Almost none of my efforts the past few days lend themselves to pictures. This is the only picture I could come up with - the current occupants of the shelf on the Hoosier, a pair of Napco turkey salt and pepper shakers and an old postcard with a turkey and thatched cottage.
I did everything on the to-do list (washed all the windows, painted the basement stairway, scrubbed porch, cleaned the house) and added a few more (washed and ironed all the curtains, cleaned out some of the gardens, shopped for Thanksgiving.)
At one point this passed for a pretty scene last week - rose-scented linen spray for ironing and a pile of clean but wrinkly curtains. It took 2 1/2 hours to iron them all. I won't be washing them again in the near future. If ever.
Every once in a while, there are still a few flowers blooming in the garden at Thanksgiving, just enough for a tiny flower arrangement. This looks like one of those years.
Right now there is focaccia baking in the oven and minestrone bubbling in the slow cooker. My friend (who's my role model for an older person who travels, reads, thinks and is just generally a joy to be around) is picking me up to go to a community Thanksgiving service, and then she's coming back here to have dinner with us. In the meantime, I'm going to sit down in my clean house and look out my sparkling windows and try not to think about those brownies. I'm not going to do anything that requires more energy than turning the page of my new Martha Stewart magazine (which looks like one of her better Christmas issues) or flipping through the channels to find the best football game. Thanksgiving is just four days away, and I'm pretty much ready. In the words of the old Thanksgiving song, all is safely gathered in.
Your nest is all clean and tidy and you sound very prepared. Enjoy that issue of Martha (I thought it was a good issue) and put your feet up. Happy Thanksgiving dear!
ps. am sure those curtains you ironed FOREVER look amazing and good for another 10 years!
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | November 22, 2009 at 01:35 PM
It sounds like you've had a very good day. I got a little caught up today, too! Enjoy your outing and dinner!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | November 22, 2009 at 04:31 PM
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: LiLi M. | November 22, 2009 at 04:46 PM
It looks like you deserve a whole pan of brownies considering all the work you've done. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Paige | November 22, 2009 at 05:34 PM
I actually thought that issue was majorly disappointing. Want to know your opinion after you read it...
Posted by: Sarah | November 22, 2009 at 05:40 PM
I like the MSL issue, especially the three separate covers (what, couldn't they make up their minds?) The magazine points us toward the Christmas Workshop section of the MSL website. It does not work properly and keeps freezing. Grrrr. Hope your family enjoys Thanksgiving.
Posted by: Mary Ellen | November 22, 2009 at 06:54 PM
Isn't it great when all things are tidied up and one is just waiting for the holiday to arrive. I love being prepared, which doesn't happen often! This Thanksgiving I plan on enjoying in a relaxed state of mind. Hope you have a fabulous day.
Maureen
Posted by: Maureen | November 22, 2009 at 07:25 PM
Thanks for not shaming us with pix of your cleaning frenzy..... Revel in the clean house! XOX
Posted by: Sue | November 22, 2009 at 10:44 PM
I just love those turkeys - that is my favorite holiday item you have!
You've worked so hard, I hope you relax and enjoy to the same degree that you worked and prepared.
I really want one of those brownies.
Posted by: Tina | November 22, 2009 at 11:17 PM
I have yet to crack open MSL or any of the others stacked up on the coffee table but tonight is The Night! If only I had a brownie... -amy
Posted by: Into Vintage | November 23, 2009 at 12:12 AM
I'm just a bit envious - my house never achieves that Martha look.
Posted by: Lynn | November 23, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Sit in your clean fluffed-up house and be content. You've done the "woman of the house" thing and now deserve some sort of treat. (Thanks for the email. Do "they", the stories from an earlier time, skitter through your mind when you least expect them to? The remnants of your past that once were just like you and me?) Odd how they never really let you go, isn't it?
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula | November 23, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Oh my goodness, that's what I did Sunday while watching football: iron 4 pairs of curtains! I change the dining room and living room curtains for Christmas. But I was smart this time. Instead of folding the ones I took down, I am hanging them up! And you have my permission to dive face first into those brownies!
Posted by: Carol@ Old Glory Cottage | November 23, 2009 at 04:10 PM