A Time to Say Goodbye

He was found wandering the streets of Hannibal, Missouri. He had no collar, no chip, and almost no lower front teeth...apparently from having chewed his way out of something strong like a chain link fence. The vet for the wonderful Guardian Angel Basset Rescue (GABR), who said he was probably between 5 and 7 years old, pronounced him healthy, if perhaps about 20 pounds underweight, and after a period with a foster mom in Western Illinois, ready for his forever home.

We were newly-arrived in our new-to-us home in O'Fallon...the first one we'd had with a fenced yard since we'd left Ohio. Duchess, just turned 2 the previous December, was still more-or-less a pup, with lots of energy to burn. Her principal playmate, Missy M had a job that kept her away from home during the week. Solution? Let's get her a playmate! The sun, moon, and stars aligned...and we were approved for adoption by GABR by the end of the week.

I remember the day we drove to the outskirts of Granite City, Illinois, for a meet-and-greet "visit" with a potential match. We were piled into the red Ford Explorer...Missy M, Duchess, and I...following the directions from the foster mom over the so-called New Chain of Rocks bridge and onto unfamiliar roads. When we arrived at the small, neat brick house, we were greeted...not by a Basset Hound as expected, but by a couple of Doberman Pinchers, along with several other eager canine faces. Then, a different kind of bark...and there he was. Red and white and ears and nose and beautiful. And I knew we weren't leaving without him.

Duchess, with her best I-am-Queen-of-the-Universe look, didn't have quite the same enthusiastic response. Not that there was any open animosity displayed...no, it was more along the lines of "Seriously? Why do you want another dog when you have me?"

We had all intentions of changing his name to Duke...for a certain symmetry, of course. The name he came with had been given to him during the adoption process. And "Gus" just sounded so, well, plain...and almost harsh when you shouted it out the back door: "Gus! Come get your supper!"

On the way home, I suddenly had a terrifying thought: "what if he doesn't like men?!" That's an issue with adopted dogs...you never know if they have suffered abuse, and when they have, it typically has come at the hands of males...and I had neglected to ask. So Missy M called the foster mom to find out...and she could offer no assistance. She was single, and she hadn't seen any interaction between Gus and a human male. So I began to worry about the first meeting between our newest family member and the Leader of our Pack, Mr. T.

No worries. No worries at all. They took to each other from the first like they had known each other all of their lives.

The only cause for pause in the day's activities came that first night. We all piled into the King-size bed ("just this once"...:-), and when play time was over, Mr. T tried to move Gus out of his spot. "Woo woo woo woo woo!" Nasty, snarling, downright scary. Nothing like a big, ol' sweet-natured Basset. Think Cujo.

We looked at each other in horror. What have we welcomed into our home and hearts? A monster? Duchess looked at us from her spot on the end of the bed as if to say, "I told you not to get him. When are you taking him back?"

Before we could spend too much more time in fear of our lives, Gus curled up into HIS spot and went off to sleep...with a smile on his face, if I recall correctly. Crisis ended.

Of course, the same thing, or some version of it, happened each and every time anyone tried to move G from HIS spot...wherever he decided that was for the moment. Just a part of his personality that we came to know and love. Well, with Duchess, "tolerate" would probably be a better word.

About the name change? Nah. I believe to this day that someone in the adoptive process observed one of his "Woo woo" tantrums and said, "my goodness. Isn't he a Fussy Gus?!" So Gus he was, and Gus he stayed.

Well. For the most part. He was also known as Gussie, Gussie-man, Mr. G, The G-man, Gussifer (like Lucifer...:-), Big Boy (once Elmo came into the Drool Gang as Little Boy), and several other names of endearment.

He loved BilJac Liver treats, probably because they were small and he could eat them easily, even with those filed-down front teeth. He enjoyed getting his hair dried, and would race down the hall when he heard the blow-dryer. He loved long, skinny soft stuffed toys...and I do believe he took inventory of what was in the Toy Basket on occasion. His favorite toy, however, was a red cherry tomato, which he would pick off the vine in containers on the deck...toss high in the air...and then catch like a rubber ball. He rarely broke the skin, but he would leave the "used" ones in the dirt where they would sprout the next year. Gus' Garden.

He was an Alpha dog and considered himself Pack Lead...yielding only to Mr. T, with whom he loved to spend nap-time on "their" lounge luge (as we call the Big Recliner). He was loud, large and in charge...and didn't miss an opportunity to tell the world. Woo woo!

Interestingly enough, he and Duchess never did learn how to be playmates. Ah well, no matter.

We celebrated nine wonderful years together in June, although that was subdued because he was not well. His big ol' heart had begun to give out on him, making breathing and walking difficult, and the steps nearly impossible. We knew it was his time last night when he suffered a seizure right before supper.

Thomas was with his buddy when Gus crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. He knew he was loved by his forever family. He will be missed...and never forgotten.

Rest in peace, Gussie-man. Woo woo.

What a Christmas!*

*To explain the significance of the title: 

...as said by the incomparable Sydney Greenstreet, playing Mr. Yardley,  at the end of one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies, A Christmas in Connecticut...the 1945 original, starring Barbara Stanwyck as Elizabeth Lane.  Don't even speak to me about the remake; it doesn't exist in my universe.  BTW, I really want to be Elizabeth Lane when I grow up.

Anyway.

I do hope you've had a wonderful, marvelous, heart-warming, and soul-restoring Christmas, too.  One that just took your breath away.


Coconut Cake with Ambrosia Filling

I finished up my baking with a three-layer coconut cake (photo, right), made with 7-minute icing and ambrosia (pineapple, orange, and coconut cooked in a sugar-syrup) filling.  My step-great-grandmother, Ner (who was married to Nananny/Ed Lee Stewart and whose "real" name was Nelle Rhea Stewart) used to make fabulous coconut cakes and ambrosia at Christmas, and I inherited this labor of love.  I just can't grate the coconut by hand like she did, so I've modernized the recipe by using the Cuisinart to do that part of the chore.  Thank goodness for progress!

