Ah...Thanksgiving...and the hungry Poodle...

Every year I look forward to Thanksgiving and the delicious food that comes with it. There is turkey, juicy turkey, not the dry stuff like in the Vacation movie that bursts open in a hiss when you cut it open. There is also buttery, creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes that  just make you want to weep and there's the ultimate, pumpkin pie. Oh my...

I have one slight problem that puts a damper on the day, the hungry Poodle. You've met my Poodle Suki, just scroll down for a refresher. While she'a a pretty girl (just ask her) she is entirely lacking in self control and manners while in the presence of food. We have to shut her away during dinner so she doesn't attach anyone for their turkey. I find it really difficult to have 25 people at my house for dinner and then have my Poodle throwing herself against the door like she is being tortured and crying like she is the most mistreated dog ever during dinner. It's embarrassing to be nibbling my turkey to the constant thunk as her 70 pound poodle body hits the door.

Last year, we had our turkey on top of the stove, covered by foil, resting. My sister went to carve it only to find one turkey leg missing and the foil just barely disturbed. She had motive, means and opportunity. And she also left evidence behind in the form of  turkey leg remains in another room. Sometimes  dealing with a Poodle who thinks like a criminal on an episode of Law & Order freaks me out a little. My Pooldle is smarter than the average human and her personality is twice as big.

So...on Thanksgiving Day, think of me and say a little prayer that my Poodle does little to embarrass me this year.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Black Friday!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is my Dad's 78th birthday. My Dad died on August 22, 2009 and not a day goes by that I don't think of him and miss him. I was fortunate enough to have the most amazing Dad. My twin sister Kelly and I were born in 1966, an era where Dads were not all that involved with raising their children. Most Dads left that to the stay-at-home Mom. My Dad never did that. I remember going to old bookstores with my Dad when I was 4 years old in search of rare books. He never hesitated to take us places without our Mom and didn't mind that he had to chase 2 little twin girls around. He loved it! When my parents divorced my Dad wanted shared parenting at a time when shared parenting didn't exist. Luckily, I also had a Mom who realized how much my Dad loved us and wanted to spend time with us. When we were with our Dad we went to church, had lunch (but not White Castle- long story), spent time with my Grandma and saw every Disney movie. It wasn't that difficult to find a G rated movie in the 70's so we saw lots of movies. As I got older, I discovered that I was quite a lot like my Dad. I loved books, movies and being busy. That was my Dad in a nutshell. He worked up until his death and he wouldn't have had it any other way. My Dad also shared my love of Harry Potter (if not surpassed it) and attended midnight book release parties and midnight movies. He even dressed up when we asked him too. He would come to my house several times a week and we would watch TV (he loved The Closer), chat and eat pizza. Some of my favorite memories of my Dad were of us just sitting on my porch swing and chatting about whatever came to mind. I could talk with him for hours. I would give anything to have another 5 minutes with my Dad to tell him what a great Dad he was and how crazy I was, and still am, about him. My heart aches to see him again and I don't think that will ever go away. I have never met anyone who was as special as my Dad. Happy Birthday Daddy!

London...how I miss you!

Have I every mentioned that I love London? It's probably my favorite place in the world to be other than home. I was just there in May but I was thinking, this morning, about how much I wish I were there right now. Maybe it's time for another trip. Kel (my twin sister) says we're going somewhere new on our next trip and we are, but...that doesn't mean we can't spend a few days in London does it? I need to wander around Trafalgar and Leicester Squares, eat Banoffe pie, ride the tube all over the city, enjoy high tea, read "the paper" on the tube, and take the train to Bath. I believe I was British in another life actually because I'm homesick for London.

Jane Austen How I Love You...

I have a confession...I am... a Jane Austen addict. I know, I know, you're not surprised. I have that look about me that screams I'm in love with Mr. Darcy, Captain Wentworth & Colonel Brandon. There's just something about Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion and Sense & Sensibility (my favorites) that keeps me going back for more, and more, and more. Colin Firth is still Mr. Darcy in my mind (mist or no mist-you know who you are), Alan Rickman is Colonel Brandon (and my Severus) and I have to say the best ever Captain Wentworth was Rupert Penry-Jones (oh my...).

I have been fortunte enough to travel to many Jane Austen sites in Great Britain. Bath, of course, being my personal favorite. I believe no place to be more beautiful than Bath. The Jane Austen Centre is an amazing place. I highly recommend "Tea with Mr. Darcy" in the Regency Tea Room. Tea with Mr. Darcy includes your selection of tea, cheese & cucumber finger sandwiches, a selection of cakes, and a scone with Dorset clotted cream and a seasonal local jam or strawberry jam. Yum! The cheese spread on the sandwiches is scrumptious.

My sister and I also had the opportunity to visit Chawton Village where Jane lived with her sister Cassandra. The house was perfect and I really, really, really wanted to lay down in the backyard and just bask in the Janeness of it all, but I was afraid they would cart me away. Directly across the street is Cassandra's Cupp, a cafe named after Jane's sister. It's lovely. While we were waiting to order, we met a few British ladies who asked if Jane Austen wrote Jane Eyre. It was ever so helpful of me to point out that Charlotte Bronte wrote Jane Eyre. She laughed and said how funny it was that she was asking an American this since it's clearly something she should know. I loved it.

