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This one thing ... or two or ten
Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 08:44PM 
Ember turned one today
With Thanksgiving in the rear view, it's time to enjoy some good memories.
And gear up for Christmas.
I've almost got my prodigious Christmas card mailing completed. Notice I said almost. I won't bore you with the issues I have faced on that front, over the past several days.
At any rate the matter is resolved now (I hope) and the cards are so close to being in the mail, they can almost sense the hot breath of the franking machines.
We had the usual autumnal decorations
Since we were all together on Thanksgiving (all in this case meaning TG and me, our children, and their children, for a total of fourteen, and yes, we ate indoors), it was a noisy, hungry group.
On the night before Thanksgiving, when everyone had arrived safely, we had the spicy cranberry meatballs. Every last meatball was inhaled in record time.
And I made a recipe and a half. Next time I'll be more decisive and just double it.
Dagny dressed in the spirit of the first Thanksgiving
On Thanksgiving, being dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists, we had turkey (my 22-pound bird turned out as juicy and succulent as anyone could wish with no brining, no basting, really nothing special ... I guess I'm just talented with turkey) with all of the trimmings, and we sat down at the stroke of four o'clock to eat it, just as planned, and it was all so good.
You're going to want a dollop of my homemade cranberry sauce
Dagny attended the feast dressed as a Native American. The reason being, she was supposed to show up attired thusly (well, to be accurate, she had the choice of being either a pilgrim or an Indian, and she -- or maybe her mom -- chose the latter) to school on Tuesday but came down with a wee malady the night before, that kept her home on the day.
Little Andrew was deeply into It's A Wonderful Life, playing on my kitchen flatscreen
So she told her mother -- who made the outfit, with a small amount of input from me -- that she was going to wear the getup for Thanksgiving day. Which she did, for about half an hour, until the headdress and the jewelry and who knows what else, hindered her in her quest for a high old time with her cousins, and she reverted to a non-Native American in play clothes.
When I was a kid, we always had Brown 'n' Serve rolls ... these were Hawaiian
The next day, Friday, we all trooped to downtown Columbia to take Christmas card pictures. It was so warm that most of us were in shirt sleeves and, in my case at least, flip flops.
We had a great time climbing all over the South Carolina State House and its grounds. It's a truly gorgeous place, and basically matchless for scenery on a pretty day.
The scene where George Bailey begs old man Potter for money and learns he's worth more dead than alive
The only fly in the ointment was that, late in the outing, Dagny (who had been warned several times of the dangers) fell off a concrete something-or-other about twelve inches tall and hit the concrete below, shredding her knee.
Wouldn't you know that Andrew had an actual, official First Aid Kit in his child's baby stroller?
There was pie and plenty of it
So he produced that and, encouraging Dagny to "stay with me" like first responders do on TV, making her giggle through her tears, bandaged her up and added hot pink sticky tape for the girly effect.
Dagny assured us she'd learned her lesson. We shall see.
Sibyl, Chad and Erica's Chorkie (Chihuahua/Yorkshire Terrier mix), lent moral support during the fiery trial
That night, back home (minus the five who left after pictures and were on their way back to North Carolina), we ordered pizza from Hungry Howie's and hung out some more.
The next day -- Saturday -- we had set aside to celebrate the first birthday of baby Ember, our youngest grandchild.
One for the record books
Her actual birthday is December third, but since we couldn't all be together today because Ember lives with her parents in East Tennessee, we celebrated early.
She will have a second party this coming Saturday, with friends and family who live near enough to attend.
Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate
Brittany had thought of everything.
The theme was "Wild One" and there was a beautiful tablescape including tiny pink roses set off by sprigs of eucalyptus, and a huge bunch of massive balloons, and a drip cake decorated with silk flowers and a burlap banner, topped off with a golden numeral one.
She's only one, but she is one
After enjoying lasagna with salad and bread sticks catered from Olive Garden, we partook of the cake, which was moist and sweet and excellent, just like Ember.
When we sang Happy Birthday to her, I think she really understood that all of the excitement was because we adore her. There is a video.
Enthusiasm for parties runs in the family
Then the birthday girl her mom and dad opened her many presents, which included the usual array of toys, books, and outfits.
(The child loves books. Reading time, between bath and bed, is her favorite time of the day, with the possible exception of meal times.)
I believe these words to be true
I don't have to tell you that I took lots of pictures, so that I could show you everything.
On Sunday we went to church, after which Andrew and Brittany and Baby Ember headed home.
The cake plate awaited the arrival of the cake
On Monday, I think I rested. I know that I needed to.