Missy M, who had to drive her Honda-sleigh down the toll-road and over the mountains, arrived on Christmas Eve.  As the temperatures dropped after dark, I heated up some apple cider, and we sipped the comforting beverage from the Christmas china cups (you remember, I wrote about that Christmas china last year)...knowing that our child was home safe, our family complete.



Christmas Tree on Christmas Morn
...and Gus with his toy

Christmas Day 2010 began with the smell of Creme Brulee-laced coffee and cinnamon rolls, hot out of the oven.  We traditionally "open" our stockings first, then have coffee/hot chocolate, juice, orange slices, and rolls before distributing and opening our gifts from under the tree.  That's a "before" shot of the tree (left), along with Gus and his toy that Santa brought Ella Rae:  you see, in Gus' universe, all toys are his toys.  You'll notice a multitude of sacks on the hearth:  those are the stocking-sacks, since the stuff is just too heavy to put in the stockings and still have them hanging from the mantle.  Santa was very generous indeed, and we were all in a festive mood when I went in the kitchen to preheat the oven for the sausage casserole for brunch.



Ella Rae on the deck with the first flakes of
Christmas Day snow

As I paused at the back door to open it for Ella Rae to go outside (right), I shouted "it's snowing!"  A real, live White Christmas was coming to life, right before our eyes.  When Brother J called from Nashville, he said they already had 2 inches on the ground...and more falling at the moment.  Brother T, who lives in Northern KY, said they were still snowed in from the last snowfall, and that it required a 4-wheel drive vehicle for them to drive down their mountain.  For the first time in years, we were all going to enjoy (more or less...:) a Winter Wonderland, regardless of what state we were living in.

Well, by the next morning, we were living in "a state of emergency," as Gov. Perdue declared the Old North State.  We never lost our power (thank goodness) like many did, but it didn't stop snowing at two inches for us.  Or, at three or four inches either.  By the time we called it a night, we knew we were headed for a pretty deep "dusting" of the frozen stuff, as you can see in that photo I took, looking out the bay window in the back, over the deck steps (where Ella Rae had been sitting in the earlier photo) toward the swing (below, top).

Then, check out the same location-shot I took the next morning (above, bottom).  We had over five inches on the ground in HPNC then, with more falling.  By Sunday night, the final official total was given as "between 7 and 10 inches."  Yowza!  A white Christmas, for the first time in over 40 years.



Rudolph Cake, made for the Reindeer Games

The Christmas Day Snow topped off a wonderful holiday season for us.  We had had such a good time a weekend earlier when we journeyed to L'ville for the Lunn Family Christmas get-together, hosted by Missy M.  She had sent out invitations for all to join her for "Reindeer Games," and we had a blast playing Scrabble, doing a Christmas movie quiz (for "fabulous prizes") and Christmas-themed scratch-offs with Brother J and SIL J, who drove up from Nashville.  M made two big pots of chili (one hot, one mild...:), which we enjoyed before a roaring fire...courtesy of the Yule Log channel on DirectTV!  (Brother J said he'd lived to see it all...:)  I made a Rudolph cake for dessert (left), and we baked reindeer slice-and-bake cookies, too.  For favors, M created tins of "extra reindeer noses," which turned out to be little red-hot candies.  So clever!



Lunn Family Christmas at M's in L'ville
12/18/10

Unfortunately, Nana/Momma/Edith couldn't make the long trip, and then Brother T and SIL LaD couldn't join us as the cold and snow aggravated her breathing issues...and we missed them all terribly.  Still, it was so good to be with J and J and have such a great time.  As Mr. T said, "we need to get a photo of this (right)!"

I have a few photos of Finished Objects (FO's) that were given as gifts.  Plus, the snow has provided us with hundreds of opportunities for photos.  And, one of Mr. T's presents was a Bird Camera, which is now set up outside, clamped to one of the feeder-poles...and set to automatically snap shots when it detects motion (and warmth).  We should have mountains of photos generated by that! 

I do believe I'll save those until the next post...or two.  I wouldn't want to bury you in pixels.  Tee hee.

So, until then, a Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!

Holidays are Upon Us

Whew!  Let me catch my breath.  And, maybe have another cup of coffee.  I need some caffeine!

N/M/E enjoys a shopping trip
to Cracker Barrel

I've been decorating the house for the Holidays (photos in the next post), doing some baking, writing the annual newsletter, signing and addressing the Christmas cards, and...in my spare time on Thursday...driving Miz Edith.  Mom had made her list and checked it twice...and she was ready to go shopping as soon as the sun came out.  Cold weather or not...

To get me moving in the direction she wanted to go, she tempted me with an offer of breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  I'm a sucker for country ham and biscuits, don't you know?

But, she had a bigger plan than just enjoying a meal together.  Power shopping!  I'm telling you, that little lady (photo, right) can spend with speed!  Even using her walker didn't slow her down much.

If you know me, you know I was out of the room when they handed out the shopping genes.  I'm not much of a shopper...never have been, never will be.  Make a list, know what you want, get in, get out.  But I do have great respect for those who are.  And, she is.

After attacking CB, we headed to another fav stop of hers:  Kohl's.  Because of the size of the store, she agreed that the wheelchair was a better idea than the walker.  She had an idea of what she wanted, and since most Kohl's stores are arranged alike, it was fairly easy to roll our way to where she wanted to go.  The only thing that slowed her down was my skills...or, lack thereof...pushing the chair.  I keep misjudging the turning distance/radius...and I usually pick an aisle that isn't quite wide enough to accommodate us.  It'll fit. Famous last words.


