Reflecftions on the Race

Happy 2018! Time to toast the future of the new year...and a time to reflect on the past of the old. Cheers!

Have you ever seen a video of runners crossing the Finish Line in a marathon? Leaning into the tape, arms flung over their heads in wild abandon, faces flushed with looks of sheer joy...followed closely by gasping for oxygen, bending at the knees, just before falling in a heap on the first mound of grass beyond the pavement. They know that they have accomplished their great goal...and simultaneously paid a price. But the joy and sense of accomplishment will remain long after the memories of "hitting the wall"* at Mile 20, and the oxygen-deprivation and muscle-exertion have faded. At least until they start training for the next marathon, I suppose.

I'm not a runner, obviously...those are just my observations. But, I can relate to the emotions. I feel like we set a goal, we ran hard and fast toward it for more months than we anticipated, we hit the wall, and then we definitely crossed the Great Slo-Mo Relo Finish Line, flinging ourselves onto the GA soil, gasping for oxygen, just before the Peach Drop** on New Year's Eve and 2018 arrived. 

Four Generations of Keatons

Baby M

Christmas is definitely wrapped up in the memories of holidays-past, as we bring out family pictures (like this one, left, of four generations of Keatons: my great uncle Smiley Keaton; my mother, Edith Keaton Lunn; me, Patricia Keaton Lunn Adsit; and Missy M when she was 2 months old), much-loved ornaments (like this one, right, of M's first Christmas), and tried-and-true recipes. But this Christmas, now that we are in our new home, meant we could begin making some new memories.





The hardest part was in not knowing what we still had left from Christmases past: what had survived the Estate Sale last November, the giveaway afterwards at the time of the pre-packing in December 2016, and then the general clean-out when we completed the sale of the NC house in March 2017. This was complicated by seemingly everything being in a different box than what I remembered it being in in High Point.

Nativity Set made by Maryen Adsit

I knew that the Nativity sets that Mr. T's mother Maryen had made nearly 40 years ago were still with us, but I didn't know which boxes they were in (which means you have to go through them one by one until you find what you are searching for).

I knew that our Nutcracker collection had been trimmed substantially by the Estate Sale (apparently a very popular item!), but I also knew that we had saved enough to decorate a mantle (see picture), and that they were all packed together in a well-marked box.

Nutcrackers and Bears...oh my!

I knew we had sold both of our pre-lit trees (a 9' and a 6'), but then replaced them with a 7.5' slim model and a 4.5' tabletop version in the 75% off after-Christmas sale last year (and then just packed the unopened boxes to make the move to GA!).

New 'Slim' Tree

Christmas "China"

I knew that our Christmas "china set" that Daddy gave us in 1987 (when he started working at Central Hardware) had survived any downsizing activities and exactly where it was stored, but I wasn't sure about tablecloths and napkins, etc., to complete the tablescaping (and of course, we would be decorating the smaller "kitchen" table this year since we said goodbye to the larger dining room table and two leaves).

I knew there were a couple of boxes of wrapping supplies in the attic, but I wasn't really sure what we still had because I recall being a bit ruthless in clearing out paper and gift boxes in the great cleanup.
No matter. We still seem to have kept plenty of the decorations...enough to decorate this house and maybe a couple of apartments...:-), lights, and bows and ribbon and tissue paper (but somehow we ditched every roll of Christmas wrapping paper except one!).

So, what did I miss the most from the Great Downsizing Purge? Believe it or not, it's a set of nesting mixing bowls that must have been at least 40 years old. I inherited them from my Uncle Smiley Keaton, who most likely won them as a door prize during his years at District Governor of the Lion's Club...and most almost certainly never used them. And while I rarely used them throughout the year, I always used every one of them at Christmas Time...and I really had to scramble this year to find suitable replacements. You may remember this picture from 2009, showing the very bowls that came up MIA after the move:

What was most noticeably missing turned out to be outside lighting: the 6 long strands of staked lights that we used to edge the property and create what we fondly called The Landing Strip in our front yard. We were also missing a box of twinkling stars that had graced our porch as well as the netting-like lights that we used to cover the bushes near the front door. Oh, and the window wreaths (which were in a box that a previous packer for a previous moving company had marked "Reefs"...and which always brought a smile to our faces...:-) and their red bows. Haven't a clue where the contents of any of those boxes went between here and there.

But our Mens (the hand-made Santa Nutcrackers that have guarded our door every Christmas since Collierville...and which STILL need repainting) showed up for duty, as always, and looked even better when Mr. T aimed the two spot lights on them.

