Author: Rene

“Mom, how do you always know what the theme of the year is?”

Such an innocent question from my son, who wondered how I knew it was the year of the camel last year, mermaid the year before that, and pineapple the year prior to that. I felt like I was divulging the Santa mystery when I told him that his aunt and I just made up the themes. There was no magic to it. Pineapples came from a dish towel given to me by a friend, mermaids from a friend coming out of sedation after surgery, and camels from a snarky comment by another friend. I guess be careful what you say or give me!

This year’s theme was randomly chosen when my sister and I were shopping at the beginning of last year, and came across an idea totally opposite from the dryness evoked by the image of a camel. Thus, 2021 is the year of the penguin!

Penguins are rather amazing birds, having evolved to “fly” underwater. A group of them is called a waddle when on land, and a raft at sea. They symbolize dreams, adaptability, family, and spirituality. While they were really chosen as the theme because we found penguin cocktail napkins on sale at the now defunct Pier One store, they can work for us as an inspiration this year. (I shall be striving to reduce my waddling as I renew my healthy eating habits. See…inspiration already!)

Enjoy this new year. Dream, be adaptable, cherish family, and embrace your spirituality. Also, be grateful we didn’t choose the mud skipper as our mascot for the year, as exciting and interesting as they can be.

There were so many inspirational quotes from which to choose, and I actually had written a rather thoughtful and poignant post for yesterday -New Year’s Day. I forgot to post it!

Obviously, it’s too late. Everyone has made a resolution, or has had a thoughtful day of considering plans for the new year, right? I managed to work on a jigsaw puzzle most of the day, sorting various shades of blue pieces. Apparently, when there is a puzzle in the room, there is clear and present danger of accomplishing little else.

My biggest plan for yesterday was to nap – replenishing the sleep I did not receive on New Year’s Eve, due to the leftover stash of Fourth-of-July fireworks my neighbors exploded. This could explain the non-posted post. It was a rather loud celebration, and I love a good show as much as anyone, but I wish they could have gone all-out on East Coast time.

I will say, this was the one nugget I held onto all day, from a favorite poet. It seems to be enough for now. Pretty simple, yet full of hope.

And because it’s just fun.

Happy birthday, “Paroline.”

That could be the highlight! That and eating the leftover candy and breads before the new year’s resolutions take effect. Two days to enjoy our bad habits!

Well, I risk sending this out to the general public, because I think it’s GENIUS! The other thing is that I know my audience, and I hope they either won’t follow me today or they forget this. Thanks for the tip, Sis!

Don’t you dare try it on me.

Came across this gem in my wandering and wondering.

I use the same burner, unless I happen to be in the throes of gourmet cooking and using two burners. (As many as three times a year(!) It’s really more a matter of practicality than habit, I’ve decided. I don’t want to clean more burners than I have to, so I stick with one, branching out when necessity dictates. (Last night the mashed potatoes and broccoli vied for “best burner award.”)

There are other odd favorites around the chef’s quarters. In the spatula department, of which no one speaks either, I head for the same one, sure to deliver a clean sweep every time. And some of the slotted spoons are relegated to the back of the drawer in favor of the smoother, non-chinked -from-the-dishwasher spoons. However, there is no excuse for the serving spoon, bent in half, used in the famous “gravy boat” years in my husband’s family. I don’t understand the story, but we inherited the jewel. It is stored in the drawer which-shall-not-be-named.

Apparently I’ve been doing more cooking over the holidays. These important observations came to the forefront as I noticed my burned hot pads. I still use them in favor of the intact ones.

Who can know the mind of a truly great chef?

Noel!

Some restaurants are reopening for indoor dining, as opposed to indoor fishing hut dining in the parking lot. It was a new experience!

I chuckled when I saw this one. Merry Christmas to all!

That was my daughter’s sassy little note to me. All in good fun, she was referring to the ever-popular “Music Party,” which will be on hiatus this year. It’s been a tradition since my children took up musical instruments in grade school. I started it so that other kids like mine (and me) could play the easy carols on their instruments, and because I grew up with my hundreds of relatives singing carols at my Grandma and Grandpa’s, and I missed that. (It seemed like hundreds, probably only 75 or so.)

At one point in the party history, we had two trumpets, two violins, accordion, saxophone, two guitars. As a by-product I now have myriad music stands. Anyone who didn’t have an instrument knew they would get the finger cymbals, cowbells, or drum. Lots of great food and cheerful banter.

I will miss the noise – not just the belting out of the dreaded “The 12 Days of Christmas,” or, me insisting on singing all five verses of “Good King Wenceslaus,” or me making my daughter sing, “Breath of Heaven.” I’ll miss the camaraderie, of course. Music illuminates the joy of the season.

We’ll rely on the songs of the angels this year, angelic and unfailing. (And I may be singing loud enough for all to hear anyway – ala Jovie in “Elf.”)

It’s that time of the year – everything looks dusty. I know it’s always dusty, but the angle of the sun at this very point in times illuminates the dust in a special way. That’s a contronym, correct? I’m dusting to remove the dust, which has deposited a dusting.

Anyway, that’s the schedule for today. Boring. Necessary. And holy. That’s why Jesus laid low for 30 years, doing his daily work at his father’s side. Showing us that our chores are holy. Off I go!