I used to think that “go with the flow” meant to be flexible…to have the ability to change on a dime and head in a different direction. That’s part of it, to be sure. But, I think it’s much more than just adapting to change. I think there is a current in life. A current of energies. Light and dark. And, I think we can plug into one or the other cognitively…purposefully. 

Knitting in front of my ”fireplace”…the one on Netflix!

Comfort comes in many forms. There is comfort in food, as that is the origin of nurturing in our lives. The same goes for the comfort of touch and smell and sound. It can harken us to our earliest memories of our family of origin who loved us, held us close, and fed us. Comfort may change form over time and it may come from different sources, but it always takes us back…way back to “home”. 

I’m sliding into seventy years on this earth. That’s a monumental milestone that is looming in my not to distant future. Six and a half months, to be exact. And, like I’ve done every other time I face a milestone, I’ve been getting quiet and introspective. In that introspection, I’ve been feeling a new awakening. A momentary clarity that shakes things up and makes me think…makes me ask questions. 

Actor Jonah Hill interviews his therapist, psychiatrist Phil Stutz in this touching and eye-opening documentary on Netflix…Stutz.

Last week I had a moment. I was burning the candle at both ends, running on little sleep, and trying to put on a memorable Thanksgiving Extravaganza. Then I hit the wall on Thursday and, even though there was SO much left to be done for Friday’s gathering, I gave myself permission to crawl back in my bed, pull the cozy covers up to my ears, and drift off for a few more hours of much needed rest. I sacrificed the extra baking by asking Mr. FixIt to stop on his way home from town and buy readymade pies. I knew the rest would get done and if it didn’t…it certainly wasn’t the end of the world. As it turned out, everything came together at precisely the right moment and came off without a hitch.

Who doesn’t love a little pie with their topping?!

Many of you have been asking for the recipes I used for this year’s Thanksgiving Extravaganza, so I’m going to leave them here for you with my critique/comments, for what it’s worth. 

I made a wonderful Apple-Cranberry Compote but without the figs. They’re kind of hard to come by around here. I found the recipe on a website for diabetic friendly recipes. You can find the recipe HERE.

What a day! Other than missing the loved ones who couldn’t be with us, the day was truly perfect. Every aspect of the meal came out to the minute to be served at the same time. I think I could have put the turkey in 30-45 minutes earlier and it would have been right on the money. But it didn’t disappoint and that dry rub was AMAZING! The meat was tend and juicy and well seasoned throughout. The Winter Vegetable Salad with the Maple BalsamicGlaze was a big hit. The hot rolls were devoured in a flash. 

First, I truly hope you had a good Thanksgiving Day if you celebrated yesterday. And for those of you…like me…who are having their dinner today or over the weekend…hang in there, kiddo. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.

I’ve been cooking since Monday. Every day…all day long…cooking and cleaning and planning. I’ve done this all my life…work on something till I drop. And when I drop, believe me, it isn’t pretty. Mr. FixIt has a long held tradition with his kids and their mom and aunt and anyone else who joins them. They go to the City Park and walk the Turkey Trot along with about 4,000 other health conscious individuals. I always elect to stay home. For one thing, I’ve got way too much to do. For another…this is their thing…something they’ve always done. I want them to still have that one thing. I have things I do with my kids alone. It’s ok. And, it gives me a little space to check in with my physical, mental, and emotional heath to see how all this rushing is affecting me.

Another long day of preparations. I cleaned and roasted two sheet pans of butternut squash and Brussels sprouts and put them in the fridge. I made two loaves of bread and two dozen dinner rolls. I froze the dinner roll dough and will thaw them and let them rise on Friday. Then they’ll hopefully come out of the oven hot and ready to eat when we . I cut up the two loaves (minus a slice with butter for each of us!) and added it to another loaf of a more rustic bread that I bought this week. I tore them all up and I’m drying them in the oven for the dressing.

Maple Balsamic Glaze for the Winter Vegetable Salad

I spent the majority of yesterday in the kitchen. I needed to get a good deal of prep work out of the way before the rush starts to prepare the actual meal on Friday. There were three main components of the meal that I wanted to knock out. First, as always…there’s breakfast. Then the obligatory cleanup. THEN I could get started.

It turns out, it may not have been the smartest thing. I’ve been trying to figure out what I want to do with my Twitter accounts. Things are flaming out of control over there and I just don’t want to be a part of it. Besides that, they are running on a skeleton crew. Who knows what their security is like, right? I have two Twitter accounts…one for Marshmallow Ranch, and the other strictly grief related.