Playing Catch Up

 Occasionally, when I am this far behind in documenting every-day life, I may just let it go, however, that will not be the case this time because, Lord knows I will want to look back with sadness/fondness on this past Thanksgiving. Fond, because I managed to get past that pesky pneumonia scare and live to see another holiday; sadness because it was just the two of us this year. Our daughter-in-laws got to visit THEIR families this year. Rarely do we drink champagne, as evidenced by the very bottle Bruce is pouring having been in our fridge for months, but he just got it into his head that this was the day to finally pop the cork.

 The gravy, I am remembering that as very tasty. What will I think of this in years to come? We vacillated about whether to even cook a turkey but in the end we found the smallest fresh one Publix carried. Can you say expensive for turkey? Did it translate into taste? NO!
It looks perfectly good, right? Trust me, it was not, although the dressing was perfection, a small consolation. 

Looks sort of lonely, right? 

Actually we were good. I was reminded of our year in Vancouver when it was just the two of us eating our turkey from the Granville Market on the 20th floor overlooking False Creek. This time it was lovely because we were surrounded by all of our belongings, rather than someone else's. Should you care to read about our Vancouver Thanksgiving, click here and you will be rewarded with some beautiful sights and a funny story too. Reliving that boot story is one of the reasons I so keep on blogging!

Before we leave this special day in November (!), instead of making an apple pie, I decided to try a new recipe, sort of an apple upside down cake. It began by making buttery syrup, followed by apples and pecans.

A thick cake batter followed and in yet another instance of being grateful to have Bruce around, he flipped it when it was done.

Although I had high hopes for this dessert, it sounded better than it tasted and was just okay. Next year I will just stick with apple pie, Bruce's favorite.

Woo hoo, the next night we had the pleasure of watching the FSU/Gators game at the lovely already decorated house of the Parsons!

Oh my, what a game! With both Seminole and Gators fans in attendance, it was, at times, very tense.

Eventually the Seminoles prevailed! What is interesting is that in the linked post, they won that game as well. I was never so happy when I discovered how to watch college football in Canada. A Seattle station was the answer!

Some time or other, we went to Florida Mall for the first time in ages.

It's pretty interesting how stores everywhere are photo-op ready, isn't it?  Our reason for going there was to visit Uniqlo where we purchased a few things. Again, we don't get out much, so when the clerk put our purchases in this bin and they rung up automatically, we were amazed.

For the first time in ages my sewing machine came out and I made a new bag for my pickleball gear using some of the vintage fabric from the 60's I have been stashing. My other bag was getting dirty, so this one Bruce sprayed with a scotch guard kind of product then figured out how to air dry it for 24 hours.

We got a new queen sized bed for the second bedroom, replacing the outdated double one. Both the platform bed and mattress were purchased from Costco, although they did not arrive on the same day. Make that the same week. In any event, finally, the mattress arrived.

Don't ask me why, but I decided to flip the quilt over and I have to say I am happy with it because the quilting, done with great pains, shows up much better.

The tournament was a blast!! Before we knew where our seats were, we chose some just like our Dover Shores pals, Jessica and Juan. 

Now I bet you are wondering why I am including them in this account, so I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Your friend Gail, without realizing it, tried stepping from behind where they are sitting onto the next step and it did not go well. Like stepping into thin air, I took a tumble and was oh so lucky to only scrape my knee. You can well imagine how Bruce and Bill were feeling at that moment! What a dummy, although I did hear from someone else that I was not the only one! 

Arriving at the tournament, and to the actual seats we purchased around 9 in the morning, we barely budged as we were in awe of the professional players. That was easy to do as we were sitting so close we could hear them talking to themselves. The balls kept coming right to us and in some cases, the players themselves did as well. Bill took this photo of me and Anna Leigh Waters, the teenage phenom, who sits atop the standing of the women division. BTW--she turns 16 in January.

We actually had a good long chat which was so nice. So, she is #1 in the world and her counterpart, Ben Johns is for the men. 

Together, as a mixed doubles team they are virtually unstoppable. We just loved seeing everyone up close and the level of play is unreal. The two ladies below are two who have practiced at Dover Shores when we were there. Not together mind you, as this match was what some might call, pretty tense. The lady in the foreground lost to Anna Leigh on Championship Sunday.

We were watching center court while plenty of matches were happening all around us. Bill got up for a few minutes to watch what was happening on the outside. Held at the United States Tennis Center it is huge as one might expect. Over 1,200 players of all skill levels competed.

