Unleash the Season!

We actually put our Christmas tree up right after Thanksgiving, like two days after Thanksgiving. But by then, all the family that we had for Thanksgiving had already cleared out and for the first time in a few years, we had to do the tree and all the decorations all by ourselves. Of course, the pandemic didn't help with that any. But it's always fun having grandkids around to help, they do enjoy it so. And so do we.

Every year we toy around with putting our tree in a different place but we always come back to the same corner. It just works so well there.

In my mind, the Christmas season officially starts the day after Thanksgiving, despite what the merchants might tell you. So this year, we got the tree up and the decorations out pretty quick. Not bad for a couple of old people.

This fall, however, we have been working on turning our family room from a storeroom into an actual, comfortable family room. We have made enough progress that we decided to put up a second tree down there.  And for the second tree, we got some help.

Schwartzbeere and his whole family came over to visit the other day so we put the kids to work. We used the tree Brombeere had used for years at school in her kindergarten classtoom, along with all the decorations. These were kid proof decorations so we weren't worried about breaking any at all. And the kids had a great time!

Brombeere had even gotten some ornaments they could make. So they did. And those that did not elect to take theirs home with them got to put them on our tree.

So it went well. It didn't take so long that anybody lost interest. And we now have a nice little tree in our family room, too. As the song says, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

Multiple Tries

I have this bathroom stool that I got several years ago that I really like. I bought it to be good and sturdy and I use it every day. The grandkids also like it as it makes it so they can reach the sink for washing hands (a good thing) and playing in the water (not such a good thing). Anyway, it has rubber tips on the end of each leg and I noticed a few months ago that one of them had pretty much worn out; it kept falling off.

I didn't want the floor to get damaged so I thought I'd just replace the tip. After all, the rest of the stool was still in real good shape. But then I had to decide how to measure to be sure to get the right size. Do you measure the leg or the tip? Was I looking for an inside measurement, an outside measurement, or something else entirely different? Just how are stool leg tips measured? Who knows. So I took a stab at it and sent off an order.  Alas, when it came, it was too big. Actually, I bought and returned about five of them before finally ending up with the right size. All this was from Amazon so each try involved ordering, waiting, trying, and returning. Very frustrating.

Then just the other day I was walking through one of the local hardware stores, looking for something totally different, when I walked by a display of stool tips. Amazing! I guessed at the size I needed and got it.  But, when I got it home I found it was too big. A familiar feeling. But this time, returning it was very quick and easy.  

The next day I took it back and tried the next size down. Lo, and behold! It was the right size and went right on! And they even came in packages of four! Callooh! Callay! Three cheers for doing it the old fashion way! Good for another several years!

From Scratch

The other day, Blaubeere came to visit with her kids, that's always a good time.  She brought with her a start of her sourdough, which we know from experience to be really yummy.  The original plan had to been to make something with it, bread or cookies, or something, but we ended up doing other stuff and never got to it.  So when it was time to leave, she left it. 

I've made bread before, using our bread machine. Several times, actually.  But except for one time, I've always used the bread machine. I've come close to trying it without the machine several times but just never gone through with it. So, after Brombeere suggested it would be simple to just add the start to a regular recipe, I decided to give it a try.  After all, we couldn't just waste a perfectly good sourdough start.

I dug out all my bread recipes to see if any of them called for using a start but none did.  So I picked the one that looked simplest and decided to do as Brombeere suggested.  So I got out the yeast and started it in some warm water.

Then I got all all the other ingredients and added them all together, as called for in the recipe.  To that point, the recipes says only add half the flour.

It was at that point I also added the start.  Brombeere was kind enough to add a little personalization, some decoration.  It's a smiley face, in case you can't tell.  This is, after all, supposed to be happy bread.

Then I blended it all together.

At that point, the recipe says to begin adding the rest of the flour.  You keep adding flour until the dough looked like the right consistency.  Then you pour it out onto the counter and knead it for a while.

I really didn't know what "the right consistency" was, I only had my memories to go on, from watching my Mom all the times she used to make bread.  For the longest time, all the bread at our house was home made.  She typically made several loaves at a time, there were six of use and we all loved her bread.  So, anyway, I did the best I could and moved ahead with it.

After kneading it a bunch and then letting it "rest" a while, it was nearly ready to go in the pan.  I put it back on the counter, punch it down a bit, formed it into loaves, and put them in the pans, ready to cook.

Forty-five minutes later they were done and ready to come out.  And out they came.

One of my favorite foods is still homemade bread, fresh and warm, right out of the oven.

I learned a lot from this, about making bread the old fashion way, without a bread machine.  I might have to try this again, it actually wasn't all that hard.  One thing I still need to work on is getting the loaves to be more "pretty".  I just need to pay a little more attention to that when I put them in the pan.  Hey, how hard can that be, right?  But regardless of what they look like, they still taste way better than store bought bread.

Another Thanksgiving!

 The preparation actually begins days ahead of time, with planning the menu and getting all the stuff you need for the big Thanksgiving Day feast.  Brombeere does an excellent job with all the planning and preparation that go into Thanksgiving. We continue to be blessed to be able to enjoy this holiday, and to be able to have family visit for the special occasion, although not everyone we'd hoped for was able to make it this year.  Still, it was a good time.

Getting the meal ready begins at least a day before, fixing what can be done early.  It's a logistic masterpiece, to plan out what is needed, using the equipment available, and getting all the food that needs to be cooked to the table, not only at the same time but on time.  I am amazed every year at how she does it.

Our Thanksgiving menu usually varies a little from year to year.  There are the standards, like turkey, pies, potatoes of some sort or another, and sweet potatoes with marshmallows. 

