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Friday, 27 November 2009

  • Currently
    Ghostwalk
    By Rebecca Stott
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    Thanksgiving, For Rachael

    Every single Thanksgiving since 1982 I have spent with Tim's family.  This worked out well since my mom would rather have had us on Christmas.  Thanksgiving used to be a huge affair - up towards 50 people.  More recently, it's been smaller.  In the 90's I hosted Thanksgiving for about six years straight.  Since Tim's sister moved back home, she's been having Thanksgiving.

    This year Hannah has (besides her boyfriend) a friend and her little boy are staying with her.  After all these years, I'm still not totally comfortable with Tim's family.  When his sister called about Thanksgiving, I mentioned Hannah's friend and little boy, giving her every chance to include them.  It went something like this:

    Me:  Well, Hannah has a friend and her little boy staying with her through December.
    SIL:  Oh...  (pause)
    Me:  I know Hannah wouldn't want to leave her alone on Thanksgiving.
    SIL:  ....(nothing)...
    Me:  Well, I'm not sure what we're going to do because I don't want Hannah's friend to be alone.
    SIL:  ...(nothing)...
    Me:  Maybe I should stay home and fix dinner for them this year so her friend won't be alone.
    SIL:  Uh-huh.
    Me:  Well, count me out then.  I'll do Thanksgiving with Hannah and her friend.
    SIL:  Okay, does Tim still want to come by.
    Me:  No, Tim wants to spend Thanksgiving with his family.  You know, he doesn't get to visit with them very often.  He will come over.  I will stay home and fix dinner for Hannah and her friend.
    SIL:  Okay. 

    Tim says I just need to be direct.  I have a hard time being direct.  If it were my mom, after the first mention of Hannah's friend, she would have said, "Bring them on over.  Plenty of food.  Pick up a couple homeless people on the way.  The more, the merrier."

    Everyone's different.  I do not communicate well with his family.  No doubt, if I had just asked, "Can Hannah bring her girlfriend and little boy (plus boyfriend)?", she would have said, "Yes."  But I don't like to put people on the spot.  So I go about everything backwards.

    Anyway, it turned out really nice.  Tim took Abra over to his sister's.  It ended up being a small dinner this year (plenty of food and room, btw).  I stayed home and fixed dinner for Hannah and Company.  The night before, Hannah came over with her friend and they helped bake pies.  Then they came over about 11:00 on Thanksgiving and spent the day.  We had a great dinner, got to visit, watched Ferris Beuller's Day Off, just had fun.

    There was only one thing missing:  Rachael and Dan.  Rachael called before we sat down to eat.  She was somewhere in Montana eating crackers and peanut butter.  I'm sure, years from now, they will fondly remember that first Thanksgiving together.  Because when you're with your soul mate, who cares about ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, green beans, home baked rolls, pumpkin and apple pie.

    I meant to take more pictures of dinner, but here are the pies.

    Rachael's favorite, pumpkin.  (By the way, Rachael, do you realize I haven't made a pie crust in probably 3 or 4 years?)



    Hannah's apple pie.



    With real whipped cream, of course.



    Hannah and Candice.  Hannah and Rachael are both very good friends with Candice.  (Thought I had a picture of Little D, but I can't find it.)



    Hannah's boyfriend, Sean.



    We missed you bunches.  Next year!  We'll do it at our house again, but including you and Dan.

    Love,
    Mom


Monday, 16 November 2009

  • Currently
    Lavender Lies: A China Bayles Mystery
    By Susan Wittig Albert
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    Pumpkin

    I'm trying for a pumpkin color.  Anyway, Saturday I cooked pumpkins - probably about 20 or so.  Sunday we scraped the yummy insides out and ran it through the food processor.  I now have 15 quarts of frozen pumpkin.  And two loaves of pumpkin/chocolate chip bread on the counter.  The pumpkin seeds are waiting to be roasted with olive oil and garlic salt.

    I do so love pumpkins.

    And, that I believe, is the last of the garden produce for the year.

    (big yawn) I was up to 1:00 AM finishing my latest Jacqueline Winspear novel.  Now I have to wait until she writes a new one.  The most disappointing thing, to me, about a series is that they are never equally well written; some will be great, some mediocre.  The Maisie Dobbs books have all been excellent: well written, interesting and engaging plots, good characterizations plus a view into post WWI Britain.  A good book always provides rabbit trails.  I've just spent the last hour reading up on Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists. 

    My time is up, lunch has been eaten, and I need to get back to school and early Native Americans.

Friday, 13 November 2009

Monday, 09 November 2009

  • Currently
    An Incomplete Revenge: A Maisie Dobbs Novel (Maisie Dobbs Novels)
    By Jacqueline Winspear
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    Another Monday

    I spent all of Sunday working on lesson plans for November.  Abra has taken over most of her planning, with my help, and of course, subject to my approval.  It was a perfect fall day.  Chilly in the morning, warm by middle afternoon, clear bright blue sky.  Today looks to be similar although they are predicting winds and a drop in temperature by evening.  Fall never lasts long enough. 

    Tim and I spent Saturday in a rented U-Haul moving Hannah and Sean into a new townhouse.  It's two story with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Plus, an eating area and counter space.  Oh, that's not all.  A full size stove and refrigerator.  Yes, she's very excited.  I think she's crazy.  She was within a couple miles of work and school; she is now around 25 miles away.  When I point that fact out to her, she always replies with, "And I love you, too, mom."  Whatever.

    Rachael and Dan may be in town today/tomorrow.  Can you see me smiling.  I didn't think we'd see them until December so this is a very special treat.  If any of you are interested in what life is like in a semi, sleeping in a different state every night, check out her blog that she just resurrected.

    Well, there's history to be tackled and reading, so I'd better get myself off the computer. 

Saturday, 31 October 2009

  • People

    I try so hard to like people, respect different points of view, treat all people with the respect that I believe human dignity deserves.  Then somedays.....  I truly, truly don't like people at all.  I really don't.

    If my daughter, dressed as a witch, is going to offend your very tender sensibilities, for God's sake, turn off your porch light and don't answer the door.  Be it far from me to want to offend your very fragile faith.  Geez....

    Rant over before it gets real nasty.

    One more thing.  I LOVE HALLOWEEN, THE WHOLE DAMN PAGAN HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN.  SO THERE.

    Rant really over now.

LivingInWilloughby

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    • Name: LivingInWilloughby
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 1/20/2008

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Books I've Read 2008
The Serpent on the Crown
The Tomb of the Golden Bird
The Tale of Hawthorn House
The Path to Love: Renewing the Power of Spirit in Your Life (in progress)
The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life (in progress)
Buddhism for Mothers
How to Know God
The Celestine Prophecy
The Mists of Avalon
The Tenth Insight
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter

Books Read Aloud
Five Children and It
The Phoenix and the Carpet
The Story of the Amulet
The Story of the Amulet
Matilda
Winnie the Pooh
The House at Pooh Corner

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About Me

  • I'm mom to 5 beautiful unschooled girls and wife to my best friend. A few of my favorite things to do include being with my family, reading, gardening, preserving our own food, being outdoors, picnics, traveling, sitting on the beach, drinking good wine, baking, good conversation, laughing and listening to rain. I am a spiritual, thinking person who is enjoying this incredible life.

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