Other than one trip to the bathroom, I stayed glued to my seat while Bruce was kind enough to go and get us a pizza to share. As day turned into night, I finally got up to look further afield, returning to watch Tyson McGuffin in the semi-finals.

That would be Bill sitting on the front row beside our empty seats.  When I tumbled and Bill hopped up to get some ice, Tyson had watched me fall and asked him how I was. Pickleball is so accessible to fans now but who knows what the future holds as the game is growing by leaps and bounds. Oh yeah, another thing is this was televised nationwide on the Tennis channel and it seems as if the three of us were hard to miss.

Okay, getting close now.

The Christmas tree dilemma. Should we go artificial this year or not? 

We didn't, and one thing that came to mind was, when a person told me that they change their ornaments frequently, I realized that we change trees instead. One year it is tall. One year it is fat. Another year it is skinny, and this year it is SHORT. Cute though.

As I type, Bruce is making magic with his wrapping. More on that next time. He also made a little magic out front, coming up with a contraption to decorate our outdoor tree. 

Lights and my beloved bunting too!

This is the first year it will be displayed outdoors since our market days. The weather has been very dry and warm so hopefully it will be okay. 

You know what? I am leaving stuff out. Plenty. 

Thus, there may just have to be a Playing Catch Up sequel.

Until then, I remain,

your friend,

Gail

The Holidays, 2021 Style

With Thanksgiving 2021 over, and Bruce having watched his first Hallmark movie, the holidays have officially begun. It used to be that watching Love Actually every year got him in the holiday mood, however, now with a seemingly never ending stream of Christmas movies available, he's ignored his old favorite lately. He loves him some Candance Cameron Bure. 😁

But first things first. Thanksgiving! It has probably been four years or so since last I prepared the meal and to tell you the truth, I think it showed. At the very least, I am far slower than I used to be when I was cooking for a big crowd. Sometimes Maureen would help, while other times, particularly when the children were young, my Mother. An exceptional cook when she wanted to be that's for sure! Wanting is the operative word here as she left much of the cooking to us girls when we were young. Speaking of my Mother, there is always something a bit bitter sweet for me as that is the day she sunk into a coma while I was cooking the meal. David and Michelle went to pick her up and found her in a very bad state. I left immediately leaving my niece Laura mashing the potatoes. Needless to say, the meal was eaten somberly. 

As is probably the case with anyone reading this, sentimentality drives your thinking during the holidays. Then too, our thoughts turn to those not with us, and in our case it is a whole bunch of absentees whether because of distance, the pandemic, or they have died. Thus, I love using things that remind me of them. A few years ago Matt knitted this little pumpkin for me and because he is in England, not to mention a vegan, this reminder of his presence in our hearts, had to suffice. Who knew that there are a bunch of vegan thanksgiving recipes here? 

As is usually the case, I like to do all of the cooking myself and let others enjoy a day off. This year I made an old Bon Appetit recipe for the turkey which turned out just okay. For whatever reason the cooking was very uneven which led to some waste although, Lord knows, we had plenty as it was. There was turkey and dressing, a batch of homemade cranberry sauce, served in a pretty dish from my childhood.

A super simple recipe that used only fresh cranberries, chunked up in the food processor along with orange zest, sugar and a 1/4 cup of Gran Marnier. I'm thinking I will use the leftovers for a cake in the next day or two. Check back with me on that. 

Another easy dish was this carrot and radish salad with lime zest and a dressing made with olive oil and lime juice. I did the best I could using the tools available to make it look pretty. That said, it was supposed to be more matchstick like!

While certainly not traditional, it actually worked well as a bright note amongst the other goodies. The mashed potatoes turned out really well much to our delight. The corn casserole also turned out to be a nice surprise. 

While I did not make a pumpkin pie, I did make an apple one for Bruce, using a new pastry recipe now that I no longer have access to the lard I grew to love while in Canada.

In a little mix up, I thought Michelle was bringing a pumpkin pie and she thought that I was making it ,but truth be told, it was not missed as we were all pretty darn full. Instead she brought a fragrant candle and these beautiful roses that, if possible, look even prettier today.

According to this post from 2016, I found my current dishes at an amazing estate sale. Actually, re-reading that post, I still wish I'd purchased those hanging lights! Anyway, as noted in that post, it came with all manner of serving dishes which I finally got to use! 

When we downsized I got rid of a lot of dishes, including our wedding china, but the above glasses were saved from the purge. Given to me by my Mother they actually belonged to an uncle of my father. In other words, they are mighty old and one thing Bruce really loves. The candlesticks were also spared, having been given to Bruce when he became a "million miler" on Delta. Actually we got to choose the gift and who doesn't want something made by Tiffany? 

