Friday, November 27

Quotes + Thanksgiving Notes

Nations have recently been led to borrow billions for war; no nation has ever borrowed largely for education. Probably, no nation is rich enough to pay for both war and civilization. We must make our choice; we cannot have both.


Abraham Flexner, educator (1866-1959)


***


Words / as slippery as smooth grapes, / words exploding in the light / like dormant seeds waiting / in the vaults of vocabulary, / alive again, and giving life: / once again the heart distills them.

Pablo Neruda, poet and diplomat (1904-1973)

***

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we will count this as one of the more successful. Fourteen people gathered here; enough food was consumed for twice that and we still have enough left-overs to feed us for a week. I baked three fresh turkey breasts (wow, were they ever good), made 4 lbs. of sweet potatoes, 5 lbs. of mashed potatoes and 4 quarts of sausage and mushroom dressing (pronounced amazing by my son-in-law). My daughter in law brought excellent green bean casserole, green bean salad, and cranberry sauce. My older daughter made wonderful deviled eggs, the best macaroni and cheese you'd ever eat, and my younger daughter contributed a huge bag of rolls (thanks you, Costco), 2 apple pies, a pumpkin pie and I baked a pineapple-upside down cake. I'd say that was a feast, wouldn't you?

The best part was that no one got into a snit or an argument, and none of the children got hurt - even though they got bored after dinner and ran through the house like a herd of elephants - a herd of BIG elephants (they range in age from almost ten to fifteen. They usually go outside to run off their energy, but even though it got up to 63*, they stayed inside this year.

Having gotten up at 7am to begin cooking; by 3pm I was exhausted, but I managed to tough it out until 10:15, when I literally fell into bed. After getting my usual seven hours of sleep, I woke up at 5:15 on the dot. I hate being up that early!

Today (Friday) we worked all day decorating the Cardinal Club for Christmas. Like the idiot I sometimes am, I left my camera at Mel's shop instead of putting it in my tool kit. But one of the others agreed to take photos for me and email them, so I hope to have them for you within a few days. We used some new animal print ribbons this year and they are smashing!

14 comments:

Grannymar said...

I wish I had your energy Judy.

Kay Dennison said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful day!

Travelin'Oma said...

You sound like the energizer bunny. You just keep going! (I stayed in my nightgown all day long today to recover from the activities of the week.)

joared said...

Glad you has such a marvelous family and food day! Sounds delicious. I think that's ideal to have others bring food, if you're fortunate enough that they live within such a close distance they can do so. I remember the years I "did it all," and it was a mixture of pleasure and work. I don't miss not doing it that way any more.

Arkansas Patti said...

That is the way to provide the spread, gang fashion. Such a table you all set.
Must say I am impressed with the no snit feature. Seems we usually manage to have one malcontent or someone who over celebrates.
Now, to work off all that food by Christmas.

Maithri said...

Oh Judy,

You can quote me some Neruda any day of the week!!! Love those words!

Thank you!

Much love, M

Joy Des Jardins said...

Sounds like your Thanksgiving was wonderful in every way Judy. I'm not surprised you 'fell' into bed after a day like that....exhausting, but great fun. The key is that you got up so early the next day to work...YIKES, bless your heart. That's the hard part....and yes, thank God for your energy. I remember a few short years ago having to get up for work at 5:30 all the time. Now I wonder how I did it. Yesterday I worked, but I didn't have to leave the house to do it. Hugs, Joy

Anonymous said...

Even the native Americans brought food to the table on that so-called first thanksgiving. In this country it is all about sales, greed and turkey growers as well as cranberry farmers. Little real concern is on who could use a handout.

One of the local communities, had a dinner every year for people in need of a meal and each year they fed thousands of people. Now, this year, in these times when more people are a lot poorer than they were just last year, the group stopped feeding the poor or those hungry.

sage said...

Sounds like a wonderful day... I might snitch an onion ring off a green bean casserole, but haven't eaten green beans since I was old enough not to be forced-fed "String Beans." :)

robin andrea said...

Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving at your house. 5:15 is a little early, but that internal alarm clock has a mind of its own!

colleen said...

I love that I only have to make one dish for the neighborhood farm potluck. Having Bryce and his family and Josh from Asheville was the dessert. Blessings to you and yours.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Your day sounded similar to mine.
I was up at 5:00. Next year girls will bring more. I did it all except one daughter brought rolls.
But I wanted to in this new farm home. My little ones 4 and 7 - never stopped. I smile at the memories but still not up to par.

rosemary said...

What a great sounding day elephants and all. It was just the two of us and we have double digit pounds of leftovers.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Oh, it sounds like it was a Terrific Thanksgiving, Judy....Such lovely food and the best part---Everryone Got Along...LOL! I don't know how you do it, my dear....You work so hard and all that cooking....! Marvelous, Marvelous!