Tag: life

The Antler Hunter

   I’m proud to say we are not deer hunters
here at This Old House.
I don’t think I could have ever married a man who
liked killing something just for the sport of it.
 I’m sure that will raise some hairs on the back of a few of your necks…
because there are many who do it, and feel justified
because of the overwhelming population of deer in some areas.
I’m not saying that isn’t a problem.
But I’ll add that  we have taken over habitats…
and we’re part of the problem.
I don’t want you to justify yourself here –
and my intention is not to crucify or judge anyone.
I’m just sayin – I can’t get past the killing, personally.
The man child has always wished to find antlers in the woods. 
Just an antler or two – how cool would that be!?
And so when he came running down the hill with a big grin and said
“MA!.. bring your camera.. come with me!”….
I did.
I didn’t expect to find the whole deer, although mostly decomposed.
But we did.
YUCK.
I think he was struck by a car and then wandered up into the woods to die.
The coyotes took care of the rest,
and probably in pretty short order, recently.  That’s why the antlers are still around.

Stepping out of The Box

 Do you prepare or appreciate a traditional Thanksgiving Feast?  or do you sometimes Step Out Of The Box?  My menu doesn’t usually stray too far from the traditional… Turkey and sometimes a spiral ham if we’re having a large crowd  – mashed sweet potatoes and mashed white potatoes, corn spoon bread, green been casserole, stuffing – I’ve varied the recipe from year to year – Cranberry relish from Harry & David  (OMG- awesomeness.  I eat it with a spoon right out of the jar, yes I do).  Pumpkin pie and apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

 This year, dinner will be served at my SIL’s house.  I am in charge of desserts and I’m stepping out of the box. Since this family  is a chocolate loving crowd, I am making the chocolate pumpkin cheesecake I posted a few days ago… and a big bowl of  Death By Chocolate.   YUM.  (photo courtesy google)

Ingredients:
1 Chocolate Cake Mix
1 Cup Kahlua Liquor
4 Boxes Chocolate Mousee (or Instant Chocolate Pudding)
4 Bars of Heath Bar Candy, chopped
2 Large tubs of Cool Whip
Bake chocolate cake as directed. When cooled lightly pierce the top with a fork
and drizzle with Kahlua.
 Cover cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, break up cake into small pieces and layer, cake, mousse,
 Heath Bar, and Cool Whip. Repeat layers until the Trifle bow is full.
It’s a BIG crowd pleaser and very easy to make.
So.. how about you? Are you a traditionalist?

 

Do you prefer something different?

Domino’s Turkey Dinner pizza??… Say it ain’t so.

Do you celebrate at a restaurant or at a community center or church?

  Are you a jello mold lover? 
It’s OK.. fess up here…
(gag)

Besides my Harry & Davids relish.. I also serve up Ocean spray canned – with RINGS!

So how do you fill yourself up on this, the most Thankful of Holidays?

For the love of a Jeep

  We’ve been talking about trading in my car because the miles were getting up there and it was in need of “stuff”.  It was either invest in the new “stuff it needed, or get into a new car before the trade-in value went to the floor.  I started looking at the different models available, and since the Volvo had served me well for quite a while as a dependable car and a solid ride, I thought I might do the same thing again. Until I talked to the dealership.  When I bought it years ago, Ford was an owner in Volvo.  That’s no longer true – China now has a hand in it.  I have nothing against the Chinese, but I really want to buy American where I can.  After doing more research I initially decided I didn’t like anything in the mid- size SUV range that wasn’t a gas guzzler… and so I decided to keep the partially Ford manufactured Volvo for now.  

But then… then… I saw it.  The Jeep of my dreams. (Actually that’s the Wrangler, but my arthritic neck begs to differ.)  My son and I  took the Overland for a ride and I loved it instantly.  I drove home all excited about finding something I really liked, and it wasn’t crazy expensive, and it’s AMERICAN… and the gas mileage was better than my Volvo! I was doing a Happy Dance, people!

I was met with ..

HIM:  “What, …NOW?  No.. now’s not a good time.

ME:  But… three weeks ago was a good time?!….what happened in three weeks?

