Tuesday, November 24, 2020

We Go On As Best We Can


There's the ram statue down the road from us at what I call, "El Rancho." I have no idea what the numbers signify. Could be the address for all I know. But it's looking quite spiffy, isn't it? I would not be surprised to see flowers planted around it at some point. As I passed by today, I also saw two beautiful, huge black cows, resting under the trees. "Hello!" I called in my saying-hello-to-cows voice. They looked at me with fierce indifference which sounds like an oxymoron but I swear it is not when it comes to these cows. 
Or cats. 

It did not please me nearly as much to see the two Trump signs that I'd pulled out of the dirt and laid down on public property a few weeks ago, now re-erected. 
I pulled them again and laid them back down but on my way to town I noted that one of them had been put back up. Why only one? I need to either let that shit go or be really evil and dispose of the signs but in my innocent and crazy heart, that would be theft. 
Which I am no good at. 

And yes, I did go to town and it was terrible. I really did make an effort last week to get everything we'd need for Thanksgiving so that I didn't have to go in this week but of course that came to naught. Thanksgiving really is covered but Mr. Moon is going to drive up to Tennessee on Monday to hunt with an old, old friend and both of them are being tested for Covid and they are going to isolate when they're not in the woods and it was suggested to me that if I made a huge pot of chili, they could eat on that for days, thus cutting down on their trips out to procure food. 
What's a good wife to do? 
I bought all the stuff I need to make that huge pot of chili and also a lot of snacks so that my husband doesn't have to stop on the road as often and if I'm in a particularly good mood this weekend, I may even make him cookies to take. 
I really am a very fine wife. But honestly, he is the finest husband. 
When he told me about the trip I was of course worried about the covid situation. Still, I think they will be as safe as they can be. And generally, when he goes off to hunt I feel as if I'm on a little vacation of my own. I love being alone and rarely get lonely but I am so very used to having him around now that I actually teared up at the thought of him being gone. 
It'll be okay. And I will still see Jessie and the boys and also Lily and her children for backyard visits.

Speaking of- Jessie and Vergil are going to spend the night tomorrow so that we can get up early and start cooking Thursday morning and the guyfolk can do projects or whatever it is that they want to do. Jessie said that this morning the boys heard her and Vergil talking about this plan and immediately rushed to get ready. 


"That's a lot of luggage," I texted her. 
"It's all stuffed animals and trucks," she texted back. 
Aren't they the little style mavens? 
Yes. Yes they are.

So Costco was okay and Brenda, she of the beautiful mermaid eyeshadow, was wearing a gold sequined mask. I love that woman. Publix was horrible, though. So many people and I should not have even been there but I was NOT going to go on Friday or Saturday or Sunday either. I raced about and got my chili stuff and snack stuff and other stuff and got out of there as quickly as I could. I honestly felt like I was going to have a panic attack right there and did indeed get all hot and sweaty and spacey but I managed to escape. 

So that was my day and I'm making split pea soup and for some reason the split peas are taking forever to cook so I guess they're as ancient as Egypt. Hell, I even soaked them which you do not generally need to do. 

Tomorrow will be boiling giblets day and making cornbread for stuffing day and making Mrs. Matthew's chocolate pecan pie day and so on and so forth. And even though so much will be the same, so much will be different. We certainly will not be going out tomorrow night to hear music which is the traditional thing for us to do but maybe we can do a little hallway dancing. 
And maybe Mr. Moon will get me a bottle of dark rum tomorrow when he has to go to town so that I can have my yum-rum sip and toast to my dear Lynn with whom I shared that tradition for so many years on so many Thanksgiving mornings and I will say, "Whoop-Ai-Ay!" as she always said and then I'll go baste my turkey. 