Permit me a moment on my soapbox, please.  Have you ever realized how difficult we make it for people in walkers and/or wheelchairs to maneuver?  Most stores have nice, wide main aisles...but then the secondary aisles where the merchandise lives are a much tighter squeeze.  And, there's no "give" in a wheelchair.

One of the worst offenders of creating barriers is the building where several of our doctors are.  The front doors do not open automatically; you have to push a button to make one of the double doors swing open.  When you are inside, there are fire doors (that are supposed to be kept shut) that block access to and from all the hallways where the offices are located...and more importantly, to the hallway where the lab is.  And, this is a new building, finished just this year.  Come on, people!  (To their credit, the staffs of the various doctors recognize the issues, and they have taken it on themselves to put door-stops to keep the doors open...and make the offices accessible.  Still, if the Fire Marshall makes a visit, I fear they'll be in trouble for their kindness.)



Nutcracker at High Point University



OK...let me climb down now.

After Kohl's, we went to Home Place/T J Maxx, CVS, Belk (in the Oak Hollow Mall here in High Point), Company's Coming (to get something for supper) and finished up at the Sweet Shoppe Bakery.  Hey, after all of that, one of us needed a sugar fixx!


Before heading back home, we toured through the campus of High Point University, where they have a display of nutcrackers and toy soldiers on one of the pedestrian walkways.  It was turning cold again as the sun was setting, so I took that shot (left) from the comfort of a heated car.  Wish they had lined the figures up along a driveway/street on campus...would have been easier to see.  Still, it was a neat Holiday treat.

When we pulled into the driveway, we were happy to see Mr. T's car.  He'd been out of town for a couple of days, and we didn't think he'd beat us home.  Hmmmm.

After giving us a tongue-lashing for being away from home all day long with only a few morsels of ham in the doggie bag, the Houndz all returned to their respective spots.  Holidays or no, we still have a dog on nearly every soft surface.  Below, you see Gus on the sofa (with some of the collection of 58 nutcrackers on the table behind) and Elmo on our bed, where some of the teddy bear collection lives for the Season.

We're still wondering how one of those bears got down off its perch and waddled over to the middle of the living room floor...where Mr. T found him, upside down and a little moist around the ears.  Drool, you think? 

No one's talking.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

First snow of the season

 Snow! Snow!! Snow!!! Snow!!!! S-n-o-w!!!!! (Sung to the tune from "White Christmas."  You know that one, don't you?  When Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye meet up with the girls, played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, in the train's dining car?  On their way to Vermont?  You know the one I mean, right?!)

Yes, it's the first snowfall of the season for us here in HPNC.  And, as always, I'm loving it!

Mr. T and I got up earlier than we usually do on a Saturday morning so we could take the Houndz to the Fluff 'n Fold...our pet phrase for the Grooming Center at PetsMart. Although they are never happy to make this journey, they all really needed to go to the salon; their nails were turning into talons! Duchess' dew-claws looked like the Wicked Witch of the West...and she certainly knows how to use 'em. Ouch.

After herding the Basset Brigade behind the swing-door in the store, we humans headed for Bruegger's Bagels in Friendly Center.  We don't have a bagel place in High Point, so we treat ourselves to Bruegger's whenever we can.  Usually we sit outside, but not today!  Brrrrr.  It was just too cold, so we opted for an inside two-top.

The conversation turned to our Christmas Tree, and I shared an idea with Mr. T.  On Thursday, I had gone shopping  in Winston (I like Hanes Mall there better than Four Seasons in Greensboro, and Thruway Shopping Center is still one of my fav places:  Dewey's Bakery = yum!); as I passed the Sandy Ridge exit off I-40 on my way home, I'd noticed the sign at the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market, where they were advertising NC-grown sweet potatoes and Christmas Trees.

When we lived here before, we used to enjoy making a whole day out of driving 421 to Boone, having lunch at the Dan'l Boone Inn, shopping at Mast General Store, and then cutting our own tree at one of the many, many Choose 'n Cut Christmas Tree farms in that area.  We had hoped to revive the tradition on the Friday after Thanksgiving when Missy M was home, but the rainy weather interferred with our plans.

Then, we contemplated buying an artificial tree.  We already have a couple small trees that I have used for years to supplement our "real" tree; I usually decorate one of those with all my sheep ornaments, and N/M/E uses another one for all of her Santa ornaments.  But, with sustainability on the brain, we've discussed which is more environmentally-friendly for the "big" tree...live or artificial?

Live and local won!  When we finished our coffee and bagels, we headed out Market to the Market to see what they had.  OMG!  There must have been 10-12 growers from the mountain counties of Watauga (Boone), Ashe (West Jefferson), and Avery (Crossnore).  Fresh cut trees, straight from the NC mountains...and they came to us; we didn't have to drive to them!  Life is so good.

Choosing our NC Tree at the Market

We wandered around the retail area, thoroughly enjoying all the decorations and the wonderful fragrance of the firs.  When we lingered at the Sunnyside Trees stall (a Choose 'n Cut retailer from West Jefferson), we found one that measured out to be about 8 1/2 feet tall, which would fit perfectly under the 9' ceilings in the great room...once we lopped some off the bottom and got it nestled into the tree stand.  First things first:  take our picture!

Just as the tree guy snapped the shot (right), he said :  "Look!  It's snowing!"  Perfect, said I.  Just like a little kid.

By the time we got home with the tree, the flakes were coming down fast and furious.  Big, fat, fluffy flakes.  Wet and ploppy...you know that sound they make?  Plop...plop...plop.  Not a bit hard and pingy, like they are when they have ice inside.  I prefer ploppy myself.

Anyway...