"Mens" Reporting for Duty, 2018

The lighted Mr. and Mrs. Reindeer found their new spots in front of a huge evergreen next to our driveway and appeared to be right at home. The single strand of 5 lighted stars that remained turned out to be exactly right for our smaller front porch. By adding the ancient but still operational candles in the windows, we lit up the cove with cheer every night for 4-5 hours after dusk (depending on the timers).

Our Holidays were made even more special this year as Brother T and SIL LaD visited us from Kentucky...a Christmas miracle, in and of itself.

And then we all trekked up to Dillard, GA to meet Bro J (SIL J couldn't join us this year as she was helping her brother make the transition to home from the hospital following surgery) for our Lunn Family Christmas. We had dinner at the Dillard Inn, where they serve platters of fried chicken and fixings, family-style...another new treat for all.

But, possibly best of all, our tiny little family is together. Missy M, who has had a few days off from work, spent the night with us so Christmas morning was relaxed and not rushed. We fixed our Christmas dinner for Christmas Eve (and found we liked that change!), so there was no stress on the Big Day at all. How absolutely wonderful!

Christmas Eve Dinner...and Logan

Monkey Bread

Coconut Cake with Pineapple Filling

So, are you ready for the New Year? I think we are. Here's hoping it will be a great one for all!

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* “Hitting the marathon wall” is a much-feared and much-discussed phenomenon in marathoning. Runners speak ominously about a sudden wave of fatigue that sets in at about 20 miles into a marathon.
** Read more about Atlanta's traditional Peach Drop here: 

http://www.myajc.com/lifestyles/holiday/new-location-old-tradition-for-atlanta-peach-drop/YIVyb7LXknZERue97FYNjO/ 

Holidays are Here!

Yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...well, maybe not a normal Christmas in the Adsit household, but Christmas nonetheless! Even though we are in the throes of an impending move from NC  (to where? when?), we (OK, I...) still had to put the few decorations that escaped the Estate Sale as well as being packed in the Pod into service at Casa 3917 to bring us good cheer. Must keep as many of the family traditions as possible, even in the transition...

Our 2016 Christmas Tree...AKA the Foyer Coat Rack

Rudy and Rhonda Reindeer - wearing Missy M's Christmas-past PJ's

Stockings are hung by the Chimney!

Thanksgiving Cactus in full-bloom

Christmas Teddy Bear Parade in the "Playroom"

Christmas Memories of Loved Ones on the Mantle

And, let us not forget the tradition of our annual Adsit Adventure Christmas Newsletter whichI have been doing since 1976. While we are all discombobulated with the downsizing move (where is the laptop? where is the printer? where are the cables to connect the two? where is the cardstock to print the newsletter? where is the new color cartridge for the printer?), we (OK, I...) still had to do one. It's tradition, after all!

Here's what made it into the Christmas cards this year...Volume #41 of our Christmas Newsletter:

Hoping you and yours have had a happy, healthy, and prosperous year!

2016 was another "Adsit Adventure" for us, to say the least: Thomas retired from Mitsubishi Fuso in February, we took an Alaskan Cruise to celebrate our 40th anniversary in May, and we began the downsizing transition by packing up the boxes and putting our NC house on the market in October. The adventure continues with a trip to the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl in Nassau in December, courtesy of daughter Maredith (who was awarded her trip when she received one of the Popeyes corporate Purpose and Principle awards called "Coach and Develop")! Whew!

As 2016 comes to a close, we find ourselves betwixt and between...spending Christmas Eve on a foreign shore, with fingers crossed (toes, too!) for the sale of our NC house. So, Volume #41 of our annual newsletter, "The Adsit Adventure" was a bit briefer...and I bet you thought I couldn't do "brief!" True...it's a bit unusual; also true...it packed the same well-wishes for love, peace, and joy to you and yours!

We hope 2017 will be everything you are wishing for. Remember...keep up with us through my blog (http://adsit2.blogspot.com) and on Facebook.

Yes, you read that right. We are Bahamas-bound! I will try to post pictures of our Bahamas trip soon after we return to the States...depending on whether I can get my pictures to connect with whatever device I can find to post to my blog...sometimes my iPhone doesn't play nicely with my Google blog. You know, being constantly at 6's and 7's (as the Brits say) with this downsizing move, not knowing where my "stuff" is at the moment, is extracting a toll on what I can get done when (you should see me trying to fix a decent meal with one pot, one serving spoon, etc....everything else is either in the Pod or went in the Sale!). I once said that the most difficult move we ever made was when we moved across Gwinnett County (from Duluth to Dacula, GA). Well, I may have to revise that opinion...sooner rather than later.

Let's hope that 2017 brings us all the good tidings we are expecting!  And soon...you know, I still hate to wait!