Dave is smiling! Is it the food, or maybe the crazy expensive wine he brought?

While the turkey was cooking, Bruce ran up to the garden center, coming home with some little poinsettias to add some color to the porch. Note the open door behind the screen as it was a very comfortable day.

Not the best photo below, but one that I will look back on with fondness.

That would be Grace, Dave and Michelle's dog who was surprisingly well behaved. One thing we don't have around our table are grandchildren, although one day that may change. In the meantime, we are thankful for what we do have and all of our loved ones both near and far.

Bruce and Fallon went to work cleaning the kitchen,

while Bill and I had our usual Yahtzee tournament. That is if you count two out of three as a tournament! And yes, he did beat me two games to one. I will say that when we did it again a day later, I was the victor so now we are even! He is still a little sore from the accident but nothing that time won't heal. Originally he'd hoped we could play a little pickleball on Thanksgiving, but that plan was thwarted by a driver who ran a red light. 

Mostly everyone was so happy that we could gather unlike last year during the pandemic. With the new variant that has just come to light there is no future guarantee of anything, right?

Sunday, as we were coming in the side door of church, seeing Chris at the organ, it occurred to me that playing the organ might also be something that disappears. How many folks do you think are learning to play it anymore?

And yes, we are still wearing masks at church which is now decorated. The fellow in front spends the entire service knitting most weeks.

On the first Sunday of Advent there were far more empty pews than there has been of late. Perhaps folks were out of town?

Here's something to ponder. When Bruce went to the cardiologist he was put on a statin drug to lower his cholesterol. In spite of trying several ones for a few weeks, they made him feel terrible so he quit taking them. Then, last week his annual bloodwork showed that his cholesterol is perfectly normal. While good news, it sure complicates the strategy going forward. That said, he's feeling just fine as long as he stays away from the statins! 

In a nod to our ever-changing reality, we bought our Christmas tree on the day BEFORE Thanksgiving. An article in today's newspaper highlights how trees are disappearing from lots far faster than is typical. Instead of waiting until the trees were all gone, we went ahead and bought it with Bruce keeping it in a bucket of water until yesterday morning. I spent the better part of the afternoon working on making a tree, like none we've ever had before, look pretty. Remember last years oversize tree? While looking at a few from over the years, this post from 2018 is a sweet one where I declare it is the best tree we ever had. It was also the one that I wrote when B retired. Oh my goodness, three years have passed by in a blink of an eye! Anyway, here is this years edition not entirely done but what I got done yesterday. Note the many needles on the rug underneath. We shall see what I am writing in a few weeks about that!

We are now looking forward to all of our family being together for Christmas for the first time in a while. Could this tree be any more different than last year? You will have to click on the links to see for yourself!

In other good news, yesterday morning as I was switching to my Christmas tablecloth. I spied the SWAN splash down in the lake outside our windows. Woo hoo! All day it swam around peacefully, mingling just fine with the many ducks. As we went to bed I asked B if he thought it would be there in the morning? My goodness it sure was! As the sun rose, with steam rising, rays lit up the lake. Picture perfect.

Unfortunately while I was away earlier it seems to have left for now. Notice my optimism?

I'm also optimistic that Matt, Tom, Alissa and Jonathan will be able to come for Christmas in 2021. Omicron be damned!

your friend,

Gail

Family Time

Gosh, has it really been a whole week since last I wrote? Apparently so.

We've enjoyed a week of family time, beginning with Matt and Tom's arrival from London last Sunday evening. Once again I got the time mixed up so they had to wait at the airport a bit, but thankfully, the traffic was good, so not too, too long. When Matt tells me a time he means the time they should be at the curb, however, repeatedly I've forgotten that, assuming it means that is when they will land. Maybe next time I will get it right?

Earlier in the day we stopped at Trader Joe's on the way home from church, and I found the most beautiful irises to welcome them home.

Love, love, love irises in bloom!

In an effort to help them stay awake, after a stop at Chuy's on the way home from the airport, we watched a super funny rom-com, Man Up. Pay no attention to the reviews, and watch it should you be in need of a sweet movie with plenty of laughs!

Monday, after unpacking everything, Matt brought out some fabric pieces he bought for me while they were visiting Japan in April. Well who wouldn't want some fabric straight from Japan?

