Can We Talk 2

The Season Is Starting

         It's happening! My dad is in the other room playing Christmas music! I have to admit I'm singing along with the familiar, comfortable songs. They're nostalgic. They raise the hopes for a better world, for a peaceful family, for childhood wonder in the adult years. And the smoothness of Doris Day's or Johnny Mathis' voice doesn't hurt. It's soothing. Overall, the music is perky. They may have a few contemplative Christmas songs, but for the most part, they're happy and upbeat. We can use that once a year.

         Admittedly, I didn't want to start my Christmas season so early. The weather here has been very cold. Some plants died in the freeze, but my sage and chives are still thriving. I wish we had cut the elephant ears back in time, and put the bulbs away. They can be replanted next year, but one freeze kills the bulb as well as the plant. We had ice in some buckets filled from a recent rain.

         On the down side, I had a mishap with my pot roast. It was in a disposable pan, covered with fresh foil, not a wrinkle in it. The pan was full with vegetables all around. I placed the pan which was flimsy in a heavy cardboard box, but the box was too big. I entered my foyer to run it to the folks planning to serve it to homeless women, the pan slid in the box, toppling out of my hands. It fell to the floor against the wall, where I caught the foil against the meat. I lost almost half the vegetables and a lot of broth on the floor. Thank goodness, the meat stayed in the pan, The pan was bent from the clash with the wall and my hand, the foil was crumpled. The pan had some empty spots. Not too pretty, after all. i re-covered it, rushed out to drop it off. When I returned home, I had to clean my floor and throw out potatoes and carrots to feed about 2 to 4 people.

         The new potato salad recipe didn't work out. I liked it, but my dad didn't. Roasting two kinds of potatoes in olive oil and spring onions was okay. Tossing them with bacon crumbles and diced green onion tops and black pepper was okay. Serving at room temperature was okay with me (potato salads are usually cold). But the dressing calls for miso. I don't have any and did not want to buy fermented soybean paste just for one use. So instead of mixing that with vinegar, I just used lite Italian dressing sparsely sprinkled on. I have lots left over. Dad wants it hot --"Is it supposed to be served cold like that?" So, we won't be using that for Thanksgiving. It does look nice, tho'.

         The girls made brownies with me and decorated them with sprinkles-their idea. They had fun. One of them helped set the table, and did some other things. She took some credit, and patted herself on the back. She's five.

         Julie Andrews is singing now. I think I need to go read a book.