For many years women have reminded men that “Ginger Rodgers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she danced backwards in heels.” Our dog, Lucky, dances backwards with joy as we approach her with her filled food bowl. She makes me laugh and think of Ginger! This is the dog that was requiring monthly injections due to arthritis in her hips. She is no longer in pain or requiring those! Amazing!
This year New York City celebrates one hundred years of the Rockettes. My husband, Bob, who is from NYC, just realized in amazement after years of watching the parade they dance in heels!
Such talent!
Don’t expect a video any time soon of Lucky dancing backwards in heels. She would likely chew up the shoes any way!
A reminder: A glimmer is anything that makes you smile and pause in joy. “A glimmer is the exact opposite of a trigger—it is some kind of cue, either internal or external, that brings one back to a sense of joy, safety, or comfort.” from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-glimmer-5323168
I was getting ready to write this post. I looked up at the meal worm feeder outside my window. SIX no kidding SIX lovely bluebirds crowding for a place at the ‘table.’ What an incredible blessing! We have not seen that many here for quite a time.
“Thank you for the world so sweet, Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing, Thank you God for everything.” author unknown
“The maple tree puts on her fancy party dress, green with yellow and red spangles.” That is how the maple trees appear to me in autumn. I was driving past the library the other day. There was a mess in the road. Nope! stopped the car to capture the decorations from the cypress. Not to be outdone by the maple, the cypress threw her needles as far as the wind would carry them.
Inches deep along the roadside.
Several days later they were still there!
I drove into a local park to check out the new construction they have been doing on the facilities. I saw another car park. The woman let a Basset Hound out of the car door. She merely dropped the leash upon the ground. Then she went around to the other door and brought out a beagle on a leash. Basset was simply moseying around taking a sniff here and there. Made me wonder how long it had been since he had run any place at all! Giant ears, stumpy legs.
Remember this guy from childhood? Could you name it any name besides Droopy?
May the month of December be filled with glimmers for you! May you find countless treasures in plain sight!
Pilgrim Gnome saying “Raise your turkey leg high in thanks to God!”
When I cook a turkey or chicken I try to use the bones to make broth for gravy or soups. This year I had 2 turkeys to cook. If you have ever processed bones for broth, especially turkey bones, you know what a mess it can be. Turkey is very oily. First you simmer the bones and then strain them out of the broth. I did the first batch in the Crockpot for hours and hours. After I processed the first carcass I thought to myself, “Nope! I am not going to do the second one. That is enough.” After letting the broth chill I skim off any fat that has risen to the top. I then freeze the broth in Ball jars for future use. The house smells delightfully of turkey, turkey, turkey!
Then my son taught me that if I caramelize the bones in the oven and then simmer, the broth will be even better. Of course, I was challenged to try his method. I keep telling that young man he should write a cookbook!
Simmering with vegetables to reduce into a rich broth.
Of course, my son, the chef, was absolutely correct. The next batch of broth was stunning. Best gravy I have made in years.
We had a lively feast with a prayer of thanksgiving and much stuffing into mouths. Dressing, two kinds of sweet potatoes, gravy, butter rolls made from scratch, mashed potatoes, turkey and more turkey. The person bringing the corn pudding had to work so alas we had none of that. The pies were tasty as was the made from scratch banana sugar-free pudding. (Except the cookies in it were not sugar free.) Gourmet cookies that sent my glucose soaring, but oh yum. Those were dangerous!
Is there something you do traditionally with your turkey bones or other holiday meal? I encourage you to write it down for your family. They will eventually benefit from what you learn along the way!
I make a cream soup with wild rice and turkey. It ought to be outrageously good with this new broth!
So about all I had left to do was to make the pumpkin pies for the celebration. I also planned to make my almost sugarless pumpkin filling for my diabetic self. In case you are not aware, pumpkin pie filling is a custard that starts out incredibly runny and firms up as it bakes.
I was using my Kitchen aid mixer which I am still getting accustomed to.
A screw fell out of the mixer, but I was so grateful it did not go into the filling! I went to turn the mixer off and slid the switch the wrong direction. (See that sliding button above that says stir 2 4 6 8 10?) Wrong direction is 10!! Pumpkin filling flew everywhere as I turned the mixer to high instead of off. I had pumpkin filling splashed on my new lilac sneakers. Pumpkin down the cabinets. Later I found pumpkin on the dining room rug. Pumpkin all over the mixer itself. Pumpkin on the quilted pad under the mixer. Could I stay calm and grateful even then? Tough doing that.
