The Secret is Out

Want to know how one gets moved into a new house and unpacked (for the most part) in 2 months? The following photo will provide a clue:

Ol' No. 7 to the rescue

No, the answer isn’t "throw back a few belts of Jack Daniel’s"!  The answer is: volunteer to host a brunch for 10!

Whew. What was I thinking? I don’t know, but when the suggestion was made at our October supper club dinner to make the November gathering a brunch, somehow or other my hand went up when the leader of our group asked “so, who wants to host a brunch the Sunday before Thanksgiving?”

(That reminds me of something my Daddy used to say about his Army basic training days: if someone asks for volunteers, take two giant steps backwards! Of course, he rarely followed his own advice. Need someone to head up the Dixie Youth Baseball League? Sidney will do it. There’s no one to be president of the Ripley High PTA? No problem...Sidney will do it! But I digress.)

I honestly thought that this was a time-delimited incentive to make the mountain of boxes in the main living areas disappear and all the stuff contained inside get in its proper place. And, since I have neither a wand nor a book of spells, I didn’t really believe the stuff would magic itself to the most logical location...but wouldn’t have minded one bit if Hermione Granger had popped in any time during the month-long ordeal.

Actually, we had 5 weeks and two days to get our house ready to receive guests. Piece ‘o cake, right? Right. First things first: make a list...one each for Mr. T and me, and one for things in general. Soon, each list had a sub-list, which spawned sub-sub lists, and...well, you get the picture. Each morning over coffee, we would discuss what we needed to do that day...and then have another cup. And another. Hey, they are now saying there are definite health benefits to drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day, right? Right!

But I digress...again. Oh yes, so many times...in so many ways. You see, having deadlines was bumping into one of the things we are enjoying about retirement: NOT having deadlines.

Anyway...

I am pleased to report that we actually managed to pull it off! Boxes were cleared out* (for the most part...if you don’t count Mr. T’s office), pictures were arranged on walls, and personal touches appeared here and there...and before you could say ‘wingardium leviosa’** stuff seemed to be flying into the proper places. 

7-Up Biscuits

Mr. T cleaned the outside, front and back, of all the leaves that our trees were now contributing to the landscape, along with sprucing up the siding near the front door. We moved furniture around (I know, I know...we haven't been here long enough to be moving furniture!) as we wanted to accommodate 10 people in our cozy house: the Library gained a table and shed its comfy reading chairs to become the Dining Room (which is what it was originally designed for) and the Great Room became the repository of all the chairs so everyone would have a spot to sit and sip their mimosas.

The hosts usually provide the beverages (we set up a mimosa bar for starters, and then had strawberry-mint infused water along with coffee for the meal) and the main course (we had Bourbon-and-brown sugar-basted ham***...hence the Jack Daniels!)...and because breads are kinda my thing, 7-Up biscuits****. 

Others brought an egg casserole, grits casserole, fruit salad, and a dessert. Then we popped some Fall Crackers (you know, like the Brits have at Christmas...only these had a Fall theme), read the riddles, and wore the paper crowns. Thankfully the meal was tasty, the day was loads of fun, and we introduced Loganville to several Athens-area couples who hadn’t ventured this far out “in the country” before. 

Here are some photos Mr. T snapped of the house before the guests arrived:

Mimosa Bar in Foyer

Coffee Bar in Kitchen

Table in Breakfast Room

Table in Dining Room (aka: Library)

Great Room (aka: "Chair Room!")

After such excitement in our lives, we were more than grateful to be able to spend a quiet, non-traveling Thanksgiving in our new (and newly-unpacked!) home. Missy M and grand-dog Ella Rae spent a couple of nights with us, and it was just about perfect...the warmer than usual weather being the only odd thing of note.

And now, we can relax, right? 

Wrong! With Christmas fast-approaching, we have unpacked many of the remaining boxes in the attic in order to decorate the house. Candles are in the windows, Santa Nutcrackers are at their posts, and the Christmas china that Daddy gave me 30 years ago when he was working at Central Hardware is on the table. We sold our five-year-old 9’ lighted tree, and then bought a 7 1/2’ one for 75% off in the after-Christmas sales last year...it was still in the original box even, making it easy to set up in the great room...along with a smaller one for my traditional Sheep Ornament tree (which is now set up in the window of the floored-but-unfinished attic room over the garage...looking for all the world like we set it up in an upstairs den!). The outside light display is more subdued (as we seem to have shed ourselves of many strands of lights), but we still have Mom ‘n Pop Reindeer on the lawn. And, although our nutcracker collection was greatly diminished by being such a popular item in our NC moving sale, we have enough “mens” left to populate the mantle...and then some. I'll upload those pictures into my next blog post.

