Thursday Thanks

As this holiday rolls around every year, and I read people's sometimes overwrought Facebook posts about thankfulness, I tend to go deeper into my hibernation. November is the month for that as the leaves fall away, the weather worsens and the pressures to be "merry" ramp up. The pandemic makes it much easier to avoid splashy celebrations though. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but since they turned 18, it's been rare to have both daughters home for it. It was usually one or the other, or neither. Mostly it was because they were going to school far away, or living on a different continent. In 2012 Ashley surprised her dad (who was dying) by flying home from Los Angeles. Although he rarely cried, he sobbed when he saw her in the family room that morning. On another memorable occasion, he called to tell us that he was in the emergency room since he'd put his finger into a table saw. (never a dull moment!) In younger days, we spent our Thanksgivings at my late aunt's, where she invited too many people and wasn't organized enough to handle getting food to two or three tables, even with help. And if you were relegated to any other table but the Main (Important) one, your dinner was cold. I know this from experience. She refused our suggestions to have a buffet instead, and loved her spices...a bit too much for the rest of us. Now many of these people are gone, although I tend to reminisce about them a lot during the holiday season. 

This photo from Thanksgiving 2009 came through my Facebook feed. I love the look on my late husband's face!

From the 2015 FB memories were these pies that Ashley baked for her friends while living in Senegal. She cooked much better pies in that stone oven than I can with all the modern conveniences! Since the Senegalese don't celebrate Thanksgiving, they were intrigued by the food, especially the "orange pie" and enjoyed Ashley's modified meal(couldn't find turkey there) and the dancing afterward. It was her "thank you" to all the villagers who had supported and cared for her during her Fulbright year in Senegal. I was grateful to them too! 

Because I donated to a Crohn's fund raiser for a former student, I received this home made pecan pie, complete with a decorative ribbon. :) In spite of my obsession with the Great Bake Off shows, making pie crust is extremely frustrating for me. However, both my girls are excellent cooks and bakers. In fact, I saw a photo of Alison's French Silk pie on Instagram, and it made my mouth water. 

Yesterday I spent a long time looking for these keys. Why did I hang them up with the umbrella in the garage? No idea, except that my mind was on other things. Chandeliers perhaps?

After wasting too much time on the Lowes website, I discovered that Seattle Lighting had the best choices. I'm 90% sure I want this one for my entry, if I can find anyone to hang it. It weighs 25 pounds!

This smaller one will go in my dining room.

This sort of boring pendant chandelier should look decent in my kitchen nook, as long as it's not too big. I'm still agonizing about sizes! 

Even on a holiday, I don't take a vacation from walking. My mental health really needs the exercise these days. Older Daughter is concerned about me flying back to New York (with good reason), and is very emotional at the thought that I might get sick. She's wondering if I should cancel my trip, which I don't want to do at all! I had a weepy phone call with her yesterday, then later in the day, the $400 winter coat she had ordered was stolen off her porch. :( Sometimes it's hard work to be thankful, eh? Yet I'm definitely grateful for my blog, especially during these dreary pandemic times. I very much appreciate those of you who read and comment. I write mostly for myself, but value the connections I've made and the wisdom and kindness of my blog friends. 

"Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.”
― Henry David Thoreau

 

Comments

[Kathy]

Happy Thanksgiving! Like you, I consider daily walks essential for mental health. My neighbors are always congratulating me for being so consistent about it, but I know that if I don't exercise, chances of falling off the emotional edge increase. Can't have that, especially now. Such a bummer about Daughter's coat.

[Joanne Noragon]

Your chandelier selections are spot on. New and fresh. The prices probably are comparable to Lowes, too. They won't be so hard to hang; they go up in pieces, I'm sure.
What is your daughter able to do about the coat? Does she have one of those door bell cameras to show the thief? I have been able to have Visa remove fraudulent charges. I have two Fitbits sitting on my credenza that I did not order. Visa took off the charge and the shipper hasn't told me where to return them. Months later. Let us know how she makes out on this theft.

[Doug M]

What nice pictures of your husband & daughters, Margaret... Ashley's pies looked good too (and from a stone oven!) I liked the lighting you picked, a nice blend of modern & traditional. And good for you for keeping up your walking. :)

[Jay]

I like the lighting choices.
And I like Seattle Lighting better than the big box stores.

We walked early today so we would be free to check in with the various parts of family and friends for the rest of the day.

[Liora]

Happy Thanksgiving! It's a wonder you found the keys! Patt looks so happy in that photo. xoxo

[Meg]

Have you ever used the Tile. I may lose my keys, school Id still but I don’t spend a lot of time looking for them with my tiles!
Look it up best Christmas gift ever.
Poor older daughter! Any chance she can get the coat back ?

[Ed]

I have been pondering a lot of how Thanksgiving has changed over the years. I have gone from the kids table to the adult table and it went from big family affairs to just my parents, brother and I. Then as my brother and I started families of our own, we started hosting the celebration and my parents and grandparents though guests, still showed up early and it still felt more like a communal endeavor. In a few short years, we've lost half those people and I feel like I'm not in the position of being host or it doesn't happen at all. I'm honored to do so but it wasn't a position I wanted at this stage in my life because for me, it quickly moves from being a host to being a guest again as my kids host the celebration and the circle of life continues on whether we want it too or not.

[Karen]

I'm a walker/runner, too. It has been my salvation during this time. I've even learned to like walking in the rain (although not when it is cold!)

I think you should be fine traveling to see your grandson. I think more emphasis should be placed on healthy living/eating. I am less fearful of the virus knowing I am in good health. Also, life is a risk. Every day we wake up, we risk dying. You will be fine!

Sorry to hear about the stolen coat. Hope she can get it resolved.

Happy belated Thanksgiving.

[AC]

I feel for you missing the nearest and dearest during this American holiday of holidays, or so it seems.

[Wendy]

Oh how I miss walking, but the arthritis on the top of my feet won't allow it anymore.
I do like the lighting choices you've shown us now. I would think you could even ask your painters for a recommendation of someone who could hang your lights. They work with enough other people to know.
So sorry your daughters coat was stolen. Ugh. Sometimes if its on a credit card it can be refunded. I hope this is the case. I think and hear also, that air travel is quite safe. We can't not live either. You could get covid in your own little grocery store or gas station. Just wear your mask, wash your hands and pray for the best. Wendy

[Tonya]

I REALLY like your lighting selections! I do know how difficult those choices are, and NOT because there are so many wonderful choices to select from. When we were building this house and making those decisions, I was struck that I disliked 99.9% of just about everything! Thankfully, John and I have very similar tastes, so there wasn't an issue about that. Often I'd find something online (whether lighting or a dining set) and bookmark it, and then learn that he'd bookmarked the exact same things!

[Musings]

Oh OUCH! about your daughter's coat. I hope they sent another one and didn't charge her. I know my daughter ordered something on Amazon and it was stolen so they sent another one free of charge. I ordered a large package mailbox for my son in Maryland so boxes could be hidden from view. Someone could still come, look in and steal it, but this way they can't see it from the street.