holidays
Resolutions
I pretty much make them every year with varying levels of real intention to follow through – New Year’s Resolutions. I am rarely successful. Almost never. Once. I can think of one time I kept my resolution – sort of.
In the years leading up to 2008, I found myself watching Law & Order in one of its iterations, the original, SVU, Criminal Intent, Dastardly Defendants, etc. on one channel or another all the flippin’ time. If I was home, the tv was on and tuned to Law & Order on some station somewhere. I had a satellite at the time. I could get Law & Order 24/7. Yes. Yes, I could.
Slowly, I realized it was making me a different person – more suspicious, adopting the view that the world is a terrible place where terrible things happen all the time, where there are no good guys. Still, my addiction held sway. It was like looking at a car wreck when you drive by. Just couldn’t help myself.
So, armed with the slogan Great in Oh Eight!, I vowed no more Law & Order. I was serious about this although my track record for keeping resolutions was zilch. Still, hope was triumphant.
Continue readingMy Aunt Connie’s Thanksgiving Gift
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There is no gift giving, No real decorating to speak of unless you are Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart and I share a birthday. That’s about all we share.
I love Thanksgiving.
I cooked my first turkey when I was 15 or so. I wanted to learn. Easy peasy. Even bad turkey is good. I learned how to make gravy from the giblets. I already knew how to make bread and Grandma Emma’s chocolate bottom pie. I always have fresh cranberries for my mother. Roasted asparagus for my brother. Squash with sausage for my dad when he was still alive as well as cornbread dressing and regular dressing. In fact, dressing may be my favorite.
Of course, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. And Brussel sprouts. I vow each year to add corn pudding but haven’t yet. It’s already two full days of cooking and I’m getting old. There will be wine and everyone’s favorite soft beverage.
Continue readingHappy Halloween
I am not one of those people for whom Halloween is a high holiday. I enjoy it, but I seldom dress up though I have fun when I do. Which begs the question — why don’t I every year?
Well, partly because I’m always a witch whether I dress the part or not.
We had punkins come trick or treating at the office on Friday. About 40 of them from a local preschool. One little girl solemnly told me, “I just love your costume.”
I miss the days when Chef Boy ‘R Mine was little. He rather enjoyed trick or treat and the whole costume thing. For his first school Halloween, the children were allowed to wear their costumes to school. That was the year of the infamous Ninja Turtle Costume — Donatello to be exact.
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W. Va. Fur and Root 