Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Redrum


 There you go. Red glasses. 

Y'all were right, though. They didn't look so very red in that other picture and yet, they are. 

I don't know what's wrong with me today. Maybe it's the weather. All that worry about the storm and we got less rain (and no wind) than we have been getting the past week. This is not to say it hasn't rained at all. It has. Just not very much. 

So in the knowledge that I had two days now to get ready for the trip, I actually got out an old journal and made a list of things I needed to do before we left. And then I made pickles. 


I made six and a half pints of dill pickles and one pint of dilly beans. There was no way I was going to let my cucumbers go to waste. 
I also finished the dress I have been "working" on for about six months now. It's...okay to wear around the house. Nice pockets at least! 
And I know I've done some other stuff but I don't know what. I packed some potatoes and a few pints of things I've canned to take to NC. I talked to Jessie and the boys. We discussed things we might do while we're up there. I was told that I do not need to bring the Mike Mulligan book because they have one of those at the cousins' house. 
Check! 

Meanwhile, while I was doing all of...whatever it was I was doing...Mr. Moon was shelling peas and then he decided to pack and in about half an hour he was entirely ready to go, clothing-wise, at least, and I haven't even started down that path. 

About 3:30 I started feeling so tired that I eventually had to go lay down and take a nap. Like I said- maybe the weather? 

I can't even imagine how tomorrow is going to go. I have so much I feel like I need to do before we leave including cleaning out the hen house and making sure the people house is in reasonable order and of course doing my own packing which is always ridiculously hard for me. I did get two new dresses that I like very much and that is cheering. 
I'm so ridiculous. I always have to remember that none of this really matters because they sell everything in North Carolina that I could possibly forget or neglect to take. 

Here's the best thing on my to-do list for tomorrow:
Boil peanuts. 
Yep. I bought a bag of green peanuts at Publix to boil and take with us on the road. Is that just about the most southern thing you ever heard? 
No. That would be when my mother married Glen's father. 
As the lady in Costco said the other day, that's a long story for another time. 

Okay. I will end this now but I do want to show you a picture that Lily sent around last night. 
She had put Maggie in the tub and left her there for a few minutes with some red finger paint soap that Lauren's mother had given her and came back to find this. 



"Looks like she had a doll execution and then signed her name," Lily said. 

You are welcome. 

Love...Ms. Moon

35 comments:

  1. had to laugh.....preparing for a week away from home and you are making pickles! Waste not, want not. Now to start your packing! and the glasses are lovely and red.......a ripe cranberry color. Love them. Enjoy your week away.....get lots of hugs and kisses...... and come back with many stories to tell!
    Hugs and safe travels
    Susan M

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    1. I know- pickles. Like I don't have enough already!
      Oh well.
      I will enjoy my week, I am sure, and will be sending reports.

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  2. a week will not be long enough probably. Hope you found a house chicken cat sitter, I thought i would offer but I can not walk that far. Your packages will be mailed tomorrow so that by the time you get back home you will have something a bit like Christmas to open. This is the fun part of decluttering- sending stuff to Mary Moon! (sorry, not sorry)
    Barbie sacrifices are the best. The gods love them!

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    1. My sweet neighbors are going to come feed the critters and close the chickens up at night.
      I cannot WAIT to see what you are sending me. I'm going to start sending YOU things. Although I doubt you'd want any of the things I need to get rid of.
      You're precious, Linda Sue.

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  3. I'm very tired at the moment so forgive me if that was a joke or irony but did your Mother really marry Glen's father?? Sorry, if I'm just being dense or missing the point! I'm completely confused and intrigued!
    Enjoy your trip Blods xx

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    1. Yes. It is a true story. My mother married Glen's father. Discussion to follow.

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  4. Isn't red finger paint soap an oxymoron? Three of them, in fact.

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  5. Sounds to me like you married your step brother! It would be super Southern if you were 1st cousins!
    Enjoy your trip and those boys and girls who love you both so much!

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    1. No. Glen and I were already married when our parents married. Each other. It was really weird though.

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  6. You will have a wonderful time and it won't matter what you pack or what you wear. Everyone will be so happy to see everyone else!

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  7. When I have lots of cukes I make Ice Box Pickles - takes no time at all. Make any amount - the recipe proportions are 1 gallon sliced cukes, several sliced onions, 3 cups vinegar, 3 cups sugar, 1 t. mustard seed, 1 t. celery seed, 1/2 t. turmeric, 1/4 cup salt and some fresh dill. Store in the fridge. They are good fresh and they are good months later.
    There is also a recipe I just tried on Smitten Kitchen for a Cucumber and Avocado Salad that is quick and really good.

