Too Cold, Too Wet . .

"Too wet to go out . . ."

"Too cold to play ball,

So we sat in the house

And did nothing at all."

"And all we could do was to sit, sit, sit. . ."

"And we did not like it, not one little bit."

(quoting Dr. Seuss from memory and perhaps inaccurately)

Old Friends. . . .

Internet restored and I spent most of Monday decorating the tree. . .

Claui and Justin came up Sunday and we all worked on the popcorn chain and got it and the red bows in place (and drank sparkling wine which is perhaps why I wasn't keen to press on with the decorating in spite of their willingness to help.)

So yesterday I took my time and renewed my acquaintance with all these old friends -- the felt and rick rack ornaments Justin made in second or third grade . . .

The beaded ornaments Cory's (the guy not the cat) grandmother made and he is leaving with us till such time as he and Kasie do a tree of their own. (Cory and Kasie have been a part of our tree decorating for many years and they were sorely missed this year when they had to stay in California.)

The little wooden angel the homeroom mothers handed out in eighth grade -- (John got one too as we were in the same home room but his has disappeared.)

And some more recent acquisitions . . .

This fish's little fins flutter most appealingly -- I've tried to hang him where the kittehs won't notice him. . . 

Is this a lute? 

This retro beauty is the last of a set of ornaments that John sold to my parents back in 1959. He was a member of the Jr, Optimists and they were trying to raise money for something or other.

A card/ornament made by one of our great nephews -- with some help from his mother. . .

So many memories . . .

No Internet . . .

Our internet went down yesterday morning, I have brief access to it and am just dropping by to say I'll be back when I can . . .

Now for the popcorn stringing . . . 

What, Already?

I know lots of folks put up their Christmas trees right after Thanksgiving -- even on Thanksgiving Day. I've never done that, preferring to wait, normally, till mid-December. But due to some scheduling conflicts with our popcorn stringers, this year we're putting the tree up a week early.

So I'm digging out the red and green quilts while John goes off to the Farmers' Market in search of our tree. I don't feel very Christmassy but here we go.

.

Time to put away the autumn leaf pillow covers in the living room and kitchen and break out the red and green . . .

John will put up the tree and add the lights this afternoon.

We'll string popcorn and cranberries on Sunday -- all the while lamenting the absence of long-time participants Cory (the guy,  not the cat) and Kasie who can't make the trip from California this year. 

I brought out the lights and began stringing them up the stairs. At first I didn't plug them in -- my internal clock saying that it was too early and I was just getting ready. . . there's still all that greenery to bring in and hang on the stair and put across the mantel . . . 

But then I gave in . . . and on a gray day that didn't feel like any holiday at all, those cheerful little lights made me smile -- and it began to look something like Christmas. 

Long Time Gone

Miss Birdie and the Cat's Pajamas

Why, Lizzie Beth, how glad I am to see you! Lay that wet jacket there by the stove and come get you a chair.

No. I ain't busy -- jest settin here feeling kindly down in my spirits. These short days and dark clouds take me thataway sometimes. But mostly I been thinking on last night.

Well, you see, yesterday evening Bernice come by and wanted me to come with her into Asheville to see the Christmas lights. And I'll not deny, they are a sight on earth. How they get them in some of those high up places, you'd not credit. I hate to think what the electric bill will be for some of them places. . .

Well, Bernice drove us right into downtown, where I ain't been in many a year, and I could hardly believe all the changes there was - great new buildings and people everywhere and some right quare-lookin folks at that . . . 

 But what else I saw . . . there was this one woman pushing an old shopping buggy, just piled high with bags and I says to Bernice, 'Well, she's doing a plenty of shopping,' and Bernice looks at me all pitiful like and says, "Birdie, honey, that woman's likely homeless -- there's a sight of 'em here in Asheville. The things in that buggy is probably everything she owns.'

Well, I don't hardly believe what she begins to tell me but then she takes and drives to this place where you can see up under this bridge there are pieces of cardboard and old blankets and such and she says that's one of the places some of those folks sleep. Can you imagine? . . . 

Now I was brought up without much -- plenty would say I was poor -- but there was always food and a bed and wood for a fire. Even during the Great Depression, things didn't change much -  we still had food and a roof over our heads. 

Bernice went on tell me about how there was shelters for these folks but there wasn't always enough places and it made me think of the little baby Jesus and no place to lay his head and just about then, here come a commercial on the car radio -- Bernice had it on a station playing Christmas carols -- and the commercial was a lady selling pajamas -- talking about sending pajamas for a Christmas present.

Oh, you've heard it too.  Yeah, boy, there's this woman telling how they had pajamas to fit everyone in the family, big and small, young and old. Why, she even said -- and this is this part I been studying on -- they had pajamas to fit  your dog and your cat.

So I reckon that's how come I to be so low today -- just setting here thinking about those folks without nare bed to sleep in whilst other folks is buying pajamas for their pets.

I tell you, Lizzie Beth, it just don't seem right.

In the Windows

Leftover Turkey -- Curried Cottage Pie

Time to deconstruct the last of the Thanksgiving turkey -- the carcass is boiling and tomorrow I'll make a turkey vegetable soup. Some of the meat will go into the freezer but the rest is going into this dish -- kind of the epitome of comfort food.

I boiled up some potatoes for mashed potatoes -- leftovers would work if we had them but freshly mashed are lighter and better.  I put the bits of turkey in the bottom of a shallow casserole and added some sauteed sliced onion. In the pan where I'd sauteed the onion, I melted a couple of tablespoons of butter, whisked in some flour and curry powder, and made a simple roux. Then I added turkey broth.to make a nice gravy. The gravy went over the turkey and onions and the mashed potatoes went over the whole thing. A sprinkle of paprika for color, bake at 375 till bubbling ( about 45 minutes.) Serve with green peas and a simple salad (we had spring mix with toasted almonds and a little cubed Camembert (another Thanksgiving leftover,) 

Man thanks to all who sent such nice messages about our William. Over on Facebook it was a virtual memorial service as many who'd known him (and had his tongue in their ear more than once) commented.  He certainly made a strong impression on lots of folks!

Here and There and Then -- from the Archives