Knowing that Thanksgiving is exactly three weeks away, it is time to get prepared for the feast.  Many have commented in the past that I have gone overboard on the Thanksgiving meal, but it has been called a feast from the very beginning.  So get out the silver and the special china and put the linens on the table.  Let’s get set.

My turkeys are not only purchased, but they are thawed, roasted and in the freezer – and they are delicious.  The ham loaf is mixed up, in the freezer and ready for the oven in three weeks. The bread is baked and in the freezer, too.

Whew!!!  Time for a trip to Texas and rest before the feast!

After our return from Texas, we will get prepared for the other menu items.

My apron is on and I am ready to bake!

100% Whole Wheat or Carrot Sunflower

Today, I will make at least 1 of each loaf. Trying to fill up my freezer with prepared or partially prepared food for Thanksgiving helps me feel ahead of the game.

So I just put together the Carrot Sunflower Bread in my “National” Bread Machine which has worked hard for me without fail for more than 10 years. It is now rare for me to go out and buy a loaf of bread. The process and aroma of the home baked bread is so satisfying. It is healthy for us to eat the less processed and fresh bread from our own oven. Just use the dough setting and after about 2 hours, take it out and punch it down to shape in a loaf. Put it in the oiled loaf pan and let it rise for an hour. Then bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. How easy is that?

We love it toasted and with really good olive oil.

The recipes come out of a book I ordered from Amazon called: “whole grain Breads by machine or hand” by Beatrice Ojakangas.

Recipes include directions for mixing by hand, mixer, food processor, and bread machine. She also has accompanying recipes for croutons, crostinis, salads, and bread puddings. It is really a great book.

It is time again to make our annual trip to New Harmony, IN.  My sisters and I have been going there annually for 9 years.  The first couple years we were honored to have our Mother Emily with us.  We would eat lunch at the Yellow Tavern on Saturday, shop for antiques and special things, and then have our happy hour at our Bed and Breakfast, Whites Place, before going out to dinner at the Red Geranium.

One of the highlights for me is our walk on the Labyrinth.  Let me set the scene.  It is cool, crisp twilight – silhouette  time – after the sun has set and the trees are black against the darkening sky.  We walk down the road through deep piles of fallen leaves, crackling under our feet, the illuminated gardens create breathless beauty as we make our way – then entering and making our way through the granite labyrinth with spiritual awareness -  observing our hearts – loving our sisterhood – we walk – we breathe – together on the path – and then separate paths – silently aware – we join in the center and pray – then we find our path out by the dim light of the clouded moon and it’s reflection on the pathway – coming together again at the labyrinth’s end . . . .

My sweet daughter Meaghan had some wise words for me earlier this year – “Making It Work”!  She was helping me figure out how I was going to get through a tough time.  I was healing a stress fracture in the femoral neck of my hip joint and not liking being sedentary and she said “Mom, you are going to want to use this mantra that Matt and I used when we moved north to Wisconsin in February, Wisconsin’s coldest month – “Making It Work”.(MIW)  Not only did it help me get through the healing time, but I am still using MIW.

So now I am using MIW in continuing to clean out all the stuff.  This week I was able to plow through part of a big closet stuffed with old pictures, frames, and cameras. Most of the frames were cheap or broken, so I just tossed them in a big trash bin.  The cameras are safely stored in a chest and the pictures are now home in a cabinet of their own.  In order to give the pictures a home, I continued me effort to rid myself of the stacks of books that I will never read again.  I carted them out to my minivan and will take them to the Used Book Store downtown for credit on books that I will read that have already been gently read.  Oh, it feels so good.

Next week I am going to finish the first closet, take the books to Used Books Store, and start the next closet full of Mom’s old clothes.

I am going to MIW!!!

I hope I will get some help here in finding out where to start cleaning out the stuff.

I think I will start with closets – most of which are loaded with the history of my future projects. I have a the closet in the “blue” room – aptly named for the blue atlas wallpaper that will never come off of the wall (trust me – it’s a long story) – full of extinct cameras and film. I have Meaghan’s closet that is full of my Mom’s old clothes, purses, and shoes that I couldn’t part with 7 years ago because I was going to remake some of her more memorable denims and tees into some bohemian shirts for my sisters. Then I have the Raggedy Ann and Andy room – Amanda’s old room that is now ready for grandkids, of which I will soon have three – whose closet is full of wooden frames that have lost their images and a few new additional toys for the grandkids. Then there is Aunt Marie’s room as we lovingly remember how our guest room was often occupied by sweet Aunt Marie when she would come to help with the laundry – whose closet is full of old CD’s cases and all, and old winter coats. Bryant’s closet  – he still lives at home and his walls are adorned with a color I call radioactive ninja turtle. I don’t even want to look in his closet – believe me – that is “where the wild things are”!

