Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo from Heartland Writer's Group

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to say "Thank You" for your kind thoughts and prayers. My surgery went very well. I am at home, feeling great and so very thankful!

My sweet daughter and I baked pumpkin pies last night. YUM!

I'll be going to her house for dinner later today. :D

Not sure how much "dinner" I will be able eat, but I'm going to try!

I have a little "therapy stick" that I'm supposed to use 10 times every hour to help keep my jaw mobile. I'm very proud to say that I can open my mouth all the way to the goal line with some effort!


God is so good! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day my friends!

Open Wide!

For the past few months I have lived on liquids and soft foods. I am so sick of soup I could scream!

I want to be able to open my mouth wide!



I want to bite into an apple again! A nice juicy steak sounds great too. Right now I can hardly get my toothbrush into my mouth!

I have had pain in my jaw off and on for years. I've seen several specialists. Finally, the recent MRI I had revealed the real problem. I have severe osteoarthritis in both of my TMJ joints. I also have torn cartilage and a dislocated disc. To put it simply, my jaw is a mess.

At 4:30 tomorrow morning I will be going to the hospital. I will be having TMJ surgery on both sides of my jaw.



I have complete confidence in my surgeon. He comes highly recommended and is very well respected. People from all over come to Birmingham to have him do their reconstructive surgeries. He is very kind, gentle and caring. Cute, too. ;D

My surgery is called "Arthroplasty TMJ Surgery." Here is a description of the procedure - "More complicated cases of TMJ may require an arthroplasty. These procedures involve making an incision along the ear so the joint space can be examined and adhesions removed, bone spurs shaved and discs sutured or replaced."

Dr. Koslin said the procedure takes about an hour or so. I will be under anesthesia for a nice drug-induced nap. He said I will be able to go home the same day and eat soft foods the next day. More soft foods!


Thankfully, most Thanksgiving Day food is soft and mushy. Like the pumpkin pie I'm going to make tonight! I may not be able to eat the crust, but the pumpkin inside? Maybe.

I'm confident that I will do just fine and be back soon. Please pray for me and for my doctors and nurses. God will take good care of me. He always has.

Hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks

I just want to say "Thank You" to all of my followers and friends. You have filled my life with many many blessings! I am so inspired by your creativity. Thankful for all of the wonderful gifts I have received and for your friendship.

I enjoy my morning coffee visiting your blogs each day. I don't remember what life was like before I found my first dollhouse? I just know that now I wake up full of ideas, excitement and can't wait to see what you've accomplished!

I now have a hobby that I love, friends to share with and more blessings than I could ever have imagined.

I have pumpkin pies to bake this evening. I'll be using my Grandma Hardy's Pumpkin Pie recipe.


I don't remember who made my mini pumpkin pie, but the cookbook is from Grace at Tree Feathers Miniatures. I have a big one just like it. :D

I hope each of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving! I woke up smiling this morning. Hope you did too?

Grandma Hardy's Pumpkin Pie!

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! I hope your day is filled with many blessings, friends and family, good food, hugs, and pumpkin pie!

My dear Grandma Hardy made the very best pumpkin pie! Her recipe has been passed down through the family and no one will eat any other pumpkin pie!


To celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought I would share her simple, yummy recipe!

GRANDMA HARDY'S PUMPKIN PIE

What you'll need: Two saucepans, one large and one small. Pam spray is your friend!
Recipe is for ONE pie. You can easily double it!

Mix and heat in large saucepan on low
1 1/2 cup (1 small can) pumpkin (not pie mix)
3/4 cup sugar

In the smaller saucepan mix and heat until warm
2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
1 can Carnation Evaporated milk

Combine the following together in a large coffee cup and set aside
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon cornstarch

When the pumpkin is warm, add the spices and stir
Add one beaten egg
Then add the warm milk and molasses into the large pan with the pumpkin

Stir/whisk until well blended. Pour into unbaked pie crust. I use Marie Callender's deep dish pie crust, but you could make your own. Grandma did!

Bake pie uncovered at 425 for 20 minutes. Cover edges of crust with foil.
Then bake another 35 minutes at 325.
Test if done by inserting a table knife into pie until it comes out clear.

Cool pie on rack. Top with whipped cream or Cool Whip and ENJOY! If there is any left over (?) store covered in the refrigerator.

Hope you will try Grandma's recipe. It IS the VERY BEST PUMPKIN PIE EVER!

Thanksgiving Blessings!
Kathi