I promptly cut it up into squares, incorporating them in my latest quilt, which is finally all the way pieced, all 387 squares! They also brought home some decorative fabric panels that the Japanese apparently use in all manner of ways. Bruce is now using his as an additional sun blocker, something he sorely needs in the late afternoon!

Although the weather in London has not been too cold just yet, sunshine is often not to be found for many hours of the day. Thankfully, the whole week they were here there was abundant sunshine which Tom took advantage of every chance he got.

I was in serious need of a nature fix, so one morning, after my bike ride proved fruitless on the nature front, I hopped in the car and promptly drove over to Greenwood Cemetery as I'd seen folks post of facebook that the nest was once again active. Count me a lucky girl that I saw one immediately!

It is always a thrill to see such a beautiful bird in the wild. Soon, though, the eagle flew off, so I decided to visit our parent's graves, but before I got there I found myself driving along the back side of the nest, and lo and behold, the other one was on the nest!!

Wasn't I lucky? I thought you'd see it my way. :)

Much to my dismay, the headstones were a big fat mess, unlike most all of the stones in their vicinity. Not a pretty sight. Perhaps this all happened because Thanksgiving time is bittersweet for me and Bruce. No one who was there will ever forget the Thanksgiving day in 2003 when, while I was mashing the potatoes and most every part of the dinner was complete and ready for our full house, Bruce called from our Mom's condo saying she was in very poor condition, something which took me by surprise as I'd been over the night before until around 7 PM. Our niece Laura took over for me, and I went straight away to the condo, finding our Mom in a semi-coma. No need to go over the rest of the details, but just four days later she died in her own bed. Now you know.

Tuesday we set the table, and by Wednesday morning we were in full preparation mode for the big day. Matt made some roasted garlic, rosemary, and sun dried tomato, rolls which were delicious.

He's preparing the pan for this wonderful dough.

Tom went to work on the vegetables and the eggplant casserole he was making for our vegan guests. He is quite the spice master, knowing how best to use them all.

Because he needed the oven, after I removed the turkey, for roasting the cauliflower and brussel sprouts, not to mention the casserole, I tried something brand new, at least to me. Yup, cooking the dressing in a slow cooker actually works just fine.

Sadly we were missing quite a number of folks this year, meaning we all fit around the dining table, a first as far as I can remember.

You know what? My serving dishes were a big hit with everyone! Because I prefer candid shots, all pictured may not be thrilled with me, but please forgive me, as I prefer to picture real life! So, the yearbook was lots of fun, both the one I bought at the estate sale, and David's one from 1994, some 30 years apart. It is so fun looking at the clothing, cars pictured, as well as the make up of the student body. Then, the conversation turned to ancestry, what with our ancestry expert in the house. Before long, Matt found Pat and Maureen's father's ancestry before coming to America!

Remember when Apple came out with the iPad and people wondered how useful it would be? Now I wonder how we got along without it!

Friday was laundry day, along with the final clean up from the previous day, and mostly we rested after the previous two days of frantic activity. Because we have so much to be thankful for, we wanted to celebrate with our sons, and their loved ones at Earls, which we are also thankful for. Despite the challenges Bruce faces near the end of a job, it is a great company to work for. So we celebrated Matt and Tom being here, Fallon, only weeks away from graduating nursing school, and David and Michelle celebrated their eight wedding anniversary on Tuesday. We had a marvelous time, and another delicious meal.

If only Jonathan and Alissa were here we would be complete. They enjoyed a quiet day of food and football in Austin, a combination that works very well for them. :)

Matt and Tom left yesterday morning for Canada, spending the rest of the week there before returning to work in London. I spent a whole bunch of time, in between finishing my quilt, watching the last full day of college football, something you know I love doing. The highlight of the day was the fantastic performance by the Florida State Seminoles during their game with the Florida Gators. Maybe you have to live in Florida to appreciate it, but man, what a win by the Seminoles!

Following church, we ate lunch, grabbed our buckets and scrub brushes, and headed to Greenwood Cemetery to do something about those headstones.

As you can see, there is a lone headstone as soiled as Mom and Dad's. Mostly we scrubbed with soap and water, and although they don't look brand new, they look better, which makes me happy. Merry Christmas Mom and Dad!

They were not the greatest parents by any stretch of the imagination, but they were far from the worst a person could have. I will be forever grateful that they gave me life, and really, that's enough for me. It is my choice as to what I make of the past, and my preference has always been to look forward, rather than bemoan how I was raised.

Family time is the most important part of our lives, far exceeding the events of the day, which are given to change. Make the most of it my friends because we only live once.

Love,

Gail