“My weak spot is laziness. Oh, I have a lot of weak spots: cookies, croissants.”
I was awakened at five by Gracie’s panting so I got up and opened the front door. I didn’t go with her but did check a couple of minuets later, no Gracie on the grass. In a panic I ran barefooted outside to the wet, cold lawn then noticed the lights, the motion detector lights, were on in the backyard. I had left the gate open and Gracie saw it, went in the yard and did her business. She showed up a bit later at the front door. I was thrilled. That means on the coldest nights Gracie can go alone while I stay inside and man the door. During the daytime, though, I’ll go with her.
I had an early morning meeting, early for me anyway, at nine. Alexa’s dulcet tones were set to wake me, but I beat her to it and woke up on my own. That gave me a chance for coffee and a tiny bit of the paper. I was meeting ready.
Dismal is still with us. The sky is cloudy but not as dark as it has been. It will get down to the 30’s tonight. I am not enthused.
This time of year, my mother and I used to buy just about every issue of the Christmas magazines. We’d talk on the phone discussing the recipes and the decorations and then we’d decide what new recipes to try. My usual Christmas goodies to make were two or three kinds of cookies, one being orange cookies, my mother’s favorite, date-nut bread, fudge and toffee. My mother made mostly cookies, one kind was always sugar cookies. They were my favorite. She made great sugar cookies. My father was thrilled this time of year. All the goodies were in tins on the dining room table. He’d make several trips every day. Every morning he had date-nut bread slathered with butter. I used his mother’s recipe, about the only good thing she made. To say she wasn’t an inspired cook is an understatement, but the weird thing is the date-nut bread recipe is the only recipe handed down from my grandmothers.
Every Wednesday both newspapers have food day so I cut out recipes I know I’ll probably never make but want to have just in case. I also cut out recipes from magazines for the same reason. Under my table here in the den are three huge baskets. The middle one is overflowing with recipes. Every now and then I pull them out and go through a few piles in case one inspires me to action. I keep telling myself the recipes need to be organized but that’s as far as I get.
I have a couple of house things to do but none are pressing. That might have to do with my having three new books to read from the library. They are right where I can see them, and I swear I can hear them calling my name.
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November 14, 2017 at 1:55 pm
After a lazy day yesterday I’m happily back at work. If I had to stay home on the couch every day I would commit suicide.
My sister in law is the baker in our family and every year at holiday time she sends a care package of baked goods such as rugila and date it bread. Personally, I’m an Oreo cookie fan and pass on eating her baked goods because I don’t really enjoy them.
Today is going to be warm but sunny with a high of about 75. A cool snap is expected by the weekend.
November 14, 2017 at 2:15 pm
Bob,
You don’t have to spend a free day on the couch. I certainly don’t though in the winter the house is the best spot but there is also plenty to keep me busy here.
We all prefer homemade sweets though I do like Oreos. The holidays, to us, are not the holidays without all the goodies. Deven now my sister expects a package from me with her favorites!
We will be cold at night all week.
November 14, 2017 at 3:21 pm
Nice typo when you looked for Gracie “a couple of minuets later”. I thought of you in a cozy armchair listening to some nice piano minuets by Bach on vinyl while watching the stars and waiting for Gracie 🙂
Enjoy your book(s)!
November 14, 2017 at 3:31 pm
You gave me a chuckle, Birgit. Yup, there I was resting and listening and got so involved I forgot poor Gracie.
November 14, 2017 at 8:22 pm
Kat, I have noted that you will be supporting Sweden during the forthcoming WC.
November 14, 2017 at 8:32 pm
MDH,
Yes, I am supporting Sweden who is, by all appearances, extremely lucky.
November 15, 2017 at 1:02 pm
Your father’s mother and mine could be relatives 🙂 🙂 You know by now what a lousy cook my mother is 🙂 🙂 🙂
Back in the days when Orvar and Hector still were alive I was used to not finding them 🙂 They always went out for walks by themselves and everyone knew about it so no one ever drove fast on our gravel roads 🙂 Everyone liked those dogs so if I met anyone they just told me where they saw them so I could go and bring them home again 🙂 It’sd not the same with Albin though, he does get out occasionally and never walks far but since he’s a pitbull people tend to be worried when they see him even if he’s the kindest dog in the world.
Now however we have a lynx walking around in the village at nights so I do prefer if he stays in the garden. Orvar and Hector were just too big for a lynx but I’m not so sure if Albin is.
Have a great day!
Christer.
November 15, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Christer,
They’d both have to order deliveries for dinner if they were together. My father liked pasta with stewed tomatoes from a can on top as that is how his mother made it. That is so gross.
Shauna and Maggie could always walk off a leash and stayed with me except once when Shauna took off after a rabbit. It took me over an hour to find her in the woods. I was just about in tears. Gracie was a runner. She took off every chance she got and wouldn’t come to me. She’d go to strangers. If my neighbors heard me calling her, they’d come out and Gracie would go right to them. Now she can be trusted off a leash but we can ‘t walk because of her back legs.
I never worried about the coyotes taking any of my dogs as they are boxers, brawny and strong. They are pure muscle.
Have a great day!
November 15, 2017 at 5:09 pm
Hi Kat,
Odd that date nut bread was also the only recipe passed down from my grandmother. I remember my grandmother’s cookies as being very good and the date nut bread recipe is also good. I never tasted her cooking. My mother said my grandmother cooked food the way my grandfather said it should be cooked. My mother cooked food the way my grandmother cooked food so I have to conclude that my grandfather would have been a horrible cook. My grandmother was either an equally horrible cook or a really good cook who knew how to be a horrible cook to please her husband’s defective taste buds. 🙂
Yesterday was cloudy and dreary. I got my hair cut and drove up to NH to a yarn shop I frequent. There were good conversations and lots of laughs and also lovely yarn. Took my mind right off that dreary day.
Today is sunny, more or less. I didn’t need a jacket as long as I was in the sunny spots.
Enjoy the day.
November 15, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Hi Caryn,
I never had cookies from my grandmother. I remember she used to buy the butter cookies in a tin, but those are the only ones I remember. My father liked the worst food, his mother’s way of cooking. He liked his spaghetti topped with a can of stewed tomatoes, the way his mother made it. I have to think that mine, like yours, cooked the way her husband wanted. He was a bit of a bully.
I haven’t done a whole lot the last few days. I just haven’t been able to muster the energy. I did pick up here in the den and in the kitchen so they do look neat and spiffy. My cleaning couple come tomorrow so I only straightened up.
No sun at all today either. I was going to go get my filled prescription but just didn’t want to go out. I do have to go out tomorrow as I need a few groceries.
Have a great evening!