Mr. T with Duchess, Gus, and Elmo in the snow

We headed back out to go pick up the pups, returning about 3:00ish (photo to left).  The more it snowed, the colder it got.  By the time we'd returned, we had an inch of snow in the rain gauge and the temp had dropped to below freezing.  With that, the need for warm, comforting food had risen substantially.  A day like this calls for Brunswick Stew!

I got out N/M/E's recipe (such that it is...:) and started a pot of stew, taking a short cut by using the other half of a Rotisserie chicken I'd gotten at Harris Teeter on Thursday.  Shred the meat...boil the bones for stock.  Chop the veggies...oh, drat:  no onions.  No problem...out to the garden (yes, in the snow...:) and get a couple.  I'm loving this whole Fall garden thing, you know.  It was too late to start baking a loaf of bread like I usually do on stew days, but no worries.  I'd gotten a loaf of freshly-made Sourdough on that little trip to Dewey's Bakery.  It would fit the bill.


Hot apple cider on a cold day



I've blogged about Brunswick Stew before, so I won't repeat the recipe here.  Hopefully, that link will take you to the post I wrote about stew for the crockpot, which is similar to what's cooking on the stove at the moment.  Similar.  Never quite the same.  What can I say?  I learned some of my cooking techniques from my mother...she who never follows a recipe. 

As I was saying...

Mr. T laced up his boots and headed outside again to fill the bird feeders, all of which were being well-visited throughout the afternoon.  Here I was in my nice warm kitchen...and there he was, freezing his tail-feathers off.  Gotta fix that!



While he was working, I heated up some apple cider, added some orange slices, cloves, and cinnamon sticks...and had a tasty hot beverage ready when he finished his chore.  Turned on the fireplace to make the morning room toasty.

Tasty and toasty.  Ahhh. Lovely.

Now,  let's see if we can find that DVD of White Christmas...snow, snow, snow, snow, s-n-o-w...!

Garden Shed - The Big Reveal

One little red leaf left on the dogwood in the front

Whoosh!  That was the sound of November rushing by.  I really must be getting older 'cause every month seems to go by faster than the one just before.

I took that picture (right) this morning, looking  out the dining room window...AKA my office (or, droffice, if you will...:) to document the last leaf left on the dogwood tree in front of the front porch. Mr. T spent nearly an hour with the leaf blower, trying to corral all the ones that had fallen on the sidewalk and driveway, blowing them back into the area we call the Natural Area.  It's a hopeless cause if done before all the leaves fall, but we are pretty close now.  Only the oak trees are holding on to theirs now.  Winter is truly on its way.

The last full month of Fall has been a busy one for us here at Casa 3917.  As you know from reading the previous posts, building a garden shed has taken up most of our spare time. 



The Shed Begins on 11/11

 You will recall this project started early A.M. on 11/11, with the delivery of the kit from Home Depot, along with the pictorial instruction booklet, and the extra pieces and parts like the foundation and the roofing supplies.  We had a perfect spot in the back yard for the shed to fit (photo to left)...and so it began.

It took seven days spread out over 3 weeks, but together we finally worked our way through the booklet, drawing by drawing.  When we reached the final page, we had built an 8 x 12 garden shed, complete with built-in workbench and extra storage in the "attic" and on shelves on both long sides.  And, possibly even better news to report: we did that without having to file for divorce!



Gus and Duchess check out
the new garden shed - 11/29/10

 Ta da!  There she is (right)!!  Isn't she beautiful as well as practical? 

Did you notice the difference in quantity of leaves on the limbs in the before and finished photos?  Now, there are more on the ground than in the trees.

When I started to move some of my gardening supplies inside, I was met with the "left-overs" from the building process:  paint cans, extra roof shingles, ladders, tools, etc.  Hmmmmm.  Soon, however, Mr. T carried that stuff back to "his domain,"  AKA the workshop area of the garage.

All that being said, finished is such a relative term, don't you agree?  We still have to add a front step or stoop (that's just an extra pallet you see in front of the purple Blooming Wisteria doors). We are also going to add a cupola with a weather vane to the roof.  And, we have a couple of windows to add to the rear wall, so that I can look out over the garden whenever I work at the workbench inside.  The never-ending project...

The new shed is certainly going to come in handy...real soon, too.  I got my letter of acceptance into the Master Gardener certification program with Guilford County Extension service on Friday (hooray!), so I'm guessing that gardening will move into high gear...in the New Year...around here.

We Give Thanks

What a wonderful day it was!  Even though the weather outside was not the best (drizzling rain, cloudy, etc.), we were dry and warm and well-fed inside.  For these and all our many blessings, we continue to give thanks.



Table Turkey

 Anyone who knows me knows I love to decorate for the holidays...pretty much any holiday.  I have color-coded plastic containers in the attic for practically every special day...and Thanksgiving gets two boxes.  Mr. T got them out when he put the Halloween boxes (3 of them...:) back up, so I've had the mantles and the dining room table decorated for several weeks, adding a touch here and there.

As you can see in that picture (right), the centerpiece on the table again this year is the stuffed turkey I made 20-25 years ago.  There are also matching placemats, napkins, and aprons.  I add lots of fall colors in the leaves, the flowers, and the candles...and I sprinkle leaf-shaped confetti about on the tablecloth.  A pain to pick up...but a fun touch nonetheless.



Publix Pilgrim salt 'n pepper

  Also, on the table are the salt and pepper shaker set we call the Publix Pilgrims (left).  We got our first set when we lived in Duluth, GA, and shopped at Publix...still one of my favorite grocery stores.  I also have a set of napkin rings to match.



Pilgrim Hat Pots

 This year's addition to the tablescape was Missy M's Pilgrim Hat Pots (right).  She is so creative!  She got some black spray paint for two clay pots, which she adorned with cardboard "belt buckles."  Then, she added some beautiful potted mums she found on one of her trips to Home Depot...running errands for us while we were working on the Garden Shed (yes, I'll get back to that topic in the next post, I promise...:).  They fit right in with the turkey centerpiece and all...and were a sure hit.

