I hope you all had an enjoyable and delicious Thanksgiving. This was a wonderful Thanksgiving for us. Holiday dinners for the first 30 years of our marriage were stressful and not fun.
I’ve cooked Thanksgiving dinner for 33 years. We ate dinner with Martin and his wife. Eileen, four years ago. It was scrumptious. Only making pies that year felt odd, but the break was wonderful.
Marty’s brother, Peter, came down from up north and spent a couple of days with us relaxing and catching up. We had a great time with lots of laughs, watching Hamilton, and a competitive game of Five Crowns.
My favorite Thanksgiving meme is this one. It makes me laugh every year. It’s true, isn’t it?
I didn’t post my holiday food photos because I do not go on social media on holidays or when we have guests. However, now I’m going to share our Thanksgiving with you.
I made my centerpiece the weekend before the big day. I love dressing our dining room table almost as much as cooking.
I didn’t cook the whole bird again this year; I took the turkey parts off the carcass on Wednesday morning.
I immediately started a big pot of turkey stock. The stock simmered for 18 hours and made the house smell delicious.
After being skimmed, the final broth was strained and went back on the stove to cook for another hour until it was reduced by half.
Check out that gorgeous and rich stock! I put half of it in the freezer for ramen soup or gravy.
Another benefit of not cooking the whole bird is that the turkey roasts for 45 minutes. My brother-in-law, Peter, was an enormous help with the turkey.
I had to use two pans because I didn’t have the kind I needed. Peter helped flip the turkey pieces since the pans were super heavy.
I had one grease fire; the heat was high when I placed the turkey breasts skin side down. I didn’t panic; I took the pan off the heat and put it on the cold granite countertop to cool down.
Our meal couldn’t have been more traditional since that was what we prefer on Thanksgiving. My two desserts were also traditional: pumpkin pie and mini pecan pie tarts.
Noah and Aja joined us for dessert after spending the day going to family members’ homes and eating two Thanksgiving dinners. Yes, they were both stuffed but had a little room left for dessert.
The five of us had a ton of laughs and stories to tell. I am so grateful they could spend time with us and Uncle Peter. Unfortunately, Sam was working and wasn’t able to join us.
So, that was it, another Thanksgiving in the books. Next up: Christmas meals.
I am a natural-born teacher. I’ve taught dance for almost 20 years and taught high school students how to cook in our high school’s culinary arts program.
I’ve taught all sorts of cooking classes so in November of 2020 when I started to see people panicking and begging for help; I wrote a post that got over 10,000 likes on social media.
Here is my 11/22/20 post.
“Hey!!! If this is your first Thanksgiving that you have to cook because of travel & gathering restrictions I must tell you this….today is the day you may want to take your frozen turkey out of the freezer and defrost in the refrigerator in a container in case it leaks while it defrosts.
I made the mistake of taking my turkey out too late too many times and sweated it out if it would be ready to roast on Thanksgiving. Here are a couple other pieces of advise I have found helpful over the last 31 years of cooking Thanksgiving dinner.
▪️Read the recipes you plan to make AHEAD and re-read them. For real you don’t want to find out on the big day you forgot to get something that would change the dish drastically. ▪️Make a list and shop early. No one wants to torture themselves and be in a last minute panic situation at the grocery store. ▪️Simple recipes with fewer good ingredients always come out better and are way less stressful. ▪️Mise en place or prep ahead!!!!! I cannot stress this enough!!! Being well organized and ready to go on the big day is fucking priceless! You will thank me and this goes for other big meals not just on thanksgiving. Seriously just taking the time to prep a few things here and there instead of just sitting on your phone is time well spent and is good for you mentally as well. Lol! ▪️Never apologize for your food!!!! To quote Julia Child “I don’t believe in twisting yourself into knots of excuses and explanations over the food you make. Usually one’s cooking is better than one thinks it is!” ▪️Let yourself off the hook and don’t try to make everything from scratch. If you like to bake then by all means make your pies on Wednesday, but if you don’t enjoy baking then buy them!!!! Keep your menu small and don’t try to tackle too many things. This one is huge. People start thinking about every dish they have ever had on past Thanksgivings and think they need to make them all. ▪️Plan on something super simple or order a pizza on Wednesday night so you can take the time to get organized for tomorrow. Same thing goes with a simple breakfast on Thanksgiving morning. This is not the day to make pumpkin pancakes or some other dumb shit you think is necessary. It’s not. ▪️This may be the biggest one of all. The big daddy of advice….clean as you go!!!!! Honestly people get so overwhelmed when they look around their kitchen and it looks like a bomb went off or worse when the pot or bowl or whisk that you need is dirty under a mountain of dishes!!!!