Oh my, can I say that it looks a lot like home here now? Our home. Where our hearts are...and our boxes aren’t...for the most part.

And, to think, it’s all because I volunteered to host a brunch. 

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

*Most of our boxes will live on in our soon-to-be-constructed kitchen garden and compost bins. Cardboard is like gold to a gardener!

**the levitating charm from Harry Potter. 

***Bourbon and Brown Sugar Ham (from Southern Living, accessed at   http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/brown-sugar-bourbon-glazed-ham):

Ingredients

• 1 (6- to 8-lb.) fully cooked, bone-in ham
• whole cloves
• 1 (16-oz.) package light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup spicy brown mustard
• 1 cup Coca Cola soft drink
• 3/4 cup bourbon (or in the case of a Tennessee native...sipping whisky!)

How to Make It

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350°. Remove skin from ham, and trim fat to 1/4-inch thickness. Make shallow cuts in fat 3/4 inch apart in a diamond pattern.

Step 2:  Insert cloves in centers of diamonds. Place ham in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch pan (I used the large Le Creuset roaster). Stir together brown sugar and next 3 ingredients; spoon mixture over ham. (I reserved 1/2 of the mixture to serve heated with the ham.)

Step 3:  Bake at 350° on lowest oven rack 2 hours and 30 minutes, basting slowly with pan juices every 15 to 20 minutes. Remove ham from oven, and let stand 20 minutes before slicing, basting occasionally with pan juices. (I cooked the ham the day before, cooled it enough to refrigerate overnight, then heated it in the oven on 275).

==========

****7-Up Biscuits (accessed at http://allrecipes.com/recipe/238379/easy-7-up-biscuits/)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 1/2 cups baking mix (such as Bisquick (R))
• (I add 1 T baking powder for a high-rise biscuit)
• 1 cup lemon-lime soda (such as 7-Up(R))
• 1 cup sour cream                                         

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Put butter in a 9x13-inch baking dish (I use round cake pans) and place dish (pans) in the preheating oven until butter is melted.
2. Mix baking mix, lemon-lime soda, and sour cream together in a bowl until dough holds together and is sticky. (I add the extra melted butter to the bowl of my cuisinart with the dough blade, then put the wet ingredients in first followed by the baking mix along with 1 T baking powder). Turn dough onto a floured work surface and roll into 1-inch thick circle (NEVER overwork any biscuit dough, this one included: turn it 4-5 times in the additional flour then pat it into the circle). Cut circles out of dough using a cookie cutter or the rim of a wine glass (dipped in some extra flour) and place in pan in which you melted the butter.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until biscuits are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove dish from oven and let stand until biscuits have absorbed all the butter. (I brush butter over the tops of the biscuits for softer crusts).

A Truly Happy Thanksgiving

Goes without saying...but I'll say it anyway: we have had a rough month here at Casa 3917. We've been slogging along, playing the game with the cards we were dealt...as shoddy as they were. But now it appears we're playing with a brand new deck...and we've been dealt a full house. Hooray!

Meet Winston...our newest member of the Drool Gang! He's an 11-month old Australian Shepherd mix puppy we adopted yesterday from the Forsyth County Animal Control shelter in Winston-Salem. He is an alum of Animal Control, having initially been adopted in February...about the same time we adopted Abbie. Although they were both classified as Australian Shepherd mixes and born about the same time (right around New Year's), we have determined from the records that they aren't from the same litter. But, like all the adoptees from Forsyth, they both were micro-chipped before they were made available for adoption.

So, when Winston was found roaming the streets of Winston in October, even without a collar Animal Control knew who he was...and where he lived...and what his owner's contact number was. So they called...and they called...and they called. No response. And no one came to get Winston. The little Aussie had boomeranged back to the slammer, just 8 months after he'd left.

