Turkey

Counting all the leftovers I sent to my daughter's house plus all the meals Papa and I have eaten, we are up to close to 40 meals from all the food I cooked for Thanksgiving. Are people eating less or am I cooking more? Tonight I have cooked down the carcass to start soup. I have packages of turkey for tomorrow in the fridge, and enough for two meals in the freezer for later. The food still tastes good to me in spite of my sniffles and aches. Hmmm. Maybe I need to scale back for next year. We have enjoyed it all.

Needless to say I haven't painted much this last week, and with the big art party here on the 13th, I guess I won't have much studio time for a while. But somehow, our pace seems good, not too hectic.

Today was a big big day for us. Papa worked for what we hope is his last day ever. Isn't that huge?!!!!

Even bigger though is that the local freelance art journalist wrote a great article on our student scholarship show. I am so proud of that.

What took me so long?

Yesterday I learned that food tastes better the day after I cook it. Well, I sort of knew that, but I didn't take that knowledge seriously enough. I cooked most of our Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday, working most of the day on it. I even made the gravy. All left to do on T day was to cook the turkey, the mashed potatoes, and the asparagus. Oh, and make appetizers. Everything else was ready to pop in the oven. Papa cooked the turkey on the grill - with great success. A 21 lb turkey in three hours! Yay!

So usually when I eat the Thanksgiving meal, I am underwhelmed, even when others say it is good. Eating leftovers the next day has always been fabulous. Now I get it. How could it be that I am such a slow learner? This Thanksgiving meal was the best! I believe two factors are to be considered here. First, I believe flavors blend more by the next day. More importantly, I believe my nose and taste buds are not in overload.

In the old days when I didn't have the leisure to cook the day before, this would have been just a bit of info to store in my hard drive, serving no good purpose. Retirement rocks.

Thanksgiving

I do love Thanksgiving. And I love it that my friend called this morning to tell me she is thankful for me. So cool.

I am thankful for my family, friends, all the material things that I am still surprised to have, and our country. Even though the USA is a bit screwed up, it is still the best place in the world to live. And after traveling cross country recently, I feel certain that I live in just about the best place in the country. If it were any better, too many people would be here - so I'll take it the way it is. I could have a fancier house, I suppose, but that would cost more. And it couldn't be more comfortable than mine. NO way. I am thankful for my health and the life I have.

I am sad for those who can't say the same.

I am also thankful for the leisure to cook all day today so that I can eat all day tomorrow:) And the next four or more days as well.

Wondering

I wonder how some folks just seem to have all the breaks. Papa and I usually do. How is it that others don't. Some seem to choose disaster. But others just seem to constantly stumble into it. How is that? Bad choices? Bad luck?

Mind Stretching

Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Seeing a new approach to art is like that. Changes me. Tasting a new dish that surpasses others is that way, too - can't go back. Unfortunately, neither can my body.

Olive Kitteridge

I just finished reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, It is thought provoking, appropriate reading for someone in my age group and married for thirty five years. The book is also a reminder to not be envious of another's life. You never know!

The Good Life

Sleeping late, cooking a new dish, good food and good wine with friends. No complaints!

I just learned that the encaustic artists in our community will have a show in March. This is a good thing!