COLD TURKEY

We've had it. Up to here. (pointing to throat!) Thanksgiving dinner, that is. And it was wonderful. My daughter, with her husband's help, prepared almost all the meal. He is a great help in the kitchen. I had volunteered my assistance but I had a bad night with very little sleep (arthritis, that has been aggravated by our latest cold spell). I fell asleep sometime around daylight and it was ten o'clock before I arose. Thankfully, I had already prepared my part of the feast before bedtime. I had cornbread stuffing, broccoli casserole , and a fruit tray in the fridge. (I thought I was getting off easy with the fruit tray, but I realized later how time consuming it is to prepare one. But it was pretty, colorful and appreciated. My picky grandson so loves all fruits and melons. This week I went through my Lecture #12, (according to my daughter) about being frugal and not preparing too much food, as we usually do. With the economy being so scary, I doubled up on the intensity. To which Kammy replied, "Now, Mom, I only have one way of cooking for company, Food and lots of it." And she is a great cook, taught by my mother. I can't take credit for that. And what a spread it was! Turkey, ham, smashed potatoes/gravy, stuffing, cranberry salad, chicken tetrazzini, green beans, corn, birthday cake( my sweetie's), pumpkin and apple pies, rolls, and punch. She had asked what my boy friend likes and I had said sweet potato casserole but she forgot to buy them and made a whipped carrot casserole that tasted almost exactly like the yam one. Even fooled my sweetie. Did we overindulge? Of course! But I observed my daughter loading up the left-overs so that each family could take some home for supper. They took plates to their bachelor neighbor, and still had enough to eat for a day or two for themselves. It may have gone to waist, but for sure, it did not go to waste. There was a feeling of great thankfulness for the years bounty and God's blessings for us. We prayed for the safety of the twin son who is now is Iraq. Hopefully he will be there with his brother, who has already returned from Iraq, next Thanksgiving. A career man, this is his second tour there. We had dinner on Sunday, instead of Thursday, so that some could be with parents on that day. One parent just got out of the hospital, and could not come but they will be with him on Thanksgiving. I am re- minded by my children that the last ten years of my mother's lifed, she sweetly told us that each holiday might be her last one to spend with us. Until it finally was. However, my parent's presence is felt, in observing the rich traditions and warm family fellowship that we cherish so much.

(That warm turkey was wonderful, but

I am looking forward to sandwiches for

lunch today, and I haven't even had my

breakfast yet.) Happy Thanksgiving, to

all my friends and journalers, where-ever

you are. Give thanks!

ODDS AND ENDS

You may have guessed from the title that this will be a scatter-brained posting, for lack of a major topic. My mind and conversation often flit from one unrelated item to another and this is one of those times. Fair warning! Why do appliances pick the worst times to go beserk? My water heater is out. I think it needs new elements and the plumber I use is very busy at this time. Two days now, I have heated water on the stove for dishes, sponge baths, and the constant hand washing that occurs so much. They say you don't miss the water till the well runs dry. Well, I can attest to the fact that I miss HOT running water very much. I finally figured out that my dishwasher heats the water itself if it isn't hot enough. I'm tempted to climb in for a hot shower. Anyone that wants to go back to the good ol' days, be my guest. I'll stay mod, thank you! My daughter informed me that my grandsons are going to the football game Saturday with their hot-blooded Dad. (Cold weather does not phase him in the least.) Plus , he has the theory that his boys need "toughening up". Gr-r-r! I objected, of course, even though the game is against their major rival, who is the only team to defeat the boy's school team all year. It is the play-offs, but not worth getting sick for the holidays. Last week they parked on the knoll overlooking the stadium and tail-gated. The boys soon got cold and wisely watched most of the game from the truck. When I fret about the boy's nonchalant father, my honey chides me about being "over-protective", and I get to hear once again how he was sent by his mother ,as his father lay dying from double pneumonia, to cut the ice in the pond so that their animals could get to water. (This was a FIVE-YEAR OLD BOY!) I questioned the veracity of this tale until his eighty-seven year old mother told me that it was true, indeed. She must have seen how incredulous I looked, because she went on the tell me that it was January, and she was expecting her third child at any time. They lived on a remote farm and the doctor had not been able to get to them. Penicillin and other antibiotics were not even discovered until years later. Neighbors tried to carry his father out to the distant highway that day, but sadly, he passed away that day at age twenty-eight. His mother said, "I had to think about the living. My three young children depended on me. (HIs youngest sister was born three weeks after her father died.) and they would need the animals desperately." I admired the bravery of this woman and she worked all her life, (with the help of that dear little boy) , and raised three fine children. You have to admire the spunk of these pioneer women. And sixty-plus years later, I still see signs of the courage, bravery, and character that was instilled in them. He also said that the only store-bought toy he ever owned was a Red Flyer wagon his dad had bought him the year he died. He hauled firewood for the family for the next ten years in that wagon. Are we not a spoiled generation? Yes, I admit I paid sixty dollars for a video game for my boys last night for Christmas. And it wasn't even an educational one at that. (Sigh!) I guess we all do to the best of our abiliy at the moment. I also contributed to the Needy Children fund at the church last night and so I feel somewhat vindicated. We have taught the boys to be givers also and they pass on toys and clothing. Times are getting rough for some again and we may see a return to the frugal ways of the past. In the meantime, on a lighter note, I do so enjoy these things: 1. Big navel oranges and tangerines. 2. A warm house instead of winter woolies. 3. Truffles and Lady Godiva instead of chocolate covered cherries that I always got from the Christmas name-drawing. 4. Soft-soap and Caress bath bars, (tropical scented) instead of home-made lye soap, even though it cured everything. 5. My sweetie, (who just now called to say that he is on the way over to my house with two new elements for the water heater.) I have a lot more to be thankful for, that I will write about later, but for now, one thing is FOR SURE and certain" "LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT". Bless your heart!