Why? For the life of me, I cannot come up with a good answer for you. And, trying to figure it out without any of the facts just makes me sad...and gives me a headache. He's a beautiful, frisky puppy, who is friendly to everyone he meets. I don't think he was abused because he doesn't show any marks or classic signs like fear, but I suspect he was neglected. Oh, not in the basics like food and water, although he does appear to be a bit underweight. He has been on a heart worm preventative, because his blood test was negative (thank goodness). To put it simply: he was love-starved. 

Here at home, we had lots of love that had been reserved for Elmo. And, we could see that Abbie needed another outlet for all of her energy...there are only so many hours we can walk her.  Duche$$, a diva and at almost-13, cannot be bothered to play or even interact with a puppy. Plus, I had a telephone conversation with Ab's trainer, who asked if we might consider adding another dog to our family.

Then, I saw a post on FC Animal Control's page with Winston's story. And whoosh! My heart took over my head. Adopt a new puppy at Thanksgiving, when Mr. T is still recovering from surgery?Are you kidding?! It is a terrible time to introduce a new family member! 

But I couldn't stop thinking about him...or visiting his picture on the FC webpage to see if Winston was still available. And Mr. T commented that, while his recovery might limit him, at least he would be home (rather than traveling for work)...a good thing when introducing a new puppy. So, we faxed in an updated application and waited for a call.

It wasn't what I'd hoped for. It was a voicemail message that said we were the second application for Winston, and that the other family had come to meet him. They were from out of town and had gone home to fax back the rabies vaccination on their other pet (required for an adoption to proceed). Did we want to come meet Winston anyway?

No! That was a for-sure heartbreak. I wanted him to have a good home, preferably with us...but a good home somewhere nonetheless. But I just couldn't go meet 'n greet unless we stood a chance of bringing him home. We'd wait and see.

Fortunately, for whatever reason, we got the Call early Wednesday morning. He was still available! Did we want to come meet him? You better believe it! Loaded Abbie up in the PTC and headed west to Winston...in the snow (!)...so we could meet Winston.

We met. We signed the papers. And because he was already neutered (previous owner got that right!), he could come home with us. He and Abbie took to each other almost from the start (thank goodness!), and we took a detour to our vet to get him checked out...and get him bathed (whew! He needed that!). Next stop: PetSmart for a new bed, a new collar and harness, and a a few (dozen) treats 'n toys. We were all happy but exhausted when we pulled into our driveway.

And then, we introduced him to Ella Rae and Dixie when we finally got home. OK, that part didn't go as smoothly as we'd hoped. But, it will work out in a couple of days. I have faith.

Winston is, in a word, a sweetheart. Although they are the same age, Winston looks and acts much more like a puppy than Abbie...but they both have that Australian Shepherd herding-nipping thing down pat. He looks like a shepherd, where Abbie looks more like a terrier. He weighs about 20 pounds less than Abbie, but is just a bit taller than she. His muscle structure is much less defined than hers, but he appears to be about the same size because he has a "coat," where she has very little fur, other than her neck ruff. His fur is soft (now that he's been bathed), and he loves for you to rub his ears...one of which flops forward more than the other. 

He has discovered the Toy Basket...and has already played with almost every single toy on site. Here's a picture I snapped of him with one of Abbie's bone-like toys called a Jack...which caused a bit of consternation when Miss Ab's discovered him. 

Abbie has taught him about the doggie doors, although he's still not too sure about going out of them...coming back in doesn't seem to trouble him. He seems to enjoy mealtimes as much as the other Droolers, although he wasn't too sure about liver treats at first. And, he is thrilled about having such a big play space as the Way Back offers.

I wish I could post a video of the Gang (minus Duche$$, alas) frolicking in the Way Back this morning. They were joy in motion! Running, jumping, chasing, racing. Mr. T says the gardens will never be the same, but I guess that's the price we will pay for witnessing pure happiness.

And that's the best word I can think of to describe Winston: happy. He is a happy little fellow, and he has made our Thanksgiving a happy celebration. We are smiling, once again.

Make That a Double

Coffee. I need coffee...lots of it. Keep it coming. Grind some of those 100% Columbian beans, baby...extra strength. Biggest mug we have, please. Make it a double. It's been a long night. 

