Friday Things #550
1. Dominic and I got back from New York late on Wednesday night, and I’m so happy to share that his scans were clear and he remains in remission 🙏🏻 Thank you so much for continuing to pray for him and our family, and offering up good thoughts and well wishes; we appreciate it so much ❤️
2. Over the last 10 days, we’ve gotten most of our Christmas decorations up. When do you normally decorate? We used to do it all the day or weekend after Thanksgiving, but the last handful of years, we’ve started getting things up in mid-November. I love being able to enjoy the decorations and lights just a wee bit longer; it brings us all so much joy!
3. Speaking of Christmas, when we were young (probably babies), my mom made needlepoint stockings for me and my sister, and my aunt made them for my cousins, too. I have seen pre-made needlepoint stockings, but recently saw someone post on Instagram their mother or mother-in-law working on them (she said she got the kits at a local craft store in Texas). Has anyone done this recently and have links for it? I might tackle this for next year!
4. Currently working on this Thanksgiving Day parade puzzle; it’s going to be a race to see if I can actually get it done by Thanksgiving 🙃
5. I love this >> Matchmakers Connect Teens and Elders
6. It snowed for the first time this week, so it’s time for a batch of homemade hot chocolate mix to store in the pantry for winter!
7. I had no idea that Pizza Hut’s Book It program still exists… such an awesome memory from childhood! I still remember filling out the books I read… the buttons… the personal pan pizzas!
8. So many of you have asked about the brace on Duke’s leg in recent photos and if he is okay and what happened… back at the beginning of the year, Duke appeared to strain or partially tear his ACL. The vet didn’t think surgery was necessary and recommended a custom brace, instead. So he’s been wearing it since late spring; they said after about 9 months dogs are usually good to go without it. He’s otherwise in perfect health and still gallops around even with the brace on!
9. Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving full of great food and good company! 🧡
10. TGIF! The queen also wishes you a Happy (and relaxing) Thanksgiving :)
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So happy about your son’s scans. What a wonderful Thanksgiving you will all have with that good news!
Praise God for His blessings and watching over your family 🙏
That is amazing news about Dominic’s scans – so happy to hear this!! And I love your Thanksgiving puzzle. What a fun idea! I love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade each year and it would be cool to do a themed puzzle along with it. Good luck with yours!
Hi Michelle, Such good news about Dominic being in continued remission. I pray he always has good health and grows up strong and happy as all children deserve to be. I too have good news, my husband, almost 90, has been on Immunotherapy for 2 years is now in remission and completed his course of therapy. These are good blessings to be grateful for.
I love your cooking blog and reading about your beautiful family & pets. Enjoy a wonderful Holiday Season & a very Happy & Healthy New Year 2025.
Linda Miller
Happy Friday Michelle!
So happy to hear about the positive scan results for Dominic.
I found this resource online for stocking kits of all types including needlepoint. I have not purchased from them but the selection seems impressive.
https://merrystockings.com/
Happy Thanksgiving to your family 🦃
Blessings to you and your family. Such good news. Did you get to see any decorations while in the city?
We had two jam-packed days at the hospital and then headed straight home, but we did see some decorations driving through (and the hospital had their holiday hallway almost completely finished and he was able to walk through!).
Thank you Lord! Prayers and best wishes for Dominic and your family.
Wonderful news about Dominic!
My grandma made handmade Christmas stockings for all of her grandkids and I was able to find kits to make the same kind of stockings for my kids. I bought them from JoAnn Fabric and they were similar to this: https://www.joann.com/p/bucilla-18in-nordic-snowman-felt-stocking-kit/17255639.html
They took me a long time to make but I enjoyed the process.
Such blessed news for Dominic and your whole family:)
Great news about Dominic‘s scans!
In Canada, it’s considered good etiquette to leave Christmas decorating until after Remembrance Day. Usually, I wait until December 1 but this year I decided to get in early to put up outside decorations before it’s freezing and snowy. The lights make this dull time of year more cheery. I’ve pulled out a few things inside, but haven’t tackled that in a big way yet, but will do so soon.
