I tried to take a picture of a little green anole on my porch table lamp this morning but the little guy would not stay still while Maurice had no problem with that. You know I've had a pretty unexciting day when the only picture I take is of the cat.
See those two different sweaters on the chair? This sort of sums up how the weather's been here lately. When I get up, a nice cashmere cardigan is the way to go and by ten o'clock, I have to take that off and perhaps put on a lightweight cotton sweater-like garment and by eleven, I've shed that too. I was literally sweating this afternoon while I was sitting and doing some mending on the back porch where it was 82 degrees. It's only supposed to get up to 78 degrees tomorrow so- whoo-hoo! Glen suggested we go swimming today. I wasn't that interested but I am certain there were people who were down at the Wacissa, enjoying the water on this unseasonably warm Sunday.
The draught continues. We got a spit of rain yesterday, not even enough to dampen a leaf, and the sky looked bruised and filled with the potential for a storm but it was a false and teasing promise. Supposedly, it may rain on Wednesday and then possibly the temperatures will drop to a more comfortable range.
Fascinating, Ms. Moon! Tell us more, please!
No. I will not. I refuse. That's all the weather discussion you're getting from me today.
That picture was taken eight years ago, according to Facebook. Those were the days when we thought perhaps August had Uncombable Hair Syndrome which is really a true thing.
Either that or he was running on a stronger electric current than most of the rest of us mere mortals. That was Thanksgiving Day and he had just woken up from a nap. We could not help laughing (in the most loving way possible, of course) and I'm sure he was confused about why he was suddenly the subject of our unwanted attentions. We still talk about August's hair on that day. It is now one of the most cherished of family legends. Every family has these and hopefully, they are the kind that make us laugh. Fond memories. And I'm pretty sure that every family has certain words and phrases that came from a young'un's mispronunciation or misuse of a word or two or else were just so honest and heartfelt that we've all adopted them and use them, decades after they were first said. These are some of the tender stitches that hold a family together. Our own private jokes and memories, still remembered, still cherished, still in use.
Marriages can have these private memories too that make us laugh together, take us back to times and days when our love was new and fresh or even well-seasoned and mature. Things we experienced together that still have a lot of meaning for us, indicating that those experiences were important somehow, even if we didn't quite know it at the time.
The other side of all of this, of course, is that we all have memories of times and things that bring us pain to remember. That we shy away from taking out of their dark drawers in the hidden places of our hearts. That we mostly do not talk about. And whether this is healthy or unhealthy, I do not know. Some would say it is best to let the dead bury their dead but sometimes, it is freeing to admit the pain, to name it, to bring it into the light to take away its power.
Well, as usual, none of this is what I sat down to write. It's been a fine Sunday here in Lloyd. No ducks were killed in the making of that adventure but the he-man breakfast was enjoyed. I just wandered about doing the little things here and there which was fine with me. And now I'm going to go cook some red snapper and probably grits and a salad with avocados and tomatoes and onions.
Gibson enjoyed last night's supper, I think, even the delicata squash, baked with apples and raisins. If you've never tried a delicata squash, please do. They are so creamy and so sweet and so...delicate...you can eat the skin and definitely should.
Gibson enjoyed last night's supper, I think, even the delicata squash, baked with apples and raisins. If you've never tried a delicata squash, please do. They are so creamy and so sweet and so...delicate...you can eat the skin and definitely should.
A question- I am thinking about doing a dry brine on my turkey this year. Have any of y'all done that, and if so, is it worth the effort? I've always just sort of thrown that bird in the oven after I've stuffed it and baste it now and then. I'd like any informed thoughts on the matter you may have.
Thanks.
Love...Ms. Moon
When my middle-aged daughters were perhaps one and two and a half they came to me one day and the older proudly announced, “We’re coopicating with are cheddar!” Are cheddar (sp?) means both each other and together and we all still use it. Coopicating is also in use as is “mystappeared,” my little brother’s perfect take on all those items that mysteriously disappear.