Let me catch you up with the story.

Missy M and the grand dogs made the 8-hour journey over the river and through the toll booths, arriving late Wednesday evening. Since Mr. T and I are housebound this Holiday Season, we are hosting both family celebrations here...so she and the mutt-mutts are traveling the Turnpike twice.

Both of her dogs did fine on the long trip, although Dixie simply will not sleep in the car. She's not disruptive (like Gussie could be at times); she sits quietly and watches...watches, the whole way. Ella Rae is more active, shall we say? Jump in the front seat, take a nap. Back to the back seat, look out the window. Back to the front, try to help drive...and so on. But, since ER does nap occasionally, she was ready to roam when they pulled into the driveway.

After a frantic meet & greet with Abbie (Duche$$ cannot be bothered for such mundane matters), they ALL chowed down on some nibbles of kibbles...as we pet parents scarfed some supper. Then, off to our assigned beds...Thursday was going to be a big day.

Wait a minute! Haven't I got the wrong week? Thanksgiving is next Thursday, you say? Yes, but Missy M has miles to go before she can take those vacation days. She had a business trip to take to Dallas and made arrangements to fly out of and back into Piedmont Triad International in Greensboro.

 

PTI sounds impressive...and sports some mighty fine, long runways thanks to FedEx...but names can be deceptive. Service to/from is limited, forcing a choice of small aircraft (that I call Pretend Planes) or a long layover in (where else?) Atlanta. M decided on an American direct flight to Dallas, meaning she choose a Pretend Plane. Oh, I know, that's my personal problem with the noise (causing a loss of hearing for a couple of hours after the flight) and the lack of space (there's just something wrong when they ask you to gate-check your carryons 'cause there's not enough room in the cabin for both people and their packings)...she's happy to deal with those issues in exchange for a direct flight.

 

About that direct flight business...right.

 

As Snoopy would say, "It was a dark and stormy night." Oh, no...not here. There was a beautiful, purple-pink-and-orange sunset, splashed over NC Highway 68. No, the storms lay in two flanks between her Departure and her Arrival gates: one stretched along the Mississippi River, centered over Memphis; the second, more powerful system headed directly for...drumroll, please...Dallas. I began to chew my cuticles almost the moment I returned home from PTI and pulled up both the WFMY Weather ap and Flight Tracker on my iPad. [An aside: PTI may be a disappointment in flight choices, but they are top-drawer on their website, offering a direct link to Flight Tracker...an excellent tool for nervous parents plotting the course of their flying offspring. Click here to go there:  https://www.flyfrompti.com/airline-service/flight-trackers/]

We watched her flight head south in order to avoid the Memphis air space...good plan! But then along about 9:20, after crossing the Mississippi into Arkansas, the little black Flight Tracker airplane following the little white route-line turned and headed north. What?!

Thankfully, at almost the same instant we received the following text:

"Hello from the beautiful state of... Louisiana"

Her 'direct flight' had just made an unscheduled stop in Shreveport. "Better on the ground than in the air," were the first words out of Mr. T's mouth. No truer words...

Here's what the Weather ap shots showed (below). Not exactly comforting, eh?

 

Future forecast

Screen capture -
Dallas area, 9:35

She was on the ground for a little over an hour, and then we got a text she was back on the (refueled) plane. I knew I wouldn't be going to sleep until she was tucked up, safe and sound in her hotel room. But, I had to try to settle her pups who had shifted into searching mode: where is she? Where is she? Can't find her. Where is she?  So I took them to the front bedroom...and they seemed to accept that I was to be their bed-bud for the night. I turned on ESPN to mask the noises of a resting house...first we saw basketball, then football, and finally water polo (I kid you not!). Here are a couple of shots of sleeping dogs lying...

Dixie, settled for the night
(See her heart...on her head?)


 

ER, first nap of the night

With much tension, I watched the little FT plane make its way on my iPad from Shreveport Regional to DFW...first to the south, then turning north into the gap between the two waves on the Weather ap. 

With great relief, I read the first text when she landed. With even greater relief, I read the last text when she assured me she was safe and sound, all locked in her room. 2:45 a.m., our time. Turn off the TV, turn out the lights! Let's get some sleep.

