These are photos of our Thanksgivings in GA and in TN. Two meal preps, two delicious meals, three families we love dearly. The family that cooks together makes great memories that satisfy body and soul.
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because the whole purpose of it is to give thanks. There is no imitation to the purpose of this holiday as there is Christmas and Easter. We focus on how good God has been to us, even when the circumstances we are facing aren’t good. He never changes, and this gives us cause to celebrate in a big way.
What better way to celebrate than to prepare the best feast for whoever is able to join us at our table?
We are driving to GA to have an early Thanksgiving with our daughter and her family. Then we’ll drive to TN to spend Thanksgiving Day with our son and his family. Both have requested my dressing and I love making it for them.
Years ago I created my own recipe combining the dressing my southern grandmother used to make with the dressing my Italian Mother-in-love used to make. Who knew that it would become our family favorite? It makes me happy. I call it…
Our Family’s Best Dressing
INGREDIENTS:
Corn Bread (I use this recipe)
Pepperidge Farms herbed stuffing mix, small
1 stick of butter
3 onions, chopped
6 celery stalks, chopped
3 eggs
32 oz. box of chicken broth + more as needed
16 oz. bulk mild Italian sausage
1 T. Sage
1 cup or more chestnuts, chopped (I buy them ready-to eat at Costco)
Salt and Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Make 9 x 9 pan of cornbread according to directions. Let it cool completely, then break it up into crumbs in a large bowl. Add herbed stuffing mix, sage, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
Preheat oven to 400°.
In large skillet brown the sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Remove and set aside. In same skillet melt stick of butter then saute’ onions and celery until tender. Add to cornbread mixture along with sausage and stir. Whisk eggs in separate bowl and add to cornbread mixture. Stir with your hands to thoroughly mix adding chicken broth, a ladle at a time. The goal is to reach a consistency like thick oatmeal.
Pour into a 13 x 9 greased pan. Bake covered at 400 degrees for an hour to an hour and a half. Remove foil to brown and until it reaches a temperature of 165°. If you make a day ahead, pour an additional cup of broth over the stuffing before baking.
This is the aroma of Thanksgiving in our home. It represent our two families in one harmonious dish.
We wish you and yours a rich and satisfying celebration whether your table is full or not. It is good to remember the One who never changes and is always present with you.
We thank God for you, our followers. We pray your marriage is strengthened by the grace God supplies all the other days of the year.
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV
If you had an extra hour in your day what would you do with it? Finish something on your to-do list? Sleep an extra hour? Nothing?
We have a suggestion. Since this Saturday is when our clocks “fall back” to Daylight Standard Time, why not plan a mini date? What can you do in an hour? Well, of course there’s the obvious—enjoy some physical intimacy after you put the kids to bed. Following is our list of hour long date ideas:
So let us ask the question again—what will you do with yours?
———————————
It is so good to have you as part of our Vineyard family. we pray your week is full of moments that matter.
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
Our Sunday dinner for October was with friends we have known since before they were married. And they are celebrating 20 years today!
The moment they walked in the door the laughter began. We hugged and reminisced until the timer went off, indicating it was time to eat!
The menu was a delicious salad, (which they brought), Jambalaya with andouille sausage, chicken and shrimp and homemade cornbread on the side. This meal was a first for me and they were the perfect guests with whom to experiment. They love spicy food as we do, so we were able to crank up the heat.
This was a great meal from start to finish. For dessert I prepared affogato, which is simply vanilla bean ice cream with espresso poured over the top. This was the perfect ending to our night around the table.
We have a saying on the wall of our dining room which reads, “The best memories are made when gathered around the table.”
This has been true for us.
It is good to ponder the memories you’ve made around your family’s table and those with whom you’ve shared a meal. Such moments are more important than the food you’ve enjoyed. Connecting heart to heart is the life blood of a satisfying meal.
As Thanksgiving approaches I am anticipating time around the table with family—my favorite people to cook for.