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    1. Well, the trouble with ice box pickles (and I have made them and they are delicious) is that I don't have much room in the refrigerator. But thanks for the recipe. I may use it at some point when I don't feel like getting the canner out. I'll check out Smitten Kitchen. Thanks!

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  8. It looks like a blood bath.

    Have a wonderful trip and I know you will because you're going to be with your grandkids. Whatever you forget, you're right, you can buy there. I always forget something when I pack. It's a tradition now.

    Sending hugs.

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    1. Blood bath for sure!
      As long as I don't forget my meds which I have done before. Everything else is easily replaceable or done without.

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  9. Lily is so gorgeous, and that photo is award-winning.

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  10. And through all this you did put pockets in that dress. Well done. Priorities straight.

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  11. Those specs still don't look very red to me, but I have had both cataracts done a few years ago and it definitely changes how I see some colours. For instance, my grey slippers turned a bit lilac in natural light, and a salmon coloured jumper is now a very pretty pink!! A pale greenish jumper is now much more blue. My £1 specs that I am wearing at the moment are the same shape as yours ( and red!!)
    How far( in miles or time driving) is your trip to N. Carolina? I can look at it on a map, but distances in USA are so much different to here. I think that an hour journey is too long!! Safe journey.X

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    1. I don't see them as red, either. I was expecting to see strawberry red or fire engine red ... but this is more like a deep burgundy wine color. Perhaps it is due to what we are using ... phone, tablet, computer ... even on my laptop they still don't look red red!!! ❤

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    2. I can only assure you that if you saw the glasses in person you would say, "Those are red glasses!" They're not what I would call lipstick red, but yes, more of a cranberry.
      Frances, our trip is about eight hours each way. We'll be breaking it up into two for the journey up, at least. It is a long drive.

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  12. I have a feeling after all the packing and worrying, you might just end up sleeping all the way (which is probably a good idea anyway). Can't wait for "the story for another day." In the best literary tradition of the South, for sure.

    Have a great time in NC. Safe travels.

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    1. I almost never sleep in the car! I have to stay awake to keep my drive awake which I do by reading out loud.
      Thanks.

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  13. LOL -- that picture is so funny! And very REDRUM indeed.

    Your mother married Glen's father? Did I know this?!

    For some reason I had it in my head that you were leaving today. I am the same as Glen when I pack clothes. It doesn't take me long. I get that women have a lot more to think about on the fashion front, though.

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    1. I don't know if you knew it or not. We don't look incestuous, do we? Ha!
      It's so much more than the packing when it comes time to get ready to leave. Plus, I have to pack books and snacks and stuff I want to take for the kitchen we'll be using up there and pillows and fans and all of our supplements and, and, and...
      Glen throws his clothes in a bag, gets his toiletries together and he's pretty much done. It's a whole different ball game. Of course he makes sure the car is ready for a trip and all of that other stuff.

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  14. Wait, what?? Your mom married your father in law? Does that mean you’re doin’ it with your step-brother? Please elaborate!

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    1. In a way, I guess so. We try not to think about that.

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  15. That's a funny photo of Maggie, one for the ages I'm sure. And yes, the glasses really are red, and very, very cool looking. I know why you're a little out of sorts: traveling, no matter how anticipated, is always hard to prepare for, the packing, the thinking through of how we will choose to appear. Once you're on the way, it will all fall into place, and feel easier. Till then, here's my hand.

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    1. And since we'll be renting a house, I pack stuff for the kitchen up there (what if their knives are shit?) and all the other stuff we can't live without. Really, the clothes aren't such a big deal. It's everything else.

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  16. I like the red glasses - I have some bright blue one's that I bought as spares but now wear a great deal. Brightens up the day.

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  17. The Doll execution and then signing her name in Soap Blood... hilarious... that's the stuff the best Memories are made of with the Grands!

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    1. PS: Glen's Father Marrying your Mother and you trying not to think about the dynamics of that for you and Glen now remind me of what one of the G-Kids we're Raising asked us after I Adopted them. If you're our Mom now, does that mean our Mom is our Sister now, and our Uncle is our Brother now... but Grandpa is still our Grandpa because they didn't let him Adopt us... and... and... and... yeah, we try not to Think about all that, or our Heads might explode! *Smiles*

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.