Not to be. Abbie couldn't understand why I wasn't sleeping with Mr. T where I was supposed to be, so she divided her time between bedrooms...with long stop-overs on the den sofa. Up, down, up, down...repeat...

And no time to nap, as Mr. T has PT today. Of course, I might catch a few zzzzz's before I head to PTI to pick-up our traveller who is scheduled to return tonight, but I kinda doubt it: she texted that Dallas is expecting ICE later.

Yeah. Better make that a double. More coffee? Naw...it must be 5:00 somewhere, right?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

UPDATE: 9:45 p.m.

Missy M's plane is in the air and on the way. I'll be starting back on caffeine soon since a delayed departure from Dallas (weather...what else?) means a late arrival in Greensboro (now projected to be 11:43 EST). Here's the screen capture of Flight Tracker, showing the little black plane leaving DFW and beginning to follow the little white route-line, weaving its way through the weather, to GSO:

Double-double espresso, anyone?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

UPDATE: 11:43 p.m.

Travel girl is home again, safe and sound. Let the Thanksgiving begin!

An Almost-Perfect Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Table all set...
Flowers from Missy M

Ah.  The week after a Holiday is always an exercise in returning to normal, isn't it? 

We enjoyed a wonderful seven days "at home" with Missy M and our grand dogs, Ella Rae and Dixie.  We traveled to our favorite family places and did some of our favorite family things.  We ate all the traditional recipes on Turkey Day (photo, left), served in the traditional dishes (Meemaw's turkey platter; Mama Stewart's Haviland gravy bowl and cut-glass relish dish; Nana's cranberry sauce server; and our very own silver and china).  We toasted our good health and happiness with chilled Biltmore Estates Riesling (an new tradition...:).  We postponed dessert until Friday because we were too full from the feast on Thursday.  And, I almost made it through dinner without tears.  Almost.

The turkey had been roasting since early morn, causing the dogs...all 5 of them...to be famished and fussy by mid-afternoon.  So, while we were trying to enjoy a lovely meal at the dining room table, the Houndz were circling our feet like a shiver of sharks.  Someone remarked that they probably were looking for a push-over to share morsels with them.  I said they probably missed Nana dropping bits of her buttered rolls or bites of turkey like she used to.  And that's all it took...that one observation triggered a grief ambush, as friend LCM calls them.  I tried to control the flow...to no avail.  The tears will fall when the tears will fall...I should be used to this by now.  Up from the table...off to the bathroom.  Cry a bit, dry the eyes, rinse & repeat.  Sigh.

Let us speak of happier things.

Thanksgiving Cheesecake

As I said, we got a couple of day-trips into the week.  The first one was on Friday to Boone (mountains), where we usually shop a little at Mast General Store (Christmas sweaters, anyone?), enjoy a big family-style meal of fried chicken and fixin's at Daniel Boone Inn, and then go to one of the many choose n' cut Christmas Tree farms for "The One." This year was a bit different, since we neither ate at the Inn nor came home with a tree on top of the car...more on that later.  Still, it was a beautiful day, and we had a fun time.  And, by the time we made it home, we were all ready to try that cheesecake with fresh strawberries.  Yummy!  (Photo, right; recipe, below)

Next up, Raleigh on Saturday, for the NC Symphony's Carolina Christmas concert.  Beautiful music...the Cary Chorus....the debut of an original work...and even a singalong:  just right for stirring up the Spirit of the Season.  Then, post-concert, we indulged another tradition of eating Chinese food post-Thanksgiving:  anything but turkey!  We got our favorites at P.F. Chang's at the Crabtree Mall, then did a little shopping at the Container Store (which neither of us has "locally").  It was late when we finally made it home...but we elected to have "just a small slice" of cheesecake...this time with fresh blueberries for the topping.

We started Sunday off in leisurely fashion, making family fav pancakes for brunch.  Afterwards, we began the process of removing the Thanksgiving decorations, in preparation for some Christmas ones...to be added later this week.  Mid-afternoon, we were dressing to attend the Service of Memories when...

Do you know what a little, long-haired black dog looks like after a romp in the attic insulation?  It ain't pretty.  While I was putting the finishing touches on my make-up, Mr. T and Missy M were putting the boxes of Thanksgiving decorations away.  Ella Rae decided that was the perfect time to make a dash into the pink stuff just beyond the floored part of the attic where all the decorations are stored.  Of course, every time they tried to get her to come out of the attic...she just made another run-through...thinking they were trying to play-play with her.  What fun!