————————
We are thrilled to have you visit our blog today. It’s almost like welcoming you to our table; the preparations are just as intentional. May your marriage and your dining room table be filled with moments you cherish this week.
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
A while ago we were in a meeting at church when one of the husband’s commended his wife for her consistency. He said it was evident in many ways in her life, but one way I have not forgotten. She is faithful to make their bed as soon as she gets up. He continued to say this has been true of her for decades.
Wow! I have areas that I’m consistent in as well, but making the bed daily is not one of them.
I think of her example every morning when I make my bed now. And they have no idea.
This made me realize how much we can be an influence to others in their marriage without even knowing it.
If this husband didn’t commend her publicly, I may have never been challenged to work on being more consistent in this small, but important way.
How well do you commend your spouse for the things they do regularly around the house or elsewhere?
Here’s a challenge—let’s purpose to commend our spouse, both privately and publicly, of the things we appreciate they do. This will bring great encouragement to them realizing even the smallest of tasks are seen and appreciated. But it will also serve as an example to those whom you know.
We are never too old to grow and change. And by the way, did you make your bed today? 😂
——————————
Thanks for stopping by today. We pray you have been encouraged to grow in ways that may not seem important. But your example may inspire others to do the same.
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
It started almost 3 years ago when a friend gifted Tom one month to work out with him for an hour. It was scheduled twice a week, with his personal trainer. This is all it took for Tom to begin working out on a regular basis. It helps to have a friend to work out with and even better to have another friend who is your personal trainer, double accountability.
A year later the guys offered to take us girls to lunch regularly if we would join them; and so began what we call jokingly call The Geriatric Hour at the gym. 😂
We used to grunt a lot when standing or sitting because it was an effort to do so. Now we grunt when standing or sitting because our muscles are sore from working out regularly.
This weekend Tom and I made a pact—if one of us grunts we have to repeat what we did to make us grunt without making any sounds. Amazing how this has worked!
It is even more amazing how much stronger we have become being consistent in our workouts.
On our recent trip to two National Parks, we were able to walk, climb and hike as much as we wanted. Three years ago, I don’t think this would have been the case.
We thank God for this gift and don’t take it for granted, since there are no guarantees for prolonged health or strength. But as long as we are able, we will make the most of this time we have together. It is hard, but we have a lot of fun laughing with and at each other; this is the best remedy for combating old age syndrome.
——————————
Thank you for dropping by today. We pray your week is filled with opportunities to connect heart to heart. And maybe squeeze in a long walk—your hearts will thank you. Just don’t grunt! 🤣
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
I was on the phone with my daughter in GA and asked her what she was cooking for dinner. She immediately replied, “Chicken and Dumplings!” This was no surprise as it was her favorite meal as a kid.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I decided to make it as well.
Fortunately, I had made chicken stock and put it in the freezer. All I need was to cook some chicken thighs and make the dumplings. I was excited!
I used one recipe for the chicken and a different one for the dumplings. However, I made so many adjustments to the recipes it is fair to say this is now my recipe.
Now let’s just hope I can remember everything I did to share it with you. This is hands down the best chicken and dumplings I have ever had; Tom agreed too. It was one of those meals you wished you didn’t get full because we would have eaten the whole pot. We were happy a day later that we had leftovers.
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 350°. Then spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Drizzle the chicken thighs with the olive oil, then salt and pepper them on both sides.
Bake chicken for 35- 45 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165°.
Remove from oven and shred the thighs with two forks and set aside.
In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking powder and sprinkle in some poultry seasoning.
With your hands mix the shortening to the flour and rub together with your fingers until there are no more large clumps of shortening.
Pour in milk and mix it all together with a spoon or your hands. The mixture should hold together but not be sticky.
Shape into a disc with your hands. Sprinkle with flour and flip over making sure both sides are floured well, (This is to prevent sticking to the surface.)
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4” thickness. Keep the roller and surface well-floured as this is what will thicken your stock.
