Smarterer

"Mom? Is Dad smarter than you?"

"About some things, definitely."

"Like Legos?"

"Yeah..."

"And cooking?"

What's Your Point?

"How was school, Bob?"

"Mom? Did you do running?"

"No, why?"

"You're wearing clothes for running."

"I didn't do running."

"Exercising then?"

"These are actually called yoga pants."

"You did yoga?"

"How was school?"

Man Down

"Mom? Captain Rex is sick."

"What's wrong with him?"

"He has a chill and a fever but mostly a chill."

"Are you helping him?"

"Yeah. I put him to bed and covered him up and gave him some bedtime friends and took his temperature."

"Sounds like you're taking very good care of him."

"All he needs now to get well is some of the leftover Halloween candy. Mom, he likes mini-peanut butter cups."

Smacksy Sunday Link

I generally post three links on Sundays but I love this video so much I'm only posting one. This is a gorgeous Ted talk on nature, beauty, and gratitude. It's perfect for Thanksgiving Sunday and totally worth the less than 10 minute time investment.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Quiet

Wishing you a little quite time today.

Thanks A Lot, Katy Perry

"Why did you turn off that song, Mom?"

"I thought we should listen to a different radio station."

"Because the song said, 'There's a stranger in my bed'?"

"Yep."

"I know. I would be so worried if there was a stranger in my bed. That song is too scary."

"It is, Bob."

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for you. Yes, you. Every bit of you.

Big Deals

"Mom? What's the most important thing in the world?"

"Um... Love?"

"That's important but not the most important."

"What's the most important, Bob?"

"Not letting the planet blow up."

"Good one."

A Very Smacksy Thanksgiving Menu

Okay, so I haven't posted recipes in a long time but Thursday is Turkey Day and I assume you're all still eaters . If you're here in the States you may be wanting these recipes about now and if you're somewhere else you might want to go for it anyway because this stuff is just good.

First - This is the story of my rad stuffing that I've been making since the 80s. It's magic.

Then - There is this recipe for twice baked sweet potatoes I got from La Martha.
*Hint: Re-stuffing the sweet potatoes is a tremendous pain in the yam, so I just take the filling and spread it in a casserole dish and bake it with the toppings that way. Fabulous.

Next - I'm trying this for the first time this year - it's a new take on the old green bean casserole from Michael Chiarello. He did seem like a turd that season he was on Top Chef Masters, but his recipe looks really good. *I just might use those old-school fried onions in the can instead of frying my own and by "might" I mean I already bought a can of them.

Last - There will be pie: pumpkin and pecan. It may not be fancy, but the best recipe for the pumpkin is on the side of the pumpkin can and the greatest recipe for the pecan is on the back of the Karo syrup bottle. I know, but trust me on this. *The key with the pecan is to cut the pecan pieces really small.

I have a lot of eating to do over the next couple of days to train for Thursday.

Me Too

"Do you want the turkey sandwich, Bob?"

"No."

"Chicken?"

"No, Mom. I want the sugar sandwich."

Smacksy Sunday Links

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Thanks to my friend Spider for pointing me in the direction of the glorious Dog Fort.

Enjoying this peek into Lucy Chadwick's homes from The Selby via Zara.

And Lovely Owl, of course, Lovely Owl.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: How We Do

This is how we do Saturday.

Vintage Typo

You guys? I love vintage linens. I bought these hand-embroidered pillowcases on eBay without looking at the photos too closely. I'm no grammar expert, but that crazy misplaced apostrophe makes my OCD all itchy. I am proud to say that I'm letting it go and not pulling those little apostrophe threads out. Letting it go. Everyday. This is me letting it go.

Time Turning

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"Mom? Did you know in Harry Potter there's a Time Turner where you can go to other times?"

"Where would you go if you had a Time Turner, Bob?"

"I would go right to my birthday."

"But then you'd miss Christmas and Hannukah."

"Oh, yeah. I'd go to Thanksgiving and Christmas and Hannukah and then my birthday."

"I would really miss you if I only got to see you on holidays."

"Mom? The Time Turner isn't real."

'Tis That Season

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"Mom. Your birthday was in September."

"That's right."

"When's the next birthday?"

"Well let's see... MeeMee's is in January."

"Someone else has a birthday before MeeMee."

"Who?"