Love...Ms. Moon


21 comments:

  1. We've been spending winters in Florida for seven years, but for years before that I happily had 12 to 14 for Thanksgiving dinner. The day before was probably as enjoyable as the day of. I'd saute my veggies for the dressing (and clean oysters for the second pan of dressing), get the butter in the butter dishes, make my cinnamon butter for the homemade rolls, get the tables set, get the baking dishes out, and then hubby and I would have Marie Callendar humungous pot pies (easy clean up) and a glass or two of wine. This year it's just the two of us (I'm not anxious to spend the day with 12 others who either work in restaurants, bars, offices, or attend public schools) and I'm looking forward to prepping again.

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    1. Catrina- that day-before-Thanksgiving ritual sounds heavenly to me, up to and including the Marie Callendar's pot pies. I enjoy the cooking the day before too but the older I get, the tireder it makes me.

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  2. I know I've said this before, but those boys are priceless.

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  3. I've discovered a new pleasure: reading about other people's Thanksgiving prep when my own celebration, today to accommodate son's work schedule, is all done. It's very calming.

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    1. I imagine it is. Yours is done and dusted, enjoyed and remembered fondly while the rest of us are scrambling about.

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  4. We are no longer allowed to have visitors in our homes here, for the next three weeks. We'll see if that slows down the virus. Still haven't got the little guy's test results back. His other grandma doesn't want to take him, even though he was exposed at her house so I get to use my vacation days to watch him. I'm happy to take care of him, but expect others to do their part. No wonder I'm so often disappointed:)

    Have a lovely day.

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    1. Wow! No house visitors! I sure hope that helps with the spread. But damn- no. You should not be responsible for taking care of the little guy all the time. That's just wrong.

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  5. When I saw the numbers on the side of the ram's "plinth" I thought it could refer to September 2020 ? Is that when it was put there?
    Love the photo of the 2 excited little boys !

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    1. Probably, Frances! Of course! I didn't even think of that. Thank you.

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  6. That ram is quite impressive! I wonder how much that thing cost?! I think Frances is right about the numbers on the pedestal being the date.

    Your Thanksgiving plans sound fun and I'm impressed that you're cooking up a pot of chili in addition to making Thanksgiving dinner. It's all I can do to make a sandwich! LOL

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    1. I've never even considered how much the ram cost. For some reason it looked to be like some family heirloom or something to me.
      And don't worry- I won't be making that chili until Sunday. No way could I do that.

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  7. Thanksgiving isn't going to be the same this year for us that take COVID precautions. But it will still be sweet. You just showed that with this post. A sleepover with that little family is just sweet.

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  8. I shopped Monday and it was busier than when I usually go and wouldn't you know it I grabbed the wrong bread for the dressing, honey wheat instead of white but I wasn't going back for bread and this will just have to do. but even that might not happen as my daughter told me yesterday that one of her co-workers (yes they all wear masks all the time) tested positive so she's getting tested today and it remains to be seen if I've been exposed since we haven't been wearing masks around each other and then if I exposed my husband. a little nervous here. so the grandkids aren't coming in now and what's the point of making tons of food for no one.

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    1. Well, quite frankly I'd make stuffing for myself even if absolutely no one was going to be here! I'm selfish like that, though.
      Lord, I hope none of you has the virus. Keep us posted, Ellen. I'm sorry your plans have gone all haywire.

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  9. I'm sure Mr. Moon will be as safe as can be out hunting - far away from everyone. And you'll get to enjoy your alone time too! Have a lovely Thanksgiving!

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    1. 'Tis true, dear Treaders. Hopefully we'll both be fine.

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  10. That ram is so impressive but who is putting the Trump signs back. How exhausting for you.

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  11. I started last year cooking the turkey the day before so I finished that today. I just love doing it that way because it takes me forever to carve it and I make such a mess and I used to hate doing that while the guests were standing around waiting. Now I just reheat the sliced turkey and it comes out warm and moist and tender. Less work for Thursday. I am having 3 of my children over (one lives with me and the other two have been tested). It will be so nice! Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  12. I wish you a sweet day. I am gratefully staying home with my cat.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.