On Tuesday, the high temperature in Columbia was forty-six (for a few minutes, after which it dropped). Also it was windy. That night we had our first hard freeze.
Despite all of that, TG and I met up with Audrey and Dagny and Chad and Erica, to do some retakes on our Christmas pictures.
Age is just a number
We wore more Christmasy attire than we had on the over-warm day after Thanksgiving, and waited until all of the festive lights popped on so that we could pose beside them.
It didn't take long. Afterwards we all went to Cracker Barrel for supper, and I even did a spot of Christmas shopping on the way out.
I know you're all fascinated by these details of the past week, and I'm sorry I can't provide more, but it would be gilding the lily because face it: you're caught up.
Love is all you need
More plans are in the offing for the weekend, which starts on Friday, and I'll tell you about all of that next week.
Until then, know that if you are reading this, I am most likely grateful for you, and even if I don't know you from Adam's off ox, but you are reading anyway, I'm still grateful for you.
I wish you a happy December and a satisfying start to your Christmas season, with all the festivities you can stand, and unexpected joys, and precious gifts of all varieties -- both seen and unseen.
And that is all for now.
=0=0=0=
Happy Weekend
Reader Comments (18)
What a wonderful time you have had, full of yummy food, celebration, and lots of love. Ember is gorgeous, she must get that from her parents. The cake is gorgeous. Your photos are really beautiful.
Your Thanksgiving sounds much like ours except we had 11 people instead of 14. My turkey was also moist and delicious but I cheated and used a cooking bag! I also cajoled my tech-savvy son in law to teach himself how to carve a turkey on YouTube. He did and then proceeded to do an excellent job of carving the turkey, much to the thankfulness of my husband who hates doing it! Your family is gorgeous and your youngest a little cutie. I love her birthday cake! Looking forward to seeing your family pictures!
~smile~ Wayyyyyyy too much here, for a complete comment!!!!!!!!! -grinnnnn-
Photography... Amazing... As always...
Subjects... Gorgeous... As always...
I love it, that you can do these things, with little "fall out." You had to have some "F.O." recently, since you and your husband and a daughter had the China Virus. But, your family certainly has had little.
Pardon me, if I smile... At Dangy's American Indian get up. IS this *allowed* any more??? >,-))) With all the *Political Correctness Police* running around, these days?????? -smirk-smirk-smirk-
And please add a million more -smirks-!!!!!
Looking forward to what's coming up next!
Happy! Happy! Happy!
@Ginny ... it was certainly eventful and wonderful and I'm glad it's over, hahahaha! Ember is a beauty in her own right but she sure does resemble both of her parrots ... xoxo
@Jeanette ... oooooh a cooking bag! I've never done it that way, I don't think. I know I don't carve properly but I hack away until the serving platter is full and then I stop. Isn't moist juicy turkey just so good? xoxo
@Mari-Nanci ... thank you so much for the compliments. As for fallout from covid, as it happened during my mother's last days and our cases were so very mild, honestly there was no fallout. Unless you count that we couldn't taste or smell for about three weeks. So I do speak from experience and I say again, when I had the flu in January of 2018, it was infinitely worse than covid. And people die from the flu every year and it doesn't make the news. As for Dagny's non-pc getup, she attends a private faith-based school and they study American history the way we did as children! So there was no fallout there either. We just smirk-smirk-smirk at the PC police, the mask police, the thought police, and all police except for the actual police. Them, we love. xoxo
Happy, Happy Birthday Ember! 1 year old, and so very loved! The party looks fabulous and she is the sweetest. Andrew and Brittany look so proud and happy.
Dagny in that outfit is adorable! A few years ago Ruby was an Indian at school. You know I loved it. :)
I'm looking forward to seeing the family photos. I'm sure they turned out marvelous - great photographer and beautiful subjects. :)
My cards are going in the mail tomorrow, so one should be making it's way to SC soon!
@Mari ... I always look forward to receiving your beautiful card. Love you my friend xoxo
I thought I had already commented but don't see it, so maybe I'm dreaming! My head has certainly not been screwed on in awhile!!!! Your holiday sounds like much, much fun. The cake is glorious, but that sweet little redhead is just adorable. Nothing like family time together. We got together with hubby's sister, her (big) family, & brother. Many of us (and yes indoors without masks) so I was a tad worried but what to do??? You just MUST see family from time to time!!! I will be so very, very thankful when we can once again gather with family and friends without worry and especially without masks! A late Happy Thanksgiving and an early Merry Christmas! (Always love your lovely photos!)