Meanwhile...I'll leave you with a fabulous picture of Winston...waiting in the Way Back...in the snow...a couple of years ago. Through the magic of Google, there seem to be snow flakes falling!

Merry Christmas to all!

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If you arrived here looking for an update on our move, here's the CliffsNotes version: house still on the market...had multiple showings, at least 3 of which are repeat-viewers...but no offer as of 12/17/16. Weather has (finally) turned cold, so probably very few showings will happen between now and New Year...but as our Realtor keeps saying "you never know!" (which means we still have to keep the house ready for a showing at a moment's notice...not easy with two dogs!) We continue to divide our time between NC and GA. More in next post...

Hello there, 2014!

Ready or not...it's here! The bright and shiny New Year is upon us.

We stayed up to watch Duke in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (which I still call the Peach Bowl) in Atlanta. Lost a heart-breaker to Texas A&M. Saw the epitome of "class act" dressed in blue in Coach Cut...and the opposite out on the field, dressed in maroon...usually behind the center. I really don't want to talk about it other than to say if I don't ever hear an announcer gush over "Johnnie Football" again, I won't be in the least disappointed. Oh...and I do indeed hope he goes pro, because he really needs some big ol' NFL right guard to slap him silly help him mature, shall we say? I know he has an innate talent for playing seat-of-his-pants footbal and is loved (?) by the die-hard Aggie fans, but can they see why others might think he is immature, whiny, self-serving, and self-centered? Enough about that subject...starting to sound sour-grapish, even to me...😋

As is our custom, we three welcomed in the New Year with Mimosas (sparkling wine and orange juice, served this year in our Waterford "Twelve Days of Christmas" glasses - photo, above).  Yes, Missy M postponed her return trip to the 'Ville until today so she could be here...and not on the road on New Year's Eve. Good plan! We had given all the dogs Composure™ Pro (a calming support formula treat recommended by our Vet for "dogs exposed to increased environmental stressors")so they weren't too bothered by the fireworks the neighbors were using to frighten away any evil spirits lingering from the Old Year (well, that's the superstition, don't you know?).  Surprisingly enough, Duche$$ and Dixie didn't go through their usual fear-acts about the fireworks; we decided that it was either the Composure (Dixie) or because she's so deaf now that she can't hear them (Duche$$).  Since they were something new for both Winston and Abbie, they had to go outside to investigate...but Winston seemed more alarmed about my (loud) cheering for the Blue Devils during the football game. Yeah, I did have to tone it down a wee bit.

Anyway...more about those New Year's Day superstitions...

You know by now that we eat black-eyed peas, cooked with a ham-hock, on New Year's Day for good luck (peas) and good fortune (pork)...and we will hold to that tradition, serving Braised Brown Sugar Ham Steak and black-eyed peas in the form of Hoppin' John* (recipe, below).  To ensure wealth, you're supposed to eat greens (always turnip greens and collards in a true house of the South), so they will be on the menu.  Over the years, we've added good luck foods from other cultures to the menu, like rice and grapes.  And, because Mr. T won't touch greens with a ten-foot pole, I usually prepare cole slaw (because cabbage is the "green" of choice for many cultures)...he will eat that.  We make sure to serve pork for all meals (bacon or ham for breakfast; pork chops, ham, or roast/BBQ for lunch or dinner), and never, ever chicken or turkey.  [Poultry scratches around for everything; pigs move forward and make progress...or, so it is said.]  I'm not really superstitious.  Really, I'm not...:)

Remembering the superstition that "what you do on New Year's Day, you will do all year long," I have tried to spend a relatively stress-free day.  Mr. T and I bundled up and worked in the garden a little bit this morning.  He removed the last of the okra stalks, while I picked turnip greens and collards for our "good luck" meal tonight (see photo, below), along with some broccoli, carrots, and spinach.  I noticed that the onions and garlic are overwintering in fine fashion, and I look forward to a bountiful harvest later this year.

I also made sure the row covers over the raised beds in the Box Garden were still anchored at the top of the hoops with clothes pins (hmmmm...the pups seemed to have removed a few) and at the bottom with rocks...trying to give the beets, spinach, broccoli, carrots, etc., a little more protection as we have bitter weather on the way back tomorrow night. Missy M and her pups, Dixie and Ella Rae, had to leave us at noon to get back over the mountains, up the turnpike, through the toll booths, and across the river. I eagerly await each and every text she sends of her progress.