I finally got the pies in the oven. Cancelled the plan for my filling. Geesh, what a mess!! I usually have too much filing for the two deep dish pie crusts. I use a baking bowl like my mother had for the left over. I figured no leftover with this mess. Much to my surprise there was some leftover!
They really were round though they look oval here!
After the pies baked I went to take a nap. When I awoke there was a leak from under our fridge. I thought maybe the door ice dispenser had a jam that had opened. Nope, too much water for that. I noticed the bottom ice maker had stopped making ice. Bob was able to pull this incredible heavy refrigerator/freezer out on its rollers. Yep! It was filthy back there. We cleaned that up, but still could not find the source for the leak. Bob watched a few repair videos and decided it was too much for him to deal with. We turned off the lower ice maker to see if that would help. Leak stopped.
Huge load of towels and laundry between the pie filling and the leak!
We bought a bag of ice for the celebration. WHAT A DAY!!
Our son came early to the celebration and offered to check out the freezer ice maker. We asked that he wait until after the celebration. He has learned so much in his job as an apartment complex maintenance person. He had never repaired this brand, but took a look after dessert was over.
In moments he had the back off the motor area. Then the ice drawer was out of the freezer, then the entire lower drawer. I do not know exactly how, but he got it working. We cleaned up the water from where the leak began during the testing. Another load or two of laundry from the dinner napkins, table cloths and towels.
I sent him home with lots of pumpkin pie! Oh what a relief it is not to need to call a repairman on a holiday! Thanks Jeff! You are the best!!
And yes, the pies were a hit!
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
We live near a funeral home and across the street from that is a pawn shop. The pawn shop has had this posted on their sign for several weeks.
“Gold is sky high. Cash in now.”
One day while driving past I glanced at the sign and glanced at the funeral home. The sign seemed in my glance to read, “God is sky high.” Then looking at the funeral home, “Cash in now.”
When I was in school, eons ago, I was a good English student. I even kept a couple papers that brought me great pride.
Now I get so frustrated when the autocorrect programs do not highlight my common mistake of teh instead of the word the. So I looked it up online thinking I am likely missing some word I might need.
Get a load of this from our source of all things wise and knowing:
Teh originates from the common typo of the word the, as might both occur and remain uncorrected when a person was typing rapidly prior to the widespread availability of autocorrect helper applications, and has become conventionalized in a variety of contexts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teh
Who knew? I still want to correct that typo, but I will not fret from here on when I miss one. Or two. Or three.
Wild the wind that sends the leaves aloft Gleefully they chatter, “I’m free! I’m free!” ‘Falling’ leaves of autumn Travel far from their beginning Mixing with a flock of birds As we, all earth bound, fail to see Which is bird and which is leaf.
Mighty Force of God, capture me in Your updraft Hurl me headlong in Your love Drift me sideways with the angels Take me far from all complacency Where the familiar dulls my senses Gently land me back at the place On my Pilgrim Journey path where You meet me with new courage To grow on.
I wrote this while at the Convent of the Transfiguration in 1994. The wind caught the Japanese Maple leaves and the poem tells the rest of the story. I still need new courage to grow on. Lead me oh Thou Great Jehovah in your paths of truth and righteousness.
JTIS is our group for crochet, knit, any hand crafting an associate or friend wants to do. We started the group a decade or so ago. Most of us sat in silent retreat with one another, but did not know anything about each other. So we began with inviting the Cincinnati, (i.e., local) Associates of the Convent. The initials stand for Journey Together In Stitches. Not just sewing stitches, but laughter, too. Sadly, our group has begun to dwindle of late. One month another person and me were the only ones in attendance. This past week there was only one Associate and two sisters, another friend and me. I wonder if the group can be sustained?
I asked if anyone had any ideas how we might grow the group. I was told about the Methodists wanting to join communion with the Episcopalians. Perhaps we can invite Methodist women to join us?
I ask your prayer for this group to grow and prosper. We all need others to complete our walk. We need the stories of others. We need the encouragement of others. The joy and laughter cannot be substituted with things on line. The face-to-face meeting is special and to be cherished.
