I came down with a cold – tested for Covid twice 24 hours apart like a good girl – and both tests came back negative. One presumes it’s a garden variety cold. I don’t feel horrible, but I don’t feel great. Still, I’m happy it’s just a cold.
My sister got Covid for the first time last week, and she is doing well now, but she was quite ill, and I wouldn’t trade places with her for anything.
Oh, for the days when E. coli was the worst thing you brought home from the grocery store!
So much has changed since this virus came into our lives. I always had an aversion to large groups, and I felt bad about being somewhat anti-social, but now I just roll with it. So-called experts will say that’s well and good now, but you’ll die of loneliness. I don’t know. I’ve read about a lot of people who lead solitary lives, and they seem pretty happy to me.
For in-person social connections, I have the women’s golf club, but that’s the extent of it. Against my better judgment, I agreed to be secretary for two years, so there’s no turning back. One of the women started calling me Madam Secretary, and I must say, I rather like it.
We’re a week out from Thanksgiving. Dale ordered a fresh Diestel turkey – 14 pounds – and we eventually eat every bit of it. I’m known in these parts as Side Dish Mama … which means I will be making green beans, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. I’m also making apple pie and homemade vanilla ice cream.
They sure are proud of those Madagascar vanilla beans. We ought to banish the term plain vanilla since there’s nothing plain about vanilla these days. I needed two beans, which is what came in a jar, and I think it was $15. But I made the same ice cream last year, and it’s worth every penny. I suppose I will make it a few days ahead in case something horrible happens and I have to get some from the store. Nothing like a positive attitude.
Apple pie used to give me fits, but I think I’ve got it now. For apples, I use half Granny Smith and half Honeycrisp. For crust, half butter and half lard. Plus, my beloved Emile Henry ceramic pie pan.
After reading the book about ultra-processed foods, I avoid Crisco. Good quality lard is your friend! We like lard from the farmer’s market, or we buy US Dreams leaf lard on Amazon. Most of the stuff you see at the grocery store is hydrogenated.
Dale and I usually drink Pinot Noir with our Thanksgiving dinner, and we have a nice one from Navarro in the queue. We visited the winery in Mendocino County a year or so ago and loved their wines. They have good deals for 1 cent shipping if you live in a place where they can ship wine. We especially like their Gewurztraminer and other whites.
Oh, and for art, I’m happy to present Number 41. It might be one of my favorites. See if any of you New Mexico art fans can identify a little inspiration on the right side of the board. My rendition is pretty pitiful, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
A reader recently said she was considering art as a retirement hobby but couldn’t draw much more than stick figures. Just so you know, I’m still terrible at drawing freehand, although I do like my quirky cats. I traced and transferred most of the images on this piece. Once I have a penciled outline, I burn them in with my pyrography tool and eventually paint.
If you are inexperienced at art, I think the trick is to say, ok, I’m going to try art, and I will show up with whatever I have. It’s your art, so it doesn’t have to be anything other than what you are able to create.
I know exactly how you feel, both my wife and I took Covid tests within the last month when we felt poorly. I guess it was just seasonal change and allergy. But then Tuesday when at the Opthamologist I asked and they provided both the flu and Covid booster. Yesterday was a long sore day of feeling poorly but back to normal today and glad to be protected from both.
That’s quite an eclectic piece. My favorite image is the artichoke. That’s a really good artichoke, Madam Secretary.
According to some of the British Bake Off contestants, lard smells really bad. Maybe that’s when it’s heated? Or maybe it’s just the grocery store brand?I’m planning on an all butter crust because that’s what I have. Just need to be careful to keep everything really cold. Have a great Thanksgiving meal!
I like the artichoke as well. I did trace him. And thank you for the Madam Secretary honorific — it does have a nice ring to it.
The lard we buy doesn’t smell bad. Even when it’s heated. I freeze both butter and lard for about 30 minutes before making the crust. I hope your Thanksgiving is great, too!
I agree seasonal changes and allergies make the whole thing worse. We’re all vaxxed up, too!
Inspiring!
Thank you!
You included southwest motifs from left to right, from the howling coyote to the turquoise to the painted bison. Well done!
Definitely inspiration from the southwest with a little poorly executed Georgia O’Keefe in the mix!
What? “You’ll die alone if you don’t like crowds.” ?? I have been reading a lot lately of the different personality types, and some of us can only take so much outside stimulation. I’m with you on limits on that. Even when I was a teenager I didn’t much like parties, it’s definitely real small groups for me.
My husband is my best friend, we even grocery shop together. I just wish some decent movies would come out, something for people over 16 who aren’t into comic books and their heroes. 😀 Sigh!
We often shop together, too, although Dale goes more than me. It’s like his hobby.
You’re lucky if you both like the same movies — that hardly ever happens with us.
I’m still a Covid virgin but I am under no illusions that I’m immune. I imagine that I will get it eventually. I don’t think I’ve been sick at all since I had a bad cold before the pandemic was more than something happening in China (how naïve we were). I’m more of an introvert anyway, but even more so now. I think that’s kept me healthy so far. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I look forward to overeating at home, with just my husband.
I haven’t had Covid, either, but like you, I don’t assume I’m immune. I am much more introverted than I used to be, and I agree, laying low helps us avoid the worst of it. This little cold is the first time I’ve been sick in years.
Happy Thanksgiving!
To be honest, our Covid manifested as a bad cold/fluey viral thing – other than the after effects. I tend to get some breathlessness after a cold, but this is a whole new level. I feel it is improving, is very slowly. But regardless whether Covid or cold, do take good care. I have a group of friends who’ve all had a cold that has gone on and one and one… and it’s left them all very low. I suspect if they felt able to step away from work and take a proper rest, it may not have gotten them in such a lengthy grip, so do lean into the self-care Donna to make sure you recover quickly.
We’re being vaxed later this week. I’m getting mixed messages on the shingles vaccine’s availability, so for now it’ll be just the two – although they’ve put me down for the pneumonia one when they get supplies.
I love your message about art, and totally agree that we need to do stuff because we love it and it gives us joy. That’s why I write. We all need to lean into what gives us joy with so much shit in the world.
Thanks for the kind words about self-care. Always appreciated!!