done a very good job of this hilariously ridiculous task.)  That also was the birth of our code word "our". This is the possessive "our". This is a "I like what you have so much, I'm your sister, so it belongs to both of us."  Although my sister didn't build me a house in Palmetto Bluff as well (not a "One for you and one for me"!), I am going to declare it an "our". "Our" Palmetto Bluff. "Our" everything in Palmetto Bluff....house, dog, zippy golf cart, etc. Good Idea! Right?! Only problem is I also have a brother and nieces and nephews declaring "our" on my guest room! 

The May River

The May River

 

Set along the May River, between Hilton Head and Savannah, Palmetto Bluff is a 20,000 gated Low Country community in Bluffton, South Carolina.  The setting is movie set gorgeous, with it's drooping Spanish Moss and glorious Low Country architecture. The cornerstones of life in Palmetto Bluff are Low Country Culture, Nature and Conservation, Community and Connection, and Outdoor Pursuits. My favorite three activities are oogling the gorgeous homes, eating all the awesome Low Country food, and hacking my way around the Jack Nicholas signature golf course with beloved brother-in-law Phil. 

I'm working on a "one for me, one for you deal" right now, Puddy, I'll take this one please! 

I'm working on a "one for me, one for you deal" right now, Puddy, I'll take this one please!

 

Eerie and very romantic Spanish moss is everywhere

Eerie and very romantic Spanish moss is everywhere

Docks on the May River

Docks on the May River

Outdoor oyster bake in Moreland

Outdoor oyster bake in Moreland

Perfect sunset seating over looking the marsh

Perfect sunset seating over looking the marsh

Sunset by the pool

Sunset by the pool

Love the serenity by the Moreland lap pool

Love the serenity by the Moreland lap pool

Game room extraordinare

Game room extraordinare

Tomato soup and grilled cheese with tomato and bacon hit the spot after a round of chilly golf at the May River Golf Club.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese with tomato and bacon hit the spot after a round of chilly golf at the May River Golf Club.

Donald enjoying the Jack Nicholas signature course at the May River Golf Club

Donald enjoying the Jack Nicholas signature course at the May River Golf Club

We saw several bald eagles while golfing. Sadly this was the best photo of one!

We saw several bald eagles while golfing. Sadly this was the best photo of one!

Always, always have a needlepoint in tow.  Working on Iris.  This canvas will be available in kit form from Tricia Heaton Designs next month. 

Always, always have a needlepoint in tow.  Working on Iris.  This canvas will be available in kit form from Tricia Heaton Designs next month.

 

Birthday Hike

People who live in Vermont love to celebrate occasions, big or small, in nature with fun outdoor adventure. Paddle tennis and cocktails in the hut, a round of golf, a candlelit campfire in the woods, or in the case of our family....a hike. We like all of those other things and more but...hiking seems to the the thing the whole family enjoys. Don't get me wrong, we are not pros. We have one parent (cough, cough, not me) who can run up the mountain, we have lots of kids who can run up the mountain....and we have a few of us slower, asthmatics who bring up the rear. In fact, mama here is guaranteed to be wheezing herself up to the top. 

Last.

Dead last.

We have one particular hike we love to do as a family.  The location is known in our family as "the Mother's Day Hike".  A few years ago, I realized that getting everyone dressed up and going out to a "nice" brunch-y type event was actuall…

We have one particular hike we love to do as a family.  The location is known in our family as "the Mother's Day Hike".  A few years ago, I realized that getting everyone dressed up and going out to a "nice" brunch-y type event was actually not really fun for any of us. The fun part for me, on Mother's Day is actually being with happy, smiling kids.  Happy, smiling kids are most often wearing sneakers and sweats. Happy smiling kids are often out in nature. So that first year, we rounded up the cousins and our college age house guests and headed up our favorite hike. 

This is an activity the whole family can enjoy.  Little bouncy Finn literally pounces up and down the mountain.

This is an activity the whole family can enjoy.  Little bouncy Finn literally pounces up and down the mountain.

Today is my husband Donald's birthday. Our son Adam suggested a birthday hike and we all were excited to honor his birthday in the special way. Parents, kids, dogs. All good. All so good. Especially on this beautiful October day. 

Today is my husband Donald's birthday. Our son Adam suggested a birthday hike and we all were excited to honor his birthday in the special way. Parents, kids, dogs. All good. All so good. Especially on this beautiful October day. 

My thoughts today are with my beloved mother-in-law Mame. Today is a celebration of her as well. I'm so grateful to her for giving me my wonderful husband. I'm sure she would have been so happy to see her baby enjoying his day. I bet she did. 

My thoughts today are with my beloved mother-in-law Mame. Today is a celebration of her as well. I'm so grateful to her for giving me my wonderful husband. I'm sure she would have been so happy to see her baby enjoying his day. I bet she did. 

We are at the stage in our lives where our children are out in the world creating their lives. How lucky were we today to have two of the older boys homes and hiking with their dad. As we start to get older, and I start to face our mortality, I…

We are at the stage in our lives where our children are out in the world creating their lives. How lucky were we today to have two of the older boys homes and hiking with their dad. 

As we start to get older, and I start to face our mortality, I do think about the memories we are creating for our children. It brings me joy to think that celebratory hikes might have even the smallest impacts on our kids and their futures. I know how intensely grateful I am to go places and do things that remind me of my own parents. I love the idea that our own children may someday take their families on celebratory hikes.

 

Dinner tonight will be celebrated at one of our favorite old Vermont Inns. Roaring fire, hilarious favorite waitress Noonie, and an awesome feast. No sweats or sneakers. :) Tonight we dress them up.