What fun, indeed.  Missy M stayed home to give ER several baths, to try to remove all the fibres from the little mutt-mutt's fur.  Mr. T and I headed on to the service, which is an annual Holiday offering by Cumby Funeral Home for families who have lost loved ones in the past year.  We were comforted by the words of the minister from Jamestown United Methodist Church, who took his message from the scripture: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." [Psalm 30:5]  For most of us in the chapel, it was still "night"...for there was much weeping.  For me, the tears fell as before...and of course, I had forgotten to bring any tissues.  You'd think I would learn...



Service of Memories...
Gifts for the Grieving

 We were all given two gifts (photo, left) as we exited the service: a brochure on dealing with grief through the Holidays and a lovely ornament with our loved one's name.  Both will be helpful in the coming weeks, I have no doubt, as we follow the suggestions we were given.  I have already found some comfort in a quote in the brochure, Coping With The Holidays: The Road to Recovery:

"I thought I was doing much better.  The pain had subsided; I could laugh again.  I was beginning to spend time with friends.  My eating and sleeping patterns were back to normal.  Then, I had to face my first holiday without him.  I felt the familiar effects of grief wash over me and it was just like the healing process had never even begun."  -- Anonymous

While I don't feel that I am all the way back to Square #1, I do feel that I've been sliding back down the slope this last week.  More tears.  Less sleep.  That hollow, empty feeling of finality.  But reading that quote helped me see that I'm reacting to loss like others do.

Also in the brochure:

"Writing...will help you express your feelings.  When writing, be entirely honest...; it will help you gain control over your feelings.  Clarifying your thoughts will help you feel less overwhelmed..."

So, here I am.  Writing.  Expressing.  Clarifying.  And, all after midnight.  Ah, well...it's a process, right?  No doubt, I shall sleep better tonight than I have in days.

Another reason I was so glad that we attended this service was that we got to see and hear Thom Gill, a volunteer who sings and plays guitar regularly at Hospice Home of High Point.  He is an angel, and I am glad I had another opportunity to tell him how special he and his music are/were to us.  I hugged him after the service, and we chatted for a while about his music ministry.

We returned home, thoroughly drained but with more peace...only to walk into the final chapter of Doggie Chaos.  Missy M had decided to give ALL of the dogs baths!  Since Duche$$ refused to get into the tub, she got her "bath" in the shower.  The good news:  all the dogs were clean and fresh-smelling.  The bad news:  all the dogs were still a wee bit damp...and I don't think there was a dry towel to be had.  A small price to pay, to be sure...

Cheesecake, anyone?

=========================================================
*Thanksgiving* Cheesecake

Crust:
Graham cracker crumbs to equal 2 cups (about 1 1/2 packets)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pecan halves/pieces
1 stick butter, melted
Filling:
4 8-oz packages of cream cheese, room temperature
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 T. lemon juice
Toppings:
Fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, etc.), sliced and sugared
     or,
Canned cherry pie filling, chilled
Whipped cream
Chocolate sprinkles

A minimum of two days before you wish to serve the cheesecake, make the crust.  I use the Cuisinart to pulverize the graham crackers and the pecans, although you can put them in a large ziplock baggie and crush them with a rolling pin.  Add the melted butter to the crumbs.  Press the crust mixture into the bottom of a greased springform pan, pressing the mixture up the sides.  I use a greased glass for this part.  Place the pan in the freezer overnight. [You can do this step several days in advance, if desired.]

One day before you wish to serve the cheesecake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and make the filling.  In the bowl of your mixer or Cuisinart, beat the bars of cream cheese until softened.  Add the sugar, and beat well.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add the sour cream, the lemon juice, and the vanilla, incorporating well into the cream cheese mixture.  Pour the filling into the frozen crust.  Wrap aluminum foil around the base and sides of the springform pan, and place it into a larger pan (cookie-sheet size, but with sides of at least an inch).  Put into the oven.  Pour hot water into the larger pan, creating a "bath" for the cheesecake.  After 10 minutes, lower the temperature to 350 degrees; bake for an additional 1 hour and 30-40 minutes, or until the cheesecake has risen and has a lightly-browned top (which might be more or less time, depending on your oven). Turn off the oven, and allow the cheesecake to rest in the oven for another hour.  Remove from the oven. Let cool on a rack thoroughly before placing into the refrigerator (overnight).



