A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-23-04....Let the Holidays Begin!

Billie

[Billie]

Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us again! This weekend begins the busiest time of the year for most of us - from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. Two years ago, about this time, we asked for help from our readers in guest-writing a holiday thread, and your response warmed our hearts; you were such a big help to us, and got us through a very busy time with fun, interesting, and unique holiday threads.

Countdown to Thanksgiving

T wo days til' Thanksgiving....

Still time to try some great recipes for the big dinner. Two years ago, we featured FR's own chef, carlo3b, the day before Thanksgiving, and he was gracious enough to share some of his favorite holiday foods, including:

"Old Fashion New England Roasted Turkey"
(Orange-Maple Marinated)

"Turkey Stuffing a la Crockpot"

"Holiday Golden Apples and Yams"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Carlo3b - Dad, Chef, Author"

In the above link to the thread are many more recipes sprinkled throughout the comments. You might ask Temple Owl and his wife about the "Holiday Golden Apples and Yams" - they couldn't wait to try them!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, and remember our men and women in uniform who are risking their lives so that we will always have our freedom to be thankful for.

"To God who gives our daily bread
A thankful song we raise,
And pray that he who sends us food
May fill our hearts with praise."

~ Thomas Tallie (1505 - 1585) ~

Countdown to Christmas

Thirty-two days til' Christmas.

Once again, if any of you would like to write an entire holiday post, or help in any way, our December schedule has not yet been filled, and we welcome your input. Below are links to all of our Holiday Threads. With thanks to our guest-writers in 2002, the days between Thanksgiving and the New Year were filled with the spirit of Christmas and love.

December 2002
Gingerbread House Contest
(FreeTheHostages/Billie)

Holiday Top Ten List Contest
(FreeTheHostages/Billie)

What Christmas Means to Me
(WVNan, JustAmy, Pippin, Diver Dave, Aquamarine, ST.LOUIE1 /Billie)

Places in the Heart
(Molly Pitcher/Daisyscarlett)

Christmas Pets
(Billie)

Profile of IssaquahKing
(Libertina/Dansangel)

Christmas Music
(Aquamarine and Daisyscarlett)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
(Daisyscarlett)

Merry Christmas
(Daisyscarlett)


December 2003
Holiday Contest Rumsfeld Doll
(FreeTheHostages)

Name that Freeper Santa!
(Billie)

Oh Christmas Tree
(Billie)

A Bracebridge Christmas
(Mama_Bear)

Shop 'til you drop!
(Billie)

A Christmas Contest (Play Santa)
(FreeTheHostages)

Finest's Christmas Music
(Aquamarine)

Let Us Rejoice
(Billie)

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-22-04 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

CLICK

[kayak]

I seldom have time these days to stop by and say Howdy but just had to find a minute to let all of you on FR's Finest know that you are the kind of people ... fun, talented, patriotic, clever, caring, thoughtful ... for which I am thankful. You are the sort of people who help make America great. God bless you all!

[dansangel]

(((((kayak))))) - You ***ROCK****

A most blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[Billie]

Thanks, Sistah Dansy, and that hug felt good - I needed that!

I know what you mean about Christmas being here so soon. I'm not ready to think about it yet - wait until the weekend. LOL

[Lakeside]

Oh--just WOW, Billie! What a fun thread today. This is my absolute favorite time of the year---a little bit of heaven on earth. Let the holidays begin!!

Gotta go for a while but I'll be back in a bit...

[LadyX]

What a truly special thread it is, Billie, revisiting some of our Finest Hours!!

First things first, though, for the holiday we truly should celebrate every day of every year ---

Almighty God,
Thy Will,
Nothing More,
Nothing Less,
Nothing Else!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

We have a lot to be Thankful this year.

The election is finally over and the new mandate set.

I hope everyone at the FR's Finest have a joyful Holiday Season.

Please keep the Military in your prayers and thoughts.

[LadyX]

"Mornin' Billie. I was beginning to wonder if the turkey plucking you were engaged in had taken it's toll.

Glad to see you made it, turkey feathers and all."

Can't resist sharing with those here today what prompted that thought..:))

At the end of last night, The Mayor had remarked "I haven't heard from Billie all day!"

