Progression

We have progessed from "Boo" to "Buh-boo". Luke takes language learning very seriously. This morning was the first day since the arrival of Buh boo that his first word upon waking was NOT "Buh-boo" (as you can see this has dominated Luke's life for several days). This morning when I went to get Luke up he sat looking at me disappointedly, then looked behind me into the hallway and said, "Dadd-n! Dadd-n? Boo!" (the boo of course was referring to the love of his life, not an attempt to surprise his Dad).

I have also progressed in the last few days. From seven jars of tomato sauce to thirty-four! I know, I'm just blown away by myself. How did I do that?! The answer is: Luke took a four hour nap yesterday afternoon. Hurray on both counts! Check out my lovely pantry. I had to kick the recycling off my pantry shelves to make way for the canning. Pickles, jam, salsa, tomato sauce, and the token jar of caramel (which I didn't make, but I have a GREAT recipe for - you just cover a can of sweetened condensed milk with water in your dutch oven and bake it all day...that's it!). This seems very appropriate for Thanksgiving weekend.


The rest of my day will be spent making party potatoes, chocolate pumpkin cheesecake, and pumpkin pie, Lord willing. Luke is on nap hour number three, so there's hope for much productivity.

While I am sorting through what it means to say good-bye to Summer, and by default then my garden, it helps that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I am trying to be grateful for what I've had instead of moping about not having it anymore.

Just a summary of my sadness: Last night we had a hard frost that finished off my garden, and this afternoon I witnessed the first flakeage. I have never been so depressed to see snow. Normally I love it, but this year snow means the end of my garden and I have become very VERY attached to my garden. I am even a little fearful of the Winter this year - because it means staying indoors more, and not working in the dirt. It means no more fresh fruit and vegetables. It means long, dark days.

So, here's my thankful list: I am thankful for thirty-four jars of tomato sauce to remind me of warm, red tomatoes on the vine when it is dark and cold and I am wearing a gigantic sweater while hovering over the stove making dinner in the dark at 4:30pm in January. I am thankful for sunshine that will blind me as it glares off the snow and remind me of light on the lake in August and being so hot that the glacier water felt good on my feet. I am thankful for african violets that live on my windowsill and keep me cheery on days when the sun doesn't shine. I am thankful for raspberry jam that glows a summery jewel in my pantry when I reach in for flour, sugar, or something much less dull than raspberry jam. I am thankful for the popping in my kitchen signalling my jars are sealing. I am thankful for eleven shiny pumpkins sitting on my ledge, eleven orange and green pumpkins that will wait patiently until I get around to cooking them into warm delicious bread, pie, cake, scones. I am thankful for a husband who comes home each evening with a smile and a hug for the enjoyably chubby little munchkin I feed and clean up after all day. I am thankful that even though my family gets sick, we always seem to recover better than before. I am thankful for lightbulbs and slippers and honey and people who carve beautiful things out of wood. I am thankful for pictures that remind me of the joyful times I've forgotten. I am thankful for the magic of the telephone so I can hear my Mom's voice whenever I want. I am thankful to have somewhere to put my socks. Which I go now to fold.