Thanksgiving Kitchen Triathalon

My husband, D., is a cook.  In his early life he initially wanted to own his own restaurant.  He was actively working toward that goal when I was hired to work at the restaurant he was managing.  Our relationship works very well as I don't mind cleaning up.  I share this to say D. cooks frequently therefore I am well versed in kitchen clean up.

Being a contender in the clean up division I find the Thanksgiving meal to be the triathlon of clean ups.  Ours was a quiet celebration with only four in attendance so we had a small menu and made plans to enjoy it at the mid-meal.  Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish, rolls and a cherry pie for dessert.  Of the seven items listed only two were not pre-prepared.  Why, I wondered, were we in the kitchen all day?

The Thanksgiving meal, large or small, appears to require more hours and more kitchen tools to prepare, serve and clean up than any other meal.  We put the turkey in the oven at 9:00am and I was not out of the kitchen for more than a 30 minute stretch until the final wipe down was performed (with a Norwex rag) at 3:30pm. 

My Thanksgiving table.

I will give that I don't use paper goods.  We've eaten on the china since my son came home from elementary school and asked if we had any china.  When I said, yes, and wanted to know why he replied, "Cause my teacher said they only use their china when someone dies."

The good thing about Thanksgiving clean up is there are, generally, more hands to make the job go quickly.  I had the best time storing left overs, drying and putting away dishes in the midst of setting the kitchen to rights while my son, home from college, stood at the sink, elbow deep in dishwater and continued to wash all I put in the water until we were done.  We chatted and laughed and enjoyed each other's company, and the chore was no more.

Example of D.'s artful carving.

It was a wonderful day to enjoy food, family and a day spent together in thankfulness for all our blessings.  I pray your Thanksgiving day was as special.

Were you part of the cooking team or the cleaning team at your Thanksgiving feast?

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Aging Gracefully: Crossing the Threshold

Hitting 50 is the bell ringing, flag waving, socially accepted, certified doorway to old age.  AARP welcomes you under the confetti of mutliple mailings in anticipation of this momentous occasion.  On your 50th birthday you cross the threshold into old.

Since I've turned 50 there has been more than one store clerk ask if I wanted to join their senior's club.  On my receipt, just yesterday, the clerk graciously gave me the 15% senior discount, assuming there was no need to ask.  Don't get me wrong, I'll take a discount at any age.

I've also noticed that remarks concerning the aging body have my ears perking.  I find myself paying closer attention to the indigestion, bloating, acid reflux and Bengay commercials.  During some mild discomfort I went to investigate on the Internet and hit a BINGO for menopause symptoms.  Hello Old Age!

While at the library recently I held the door for an elderly lady walking with a cane.  She said to me, "Oh dear, never get old."  "It's too late!" I wanted to cry, "I've turned 50, I'm at the top of the hill sitting in a wagon!"  Instead I replied, with a smile, "I don't think I have a choice so I'm trying to do it gracefully."

Therefore, here at the threshold, in addition to the Dating and Mating series, Friday Forum posts, Treasures of the Heart, empty nest chronicles, writing commentaries and thoughts in general it seemed timely to pen my progress on Aging Gracefully.

When I crossed over in August, I started taking Vitamin D along with a Women's daily vitamin and have sought information on what helps ease the symptoms of menopause.  I'm a card carrying member of the AARP.

Positive changes already in progress have been to lose weight, truly attempt to exercise more, updating my make-up regime and turning my wardrobe towards a more classic look rather then trendy. 

I don't fear age, I fear the problems that come with age.  It isn't my goal to be mentioned by Willard Scott as a Smucker's 100 but with more and more mentions of 102+, if I make it I'd like to be ambulatory and continent.  With those goals in mind there is no better time to prepare than here at the threshold.

I say "Cheers!" to aging gracefully.   

What do you say?                                                  

photos courtsey of:

tp4ww.com

menopauserx.com

dailypainters.com

The Holiday Season Begins with Coffee and the Friday Forum

Each week, in our small office, the Friday Forum meets to enjoy a speciality coffee and tasty treats. Often we give our opinions on new food products.  You can find our previous blogs here.

