Back for more. Thanksgiving took over. (I hope yours was delicious, warm, and happy.) Three days of shopping, one day of work, two point five days of cooking. Intense cooking. I learned that when guests have too much choice, some of the dishes are passed over.
I have been adding cleaner dishes to the butter/fat/cream/meat menu. The herby barley recipe has been well received. Even if it were not, it goes into the turkey soup that results from the leftover stock, and it therefore earns its keep. The salad with two kinds of greens, cheese, and grapes does not go into the soup, and does not keep overnight once it has been dressed. There were significant left overs on that one.
Next year, no salad. The brussels sprouts, a labor of love by the Muse (without whom I could not do it all) will morph into roasted sprouts rather than brussels sprouts hash. That means only one last minute dish will need attention (other than the ovens full of yummies roasting and warming and toasting). I did not spend enough time with my guests this year, and that means simplification needs to happen. It feels like the decluttering of a holiday, similar to the decluttering that I am doing with other aspects of life.
Most of today (which is now yesterday) was spent as a weavecation. I blocked out today, and the weekend, to concentrate on all the weaving stuff I haven't been able to approach.
I had planned out three goals.
1. retie an existing warp and get re-started on a boundweave project. I had warped the loom for a class this past summer, and ended with significant warp remaining. That was a piece of low-hanging fruit.
2. Warp the medium loom for a tencel scarf.
3. Warp the big loom for a selvedge rug. Back to front warping is still not second nature.
Details of the ride on the strugglebus to follow.
Spending time with your guests is just as important as serving them something wonderful to eat. I hope you find the right balance between the two for next year. Have fun weaving!
Posted by: Carole | Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 08:41 AM
The older I get, the simpler I like to keep things. Time with your guests is the reason for the holiday.
Posted by: Ruth | Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 10:34 AM
Learned my lesson!
L
Posted by: Etherknitter | Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 12:46 PM
The Muse will still show up early and threaten the wine glasses with the big knife. Lesson: serve single malt before noon.
Posted by: Lynn | Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 05:43 PM
Glad to were able to get some weaving plannedf/done. Don’t beat yourself up about not spending enough time with your guests. It’s enough you recognized that it happened. Perfection is overrated. Besides, the feast did not cook itself.
Posted by: Elaine in NYC | Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 10:51 PM
I am now “retired” from cooking Thanksgiving, but I do miss the leftovers! Wait...you have three looms?!
Posted by: Marcia | Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 10:59 PM
Your meal sounds like a delicious labor of love. Our host also has simplified her approach because of too much leftover food. Even some pies were winnowed. Making things easy on yourself will bring more joy when it comes to celebration time! Enjoy the weavecation! 3 looms!?
Posted by: Margene | Sunday, December 01, 2019 at 09:46 AM