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/ 

Start As You Mean to Go On

If you are reading this post, then congratulations! You, too, made it through another year! I personally have mixed feelings as we start 2017: elation, because we survived one of the most stress-filled 12 months ever; thankfulness, because we are both healthy (as is Missy M); and trepidation, because we are beginning a truly harrowing period, IMHO. I have avoided posting political comments (because you probably already know we both identify as progressive Democrats...and because whatever my thoughts are, they aren't going to change your mind), but I must go on the record as one of the loyal opposition: I have zero respect for or faith in the president-elect, so let's just say I have concerns. Overpowering concerns.

Breathe in, breathe out. Move on.

I do believe in that very British saying quoted in the title: "start as you mean to go on." As an example, since I mean to do more blogging this year rather than less, I am starting off the year with a blog post.

You know, most people seem to focus on the "start..." part, but I'm thinking mainly about the "...you mean to on" part. I  believe in making progress which means I believe in putting one foot in front of the other...and moving on. And in that vein, we have followed Southern training and tradition in starting off the New Year.

As is our custom, we welcomed in the New Year with Mimosas (champagne and orange juice, served this year in two glasses that survived both the Estate Sale and the subsequent purge of the leftovers. We had spent New Year's Eve in typical fashion: at home, watching TV, reading, and knitting. We never have been party animals and prefer to be off the roads rather than on. We binged-watched all 6 episodes of "The Durrells in Corfu," a Masterpiece program we'd somehow missed this past season. We FaceTimed Missy M, who was toasting in the New Year in Georgia, trying to keep her pups from freaking out over fireworks by keeping her quilting machine humming as well as a loud movie going on TV. (We had relatively few fireworks here, thank goodness!)

You know by now that we eat black-eyed peas, cooked with ham, on New Year's Day for good luck (peas) and prosperity (pork)...and we held to that tradition, serving oven-braised Brown Sugar ham and black-eyed peas in the form of Hoppin' John. To ensure wealth, you're supposed to eat greens (always turnip greens and collards in a true house of the South), so they were on the menu.  Representing gold on our menu were candied sweet potatoes and cornbread wedges. (A few years ago, we started including a dish from our garden to ensure good luck with next year's harvest...hence the sweet potatoes...;-) Over the years, we've added good luck foods from other cultures to the menu, like rice (in the Hoppin' John) and grapes. And, because Mr. T won't touch greens with a ten-foot pole, we had 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 (had sausage and biscuits for breakfast), 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," we have tried to spend a relatively stress-free day. Mr. T and I took our coffee out to the garden and wound up working there a little bit this morning. He added a couple bags of mushroom compost to the asparagus bed, while I picked the remaining cotton bolls that had been missed on earlier rounds. I know, I know..."but you have your house on the market, why are you working in your garden?" What can I say? Because we enjoy it.

However...

We had a house showing in the afternoon, so we wound up doing housework, even though I typically try to avoid that...and doing laundry...on New Year's. Needs must, right?

Anyway...

I do hope that you and yours have had a great start to a better year for us all!

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!

====================

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!

++++++++++++++++++++++
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!

Before We Go Too Far...

Well, 2012 appears to be starting off in hyper-drive already. Before he left on the current week's itinerary (which will have him in 4 states in 4 days...:), Mr. T filled the birdfeeders...again...and he checked to see what the Bird Cam had captured since he changed the batteries and the memory card last week.

Ahem.  As you can see in the photo on the top (above), we have a squirrel eating at will from the SQUIRREL PROOF FEEDER.  Folks, that's a real, unPhotoShopped photo.  The squirrels have figured out how to brace their hind legs against the 4x4, taking their weight off the feeder-bar...which is what is supposed to snap the food tray closed when something heavier than a couple of birds land there.  If you watch one at this task, it appears he is doing his calisthenics. Oh, I know what you are thinking:  why don't you give the squirrels their own feeder so they will leave the others alone.  WE HAVE...we have 2 corn-cob feeders, as well as one ground feeder...and they eat from them, too.  I guess they just love a challenge.  Fortunately, Mr. Squirrel left enough food for Mrs. Cardinal (photo, bottom/above) to have a taste.

Ah well...moving on...