"Jesus. It's called Christmas, Mom."

Research

"MeeMee? Is the writer of Harry Potter a boy?"

"The author is a lady named J.K. Rowling."

"How does she know so much about boys? She must have a lot of boyfriends."

Look, Mom!

I hear, "Look, Mom!"
And, "Watch this, Mom!"
And, "See what I can do, Mom?"
It's not always convenient to look up
To watch
To see what he can do
And then I remember
I read somewhere
That, "Look, Mom!"
Is one of the ways a child says
I love you
And then I'm happy to look up
And watch
And see
And be loved

Smacksy Sunday Links

Forts are cool.

Some wonderful photographs.

And breakfast around the world. (Now I'm hungry.)

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Just This

Have an excellent Saturday.

Veteran's Day

In 1946, my Uncle Daryl was to have received three medals in recognition of his service in World War II. For some unknown reason, it was overlooked at the time. Two weeks ago this was corrected.


Officers from the Navy drove four hours from Houston to Tyler, to award these long forgotten medals. The colors were honored and The Watch was read. Thank you to Daryl and all of our veterans for their service and sacrifice.

The Watch

For twenty years
This sailor has stood the watch
While some of us were in our bunks at night

This sailor stood the watch

While some of us were in school learning our trade

This shipmate stood the watch
Yes, even before some of us were born into this world

This shipmate stood the watch

In those years when the storm clouds of war were seen brewing on the horizon of history

This shipmate stood the watch

Many times he would cast an eye ashore and see his family standing there

Needing his guidance and help

Needing that hand to hold during those hard times

But he still stood the watch

He stood the watch for twenty years

He stood the watch so that we, our families and

Our fellow countrymen could sleep soundly in safety, each and every night

Knowing that a sailor stood the watch

Today we are here to say,

"Shipmate, the watch stands relieved

Relieved by those You have trained, guided, and lead

Shipmate you stand relieved. We have the watch."

Boatswain. Standby to pipe the side. Shipmate's going Ashore.

Happy Veteran's Day.

82 Pieces

He counted his Halloween candy to keep us honest.

Blue

"How was school, Babe?"

"Okay, except no one wanted to play with me."

"What happened?"

"I wanted to play and they didn't have anything for me to do with them."

"How was that for you?"

"Not good. I guess I have to figure out ways to make everyone like me more."

"As long as you're kind to people, you just keep doing what you're doing. You don't need to change for anyone. Sometimes it's okay to play alone."

"At home it is, but not at school."

"I bet it will be different tomorrow, Honey."

"I know. People change their minds a lot when they're five."

Good Morning, Señor

When Bob woke up this morning, he sat up quickly and looked around the room.

"Mom? What language is adios?"

"Spanish."

And then he fell back asleep.

New Construction

Today Bob built a Lego version of our home away from home: Trader Joe's.
You heard me.

Smacksy Sunday Links

A lot of you probably saw this around the internet this week but it's worth watching again. Glorious.

More awe-inspiring video, this time from my home town.

And a beautiful letter.

Happy Sunday!

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Passing Time

Making himself at home at the Dallas airport.

There's a Guy

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"Mom! There's a guy with blue hair!"

"Bob, it's bad manners to talk about what other people's bodies look like unless you're giving them a compliment."

"What about clowns? Can we talk about them? They look funny on purpose."

"I guess clowns are okay."

"Mom! Is that blue haired guy a clown?"

What One Runny Nose and a Low-Grade Fever Will Buy You

1 Morning home from school
2 Consecutive viewings of the Casper the Friendly Ghost movie
1 Lunch of macaroni and cheese and peas
3 Cups of apple juice
1 Eight minute back rub
5 Lego videos on Mom's phone
4 Pieces of Halloween candy (Reese's Peanut Butter Cups only need apply.)
6 Games of Candy Land
3 Busy Town stories
2 Tries at using the electronic thermometer to take the dog's temperature
0 Incentive for getting well

What?

"Mom? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I don't know. What are you thinking?"

"I don't know. What?"

"What's on your mind, Bob?"

"You should tell me."

65 Years

This past weekend we went to Texas to attend my Aunt Sophie and Uncle Daryl's 65th wedding anniversary celebration. Getting on in years, neither of them is able to walk without a cane or walker, however leaning on each other, they were able to dance.