Holiday Weekend- Two for One!

 The time has arrived in our life on Newark-Granville Road to say farewell to Thanksgiving and welcome Advent.  That means we are packing up the glass pumpkins and moving the decorative pumpkins to compost and God willing produce another volunteer crop!  It has been a beautiful weekend here with time to be family and at home. It is a two for one holiday weekend in our life on NG Road.  Yes kids we can start listening to Christmas music.

We're looking forward to being with our church family in person- outside-today to light the Advent Candle Trees! Well done Tree Committee and all involved to make it happen- I'm feeling the Spirit and grateful.  Join us at 4 pm on Sundays at FPC, on the northwest corner of Broadway and Main Street in Granville.  More info on our church happenings here: https://www.granpres.org/calendar or please ask me!

Looking forward to being with our Granville family to light the Granville tree at 5:30- same location- just in the middle of the street- median green space.  And this will launch the creative and safe approach to the annual Candlelight Walking Tour: http://www.visitgranvilleohio.com/candlelight-walking-tour  December is the month filled with light, hope, joy, love, and peace and I'm going to do my best to support and share these things that I have in my life thanks to so many.

As I think about shopping for the holidays- I've only done a bit- I'm a December shopper- I want to support local and I have to promote a great site for local friends and Denison friends! Granville Merch can be a great gift for those that love this special town, check out the Granvilla Pizza hat!!  587 Granville Merch!  And remember all of Granville is open and you can shop here safely- the merchants have done a fantastic job to celebrate the season- to name a few: Green Velvet, Cedar & Thread, Kussmaul Gallery, Readers Garden...I'm looking forward to exploring Newark and other spots in Licking County- I heard about a new spot for me in Pataskala while getting my hair cut last week and shopping the walking tour market over the next two weekends.

We will light our own advent candles and decorate the house as we prepare to celebrate this special time of year in our life on Newark-Granville Road.  Wishing you joy, love, hope, and peace as we wrap up November and welcome December.

The Day After Thanksgiving 2020

 Good morning!  I wrote in my social media post yesterday "From our table to yours- enjoy the before, during and after" and posted a picture of our dining room table with glass pumpkins, cranberries, a fresh pumpkin and the Cinnamon Donut bundt cake I made as the 2nd dessert and promised to explain why it was "upside" down.  So here goes- capturing the real life on Newark-Granville Road and sharing. I'll mess up tense and grammar on this one for sure- oh well! Another blog topic the world's use of grammar- I before you seems to be accepted now as me first so this should be okay! 

Before: the prep- I love the eve eve days.  As much as I miss the traditions of Stoner Thanksgiving I embrace the opportunity to explore new when we celebrate Leithauser holidays.  I am so grateful for the family I married into and my relationship with my sister in law is very special.  I've said before and I'll say it again- being married to brothers provides a special perspective and bond.  This also turned into our first family dinner of five since Peter arrived home and what was on our menu but of course: salmon cakes, mac n cheese, broccoli,  stewed tomatoes.  I went to bed Wednesday having worked a full day, sending mail that I hope arrives- come on USPS- I need you excited and ready for the holiday weekend

During- a great day even scaled down, maybe because scaled down still filled us full as Thanksgiving can only do.  My phone died and that is just fine as it truly allowed me to be in the moment and soak in the delicious meal, family time and pause from all work.  My day started early and  I enjoyed my kitchen time creating my contributions included the cinnamon cake.  The cake was profiled during a training program and seemed like a good one for my family.  A key ingredient apple cider- one of Sally's favorites and I love cinnamon sugar donuts so- why not.  Somehow even alone in my kitchen I ended up distracted and forgot to flour the pan. I buttered it.  I buttered it so well- even using the pastry brush approach detailed in the recipe.  Maybe it was the Today show- I rarely watch and see it as a nice treat. Maybe it was the full list to do before 9:30 so I could join the unofficial turkey trot or maybe flouring still isn't a norm for me. Oh well. I discovered my mistake when I went to remove the cake and sure enough 1/4 of the cake remained in the pan. I paused and looked at it- thinking immediately "do I have time to remake this cake?" do I have the ingredients? then I realized I could try to use the "top" or "bottom" depending on how you view it and it worked!  A cake presentable and with enough sustenace to finish and slice.!  I thought the cake was fine- not a favorite but god enough on the taste scale.  Clare really liked it- a win!