I hope this helps anyone who is dreading to cook…because they don’t enjoy cooking or perhaps they have always been that person that is lucky enough to just show with a pie or flowers for the table. I have some time today so I am prepping ahead things that can be made far in advance and make turkey day a snap!!
Take a deep breath. Count your blessings. Give thanks for all the good things that did happen in this shitass year and Bon Appetit!” ❤️❤️❤️~julz
This was the post that made me think I could be a writer and pass on knowledge I’ve had learned myself.
I have an interesting tidbit regarding the photo I used at the top of this post, Norman Rockwell’s Thanksgiving painting which was part of his Four Freedoms series.
As I am sure you know how much I love living in Arlington and all its history.
I wrote an entire blog post when I visited my friends Kevin and Sue who own and operate Rockwell Retreat which was Norman Rockwell’s second home he owned in Arlington.
One of our good friends owns the first home of Norman Rockwell. This was a complete surprise to me.
When my friend gave us a quick tour of the house he told us about a very special window in the house.
It was the window in Rockwell’s Thanksgiving painting! We were thrilled to see it and look out of it!
How amazing! We were standing in the spot that was the head of the table. How cool.
Our friend went on to tell us the models he used in that famous painting were townspeople as he always used.
The Grandmother holding the platter was a cleaning lady and I think the Grandfather was a plumber or some other kind of skilled laborer.
I love getting the back stories like that on Rockwell’s famous pieces of art.
It’s all so interesting and it all took place right here in Arlington. ☺️
We watch all kinds of food and cooking shows on YouTube. We like Sam the Cooking Guy. One dish Sam made caught my attention so much that I watched it again with Marty. I was intrigued.
Once I learn about something I never heard of, I must investigate. I began watching more videos about this dish, the Irish Spice Bag.
It took a while before I could make my spice bag following Sam the Cooking Guy’s recipe. So what exactly is an Irish Spice Bag besides fucking delicious?
It is a paper bag filled with crispy chicken pieces, bell peppers and onions, hot chilies, french fries, and curry sauce.
The dish originated in Dublin, Ireland, at a popular takeaway restaurant, Sunflower Chinese, in 2012.
The staff grew tired of eating the same thing every day. They created the Irish spice bag after the takeaway closed for the night.
Little did they know that the Irish Spice Bag would become a phenomenon. The spice bag was a collaboration of ideas, just as it is a collaboration of flavors.
The story goes one of the employee’s friends came in the next day and asked for a spice bag. The rest is history.
The Irish Spice Bag is now famous all over Ireland and is made in Chinese takeaway places all over the country.
It’s filling and tasty, perfect to eat after pounding down pints all night. Others call it a hangover remedy.
People from all over are obsessed with this unofficial dish of Dublin, just like Chicken Tikka Masala is the unofficial dish of London.
Some people get off an airplane, and the first thing they do is grab a spice bag as their first thing to eat; that’s how good this dish is.
Irish Spice bags have made it slowly to the US. The first locations also popped up in NYC and Washington, DC. More places are opening across the country.
There is even a place in Albany called the Savoy Tap House that has an Irish Spice Bag on their pub menu! We’ve been there since they have a very gluten-free friendly menu.
