It was the best, most relaxing Thanksgiving ever!
Just Hubby, Puppy Cody and me, sharing a dinner of pork chops, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and squash. And I didn’t even have to cook because Hubby took that upon himself, along with the cleanup after.
Although I did bake an apple pie, and it was (if I do say so myself), the best pie with the flakiest crust ever made, with the perfect blend of cinnamon and sugar, and apples that cooked just right – a bit of tang, a little texture with no mushiness, but soft enough for even me to eat. After all, you really can’t have any kind of Thanksgiving without an apple pie!
The daughters all have husbands and/or boyfriends they prefer to spend time with, so we not only did not need to leave the house on Thanksgiving Day – we also did not have to do extra house cleaning in anticipation of possible guests.
No way is my house ready for guests just yet. The new bathtub is in, but the walls and floor are not. The new downstairs windows have been installed, but the rooms still need painting and pictures and curtains need to be hung.
All in all, it was nice to be able to relax this year.
Having ended my second full week of “retirement”, I must say I could definitely get used to it. It’s nice being able to do all my housework when no one else is home during the week, and it’s wonderful being able to do my shopping (what little there is now) during the weekday when others are at their jobs and the stores are fairly empty. I can then spend the weekend doing absolutely nothing if I wish.
Even taking care of the dog has proved easier than I anticipated. The morning and evening walks have become so routine that Puppy Cody goes out willingly and walks beautifully on leash, provided we don’t deviate from our usual path. At this point, I’m almost sorry I contracted for the fence and paid that half down. I could certainly use that extra cash right now.
On the other hand, I must say I was very pleased when the fence contractor called last week and said we are on the schedule for the end of this upcoming week! Provided it doesn’t rain, or get so cold that the ground freezes. I’m assuming we’re probably the last job the guy plans to do this year – and despite what I just said about the easy walks, I really want that fence in now. Cody needs to chase bunnies and squirrels and burn off all that excess energy – which energy sometimes brings out that nasty streak in her long ’bout 8 pm or so. She’s a good dog, but she does get cranky when she hasn’t had enough opportunity to just run.
Me, I could sit around doing nothing 24/7 and never get cranky, but then I’m not an active canine. Maybe I need to teach Cody how to play videogames like I do …
Tomorrow is Cyber Monday, and guess what I’m doing? That’s right – nothing! Shopping this year is going to be very simple since there’s no money coming in at the moment. I’m OK with that.
It will be interesting to see how the holidays work out this year. Most of the family understands our reduced financial situation, but I’m not sure they all do. There is also the question of who’s going to whose house for Christmas, and whether or not my house will be suitable for entertaining by then. I’ll keep you all posted – ’cause I know following my life is the highlight of yours. (Well, that works on Twitter for the 20-somethings; it should work here, right?)
Happy Sunday, Everyone.
May your weekend end on a positive note.
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
glad your apple pie came out so nicely…. ahhh
we bought all of our desserts this year – including a really good apple one- we have learned which places or brans make the best items…
also tried a store bought version of peach cobbler made my Patti LaBell – and it was so good. We brought the leftover half with us for our part2 thanksgiving and they liked it too
anyhow- you will truly enjoy the fence once up – we waited two years to put one in (more than a decade ago) and that two years really made me appreciate it more – and we had pups at the time who needed it… just like your Puppy Cody does…
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oooo – peach cobbler! I think I’ll make that next! I’ll have to use canned peaches, though.
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well canned can sometimes be better tthan fresh – IMHO – because if the fresh are to ripe – well – all I am sayin is the canned stuff can be fantastic.
and check out Diane’s kitchen – she has these fun little pies we can make – and um, with canned goodies.
I just love it when some recipes are easy like this – and I was going to make these this year but the puff pastry was gone ( I was last minute) and that is what led me to the cobbler. – and actually it was the folks who were considering the cobbler that looped me in – we all started talking and you know how it goes…
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Thanks for the link. I never thought of using puff pastry, and that recipe looks super easy. I’ll give it a try.
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well if you make them – promise to come by and let me know how they come out.
I want to make them too – and if I do I will let you know –
xxoo
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I am currently living vicariously through your retirement. May be joining you sooner than I thought. Pie looks great.
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It took me a long time to make that decision (retirement, not pie baking!). Ultimately, it all just came to a head in the middle of the night when I knew I simply couldn’t keep doing that job, and I figured it would look better to future employers if I said I retired but then found it boring – rather than tell some future employer that I just quit because the job was too hard (boo-hoo).
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Wonderful!
I enjoy walking the dog, too. Most of the year. I’ll admit, I enjoy her fencing VERY much on dark February mornings and steamy August afternoons! Hah! For me, the gym, climate controlled, thanks.
I like pumpkin pie, and the kids prefer apple, but I always buy pies for Thanksgiving — A crime, I know. I probably bake more than two dozen pies, gallettes, crisps, and popovers in September, cause apple trees. After that, I’m appled-out til next fall 🙂
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I’m glad I don’t have a fruit tree at the new house. We had a pear tree at the old house, and I always felt bad that the majority of the pears had to be discarded as we couldn’t eat that many. Never mind, they were a pain to rake up – much worse than leaves.
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We have a fence, but Maddie still likes to walk me around the yard.
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I’ve been trying to get Cody use to walking the perimeter on leash, so she knows the yard is hers. It’s been a battle, and heaven forbid a rabbit crosses our path!
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That sounds like a great Thanksgiving, and a great start to retirement. I enjoy cleaning the house when everyone is gone, too!
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It’s much easier that way, isn’t it? When hubby is home, I get way too much advice on how I should be doing things – not that he could do it better, nor would he be willing to try.
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I do not walk dogs. Besides, when I’ve tried, the dogs have just slithered out of their harnesses and run off. We have wiener dogs, and they won’t stay in a harness. But that gives me a good excuse not to walk the little snakes.
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Until we bought this house, I never walked the dog, either. That was my husband’s job, and it wasn’t an issue because I could let her out into our yard when she needed to do her business. I’m hoping I’ll still walk her after we get our new yard fenced in – now that she’s used to it, I’d like to continue. It’s good for both of us.
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May the fence be in before the real onset of winter, CM. You’ll adore the open-door policy the most then, as you recall.
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You know how my luck runs, right, Mark? As it turns out this week starts off dry and in the 50s, but rain in coming in for Thursday and Friday – which are the 2 days allotted to the fence installation. Ugh.
While I don’t enjoy winter weather, I must admit I do like watching Cody play in the new fallen snow. That definitely will make for a tired puppy!
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Believe me, I ENVY you. That sounds perfect.
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It was perfect, at least for this year.
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That’s sounds like a purrfect thanksgiving, CM! Cheers to many more thanksgiving just like this. BTW, the apple pie looks delish! ( ๑ ❛ ڡ ❛ ๑ )
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Thanks, NBC. It’s amazing what you can do with that photographic software. The pie didn’t really look that good – but it was delicious!
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