This is not a call for help – but a call for support that this really needs to be done – and now!

You have to send me words of encouragement – Please!

For our family, this time of year, we are focused on everyone’s birthday!

I didn’t realize until just now in writing them all down like this, that a numerologist would have a comment or two about all the 3’s!

Mandy as she was known in those days (before kindergarten when she changed her name abruptly) was 6 years old here and our Meaghan who will always be Meaghan and not Meg is sweet little 3 years old.

Amanda will be 33 on January 29th, 2009

Meaghan will be 30 on January 29th, 2009

29

Your birthday on the 29th adds a tone of idealism to your nature. You are imaginative and creative, but rather uncomfortable in the business world. You are very aware and sensitive, with outstanding intuitive skills and analytical abilities. The 29 reduces to 11, one of the master numbers which often produces much nervous tension. This is the birthday of the dreamer rather than the doer. You do, however, work very well with people.

David will be 32 on February 6, 2009

6

A birthday on the 6th of the month adds a tone of responsibility, helpfulness, and understanding to your natural inclinations. Those born on the sixth are more apt to be open and honest with everyone, and more caring about family and friends, too. This is a number associated with responsibility and caring, and no matter what your lifepath may be, this birthday lends a degree of concern for others.

Bryant will be 23 on February 18, 2009

18 Your birthday on the 18th day of the month suggests than you are one who can work well with a group, but still remain someone who needs to maintain individual identity. There is a humanistic or philanthropic approach to business circumstances in which you find yourself. You may have good executive abilities, as you are very much the organizer and administrator. You are broad-minded, tolerant and generous; a compassionate person that can inspire others with imaginative ideas. Some of your feelings may be expressed, but even more of them are apt to be repressed. There is a lot of drama in your personality and in the way you express yourself to others. Oddly enough, you don’t expect as much in return as you give.

Emily will be 3 on February 21, 2009

21

Being born on the 21st day of the month (3 energy) is likely to add a good bit of vitality to your life. The energy of 3 allows you bounce back rapidly from setbacks, physical or mental. There is a restlessness in your nature, but you seem to be able to portray an easygoing, sometimes “couldn’t care less” attitude. You have a natural ability to express yourself in public, and you always make a very good impression. Good with words, you excel in writing, speaking, and possibly singing. You are energetic and always a good conversationalist. You have a keen imagination, but you tend to scatter your energies and become involved with too may superficial matters. Your mind is practical and rational despite this tendency to jump about. You are affectionate and loving, but very sensitive. You are subject to rapid ups and downs.

No, it is no mistake that Amanda and Meaghan were born on the same day 3 years apart. Meaghan was Amanda’s birthday gift. We have had some awesome birthday parties for Amanda and Meaghan when they were little. There was the “Cabbage Patch” birthday party where all the guests of both girls brought their dolls and we served the dolls as well. Then I remember the “Double Dare” party where it was so messy that we had to have part of it in the garage. There was the game tournament also. Help me remember!

I wish we were having a big birthday celebration with everyone so that we can honor each and every birthday.

There is always hope.

snow is falling

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

kids are driving

1 teaspoon salt

kids are flying

1 tsp granulated sugar

dining table is set

1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted buter, cut into small pieces

bedrooms are freshened

1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

frig is full

Put the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor.  Add the pieces of butter and process for approximately 10 seconds, or just until the mixture resembles coarse meal. (To mix by hand, combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  using a pastry blender or two table knives, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.)

Add ice water, drop by drop, through the feed tube with the machine running, just until the dough holds together without being wet or sticky; do not process more than 30 seconds.  Test the dough at this point by squeezing a small amount together.  If it is crumbly, add a bit more water.

Turn the dough out onto a large piece of plastic wrap.  Grasping the ends of the plastic wrap with you hands, press the dough into a flat circle.  This makes rolling easier than if the pastry is chilled as a ball.  Wrap the dough in the plastic and chill for at least an hour.

gifts are wrapped

fill with prepared pumpkin filling and bake according to directions

my heart is smiling