Monthly Archives: November 2023

Do You Wear An Apron?

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Happy Thanksgiving to Family, Friends and Readers

When I put on an apron to start cooking today, memories of my grandmother’s flowered aprons came to mind, and the loud unruly Thanksgiving dinners of the past. At least twenty people were crammed around a dinning room table in her one bedroom apartment. Today there will be three of us, but. . . it is still Thanksgiving, a day of gratitude.

I didn’t cook turkey. It is too much work. I cook Lemon Chicken from the Sopranos Family Cookbook, stuffing and green beans. It was delicious and we didn’t miss the turkey.

I made an apple tart, thinking of my grandmother’s pies; apple, pumpkin, and mincemeat.They rested on an ironing board in her kitchen.

After dessert, the girls chose an apron to wear while cleaning the kitchen. Grandma visited with the other relatives until the dancing started; which was followed my turkey sandwiches, made of white bread, cranberries, and mayo.

Do you still wear an apron? I do.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

. . . just saying, Claudia

The Alphabet Series-O is for Ordinary

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Aging & Attitude

GE DIGITAL CAMERA

New Thoughts on Words

“Honey, I’m home,” yells Mr. Wonderful,* as he parades himself through the front door carrying a boxed Hamilton Beach toaster oven I requested he buy. I meet him in the kitchen as he continues saying, “You’re gonna love it,” his chest buffed out, ready to strut his feathers like he is a peacock.

“Great,” I respond as excited as he is, “Was it still on sale?”

“Yes, $37.99.” He answers and reaches for a sharp knife to cut through the cellophane tape.

“Wait!” I demand. “Don’t open it! You didn’t get the red one. It says black, see.”

I point to the bold lettering on the box.

Hamilton Beach Toaster Oven

Black

“What’s the difference? They didn’t have a red one. Black, red, it makes toast, heats rolls, melts cheese.”

“Black is ordinary, dull, predictable. Black lacks distinction. Red adds, pizzazz, makes a statement.”

He says, “Who needs a statement? I want toast in the morning, ordinary, plain toast. I add cherry jelly if I need pizzazz. Dull and ordinary is just fine by me.”

“Fine? As in average, common and mundane. I want better than fine. Red adds color, interest against the black granite. I’ll take it back, where’s the receipt?”

“What difference does it make, nobody sees it. It’s a toaster.”

“I see it. Now I’m a nobody?”

“Claudia, that’s not what I meant, you’re being ridiculous, why can’t you ever be happy?”

“So I’m a ridiculous unhappy nobody.”

“I didn’t say that. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“It doesn’t matter what you said, what you meant was, STOP being a pain in MY butt and settle for ordinary.”

“Geezzzzzzzzzz, What if it only came in black, you’d have to be happy with black.”

“Now I should fake it, pretend I like humdrum black. Did you look for chrome? Chrome, at least chrome would be different.

“You’re right. I’ll take it back. Why be ordinary? God forbid we’re ordinary. Whatever you want. If a red toaster oven makes you happy, I’m happy too. Yada, yada, yada”

*Mr. Wonderful is my husband of forty-two years. This was posted in 2013. He returned the black toaster oven and we still have the red one.
The picture on the left was taken this morning. Still looking good he prefers to be called, Bobbie C. And yes we are still married. . .fifty-two years.

….just saying

Inconvenient Weather

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In Florida, weathermen or weather-people, to be politically correct; now refer to weather as inconvenient.

Well. . .your feet might get wet, your hair blown, and you’ll have to follow a car’s tail-lights to get home. But, you’ll be safe, in a down pour.

It is inconvenient; but catchy and cute. Isn’t it?

The expression hasn’t caught on in the north. Weather people announce the above freezing temperatures void of express, with little regard for the lack of sunshine.

Inconvenient weather is normal, and expected.

I don’t know what’s happening in other parts of the country.

So, on a normal fall day in the north, we drove to Indian Ladder Farms to buy apples. The variety of apples is outstanding and their sugar apple donuts memorable.

As we were leaving, I saw a restored Jaguar, and asked the owner if I could take a picture. He offered to take a picture of me in the vehicle.

We got to chatting. He and his wife are Florida Snow Birds and owners of a window washing service, Mark Washing Windows. They have a place in Port Orange, twenty-five miles from me.

They don’t think Florida’s weather is inconvenient and will be heading south after the holidays.

Is your weather inconvenient?

. . . just saying, Claudia

P.S. If you are comfortable, please follow me, and/or share my writing with a friend. Thank you.

That’s Not Me

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We’re visiting family in Delmar, N.Y., and the leaves are falling fast.

We arrived Wednesday to a chilly temperature of 35 degrees. I enjoy the crisp air and sleeping under a ton of blankets, so the adjustment from Florida is welcome. There is only a smidge of color, and most of the leaves have fallen. The leaves are blown into the street, not raked, and not bagged. The town routinely vacuums them, following a schedule similar to their garbage pick-up.

You can view my story, Wheels of Circumstance at Miriam Drioi’s That’s Not Me. I’m a contributing writer to her blog series.

The story originated when I met Vera in college in 1966. She and her mother had to run into the woods to flee the Russians and escape to Austria on November 4th, 1956

I’d love you to share this story, with family and friends, if you’re comfortable .

. . .just saying