Thanksgiving is late this year, and we’re already part-way into Thanksgiving week. We have much to be grateful for, even in the mess and confusion of life. I’ve started substitute teaching in Seattle, so it’s nice to have a little money coming in. See, told you I wasn’t retiring. 🙂 Ted has been diligently mapping out electrical systems in a schematic. The idea is to switch our house battery bank from AGM batteries to lithium-ion and replace our charger and inverter with a Victron solution. He is discovering just how hard it is to reach some of the wiring, buses and fuses, and realizing that this is going to be at least as big of a project as he envisioned in his wildest imaginings. We’re continuing learning-to-sail-and-run-a-big-boat studies. We’ve spent several weekends in Anacortes taking a variety of “Cruisers College” classes, Electrical systems, Plumbing for boats, Diesel maintenance and Outboard motor basics.
This week, though, all of that goes on hold as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving. We’re taking this show on the road for Thanksgiving, packing up what’s needed from the boat and headed to a lovely Airbnb in Spokane. All of our kids currently reside in Spokane, and I (Nan) figured that doing holiday baking in a full-size kitchen might be more fun than trying to do it on a boat. So here we are, a pile of dry goods, rolling pin, pastry cutter, etc. all waiting in the salon to be loaded into the truck on Wednesday morning for the drive over the mountains.
I don’t mean this in any braggy way, but planning a Thanksgiving meal for 8 people is not a big deal for me. It has long been my habit to have such a full table at Thanksgiving that we need extra tables. I follow my mom’s rule that there’s always room at the table. I think the millennial new tradition of Friendsgiving is charming, but for me, Thanksgiving has always been about welcoming friends, old and new, as well as family.
That said, planning Thanksgiving, and planning my holiday baking to all take place on one weekend, in a different city from where we’re moored, with all of my cooking and baking accoutrements stored in A) the boat, B) our small Seattle storage unit (AKA the Closet), C) our larger Spokane storage unit (AKA the Shed), or D) Gerrit & Brea’s garage? Well that’s a logistical nightmare for my ADHD brain! When we packed up the house, I put all of my baking sheets and such in one bin… I think. But where did I put the electric mixer? What will I find when I get to Spokane? It’s anyone’s guess at this point. Add to this little things like not having refrigerated space for a turkey anywhere. Will I be able to find a turkey and get it safely thawed in time to roast it on Thursday?
And could someone please explain what I was thinking when I sold my turkey roaster and cookie cutters in the moving sale last summer? Why, oh why, did that seem like a good idea? I’m afraid the world will never know. I’m sure it will all work out fine. We’ve always preferred our gingerbread as speculaas laded pepernoten (the famous “reindeer poop” cookies), and frosted sugar cookies aren’t really my jam. Ooh, do I need to bring jam? GAH!
It’s going to be fine. We roll with it. If the olives get forgotten, we will survive. I’m not sure, but I think my sons play a game of “what will mom forget this year,” snickering at me good naturedly behind my back. Or sometimes not behind my back. It’s all in good fun, and I have decided to take pride in their low expectations and willingness to pitch in and be part of the work. I figure it will make them good spouses someday. Anyway, I think my daughter-in-law would agree with me.
So that’s us this week. I hope your week, and your advent season hold noticeable delights and lovely moments of joy.