Prior to serving, remove from the refrigerator 30-45 minutes ahead of time.  Run a sharp knife under hot water prior to making each cut.  Top the cheesecake slice with fresh, sweetened fruit; chilled, canned pie filling; or chocolate syrup, chips, or sprinkles...and a large dollop of whipped cream.  Enjoy!

Refrigerate any leftovers.  Yield:  10-12 slices 
[Don't even ASK how many calories are in each slice!]

*We have had this cheesecake almost every Thanksgiving at our house. 

Mountain Memories - Fall, 2011

It's Turkey Time!

We're home again...and getting ready for Thanksgiving.  I wanted to take a little break from all the preparations to say "hello," and post an update of our recent adventures.

As I said in my last post, Mr. T has been using up over 3 weeks of vacation days this month - "use 'em or lose 'em."  Of course, if we are in town...at home...near his office, he works anyway.  Taking calls, checking emails, updating information.  Whatever.  He's connected 24/7 and, without some distance between him and his desk, he works.  And, I stew.  Not a great combination.

Mr. T taking photos at
The Fish Pond - Biltmore Estate

Hence the reason we hit the road on Wednesday...headed back to the NC Mountains.  I know, I know...we were just there in October.  But I wanted to see the Biltmore all decked out for Christmas and maybe take a side trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway...and we did! 

Going to the Biltmore in the middle of the week was perfect:  the crowds were light and all the folks were unhurried and pleasant.  We also took a class on Designing Woodland Wreaths at the Garden Center on the Estate, saw the Tiffany Lamp Exhibit, and ate at Cedric's Tavern in the Antler Village...a first for us. It was a beautiful day all the way around.





Linville Falls,
Blue Ridge Parkway

 The next morning, we saw our first snow of the season on the Parkway, portions of which were closed due to ice and snow.  Wow!  We got to see several excellent exhibits at the Folk Art Center and then found other roads to get us around the closings.  That way, we were able to get to Linville Falls and Gorge (photo, left) before the sun went down.  It was cold, but the walk on the trail (about a mile and 1/4, roundtrip) warmed us up...and energized us at the end of our long day.

We then back-tracked to Durham on the other side of the state for our last Duke football home game.  Lost another close one to Georgia Tech, sad to say, but still had a fun Fall afternoon.  There's always next year, right?


But, first...



Graduation Day!
I made it:  EMGV






Before we left, we went to the Extension Center on Wednesday for the Annual Meeting of the Guilford County Master Gardener Volunteers...and graduation for the Class of 2011.  Yes, I'm "certified!" Call me EMGV. A long year (for this and all the other reasons), but well worth the time and effort, I would say.  Ahhhh...so glad that's done!

Since Missy M and my grand-dogs, Ella Rae and Dixie arrive this afternoon, I've been trying to get as much of the cooking done...so we can have a lot of time together while she's here.  She's had a crazy schedule lately...including 3 "days" of working at night for training video shoots (which they can only do in the restaurant kitchen, after the restaurant is closed)...so, she's exhausted and needs a recovery period.

Of course, I can't help myself...I've lined up some Holiday activities for us to do while she's here, including the NC Symphony's Carolina Christmas in Raleigh and the Lights at Tanglewood Park in Winston-Salem...and we'll have to visit Old Salem while we are there.  And, she wants to go to Boone, so we'll head the car back to the mountains for the third time this season.  She'll probably need a couple of days back at home to recover from her vacation here in HPNC!

I feel the need to celebrate in order to keep any sadness at bay.  We'll miss Nana/Momma/Edith...and no amount of activity can substitute for her absence.  We'll attend the Remembrance Service on Sunday to celebrate her life and honor her memory.  Indeed, I am so thankful for all the wonderful years and memories...that I just refuse to let grief overwhelm us. 