With so many holiday flavored creamers available it is hard to decide which ones to taste.  Coffee Mate is a front runner with multiple varieties.  We have tried: Warm Sugar Cookie, Gingerbread, Eggnog, Peppermint Mocha, Pumpkin Spice.

Flavored coffees were put aside but we did not forsake good coffee blends.  Starbucks Kenyan blend, Pete's Arriba coffee beans and an office favorite, Magnolia blend from Trianon Coffee in Austin, have been brewed.

Two Snyder pretzels varieties, our test products, were evaluated: York Peppermint Chocolate Pretzel Sandwich, and Milk Chocolate Pretzel Dips.  On this November Friday E. also provided a lovely spread of Philadelphia cream cheese and crackers, pumpkin muffins, and fruit.

M. out front, who provided our pretzel samples, said, "The cream cheese spread had a great blend of veggies that complement any cracker. We also enjoyed the Snyder’s pretzels dipped in Hershey’s chocolate and the York Peppermint pretzel was the hit of the day. I think everyone enjoyed it the most."

N. gives these reviews:
"coffee – delicious!
Sugar Cookie Creamer – delicious!
Gingerbread Creamer – pretty good, not as good as sugar cookie.
Snyder’s peppermint chocolate pretzels – so good! It’s like a Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie
Snyder’s Hershey’s chocolate pretzels – very yummy and potentially addictive
Thanks to E. for the lovely and tasty spread of cookies, muffins, fruit, crackers, and cream cheese spread! She gets an A+ for both presentation and taste."

This Friday C. provided great kolaches and donuts from Daylight Donuts along with a wonderful Amish coffee cake made by E., our own in-house pastry chef.

M., out front, had these thoughts, "I absolutely loved the magnolia blend coffee. I also put in the warm sugar cookie creamer and it tasted even better. The warm kolaches were fantastic as well as our conversations of family and face book irritations!"

M. agreed, "Coffee was delish as usual and we never seem to lack a tasty treat, but I am sure it is the conversation and gathering that makes everything even better."

Here's hoping your office is a warm and friendly place to celebrate and enjoy the holidays.  From our office to you: Season's Greetings! 

Pictures courtsey of:

wallpaperbordersrus.com

himfr.com

digiwebstudio.com

Dating & Mating #8: Mirror, Mirror On the Wall

No matter how much it is said, "Don't judge a book by its cover" it will be.  We judge most things, initially, by how they appear.  Knowing this it makes sense to encourage everyone to look their best but a quick glance around and it is apparent that that advice falls on deaf ears. 

All kinds of good advice here: DM#7, DM#6, DM#1-5

Today I want to talk about hair; a point of contention for many and a page one issue when dealing with our 'look'.  It is safe to say most people like what they don't have, i.e. thick hair wants sleek (not considering sleek is usually thin and/or oily), thin hair wants thick (dry, heavy, unmanageable) straight wants curly (kinky, unruly, frizzy) and so on.

I, like so many, am on a continual quest to find that perfect hairstyle.  That one that fits the shape of my face (heart, oval, square) along with the right products (de-frizz, conditioner, mousse, gel, Clairol) to make my thick and wavy, dishwater blond, mop to look good.

Without the right products on a windy,
humid day my hair is unruly:

    

Tightening up the waves was
an idea, but even in the 70's
it wasn't the look for me.

Technology allows us to obtain the opposite of what we have.
With the help of a straightening iron I reached sleek and straight.
When your family is used to one way . . . not!

Today, 50 years in with the same hair, I return to the salon hoping the beautician (now there's an old word), may have the skill to produce exactly what I think I want, to look my best.

What I need to do is accept that my hair is a reflection of my personality and/or my feelings at any given point in my life, or moment in the day.  Because it is so easily changed let us join together in solidarity and not try to find that perfect style but rather embrace our hair type and what it has to say about us.

If we are to be judged, let us be judged truly.

Arriving at the Middle

Driving home from the library I noticed a family walking.  The man was holding the hand of a small girl about 6 years old, followed by his pregnant wife.  I smiled because it was a nice picture.  My first thought was, "I'm glad I'm past that."  My second thought, "I have arrived at middle."

