domestic adventures

In about two weeks, I'll be ready for Thanksgiving!  Just kidding, I think...this year will be different.  I'm making a full menu at home, and the baking has begun.  There are two loaves of sweet potato bread baking in the oven, and my trial run on candied yams is on the table.  Not enough spice - for my taste, anyway.  I like the spice to be heavy, yet not overpowering, so I have to be careful to think about others when baking.  They might not like the tingle on the tongue as much as I do...cinnamon, ginger...MMMM.  Exciting and delicious.

It's going to be a very nice 52 degrees come Thursday, according to the National Weather Service - that means there will be a nip to the air in the morning. Now how perfect is this?

LOOOOOONG years ago, about 100 of them, the tradition at mom's and dad's was this:  The women started cooking the night before.  Early in the morning, around 5:30 on T-day, the turkey went in the oven while the men sipped coffee, and Dad, my brothers and friends went deer hunting.  While they were gone, we finished preparations and if they actually got a deer, dinner would be delayed while they took care of business. 

I kind of miss that.  There was a homey, somehow cozy, safe kind of feeling, like everybody was doing what they were supposed to be doing...Can't quite explain it.  But keep in mind, this is from the woman who, a couple of months ago, stopped to listen to the sound of the lawn mower in the yard and found comfort and familiarity in it.

And so, the bread is baking.  You can smell cinnamon and nutmeg - a little on the heavy side, but not too much..just enough...and the fire is going, and the coffee pot is on.  I hear a chainsaw going somewhere in the back 40, and it's only four days until Thanksgiving.

When I give my thanks this year, you can bet your bottom dollar they will include the scents and sounds, and the candle-glow content they give me.         

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

HUGS,

Mar(sh)a