Car nearly done with, and beech twigs

 I picked up the car Wednesday morning and got a  bill for zero dollars and zero cents. And the general checkups put every system in the green column. So all's well. 

I saw the erring clerk and she looked a bit anxious, but I figured ah I'm done here, and said nothing. She was probably glad to see me leave.

Back home Handsome Son and I had some car talk and I found he was, after all, not interested in taking on my car. He's happy with his beater for now.

So I'm up for selling it and already had several offers which I'm looking at. They'll pay for quite a few rides, aside from saving on the expense of running a car.

I'll be so glad not to be responsible for keeping a car going in winter, having to clear it in snow and get it moved to allow the snowplows to clear the whole area. There's no staying in the warm in snow!

So, lovely visit with tea, then HS went off to get his COVID shot -- turns out NJ has authorized it for all ages, without a prescription, regardless of the federal age restrictions.  This is part of the northeastern coalition of states on the issue.

Later I got out for a chilly walk, feeling better than for ages, and found a few downed beech twigs to join the oak twigs 

The shells whatever they're called -- if you know please say -- after the nuts fall out, are beautiful little sculptures. 

I expect squirrels are helping with the nuts -- a lot of half eaten nuts everywhere. Squirrels are like nature's kids, biting one bit, then tossing for other people to clear up. 

Swept the leaves off the deck and into the ground cover to shelter animals and the roots of the trees and shrubs over winter.

This week is looking up. Thursday is Misfits day. Speaking of which, the delivery day will be different when we get to Thanksgiving which is usually my delivery day. 

And Handsome Son tells me he's likely to be free the week after tday to celebrate. He'll be working on the day. 

It's all good! Sell the car and I'll be done with the auto world, wheee! 

That's telling them, sez Billie the Pup 

Post Tday thoughts, visible mending, and color change

Another Thanksgiving, thankfully conducted our way, reminds me to talk about Thanksgiving as an immigrant. In our first couple of years, we were invited out, as newcomers happily learning about this unknown occasion. 

Then, like newlyweds wanting to start their own tradition, we eventually embarked on doing it ourselves, and inviting guests. I was interested in taking initiative, as members of both sides of my family had made the same journey I did, ship from Liverpool to New York harbor, in the 1850s, so I thought it was time for me to get going.

We reckoned without the indignation of several people who called to invite us. Far from being pleased they'd got us onto our own feet and modeled Thanksgiving for us, they were annoyed that we were hosting for ourselves, one even saying you can't do that, you're a guest! I even got a call  one year as I was serving up our table, complete with guests, demanding that we come over, because I probably had nothing prepared. Ah. Interesting insight there.  And there were others. I never quite fathomed what was going on, and if you can surmise, please do.

And then there are the people who, when I was widowed, invited me, saying you may as well come, nobody will notice one more! Ah again!  I think that was just an awkward way of saying it was no problem to add a guest. Except that I had a son, not part of the math. People do clumsy things with good intentions and comic results!

The Thanksgiving cactus came through

It's such a transformation from the pink buds to the coral color when they open, never fails to surprise me. That was a Christmas gift from my cleaning family last year, great gift.

And while I'm thinking about making things,  the skirt awaiting ideas, the socks finished, the comfort dolls awaiting yarn the right color for faces, I did some visible mending.

This sock is getting to be more darn than sock at this point. Here showing the other recent repair, too.

Speaking of what's going on, next time anyone tries to say we have a President who's old, a weak (they should try his schedule, it would kill them) candidate, show them these accomplishments. Not even a full term, and too many to fit in one screenshot

He also did a family Polar Bear dip yesterday. 

Happy day, everyone, enjoy your Friday, no knitting group this week, on the assumption everyone will be lying about like pythons after yesterday's feasting. 

Happy thanksgiving, if it applies. Or Thursday.

 Yesterday we had a lovely afternoon, the food was simple: precooked turkey slices, tender and very good, heated up with baby preroasted tricolor potatoes, with peas and corn, steamed, cranberry sauce. Cheese and crackers. Pumpkin pie, baked at the store, whipped cream fired from a can. All easy, still with leftovers, low labor. 

He asked after Pink Rabbit (predictive text thinks that should be Floyd), and went up to my bedroom to see her on the baby rocker with the bears. While he was there he kindly adjusted my shower stools, two, one in each bathroom, which I use outside the shower. 