Lately, when out, D. and I seem to notice small children.  They make us smile and generally illicit a memory of when L. was that age.  It is no surprise that these thoughts are prevalent here at the beginning of our empty nest.  We have launched our child but have yet to enjoy the pleasures of grandchildren.  We are at the middle.  We have JUST arrived so we still have the steady dating, engagement, wedding and grandchildren stations to go through yet.  (Hopefully in that order.)

Grandchildren are joyfully anticipated but I honestly don't want to rush the process.  In the meantime D. and I have a lot to offer in our jobs, friendships and ministries as we adjust to the extra time we have to give. 
 
There is a feeling of freedom being on the older, wiser end of the line.  Friendships with younger women are exciting as they share their energy and their familiar situations.  It is satisfying being able to offer comfort and advice because we've been there.  It's freeing to look back down the road and see what hurdles were jumped, what pitfalls were missed and helping along those who are making the same journey.

We've arrived at the middle.  I greatly enjoyed the stations getting here and I'm looking forward to what's ahead.  What are your thoughts about the station in life where you currently find yourself?

Pictures from:
joyofpropaganda.wordpress.com
ifeelretro.com
zazzle.com

Quilting Through the Elementary Years

I'm moving right along on my quilting spree. This is the third tee shirt quilt and likely the last (I have no other tee shirts to use!)

The first was for practice.  It was the Family Reunion Quilt which followed a traditional pattern.  For the high school tee shirts I used my serger with school colors.  That was my favorite method of the three.  On this current quilt I used L's elementary through 8th grade tee shirts. 

This pattern is called a "Rag Quilt" where the complete square is assembled and then attached leaving the edges to fray.  It is always difficult to find the one fabric that will tie so many different colors together but the plaid flannel did the trick.  The front are tees from first through fifth grade and the back are from junior high.


With L. away at college the back bedroom has been transformed from an office into a sewing room.  I've bought quilting and embroidery needles and pulled out all the fabric tucked into tubs, bags and back closet corners.

The internet is a fabulous resource, I've read enough about applique, and have plenty of Christmas fabric scraps, to begin the next project.  It will be interesting to see when all this energy begins to wan but at the moment it's full steam ahead.

Lovin' the Library

I LOVE the public library system.  Whoever was instrumental in creating public libraries should be sainted, knighted, crowned, celebrated! The free, sharing of information and the written word is surely ONE of the elements that make for a civilized, peaceful society.

Although the concept of the public library is fantastic, there are levels of "wonderfulness" at each facility.  I have lived in many different cities and experienced a variable sliding scale of public library competencies. 

One of the smaller city libraries, in south eastern Arizona with a population of approximately 30,000, had a top-notch facility.  They had only one building that was clean and welcoming, the book selection was current, up-to-date and available.

My parents live outside a tiny town that boasts the thriving Mill Pond Library.  With the help of their Friends they moved from 900 square feet into a donated grocery store space, outfitted it with computers and DVDs and expanded their new titles in order to better service a rural area of eager readers.  The fund raising efforts of this librarian and community are incredibly impressive and inspiring.

It is understandable, in our time, that government funds to libraries run shallow and that many are great because of the dedicated librarians and community benefactors that make up their Friends of the Library.


Knowing a public library can run well, even in tight times, brings discouragement when a large city public library appears to be lacking in resources. 

The answer to this stringency is another spectacular idea and boon to those smaller facilities that do not benefit from an active Friends group.  The inter-library loan system.  My sister in Michigan has used her inter-library loan system with great regularity so I find it odd that it took me so long to sign up and get on-board.  I became so disgusted with our public library and their lack of titles and hodge podge handling of series that my reading had fallen off to a great degree.  It wasn't until, while reading some of the review blogs, I once again searched for a particular title, was backing out of the library catalogue search engine and noticed the inter-library loan icon.

Inter-library loan sign up, search and request procedures were all exceptionally easy.  The books arrived within a week.  There are some stiff requirements about returning materials which are completely understandable and easy to comply with.  I'm back on the library loan-trail and finding all the titles I search for.

When you have the opportunity I encourage you to be a Friend to your library.  Buy what they are selling to raise funds; a brick, a calendar, cookies, holiday ornaments, a cook-book.  Let your local library be a beneficiary of your designated, charitable funds.

If you love your library, give it a shout-out in the comments.

pictures courtsey of:
sunpack.com
heritage.wisconsinlibraries.org
melissacwalker.com