I did have a setback yesterday that could have knocked me back several steps if I would allow it.  I saw my ophthalmologist and learned why everything was so fuzzy:  cataracts.  Both eyes...which is normal according to Dr. T, who declared that "cataracts are like geese...always come in pairs."  Really?  So what's next?  Well, I "wait and see" he says...monitor any changes over the next year.  OK.  Knowing how much I like to wait, you'll understand how frustrating that was to hear.  But, what else can I do?  Nothing.  Period.

So, instead of settling for doing nothing, I shall do what I can.  I can be thankful for my vision.  I can be mindful of how quickly things can change in life.  And, I can just keep on putting one foot in front of the other...and moving forward.

We can have our Mountain Memories
every morning with our coffee...

I'm so thankful you are all on this journey with me.  Cheers!

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!

Garden Shed, Days 4 - 7

OK...so where was I?
The walls were up on the Garden Shed, and the inside had been painted and covered to protect it against the elements.  Mr. T had to return to work (which means he had to return to the road...:), so we were on temporary hiatus from construction.


Mr. T adds a trim board at end of Day 4

 
No more.  He's taking a few more of those "vacation days," so we've been building as fast as our hammers could nail.  After the walls came the workbench (and you thought I was going to say something silly like "the roof," didn't you?) and the interior shelves that form the "attic" and two side storage areas.  Then came the roof trusses and the trim boards (photo, left).  Hey, this instruction book is very specific about the order of things...and we're doing our best to follow their lead.


Garden Shed at end of work-day #5:  roof's on!



Finally, on Day 5, the roof went up and the windows went in.  That was an exciting day for sure, 'cause now the weather could change without our having to be overly concerned about damage to the interior.  As you can see in that photo (right), we even began storing our work supplies and tools inside...no worries!



Starting on Day 6, we then took the instructions and divided and conquered:  Mr. T continued to work on the roof, adding the felt over the fiberboards, in preparation for adding the drip-edge and the shingles; and, I started caulking and painting.

You're painting, Patricia?  Really??  If you know me, you know that I am the World's Worst Painter.  No, this isn't false modesty here.  Ask any member of my family...they'll tell you.  She's the Worst of the Worst painters.  Go ahead.  I'll wait.

Told you so. 

I get more paint on me than on any object that I'm supposed to be painting.  And, more paint on the surfaces anywhere near where I'm painting.  It's almost like I never graduated from finger painting in kindergarten.

Patricia paints the trim on back wall of shed - Day 6

But, what I lack in skill I more than make up for in enthusiasm.  And, if you've done the math, you've probably figured out that I'm too short to be much good on the roof-work...even with the scaffold that Mr. T's rigged up.  So, "caulk and paint" for me it is then!



As you can probably tell in that photo (left), the main color of the Shed is a taupe-y shade to match our house-trim called "Quail Ridge."  The shed's trim color, which looks like melted vanilla ice cream, is called "Pebble Shore."  And, the door color?  I think I've already mentioned that it's called "Blooming Wisteria."  Purple by any other name, according to Mr. T.

Blooming Wisteria paint for the doors



I don't want to spoil the big reveal when I finally publish the "finished" photo, so I won't show you a picture of the front of the shed just yet.  I will, however, show you the paint in the pan (right)...just so you won't be too shocked when you do see it.

Ta-da!  Yep, it's purple by any other name, isn't it?

What can I say?  It really looks...well, happy...for the want of any other description.  And, since the shed is fairly-well hidden behind our fence, it really isn't visible to anyone else...except maybe through our next door neighbors' kitchen window.  So we are the only ones who will get to enjoy the Purple Doors.



Mr. T nails shingles on the roof - Day 7



The Bible tells us that God created the heavens and the earth and all therein in six days...and then took a rest day on the seventh.  Amazing!  And, I'm guessing He didn't even have a pictorial instruction booklet either!

For us, the work on the Shed has continued to Day 7, with Mr. T nailing the shingles onto the roof (left).  I took that picture from the kitchen window, which is why you see so much of the tree branch and nothing of the scaffold.

I really can't help much with this work, so I've moved indoors to start checking items off the Thanksgiving To Do List.  Today was "polish silverware," "make cheesecake and pecan pie," and "brine the turkey."  Check, check, and check!

Tomorrow, it's all about the food.  And family.  And football.  And the parade.  And the dogs on the Westminster Kennel Club show!!  Woo hoo!