They were both a bit low, different height from the ADA -compliant toilet and the bathtub sides, but right for Handsome Partner, for whom I installed them. I think this is a safety issue, so he raised both to match the fittings. 

This involved wrestling with pliers to pop the leg-adjusting buttons which had been in place for years and were beyond my strength to press hard enough. I suggested silicone dabbed on with a qtip, and that and brute force did the trick.  Much easier to rise from now.

So I'm thankful for a  good son who doesn't mind doing a safety job on a holiday. 

After he'd left, I finished my socks

Which are much redder and less purple than the camera thinks.

While I knitted I listened to the rest of an old favorite in a new recording on YouTube

 I like this because it has a couple of my favorite female characters, the Sharpes, mother and daughter, the wrongly accused, very independent, and nonconformist. They're not unlike my other favorite, Catherine Oliphant from Less than Angels, for similar reasons.

Now the knitting is done, I think, after a day off to rest my neck, just in case, I might make a few comfort pocket dolls for children. I've made many of these in the past and I think there's even one on the needles somewhere. I'll keep you updated. 

So while Handsome Son was here, we planned for him to visit mid December and cook me lunch for my birthday,  then get out my small bag of Christmas decorations to set up. Lunch is  going to be garlicky chicken breast and mozzarella on toasted long rolls whose name escapes me, a special request from me. It's my birthday present.

And I did a selfie, complete with the official Good Pearls, to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, or happy Thursday, whichever applies. Rayez ce qui est inutile. One of my favorite French bureaucratic commands -- delete that which is inapplicable!

But do have a happy day. I plan to. 

More winnowing, friendships

In the  course of looking for other things, I came across more winnowing fodder -- fabrics. This includes the rest of those donated sheets I didn't use because they're mauve, which I don't like, though I did make skirts and a robe from the rest, and a bunch of sari and other fabrics, some with bling,  left over from projects.

Due to be picked up today. I hope it works out for this taker, because earlier their schedule fell apart and they missed the art bag, but were very courteous about keeping me informed.

I'm trying to be realistic about how much I can use these days and what  items can go to better hands. It's not easy, to be honest. It's not about the stuff, it's about saying goodbye to the plans for it. Well, that's why parting with things is hard, not exactly breaking news. It's easier when it goes to nice people.

And having finished all my other reading, I'm now kindling this

I do like Weir's narrative style, and I think her historical settings are pretty accurate. Seymour's the Queen who died after giving birth, just to situate her in the Henry story. 

It's possible that kindling is why I'm not getting on with stitching, hence the freecycled fabric remnants..

I've been thinking about kinds of friendship lately, largely because a rl friend is going through some sad times with family illness, and experiencing some of what I did in a similar situations.

There are people who will drop you, heck, Andy's nurses used to tell me of partners who were abandoned when they got sick, but even friends might do that. They can't handle it even at second hand. 

Then there are people who hang in, very kind and helpful. Then when things start to look up for you, they go away. They're better equipped at having the upper hand, I think, and don't know how to navigate a more even relationship. 

And there are what I call activity friends, who want to share a group or activity, but not want any contact outside of it. 

All this is just part of the tapestry of life, nothing bad about it. But it took me so long to grasp this, that I've been disappointed quite a bit,  expecting to buy eggs at the hardware store, so to speak.

I do think it's a mistake to think your real friends are the people who support you in hard times. I think your real friends are those who are supportive and happy for you when things are going well. That's not easy, considering how fast envy can get into the picture.

Anyway, a few musing thoughts, and I'd welcome yours, too. I learn a lot from your comments, thank you.

Happy day, everyone, oh, I just found out we're doing Thanksgiving on Wednesday next week, Handsome Son's day off. He usually works Thanksgiving. This is the nearest we've come in recent years to the official day.

So enjoy your day, even if it's not on the national schedule.

The Day After and other pleasures

Thanksgiving was a joy start to finish, a lovely cheerful day, all the food worked out well,  I even remembered to serve it all, not leaving anything in the oven.

Handsome Son dealt with a lot of it! His contributions included a pumpkin pie, a slice of which I had for breakfast this morning in true leftover tradition.  