I've been trying to get my calendars marked (special dates, scheduled meetings, etc.) and coordinated...and I'm apparently behind already. I had planned to get the house de-Christmased by Epiphany (last Friday, January 6th), but an unexpected visit from one of my nemeses (BPPV...benign paroxysmal positional vertigo...what a mouthful; now you understand why it's almost always abbreviated...:) knocked me off my feet and off my game plan this past weekend.

Fortunately, it was a mild episode as these things go, so I only lost 3 days...and that was probably a good thing: enforced voice rest ("no talking, please") is exactly what the Dr.'s ordered for this persistent sore throat I've had. "If it ain't one thing, it's 10 others," to quote Nana/Momma/Edith.

An aside...

N/M/E always wondered if we would quote her sayings after she was gone...like we still do Big Daddy/Sidney's...who has been gone for nearly 22 years now. I assured her there was no doubt in my mind that we would. She smiled then...and she's smiling now...:)

Anyway...

Before we get too far into January, I wanted to post some photos from our Christmas trip to Louisville as I promised in a December post. We had such a good time with Missy M, and with the Bros. & SILs for our family Christmas.

Lunn Family Christmas
in Louisville

The first few pix are from the Lunn Family Christmas. I didn't do a great job of getting photos of everyone, as you can tell: the one on the left is of the back of Bro J's head (he's wearing a Santa stocking cap...we're all actually wearing Santa caps at that point, since he had just handed out caps and Christmas socks in memory of Momma...:); you can barely see Mr. T in the chair under the big clock...but it's a bit clearer of Bro T (in front of the window) and SIL LaD.

The next two are clear as day of Bro J...but you might question the content.  Remember?  Missy M once brought her Uncle J a silly hat from Manchester, England...a wild & woolly knitted cap for the Arsenal soccer team.  And, every year since, we have tried to find an even sillier version of the Silly Hat.  This year's version is an Elmer-Fudd affair, but with reindeer antlers that move and Christmas lights that really light up when this little hidden button is pressed.  The battery also supports the playing of "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer."  I took a video of it with my iPad (a first!...and you'll recognize that by all the background noise that probably shouldn't have been there...:) before I wrapped it up for him, and if all went well, it loaded (below) and you can hear it play (if you click the play button...and turn your sound up...:).  I also found reindeer antler headbands for the rest of us to wear as he opened his gift; you can see one of those on SIL J's head in the pic on the left.  Too funny for words.

And, last but not least are the photos we took on Thursday, December 22, when we went to the Performing Arts Center in Louisville to enjoy The Nutcracker ballet.  I have described it as "a magical evening," and I meant every word of it.  Missy M treated us to a private box, which had three...and only three...very comfortable chairs.  It was like our own private performance of our favorite Holiday event!  Obviously, Missy M took the first photo, then she and Mr. T switched places...and told me to "hold that smile!"  Since the box was a cozy affair, we got "close-ups!"

OK, back to business.  I have gotten most of the Christmas stuff (and remember, I didn't really decorate very much this past year...:) corralled into the dining room.  The tree is still decorated, but I did unplug it, along with the window candles.  I'm not chancing a trip to the attic to bring the storage totes down (what I do NOT need is a visit from my other nemesis, Bad Back); that can wait until the weekend when the cavalry arrives home from...where will he be on Friday?  Maryland?  Virginia??

Tomorrow is dedicated to Master Gardening activities, which move into high gear with the Mentor Intern Breakfast...followed by two (or is it three?) committee meetings...followed by a Board meeting.  And, I'm supposed to refrain from talking?  You must be kidding!

And, I still have one more calendar to sync...and then I'll be ready to start the New Year. Or, rather...to catch up with it...:)

Going...Going...Almost Gone

Hard as it is to imagine, 2011 is almost over. Anyone blame me for saying "thank Heaven for small mercies"? I will be happy to see this year in the rear view mirror of my life, for certain.

The 24/7 Time Warner Cable news channel is telling that today (December 28) is No Regrets Day, with suggestions to write what you want to forget about this past year ("troubling souvenirs of 2011") on a piece of paper...and SHREAD IT! There's even a giant shredder set up in Times Square. Well, I've got a good-size shredder right here, folks. Wonder if there is some limit to how many pieces of paper I'm allowed to use?

OK, moving on...