Happy American Thanksgiving!
So happy to hear the good news! Much to be Thankful for this year.
Try Demensions Christmas Stocking kits. I saw them on Amazon. They have several designs. Thank you for the hot chocolate recipe. Always looking for an upgrade 😊
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Love the good news regarding Dominic. Will continue to keep him and your family in my prayers.
Thank you, Jesus, God is so good. Dominic looks so happy in his photo. I keep him & your family in my prayers. please pray for me as I’m going to lose my home.
Happy Thanksgiving & God keep the blessings rolling in.
Betsy Thompson
so glad to hear about Domenic and may your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. My heart will always be in the “Burgh”
Being so very thankful about Dominic❤🙏
Michelle, I am so happy to hear Dominic’s good news. Continued prayers!
Happy Thanksgiving to your family!
I remember little Dominic in my prayers every night. He’s precious!
Wonderful news for Dominic!! We will continue to pray for him ❤️ wishing you all a blessed Christmas!
So thrilled to hear Dominic’s wonderful news. I truly believe this special guy is slated for great things in the future and that his cancer journey developed special coping and gratutude muscles he will put to meangingful use.
You all have a very special reason for a gratitude fill Thanksgiving.
Enjoy the day and oyur special family time.
God’s blessings for your family this Thanksgiving!
Yay! Dominic…my prayers continue!
So happy to hear Dominic’s great news for you and your family!Wishes you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Season.🙂
Hi Michelle,
I usually wait until black Friday to put up my tree, but as I have been walking my dog the last couple of weeks through the neighborhood, I keep seeing more and more Christmas decorations go up. I’ve seen many houses with their trees put up just in the last week!!
It hit me yesterday that Christmas is only 5 weeks away since Thanksgiving is so late this year. So last night I put up my tree!!!!! I plan to decorate my tree this weekend.
Like you, I love to enjoy my tree for longer. I am late to the party this year! It just seems like the time has gone so fast this year.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving day!!
Thank you for all you do all year long!
Lucy
Hurrah, for sweet, brave Dominic., such a little trouper!
Continued prayers for him and all the sick children in the world.
That is the best Thanksgiving gift your family could receive.
I hope Dominic, you, the pups, and the rest of your family have a healthy and blessed Thanksgiving.
There are all kinds of handcrafted stockings, not just needlepoint. A Internet search should give you some ideas. And many needlepoint shops have Christmas stocking canvases and then sell yarns separately. You might find something locally. And some shops have their inventory on-line. Look around and then you might want to call the shop to discuss your options.
So glad to hear that Dominic’s scans are clear. Will continue to keep your family in my prayers. You may want to check the website http://www.marymaxium.com for stocking patterns.I got lots of patterns from them. May your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
So glad to hear the scans looked good. I can’t believe the Pizza Hut reading program still exists, but nothing Bundt cakes is much more motivating for my kids. They started last year I think and offer a free little Bundt cake every month for 400 minutes of reading. My kids love it!
Praise God for Dominic’s clear scans! I’ll keep praying!
So glad to hear that scans remain clear! Her each era has the best stockings – needlepoint, cross stitch, felt work. All of our stockings were made by my MIL from Herrschners kits.
https://www.herrschners.com/herrschners/seasonal/christmas/stockings/
So so happy to hear about Dominic’s results. Wishing you and your wonderful family a very Happy Thanksgiving! Prayers are powerful!!
We celebrate Advent (December 1st – December 24th) and decorate the house with purple and pink colors. We put up our Nativity set on the fireplace mantel with the Wise Men around the house traveling to get to the stable. Jesus in hidden until Midnight Christmas Morning.
(https://ascensionpress.com/blogs/articles/what-are-the-4-advent-themes#:~:text=The%20Advent%202024%20themes%20(hope,refocus%2C%20and%20embrace%20God's%20promises.)
We’ll put up the Christmas tree the final week of Advent and the Evergreen garland with bows and lights on the fence in front of the house and the outdoor Nativity set on front lawn.