Using a pizza cutter or knife cut dough into 1” x 2” strips. Let rest.
Bring chicken stock to a boil on the stove, then add shredded chicken.
One by one add the dumplings to the stock to keep from sticking together. They will float at first, but sink some as they absorb the stock. Stir frequently while adding the dumplings.
The dumplings will take about 15-20 minutes to cook. Taste test one to make sure they aren’t doughy.
Serve immediately, adding a splash of lemon juice, plus salt and pepper as needed.
We hope you enjoy this comfort food as much as we did. Cooking this the same night our daughter was making it made me smile. It was as if we were cooking together and I miss those times. Thanksgiving is coming…
————————————-
Welcome to our new followers. Foodie Fridays is a regular feature on our blog because food is my husband’s love language. It helps that I love to cook for him too.
Food nourishes the soul and the heart!
Have a blessed weekend,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
Yesterday was a day long-awaited. Tom was born in Buffalo and loves the food he grew up enjoying—wings, pizza and beef on a weck. I have come to love it too, and even cook his favorites for him.
He discovered a restaurant in Lakeland, FL, The 716 Pizza Joint, he wanted to try. It also helps that they have everything Buffalo Bill memorabilia, Tom is a huge fan! Even though they lost terribly on Monday night, we made plans to make the one hour drive to try it.
While the food was good, it wasn’t what we expected. Isn’t that the way it is with expectations? Tom has thought of going here for months, and when we finally did there was a let down.
But that didn’t ruin the day. On the way home we decided to take back roads and enjoy seeing the beauty of old Florida, how it looked when I was growing up.
We saw so much farm land and cattle ranches. Homesteaders who are raising goats and chickens. There were bee hives and orange groves too. I loved the drive as much as our lunch.
One day road trips are a great way to connect.
While driving Tom asked me to read the questions from Monday’s post. It was a good opportunity to have a conversation about us—how we are each doing and where we can improve.
We ended the drive checking out the only vineyard we have in Central Florida, Lakeridge Winery. It was the perfect way to finish our day trip, sitting under the shade of huge oak tree, overlooking the vineyard and sipping on Sauvignon Blanc.
We are best friends and when life gets busy, one day road trips pull us away long enough to reconnect.
We have decided to continue making these adventures a regular part of our retired life. You would think we have all the time in the world to do this, but we find that we are busier now than ever. The best thing is—we are doing what we love together. and this had made all the difference.
——————————
Now that the weather isn’t scorching hot, we love having time together outside. How are you making the most of this fall weather together?
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
I love music. I usually have a song running through my thoughts, and often wake up with one playing on repeat. Sometimes I notice this more than at other times—like last night.
Tom and I were sitting outside enjoying the golden hour of sunset, when I started humming a song made famous by Willie Nelson. The title is You Were Always On My Mind.
I’m not a huge Willie Nelson fan, so when it came to mind I noticed. I looked up the lyrics and realized how sad it is. A man admits how he has neglected to show his lady how he truly feels about her; it is a song of regret and sorrow.
Maybe I didn’t love you
Quite as often as I could have
And maybe I didn’t treat you
Quite as good as I should have
If I made you feel second best
Girl, I’m sorry I was blind
Admitting that you are blind to something is important in marriage; it is the first step towards change. To admit wrong is an act of humility, the soil in which all the other graces grow. And saying you are sorry can open the door of communication.
And maybe I didn’t hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
I guess I never told you
I’m so happy that you’re mine
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
But you were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
In this verse he gets more specific with his apology. He wasn’t empathetic when she needed it. He failed to talk to her about his feelings. And most of all, he admits not doing the little things day in and day out that mean the most in a marriage.
I wish there was a third verse with a happy ending. But instead this song leaves the outcome to the listeners.
It begs these questions:
These are good questions to ask each other when you are both undistracted. Doing so will hopefully prevent your love from growing cold and dying as the bridge reveals in the song.
