harvesting

Yesterday, I got a phone call from my mother in law, letting me know that the corn was ready to be picked. This was somewhat funny, considering that earlier in the summer, I had asked about corn, and was told that they were not going to be planting any. So, I had resigned myself to getting corn from the farmers market, and the possibility of not having any to freeze. Hmm ... bad assumption.

Here's a timeline:

3:30 phone call from MIL - they have 24 rows of sweet corn, want some?
3:40 leave the house with two complaining children
4:00 arrive at farm where MIL works and start picking
4:45 leave farm where MIL works with 157 ears of corn!
8:30 look at corn and say to DH - what was I thinking?
10:30 tell DH that we're done for the night, we ran out of freezer bags for corn cut off the cob

9:00 am start shucking corn, again, another 60 ears to be frozen on the cob
10:20 take a break while waiting for water to boil and blog about overwhelming amounts of corn

So ... my freezer is slowly being taken over by corn.

In addition to the 25 pounds of blueberries I've already frozen.
In addition to the tomatoes from our garden that I've been freezing
Not including two gallons of blackberries waiting to be made into jam.

And I was going to make a batch of sloppy spaghetti this afternoon, so that is another six quarts of sauce I'll have to freeze.

I think I may have a problem. In more ways than one.

fresh

In the middle of winter, on the eve of another supposed Winter Storm, I got a burst of summer today when I grabbed my jar of bay leaves, to put one in the chicken and dumplings I am making for dinner tonight.

I opened the jar and WOOSH! the smell of fresh bay leaves. What a lovely memory of summer.

I grew these myself last summer and dried them in the basement, and have been able to use them as my heart desires ... and I have plenty to get me through the year. The plant got kinda big.

Now I'm really looking forward to spring!

something I shouldn't have bought

Chocolate Covered Peppermint Ice Cream Bites from Schwans.

Too yummy for my butts own good.

At least I was smart enough to put them in the basement freezer, so I have to go down there and eat them - if they were in the kitchen freezer, I would be in serious trouble.

And we're off!

to the grandparents house we go!

The deviled eggs - done!
The pumpkin cranberry bread - done!
The blueberry pie - done!
Oven on clean - done!

A few years ago, it may have been the year my Mom passed away, in 2000, I decided that I was starting a new tradition. Every year, in early November, I pester an assorted handful of relatives, near and far, and request that they tell me three things they are thankful for. This is our eighth year, and we have added a decent number of relatives - my two kids, my brother in laws three kids, a couple of husbands and a cousin. The list is now three pages long, when everyone participates.

I am in charge of "The List" - getting answers, compiling it and reading it. Even for those of us that are not at the local gathering, emails are sent, with the instructions to read it before you sit down to eat.

This year, I'll share our immediate families list:

MINE

• A husband that indulges and loves me enough that he's considering flying my Dad up for Christmas.
• Everything that is based out of a certain home in North Aurora - my home, my husband and my children, and everything, joyful, funny and frustrating that goes along with them.
• My paper shredder

THE HUSBAND

• The joys and frustrations that my wonderful children bring to me every day
• An understanding and wonderful wife
• Friends and family who love me for what I am

THE SON, aka Q, age 5 1/2

• Turkey
• Pumpkins, watermelon and fruit salad
• Bronco Football games
• My whole family, Mommy, Daddy, Q, The Bee, Mimi, Boompa, Zoe and that’s not all of them

THE DAUGHTER, aka The Bee, age 3 1/2

• My Mommy and My Daddy and Mimi and Boompa and Zoe
• My plate
• Strawberries

Some years the list is more serious - current political events, health issues, money ebbing and tiding - they all show up at some point or another. Some years we're not as serious - Cheetos, lip gloss, movies and leopard print have made an appearance as well. I've got all of these saved on the computer, and a hard copy is floating around here somewhere. I don't have a definite, long range plan for these lists ... they're just something I wanted to start making, and we'll see how it goes as we get there.

Have a wonderful holiday, and I hope you are able to indulge in all of your favorite things! Hug those that are around you and enjoy the holiday.