At Considerable Cost

Our elementary school holds Grandparents' Day on the last day of school before Thanksgiving break.   It is a kindergarten tradition to put on a Thanksgiving show in each classroom.   Thomas was so excited about the performance and his guest, my Aunt Betty, his great aunt.   She is my mama's older sister and we love it when she can visit!      

I happened upon this interview from charming British artist, writer, comedian, Noel Fielding.   In this interview, he discusses turning forty.   It is so true.   It also made me think more about social media, especially Facebook.   Facebook, Instagram, Twitter--even blogging for those whose main purpose is to build an audience-- just seem to encourage/tempt a perpetual state of being in one's thirties, as they are described below.  I wonder if social media may alter normal stages of human development?   There's a thesis for someone.   "In your twenties, you're trying to work out who you are.   In your thirties, you're trying to tell everyone who you are and then, your forties, you don't care."     It was almost automatic the day I turned 40 last year .   I still care deeply about people, but I just don't worry so much what they think ...

Back in August, a week before school started, the children and I were headed to one of my doctor appointments.   We didn't make it to the appointment because a truck slammed into us at a red light.   Thankfully,  none of us were hurt, but the van was rendered immobile due to the way the body crushed into the rear tire.   Every safety feature worked and the parts crumpled just as they were designed in a wreck.   It was that side of the van that received the most damage and it was right over that tire where Clare was sitting.   The guys at the body shop were surprised no one was hurt.   She is still worried about car wrecks and last week, when we had a delayed start because of ice and sleet, I kept the kids at home because she was upset about the road conditions.   You shouldn't be able to see through that section in the middle. Closer view: top middle is the seatbelt holding Clare's booster ...

   Joey and I cooked a great feast together.   That evening, all of us but one was struck by a pretty powerful stomach bug.   I have lots of food pictures, along with the kids eating dessert, but those still make me feel a little ill.   There will be no pies for Christmas this year, I'm afraid.   So, the morning after Thanksgiving, here is how our Elf on the Shelf showed up:

It's the day before Thanksgiving and it's quiet here.    I keep thinking I'm forgetting something.   For the past few years, this day has been the culmination of several days of intense pie making.   Careful planning and shopping was followed by a tight time schedule so that by Wednesday morning, beautiful pies sat complete, boxed and ready to be picked up by customers.   This year, I'm taking it easy and the only pies I'm making are our own. I've had to rest a bit between my own cooking today, so I'm glad I declined all pie orders.   I realize though, what those orders meant, beyond extra spending money for Christmas gifts.   They meant planning and anticipation.   I had people coming to my door throughout the day.   Those pie orders and the customers who placed them helped to keep me occupied so I had less time to think about who would not be coming through my door for Thanksgiving.   Or C...

I realized this week that this summer turned out to be my own "Summer of George."   If you don't get Seinfeld references, I am sorry.   Truly, I am sorry for all you have missed.   I reference Seinfeld at least once on most days, I think. I had grand plans for the summer.   I was going to organize the whole house, from the closets out.   I was going to donate and trash massive amounts of things we don't need in order to de-clutter our lives.    I was going to paint our master bedroom and bathroom so the chalky quickie paint job done by the previous owners would finally be no more.   I was going to stain our back fence and work in my flowerbeds.   I was going to continue my diet success and lose another 30 pounds to match what I'd lost since February. I was so looking forward to turning 40 this month and I even had a private Pinterest board with ideas for how I might celebrate.   I had the dream of a little party and decide...

Our Thanksgiving mantle this year.   The candlesticks, metal pumpkins, and pilgrims belonged to my mother.   The iron cross was a gift from my friend Amber when my father passed away last year. Our sweet girls.   I wish we could have found the brown shirt in both sizes! Our Thanksgiving plate this year: oven roasted turkey, sweet potatoes and apples , buttermilk mashed potatoes, corn, peas, cornbread dressing , cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole (which I never ate until after I was married), and homemade rolls--Mama's recipe .   I got a phone call from a woman in another state this morning about these rolls.   She saw the recipe in Taste of Home and had a question about how I formed them in the muffin tins.   We do a full meal even though it's "just us."   I look forward to cooking this meal all year! One of my cherry pies this year. Too much Thanksgiving!   Poor baby boy f...

T hree children, beautiful, happy and healthy H usband, faithful and loving, and provider A nswered prayers, not always in my time or to my understanding, but always toward good in the end N eeds--most basic--comfort, shelter, food--met by the grace of God & those not basic, but still necessary--good books, conversation, beauty in creation, art, music and recreation to refresh body and mind K indness, in the forms of the most simple and the most profound acts by relatives, friends, and strangers F aith--a complete gift, unmerited U niversal, or Catholic, Church, where I can meet Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament L ife, given me by God, nourished and tended by my parents, brightened and enriched by family and friends

My children did this the past two years, so I guess it's on its way to becoming a family tradition.   It's super easy and gives everyone a chance to have a turn.   They are so proud to pass "their" butter around the table.   I could go into the details, but one of the blogs I follow, My Montessori Journey , has a post with directions and pictures.   Why reinvent the wheel?   Enjoy and I hope this becomes a tradition in your home, too! http://mymontessorijourney.typepad.com/my_montessori_journey/2010/11/shakin-up-some-yum.html