@Cheri ... thanks my new blogging friend for the kind comments, and I don't think you need to worry about getting together with family, and even friends, with or without masks. That moist piece of cloth doesn't do much (if anything) to protect you from getting something. If it did, we'd have been wearing them for years, all of our lives even, during flu season -- but wait; what/when is flu season? I've caught flu and colds at all times of the year throughout my life -- and we'd have been cancelling holidays and church services and school classes and everything, because at any time, in any place, from any one, you can catch a germ. The best thing to do is develop and/or maintain healthy habits, be clean and tidy, and don't get up in other folks' personal space any more than is necessary ... but when it comes to loved ones, it's always necessary! Love is all you need. xoxo
Poor Pocahontas got a Boo Boo - good thing Uncle Andrew came prepared. I can just hear you saying next time she starts climbing - "remember what happened on Thanksgiving Day!" Sweet Ember is adorable. I love her little shoes! I can't believe she's already a year old. That cake looks decadent. You all get the best cakes for your celebrations. I enjoy them vicariously. Glad you could celebrate Thanksgiving with family. Hugs from CO.
@Barb. ... hello my friend! Sorry I didn't see this yesterday; we were traveling! Pocahontas actually fell on Black Friday ... hahahahaha that's fitting! And yes I will remind her but I have a feeling I won't have to. She's since fallen on the same knee AGAIN! Such tears. Sometimes you win; sometimes you learn. Yes Ember is a dollbaby; I'm not sure how we ever got along without her. This time the cake action was ALL Brittany! She's a pro at party throwing and she went all-in for her first baby's first birthday party (of two) for her first birthday! That cake wasn't just a pretty face, either. It was GOOD. I hope you're still enjoying all of your snow and your early morning ski tours and everything you love about the Christmas season. xoxo
Enjoyed seeing all your fun Thanksgiving pictures and the family pictures. Dagny looks adorable in her little costume! You're ahead of me on the Christmas cards, I will do mine this week, hopefully! Hope you are doing ok, my first Christmas w/out my Mom was difficult. It gets easier as time goes by but I still miss her so much.Love that pretty birthday cake!--y'all always have such pretty cakes!
@Debbi ... Nothing is ever real until it's personal, is it? Someone asked me if the holiday season was harder on me due to having lost Mom so recently, but oddly enough it hasn't really occurred to me. It's just a daily heartache regardless of what else is going on. It will take lots of time, I guess. My condolences to you on losing your own mother, whenever that was. And yes I finally got the cards done, just doing stragglers now, but what I went through to get my cards was epically tragic. I should write about it but I'm not sure I have the strength, hahahahaha! Merry Christmas xoxo
Happy belated first birthday to Ember.
@Jane ... thank you! xoxo
Hi Sweetness--I love the photos!
We didn't gather for Thanksgiving and we won't be for Christmas either.
I'm at peace with it. We are planning a HUGE, everyone in the family, get together this summer.
I'll bet you are still having inside church, aren't you?
You Baptists are so brave!!!!!! LOL
@Judy ... Wow I guess you haven't heard that the "dreaded killer virus" has a recovery rate of nearly 100% and that we have been lied to from day one about how many have REALLY DIED OF covid -- according to the CDC, SIX PERCENT, or fewer than 10,000 souls. The rest have died WITH it AND with a MINIMUM of 2.6 comorbidities. Yes we are "still" having "inside church" although it's more like "again" since we suspended all church for two months back in the spring and didn't have Sunday evening services for many weeks after that. We still don't have choir or Sunday school ... it is absurd. We have church members who gladly traipse with their school-age children down to Disney World, but it is not deemed "safe" for my granddaughter to attend Sunday school. Begging the question, what is this sudden obsession with being "safe"? So we Baptists are not so brave after all. We are supposed to live by faith and not by fear anyway. I am not and have never been afraid of covid. The flu scares me more since I've had both covid and the flu, and the flu I had in January of 2018 was worse. Oddly enough, there are very few cases of flu or pneumonia anymore. It's like a miracle. Hope your HUGE gathering in the summer works out because under the regime that is coming, I fear that so many freedoms will be removed from us, that those kinds of gatherings will be banned forever. But I guess we can hope. xoxo
That was such a lovely post about your delicious and loving Thanksgiving and that sweet baby's first birthday. What a cake!!!! It looks fabulous! I enjoyed my stay at your house for the holiday!
@Gayla ... awwww thanks for joining us! One thing has been said about us more than once: We know how to throw a party ... or pawty, as we like to say! We enjoy one another's company. I hope your holidays are sweet and lovely and perfect from start to end. xoxo