But what about making one yourself?
Sam, the Cooking Guy, has 3.5 million followers; when he made his Irish Spice Bag, people went nuts and had to make one. Count me in.
People in Ireland watched his version and tried his recipe just like I did. They flipped out; it was so good and right on the money.
Some Irish people told him it was served with two sauces. Fair enough.
I have to admit it is a labor of love. You have to have time to make the recipe and, more importantly, time to sit and enjoy it.
I followed Sam the Cooking Guy’s recipe exactly, except I didn’t make thrice cooked french fries, and I used only a tiny amount of hot chilies for the first time. I could go a little spicier the next time.
Instead of boring you to death with how I made it, click on the YouTube video and watch Sam’s Irish Spice Bag. The man is a pisser and is himself on camera. His son Max is the cameraman.
If you aren’t interested in watching his program, click the link and look at the recipe. I encourage you to watch the video so he can tantalize your taste buds and make you laugh.
Like in Ireland, we ate our Irish Spice Bags from the ripped-open bag. We used our fingers and dipped the bag’s contents into the flavorful side of curry sauce.
This is no joke. I kid you not; after only once having a spice bag, we are addicted. Of course, this falls under the category of food that is a treat since we don’t eat many fried foods.
Everything in moderation, people. Eat a salad the next day if you are feeling guilty. Like my hero, idol, and male alter ego, the late, great Anthony Bourdain said:
Eat a damn Irish spice bag, for fucks sake, and enjoy the hell out of it. Thanks, Tony, for the reminder.♥️
I was prepping our dinner tonight when I got a text from Aja, Noah’s girlfriend. She sent a photo, and I was immediately excited about what they were doing.
They were in Noah’s friend Steven’s plane. Steven was the pilot. They were headed to Block Island, then around Manhattan. How exciting!
The two of them went to Connecticut for the weekend so Aja could meet his friends and take her places in his old stomping grounds. Noah lived there and worked for Audi but returned home because he missed Vermont.
It’s good that he did, or he would have never met Aja. They just celebrated their first anniversary. They have done a lot in a year, including a trip to Mexico in September.
I have never seen my son act and look so happy. They moved in together and have a cute little apartment. He’s the cook, and she makes salads. I wonder who cleans the toilet? Lol.
Not only does my son look happy, but he has matured dramatically this past year. He reminds me so much of how Marty was when we were dating, including leaving a bouquet on Aja’s car, like father-like son.
Aja and I are getting to know each other better. I love spending time with her. I am completely myself with her, which is wonderful. She and I share the same birthday, automatically making us birthday twins. 😊
I asked her if it was okay if I wrote about her, and she said yes, so here we are.
I told Noah how proud of him. I continued by telling him that I am proud that Sam is focusing on his career and accomplishing all the goals he sets for himself; Noah is successful in everything in his life. How lucky am I to have these guys as sons?
Watching my son have a fantastic relationship with an amazing person is lovely. I love seeing him, so excited to share everything with her. Like this weekend trip to visit his friends.
To see how happy he is, smiling his head off in all the photos. This is a smile we never saw before, not even when he was little.
I think we all can agree that as parents, all we want is for our children to be happy, knowing he is; is a homerun.
I look forward to watching their relationship grow and spending more time with them. There isn’t one person who doesn’t tell me they have never seen Noah so happy before.
If someone told me I would write a blog post like this one, I would have said, “Get the hell out of here!”
The clocks have been turned back, and it’s dark before 5 pm. Everyone is complaining about the dark on Facebook. I used to be one of those complainers.
This has been a life-changing year for me. I’ve become a person who is more aware of everything around me and appreciates it.
I look at things with new eyes and perspectives. Thinking I only had 3-5 years to live back in March threw me into a deep depression and gave me a nervous breakdown.
Thank goodness that was not my prognosis with my type of lung disease, but it made me pause, and with that pause, everything changed.