He departed last evening with the makings of another meal, and left me with same, plus some pie, crackers and cheeses. Not as many leftovers as you might think. It was very successful.

And here am I rockin the pearls and looking a bit  how did I get here, in the evening

I had done bit of drawing with a sepia cretacolor pencil early yesterday morning though

And since what with changes in my online life, and an impending birthday at which point I will have been 42 twice, take that Douglas Adams, no relation! I think this artwork is a good one for now

Happy day everyone, enjoy your own journey, down with FIFA

Tday is Monday

 It's official, to accommodate Handsome Son's schedule, Thanksgiving chez Boud will be celebrated Monday starting at noon.

So, let the cooking commence.

This is that chicken thing where you pound chicken breasts till your aggression is dissipated, then roll the sections up with ham and cheese, then in panko.  Then spoon over melted butter and sprinkle salt and pepper,  arrange artistically in the glass dish you just emptied from the recent lasagna caper.

Done. In the fridge now. Next cranberry sauce. Roasted potatoes will cook along with the chicken thing on the day. Stuffing that day, too, and reheat the squash dish.

Meanwhile before I tackle the dishes and continue peacefully reading my Lucia book, here's a puzzle. 

Remember to give clues, not the answer, in the comments. Don't give it away!  

Happy day everyone, what the heck is the name of the chicken thing I'm making??

Enjoy your day even if your memory's failing.

Misfits and Thanksgiving

No outdoor picture of the Misfits box because it arrived very late last night, in the dark.

So here are the kitchen views

All present and correct, with cranberries for Thanksgiving, honeynut squash likewise, tomatoes for immediate lasagna with the noodles you see there, potatoes for a leek and potato soup, leeks in the freezer. Blueberries for breakfasts with pita bread, now the veggie pancakes are nearly done, but I'll make them again. Olives because it's been a long time and they didn't have capers.

Honeynut squash is a new one on me, more tender than butternut, probably very good beaten with butter, ginger and nutmeg.

All's well on the food planning front. And I found that the apple crumble filling I made which has supplied two cakes, is also a great pita bread filling for breakfast. Or middle of the night snack, one I enjoyed yesterday   when I woke at three am starving hungry! The filling has yet to supply a crumble though.

Meanwhile, speaking of Thanksgiving, I need to finish and box this Central Park puzzle

which I'm enjoying partly because there are all kinds of interesting piece shapes. It's a Springbok puzzle.  

I need the table for whatever day we end up celebrating Thanksgiving, son's retail job usually requiring work that day.

Happy day everyone, enjoy what you do whether or not it's the officially "right" time.

Thanksgiving plans and pumpkins

 Handsome Son visited yesterday with groceries, and we continued talking about how to do a safe Thanksgiving meal.  I'm a bit hazy on safety of food sharing from a common dish at this point, so we're thinking he will pick up individual prepared foods, ready to reheat, at the store where he works, so that will be minimal contact, but we can sit at either end of the table.  He estimates it at six feet distance, so that will work. One Christmas when I was too sick to cook, he picked up a lovely meal, first course crab stuffed flounder, next cooked turkey with some veg, forget what, and pie.  It was great, what I could eat of it.  So we're thinking of a version of that, for different reasons, we're both hoping to be well then.

When he visits and I serve him tea and a snack, I'm gloved handling his food, and we have separate teapots, milk, etc.  I also wash my hands before gloving them.

So yesterday we had the Victory Cookie and icecream.  They had to be separate because the cookie is crisp enough you need to pick it up to eat it. But we bravely managed anyway.  Handsome Son liked it enough to do this whole thing a second time.  And now he thinks it would make a great Thanksgiving dessert.  Fine by me.  One issue solved.  He really enjoyed this. And texted me this morning to say he's still recovering from the sugar overload!

Then, while we were in this high level conference, next door neighbor opens the front door, calls out here's the pumpkin I promised, and leaves this in the hallway for me.

This is part of the Pumpkin Exchange Program.  He doesn't like pumpkin, loves the seeds.  I don't like the seeds, like the pumpkin.  So when I had my mini pumpkin I washed and dried and gave him the seeds.  He's removed the seeds from this much bigger one, and it's now mine to cook.

It's better for soup or maybe cake than pie, not really a pie pumpkin.  And it's in the oven now roasting happily away for the moment.  I looked up recipes for roasting pumpkin, mainly to find out the oven setting, and found a major problem in all of them:  they all say to cut it down first.  But here's the thing: I can't possibly get a knife through this behemoth. I need to roast it in order to cut into it.  So I just went on in the way I think might work. 350F for and hour and 20 minutes. Since it's already empty, this will be an easy job to peel and dice. I'll let you know how this works out.  It's on the last 20 minutes now.

Beautiful weather suddenly, in the 70s.  I was sitting out reading yesterday afternoon.  So, the allergies made a brief reappearance in the middle of the night, had to get up and attend to my eye.  Better today. It's such a treat, though to be able to be out without a coat, if only for a few days.  Lovely walking, too.

New alarms about the GOP admin refusing to release funding for Biden's transition team.  This may be another, yet another, court case. She's claiming the final vote is not yet official. Except that every state with a complete count has called it officially. But I really won't be alarmed about this.  There will be a lot of deliberate obstruction, and we will have to overcome it.  Kamala is a topflight lawyer, she will know exactly the remedies.  And there's ACLU which has done wonderful work through this whole period.

Meanwhile, Biden's already assembling his Covid team for planning to handle the virus. A real team, this time, with doctors and epidemiologists and people who know what they're doing. So I'll try to leave it to them to worry about!

Today is walking and spinning and just enjoying the day.  Seize the day, as they say.  Carpe diem. Which does not mean carp all day long.

Thanksgiving evening.

Son gone home after a lovely day. Great food and chat, and video we slept through. Nice texts from friends.

Handsome Son always brings the cheeses and crackers to start, ginger ale, and the dessert. I do the bit in the middle.

Then, when he leaves, we have the Great Holiday Shareout. He  leaves me some pie, cheese and crackers, and I give him turkey, stuffing, sweet potato and cranberry sauce, so he has the makings of another meal. He turns down the peas and corn, already had his quota of them.

And now it's me and the bear in the corner, vegging out. Dishes can wait till tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone who celebrates today. Happy Thursday to everyone else.

Thanksgiving 2014 indoors and out

Indoors food prep to save work tomorrow, a chicken/ham/swiss cheese thing, with flavored breadcrumbs including lemon zest, all the pounding and spreading about and rolling up and crumbing and buttering done.  

Ready to bake tomorrow. And I remembered to put a tape on it reminding me of the temp and time for baking, to save scrabbling through the cookbook to find out.  I must invent a fancy title for this, Thankful Chicken! Or possibly Poulet au jambon et fromage et miettes de pain!  Hm, by the time you've finished saying it, it's gone.  And you will note that there will not be endless leftovers to deal with.  Some to eat tomorrow, some for Handsome Son to carry off home, a bit for me for the day after.

Then the squash, already steamed, just add butter and nutmeg and heat up, mushrooms and onions to be sauteed together, potatoes ready to bake or roast, or maybe both, corn, a legal requirement in this state, fine diced green bell peppers because otherwise the whole meal might look golden.  So far so good, great fun to do in a leisurely sort of way.

Then outdoors it looks as if we are in for a very unusual white Thanksgiving.  

Handsome Son is one of the people who drive for the holiday.  Almost two miles, clear across town!  And he brings the hors d'oeuvres and the dessert, his decision as to what.

I like Thanksgiving very much, no present pressure, giving them, that is,  and no  history of Tdays of childhood, all that, since I didn't grow up with it, but like it a whole lot more than Christmas. 

There's a lot to be said for arriving at a holiday for the first time in adulthood.  Not unlike arriving in a new religion at the same time of life. I notice that people who have converted seem to be a lot happier with their religion than people who were born into it.  Probably because they chose it, didn't have it thrust upon 'em, to misquote a bit.  And I don't hear people like me fussing about having to see relatives and who said what to them as kids, and all that.

Anyway, what I'm grateful for this year:  still alive and well and active, still have friends in same situation, still live in a great neighborhood, have constant support and encouragement and good humor from blogistas all over the world, still have lovely Handsome Son coming faithfully to celebrate with me.  In fact I have a lot to be thankful for.

So if I don't make it in here tomorrow for some reason, thank you all for being in my life and allowing me into yours!