I've Missed You

Thoughts and Quotes: Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.   Jane Howard

I'm happy to have alone time during this (according to Susan Branch's blog) damnpanic because I have lots to do, but I miss talking to you. This will be short, because I'm on a roll.

Yes, we need each other and we need family, and mine is getting smaller. I lost another brother on August 27. The oldest of the five, Danny, made his transition and then there were two. As I'm the oldest sibling (and the only girl), the natural order would be that I would be the first to go. Not so. I started with five little brothers, and now I have only two left. And so sad, because the new niece we discovered in March (Gina) is Danny's daughter, and he was on his way to meet her for the first time. He didn't make it, and died peacefully in his sleep in a motel.

I don't mean to nag, but PLEASE get your papers in order. You can't imagine what the ones left behind have to go through to clean up your affairs. 

And since I'm on borrowed time, let's get on with it, because I still have tons to do before I go, or as Robert Frost tells us, "Miles to go before I sleep."

Now where were we?

Tasting: Oh, yes. The food for the Busy Lady Lunch. Remember? I started it last time.

BUSY LADY LUNCH

MENU

Ham Salad

Potato Salad

Vegetable Salad

Rice Muffins

Pineapple Iced Tea

Summer Parfait

 The placemats, napkins, and napkin rings have gone to live with Terri.

I'm really behind on my soups now, but I did manage to finish a few. 

Manhattan Clam Chowder

And this set of dishes is gone.

Peaches and Cream Soup

Keeping the snack sets for a maybe book.

Chicken Barley Soup

A recipe from Friend Barbara

I have to keep these dishes for the theme dinner redo of Thank You, Jimmy Carter (peanut theme)

Thinning Out: Told you I'm on a roll. I cleared out ten banker's boxes of Christmas.

Blue Christmas (will take to Gina)

Christmas Tree

Taking to Katy

Plaid - to Terri

Snow Village - Terri

Snowman - Terri (she's having a yard sale)

Plus lots more odds and ends of Christmas. My heart was breaking as I packed them up, but you just can't keep everything (unless you get a storage unit), and my daughter is doing the happy dance every time I get rid of more things. This morning I reorganized the chargers, and found eight I'm ready to purge. I also have two boxes of gardening books ready to go (and I took a box to the thrift store already). Also getting rid of a ton of National Geographic magazines, and I do mean a ton. They're so heavy, I have to put about a third at a time in the recycle trash, and it's only picked up every other week. No one wants them. So sad.

Time to Move On: I'm working on a snack set lunch so I can get rid of a lot of amber dishes. Still in progress. Just started.

 I'm thinking:

Creamed Chicken and Peas in Patty Shells

Tossed Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

Butternut Squash

Mixed Grain Muffins

Maple Sundaes and Sugar Cookies

Orange-Spice Tea

How does that sound?

Today's Soups: Raspberry Soup by Committee and Summer Garden Vegetable. I need a new photo for the raspberry soup and the vegetable soup is a new recipe from a friend of Brother Bill.

It's already on the drop down above.

I have a lot of soup recipes already, but the photos were for my own use. I can't use things like this:

The Future: According to Susan Branch's blogpost, the new swear word is "2020". I think we'll all be ready for this year to end so we can get on with our lives. Especially at my age, you realize how precious time can be. I'm trying to enjoy every single day, even if I'm doing laundry or vacuuming. It's all good. 

Let's make a pact to gear up for 2021, and make it an extra special year to make up for the one we lost in 2020. Are you with me? I'll share with you the things I'm planning as we go along. You can use my suggestions or use your ideas. The important thing is to make each day a special day. Now go buy yourself some flowers for practice. Or just pick a rose from the yard and put it in a bud vase in your bathroom or on your nightstand. 

Or maybe you'd rather treat yourself to Krispy Kreme donuts? Or a root beer float?  According to Iris Murdoch, "One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats." Pepper and Stormy couldn't agree more. Let's try it.

START YOUR JOY LIST FOR 2021

AND WORK ON YOUR HEALTH

EAT YOUR GREENS

USE SUN SCREEN EVEN IN WINTER

AN APPLE A DAY

STAY HYDRATED

DRINK SOME TEA

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE