Saturday, January 1, 2022

Doing What I Can To Ensure All The Good Stuff With The Proper Dietary Rituals


Vergil's family all left, some yesterday, some early this morning. The house must seem so quiet now. I had asked Jessie if they wanted to come out for some black-eyed peas and greens today for their annual January 1st dose of luck and peace and riches or...something. 
This is just what we do in the south- eat black-eyed peas and greens on New Year's day and although I do not know the true history of the custom, it seems a ritual that is extremely doable and sensible, too, in its own way. 

This year I cooked some dried black-eyed peas from the store and when they were getting soft, I added a bag of the field peas we froze last summer from the garden. I figured that would be extra lucky. And I cooked them with what was left of the Christmas ham which was bone mostly, but some meat. I think that hog jowl is more traditional to cook the peas with but I already had the ham and waste not, want not. I also added some leftover rice to the peas because it ain't Hoppin' John without the rice. And don't ask me why we call it Hoppin' John, either. Hank probably knows. 
I had frozen some of the leftover greens I cooked for Christmas and I thawed those out and added them to a few more I picked this morning. I will make cornbread to go with it all in a little while. 
Anyway, what was I talking about? 
Oh yes. The Weatherford family. 
They did come out for a little while. Long enough to check out the virtual reality situation. It was fun to watch Vergil dance with the robot but it was a joyous moment, watching Jessie dance with it. That girl can dance! I haven't even SEEN the robot yet- still, the only thing I've seen (watched?) are the sharks and I am still thinking of that. How it was sort of wonderful. 

August was not feeling so well but good enough to be sassy. Levon asked for some juice and I gave them both some. They know we always have grape juice and cranberry something-something juice. Maybe pineapple or mango. They love for me to mix the two and I add water, telling them that I am "freshening" their drinks. They accept this explanation as to why I dilute the juice. 


Each of the boys got a cinnamon graham as a going-away treat. 
They're so funny. I told Levon that I had missed him and he said, "What do you mean?" His vocabulary and the way he speaks reminds me far more of a nine-year old than a four-year old. He and his brother are both quite literal in their interpretations of what is said. This delights me as it makes me think of what we're really saying when we speak sometimes. It makes it a bit hard for them to get the jokes in an old Bennett Cerf kid joke book I have because the jokes are based on how a little kid does the same thing- interprets things literally instead of in their common usage and just as the little boy named Marvin in the book doesn't understand why the things he says are funny, neither do they although I try to explain why the jokes are jokes and they nod their heads sagely and say, "I get it."
But they don't really laugh. 
I wonder if they've been read any Amelia Bedelia. She is the queen, of course, of literal speak. I should ask about that. 

So it was absolutely delicious to see them (although I didn't actually taste them) and their mama and daddy. I sent them home with enough peas and greens to ensure good luck in the coming year. 

It's been a very laid-back New Year's Day. I did take down my Christmas decorations. 
Meaning I took the little strings of lights off the tiny tree and carried it back to the porch. I told Mr. Moon, "I've put the Christmas decorations away."
"Thanks!" he said. And we both chuckled. 

It's still quite warm, though not as muggy but I have the air conditioning on. It's supposed to rain tomorrow and start getting cooler. I'll be so glad to turn the AC off again. It is confusing to my subconscious which relies on cues like air-feel and temperature and humidity or lack thereof, along with the sights and sounds that come with winter. I look at the blooming camellias and then the AC kicks on and I am unsure what universe it is that I am in, or season either, for that matter. 

Eh, we're just a minuscule speck of dirt and water, spinning in a minuscule speck of the universe and that does put things in perspective, I suppose. Meanwhile, I should go ahead and plant my sugar snap peas and my potatoes. Let 'em get going now instead of waiting for February. Might as well try to adapt to what is instead of insisting on basing everything on what used to be. 

Well, that's enough philosophizing for one night. 

Love...Ms. Moon

32 comments:

  1. Maybe it is time for me to give black-eyed peas another chance; although I haven't liked them the last 20 times I tried. But seeing as how it's the start to a new year, I will give peas a chance.

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    1. Haha! Good one, Wilma. When we're in Mexico for New Year, I figure that any bean I eat is good enough luck for me. Refried or whatever. Just a bean.

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  2. glad you got to see the Weatherfords prior to their departure...... black eyes peas and greens.....I know that is *southern* traditional for new years..... never had it, but would eat it up in a heartbeat! Still cant believe you had AC on.....cripes. it was 42 when I got up today, and I could hear the orchard fans one canyon over.......trying to *ease* the chill from the avocado and orange trees. Different coasts......different climes........ Happy New Year!
    Susan M

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    1. It was Vergil's family that left. Jessie and her family are staying here until this summer when I assume they'll be off to NC again.
      Yes. Our black eyed peas and greens are tradition and they are also delicious. We eat them far more than once a year but definitely always on Jan. 1.
      Different coasts, different climes for sure!

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  3. That decision to go with what is rather than with what oughta be, words to live by! I don't have the hoppin'John tradition, but I happened to have pea soup and a green sslad today, ham added, so I think I was close enough for government work.

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    1. I agree- that was just a few millimeters away from tradition! You could make that meal your New Jersey New Year's ritual.
      I never wanted to be one of those people who say, "Back in my day..."
      And I try not to. But times are changing faster than I can keep up with, especially with the climate. It is scary.

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  4. We had snow and 19° in S. Colorado. It is currently 10° ... Luckily it will warm up a bit tomorrow!
    A neighbor gave me some black eyed pea soup ... I even have some jasmine rice I can have with it. That will be lunch tomorrow!

