random musings
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A Mary Poppins New Year
Happy New Year! This year, like every other year, my resolution is to be like Mary Poppins–“practically perfect in every way.” (I can hear your snide remarks but, admit it, you have the same resolution. ) We’ll start with the cheery disposition, rosy cheeks, and no warts. I’m ok with the wart thing and there are Continue reading
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‘Twas the week before Christmas
‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house No one was ready, least of all my spouse. Stockings are ready to hang in a few, But what will go in them, I haven’t a clue. Hubby’s off on his errands with traffic to battle In our ’99 Jeep with a muffler rattle. And Continue reading
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Countdown to Thanksgiving
For some people the upcoming days count down to serious Christmas shopping. Others are counting the days to shotgun season. For me, multiple checklists focus me toward the annual Thanksgiving crowd at my house. With about forty guests expected, the checklists–my marching orders–keep me from total panic. I used to spend a whole weekend making Continue reading
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Where’s the @#$% ice scraper?
Trick or treat? Snow for Halloween is quirky cool. The juxtaposition of vibrant leaves with snowy groundcover is a good photo op. But, really, I’m not ready to deal with the morning exit routine. Sunday morning, I’m all ready for church, attired in appropriately autumnal colors. I’m even reasonably on time. Before dashing out the door Continue reading
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Friday Night at the Hunting Lodge
I must begin by saying that we do not run a hunting lodge, bed-and-breakfast, boarding house, retreat center, target practice range, catering service, or wedding reception venue. It just feels that way. If we really were doing all those things I would not have to limp into work everyday and deal with sleepy teenagers who are completely Continue reading
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What do you do with pumpkin seeds?
Here’s the dilemma du jour. Do you have to soak pumpkin seeds before roasting them? I have toasted them straight from the pumpkin with resulting tough, chewy seeds. Daughter Shelley, culinary queen in her own right, has either soaked them overnight or boiled them in salt water, both yielding excellent results. Friday night she was Continue reading
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Feed me!
This is a shout-out to Soup’r Natural on York Road in Hereford. (And a thank you for the thank you from neighbors Glenn and Kelly!) I’m still thinking fond thoughts about a meal we had there over a week ago. When you consider that I can’t remember what I had for lunch today or even Continue reading
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Gotta get away
In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue… In honor of the intrepid explorer I’ve gone to…no, not Columbus, Ohio. I’m checking out the ocean blue in south facing Cape May where last night at sunset we watched the sun slip into the ocean to the west and then saw the moon rise over the Continue reading
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A spooky thought for October: junk drawers
Once upon a time I had a junk drawer. That was back when I had very few drawers. My current enormous entertain-a-crowd kitchen has so many drawers that when we moved into the house I didn’t even have things to store in them all…at first. With ample space I merrily organized the drawers so logically that when friends came over and asked Continue reading
Slightly Off the Grid 