A year later we visited Winchester where Jane Austen died. It was not what I expected. It was a very quiet little town. Winchester Cathedral was mighty impressive and we happened to arrive during service so we had to wait. Like that was a hardship. Not very far from the Cathedral is the house where Jane Austen died. It's a quaint little yellow house. There's a marker on the house that indicates it's the house where she died. There is also a sign by the door that says the house is not a tourist attraction but a private home. Oh...the poor souls who live there. They must be bugged constantly by people wanting to take a tour. I have to admit, I would have paid admission. Wonder if they would sell it to me so I could use it as a vacation house. Maybe I could channel Jane in the parlor. Hmmm....Moving on. Once we finally got to go inside Winchester Cathedral we found the marker where Jane is buried. I considered throwing myself down on it screaming Jane... Jane...but I kind of had a feeling I'd get arrested. I know, it's twisted, but that's the stuff obsessions are made of.

Along with my desire to visit all of the Jane places I can before I die, I'm one of those readers who reads  variations and sequels to Pride & Prejudice. I think the start of all of that was Mr. Darcy Takes A Wife by Linda Berdoll. I have since read many a variation and sequel. One of my personal favorite authors is Abigail Reynold and her Pemberly Variations. There is a helpful website called The Best Jane Austen Sequels that has an extensive list of sequels if you are interested and taking up my addiction. It's not been updated for awhile but it's an excellent resource. Another great resource is Jane Austen Today which is one of the blogs I follow that's always updated with new Austen goings on. If you're interested in a list of favorite sequels and variations let me know. I would be happy to provide a list of my favorites.

Happy reading...

Halloween Already??

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. What's not to love? There's no major gift giving, you don't have to go visit family and there's candy involved. How awesome is that? But really, is it already Halloween, again? Someone's either snuck in one extra Halloween each year or the years are flying by because I'm getting older (shudder). Anyway, with Halloween looming, I need to make the all important decision about what to serve at my Open House (which I have done every year for the last 14 years). Every year friends and family come over to my house to sample some goodies and take their kids trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. How fun is that? Many of my friends have made it a family tradition to come to my house every year eat, trick-or-treat and have a family picture taken on my porch swing. I love it! That's what memories are made of. My Dad always loved Halloween because he had a major sweet tooth and well with Halloween there lots and lots of candy. He was always the first (well the second) to hit the candy bowl to pick out a sample of his favorite candies (Reese cups forever!). Or if he happened to be giving candy out at his house, I would save a treat bag of candy for him because he was sure to stop by some time during the evening. Most of my Halloween memories are attached to my Dad and my closest friends. I have to say, the last 2 Halloweens without my Dad have been difficult because I keep expecting him to stop by for candy and he doesn't. It's funny but my childhood memories of Halloween don't include my Dad or my Mom. Halloween was their wedding anniversary so my Aunt always took us trick-or-treating while my parents went out to celebrate. After my parents divorced (maybe the shouldn't have gotten married on Halloween) when I was 9, I never trick-or- treated again. Hmmm...anyway...let's move on.

As I was saying, the most important part of Open House planning is what to serve. I will, of course, serve some of my usuals including Gold Star chili dip, cupcakes (because who doesn't love cake and their fun to decorate), and BBQ meatballs. I have also ordered a layered taco dip from a restaurant called What's for Dinner? and I'll have a cheese ball sampling from Jungle Jim's who by the way makes the best cheese ball combinations I have every had. They have a traditional beef and chives which I serve with crackers to peanut butter and chocolate (a personal favorite) which I serve with graham cracker sticks. The first NEW recipe I plan to add this year is one I found in All For You magazine. I get this magazine via subscription each month and it has $50 or more worth of coupons. Does that rock or what? In September's issue they had a chocolate fudge that contained candy corn and peanuts which are two bits of wonderousness that I love to mix together. I have found many fudge recipes you can make to look like candy corn but none that contain candy corn. That's what made me take a second look at this recipe and decide it was going to be on the menu. Between now and Halloween I'd like to pick out several new recipes and I'll make sure to put the recipe link here and share my ideas. Happy Halloween planning...

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/candy-corn-fudge-50400000116328/

Ah Glee, I have missed you so...

Finally! The 3rd season of Glee begins tonight and I am all atwitter. Don't tell me you're not as excited as I am because I'll never believe you. Oh how I have missed my Kurt and Blaine. Is it too much to ask for a kiss tonight from our newly mated pair? I think not. I do believe Blaine sings to his man tonight (a Tom Jones song no less) so maybe I will get my kiss.

The Poodle...

The Poodle...Suki Boo

Isn't she beautiful? Just ask her. She'll tell you she is the most beautiful girl ever! I guess after 10 years of hearing that she's a little full of herself. Not only is she beautiful, she is sweet, funny and so full of attitude. She's a real character...and I cannot imagine her not being with me always, but we won't discuss that. Suki was named after Sookie on Gilmore Girls and she chatters away just like her. How fabulous is that? Just call me Lorelei. Hmmm...I believe I have that on video. Maybe next time.