ReplyDeleteI am not anonymous so much as I am Margaret. Have never brined a turkey, dry or wet, have always gone with butter and several strips of bacon.
DeleteI only put bacon on meatloaf and sometimes a venison loin. Interesting.
DeleteI think it was Lily in our family who once said that something "peared away," which meant disappeared. We use that one still. I like "mystappeared" too.
Sorry Ms.Moon, i have no turkey wisdom to share. I usually throw it in a bag, if we even have turkey. Some years, we go out to eat or have something else. Most holidays are a non issue for us.
ReplyDeleteI love the hair story! Such a cutie.
I think I may have tried that bag thing once or maybe my mother did. Whatever, I'd forgotten all about that.
DeleteI am beginning to hate all holidays with equal fervor.
I have no brining wisdom. I appreciated that uncombable hair memory. My 31yo daughter gave us two gems we still use. Kentucky (confetti) falling from the sky when something good happens (this was in the days of the millionaire winning game show). And she once said she was entitled to her own appointment (opinion), so that one stuck too.
ReplyDeleteOh! I love the "appointment" one. We all deserve to have our own appointment.
DeleteEmily did a dry brine last year, it was excellent and juicy. I am doing a wet brine this year and it might be OK. Not sure about it at all. Turkeys are forgiving . August has changed quite a bit- you have not- frozen in time. That is a photo that should be made big and placed in a fancy frame.
ReplyDeleteEverything about it is so right!
LOVE your header photo, that looks. so inviting. It is cold up here and though I like the cold, I LOVE the warmth of that photo.
DeleteIf this turkey thaws soon enough, I think I'll try the dry brine. Or maybe not. Turkeys are forgiving.
DeleteAugust truly has changed, hasn't he? And I believe I have too, honestly.
So are you doing the entire Thanksgiving dinner? I don't think I could anymore.
No idea about brining, so that's a lot of help. But my sister's baby had dandelion hair until he was about three, just a downy golden puff of hair before it got thicker and lay down! He was a funny baby.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of dandelion hair. Yes. August has outgrown his, too.
DeleteI've never done anything to a turkey except defrost it and cook it, so no help. Now I just buy a piece of a turkey, the breast, and cook that. It's more than enough meat for us.
ReplyDeleteAugust looks so cute, even with his hair sticking every which way.
I'm glad you had a good day. We've had some issues with Jack's other family, same old shit. And Katie was kind of cranky today when we were out. She did get to see Santa though. He knows us and he came over and gave her a hug. He's a kind man and makes her so happy.
A good Santa is a rare and beautiful thing. How kind of that Santa to remember Katie and give her hugs.
DeleteI'm sorry you have to deal with that other family. I wish that dealing with them was far more constructive than it is.
Absolutely not a single clue about the Turkey situation, but names and phrases for long ago? one child in the family (the vey large family, 17 cousins) had trouble saying Kathryn at age 2, and said Taffyn, so she was called Taffy until she went to high school. Another child always said "show me a look" when he wanted to see what anyone was looking at.
ReplyDelete"Show me a look." Excellent. And I think a lot of kids get named by
Deletesiblings who can't say their real names yet.
I think my little granddaughter has uncombable hair syndrome too. We went to see Papa Noel yesterday and even though her hair is probably about four inches long it still stands up on end. Ok with a girl you can do something about it but when it's not got a ribbon on it it's like a pole jumper's pole - straight up!
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughter must look like Pebbles Flintstone with her hair i a ribbon! I would love to see that.
DeleteI cannot help with the turkey question either. It is beyond my expertise in the kitchen! Your words about what connects a family together were very touching to read. You reminded me that my sister and I call the stuffing insides of a stuffed animal "surcingle". It is a long story about how that came about, but thanks for reminding me about that word, and how much I adore my sister.
ReplyDeleteNow "surcingle" is an interesting word for sure. I bet it's a good story. I imagine that your sister adores you too.
DeleteMy daughters favourite food was sgabetty. Gigi
ReplyDeleteI can almost bet that many, many families have their own child-invented name for spaghetti. That's a hard one to say. I believe it was simply "skitty" here.
