The reward for enduring lots and lots and lots of rain.
Spectacular.
Yesterday found us getting drenched while trying to clear our culvert. It had been blocked by leaves and was overflowing into the street. The culvert is a ditch that runs along the road on our side of the street and is, in reality, the county’s property and responsibility but they didn’t work yesterday. It turns into a pipe under our driveway – perhaps 10 inches or so in diameter? I’m not sure. Anyway, it was that pipe that was clogged. The water level was very high and it was moving fast but couldn’t get through the pipe.
Once we got it cleared, the water moved right on through.
I got a call on Saturday from the framer and our lithograph is ready. So we’re going to get that this morning and I’ll share it with you tomorrow. Exciting!
I’m sensing you’re all very busy this week. Of course you are! Travel and preparations for Thanksgiving are probably your top priority. So I’m going to keep my posts on the short side this week – though I will post every day.
Huzzah – it’s sunny today!
Happy Monday.
oh, i love seeing art after it’s been framed … it looks even better, doesn’t it? enjoy your french lithograph!
and yay you and don for taking care of that culvert. i don’t enjoy that kind of chore (who does, huh?!?) so am glad that’s over for you.
now go send a bill for that culvert-cleaning to the county. make it big enough to pay for your next trip to paris. :)
kathy in iowa
If only! Thanks, Kathy!
That sunset looks like a giant fire! Can’t wait to see the litho framed.
What is on the vegetarian menu for Thanksgiving? (I once made a “turkey” for the magazine that was a sagey rice stuffing molded into a turkey shape, covered with puff pastry and baked! Other veggie favorites included whole pumpkins filled with stuffing or soups, or pumpkin pie-like custards—way back when veggie offerings weren’t so “everyday-fare” to the general food magazine reader.) I’m now partial to SmittenKitchen’s sweet potato roast.
We’re going to Rick and Doug’s, so we’ll probably have side dishes (which is just fine with me.) I’m making the mashed potatoes. Thanks, Shanna!
The sky looked like it was on fire. Absolutely beautiful.
It was stunning, Fiona! Thank you.
Can’t wait to see the litho — and good job on clearing out the culvert. A nasty job, well done.
Nasty indeed, but necessary. Thanks, Jeanie!
That is some magnificent sunset! I think it’s a sunset, not a sunrise?
Sunset, yes. Thanks, Vicki.
I agree…that sky really looks like it’s on fire! I’m glad you are going to keep posting…you will be that little bit of sanity that I’ll desperately need later in the week. (No pressure!)
Most of my cleaning is done…yay. Tomorrow, the last grocery run…then Wednesday, the prep starts. Even though it’s a lot of work…I do enjoy it. Fortunately, we will not be getting snow…only rain.
Can’t wait to see your framed lithograph! ;)
Oh good news! No snow! Thanks, Donna!
I lost my mom decades ago (early 1980s) but when the holidays come around I am a child again and I feel lost. Not having kids of my own, and being single most of my adult life, I’ve established no real traditions of my own. Now that my husband is in his late 80s, he’s pretty much over Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have plenty to be thankful for and no need of a pile of gifts but I deeply miss my mom’s dish of crudités (not that we knew that’s what they were) and her Wadorf salad (the only time we had anything except iceberg with green goddess) and candied yams with baby marshmallows. Christmas morning she’d set the table with ceramic elves and a poinsettia table which I still have and we’d have a waffle/pancake breakfast. She’d usually put red or green tulle over the table cloth and burn a bayberry candle overnight for luck. There were six of us and we never had anyone else over. My mom and dad’s families lived in the Pacific NW or in the Southern Coastal states which in those days were far away. It was a pretty simple ritual, really, but mom always made it feel special even on a budget of my dad’s Navy salary (and his two side jobs and probably a little help from her childless sisters) but I miss those meals on the gas station golden wheat dishes (with gravy bowl!) and the cranberry glasses at Christmas. It’s the little things. With that in mind, I wish you and Don and everyone who meets here a Thanksgiving where there are beautiful old memories and new ones in the making. May it be a peaceful holiday season from now until 2020!
to nora in ct …
there are so many kind and kindred spirits here (thanks for creating your blog and community, claudia!) and i learn from and enjoy what everyone adds in comments, too. your words today leave me in tears … for your sake and because i can relate to much of what you wrote. your holiday memories sound beautiful; glad you have them and i hope they bring you comfort. sending a hug, if you want.
i wish and pray the same to you and those you love, to claudia and don and the online friends who meet here and to everyone else in the world … a beautiful holiday season and every day.
kathy in iowa
I understand. I was single most of my life, and for most of my adult life, lived very far away from the rest of my family. Don and I don’t make a big deal of Thanksgiving, but both of us (Don’s family is in California) have long been far away from our loved ones. And both of us have lost our parents. We get sad, and miss being with them, but we try to be in the present and enjoy the little rituals of holidays. Thinking of you, Nora. Know that I understand.
Aw, Nora. Sweet memories. I’ll be making Waldorf Salad—one of my favorites. Wish I could ship some your way. Yes, peaceful holiday to you and all of those here, too.