At our house there is the usual pumpkin pie, and cherry pie (she does that just for me), and at least one other kid of pie, depending on who is coming.

This year the third pie was chocolate cream pie.  

The turkey got set on top of the washer to cook since we needed the oven and stove for other stuff.

The sweet potatoes were done in what has become the traditional pan, which complements their color very well.

The cooking gets going in earnest in the time right before the meal as all the side dishes get done.

Then the turkey moved into the kitchen to be carved and served.

Stuff got placed on the serving dishes with plenty left in the pans incase it was needed.

And, at last, just before the kids begin to faint from hunger, it all makes it onto the table, set with the special plates, and matching glasses and silver, all at the same time, ready to dig in!

Then all the people gathered around and it was all ready.  A marvelous feast with which to give thanks.  And at our house, there was plenty to be thankful for.  In the midst of all that has, and continues to go on, this year in particular, we have been blessed, truly blessed.

And then, 30-40 minutes of good food and conversation later, there's the "aftermath".  Signs of a well enjoyed good time.  Everybody's full and happy, and the tryptophan already beginning to take affect, everyone's ready for a nap.  Thanksgiving is such a good time for so many reasons, but mostly because its such a good excuse to get together.  I think that's what I like best.

Commonplace Book

"When we think of the resurrection of our Redeemer, I am reminded that the purpose of his life was to prepare us all, to make a path that we could all walk, that would bring us eternal happiness in his presence as well as in the presence of one another."
(George Albert Smith, Closing Address, April Conference 1950. Emphasis added) 

"The change we need will come less by activism, and more by actively seeking to understand each other."
(Sharon Eubanks, By Union of Feeling We Obtain Power with God, October Conference 2020) 

"There can be no certain protection to the people of the world in the future except by keeping the commandments of God and the counsel He has given to His children through His servants the prophets."
(George Albert Smith, Pres Smith's Leadership Address, Church News, Deseret News, 16 February 1946) 

"Social media is awash with hate. The language of politics has become ad hominem and vile. We seem to have forgotten ... that evil speech is a plague. It destroys relationships, rides roughshod over people’s feelings, debases the public square, turns politics into a jousting match between competing egos and defiles all that is sacred about our common life. It need not be like this." (Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Words That Heal, Tazria-Metzora 5780, April 22, 2020) 

"People have a hard time changing their minds. Once their minds are made up, they are relatively impervious to argument, evidence, and persuasion."
(Robert J Samuelson, Goodbye, readers, and good luck — you’ll need it, Washington Post, September 13, 2020) 

"No generation has ever lived without facing uncertainty. … We must not let the things we can't do keep us from doing the things we can do."
(Elder Richard L Evans, The Power and Privilege of Repentance, April Conference 1950) 

"Thy servant has sought thee earnestly; now I have found thee; ...and I will do well to hearken unto thy voice, therefore let thy servant rise up and depart in peace."
(Abraham 2:12-13) 

"I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not"
(Luke 22:32) 

"Faithfulness is neither foolishness nor fanaticism. It is trusting and placing our confidence in Jesus Christ as our Savior."
(Elder David A Bednar, We Will Prove Them Herewith, October Conference 2020)

"My beloved brethren and sisters and friends: I have in my pocket a wonderful talk; one I have been three months preparing. I find it necessary, however, to deprive you of the great pleasure of hearing it at this time because it has already been given. President McKay gave half of it, and Bishop Wirthlin and Brother Lee used most of my scriptures. I am very happy, however, to be in harmony with them."
(Marion D Romney, The Atonement of the Savior, October Conference 1953. This is how he began his conference address) 

"The only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; … as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith’ (D&C 21:4–5). There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’ (D&C 21:6)” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 84–85). 

"I don't know what the Lord's eternal timetable is, but I am sure that He is happy to have it modified by the acts of men in the use of their free agency in bringing themselves to repentance. I feel sure that there is no dire prediction of any of His prophets that He would not be happy to have set aside by the repentance of His people."
(Elder Richard L Evans, The Power and Privilege of Repentance, April Conference 1950) 

"Where there is selfishness, natural differences of men and women often divide. Where there is unselfishness, differences become complementary and provide opportunities to help and build each other. Spouses and family members can lift each other and ascend together if they care more about the interests of the other than their own interests."
(Henry B Eyring, The Complementarity of Man and Woman, An International Interreligious Colloquium Vatican City, November 18, 2014)

 "In this church we ask for faith, not infallibility."
(Jeffrey R Holland, For Times of Trouble, BYU Devotional, March 18, 1980) 

"Those who think they know are at a disadvantage, as their assumptions put up a barrier between themselves and the truth. It's the ones who understand their own ignorance who will learn the most."
(Horoscope, August 8, 2020)

Little Kids and Scissors

You know what they say about helping little kids use scissors under adult supervision?  Yeah, it's something to keep in mind. There's a sweet little girl who has spent her whole life growing her hair out, and had gotten it long enough that she could wear some really cute little styles. 

Pig Tails, pony tails, or just combed out straight, her hair had gotten pretty long and looked really nice.  And, what is sometimes unusual, this little girl was usually willing to leave her hair alone when you put it up nice.  Some kids won't do that.

It wasn't done particularly nice in this shot but it shows how long it had gotten.  But then her brother got a hold of some scissors.  You know one of those moments where you only turn your back for an instant and then you realize it's too quiet?  Yeah, it was one of those moments.

So when that happens you trim and clean it up the best you can and then all you can do is wait for it to grow back out.  As they say, you can either get mad or get your camera.  She's still a little cutie.