Tell me
Tell me that your sweet love hasn’t died
And give me
Give me one more chance to keep you satisfied
I’ll keep you satisfied
Being satisfied in marriage is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. What satisfies your spouse isn’t the same as what satisfies mine. Each marriage is unique, and if you aren’t sure what areas are in need of attention, it is time to ask. Let your spouse know…
You are always on my mind.
—————————
We are happy you’ve stopped by today. We love hearing from you and how God is helping your marriage thrive. We read and respond to all comments.
Have a blessed week,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
Tom and I usually have eggs for breakfast during the week and do something more fun on Saturdays. But this morning with his oh please look, he asked, “Do you want pancakes?”
“I think that sounds great!”
I grabbed my cast iron skillet and began to pre-heat it, forgetting the pancake batter has to set for 20-30 minutes. This is what makes these pancakes so fluffy.
I didn’t have buttermilk, so I made my own. Measure out the needed milk and add a 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice. Wait 5 minutes and you have an easy substitute.
This recipe comes from Magnolia Table’s first cookbook. I can’t say enough about how perfect these griddle cakes are. And if it makes more than you can eat, they freeze up great. Simply thaw and reheat in the toaster.
——————————-
For the locals this weekend is the Winter Park Fall Art Festival. Maybe we’ll see you there—the weather will be gorgeous! Have a great weekend!
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
Tom and I have been married for nearly 47 years. But we are facing a challenge we haven’t dealt with in years. The issue is who gets to defer to the other.
For example, it may be choosing where we want to eat after church on Sunday.
Tom will say, “Where would you like to go?”
“I don’t care; what sounds good to you?” I reply.
This will continue back and forth until I ask, “Why do I always have to be the one to choose?”
When we talk about it, we are both wanting to defer, but instead of causing connection, it ends up causing frustration.
When to defer and when not to defer, that IS the question!
I don’t mind picking the restaurant, unless I can’t decide. This is when I love for Tom to make the decision for me.
It reminds me of when we would have a date night planned, only to get in the car and have Tom say, “Where do you want to go?” Those were fighting words back in the day. It meant Tom hadn’t planned anything other than the babysitter.
When Tom makes the effort to plan something, it communicates not only his love, but his thoughtfulness and care. That’s a win win!
One year we took on a challenge to take turns planning our weekly date, whether it was at home, or going out. This allowed us each the benefit of giving and receiving. It is one of the highlights of our marriage.
Do you struggle with this? How have you figured out a way to give and receive? Both are good and necessary.
—————————-
It’s a blessing to have you join us today. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Have a great week.
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
My husband is half German, half Italian, so every now and then he gets a craving for a good German Brat boiled in beer.
This craving started while we were in Montana. He saw that a restaurant was serving it nearby. Sadly after we were seated we found out it was another day. (Big sigh)
When we got home this was one of the first things I made for him. I added some German potato salad, and it satisfied his craving.
Now that it’s October, this is the perfect time to add this to your Fall menu. As a side note—I don’t care for beer, but this recipe doesn’t taste like beer—the beer just makes the brats juicier.
Tom received this jar of Pop whole grain mustard for his birthday, and used as a condiment, it made the brats even better.
Bratwurst recipe:
Sauté the onions in butter and olive oil over low heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the brats and pour beer over the top. Bring to simmer and cook for 15-20 min. Be sure not to boil or you’ll split the brat skins. In the meantime heat your grill to medium-high. When the brats are ready, grill them for 2 minutes per side until browned and blistered. You can serve immediately or put them back in the pan on the stove to simmer until ready to eat.
For the potato salad, I found it on the All Recipes website. It was delicious served warm.
——————————
I love this time of year, for cooking and baking. Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great weekend,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
While in Canada we noticed something quite unusual and it made us happy and sad; the Canadian drivers are incredibly polite.
For example, Tom needed to get over a lane but there were a lot of cars. He put on his blinker without hope of getting over in time. Then, the unthinkable happened! The driver in the left lane stepped on his brake to let us over.