Speaking of moving on...NO, we are NOT moving...sorry to even put that idea in your head! I was referring to our grand "move" on Monday, from KY back to NC. We reversed the process of ten days ago, loading up two cars with all of our stuff...and the three dogs, and driving back through four states in ten hours. Somewhere between the third and last toll booth on the WV Turnpike and the VA Welcome Center, my body and brain began to join forces in protest, threatening to Un-Occupy the driver's seat any longer. "I'm so over this," screamed that voice in my head. "I don't want to do this anymore!"

Right. Roll the window down...turn the audiobook up ("The Language of Bees")...and keep on moving, woman. This too shall pass.

I have had this same feeling once before in my life. On my first overseas flight from ATL to Manchester, England, back in 1997, I think. Somewhere over the North Atlantic, I suddenly had this overwhelming need to GET OFF THIS PLANE! It wasn't fear...it was the "stick a fork in me, I'm done" feeling. It was also the middle of the night, and I had to do "laps" up-and-back in the aisles to calm down. Couldn't do that now, could I, what with post-9/11 security measures dictating that passengers remain seated? Ah well.

We're home...at least I am...and recovering from the trip. Actually, Mr. T was here less than 12 hours...long enough to repack the necessities...and then off to VA for a meeting today at one of his dealerships. The end-of-the-year stuff is piling up for him, with too-few hours left to accomplish it all. He's supposed to return tonight, as tomorrow will be close-of-business for Fuso...so the Blackberry should be burnin' until the very last minute since they are in a twizzle to meet their numbers. Fingers crossed...toes, too!

To help him keep up his strength, I finally got around to making the Bundt(tm) cake he requested (pictured above; recipe below). Although the original Cocoa Bundt* recipe called for a chocolate glaze, I substituted a vanilla one...made with Justa Wee Bit o' Bourbon. Thought he might appreciate that!

I'm trying to get caught up around the house. Laundry took less time than expected, because we took advantage of Missy M's machinery before we left to do the majority of the loads. Indoor gardening took more time than anticipated, as everything needed watering and tending...and this was the final feeding until March for all the houseplants. I'm still trying to make it through all of the mail, which includes many of your beautiful cards and letters. (Thank you!)

And, last but not least, I'm unpacking all our wonderful gifts. This is truly the fun part of the week between Christmas and New Year's, isn't it?

I have so much to be thankful for...Santa and his Elves were more than generous with gifts of books (I'm almost done with "V is for Vengeance" by Sue Grafton), batteries (bringing life back to several comatose watches), and all manner of gardening goodies. But I am over the moon over one special gift. One that was wished for...not expected...and already considered an heirloom.

Missy M made me a quilt. Full size. Pretty on front and back. And in shades of purple, one of my favorite colors (matching the paint below the chair rail in its new room) and teal-blues (another fav!)...with peachy-pinks, to match a solid color matelesse quilt I already have. I've taken this photo to share with you...but my skills and the lens of the iPad's camera are both lacking to do it justice. Trust me, it's absolutely gorgeous. Now where is that box of Kleenex when I really need it?

As you can tell from the photo (above), I've put it on the guest bed...beyond the reach and The Drool of The Houndz...and, I'm already planning the matching pillows I'll make with the extra fabric Missy M gave me. You'll just have to come see it for yourselves.

Maybe in 2012?

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Cocoa Bundt Cake*
1 2/3 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 small box vanilla pudding (I use the instant)
3 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Spray Bundt pan with cooking spray.
2. In large mixing bowl, sift the dry ingredients.
3. In a large measuring cup, beat the eggs; add the rest of the wet ingredients.
4. While beating on low speed, blend the wet ingredient into the dry. Beat mixture on high for 3 minutes.
5. Pour cake batter into prepared pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool for 5 minutes. Remove to serving platter.
7. Drizzle with glaze (like the vanilla one below)

Enjoy!

Justa Wee Bit o' Bourbon Glaze

1/3 cup butter, softened
2 cups Confectioner's sugar
1 Tablespoon bourbon (or vanilla flavoring) (more or less)
2-4 Tablespoons milk (more or less)

1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over LOW heat.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in the confectioner's sugar and the liquids, one Tablespoon at a time. Add enough liquid to make the glaze smooth and of desired consistency.
4. Pour over Bundt cake. Yields about 1 1/4 cups glaze. Can easily double.

*An updated version of a recipe from "Hershey's Make It Chocolate!" Cookbook (c) 1987