For Thanksgiving Day 2010, I got up early to get started on the To Do List.  Each year I write out my menus, who joined us for dinner, and on the back, I add both the To Do's and notes on What-I-Should-Do-Differently-Next-Year.  With that first cup of coffee in hand, I noticed that I had written on my list for 2004 to "remember to spray the inside of the oven bag with Pam, so it won't stick to the turkey."  A really good idea...and something I seem to forget every year.

First things first:  a second cup of coffee.  Second things and so on:  get the turkey out of the brine (my recipe calls for the bird to spend the night in the cooler, submerged in brown sugar, salt, spices, wine, water, and apple cider), into the bag (I use one of those handy-dandy Reynolds Turkey Oven Bags), and ready for roasting.  While the oven preheated, I headed out to the garden to pick lettuce for a salad, and as Ella Rae was so eager to join me, I let her dash through the gate...without giving it much thought.  Soon, she was joined by The Drool Gang:  Duchess, Gus, and Elmo.  Oh boy, let's go play in the Way Back!



Lettuce protected by row cover

 While I was busy removing the row covers from the rows of lettuces (right), they were busy rolling around in what we've been descriptively calling The Stinky Grass:  some grass clippings our neighbor had saved for us in black bags, that have been sitting in the hot sun all summer long...and that were in the last stages of composting when Mr. T spread them on the newly-tilled areas a couple of days ago.  Now, grass clippings for the garden are really a blessing, I assure you.  Having the dogs dousing themselves in the scent is something else entirely.

I could smell Ella approaching me before I saw her.  Good grief!  Mr. T wiped the Houndz down with the Baby Wipes, while Missy M had to give her poor pup two baths...the second one in diluted vinegar.  That little chore wasn't on our original To Do List for the day, but you do what you have to do, right?



Salad greens washed and ready for fridge

 While the others were attending to the cleaning chore, I put my apron on and got busy in the kitchen.  With the turkey in the oven (and the ham ready to go in after 90 minutes), I washed my salad greens (left)...including the nasturtium blossoms (yes! they are indeed edible, as well as pretty!)...and bagged them up for the crisper.  BTW, I do so love the salad spinner Missy M got for me last year...love it, love it, love it!

The last of the green tomatoes that were saved before the first freeze had turned red and would provide the color for the simple salad.  Other garden contributions to the Holiday meal would be: 

• peas and lima beans for the Three-Bean Casserole;
• yellow and zucchini squash for the Zippy Squash Casserole; and
• sweet potatoes for the Sweet Potato Souffle.

All of these casseroles had been made earlier in the week, so all I had to do was get them out of the extra fridge in the garage and ready to finish off in the oven:  get them hot and bubbly, then add the toppings to each.  I had made up the Crock Pot dressing (use the link to that basic recipe, which is similar to mine...only I use only one can of Cream of Chicken Soup, along with one can of Chicken Broth...and only 2 eggs...and I add finely diced carrots for some color...:) on Wednesday night, so I just plugged in the Crock Pot and turned it on "high" for two hours...then down to "low" for the rest of the time...just a few stirs required...and it doesn't take up a burner on the stove!  Those would be needed for the gravy, the mashed potatoes, and the rice.  Hey, we've never met a starch we didn't like in this family!

I had also made up my Potato Roll recipe the night before, so I got that bowl (it's a huge Tupperware bowl that takes up way too much space in an already crowded fridge) out to let the dough reach room temp and start its second rise.  After that, I rolled up 90 balls of dough to make 30 tri-cornered rolls.  Yummmmm!  They would be the last thing to go into the oven, just 15 minutes before dinner was served.

Things hummed along, and we were ready for Brother and SIL J&J when they arrived at around 11:00, bringing along a lovely three-pack of wine from the Biltmore Winery.  We had a nice visit while the meal continued to cook...and soon, it was 2:00 and time to eat.  Judging from the kind comments, I think we can call Thanksgiving Dinner 2010 a success.  Oh, and my note for this year's list?  "Remember to bag up some ice on Wednesday so there will be plenty for dinner."



Mr. T with J & J at Oak Hollow after dinner

 While N/M/E took a little nap after dinner, J & J, Mr. T, and I took a little stroll through the neighborhood, down to the lake (right)...and when we returned to the house, Missy M was just finishing up with the first round of dirty dishes.  Now, that's really a blessing!

I hope each and every one of you enjoyed a bountiful meal and all the blessings of the Day, surrounded by family and friends, and then drifted off to a peaceful night's sleep in a warm bed on clean sheets.  And, if you did, remember to join me and take a bag of canned goods and non-perishables to the local food pantry sometime this week.  We'll be glad we did!

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It was a gorgeous weekend here in HPNC.  Cooler temps...sunshine...blue skies.  Perfect for working out in the yard.  We had 12 new rose bushes that needed to get in the ground, so that set the tone for our To Do List on Saturday.  I know, I know...I said I didn't want another To Do list, didn't I?  Truth-be-told, I operate better when I have some sort of plan.

Anyway, we started the day off with a trip to Ilderton Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep in downtown High Point to get Lillie Pearl her 20K check-up:  oil, filter, tire rotation, and new wiperblades.  If you come in for service on Saturdays, they give you a car wash for free.  Since everything around here is covered in pollen dust, a bath sounded like a great idea.  Of course, if I'd thought about what date it was, I might have thought twice about going through DT HPNC on this particular Saturday:  opening day of the Spring Furniture Market.  What are all these dressed-up people doing here?  Oh well, it all worked out OK...and Lillie Pearl looks so shiny and healthy, too!