So much more to share but not necessary- enough to say my cup runneth over with gratitude for the day that did include the family run/walk, the best bloody mary, outdoor catch-up, music, family, turkey, ham and lots of carbs, a beautiful and tasty veggie-fruit tray in honor of Jim Leithauser executed very well by Joe.  Sally is now 1 hour shy of completing night driving for her license requirement and navigates a drive through well.  Thanksgiving 2020- not what we planned but what we needed.

After:  Ahhh here I am alone in my kitchen watching the recorded Macy's Day parade.  When I heard there were going to be marching bands I though- how?  And there here they are- West Point's marching band playing "This is My Country"- beautiful.  Joe and I watched a movie on Tgiving Eve- the new Midway move- we saw an earlier version when we stayed on the USS Yorktown.  We are certainly aware our after in so many is only because of the ultimate sacrifice of so many and the every day sacrifices of so many.  

Now I'm watching the Hamilton performance and heeding the message: "look around, look around, history is happening".  I appreciated this piece so much I rewound am watched it again- stellar- showcasing so much creativity, staying power, adaptability, talent and lessons of yesterday for today.

If you like the arts and who doesn't?  If you want to see ethic diversity on the screen? You should watch this parade- I'm loving this- watching now: the Zeta Phi Beta Centennial Steppers- wow!  Impressed with the representatives from many different parades from the area- Coney Island's Mermaid Parade- darling!  Time to wrap this up, enjoy more of the parade and find that commercial/short be beloved Denisonian- Steve Carrel with a great message that here on Newark-Granville Road we have before, during and after!  Enjoy:  https://943cksy.com/blogs/mornings/2020/11/the-greatest-gift-short-film/

Okay- I kid you not- after finding and watching this film on my phone just as I'm wrapping up this post- at 1:22:09 in my recorded parade- this film!  Love it- well done Xfinity/Comcast!!  Off to embrace our togetherness in Life on Newark-Granville Road- by phone, zoom and in person!

Post picture referenced above:

Update for Thanksgiving Week 2020- Look Local!

My Sunday post felt a bit negative. I was feeling negative, however, I aim to maintain a positive but realistic tone.  On Monday things felt better and I want to share the direction I took to move to that place. 

I looked local.

This feels a bit like- "look for the helpers" when you see an accident or tragedy on the news. My local started by buying fresh produce for Thanksgiving.  I did some of this on Saturday at the Farmers Market.  Bryn Bird did a great job promoting products for the holiday on Facebook so I bought more: Birds Haven Farm OnLine Ordering!  You can too!  Thanks for the challenge to bake with real pumpkin.  I'm saving this for a weekend activity- excited to pick up later today!

Joe and I are making our list for Christmas Giving and thanks to the kids we've started a bit! Again- focus on the local.  The world needs help, and we support international care through our church and Rotary. As we think about gifts for family and friends, we also think about our philanthropic pledges and direction.  Year-end will be here soon and now is the time. It feels good to give. Included in this giving is renewing memberships- The Works: https://attheworks.org/and Dawes will appreciate our support and yours! (Once a fundraiser always a fundraiser).

You will also be happy to know Joe was able to work with Ferguson Customer Service- the replacement fridge is coming next Tuesday! Woo hoo- we're making do with the fridge that keeps things okay, a cooler with ice on the porch, and strategic meal planning.  Oyster stew supplies will be procured the day of if it works in the COVID rotation.  I've come to terms with the differences we need to accept this year.

And speaking of...Turkey Trot- We registered to support our local food pantry, you can too- if you did already- thank you! https://www.granvilleturkeytrot.com/give-thanks-today-registration  A virtual event for 2020- no surprise. Granville Leithausers will do our own walk/run event- looping from our home- so if you are out on NG road and see us- give a honk or bell ring or hello! I'm excited to cook, bake, and embrace family holiday time in my life on Newark-Granville road. I hope you are keeping it real, sharing as needed (reach out!), and finding ways to stay positive during these challenging times.  Stay well, get care when needed, and a special thank you to all the health care, first responders, front line workers keeping us safe and dealing with the increased stress during the pandemic.  The Look Up Center will be delivering more meals than ever-  Life on Newark-Granville Road- Grateful for all of that goodwill!

Blessings- looking beyond and keeping it real- sharing is caring.