When I was little, I loved all four of the seasons. Of course, summer was my favorite since school was out, and I could stay out until the street lights came on.
Unfortunately, this summer was a holy hell for me health-wise, as I struggled to breathe during the hot, humid summer. I sweated constantly and had zero energy. Having rain every other day didn’t help.
I always looked forward to fall. It meant I could wear the back-to-school clothes without sweating my ass off. I loved jumping in piles of leaves and Halloween as much as I love it today.
We got married in October because it’s such a pretty time of the year. It’s not too hot or too cold for a wedding. The weather was perfect and produced colorful outdoor wedding photos.
After we moved to Vermont, I began to dread fall every year because I knew a cold, dark winter was right behind it. When we first moved to VT, we loved the winter because we liked skiing and snow tubing.
After our first winter, the sad truth was even though we lived near three ski mountains, we couldn’t afford to go skiing. We quickly discovered how high the cost of living in Vermont was with low wages.
We lived on rice, oatmeal, and pasta since we had no money, our heating bills were so high, and our place was still cold. Charming but fucking freezing.
Spring was always exciting because things were coming back to life, and summer was approaching. I rejoiced when I could get my bike out again, and my dad started mowing the lawn again.
Here in Vermont, all that changed when we learned about mud and blackfly season. Both were horrible, mainly where we lived up in the mountains. Snow was still on the ground in June.
That brings me to this year. The year that shocked the shit out of me. Perhaps one of the most challenging years for me, maybe the most important one.
I started to notice the things that brought us to Vermont in the first place. I found joy in things and realized VT was a beautiful, quiet place with a simpler lifestyle, which we appreciate.
As I adapted to my new “life” with another disease, I found having to slow down due to breathing issues was a welcome change. I used to go like the energizer bunny from when my feet hit the floor until bedtime.
Now, I don’t enjoy rushing around, period. That includes eating, drinking morning tea, shopping, and running errands.
Marty dug out his union suit the other night.
With my blog posts, I can see the changes occurring slowly. Marty has adapted to our new life as empty nesters and my limitations almost gratefully. We work hard, but we aren’t spring chickens anymore.
As the fall weather came this year, I appreciated the crisp, cool days; I could breathe, and the cool temps felt wonderful. I could smell the leaves and watch them turn color, die, and fall.
Was that a pun? I never thought of the word fall as something literal. 🤔
After I learned more about the Danish word hygge, which means warm and cozy, I wanted to be warm and cozy and realized I had been living the hygge way for years without knowing it.
For example, when the temperature dropped, I always looked forward to making warm, hearty, comfort food again and stocked up my freezer and pantry for the winter.
I started burning more candles to create a cozy, warm environment. We got our throw blankets and fuzzy slippers out.
In today’s society, when the clocks change, it’s almost like panic hits for people. There is something about the dark that makes people miserable. Of course, seasonal depression is a real thing, but this is about when we turn the clocks back.
People have busy lives and are always out and about with packed schedules. The dark suggests they soon will have to stay indoors and sulk. That was me, folks.
I researched the subject of darkness. I found the farmer’s point of view. Some religious groups consider anything dark as evil. I enjoyed reading about the Celtic perspective and Samhain. I read Wiccans and other subcultures take on the dark season.
I liked the Chinese way of looking at late autumn and winter as the Blue Black time. They say this time of the year is filled with blues, purples, and black. So true. I never thought about that before.
What I got from the research is that they all have a common theme, except for the extreme holy rollers; mind you, they are full of fear and negativity.
Nature dictates the seasons and knows what to do. People for thousands of years have taken nature’s cue. At the end of autumn, when everything dies and rests until spring, they did too.
During the time of rest, people ate hot and hearty meals. Their root cellars and pantries were stuffed with root vegetables and summer veggies that had been canned.
People were careful they would have enough food and not run out. They welcomed the rest and appreciated slowing down. Candles were lit, books were read, and hobbies were enjoyed.
