Saturday, October 30, 2021

Saturday Schmatterings-A Collection of Random Thoughts

      My weather text let me know today is the nicer day of the weekend. I've got the usual laundry going, but not doing any baking this morning. I want to make pumpkin bread to send back with my daughter, but  I don't have flax seed at home and will get a few tablespoons from my other daughter. My recipe makes quite a bit and since the bread is soft, she can eat it, though may have to tear away the crust. Baking aside, here's a few other random topics I'm pondering.

Pfizer Booster Shot

     I scheduled DH and myself for Thursday morning, right at 8:00 so I can get the shot and be back for my 9:00 meeting. We both had a day of being tired-the next day, so hoping I'm OK for our sisters weekend, which has turned into a sisters and cousin weekend. Here's my totally uneducated theory on why there are so many break through cases. Variants aside, I think the dosage amount was still a variable with the first rounds. Depending on people size,  lifestyle, and tolerance, the duration of efficacy was less in the broad population than the test subjects. The booster will be sort of a "top off" for adults, helping to balance out what might have been a too conservative dose for the average adult. Do I think we'll need annual boosters? Yes, but over time, perhaps not annual, but similar to other types of vaccines people get. 

     I just wish all the politics of the Covid-19 vaccines would wash away. I hold all politicians accountable to this narrative. Trump was the savior getting the vaccine in warp speed. Trump did a horrendous job of rolling it out. Biden in all his glory came in and fixed the distribution and will get people vaccinated in time to celebrate 4th of July. Biden's system created distrust with part of the masses, now not trusting anything that his administration is behind, so that includes the former miracle vaccine Trump was credited by them for pushing forward. It's complete craziness. And its the same apparently country after country with their own left-right battle over public health. 

Christmas Shopping Panic

     I'm lucky that I have no young people to buy for that have a list of the latest and greatest thing they want in their stocking or under their tree. As adults, my kids take care of their own wants, and genuinely seem happy with the little gifts we purchase for them, but roun dhteir gifts with cash. Boring, but practical. The can use towards travel, an electronic doo dad that I know nothing about, or just tuck away towards future wants. My MIL is always a struggle mostly because she needs nothing. In fact, I've seen a few of our gifts recirculated in the "goodie" boxes she puts together at Christmas. We try and think of experiences for her, or something everyone enjoys or can be used at the lake to make something a bit easier. Past gifts have been extra large stainless step garbage cans (those things are expensive!), one for garbage and one for recycling, floating swans, which  are supposed to be a deterrent from animals that might come on the docks and leave poo behind, and new easy open door handles.  

Food wise we have no deep rooted traditions that if not available, would put a damper on our holiday get together. Butter-I guess if butter was not available, we'd struggle with not having all the cookies and treats and that might feel less than Christmas. I make Oreo cookie truffles and if I failed to bring them on Christmas Eve, ther emight be a sad face or two, plus all the other recipes that use cream cheese. OK, so no butter and no cream cheese might change  traditions. After last year though, who cares if we end up eating popcorn and pizza if it means we can easily gather with family and friends and not worry that someone might be making someone else sick. My point is, I'm not buying into the panic hype and don't think you should either. 

Fallen Leaves and Blustery Weather

     I love hearing the howling wind. I can say that when I'm snug inside, and now with very little have to driving. My office window is southern facing and the neighbors fence is perhap 8 feet. The wind sound echos off the fence to my window and sounds more wicked than it actually is. I like walking in the fallen leaves. The crunch and shuffle give me that feeling that people get when they pop bubble wrap. It's satisfying. Pup loves to shuffle in the leaves as well, plus poking his nose deep to smell what the leaves might be covering. I love a good summer day by water, but this time of fall when there are still some leaves on the trees but many are down, and the wind howls, but without blustery snow, feels like a perfectly fitting sweater. 




     It's time to switch a load of clothes, read comments and response, and read a few blogs myself. I also need to color my hair this morning-can't stand the gray roots any longer. I've other things to get done but early afternoon the girls and I are going to get out a bit-my daughter is feeling like she's feeling well enough to resume activities and the younger wants a couple restock items to take back to school. We're taking DD2 and my MIL out for dinner tonight as well. Onwiththe day. 

16 comments:

  1. It's been grey and drizzly here today and is just now starting to rain, but I can't say I mind it too much either. It's perfect weather for snuggling down and getting into hibernation mode isn't it!

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    1. When the weather report said better of the two days, they understated how perfect Saturday would be. It was down right hot in cars and we went out and about with no sweaters-just shirt sleeves. I'm glad yesterday was not a hibernation day for me.

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  2. Your photos are so perfectly fall! Love the colors. I'm planning to do some baking/cooking today, as we miraculously have no soccer of any kind. It's a weekend miracle. ;-) Next week we more than make up for lost time.

    I'd be disappointed if I couldn't make my special bread (good reminder to start looking for candied diced fruit), but we would be fine without it.