HIM:   I just bought a much needed snow-removing tractor for the jobsite and there’s no way we can swing a new car now. You decided  you didn’t want anything new, remember?… so I bought the tractor for work. 

Ok then. 
(insert sound of  air deflating rapidly from balloon…  and maybe a muttered @#$%)
Because OMG I loved that Jeep.

I had a Jeep when we were first married. I kept it for six years.  Absolutely loved it madly.  When our family grew and we needed more room, I had to trade it in for something better suited.  On our way to the dealership,  I had to pull over.  I sobbed like a baby, not wanting to let go of my beloved Jeep.

  Back to the present  – So I went about my business for the past few weeks, admittedly pining for the Jeep I wasn’t going to get. Last Thursday I went up to college girls campus to bring her home for the weekend. Because she had another date   Because she wanted to spend more quality time with her folks.

On the way back I got a call from Mike.

HIM:   in an aggravated voice – You gotta come pick me up, my truck died after picking up the tractor as I was getting on the Highway.   I’m in Saybrook.  I’m gonna have the tow truck driver drop me off where the dealerships are, right next to the highway entrance.

ME:  The truck died??… OK, will be there in 20 minutes.  Which dealership?  You might as well  meander over to the Jeep dealer and look at the one I was drooling over!

HIM:  again in an aggravated voice –  I’m not looking at the freak’n Jeep, but actually that’s the closest so that’s where I’ll be.  Hurry up, we have to go to the garage and see what’s wrong with my truck.

So, we get to dealership row to pick up the Man.  I see him talking to the salesman I had talked to, and they are looking at the inside of a Dodge Ram truck in the showroom.  I walk in, dismayed that they apparently haven’t even glanced at the Jeeps.  I walk RIGHT PAST the black beloved Jeep … (which had been brought inside and had a big red bow on the hood).

 He talks more about the truck with Kyle Salesman, and then we start walking out. I make him stop and atleast please LOOK at the Jeep, there’s one in the SHOWROOM, for cripes sake.  He glances over and says… ” it’s OK.   Maybe next year.”   And keeps walking.

 I say.. WAIT.. you’re RIGHT HERE.  Can’t you just give it a better LOOK???…  and he says…
You like it?  
Yes. Love it.
It’s yours.  Go get your papers and “stuff” out of the Volvo and hand it over.
SHUT UP.
Really. It’s yours. 
WHAT???    Stop it.
See the bow? 
And I cried AGAIN…. for the love of a Jeep. 
… and the guy who made it happen  ðŸ™‚

What the weekend looked like

Both kids home
fire in the fireplace
football football football
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2  – twice
Great weather – beautiful sunsets
Maple Walnut cookies (oh good Lord – recipe below)
Perennial Gardens put to bed for the winter
A thankful heart for these days ~

 Recipe here :

the last of the mohegans in a vase on the table


 Hoping you had a good weekend
and did things you enjoy.
Put your favorite weekend activities in the comments section below.

Zen-like

 So, I’m a high-rev person, which is great for getting things done, but kinda wreaks a little havoc on your body as you start to get (ahem)…OLDER.   I’ve been told I oughta try yoga by more than a few professionals, to calm my little self down.   The whole idea of Yoga has always been alittle off-putting for me…The chanting, the sweating, the poses (I am sooooo un-bendy) the Ooooms flowing through the Chackra.. or whatever.   And there are so many different kinds!  Sitting still with my restless mind, clearing my head of worrisome thoughts seems  just… well, impossible.  However I’ve come to the point where somethings gotta give,  so I’m going to give it a try.  Every day. Whether I like it or not.

  I’ve even bought two little Buddhas to put in my Betta bowls, just to go with the new energy flow here at This Old House.

  I can’t take a “class” because of my hearing impairment – (can’t hear the instructor)  so I’ll try it at home with a DVD – atleast here I can learn the routine by watching, and then get it right hopefully by repetition.   If you’ve had experience with Yoga, and in particular Yoga for the yoga-impaired, let me know about it in the comments section below.  My friend Lynn has recommended some good beginner tapes… I welcome any advice ~

PEACE.