People make New Year’s resolutions in our time, which is the opposite of what they did a hundred years ago. Maybe this is why people fail miserably every year, sometimes in the first week.
Back then, resolutions waited until spring with time to think about what you wanted to strive for, like planning what would go into garden beds or switching crops.
Today, people don’t know how or may not want to slow down and take winter for what it is. A time of rest. It is a time to appreciate this intimate time of the year and snuggle under blankets, read the book you haven’t had time for, try new recipes, or pick up a hobby.
I am now embracing the dark season. I have my cozy space where I write and draw. It’s where I enjoy my tea in the morning. I have soft lighting, along with a throw blanket and comfy pillows. Klaus loves this spot, too; I have to kick him out often.
My space is away from the television, which is always on and is too much for me. I love YouTube, but there is only so much I can take. In the UK, our back room would be called a snug. The word snug is so fitting for my space.
I am planning and looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. My shopping is done, and my menus are planned. I love cooking during the holidays more than the rest of the year.
These trees are similar to the ones I will be using this Christmas.
Our Christmas tree situation is different with the sassy girl Nelly around. Instead of a big live tree, we are trying something new. Small trees I picked out of the garbage. Another person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
We need simple shatterproof ornaments for sure. I decided to make some of my own Christmas ornaments this year. This hasn’t happened since Noah was little.
I saw two simple ornaments at Pottery Barn that I loved but were ridiculously expensive. I thought, shit, I can make them myself. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be another Nailed It episode. 😂
Disagree with me all you want about embracing the dark and winter. Hell, I would have before this year 💯 percent.
My goal for this blog post was to try to change your perspective so you can enjoy this natural time of the year like our ancestors did. Maybe people could be less damaging by not hating and despising the next five months.
This post was a lengthy one, and I hope some of you can make a change and embrace it. Consider this song’s lyrics as a good thing, not bad.
“Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again.”
Yesterday, our front door opened and Sam walked into the house. I asked him what he was doing here.
“I was in Albany.” I immediately knew he tested to become a certified fight nurse. This test only has a 50% pass rate the first time you take the test.
Since Sam finished his coursework online and in-person classes, he has been studying.
When I say studying, I mean serious studying in all of his free time. Marty and I have no idea where that came from, not us.
When Sam came here in October for the EMS conference he and Marty went to, he brought his flash cards.
It was thick stack of flash cards that he made and laminated. This is how he studies. Marty quizzed him in their spare time.
I am so glad to report he passed his test! Sam will take the certified flight paramedic test in the next week or so.
He wants to take it while everything is fresh in his mind however, he still will be studying until then.
I don’t write about my kids much but when something like this happens, I need to share the news.
A psychic friend told me when the kids were young that Sam will accomplish anything he puts his mind to. My friend was right.
Sam isn’t the type to blow his own horn, like everything in his life he is a very private person.
There are only 5,000 certified flight nurses in the country. Now there are 5001. I think that is a huge accomplishment for a 23-year-old.
To be hired as a certified flight nurse is easier said than done and is no small feat. It is also extremely competitive.
There are many steps to even be considered.
Applications are studied and scrutinized. If you are chosen there is more testing for the agency you are applying to.
Next, you must go before a panel of experienced emergency medicine experts and answer a a battery of questions.
They give the applicant several medical scenarios for them to explain everything that must be done.
Emergency flight work is a serious, adrenaline-pumping, complicated job that takes a certain kind of person.
If you are hired, there is more learning and training that can take months before you are part of a flight crew.
When the fight crew goes on a mission they must get the patient stabilized before take off.
Once the plane or helicopter takes off, that is the flight crew’s main focus: safety.
As a mom, it makes me a nervous wreck but this is something Sam has been striving for: for years.
For now, he will remain a nurse in the very busy emergency department at UVM where traumas come through the door constantly.
There are many learning opportunities at UVM. Sam wants to get as much experience and knowledge while he continues his education.
