Monday, November 23, 2009

This and That

I’m working on a couple of memory posts--writing about another section of the Appalachian Trail, another couple of post about events in my past and there’s always book reviews that I can do. But since nothing is ready, I thought I’d share a few pictures from this past Saturday over by Lake Michigan, taken from the harbor entrance at Holland Michigan…

For a while, I wondered if the guy paddling out of the harbor in his kayak was going to keep paddling on till he got to Illinois or Wisconsin, but before I left, I noticed he’d turned around and was heading back in.

Last Friday, I had an opportunity to serve as chief cook and bottle washer. I had the privileage of working with a group of my colleagues in town on a chili fundraiser for a local non-profit endeavor. It was a lot of fun, joking with each other as we made chili, along with cornbread and hushpuppies. Notice the photo of hushpuppy friars!

It’s Thanksgiving week and there is plenty for which I am thankful. For one thing, I’m thankful to have a job because I know many who would like to find a job and can’t in this economy. However, lately, my work load has meant there hasn’t been much time for writing, that’s better than the alternative. I’m thankful that we’ve having such a nice November. Normally, I’d be longing for cross-country skiing weather, but this year, there is a construction project I’m worried about and every nice day is another day they can be laying blocks and bricks. Of course, that might change as they’re calling for the possibility of snow on Thanksgiving day. Then I’ll be thankful for the ability to cross country ski (but only after Bambi season is over, I’d had for some fool to mistake me for a skiing deer.) I’m also thankful for the opportunity to cook a turkey this week, for the first time in a number of years. Living in the land where everyone is related to someone else, a dozen of so of us “outsiders” are getting together and this year will be my turn to supply the turkey.

18 comments:

  1. So how does a southerner cook a turkey? Recipes in the near future? I'm thinking about smoking one again this year.

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  2. Hushpuppies with chili? Cornbread, yes, but hushpuppies are an exclusive fish fry staple in these parts.

    Cheers.

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  3. Have a good Thanksgiving, Sage. I'm vey thankful for my jobs, too.

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  4. Ed, I've smoked quite a few turkeys, but no longer have a smoker--left that in Utah. I'll have to post about the turkey (instead of having post by a turkey)

    Randall, hushpuppies go with all kind of food, barbecue, brunswick stew, fish, oysters, shrimp and even chili!

    Kenju, have a great thanksgiving, too!

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  5. Have a great Thanksgiving. I know the feeling of having little writing time right now, but soon that will lighten up a bit for me.

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  6. I usually cook a turkey even if I'm alone for Thanksgiving. I don't know if I'll do it this year, though. I think I want to travel somewhere instead.

    Have a great Thanksgiving!

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  7. Being from the south, won't you be frying a turkey or cooking it with a beer can shoved inside of it? :-)

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  8. Have a happy Thanksgiving Day and enjoy the gathering! I'm also curious about the Southerner turkey recipe, hahah.

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  9. Charles, we'll look forward to your additional writings!

    Jen, traveling sounds like a great idea...

    Murf, no beer can stuffed inside, but maybe I can figure out a way to baptize Tom with some Southern bourbon

    Leni, Gee, stakes are running high on this turkey cooking business...

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  10. Sage
    I was thankful to be a part of that 'cooking' experience with you. And I agree, hush puppies go with just about anything! Matter of fact the ones I took home that night will undoubtedly find their way to our thanksgiving table .. right beside my plate!

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  11. I want some of that chili!

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Sage.

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  12. I love lighthouses. I have a dream of traveling the east coast just to see them. Or at least the ones in the NE.

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  13. We do have much to be thankful for- have a nice, restful Thanksgiving!

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  14. OK--I wish I'd been there in the morning when it was foggier!

    SleepyHead--thanks for your help. It was fun and you did a great job as a friar!

    TC--I still have some in the freezer!

    Mother Hen--going out in a bit to pick up my Thanksgiving Hen! :)

    Mistress, you should take a trip around Michigan, there are a ton of lighthouses--many are unique like the Holland one.

    Beau, yes we do have a lot to be thankful for, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  15. You are deep frying that turkey, right?

    Choppy waters on a cloudy November day cause me to become pensive. The waters looked very similar when I was crossing the Tennessee River Sunday night.

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  16. Ah, another destination I always wanted to see! Thanks for the story and great photos!!!!

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