Mother's Kitchen at Thanksgiving

Typical Thanksgiving preparations in a home, in a small town, in Southern Illinois. Many family members gather in the kitchen as Grandmother does her thing.

Lighter Footstep

One of my favorite e-newsletter comes "Lighter Footstep." Everyday I receive a bit of information on how we can cut pollution of the earth. Just thought I'd pass it on.

What to Do with All Those Leftovers
Posted: 27 Nov 2008 02:56 AM CST
Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the United States. It’s the traditional start of the holidays — and leftovers season. So what to do with all that extra holiday food? If you’re trying to live a lighter lifestyle, it’s a good idea to avoid plastic food containers. Go for washable, durable Pyrexware or similar oven-safe storage dishes. In most cases, you can go straight from the freezer to your microwave or oven. And you won’t have to worry about plastics leaching into your food or cluttering the landfill.

What?!

I don't believe it! Thanksgiving is next week? I'm not ready for it. How about a bit of humor to get in the mood?

"Where's Aunt Florence?"

After Thanksgiving dinner, the adults gathered in the living room to exchange reminiscences, while the children went into the family room to play. Suddenly our hostess noticed that an elderly relative was missing. "Where's Aunt Florence?" she asked. From across the room came a masculine drawl, "Oh, she's with the kids, bridging the generation gap."

-- Contributed by Florence M. Mortimer

Time Flies When You're Having...

Stress.

Warning: Parts of this post will be depressing.

11/08/08

When I signed on today, I was surprised to notice that there has been no new post here since September. So, backing up six weeks, I'll tell you that most of my September and early October was spent on the Historic Shaw Art Fair as the Volunteer Coordinator. Although we, the Art Fair Committee, work all year long on the event, the six weeks prior to the Fair is a real crunch-time. It was a great success this year. But, there was no time for me to feel the anti-climax of the sudden end of the festivities, because the very next Saturday I was vending my soaps, etc., at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market. It was nice to get back to the market.

And, before the Art Fair and the Market, our "baby-dog," Greta, ruptured her ACL in her left rear leg. So, add the stress of her disability and surgery, and a suffering pocketbook. He and I were carrying her 72 pounds in and out to the yard for her business and put a strain on both of our backs.

11/11/08

To continue, we came home from the Farmers' Market and had just unloaded when I received a phone call that one of my brothers had died. Vic. (This picture was taken in the late 70s.) Vic was a Veteran of the Viet Nam war, serving in the Navy, and he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and some effects from "agent orange."

I left for California the next morning and was there for 1-1/2 weeks to be with family and help where I could.

I was home from the West for only two days when news came that one of His relatives had passed away. So we were off again, this time to Central Illinois.

This kind of catches you up. Check back in a day or so for some more cheerful news, and honey, I'm ready for that.