SPARK On Monday

Hello Monday SPARK friends!  “SPARKS” was started by Annie McGuffy of McGuffy’s Reader but ended when she stopped blogging some time ago. It was meant to be a way to start out each week with with a meaningful thought – something that spoke to each of us and hopefully everyone else who read it. Although Annie isn’t currently blogging, a lot of us who enjoyed her SPARKS decided to keep posting SPARKS of our own.

Christmas is going to be here before you know it………….Thanksgiving comes and goes and all of a sudden the Christmas decorations pop up all over town and yes indeed – Christmas is about to arrive.    Do we think much about all the feelings associated with Christmas?    I find that I still feel much like a kid again at Christmas…….amazing for a 75 year old to still feel that way but I do.    But I think of it DIFFERENTLY than when I was a kid.    The feelings I have are well said in this cute little poster.

I know that we all know the REAL meaning of Christmas – but think too about how you feel about the occasion – peace, hope and love – a very nice “threesome” indeed!

Hugs, Pam

Sunday Selfie Blog Hop

It’s SELFIES Sunday with our friends at The Cat On My Head.    We usually feature a picture of ourselves – hence the title “SELFIE” but sometimes I like to get extra wacky (or is it creative??) and feature something ELSE as a selfie.   Today is one of those days.

We have a landscaping service coming on Monday to blow all of the leaves that totally cover the front and back yard into our woods……….there will be three guys with huge backpack blowers and if it’s like last year – it will take almost 3 hours to do.    Better them than my Dad (so says my Dad).    Anyway, what’s that have to do with SELFIES??    I decided to feature our backyard for my Selfie today – I have had the best time playing in the leaves.    They are everywhere – can’t see a blade of grass.    I think the essence of Fall deserves a Selfie…………

Actually this looks pretty boring – I’m going to pump up the volume a little with Lunapic.

Well you have to say that I pumped up the volume alright – I used the “NOUVEAU” art effect and if this doesn’t make for an amazing puzzle – nothing does!   All I can say is it will be hard to have a FAST puzzling event with this one!!!!

  Just click this little mini-puzzle to do the BIG puzzle and good luck!!!

 

It’s gonna be a toughie!   Hugs, Teddy

 

Bakin’ With Bacon and The King

SURPRISE!  Now that Thanksgiving is over – I decorated the place for our NEXT holiday – Christmas!

Not only that but I’m working on a whole pile of great Christmas recipes from appetizers to desserts.     Today I’m starting with a truly yummy appetizer – and it’s served hot and it is absolutely DELISHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Hot Bacon, Onion and Swiss Dip

Ingredients

8 thick-cut bacon slices

4 cups thinly sliced yellow onion (from 1 large onion)

3 (5-oz.) pkg. pre-shredded Swiss cheese

12 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup thinly sliced scallions

¾ cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon lightly chopped fresh thyme, plus more for garnish

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Cooking spray

½ cup crispy fried onions (such as French’s)

Assorted crackers, pretzel dipping sticks, or pretzel chips

Directions

Instructions Checklist

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high, turning occasionally to cook evenly, until crispy, about 8 minutes. Transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Reserve 3 tablespoons drippings in skillet; discard remaining drippings. Add onions to reserved drippings, and cook over medium-high, stirring often, until onions are very tender and caramelized, 15 to 18 minutes.

Stir together Swiss cheese, cream cheese, scallions, mayonnaise, thyme, cayenne, and caramelized onions in a medium bowl. Chop bacon, and add to onion mixture; stir gently to combine all ingredients. 

Spoon mixture into a lightly sprayed 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Bake in preheated oven, until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with fried onions; garnish with thyme. Serve hot with crackers and pretzels. 

Wanna talk delicious?  Well this is!

SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY WITH MORE HOLIDAY BACON GOODIES

Friendly Fill Ins Hop

Happy Thanksgiving PLUS ONE!    It’s Friday and time for some filling in with our co-hosts!    My Mom is no longer in a turkey coma so she is able to help me get the filling in done.   The four sentences our co-hosts gave us are below…….AND as we often do, my Mom and I shared filling in duty.    If the words are hers – they’re in GREEN but if I’m the provider of a word – my words are in BLUE!

 

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1. I would like a place outside where I can play or watch the world go by without parental supervision of my own.  (Don’t get me wrong – I love that Mom or Dad or both of them escort me always when I ask to go outside – I know I’m more safe – but if I had an enclosed yard they could be inside if they want to and I could be in my yard unsnoopervised!)

2. On Black Friday, I _don’t intend to shop at all – I’m just going to RELAX!

3. For me, the holiday season begins the minute Mom and Dad put the Christmas tree up – I love my “under the tree naps” 

4. If I won a large sum of money, I would love to be rich enough to pay for food and shelter for EVERY homeless person and pet – and believe me I know it would take ZILLIONS of dollars but it would be the first thing I bought

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Sometimes the filling in is tougher than other times and this was one of the TOUGH ones.    It made us think of a lot of tough issues – especially #4.    Who wouldn’t want a huge sum of money – so  many things come to mind when you imagine what you’d do with tons of it.    Anyway, we did our filling in and now Mom, Dad and I are going to just have a quiet Friday together.    No shopping – just relaxing.    Mom and Dad will probably have turkey leftovers and me – I intend to have lots of NAPS!

Thanks to our co-hosts for the fill-in fun every week and if any of you are doing Black Friday shopping – GOOD LUCK!!!

Hugs, Teddy and Mom Pam

Thankful and Poetic Thursday

Hello everybody and Happy Thanksgiving!    What a nice day to have a “THANKFUL THURSDAY BLOG HOP” hosted by our friend Brian.    I’m thankful to be part of the blogosphere community where everyone is supportive and encouraging and where we’ve made SO MANY friends!     Very thankful for our health, our home, and our TURKEY DINNER we’ll have later today!

Angel Sammy has sent us his Poetic Thursday post…………….so let’s get on with the show!

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“Happy Thursday and Happy Thanksgiving!”

 

Up here at the Rainbow Bridge we’re in a position to know all the things you have said you’re thankful for – and all of us Angels just want you to know that YOU – yes YOU – are on our lists of thankfuls too!     We wish we could be with our families in purrrrrson but we are there in your hearts as you are in ours.   Just remember that!  

Now let’s do our poetry thing shall we?    Last week I gave you a cute photo to write a poem about – a little guy (at least we think it’s a guy!) on a train with a fabulous expression on his face.    Here’s my poem for that photo:

“Uhoh”

Poem by Angel Sammy Kimmell      ©November 23, 2022

 

Mommy, Mommy please help me I’m falling!

Riding the rails is NOT my calling!

All I know is this train is loud and jiggling

And all I can hear is you and Daddy giggling!

I’m a little too young for a ride on the train

Maybe next year when I’m older we can try this again?

 

 

I think this little guy probably would enjoy the train a lot more if he was WATCHING it, rather than riding it!   Anyway, sure made for a precious photo didn’t it.   If you wrote a poem for him and his predicament, let us know in my comments and give us a link so we can read it.    We’d love to read what your thoughts were for this adorable photo!

As for NEXT week – how about this one?    

Even if all these water jugs were glued together (which they aren’t!) this would still be a rather amazing feat of balance.    Oh boy…………..my Mom could walk about six inches before all that pottery would be in a big heap on the road in bits and pieces.    OOPS.     We’ll have some fun with this one!

Until we meet again everyone – please have a wonderful Thanksgiving – we all have so much to be thankful for.    The world is a place that has plenty of room for improvement but one thing is perfect – moments of happiness with friends and family………………..

I am the Angel Poet in the green beret…..and I hope you join me for POETIC FUN each week!

Love, Teddy

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I’m very thankful that even though I never met you dear brother Sammy, I feel closer to you than you can imagine………………………….

Love, Teddy