My Christmas List

Remember what you have in your life to be thankful for, and cherish it. There is simply nothing more to ask for,

except........ maybe:

365 pair of soft, squishy white socks. A new pair for every day in 07.

A tree in my front rocks.

Inspired days, soulful nights, and no regrets.

Books, anything on cooking must have photos. I am visually inspired.

A greener thumb. Mine has gone rather turquoise lately.

Another healthy year with my ever aging, grey haired dog.

.........Of Course

Two Sesame Seeds

Some things are just better left unspoken.And then, on the other hand, just to rich not to speak of.

But when life hands you an obvious "Blog Tagline" you must accept it.

And so, are the circumstances of this moment in the quilt of my life. With humor, I add this patch to my quilt.

Black Friday, or the day after - I can't remember which... Phil is in an obvious and rare pissy mood. Thus noted, I steer clear.

He isn't working because of the forced holiday, so he is trying to occupy his time at home with "things".

But he can't really find shit to do. So he meanders here and there.

Being an innocent, yet amused bystander, I am just doing the usual. And then a sudden burst of him through the door arriving to confront me with some horrid situation, which he displays on his index finger. He has found 2 sesame seeds in his car and adamantly accuses me of eating in his the beloved BMW.

It still invokes spontaneous laughter.

Could there BE better stories in life than that?? One for which he will be held accountable for decades.

God Bless the human spirit :)

Food Anxiety !

What is wrong with me? It's just one meal. And one I have done numerous times, with success. So "why oh why" do I have this stress / anxiety / hyper-chopping / cooking like a fool and baking more pies than anyone can eat mentality?

I blame it on my mom - oh and, thank her for the stuffing advice that hangs on in my psyche from when I am 4-5 years old.

I wish I could shake my "Martha" mentality about all of this. After all, I am feeding Mom, Dad, Phil, Nikki, Nathan and Mike - and Emma, she just doesn't care. The stupid fact is that I feed them every day! Why is Thanksgiving different in my mind?

OK, I am relaxing. Just slap a 30 pound bird in the dirty oven at 5 AM on Thursday and make 7-10 side dishes with 4 available burners and juggle those damn bread rolls after the turkey comes out. Hope I don't forget them, like last year.

EASY

Gottcha'

........sort of.

This is Franchesica.

I need a better camera. And so begins my Christmas list.

... Of Wisdom

WELCOME VICKIE!!

Looking so forward to your insight and meanderings! This is better than drunken emails!

I am stealing an hour during daylight even, to type, as Phil is getting a much needed haircut. After all, it's been seven long days since his last. We are all convinced that not only in he man-orexic, he has also morphed into metro-sexual. But in a good way, if there is such a thing. I am inspired to post "house undies" now that we have it out there in the open. And I will. Something to look forward to.

It's a blessed Friday night and I am flooded with gratitude, just for that fact! Michel just breezed in to regale me with stories of fly fishing in the nearby lakes and bowling humor from last night. Paws is poolside, barking at Buddy across the loop. Buddy is a beagle with grey whiskers that stands on top of a kids playhouse in the yard across the road, barking at all passerbyers, and anyone else that will listen. He's a humorous beast, one that I am sure has commanded many barking complaints and warnings from the association. But regardless, he mans his post, day & night. I rather like him.

And so begins my weekend and slight vacation! I actually feel a shudder of relaxation brewing in my spirit. It's foreign, but I am open to foreign languages.

I wish you socks........

PINK KITTENS

I spent today's thoughts as close to the gratitude latitude as possible. There were moments of ego, but for the most part, I was in the moment. (EGO = Edging God Out)

I was elated today by nothing more than a sound. And that's all it took to center me.

Pomegranates are plentiful this time of year and I have them all over my kitchen. I had an urge for a break from plastics, so I juiced 10 or so and made pomegranate jam. I ladled my labor into hot jars and tightened their lids. Then I went back to work. They sat bright red and happy on my counter. 20 minutes or so later, they began to "pop" as their lids sealed in the sweet jam offering. The continued sound of lids "popping" in a satisfactory way, made me smile. And so went my thoughts.... These little moments ARE life. Not bills or aches & pains or yard work or oil changes or obligation to go vote today. No, it's just a tiny "pop" that is the essence of life.

And so, as I worked the rest of today, I listed in my head the tiny things in life that delight me.

And they are.........

New Socks - when I have the means for indulgance, I will have a new pair of socks every day. There is nothing better than a never before walked upon sock. This is my favorite luxury.

Witnessing a "V" of Geese

Skiens of Yarn

A remembered heartache that echos inspiration

Coyote sightings

Egg Salad

Mailing a package and imaginaging the recipient's unexpected delight

Music and late night blogging

A Democratic outcome

The lingering smell of PineSol after eagerly cleaning the house

A virgin notebook waiting for ideas to be jotted

Imigination

Dark Clouds

Leftover turkey and ketchup

Gerber Daisey's

Lists of things, making lists and all things organized

A "not yet read" Magazine - preferably the cooking variety

Watching Phil smoke in the dark

and My Beloved Dreams (the sleeping kind) .........I am an avid dreamer. Just ask the pink kitten.

The Pink Kitten ......this is my mind. Enlightenment is not far behind