Comments by Stacy DeGraffenreid

Zoe, I hope we can meet up on Monday! I am really impressed with the on line version and can’t wait to get my hands on one!

Zoe, next time try the dessert party earlier in the day before the big meal!

Remember “Life is short eat dessert first”!!

I am awaiting your post for the bread pudding! I saw a premade one at Whole Foods on Wednesday that you just needed to pop in the oven and bake, but at $10.00 for a loaf pan size I decided to pass. Ever since then all I have thought about is that darn bread pudding!! Post quickly so I can make some at home!!

Wow, snow for Thanksgiving! And I was excited because of a little rain! The pics are great, thank you for sharing, glad you had a wonderful day!!

I did not know there was something besides dried out turkey??

Who knew!!!!

A Happy thanksgiving to you all. Buddy and I spend are a.m preparing the pie and veggie tray to take to the family meal. I have to admit we snuck in a bottle of Champagne at the jacuzzi in the rain!! Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!!

You will be happy to know, we now have rain in the forecast in So. Cal! Starting Tuesday afternoon going through Wednesday and then starting back again on Friday and Saturday! Hopefully we will be done with that before you get back. It will be kinda nice on Thanksgiving day to not have to run the A/C, while the turkey is in the oven:) Have fun!!!!

I am so glad to hear that you are a-ok! I hope your sister will have the same results!!

I held the same notion till I read your post. And as you could tell from my last post it seems as it may have come at the perfect time!!

I would have never thought of the practice, yet after reading what you and Dave have written, I know now that is seems like a must! After I contact SDPD in the a.m. I am heading to the local sporting goods store to see what I can find! I have to admit that you’re buying at Frys Surprised me! Who would have thought! I will try them 2nd if the sporting store does not pan out!

Again I am so glad there was no permanent damage!! And an really glad you had it checked. I am guessing it was easier to explain to the Dr. than it was to your Mom!!

Dave thanks. I am sorry to say we had a stabbing today literally in the block that I live in. I have to admit it kinda freaked me out. And it happened in broad daylight. I spoke to the police already and it was not gang related. Seems it was a couple of homeless that started drinking way to early. At least that is the on the street report! I am going to check with SDPD tomorrow, when speaking with a neighbor she thought there was a regulation on how many ounces you could carry in the city. I will let everyone know the outcome. Seems like really good advise to buy 2 and practice with one. I pray I never have to use it! But I would rather be prepared!

A note to all of you at Smart Corner, with speaking with the officer today are feeling of security because the police station is so close, may be a bit false!! It never hurts to be prepared!!

The SDPD is also in the process of establishing a task force just for are area! It would cover the area from San Diego High to Park and Broadway including the City Collage Trolley Stop! It would help to address the homeless in are area, as well as drug use etc…We all know this is a major issue. I encourage all of you to get involved and make a difference. My goal is to work with SDPD and the community on this. If you have any questions or would like to get involved you can contact me through the site here at cotradeco. If you send me a private note I promise I will respond and keep you updated!!

A note to the SDPD, thank you for what you do!!! I have met several of you just in passing and I want you to know that we appreciate what you do!! You are tireless in your diligence and as a group of us were talking today we really appreciate what you do!! So as a note from the Smart Corner community Thank You!!!

A note to everyone, it pays to be observant and to be prepared!!

Dave again thanks!!!

The photos are great! Thanks for sharing!! I really love the black and whites in the Family photo collection!! And I love knowing the North Pole is only 7 degrees. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

I thought of your boys when I mentioned the muffins! Let me say I am not a big fan of these, but the kids really seem to like them. Of course anything you can pick up and eat is always better!! Hope they enjoy!!!
h2. Ingredients

• 2 T Olive Oil
• 1 Stick Butter
• 1 Fresh Bay leaf
• 4 ribs of Celery and greens from the heart chopped
• 1 Medium yellow Onion chopped
• 3 McIntosh apples, quartered and chopped
• Salt and Pepper
• 2T Poultry Seasoning
• 1/4 C fresh parsley leaves
• 8C cubed stuffing mix (recommended: Pepperidge Farm)
• 2-3 C Chicken Stock

h2.Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Preheat a large skillet of medium high heat. Add olive oil and 4T butter.
3. When butter melts, add bay leaf and add the vegetables as you chop them, celery, onions then apples.
4. Sprinkle the mixture with the salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.
5. Remove the bay leaf
6. Cook 5-6 Min. to begin to soften the mixture then add parsley and stuffing cubes to the pan and combine.
7. Moisten the stuffing with the chicken broth until all of the bread is soft but not wet.
8. Butter 12 muffin cups, liberally with remaining butter.
9. Use an ice cream scoop to fill and mound up the stuffing in the tins.
10. Bake until set and crisp on top, approx 10-15 min.
11. Remove from tins and serve either hot or room temp.

Let me know what the boys think of them!