Mr. T has been diligently incorporating our abundance of shredded leaves into several garden spaces, including the Rose Garden, where he is while I warm up inside and write this post. This is the first year we have used the leaves as winter mulch on the roses, and we want to see how that works.  Looks great for now! He had spent some time yesterday refilling the bird feeders as they seem to empty before he can get back in the house. I suggested he put out some corn cobs on the squirrel feeders to keep the critters occupied long enough for the cardinals, chickadees, and titmice (mouses?) to grab a few of the seeds.

I'd really rather not do laundry, pay bills, or do any housework on the first day of the New Year...other than make our bed and maybe a few dishes.  The first three listed carry negative vibes...and none of them is particularly fun for me, so I don't want to be doing too much of any of them this coming year.  I did read some of my newest book (I finished Sue Grafton's W is for Wasted; I'm now starting Doris Kearns Goodwin's Bully Pulpit, which I bought for my brother, not knowing Mr. T would take my huge HINT to heart and get a copy for me for Christmas!).  I played Scramble and  Words With Friends...with friends; and ball, fetch, and tug-rope...with the pups.  I fixed apple fritters this morning (apples, as a round food, are supposed to bring good luck, too...🍀 and will soon cook our "good luck" meal. 

In the creative department, I downloaded pictures from my camera, new iPhone, and iPad and organized the pictures on my computer...cleaning up the 2013 files a bit.  I wrote in my Garden Journal as well as my bedside Journal, and perused some of the many seed catalogs that have arrived in our mailbox. And, now...I've written this blog-post, and I will use it to represent the year ahead, spent writing. Since the bowl games are coming back-to-back-to-back now, we will probably spend the rest of the day watching sports...and of course, I have a new project on my knitting needles to represent

Gardening, writing, reading, playing, taking pictures, watching sports, cooking, and knitting. The only thing missing from the list is "traveling," but I'll let Missy M's trip be a stand-in for us. Otherwise, sounds like just the kind of year I look forward to enjoying!

I hope it's the beginning of a great one for all of you, too!

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Recipe for Hoppin' John

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oil or bacon fat

1 large ham hock (left over from Christmas Dinner)

1 onion, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 green pepper, diced

1/2 cup carrots, diced 

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound black-eyed peas, soaked overnight and rinsed...or,

2 cans black-eyed peas, if you are in a hurry

2-4 cups chicken stock

Bay leaf

1 cayenne pepper pod

1 teaspoon parsley, minced

1 packet of Goya Ham seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste  

2 cups steamed white rice

Directions:

1. Heat fat in a large soup pot. Add the ham hock and sear on all sides for 4-5 minutes. Add the onion, celery, green pepper, carrots, and garlic (last), cooking for 4-5 minutes until tender.
2. Add the black-eyed peas, 2 cups stock, bay leaf, pepper pod, parsley, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 40-50 minutes, or until the peas are creamy and tender, stirring occasionally. If the liquid evaporates, add more water or stock.
3. Remove the ham hock and dice the meat, returning the meat to the pot. Remove the bay leaf and the cayenne pepper pod, and adjust the seasonings to taste. 
4. Serve over rice and garnish with chives and/or green pickle relish. Enjoy!

Happy 2013!

Happy New Year to all! We are starting this New Year off right...how about you?

It is said you will enjoy a good year ahead, based on what you eat on January 1st. Here are the Good Luck foods we try to include...and why:

1. Pork is eaten in the American South to promote prosperity in the coming year. Why? It is said that pigs are "fat and happy," and that they root for their food, continuously moving forward, making progress. Unlike chickens and other fowl...who scratch the earth and move backward when searching for food.
2. Round fruits (apples, oranges, grapes, cherries, etc.) are considered lucky due to their round shapes...reminiscent of coins...and their sweetness. Many cultures say to eat 12 of a particular fruit...and if the 4th one is very sweet, say, then the corresponding month (April) will be a particularly sweet month in the coming year.
3. Black-eyed peas are another Southern good luck food, due to their resemblance to pennies...and their abundance in gardens. When combined with onions, carrots, peppers, celery, etc., then cooked with pork (usually salt-pork) and served over rice, the dish is called Hopping John.
4. Greens (collards, turnip, or some combination) are considered lucky due to their appearance: green like US money. Other cultures considered cabbage (and kraut) the green to eat. We'll have both...for good measure.
5. Cornbread, with its gold color, represents money, too.

Menu here at Casa 3917 today includes: brown sugar-braised pork chops with apples and carrots; Hopping John; broccoli; collards and turnip greens (all three from the garden...pictured) for me/cabbage slaw for Mr. T...who won't touch "greens;" cornbread (pictured below...made with stone-ground yellow corn meal from the fabulous Old Mill at Guilford near Oak Ridge, NC); and cherry pie. Think we covered enough bases?

Doing all we can to ensure a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2013!