COVID -19 or Salmonella- the dishwasher decided this was the weekend to break. We can't blame it- it has been running nonstop since March.   Good news- a black Friday special got us a deal, a new one will be installed a week from Wednesday. Blessing- in our life on NG road we'll learn how to appropriately wash and sanitize dishes.  The fridge continues to have temperature flux.  Joe has been way more patient with Ferguson and I've hit my limit.  The blessing I guess is not hosting Thanksgiving.  Sigh....I wish I was hosting Tgiving - it has been a long time since I roasted a turkey on turkey day.

We're watching 60 Minutes and it isn't helping the "mood" I'm in this Sunday.  The story about the missing students in schools due to COVID?  Way too many - way too many and certainly COVID isn't the only reason.  My kids are not missing school. And then the story about those having extended issues post COVID diagnosis- concerning- but just as concerning was the announcement that one of the doctors (who looked young and healthy) interviewed died of a heart attack after filming the story.  This will be a show I watch again and I hope you will as well- let's discuss: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/public-school-enrollment-coronavirus-pandemic-60-minutes-2020-11-22/

COVID is serious, we're taking it seriously on NG Road and beyond. I also want to take seriously the missing kids at schools around the county, the other health issues that kill in large numbers: heart disease, cancer, mental health implications.   Mama said there would be days like this.  Days like this make earlier days in the weekend all the more meaningful- being outdoors and catching up with my dear sister-in-law- a date that had been pushed back due to COVID for months. How good it felt to be in church volunteering, serving- less than 10 - very distanced, with masks- but still there and finding ways to beyond Zoom!  Supporting the basketball team's early practice....easy to find the blessings in my life on Newark-Granville Road.  It is important to look at what is missing for others and how to share our blessings beyond our lives on Newark-Granville Road.

Moments- Here, There and Where-Time Away with Joe

Happiness is.....time away, vacation, a break, a road trip. It was long overdue.  This week it was time with Joe, playing resort golf, not working, being in warm temps, and even though it rained a fair amount and the ball did not roll it was wonderful!

I'm easing back into the work that waits- not Joe- he is out there raking leaves!  My school exam needs to be finalized, the PEO nut orders are ready for delivery and there is so much more...but here I am at the kitchen table watching Game Day from Augusta- wow! Now that is synergy, I wish I was a fly on the wall when that idea was hatched- well done!  Being on a golf trip, watching/listening to The Masters, listening to one of Clare's favorite podcasts- two episodes on golf- it all ties into a great package and made for a great week! (Hall of Shame is the podcast by the way.)

What an interesting world we're navigating, what a tightrope we're balancing, and have been. Who with, where, and how we engage- always with a mask- staying safe, keeping others safe, but maintaining mental health and supporting business and employment.  Joe and I recognized the deal we took advantage of was to keep the cogs of the travel world moving.

Life on Newark-Granville Road is in the moment today- here, there, and where? I am grateful for this chance to be at this table. I am grateful for yesterday's moments that provided relaxation, escape, joy, and comfort. Moments in the future to dream, plan, and anticipate.  What future courses will we play and explore? Holiday planning - the joy of giving and making traditions- updating, starting new, and prioritizing with care.  Savoring the past, being in the present, and mindful of the future is the future and not promised.

I also must acknowledge and say thanks to all that voted- the election certainly is providing fodder for our conversations on NG Road.  Our country really is the great experiment in democracy and figure eights of growth seem to be pulsing. I had not realized the timing of my grad school class- History of Philanthropy was so appropriate.  My final project looking at historic perspectives on Alexis du Tocqueville is enlightening.

All Saint Sunday- all the more meaningful this year.

 I have a beautiful basket that was filled with delicious, thoughtful items and delivered to me in Maryland when my father was dying.  I kept the basket and filled it with the cards and words that comforted me at that time.  This evening I poured a scotch, lit a favorite candle and visited the sentiments.  I listened to our FPC church service for All Saints Day as well and loved the visual of all our saints in the balcony Karen and found the hymns beautiful Marcy and Phillip. Prayers of gratitude to all our saints and yours. 

I made my grandmother's chili this weekend and labeled it- GaGa Chili.  I reached out to some folks missing their saints but don't have everyone's emails easily at hand.  So I put it out to the universe and one way is via the blog.  In my life on Newark-Granville Road I'm so grateful for the love and support I feel here and now and all the love in the past and that has made me who I am.  Amen.