My - well - natural instinct to "seize and run" kicked in, and I made the following Reply to him with the logical 'splainin' ---

=======================

I suspect Miss Billie is playing Texas Woman -- had to catch the turkey, and then 'dispatch it' - pluck all those feathers and clean it out, preparing it to roast Thursday.
Then there are all the fixins, and PIES to bake!!

She *might* surface briefly tomorrow, wearing her apron (with flour on it), doncha think??..:))

Just happen to have a picture of her last year at Thanksgiving:

(Doesn't she look fetching, though?!!)

[Billie]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Dansangel; Aquamarine, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maigrey...................cousin OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin..........niece, loved one Pippin...nephew & his fiancee weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady.....................nephew Spruce.....................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty cjk..........................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding.....active duty thumperusn.............active duty Q6-God.....................active duty Q6-God...................twin brother Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx..................active duty

Mama_Bear.........2 nephews ladtx........................2 sons WVNan..................friend's son gator girl.................husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel......................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA...............................son katykelly......................son cookcounty.....................son SpookBrat...nephew, cousin Doug from Upland...son-in-law Himyar..........................son boxerblues................2 sons the piper.........................son sheeza.......................husband kemathen7.................husband Tiffee4Bob.................boyfriend deadhead......................cousin JimRobinson.........2 nephews TexKat..............son, step-son Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel.........................niece Donaeus......................nephew dixie sass...................nephew BeAllYouCanBe...................son Repubmommy...............brother AgThorn.........................2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.............................son Rose inRoseBear...cousin's hubby Redhead....step-granddaughter Redhead..step-grdaughter fiance Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy..........niece Sunflowergal..............grandson visualops.......................cousin Alouette..............................son mrstank.......................husband MrsMike31..................husband eaglesiniowa.........................son auboy..................................cousin spotbust1.......................husband Leofl......................................son chena......................................son campfollower.......................fiance LUV W.........................................son painter................................nephew

[Billie]

Nonetheless, He accepted me without the fancy decorations - Just as I was.

What a sweet way to put that!

[WVNan]

Happy Thanksgiving Sistah! I'm with Emma today and she's demanding attention right now. So post & run.Will try to get back here later. (((((Sistah))))))

[Billie]

What a beautiful post! Thank you, kay - it's great to see you, and I like knowing you're 'here' whether you talk to us or not. :)

[Pippin]

Hi, (((Billie)))!

[Billie]

Thank you, Lakeside! I'm glad you're enjoying today's post. Hope you'll visit all those Christmases Past links - I've been going back this morning to take a look at some of the older ones again. Don't think I could even begin to pick a 'favorite'. :)

[lonestar]

Things with my mother have worsened and I have less time to be on the computer but I'm still here.

I had a good weekend of R & R this past weekend.

[The Thin Man]

I suspect Miss Billie is playing Texas Woman -- had to catch the turkey, and then 'dispatch it'

My money's on the turkey catching Billie and 'dispatching' her. Go Turkey! :-)

[Billie]

Morning, Miss Maggie Malone. Thank you for the special words today. Didn't realize how many special Christmas threads we had until I started adding the links to the past two years. :)

Beautiful graphic of the pilgrim couple in prayer.

[Billie]

We have a lot to be Thankful this year. The election is finally over and the new mandate set.

Absolutely! Four more years for President Bush and Vice President Cheney AND big gains in the House and Senate AND the largest number of popular votes, too! We are blessed.

We continue to pray for our troops and to thank them for their courage and dedication to keeping our country safe and free.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

[Pippin]

Good Afternoon or Morning Everybody!!!

I have a top ten list for you all.

The Ten Top things I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving

10. For my family

9. My job

8. The fact that I live in a good place and am across the street from the church I go to.

7. for great friennds and co-workers (even if they are liberals)

6. My health is basically good

5. We survived the Election of '04 and proved once again our ability to have a peaceful trqansition of power (well, a re-election anyway)

4. That wew weren't hit by another terrorist attack on US soil this year

3. We have a great leader and he has a great staff and cabinet.

2. That I had FreeRepublic to come to for my sanity.

1. And the #1 reason to be greatful, We HAVE A GREAT AND POWERFUL GOD WHO IS IN CHARGER OF ALL THINGS.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

[Billie]

:) I just happened to catch this last night (and had to respond!) when looking for graphics for today's post. :)

[NicknamedBob]

I happened to read this post before I looked to see who was writing it.

Before long, I said, "That sounds like Pippin!"

Hi, Pippin!!