DeleteI never mess with new recipes when cooking for Thanksgiving. I just stick with my regulars. We have lots of family words or phrases that always make us laugh and bring up happy memories. Getting people to laugh is one of my favorite things.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of my favorite things too, Ellen! I always say that it's easy to make people cry, harder to make them truly laugh.
DeleteI brine my Thanksgiving turkey for 24 hours and it turns out so moist and juicy. Delicata squash with a sweet and spicy sauce is on my Thanksgiving menu. You're so right...delicata is such a delicious treat. It's my favorite squash. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteOkay. So there's some positive input. Thank you! Do you dry brine or wet brine?
DeleteWhy did I have to get to my late sixties before I discovered delicata squash? So many wasted years!
I've been watching out for delicata squash at my grocery store and so far none. I'll have to check the Walmart. My son introduced me to delicata and I love it.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mikey was a toddler and learning to talk he called the kitchen stool (which is actually an authentic antique english pub stool) a 'stand tall'.
Yes. It would even be worth going to Walmart for some delicata squash.
Delete"Stand tall." Perfect!
Yes, those child mispronunciations that stick! I still say, after my husband once told me his son (learning the word from his father, no doubt) as a child had exclaimed, "Socksucker, Dad!" My son Emil, who is afraid of chickens but loves to eat chicken, used to call it "chick-eye-en" and he's 37 but I haven't forgotten the word. His uncle called him Rooster because he had always-sticking-up hair as a tot. Too bad I'd never heard of uncombable hair back then ...
ReplyDelete"Socksucker" is a fine word, actually. I can imagine using it in my own life. "You socksucker!"
DeleteChick-eye-en is great too.
My grandson loved watermelon, which he called nemma-no-no. My daughter loved seeing coppalopters (helicopters). As for turkey, I always wet-brine a turkey for 24 hours, and it always turns out tender and moist, never dry. Georgia
ReplyDeleteNemma-no-no? Huh. That's a pretty far leap from watermelon. But perhaps that is what he heard.
DeleteAnd thanks for your input on brining, too, Georgia!
I've never brined a turkey but hear only good things about it.
ReplyDeleteI do dry rub spices provided by Kansas City Steak on my prime rib roast and everybody loves the tender, flavorful meat.
August's hair seems to be full of static electricity. Adorable photo.
As a child, photos show that I had Shirley Temple curls. Oddly enough all the curls turned into thick hair with soft gentle waves.
I think static electricity did play a part in August's hair that day but he went through a spell where his hair just sort of did that. Luckily for him, I guess, he's outgrown it.
DeleteRemember when Maggie had the prettiest curls? I think if her hair was short, it would be like that again but as it is, it's just curly enough to drive her sort of crazy.
Love this trip down memory lane with you, August and the family. Sid, who is now 15 1/2 and going through some terrible teen moments, used to be the cutest and would say "I'm 'cited Nana!" which we still quote when exciting things are coming up. We still love him to pieces and are 'cited to get together for Thanksgiving. Son Jacob is making the turkey, dry brined the day before and spatchcocked to lie flat for cooking, which has become his favorite method and makes for a quick cooking turkey. He is a good cooker, as my Mom used to say, no doubt a phrase from one of her 10 children's childhoods.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Turkey Day with the family. I am grateful to have found you here for many a year now. x0x0 N2
I think a few of my kids used to say they were "cited." That's a good one.
DeleteI believe spatchcocking is beyond my abilities. Also, I love to stuff the turkey so I don't think that would work. In fact, I've often said that to me, the turkey is mostly there as a flavorful container for the stuffing to cook in.
I am glad you found me too, dear N2!
I do love the stuffing from inside the turkey the best, but the son's family are somewhat picky eaters with vegetarian tendencies, so the stuffing is cooked outside of the turkey these days. I am in the midst of baking the pumpkin and apple pies. Your pecan pie looks sublime. I may have to go out and get me a slice this weekend when I am back from the festivities. Have a good one at your house. x0x0 N2
ReplyDelete