Kristen I am a huge “stuffing” fan. Probable because that’s what I grew up on! I do have a passed on recipe from the family, but found one I really liked a few years ago that I have been making ever since. I have included that recipe below. I also have a recipe for “Stuffin Muffins” which has been a big hit with the kids in the family, if you would like me to pass that along just let me know!h2. Ingredients

• 1 T vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 C chopped white onion
• 1/2 C diced celery
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1 C pine nuts
• 1 C nonfat chicken stock
• 1 large egg beaten
• 1 T kosher salt
• 1/2 t black pepper
• 1 T minced fresh sage
• 1/4 C minced fresh marjoram
• 1/4 C minced fresh Italian parsley
• 1-2 Quarts stale bread cubes

h2.Preparation

1. In a large skillet, heat the oil and saute the onion, celery, garlic and pine nuts for approx 3-5 min, until pine nuts start to toast.
2. In a bowl combine the chicken stock, egg, salt and pepper. Chop the herbs and add to the stock mixture.
3. Remove the pine nut mixture and transfer into a large bowl. Add the stock and egg mixture. Allow to cool slightly and add the bread cubes mixing well!
4. Stuff the bird. Remember to fill lightly and not really press in to firmly, stuffing will cook much better that way and you won’t have to worry about overcooking your turkey.

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wow, well the question in my mind has been answered! I often wondered if pepper spray was really a good self defense item to have. You and your sister along with the description you painted have proven to me it is in fact just that. Since moving downtown I have thought I should carry some form of protection, and I think I now know what that will be!

Dave, with your experience can you offer a suggestion of what to carry? Do I need to get a hold of the SDPD to find out if it is legal to carry in the city? Any thoughts you may have would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Camperbus, please give us an update on how you are both doing!!

Ok Dave now this is going to take some work!!!

Glad your back!! I know Sonora Pass is somewhere around 9600’. Am I close??

I love this! The outfit goes really well with the lawnmower with the smiley face!!! Have a great Halloween!!

Love the hair!!

The Halloween Safety Game is great!! A must read for all parents! And a must play for all kids. I used to think many years ago how crazy my mom was by wanting to check my candy before I dove into the bag, and how I could only go to lighted houses, etc…. Thank you Mom!!!!

Kristen- Please don’t do it!!!! I say that because I care!!!! LOL :)

Thanks for finding this! What amazing talent!! I never really thought of Chalk painting as an art, until this weekend and now that I see Julian’s I am truly amazed!!

I found this U-tube vidio, of last years event and thought it did a great job of showing the transformation. As a side note the next block down they did had a great area set up for kids to create. I so wanted to join in!!

Check out the video from last year !

Thanks Zoe! I was considering the http://cotradeco.com/products/271-new-wildcat-splash-goggles. They are advertised to not melt, drip or ignite @ 350 degrees for 5 min. I figured at least I would not catch them on fire while I am blow drying my hair. But I really like the idea of having something in a shade of pink or lavender!!

Jackson, as for your comment, wait till I see you in person. (now that I can see again)

It is amazing what joy $4.99 will bring a dog!! Max like Capone has always had this thing for ripping out the stuffing out of all of his toys! Until he got his duck!!! Don’t know what it is but he loves his duck. He often will take it for walks with him and on his much loved car rides. He also has the fur matted with his constant cleaning of his duck (it thank goodness is washable). I am hoping Capone has found his true friend!!

I am also glad to hear you are all 3 doing well!! It sounds like a great place where you have settled for at least awhile. You are in my thoughts and I always look forward to your posts!!

Wow are they both getting big!!! I just saw pics from Lego Land not too long ago ( I think the end of August??) If they keep growing at this rate, they will be in regular mens size before we blink are eyes!!! If I were you I would not waste my money on custom XXXXXS FR clothing! Thanks for sharing!!

Considering there is not one of us in this group that seems to be “Really normal” what could we have expected!

All I have to say is WOW! I like Happy Camperbus have a story and a picture to share, About a great grandfather many a year ago. A story I also will not share due as Happy Camperbus says “I may cause my family unbearable shame in the telling. Hmm… ” What an incredible start to this fun contest!! Thanks Kristen:)

Are you just trying to create drama! Now after that lead in I really want to see this pic!!

Kristen, hurry, hurry, hurry! Ever since the rumor of a contest you have been talking about a pic you have!! I am anxiously awaiting!!!!

I agree!!! Trader Dan it is for me!!

I come to this decision as I am in the middle of re-watching the debate, yes I watched last night I just wanted to drive myself completely crazy! I am so not happy with any of my choices!

And I can tell you it really drives me crazy that so many have been effected by all of this and as I write this I am looking out my window at the (former) Merrill Lynch and Washington Mutual buildings in downtown San Diego. Something has got to change and it has to change soon!

Trust me when I say, you are on my list to get a small wrapped foil packet! I may be a bit misty eyed when I give it to you but I know you will understand!

I have no idea! I guess I am going to have to do some research! I have never been there, but have always been interested in it because of “the curse”. I am assuming you have never taken anything from there except pictures??? By the way Dave I love your pictures and your pop quiz’s! And Zoe I am so in on a Team Building trip to Calico!

You are getting me excited!

The most creative besides carving, once with a chainsaw which was a lot of fun, was to use as a flower vase! Turned out very pretty. Just cut off the top (keep small enough opening to keep flowers upright), scoop out the insides, fill with water and flowers! Presto a great vase for the fall!

The Webinar today was fabulous a whole lot of information packed in about an hour and a half! Jim Phillips really knows his stuff and you can tell it comes from his heart! I would love for you to keep us posted on other happenings and I will watch your site as well and keep the troops here informed! I have to share the final slide and comment to close the talk today before the Q & A. It brought it all down to a very simple comment!

Keep this in mind – All of this is to answer ONE question –
What PPE do you wear in case today is a BAD DAY???

Stay protected and be careful out there, we don’t want any of you to be one of the 2000 people a year admitted to a hospital for and ARC Flash injury!!