This happened repeatedly to where we couldn’t help but notice. Kudos to Canada for promoting such kindness!
It made us sad to realize how tourists must feel when they encounter drivers in Florida. What has happened in our state to make drivers so rude?
I saw a meme that said “It’s better to be kind, than to be happy.” This is true because being kind focuses on others; being happy focuses on me.
Of course happiness is important, but not at the expense of others. We must consider others more important than ourselves.
In marriage this is no different.
I’ve known couples where one spouse plans all the fun things they want to do without considering if their spouse is okay with it; e.g. stop after work and have a drink with the boys or go out for dinner with friends and tell your spouse rather than ask them.
This is rude at best and selfish at worst.
Selfishness is hard-wired into our brain since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. It is our default, so if we don’t purpose to be kind, we will end up being selfish in one way or another.
Ask your spouse if they ever feel you are being selfish or inconsiderate. Then listen to what they say and take it seriously. Probably no one knows you better than your spouse and they are good at being honest with such questions.
“Better are the wounds of a friend, than the kisses of an enemy.” Proverbs 27:6
Your spouse should be your best and closest friend. Let them share how they see you in regard to kindness vs. selfishness. But be prepared for their honest observations.
Finally, I am purposing to be kind on the road. Today I was letting a car pull in front of me, but they weren’t paying attention. They expected to have to wait a long time, given the amount of traffic on the road, and missed my kind offer.
This won’t deter me. Will you join me?
——————————-
We are grateful you are here. It means you believe your marriage matters; and it does! We pray our posts bring needed encouragement, inspiration and tweaking as needed. Marriage isn’t easy, but it’s worth the effort.
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
I have created a tradition in our home; I decorate for the seasons.
We don’t get the color New England is known for until January. Nor do we get the cooler weather our family in Georgia and Tennessee enjoys. So we buy it. (sigh)
I like to have my “fall” in place Labor Day weekend, but it didn’t happen this year; Fall arrived in our home yesterday. And as anticipated, I felt my mood change.
I settled into the coziness of the season; Fall leaves, pumpkins, garlands, pine cones and lots of candles now don our living and dining rooms. Blankets are ready to wrap ourselves with as we cheer on our Buffalo Bills. To say this is my favorite season would be an understatement; I look forward to it all year.
Setting appropriate moods in the home are a gift to marriage. It helps take ordinary seasons and make them extraordinary.
Other seasons I find worth setting moods for are: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and 4th of July. Each one brings its own delight.
Of course, there are the romantic mood setters marriages need too. Keeping the bedroom for the two of you alone—free from work distractions, kids toys and clutter of things needing to be done—goes a long way in setting the mood for romance.
When our kids were home and money for date nights was tight, I would plan a special dinner. Then I set up a table in our bedroom for us to enjoy a romantic, candlelit dinner for two. It is surprising how just changing the location of something ordinary, like eating dinner, can change your mood.
These are some of our favorite ways to set the mood in our home.
“The light is what guides you home, the warmth is what keeps you there.” – Ellie Rodriguez
How do you make your home warm and inviting?
—————————-
We are back from our two week vacation to Canada (Banff National Patk) and Montana (Glacier National Park). It was better than we could have imagined, but as always, it is good to be home.
Thank you for dropping by. We hope you have a blessed week looking for ways to set the mood of your home.
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
Today we start our trip home. It has been an incredible time away seeing parts of God’s creation of which we had only heard. The words weren’t adequate in describing it. Even my camera fell short in capturing what my eyes saw.
Isn’t this like God? When someone tells you about Him, it is hard to comprehend that grace could be so beautiful. But when you experience the renewing of your mind and heart through surrender, it takes your breath away. God’s grace is amazing.
“What is Grace?” Bill Maher asked his guest, Charlie Kirk…
“Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is getting less than you deserve. But grace is having someone else take your place (Jesus Christ) allowing you to walk away free from the wrath of God.”
What a great explanation of the Truth in which, we as Christians live.