Down the road, when the time is right he will then go through the grueling process of being hired by an agency.
Sam left this morning to go back to Burlington. We may not see him until Christmas so I made sure I got a lot of hugs in. ☺️
You can see more orbs in the distance. I took screenshots from the video and enlarged the image so you see the orbs better.
In 2006, my gastroenterologist found a large tumor on my right or ascending colon and my appendix. It was scary. When I went to the surgeon, I freaked out; this was a big deal.
Within five days, I found myself in the hospital having surgery to remove the benign tumor. I spent three days in the hospital, making sure the colon reattachment worked.
I can never sleep in the hospital like most people. The night of my surgery, I lay there on my back, listening to the activity at the nurse’s station in our dimly lit room.
My roommate was an elderly woman who barely spoke. The curtain between us was pulled so we couldn’t see each other.
As I lay there, I began seeing a hundred little white circles fluttering fast on our ceiling. It was bizarre; I thought I was seeing things from the meds I was given.
More and more little lights kept showing up on the ceiling. I watched them in awe, thinking, what the fuck is going on?
With that, all the doors to the patient’s rooms automatically slammed shut. I didn’t know there was a code on our floor that made all the doors close.
As I watched the little lights on the ceiling, the woman in the bed next to me said, “They are coming for him.” I asked her if she could see the lights, too, and she said yes, she saw them multiple times in the hospital. I thought I was not seeing things.
Suddenly, all the little lights were exiting our room and going down the hallway. I could see them on the hallway ceiling, too. My delayed response was, “They are?” She didn’t answer me; she probably fell asleep after all the excitement.
Half an hour later, the staff members opened everyone’s door. I asked if someone just died when the nurse walked into our room. She hesitated, then replied and said yes. Holy shit! The woman in the next bed was correct.
I lay there for the rest of the night, thinking about what happened. I worried that I saw the little lights like the old woman. I kept wondering why.
It was strange but beautiful knowing all those orbs that filled the hospital rooms came to help or greet the newly deceased person cross over to the other side.
Ever since then, I see orbs in videos that I take or sometimes with my own eyes fluttering around. I find them comforting. They aren’t in a hurry like they were that night in the hospital.
Orbs are the spirits of ancestors, friends, and family members that peacefully crossed over to the other side, but their energy is still all around us. It is a beautiful thing to see and feel.
Believe what I am saying or not. I plan to take more nighttime videos to see if any are still out there.
I’m sure a lot of you know that Halloween is my favorite day of the year. I start thinking about my costume months in advance.
We had a Halloween party at the Arlington Inn & Spa across the street from us. It was great fun and everyone who attended was thrilled Buzz & Tabetha did it again this year.
The best part of the Halloween party was Noah and Aja meeting us there. They were dressed as Rip & Beth from Yellowstone.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw them. My son looked like a handsome cowboy and Aja was stunningly beautiful.
It was a mom’s dream that they chose to hang out with us. It made my heart so full and happy.
I love getting dressed up as you may already know. My makeup was pretty amazing if I do say so myself.
I went through my costume closet and was able to pick out the perfect vampire costume.
It was a full moon on Saturday. This was a powerful hunter’s moon. It was magnificent! It disturbed many people’s sleep days before, including me.
No filter on this image. It was beautiful out!
We were up late on Saturday night so we had a slow Sunday morning. We had to work after a yummy breakfast.
We have a big order to fill so we put our heads down Sunday afternoon and cranked out a lot of spätzle.
Pumpkin pancakes and bacon.
It was a fun production with great music. The time passed quickly. We got a great start in filling the big order.
Tomorrow is Halloween! I look forward to handing candy out to trick-or-treaters. I put lots of candles on our front porch.
I’ll wear my regular street clothes but will do a simple dialed-back vampire look. I always have to dress up on Halloween day.
You are never too old to dress up or go trick or treating in my opinion.
Happy Halloween!! 🎃👻
***Posted from my iPhone so pardon any grammar mistakes