Next to Sam's Club for hamburgers and buns for our cook-out supper...perfect after an afternoon of gardening, right?  Check!  However, when we got home, we had a call from BFF Amelia W., saying she had our pies.  Pies, you ask?  Yessiree.  The Deep River Friends Meeting makes the most marvelous chicken pies for their Annual Chicken Pie Supper (a fund raiser), and we were treated to 3 of them!  Have I told you lately how thankful and glad I am to be back in NC????  Changed our plans:  popped a pie in the oven to stay warm til supper; moved the hamburger cook-out to Sunday.

While AW and daughter CW were over, Gus and Duchess pinned one of their favs down on the sofa...lap dogs that they are.  Thought you might enjoy the picture (left).

OK...on to the yardwork.  While Mr. T and Gus dug the holes for the roses, I potted up some flowers for the deck and the little patio near the swing.  I also added some Wave Petunias to the pots out front, next to the bench (which Mr. T painted a couple of weekends ago).  I thought you'd like to see the guys at work (right).

The twelve new rose bushes are:  Proud Land, Mister Lincoln, and Chrysler Imperial (red ones); Pink Peace, Miss All-American Beauty, and Nearly Wild (pink ones); John F. Kennedy (2) (white ones); Angel Face (lavender); Kordes Perfecta (mix of pink and yellow); and New Day and OreGold (yellow ones).  Whew!  Of course, we have just a spot for a climber, so we are still looking for a Queen Elizabeth climber for it.

After all that work, you know those burgers tasted goooooood...as did those Sam Adams Lights!

Yes, Things are Looking Better Around Here

If you've been reading my posts lately, you may think things seemed pretty bleak around our abode.  Woe was us.  The Winter of our Discontent.  Well, now with some lovely warm temperatures and Carolina Blue skies, I can misquote the Bard by saying it has been made glorious Spring by this sun of High Point.  I ask you, how can things be bad when it's 65 degrees, the sun is shining, and the daffodils are starting to bloom?  That's the first one (left) in our yard...a King Alfred...the first of many, I hope.

Yesterday brought some resolution to Elmo's struggles with primary glaucoma, which is a breed-related defect in the fluid drainage system in the eye(s).  After a particularly trying weekend where he barely raised his sweet head off the sofa...not eating at all on Sunday...he went in early for his appointment with the wonderful Dr. Nasisse, Veterinary Ophthalmologist at Carolina Veterinary Specialists.  We reviewed the options for treatment that he had outlined at our last appointment and decided the Intravitreal injection of gentocin was the best choice, as Elmo could no longer see from his right eye.  With this procedure, he will no longer have pain from the pressure, and he will keep his own eyeball which will eventually become smaller than normal since the fluid-produing cells will stop working permanently.  The procedure was quick and only required a short sedation; the complication rate is very low, we were told.  Although one of the other choices (evisceration) may have provided a more cosmetically-pleasing result, we were concerned about the discomfort and swelling following that type of surgery (synthetic intrascleral prosthesis...a silicone implant)

Good news!  He sailed through the procedure with flying colors, and we were able to pick him up later in the afternoon.  He continued to be a little sleepy from the anesthesia, but was up-and-at-'em by 6:00 p.m...devouring his supper (and some of Duchess').  We continue to use two kinds of drops in his left eye, twice a day...as a temporary measure.  Dr. Nasisse says Elmo can still see out of the left eye, but it will eventually be affected (6 months to 3 years)...we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.  We also are using an antibiotic eye drop in the right eye 3 times a day for the next 10 days, along with administering a liquid Meloxicam solution...or, trying our best to...to help relieve any pain or inflammation from the procedure.  Elmo just won't take pills...and yes, we've tried to hide them in cheese...in peanut butter...wrap them in ham or turkey or chicken or roast beef...coat them in bacon grease (yuck!)...no luck.  He's too wise to our ways.  So, they gave us this med in liquid form...with this squirty-syringe to aid in getting the medicine in his mouth.  Imagine trying to penetrate a stone with a straw.  It took two of us to get about 1/4 of a dose down last night.  I'm less-than-eagerly looking forward to doing that again tonight...by myself...as my DH has deserted me gone out of town on business.  Ah well...it's all worth it.

Here are the Boyz (Gus on the left in the photo, Elmo on the right) enjoying our new storm door.  I took this shot today, so you can see that Elmo is doing really well; although there is still some swelling of his right eye, it is much less-noticeable after his procedure. You can also see a reflection of our other enclosure to prevent wandering Bassets:  a wire closet shelf, turned on its side, slipped into (and easily removed from...) anchors that are screwed into the porch posts.  It's a perfect solution to the problem.  You may not realize it, but Basset Hounds are fast when they want to be...that is, when an unguarded door is left open.  Free Bird!

Speaking of Bassets making a mad dash for freedom, Duchess (AKA Queen Houdini)...who is doing very well these days, recovering nicely from her ordeal with the cyst...was lounging on the sofa at the time.  Usually, she is the one in the window...watching the world go down her street...waiting for just the right moment...

Crossed the Finish Line!

Hooray!  I finished my Ravelympics 2010 project (Fair Isle Collared Swing Jacket) last night.  I was weaving in the final ends about the same time that the Star-Spangled Banner was playing for Team USA 4-man Bobsled #1, as they received their gold medal...62 years in the making.  Thrills abound!

I think that event was actually the most exciting of the Games for me. Or, maybe it was just the way NBC manipulated  staged the coverage to make it more exciting and keep us watching.  Whatever.  I cheered Steve Holcomb's team to victory and shed tears to hear our National Anthem (rather than yet another playing of Oh Canada...the words to which I think we all know by now). Now, if we can just sing O Say Can You See today after the Hockey game...

Anyway, I've actually earned TWO medals for this project :  one in the Sweaterboard Cross and one in the Nordic Colorwork Combined.  And, even though this is really a "swing jacket" (wider at the bottom than at the top) rather than a sweater, I'm sure I'll enjoy wearing it with jeans, etc., anyway.