Add this to a marriage where both husband and wife are pursuing God privately and together; this creates a relationship that glorifies Him, as the heavens declare day after day.
Tom and I have walked with the Lord for over 50 years now. We were part of the Jesus Revolution of the 70’s. We never tire of recounting His goodness to us. Even in the darkest times, God’s grace shines brighter. He is the one constant in our marriage and the reason we are still together.
The grace God also allows us to say no to ungodliness:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
As this vacation ends, we are returning full of joy in all that God has done—in creation and in us. He is good!
——————————-
How has God’s grace impacted your marriage? It’s a good question to discuss on your next date. You may be surprised at how it draws you closer together in gratefulness.
We are glad you stopped by today. We pray your week is filled with unexpected joys as you live for Him.
Blessings,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
We have been in Canada for a week now and have experienced Canadian kindness on many levels.
Our Airbnb hosts provided us with fresh flowers, pastries and muffins. The people in stores and restaurants have been courteous and helpful when we were not sure where we were or where we were going. Even the drivers on the road have been quite polite. It has made our visit all the more meaningful; especially given the events of this past week.
Our only disappointment so far is the lack of wildlife sightings. We have seen deer and ground squirrels and lots of horses. That’s it!
I even resorted to a trick a good friend of our’s uses to attract birds—playing the call of a moose on my iPhone to attract a moose to the marsh we were hiking. It didn’t work, but it made me laugh out loud—a daily goal!
These are the bucket list moments I’ll cherish:
And how can we not mention the food?
It has been such a great week.
Tomorrow we head for Glacier National Park for a week, where we pray we’ll see more wildlife. But if not, we will bask in the glory of God’s creation. He does all things well and this is enough to fill my bucket to the brim!
—————————-
We are grateful for your desire to grow your marriage. We pray our posts are helpful to that end.
Blessings to you from the Canadian Rockies!
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
We are on vacation and are cooking in many of our dinners. It’s a way to save money and we love visiting grocery stores from other countries—this week it’s Canada.
The first night we celebrated with steaks on the grill we had bought from Costco in Calgary. That is quite fun seeing what they sell at Canadian Costcos; not surprising—lots of cold weather clothing!
We had two steaks leftover and decided to make a batch of Big Mama’s chili with one steak the next night. Tonight we will finish off the last steak by making fajitas.
Steak is expensive, but when you can get three or four meals out of one purchase it makes it more affordable.
I am going to use the recipe I found on Add A Pinch website.
———————————
Thanks for being a part of our vineyard. This vacation to visit Banff, Alberta, Canada and Glacier National Park in Montana has been on our list for decades. To actually be here is amazing. You can see our photos on Instagram if you’d like.
Make the most of your weekend together,
Tom and Debi
Seeing this memory on my FB page today is timely.
Six years ago we had a trip of a lifetime booked with friends. We had reserved our lodging and airfare. It was only a matter of days before we would fly to Montana to visit Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. But it wasn’t to be. Our 12 year old granddaughter was in a medical crisis that nearly took her life. We had to cancel everything! (The photo above was taken right before we were called to come help!)
We have a similar trip planned with the same friends; we fly out tomorrow. We decided to visit Banff, in Alberta, Canada, instead of Yellowstone.
We have wanted to see Banff and this is a great time of year to visit. After one week in Canada, we will drive south to Montana for six days visiting Glacier National Park and surrounding areas. We still can’t believe it’s happening!
Our granddaughter is now 18 and is doing extremely well.
For those of you who walked with us through this dark battle, we can’t thank you enough! God has given our granddaughter an amazing testimony that she uses often for God’s glory. We are so proud of her.
We will be sharing photos of God’s creation over the next two weeks and remembering with gratefulness what God has done in us and in her in the last six years!
——————————-
For more information about the beast our granddaughter battled, refer to our post, But God.
Blessings to you from our faithful God,
Tom and Debi ❤️❤️
The Romantic Vineyard 