What I learned from my son

  Most of the time it’s our job to teach our children. Every now and then I find I’m learning something from one of my kids.   (side note:  my grandfather Al used to hate when children were referred to as “kids”.  He would say… Kids are GOATS! )

  As I watch my son grow through the teenage years, I notice the relationships he has with his friends and the things they consume their time with are different from my friends and I at the same age.  I remember all too well the anguish I felt as my high school boyfriend spent continuous “guy time” with his pals, and I would sit at home missing him or go about my business missing him , rearrange my schedule when he was available..most of the time waiting for the next time we would be together.  Such a waste of precious time.

  I wasn’t the only one… this was the general state of being for my girlfriends too.  And we did things together as well… but when we were together, we were still TALKING about them.  Not enjoying the activity at hand as much as we could have, and that’s a shame.  And OH.. the time spent on  the appearance.

  My son has some great friends – they ride bikes together, motor scooters, they play football in the front yard, they make trails out in the woods, they go to football and soccer games, have many a sleepover,  light bonfires and sit around talking about trucks… and yes, they certainly like the girls.  Some even have steady girlfriends.  But they don’t obsess over them, not at all.  They truly enjoy each others’ company and the activity they are in the midst of at the moment. ..they know how to  LIVE in the moment.  I wish I could go back and tell my 16 year old self the very same thing.   I wish I could tell ALL sixteen year olds this bit of information, and have it really mean something to them. 

  This weekend they gave each other haircuts with a pair of clippers. I instantly cringed at the thought, but shut my mouth.  They were going to the movies with girls later and that was what I was thinking…   They really didn’t care if it came out alright, they had a good time doing it.  As it should be.

  

Why ever not

There will always be something that needs doing.
Always the chores – whatever yours may be….
 the deadlines, the paperwork
the wood splitting, the dusting, the vacuuming, the dishwashing and laundry..
the picking up and dropping off and despositing and withdrawing
the garbage removal,  the lawn mowing, the leaf raking
 the 9-5 grind..
The commute, the coffee run, the..(fill in the remaining blanks)
But is this all there is to life?
Absolutely not, I mean, what would be the point? 
So why is it hard to allow ourselves the time to just sit ..and be. 
Why is it “wasting time” if you’re doing nothing in particular?
Yesterday, after having been at Dog Days for three days…
and a teenage sleepover..
my house was a mess and I needed to get it back in some order. 
It was so warm and inviting out on the porch around 2pm 
that I decided to go out for a half hour and finish a great book. 
Why was I hoping no one would catch me – just sitting– in the middle of the day?

I loved this book – great read! I miss the characters already.


Good morning…

It finally feels like fall around here..
this morning we woke to an almost frost..
The light is golden…

   The  delicious scent of  woodsmoke
rising from the neighbors chimney fills the air.

 My grandfather was a commercial photographer
with a studio in NYC.
He died when I was in my early twenties…
before I discovered the joy I would find in photography.

I have not forgotten to look for the color, Grandpa Al.
In all things.

Boo!

 Halloween is a favorite around here..
no stress.. just fun. 

 These are some ideas from the web…
this look would cost nothing more than paper, scissors, alittle imagination.
Love it!

Martha Stewart probably lives here…

The non-gourmet version of these… divide cupcake mix batter in half, color one half yellow,
the other orange.. fill cups halfway with one, then the other.. frost after cooling with white icing. Easy!

 Such a simple idea, and yet the look is wonderful.
 Do you ignore the holiday altogether,
Or do you participate?
What’s your favorite Halloween tradition?

Politics

  It’s not my favorite subject.
Seems to bring out the worst in people…
and the best in them too, when they are genuine.
There-in lies the rub.

There has been a group formed in our town 
 who’s tactics involve spinning out incorrect facts
and throwing genuine, dedicated, hardworking people under the bus
with their nasty approach.
I was in a pissing contest with one of these men on a local news forum…
because I could no longer tolerate,  the incorrect information
and the mud throwing. 
The way I see it, if you think you have a better way of doing things,
you have the right to voice them.
State your mission.  Period.
After the 14th “reply”…
my mother sent me this old irish quote.
 I took the advice.
“Sometimes its better to walk away and leave him to the height he grew”.
Thanks, Mom.