Father's Day

Today I think about my father. Happy thoughts, sad thoughts, oh how I miss him.

My father was a veteran who spent his last days in a VA nursing home in sunny, southern California. One of the things  that was passed on to me was his cane. A regular cane that is just brown and ugly with a big piece of masking tape with his name printed on it. I thought oh, boy, what ever am I going to do with this?

After discussing it with my husband, I decided to donate it to a veteran in need through ourv local VFW, where my husband is a member (and a veteran), and I am a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary (thanks for serving, dad). Then I found a little trophy that says "Hall Walk Race Winner 1st Place". So, I thought, this is no ordinary beat up cane after all. It is a very special cane, and deserves to be treated as such. So I took the cane and the trophy to the Commander of our VFW and asked that the trophy be given to whoever received the cane. Perhaps it would bring him/her luck, too!

Well, the Commander said no.

NO? No. And walked away.

And immediately came right back. With a key.

Without a word, he opened the largest trophy case and reverently placed the cane and the trophy inside.

He honored me. He honored my father.

By the time he had locked the case tears were streaming from my eyes. Then I was gushing, and then I was full out sobbing. I sobbed on the Commander's shoulder. I sobbed in my husband's arms. I sobbed just walking down the street. I sobbed nonstop for four days. I was finally able to cry for my father.

After I could see clearly again, I went to visit my father's cane. The Commander had unwittingly placed it next to a wine bottle. Who's wine bottle or why it is in that case no one remembers. But my father liked a good bottle of wine, and I know he approved.

At the VFW, save but a few friends, most do not know why I smile and wave at the trophy case. The trophy case is where I go to talk to my father. I feel his presence there.

Our VFW is the second largest in the Country. It is the Charles Evering Post 6506 located in Baltimore, MD.

Happy Father's Day, Dad.

I love you.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday. Good family and friends, wonderful food, and, best of all, virtually no commercialism. We refuse to buy into the Black Friday gimmick and prefer to focus on the real Thanksgiving message: Be thankful for all you are given, help those less fortunate, and enjoy a festive, yet relaxing, day of sharing the bounty on your table.

My husband and I do not have much family and this year it would be just the two of us. So we invited friends to join us. Because Thanksgiving is just another meal without a table full of family and friends.

The Menu

Turkey
Celery stuffing
Oyster stuffing
Mashed potatoes
Gravy
Jellied cranberry sauce
Cranberry compote
Sauerkraut
Creamed spinach
Green salad with raspberry vinaigrette
Mincemeat pie
Pumpkin pie

The turkey was a very large turkey breast. Most of us present don't care for dark meat, so why bother? The meat was moist and flavorful.

Two stuffings because I love oyster stuffing but most others did not. I made a lot of celery stuffing and just a little of the oyster for myself and anyone else who wanted to have a taste.

Mashed potatoes. Yum. Creamy and flavorful and need I say more?

Ditto the gravy.

Again, two cranberry sauces. My husband likes jellied and I prefer a whole cranberry chutney.

My husband loves sauerkraut. I mean REALLY loves the stuff. As long as I have lived here, I did not know until this year that sauerkraut was a Baltimore Thanksgiving Day tradition. I thought "how very strange!" So when the Hubs saw a new recipe in the Baltimore Sun for sauerkraut with bacon and potatoes, he wanted it. He Needed it. As in HAD TO HAVE IT! I dutifully followed the recipe. It was beyond awful. I put it on the table anyway, because Hubs will not believe it is that bad unless it is properly presented and tried with the meal. I will not share a recipe for something that promised so much but in reality was bland and beyond hope of rescuing.

So what's next? Ahhh . . . creamed spinach and green salad with raspberry vinaigrette. Both wonderful.

And dessert? Here I make my confession. I bought the pies from a small gourmet grocery. They were wonderful, but alas not homemade.

There you have it. I did take some pictures of the table pre-food and want to share the recipe for the cranberry compote. Maybe tomorrow.  ;)

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

This is all new to me. . . .

I threw a little dinner party the other night for myself, my DH and three other couples. Great food (if I do say so myself), excellent company and lively conversation.

What was missing?

Well, pictures! Not a single smile documented. Not a single morsel to show you that I really did have a dinner party. The table and side table were beartifully decorated for a fall party. Any pictures, you ask? Nope! Not a one. Any pictures of the coctails? Of the wine? Even of an empty wine glass?

Sadly, again, no.

Last night was All Hallows Eve. The little goblins went from door to door, a couple of pirates, a ghost or two, fairy princesses galore, and Harry Potter! What a fun night of trick-or-treaters and treats.

Any pictures of all this frolicking fun?

You already know the answer: none at all.

So I promise you all right now, right here, that this will be remedied forthwith! Yes, I said forthwith! I promise!

Stay tuned . . . .