I know things change and evolve, but not everything needs to be thrown out. This fellowship has been working and in my opinion can continue to work for years to come. In AA they say, “Keep coming back. It works if you work it.” I pray the members of this group will return to coming back and working the magic of fellowship in Christ.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:19-20 KJV
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
Children bring me some of the best glimmers day in and day out. There was a tiny one (8 months old) in a shopping cart seat that smiled at me and melted my heart. She had never seen me before but there was no stranger fear in her!
This is our little neighbor down the street. She wants to befriend Lucky but is fearful of the dog. When she can summon the courage to pet Lucky she is so satisfied. Here is her Halloween costume. Her mom said she dressed herself and they are not certain what she is. I would answer, “Adorable!”
This is the same child who likes regular Doritos. At a neighborhood picnic she ate a small bag of them. Then she realized there were partial bags laying around. So she began collecting the partial bags and eating those, too! Squeezable joy, indeed!
I ordered a crochet kit because my daughter likes Gnomes. I thought this would make a good gift for her. I set myself a goal to finish it before my birthday. And I got it done!
He is about 6 inches tall.
yep, makes me laugh every time I think of him. He lives at her house now.
What sort of child were you? When my dad would take us to the corner Pony Keg and let us buy candy my sister would usually eat all of hers, sometimes before we got back home. I was more likely to eat some of mine and set it aside for later. More than once she would ask to have some of mine, too. I usually said no, knowing she had been given the as me amount as me.
Recently Bob laughingly questioned a purchase I made. Last Christmas I found dark chocolate covered Rolos with sea salt caramel inside. We loved them and I put them in the candy dish gradually and slowly until they were gone. I was unable to find any more to purchase for us.
Then I found them online at a place called Candy in Bulk. I ordered the smallest, (a five pound bag). Once they arrived I found an empty plastic jar to store them in. Again, I am putting them out gradually in the candy dish. This amount ought to last us for quite some time!
Wrapped in my favorite color!
So which type of person are you? Do you eat all of your candy at once and then ask others for some of theirs? Or are you able to ration it out to yourself slowly and make it last? Bob is known for getting a large candy bar and slicing it up into small bites to consume over time. Caution, that does not work well with ones that have a gooey filling!
Are you like my sister or me? If you seek out those Rolos from last year, I bought them in a bag (as pictured above) and they had a snowflake on each wrapper. The ones I bought in bulk have a purple foil wrapper. They are yummy!
Which tendency is better? Do these attitudes towards the candy reflect scarcity thinking or abundance? “Scarcity mindset is more than just not having enough; it’s a deep-seated belief that resources, opportunities, and even love are limited. This way of thinking makes us feel like we’re constantly in a competition, always worried that someone else’s gain means our loss.” https://mindsetonline.com/scarcity-vs-abundance-mindset-whats-the-difference/
“The abundance mindset is all about seeing the world through a lens of plenty, not lack. It means believing that there are enough resources, opportunities, and successes for everyone, including ourselves. It’s a way of thinking that focuses on what we have and what’s possible, rather than dwelling on what’s missing.” (same website as above)
As more and more shelves at the stores fill up with Christmas candies and trappings, I hope you find whatever delights your heart! It is only early October and already I am oversaturated with Christmas materialism. When the junk in the stores gets to me I find myself whispering a thank you to Jesus for his birth and the goodness he fills our lives with, in spite of the materialism that tries to make a buck off my faith.
“Honey from the rock” usually refers to the unlikely possibility of finding sustenance from a rock. God provides for us in any number of ways! May the sweetness of his presence fill your mouth like honey from the rock, or caramel from a Rolo.
I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. Psalm 81:16
Recently another cooler night forecast was into the 50s. I made certain our bedroom window was open. We were not in bed for 20 minutes before Pepe Le Pew was outside! Remember how he courted Sylvester?
Stinky le pew!!
The odor was so bad I had to close the window. Actually gags me, it is that strong! Amazing the fumes do not kill the flowers out there!
By morning the stench was gone. I am not silly enough to think it will not occur again. Gross. One of those times I wonder, “What were You thinking, Lord?” Gotta love Looney Tunes!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 