New Traditions

John and I stayed in Columbia for Thanksgiving this year.  With my vicious Black Friday work schedule and his cold, we decided not to brave the highways for travel.  Instead, a day of peaceful, do-nothing relaxation was in place.  We played video games, drank home brew, watched football, and for the second year in a row, made a kick-a$$ Seafood Jambalaya!!

I feel it may become a tradition with us now, and with good reason.  You see, this Jambalaya is goood.  Loaded with lots of custom blended Creole seasoning, power-packed quinoa, and pounds upon pounds of seafood, this is too good to resist.  We opted for Oysters, Shrimp, Catfish, and Andouille sausage this go round.  We even had a new addition of flaked barley with the grains.  Flaked barley is now a staple with John's beer brewing.

Seriously, look at that deliciousness!

You can find the recipe post here.

And here's to new traditions!  We shall see what Christmas holds . . .

Cuteness

For all the people with Holiday Blues, this should make you feel better!!


I give you.....


cute puppy!!!!!

She was present for Thanksgiving celebrations, the newest acquisition to my cousin's family.  She was shy but so playful.

Now for the opposite end of the spectrum.  This is Tinkerbell, the cat from hell, as John calls her.  She is John's sister's cat.  One massive cat.  But we bonded and she took a liking to me.

Goodbye Thanksgiving, Hello December!!

As I listen to my Christmas playlist, I cannot believe how fast the holidays are flying by.  I remember gearing up for Halloween, only to see it go by, quickly followed by Thanksgiving.  Why can't I enjoy the holidays?  Oh right, because I work all the damn time.  Well, at least, on that front, I've almost saved up enough to pay for a good portion of my school next semester.  Minimal loans for me!  Well, I say that now...


Anyway, I was able to sneak off for a few days down to Florida to see my family for Thanksgiving.  John and I split time between our families, two days with mine in Jax, a day and a half with his sister in Gainesville.  Hectic, lots of driving, but well worth it.

Thanksgiving morning presented us with a beautifully foggy morning.  As soon as I came downstairs in my pajamas and looked out the window I gasped and ran around trying to find my camera.  I threw on some shoes and a pullover and ran outside in my pajamas snapping pictures of my neighborhood.  I'm not sure how the neighbors felt about that.

My neighborhood is in a little nook where the Arlington River flows into the St. John's.  All of the houses around us are on the river.  The fog flows in from it, then the ancient oak trees trap it in.  It's a wonderful feeling.

Once the sun came out full force, it burned most of the fog off and presented a beautifully pleasant day.  That Florida sun.  I do appreciate being able to lay out on New Years Day...