Saying Good-Bye...To Pie

I didn't want to do it, but...

It was time.

It's been more than a week since Thanksgiving. We actually, observed the holiday on the following Friday so all our family could attend. Who knows? We might carry it on next year--it worked out great. So, because we celebrated just over a week ago, the food left over from the great meal has sat in our fridge for just over a week.

Food has a shelf life, be it in a refrigerator or on an actual shelf. In our house, we usually save food for a week. It makes things easier when it comes to throwing out the uneaten portions. "When did we have that meal?" we often ask ourselves. If it's been more than a week, it's gone. Easy peasy. 

Then came the Costco apple pie.

We don't normally purchase our pies from Costco. It's not that we don't like pre-made Costco-brand food, quite the opposite. Since moving, we can't just drive two towns over to the local Costco whenever we want. This year, a guest brought the pie to our feast that they didn't finish the day before.

Maybe it's because I had been on virtually a liquid diet for almost a week before the meal. Maybe it's because I had not tried the apple pie from Costco, but for whatever reason, that pie was extra delicious. And because it came from Costco, even the left-overs were enormous.

I tried to eat it all...I really did. But, the week came and I had to toss it. I didn't want to, but it was needed. I'm trying to eat better, cut back on the sweets. In my defense, I could have had even more of that pie than I did, so there's that...

Friday morning the garbage truck stopped briefly in front of our house, picked up our semi-full garbage can, emptied it of its contents, place it back on the street, then drove away, taking the remaining apple pie from Costco with it. I don't know if next year we'll have a similar opportunity to enjoy a Costco apple pie. But, if we do, there's a good chance I won't be able to finish it next time, either.

Almost 1,000 Pieces...

 We're not a puzzle family, but we're not necessarily a non-puzzle family. We enjoy doing puzzles on occasion. Usually those occasions happen around the holidays. Last week we gathered and broke out a puzzle of a cat...a Christmas cat.

There are only a few true frustrations when it comes to puzzles. Most can be overcome by just putting in the time and slogging through it. However, there is one frustration that cannot be overcome...

The missing of puzzle pieces.

And, unless you specifically remember that a piece is missing before you begin, the only way to know if any pieces are missing is to almost finish it. The truth only shows itself at the end, or almost the end.

A few years ago I was in a dollar store and they sold puzzles. I thought it would be awesome if those puzzles purposely had a missing piece, one random piece not included. And if you know that going in, it would be fun and not frustrating.

Then again, maybe it's just me.

Yes, on this particular puzzle one singular piece was nowhere to be found. Maybe the dog got to it...maybe the cat. After we almost finished it, we loaded up the pieces and put them back in the box, which was stored in the basement closet. Will we put that one together again? Time will tell. Will we know there's a missing piece? We didn't this time, so what does that tell you?

Happy Thanksgiving...From The Happy Little Valley

 This morning, I did not get up early and run a 5k or 10k or any k. I also did not meet on a field and try and reclaim some ancient glory of days gone by to participate in a "turkey bowl" football game. I think doing either of those things would result in repercussions of a "serious injury" kind. No, to do those things, I would need training...months and months of training.

Instead, I did my usual. I went on a hike up the hill.

The chill nipped my nose and face as I walked among the dying grass and discarded items one finds on a hillside above a growing community. When I reached the highest part of the hill I could go without trespassing, I turned and took a panoramic photo with my phone. The high clouds and a bit of smog prevented an unfiltered view, but it was spectacular none the less.

We have come to love this happy little valley.

Except, it's not that "little." It's quite large, actually. Maybe the lack of people upon people makes it feel little. That'll change, with time. Even though we have to drive everywhere and those drives take longer than they used to do, it feels small at times.

No, I did not get up and push my body to its physical limits this morning. Instead, I caught a glimpse of an incredible valley, a valley where people have worked and toiled and sweat and bled to battle the elements and grow strong families, and where they continue to do so. Do I regret not doing a run or trying to move a football down a field (or preventing from others doing the same...)? Not at all. The view was worth it.

Happy Thanksgiving from our little family happily residing in this little valley.

So...Maybe Thanksgiving Food Isn't For Everyone

 I lifted this photo from Facebook. A friend posted it and when I showed it to my wife, she had a good laugh. We both did, actually. We laughed because of the truth found in the picture and the accompanying sentence. 

My wife and I were talking about this very thing today. Kids thee days... I mean, the food we serve at Thanksgiving is not the kind of food that we generally eat. I remember as a kid there would be food I would love and food I'd never eat when the Thanksgiving meal was served. Candy yams...that was a "no" for me and remained so for decades. My tastes eventually changed, but even today, I'll check first to see if it's something I want to eat. Not all candy yam dishes are equal.

The food is tradition. Some traditions take longer accepting than others.

I can't blame kids for not liking all the "fixins" that are served. I probably gave my mom fits growing up and I know I didn't appreciate all the hard work she put in to fill a table with incredible food. Now, it's too late for me to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with her. Maybe she's watching form Heaven and she's laughing when our own kids stock up on rolls.