Tuesday Musings

The Kansas City Chiefs football team smoked them last Sunday! Rich Gannon says, "Oww fence" when it should clearly be "Aw fence". Some people did the laundry during the game and "wershed" the dishes. Or is it waashed? O key dokee, Oh kee doakee, or o kee doohkie? spell check says none of the typed.

My Day of Family Gratitude/Thanksgiving

 Twenty one people came to our house for Thanksgiving. I cooked a nineteen pound turkey, fifteen pounds of potatoes, two dozen deviled eggs, homemade cranberry sauce with oranges, seven pots of coffee and roasted beets with garlic and carrots. Aunt Monica brought five pies, three apple and two pumpkin. We had zucchini muffins, ham, rolls, green bean casserole, corn relish and dressing. Aaron made mac and cheese from scratch that cost him $40 to make, everyone brought something! I managed to have time to clean the house and iron three tablecloths. Over the years, the women in my family have become quite good at the game of family parties, many are seasoned cooks and the men know each other well enough to relax.
 This year, I wanted to pray. Pray with connection, not repetition. My children were forewarned about my request. As everyone crowded into the small living room, I stood and read the Shaman's prayer for family unity.
   Help us to honor the sacred gift of family, in our thoughts and in our behavior. Help us to see their
   inner light and help us to see them in the Light of Love and Forgiveness and Appreciation, as you see
   us. Help us to treat them with respect and kindness. Thank you for their touch in our lives, the gifts of
   their teachings, and at times, their testings. Bless them, wherever they may be, in body or in Spirit, with
   the awareness that they are loved. Bless them with your protection and with whatever they need to
   fulfill their greatest purpose. And finally, Great Mystery, help us all to grow in our awareness to the
   place of knowing that on the deepest level of our being, we are all joined together in your heart of
   infinite Love.   ~Ho! May it be so~

 The words came out of my mouth, all eyes were on me while I stood in the circle. Thank you for their testings was the sentence that connected my heart energy to theirs. In a blur, the memories flooded. I choked on the prayer. In body or in Spirit was the sentence that brought the aura of ancestors. How did everyone fit in this room? It was hard, that little prayer, I was so happy when I finished! And just like a new recipe, my mother had to comment, "hum, I noticed you choked three times on the prayer." So what, I burned my first brisket at Easter. We're vegetarians mom! (mostly) This prayer is going to be said daily until it rolls off my lips. Next year, I'll probably choke again but with practice, I'll be a seasoned veteran. Happy Thanksgiving!

Belgium Chocolates

The gold box was wrapped in red paper with brown swirly designs and a satin ribbon with "Leonidas" written in gold. It traveled from Belgium to Kansas, a gift to me from Natalie and Ryan. I waited until after the party to open it. Belgium chocolates,  made with 100% pure cocoa butter since 1913. The smell inside is to die for, purely intoxicating. I ate one. Then two. Now I'm up to three and a half. Is it wrong to eat an entire box? Maybe, so I'll settle for the smell. Each little bite was pure delight, the creamy centers melting in my mouth. Ryan said I would have to toss the box if I didn't eat them within seven days because they were made fresh. Is he crazy? They'll probably last three days!

Sacred Soup

 The backyard garden is where I used to play but now it's home to tomatoes, okra, beets, onions, peppers, lots of peppers and probably corn or green beans. The soil oozes with vintage shards of pottery and sun antiqued glass that has turned purple or green that I collect after the rain. I love this place! It's the land that my dad has tended for years. Sometimes the inheritance of peppers is more than I can handle but the thought of losing the farmer who hand picked them makes me want to cook. 

   Peppers are washed, seeded and chopped along with one onion. Stir fry in a cast iron skillet until it looks good. Cooking with memories on your mind will yield no recipe, things must be measured by feel. Set peppers aside, giving them two big sniffs to absorb into your mood. Peel and chop three sweet potatoes and boil until soft in chicken or vegetable broth. 

 Blend the peppers, chicken broth and sweet potatoes together. Serve warm, preferably alone, eat slowly.

  "It is good to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy presences may haunt you and possess you in a reverie of suspended thought."  ~James Douglas-Down Shoe Lane~

Did You Vote?

 Asking me if I voted Republican or Democrat last night feels the same as when my mother would ask in front of everyone at the end of the day, "so, Dee Dee, did you have a BM today?" None of your business. It is your business that we all work together, no blame, no over spending and equality. There has been heartache with job loss in my family but so far so good. Not the end of the world, yet. Not even close! It feels good to give what I can give, live an authentic life and not worry all the time. Halloween is over, I ate the rest of the Heath candy bars and for the first time, I joined the other party but I'm keeping it a secret! My stomach hurts, but it's the sugar, really.

  "God supplies every man his need, but he does not supply the greed."  ~Gandhi~