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.”
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