    I ordered the main gift for both kids a few weeks ago, and they have already arrived. My kids are old enough to understand when things aren't available. We will fill in with a few other small things, and a bit of money to be spend flexibly.

    Our holidays will be all about time together. We so appreciate that, and it's such a nice treat every year. This year will be a bit different from the past decade or so, as we won't be having our post holiday celebration at the beach house. We're going to Bend instead, and hope to ski. Fingers crossed for some snow at the mountains. If not, we'll make the best of it.

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    1. Hawaii Planner--You might have to order, or step into a Walmart. Paradise Fruit Company, based in Florida, sold to Seneca foods last year, laying off just over 80 people. Seneca was, at the time, not sure they would continue with that product. I've not seen candied fruit in stores since last Christmas, and typically I see it about now. Fruitcake is a tradition here--we use that brightly colored, candied fruit and rum, lots of it. Guess what my friend (with whom I often get together and bake) and kids gave me for Christmas last year upon hearing the news of Paradise? I wound up with enough for this year's, and possibly next year's fruitcakes. (I tucked it in the freezer.) If you were close, I'd drop a container off to you!

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    2. We all want to give gifts our loved ones want and will be excited about, but I agree that expectations should be set early. A few times my kids happened to get the gift they wanted more than all others, but it was never expected. Meg-what a great gift. As I said we have no absolute traditions. If my MIL didn't get lefse made, it would be disappointing, but no one would say the holiday can't go on! Now, if people can't help her, it is too much for her anyway-ricing the potatoes and doing the rolling.

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  3. Yes its a shame that the vaccine has been politicised. Love those pictures, Autumn is my favourite season with all its beautiful colours.

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    1. I think more people might choose on their own to get it if the vaccine stops being a political weapon. That would make room for better research to be heard. Autumn is so beautiful-best sleeping weather.

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  4. Hello from Idaho. Hope all is well. I just start setting up a Christmas budget. It going to be less than what was last year. Most of trees in our yard is bare, although I find peaceful to watch the leaves fall.
    If you have time stop in for a cup of coffee

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    1. My budget won't be lower than last years since we were stay at home so did not have extra on going to both families big gatherings, no meet-ups with friends, but it was a good year to lower anticipation.

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  5. Lovely photos!
    I am glad to read you are getting your booster.

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    1. They just added the 18-64 with underlying health so thought it was time to roll up sleeves again.

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  6. Gently howling wind is nice when you don't have to go outdoors. I have to avoid wind with falling leaves because of asthma. I get all the time I want outdoors, though. This is not my favorite season at all, but I like having the seasons in rotation...lol. I don't want to eliminate anything.

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    1. I suppose the leaves fall with everything on them.

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  7. "I'm not buying into the panic and hype and I don't think you should either." SING IT, SISTER! If people think Christmas is at risk over this, I tend to believe they don't get the true meaning of Christmas, or risk, for that matter. Oh, man, I wish I could be charitable, but I can't. When I hear, (and I've heard it plenty) "I'll be fine, but I'm worried about my kid/grandkid" over a gift item which may, or may not be available in a store???? THAT is a WORRY? It sort of makes me sick. (And perhaps that projection of entitlement and greed to the kids is why I dislike most other people's kids.) While I believe people should celebrate Christmas the way they choose, I also believe that if they way they choose is causing fabricated stress and worry, perhaps it's the wrong choice?
    Also, items made in the U.S.A., or purchased from local artisans are less likely to suffer from the supply chain issues...the cognitive dissonance of a certain side just galls me!
    On the subject of Christmas, last night we did the annual soaking of the candied fruit in rum, and today I spent the day baking the fruitcakes. They are out of the oven, cooled, have been fed with a healthy dose of rum, and are now wrapped in tins. I'll feed them once/week until I either cut into them, or give them away, usually around Thanksgiving or early December. We love (well, not DD) a good, dark, rich, rum soaked fruitcake throughout the holiday season.

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  8. Since my Christmas 2015 melt down where I lost it with my Sister in law, I've been trying to taper back my expectations of perfection, and others as well. This focus on gifts and certain foods to th epoint where people will think the holiday is ruined is messed up! I love the holiday season-the colors, the lights, treats, and gatherings, but if I needed to start form scratch, I'd strip down every ove rthe top event, focus on just being with people, or being with the outdoors (those walks in the winter under stars), readin gor listening to the Christmas story-whether or Christian or not, it still is the Christmas story, watch the assorted movies, and slow down-rather than ramp up.

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    1. In my early married days with DH, the mere thought of the expectation just WORE ME OUT. It took a bit of courage, but the best thing I did for our family unit was make it perfectly clear that we would not be travelling anywhere on the holidays, whether we were 10, 100 or, as we were at the time, 1,000 miles away. I told my kids they are welcome to celebrate the holidays here once they move out, but they mustn't feel obligated. The obligation--be it presents or presence--is contrary to the concept of a holiday, in my mind. I say, do the things you like to do, don't do the things you dislike.

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