The collar is the "colorwork" part, billed as a Fair Isle Collar in the pattern in Vogue Knitting, Fall 2009.  Strictly speaking, it isn't Fair Isle (as it has more than two colors on a row; more than 5 stitches in the carry on the reverse); but I did a little re-charting on the fly and made it Fair Isle.  I also found these neat buttons when last in Louisville...and thought they would be perfect with the colors in the jacket and collar.

The original pattern was for short sleeves...but I had plenty of the Baby Alpaca Grande Tweed, so I just kept knitting (and decreasing) to make them long sleeves...which I much-prefer anyway.  The collar is self-lined, so to speak, in that you knit a turning row at the end of the colorwork part, then knit 25 "plain rows" for the lining...and then sew it to the neck.  That way, you don't see the "messy" side of the colorwork (where all the colors of yarn are carried and crossed).  I've never made a collar like that, so that was certainly a new technique learned for me.

Also, just had to share this photo (left) of Gus and Duchess with you.  We made a few final furniture changes the other day, moving our two chairs from our bedroom bay window to the keeping room (which also serves as my office) bay window, where we could have our coffee, read the paper, watch the birds, and enjoy the fireplace (which is double-sided)...all at the same time.  Well, obviously, the dogs thought we moved those chairs to that spot for their convenience and comfort, don't you know?  [Elmo prefers that someone with a lap occupy the chair before he takes his nap there.]

Busy Week

Whew! I need to catch my breath. While the washer and dryer are doing their Monday morning thing(s), I’m enjoying a few minutes of relaxation…cup of coffee in hand, here in front of our fireplace. Thought I’d share my view with you, too. Ahhhhh….

Last week was a super busy one for us, starting with our first-ever Carolina Panthers game on Sunday. I had fried some chicken the night before, so we packed up a cooler and the picnic hamper for some tasty tail-gating, then headed off to join the crowd at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. As #34 DeAngelo Williams (formerly of the University of Memphis) is now a Panther, our interest in the team is more than just sharing the same state with them. (Update: DeAngelo scored the winning touchdown in yesterday's game vs. Tampa Bay!) Our seats are in the nose-bleed section AKA Section 520, and we had some interesting (shall we say?) Redskins fans as seat-mates (one of whom caused quite a “stir” near the end of the first quarter)…but they’d left by the half, the stadium staff cleaned up his mess, it did NOT rain as predicted, and we won the game…so, hooray!

Monday was a little more hectic than usual, with a follow-up doctor visit for N/M/E. Her foot problem is getting better (and certainly not keeping her from bridge…:), so we’re encouraged. Still, if you have the choice, you really don’t want to have had an allergic reaction to the generic medication and have to use the newer, more costly Brand-name version. Trust me on this.

Tuesday, I headed back to ATL for a couple of days. Work. Rain. Dentist. Rain. Back home. About covers it. Oh yeah…I’d downloaded the unabridged edition of Dan Brown’s newest book, The Lost Symbol, from Audible.com before I left…all 17.5 hours of it! So, I popped in my iPod connection, and Lillie Pearl PTC and I had a most enjoyable ride. Meanwhile, I’d put my name on the reserve list at the High Point Library for this book; they called on Monday to say they were holding the book for me, so I swung by the DRIVE THROUGH window (oh boy, howdy...do I ever love a library with online reserving and drive through windows!) on the way out of town…needless to say, I think I’ve found The Lost Symbol!

While in GA, I discovered a new (at least to me) yarn shop in Duluth, called Rare Purls (right). It’s located inside the Knox House, one of the oldest houses in town…one that’s been restored and also houses a restaurant/tea room. Nice break in the work day. No yarn came home with me this time, but I sure was interested in that one that includes camel…! I petted it several times.

Returned home late Thursday to catch up on laundry and email…and have a little time with Mr. T, who had rearranged his work/travel schedule to be able to be close-to-home with N/M/E while I was out-of-town. Bless him and his loving heart!

On Friday, a friend and I enjoyed the French Horn Spectacular program in the Friday Favorites Series with the North Carolina Symphony in Raleigh. Lovely music…lovely day. JS then treated me to a tasty luncheon at the Posta Tuscan Grille on Fayetteville Street near the Meymandi Concert Hall…such a pleasant, relaxing, unhurried meal…a great way to renew a NC friendship. I had the Insalata di Pollo, following some tempting bruschetta appetizers. Yummy! We even worked in a stop at a yarn shop on the way out of town called Great Yarns. No yarn came home with either of us…we are both extremely mindful of just how much yarn we already own (me, because I’m still trying to find a place for all of it in all of these moving boxes; she, because she just organized her stash into neat containers at home). Good little girls were we.

And this past weekend? Well, I had wanted to attend the Harvest Days at Old Salem (in Winston-Salem), but the cloudy, rain-threatening weather continued to hang around…so, we decided to devote some time to the projects on our list.

Did I tell you that my pantry shelving was beginning to pull away from the wall…just like the master closet shelving did not too long ago? As we have future-plans (2010-11) to re-do the kitchen, including reworking and enlarging the pantry, our solution to the present pantry problem needed to be quick, relatively easy, and relatively inexpensive. Enter J. C. Penney! I ordered free-standing pantry shelving from their Cooks.com website…and after a couple of days of emptying the pantry, removing the old wire shelves, and patching and painting the holes/wall, we (mostly Mr. T) got the new shelves up and operational. Yeah!

Mr. T also got to check a few more projects off his list. He (and Gus...always the Supervisor on all projects...see the photo, left...:) installed 3 pull-out stainless steel trays in the false cabinet fronts of the kitchen sink and the two bathroom sinks in the master, and 2 valet rods in the master closet…all ordered online from Rev-a-Shelf of Jeffersontown, KY. Sweet!