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    1. Black-eyed pea soup will be delicious! And yes, rice should go with it!
      I hope it got a little warmer for you today.

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  5. I got my tree and decorations down and put away which is amazing really, with Jack underfoot. This evening we had a young nurse and her daughter over for supper. It was so nice to see them and have their company.

    You'll be happy to know it warmed up today -11C. Tomorrow is supposed to be warm as well and then back into the deep freeze. Not the same, I know, but warm for us.

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    1. Everything is harder with children underfoot. EVERYTHING! Except making messes. That's a lot easier with them around, isn't it?
      I'm sorry. 11 degrees C is NOT WARM! It may be warmER but it is not warm. How do you do it?
      How sweet to have such pleasant company! I'm glad you invited that nurse over.

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  6. We are indeed minuscule specs in a vast universe but I can't believe that in your part of the world that little boy is outside, shoeless, in shorts and T-shirt!

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    1. Oh yes, m'am. You should see what I'm wearing right now. (Hint- not a lot.)

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  7. There's never enough time for philosophising but not in the academic sense of the word. By the way, over here in Ye Merrie Olde Englande, most families take their Xmas decorations down on Twelfth Night - January 5th. Happy New Year Mary!

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    1. I've never been one to want to keep the Christmas decorations up. I've taken the tree down the day after Christmas before! I've related how I have dreams in which a Christmas tree is up months after Christmas and how disturbing that is to me. But each to his or her own.

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  8. Your grandchildren are beautiful. Those brown eyes! We had pork and sauerkraut as is traditional in our little corner of the world. I'm off to read about Hoppin' John.

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    1. God, I love pork and sauerkraut! I have to make some soon. Thanks for reminding me!

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  9. We got snow here so there will be some shoveling and snowblowing today. My oldest son loves to shovel so I am all set!
    I wonder what 2022 will bring for us.

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    1. Whoa! That's lucky- to have a son who loves to shovel snow!
      I can't even imagine what the next year will look like.

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  10. Laughing (a bit) about you running the a/c. We're supposed to hit 65° today and yet we are under a Winter Storm Watch overnight. 3-6" of snow anticipated. High tomorrow of 35°. Low of 23°. Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor. Laughing. Not laughing.

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    1. Mother Nature can be a real live bitch, can't she? We're supposed to get a major drop in temperatures tonight.

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  11. We went from 80+ yesterday to hovering at 32 right now. Don't know how cold it got last night but colder than they said it would get. I think there's a frog in the house, came in on one of the plants but can't find it. It chirruped off an on all day yesterday.

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    1. Oh Lord! That's crazy, Ellen. Fifty degree difference in less than 24 hours! It's seventy something here now and supposed to get down to forty by sunrise. We shall see.
      Poor little lost froggy!

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  12. It's so weird to have to run the air conditioning in January. Especially in North Florida! Glad you got some visiting time with the boys and even got your Xmas decorations put away. You've been super productive! I'm leaving our lights up until Jan. 6. I might just leave them longer. I like them.

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    1. I know, Steve. Honestly, I never would have imagined it. I used to have a pretty hard and fast rule- no AC until May. Those days are gone.
      You know, I do have Christmas lights up that have been glowing for about ten years. I'm not kidding you. I love them.

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  13. Dearest Mary-For my New year's day, my friend Nancy and I went to the (very empty) movie house and saw the new West Side Story and it was beautiful and exciting and I was still coughing a bit bu wearing a mask and I cried at the end even though I know how it's gonna end. V cold here-looking a icicles hanging from my neighbor's gutters.

    Love you,

    Beth

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    1. Icicles! So crazy.
      I've heard that the new West Side Story is tremendous. Speaking of crying in movies- I was thinking of how hard I used to cry watching Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet (I've probably seen it ten times) and that I should watch it again but then I thought that my heart my break if I did.
      Love you too, girl.

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  14. I have paused before entering this comment as I race through as many blogs as I can this evening. After an unexpectedly difficultly December - as much logistical as anything - I'm finally catching up on my favourite blogs to wish their authors a happy new year and say thanks for reading and commenting on mine. Yours has been a new find for me, and among a handful of others it has given me genuine pleasure and insight these last twelve months. Among all the daily diary are turns of phrase, perspectives of the eye and sensitivity of ear that have made me stop and take breath... It has been one of my best blog finds ever.
    But enough...
    Meanwhile, I hope next year brings us better times and plenty of words (and pictures) to inspire and entertain.
    Best wishes
    Mark

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    1. Oh, Mark! You have no idea how much your words mean to me. I really appreciate them. Just...damn. Thanks.
      I hope that you continue to enjoy what I write. I surely enjoy what you write.
      Happy New Year to you and yours. I hope that it's not as hard as 2021 was for you all.

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  15. Literal kids can be so funny. I remember my cousin once told her older son, then 3, to keep an eye on his infant brother who was asleep on the bed while she took a quick shower. She emerged to find her 3 year old next to the baby on the bed with one eye against his little head. We couldn't stop laughing when she related this. But what a sweet obedient child.

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  16. In my NE Ohio house, the new year always was celebrated with pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. My cooking days being over, I may never get me any hopping joe (?). Happy new year to all of you.

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  17. May 2oh22 be a very happy one for you and the whole Moon crew. Much Love to you, One and All. x0x0 N2

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  18. That Bennett Cerf Book of Laughs is one of my favorites from my own childhood. I'm remembering the man who was "holding up the wall." Such good memories, and I love how you describe your grandsons and their unique personalities and preciousness.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.