Knitpickity

Christmas Dance . . .

Quick cute story -

Patrick got the invitation for the Freshman Christmas dance today.  He read me the details and we talked about it for a few minute.  So I quietly said to him "You need to get a date".  His response was "Mom I just read you the date"  - I laughed so hard and told him to think about what I said.  He did finally figure it out.

So not sure what the outcome will be but maybe he will work up the courage to ask a girl :)

It has been a lovely relaxing weekend.  We went and saw Bolt yesterday which was very very cute and heartwarming.  Today Patrick and I have been vegging out (Catherine is at her Dad's) and snacking on leftovers.

I am feeling so much better although still battling the headaches.  I ended up going to a chiropractor a couple of weeks ago and even though I am not sure I believe the science behind what he does there is no arguing with the results.  Especially when he mentioned that I had a dislocated rib - popped it back which hurt like hell and have been getting better ever since.  My hands work and do not ache and I can breathe comfortably again.  So it is fun to be relaxing because I want to not resting because I have too.

I will keep you updated on the date progress :)

A very poignant Thanksgiving

I just woke up a little while ago from a Turkey induced coma - not sure if it was from the eating of the turkey or the cooking but either way it was a wonderful nap.  I had a wonderful holiday and was surrounded by friends and family and pets and food and all of the things that make life special.

Which makes this a bit of a bittersweet holiday.  I realized as crazy as it seems, the past two years of my life have been the happiest and full of some of the greatest memories.  On the surface that seems insane, especially with Daddy and Candace's cancer, the legal woes brought about by my constantly bizarre and vindictive ex-husband and his equally charming wife, the two car wrecks and finally the announcement that Harrah's was closing down here in Memphis.  How can I be happy?

Because happiness does not come from the outside.  It does not come because you have material goods or fairy tale endings or because there are no bumps in the road.  Happiness is from your soul and your heart and the conviction that even though there are challenges you are going where you want to go and are true to yourself.  You might not have all the answers but you enjoy the quest.  I believe that when you live your life to the fullest you achieve more satisfaction and a richness and resonance.

So why bittersweet?  The interesting challenges of this year have tapped out my finances and the last announcement of my company closing its doors in Memphis lead me to a crossroad.  I am one of the lucky ones that if I choose to, I can pack up and move to Vegas and have employment.  In today's economy you cannot ignore the importance of having a job.  Kids have to be fed and provided for, bills have to be paid.  However I have had to pick up and start everything new several times the past 3.5 years and while it has all been positive I was ready to build more on the foundation of the past 2 years and not start over again. 

Also some of my closest and dearest friends have been given the same choice that I have.  Stay in Memphis and find new employment or follow the job to Vegas.  No matter what my choice, no matter what their choice, it is going to be difficult on all of us.  And for many of our other friends they do not even have that choice and are stuck trying to find a job in the most frightening economic time that we can remember.

So no idea what 2009 will bring.  No idea where any of us will   be for Thanksgiving a year from now.  So today I cherished a special holiday and I am taking time to reflect that no matter how frightening the changes of the past few years have been, they have taken me to a much better and brighter place. So time for a deep breath and soon time to pick a path and then go forward down that path with faith, with family and with friends and confidence about what matters and the knowledge that those things will be with me no matter what.

Happy Thanksgiving :)

  

       

Tradition vs Innovation . . . Thanksgiving Style

Ahhhh it is a crisp cool November day - Sunday so football is on the menu and I am mellow and pleased after watching Miami beat the Seattle and actually have a winning record.  I was pleased when we won our second game and doubled our win total from last year. Now I am bemused that we are still in the hunt for a playoff spot.

So after the game we cleaned the living room and dining room areas - the company rooms so to speak.  I always start with those if the house is a true disaster (and oh yes it is truly a pig sty) with the idea that if someone comes to visit I can keep them in the nice rooms and they will not see anything else.  I can only do short bursts of cleaning between the headache and the neck and back issues I am fighting so I sat down and feeling inspired started thinking about my Thanksgiving Menu.

I have made Thanksgiving dinner 15 times out of the past 17 years and really do love to do it.  However familiarity always breeds contempt so I sit down to my annual - hmmmm what should I make this year.

Now I have made the basics every year (well there was the year Claire was coming and she has some really fussy tastes so I added a second kind of dressing and poached pears and some other new treats - funny thing was I ended up serving it to her in the hospital since she was thankful to give birth to her youngest son Matthew that special day)

the list

Turkey (Roasted - not fried marinated glazed or anything fancy)

Ham (Honey baked if I can afford it - but always a spiral sliced with brown sugar glaze)

Homemade Gravy

Cornbread dressing with sage celery and onions (not cooked in the turkey)

Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Souffle

Green Beans

Cranberry Sauce (I make homemade but buy the canned stuff for those who do not like the real stuff)

Lima Beans or Butter Peas

scallions, olives, bread butter pickles

Rolls

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

A few years back I did institute something new.  Appetizers on thanksgiving so friends and family could enjoy the smells of the turkey cooking but not drive me nuts by asking when we are going to eat.  Nothing ruins thanksgiving quite as much as the hostess snapping "Whenever the damn food is all cooked".

So I usually have pumpkin bread and baked Brie with cranberry sauce and sausage balls to help ease the hunger pangs and distract the guests.

But every year about this time I start seeing the Thanksgiving recipes and start thinking what if . . .

I look at the traditional menus and they have things I would never think of as traditional . . .

I mean I have never seen roasted parsnip soup on a thanksgiving table

and do not think of caramel apple pie as the epitome of thanksgiving desserts

I mean Brussel Sprouts with Lemon and Walnuts - urrrgh

but then there are the recipes that seem tantalizing

and the thought of making Thanksgiving a touch more sophisticated

what if I had a simple elegant meal with some unique dishes and that pumpkin cheesecake with bourbon cream sauce for dessert.

Honestly I would probably be just as disappointed as my guests.

So time to see if I can swap out an appetizer for something new and maybe sneak in one new side to add a little pizazz to a very familiar and fond menu :)

Speaking of Guest going to go clean the half bath and the kitchen - that is generally where they go if I cannot keep them contained to the living room . . .

Fairies and Lobsters Oh My!!!

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween - ours was low key but fun.  However I have sworn to find a rusty iron gate to put in front of my entry way by next year . . .

Patrick did not dress up - although at one point he was wearing an orange T-shirt and green football shorts so I jokingly said he was an upside down pumpkin lol

Catherine was a night Fairy and Boomer was a lobster and Picasso was TERRIFIED of Boodog in his lobster suit - so the kids put Picasso in the lobster suit too lol

Much candy was had by all - in fact my guess is we have enough candy to last us until next Halloween :)