Finally, since the recent rains had ushered in cooler weather, and frost was predicted for last night, I harvested the ripe peppers, tomatoes, and beans in the garden, and he moved the tender potted plants inside from their Summer homes on the porches. [Check out the photo (left) to see the amount of growth on our largest corn plant…wow!] I’m not sure that we got frost, but we were pretty close. It's only 48 now.

Football and frost? Yes, Fall has arrived! And, we have earned our nap-time, haven't we, Mr. G (right)?

It's Been a Memorable Week

Now, where was I? Oh yes...moving into our new house. And other good stuff...


We've had one heckuva week around here. Let's run the numbers: closed on the NC house on the 27th; celebrated our 33rd anniversary on the 29th; greeted the moving van and 5 movers on the 2nd; celebrated Gus' 6th Gotcha Day on the 3rd; and began the l-o-n-g unpacking process that may take us 6 more months to complete.


Never fear, it hasn't been "all work and no play," since...in the middle of all that's going on...we took a little side-trip to Durham and stayed for the night at the Washington Duke Inn on the campus of Duke University, to celebrate our anniversary in style and comfort. (This was before the movers arrived, so we'd been sleeping on the air-mattress at the house...and eating off paper plates with plastic forks, etc.) Ah...what a wonderful treat that was! We had champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries (photo to the right) in our lovely room overlooking the golf course. Our breakfast was served outdoors on the terrace. And, we truly felt like we were beginning our thirty-fourth year together...and this new chapter in our lives, in just the right way.


Back to the house...


Painted for three days before the movers arrived. I taped and painted Nana/Momma/Edith's room a beautiful plum color, similar to the one I had in my office in MO. I also did the dining room (in Caramel), and the entrance hall, the living room, and the breakfast area (which will serve as my office) in Autumn Wheat. Mr. T etched, primed, and painted the garage floor...and his workshop area...a manly Slate Grey.


Big Day...and the Big Atlas Truck and the movers...arrived on Tuesday. Took them all day to unload all of our stuff. We are the most fortunate people on Earth, for the sun shined all day...and nary a drop of rain fell from the sky.


That started on Wednesday, when we had a storm of biblical proportions. Wind...rain...hail...lightning...thunder. Check out that photo (left) of the water standing in our back yard. Wow! And, it has rained every day since then. You may have heard on the Weather Channel about the flash flooding in Guilford County and Greensboro? That's us! Anyway, I believe that the drought in NC just might be over.



Found the box with my printer, so was able to print out this photo (right) that Missy M took of Gus on his Gotcha Day. Since he is adopted, we don't know when his actual birthday is...but we can celebrate the day he came to live with us...June 3rd. Missy M, Duchess, and I drove from our (then-new) house in O'Fallon across the Mississippi to Illinois to his foster home...and we knew he was meant to be part of our family. Well, all except Duchess...who is still waiting for us to "take him back." Tee hee. The rest of us agree...he's one Cool Dude!

This and That

Mr. T and I celebrated our 32nd anniversary last week...woo-hoo! It's certainly been a great ride and a wonderful adventure. Who would have thought when we exchanged our vows in Jackson, MS, 32 years ago that we would be toasting this particular celebration with our Buds at Cardinal Stadium? Of course, who would have thought that we would have celebrated six anniversaries in MO??? Ain't life amazing?

Here's a photo of the beautiful roses that he gave me (right)...they looked so fabulous on the dining room table, which is decorated in red, white, and blue (for Memorial Day through Labor Day). The only sad note is that roses like these have been so over-developed for their beauty that they have lost all their scent. Never fear...we have some gorgeous red Chrysler Imperials blooming on the back fence...and they smell wonderful!!

Speaking of Cardinal Stadium...

I missed going to Stitch 'n Pitch this year, as the organizers moved the date to the same week that we already had tickets. So, I kinda created my very own SNP by taking some knitting with me the other night...and whipping out the stix for a little KIP (knitting in public). Of course, I always try to work on something "light" (read that: simple) when I'm trying to balance yarn and needles in a small, confined space...I certainly don't need to have to read a pattern or count rows and/or stitches! I had a pair of house-slippers in patriotic colors going for Mom for Memorial Day (photo, left), and since this is what I learned to knit on, I figured I could do this in my sleep...no pattern notes needed! Although it was windy and a storm threatened, the rain held off until the second out of the ninth inning...and the Cards won 5-4...just for us, I'm sure.

Speaking of things in bloom...

Looks like almost all of the irises have finished blooming...with the notable exception of this so-purple-it's-almost-black one that is new to the front yard this year. As a matter of fact, I had my doubts about this one ever blooming, since I made the mistake of leaving a whole box of 7 iris roots (purchased at Sam's last Fall) in the garage over the Winter. Oops. They looked pitiful when I found them in April...all shriveled up...but, what the heck...I stuck 'em in the ground with my fingers crossed. And, wonder of all wonders, all of them sent up green leaves...and one of them even bloomed. Of course, I had to take a picture to share (left).

As the iris finish their show, the roses start to take center stage...as evidenced by this photo of our Hot Cocoa rose in the bed off the deck. These roses are an unusual color...a deep, warm cinnamon-y red-orange...with a light citrus-y fragrance. The recent rains...and hailstorms...have done damage to the fragile petals of some of the other rose bushes, but Hot Cocoa (right) has held up really well. We have 5 new bushes to get into the ground...if it ever stops storming long enough on the weekends. Up next...the daylilies are ready to strut their stuff!


Of course, we aren't the only ones who enjoy the great outdoors, are we? Mr. Gus (photo left) has several "special" places in the yard, but this is one of his favorites...just off the deck in a protected area next to the house. Ahhhhhh...!