I am staying home today. It feels like bliss, even though my intention was to actually do something. I had planned to volunteer for a holiday meal program, but that did not work out. As the week got away from me anyway, it is all good.
Our family get-together will be on Saturday, and I have a lovely afternoon of making desserts on Friday to look forward to and keep me in the holiday spirit. All of it is easy-breezy stuff and I am kind of looking to have a nice time in the kitchen.
Holidays are tough for lots of people, even those who truly enjoy them. So many special things to do, certainly with tons of helpful fun, hopefully even more tons of help from others, especially the co-celebrators. It is for me, a little difficult, but it seems as though I should just be soldiering through it and and be honoring of how fortunate my life is, particularly when I have so much for which to be thankful. I do. I really do. And, I try to keep things about me as much as possible, but working with people who struggle as much as I do and often have more significant issues and problems can be, well, I connect with most of them in a nearly-friendship-way and it is impossible to not care about them and be concerned about how they are doing in the rest of their lives.
I know that sounds grandiose, bragging or conceited, but I love my work and I really do care about my clients. I am not enmeshed or anything, and I never have any contact with them outside of our working together. But, that does not stop me from caring or hoping that our work together is helping at least a little bit. I think that, maybe, because I struggle with holiday stuff, that it makes me more sensitive to how other people do. And, I am positive that millions of other people have the same feelings about all of this. We all do the best we can. Hope for the best. Hope to do our best. Do my own best to do my best.
I am having a nice and restful day. I might work on my holiday gifts. Maybe I will not, and take a nap instead. I am having my favorite comfort foods for lunch, roasted turkey wings, sautéed kale and iceberg lettuce with avocado and a sweet little tomato. I might have a glass of wine later, but only if I remember. Maybe I could carry the bottle around in my pocket, you know, just in case.
It is my assignment to bring my daughter's favorite rolls (from our favorite Danish bakery) and desserts. Because I am dedicated to getting the best result from the least amount of work, the desserts will be of the very, almost insanely, easy kind.
There will be a creamy pumpkin pie, with ready-made crust and no actual cooking.
Chocolate mousse filled puff pastry shells, the ready-made, frozen ones.
Raspberry and mascarpone filled turnovers, from the similar puff pastry sheets.
Dark and white chocolate covered nut clusters. But, I am thinking that the boys might like the ones made with cereals, pretzels and candies. I will decide at the market when I shop tomorrow morning.
Lastly, the boys and I will be making turkeys from cookies, candy corn and prepared frosting, ready-made in a cool tube thing.
I am also roasting three heads of garlic in the morning before I leave the house, to go with the rolls and mashed potatoes.
So, happy holidays, especially Happy Thanksgiving today!
J, I hope your Thanksgiving celebration was a happy one. The coming festive season can be a very lonely and painful time for many people. I am sure that your understanding and compassion helps a lot of other women.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, too, Chel. It would be a damn shame to have come through everything without it meaning something, You know? Yeah, I know you do! :)
ReplyDeleteWe get together tomorrow, Saturday. I did get the rolls and some of that bakery's famous meringue cookies, and I made the creamy pumpkin pie, which is the best pie I have ever made. Some of the stuff had to go, too much work. I did make palmiers, the chocolate candy clusters, and instead of the two puff pastry desserts, I will be putting together cheater cannoli in the morning. I think.