...Blogger, that'll be me! Do I get an award?

I think it's time to say good-bye, at least for now.

I enjoyed this blog very much. Through writing here, I was able to connect with others in a way I never thought possible. I deeply appreciated your comments, feedback and support...more than I can say. Each comment from you gave me a bit of awe...and awesome...you took the time to read, and the time to respond to me. Thank You.

Blogger Friends, you are amazing! Now. About that award...................

I think I may have had a brain hiccup. Sometime this week, I’m not sure when and it probably doesn’t matter, I developed an odd fixation about preparing the stuffing for Thanksgiving. I found myself searching for recipes…reading them at high speed, thinking, ''hey!, I can do this!'' There’s the hiccup folks. Me? Cook? Have I gone completely crazy?

Next thing I know I’m printing off what I (desperately) hope is an adequate, no, make that The Best Ever stuffing recipe. A twinge of fear dashes through me but I dismiss it just as quickly as it appears. Perhaps another wave of crazy, who knows?

I’m taking a long time at the grocery store. Even though I don’t cook, I do eat. And I know good food is a result of good ingredients. I fight a bit of paralysis in my arm when I reach for the produce items… how do I know these are fresh? This is getting ridiculous. (actually it already IS ridiculous)

Tony convinces me to prepare the stuffing the day before Thanksgiving. (okay, if it turns out to be a bowl of The Cat Won’t Eat It, Tony can save the day on Thanksgiving and give it another go. I sigh with some sense of relief. Maybe I’m not too crazy after all.

I carefully gather all the ingredients, double check that I have everything. I don’t. I don’t have the walnuts. I remember not everyone likes walnuts. Hey, I have fresh almonds! (so, okay, not everyone likes almonds but that’s what I have so get over it) Wow. I suddenly feel what must be Chef Power. Step aside…I’m holding a rather sharp knife and scare myself…just a little.

By the time I have slowly - and I do mean slowly - cut, chopped, peeled, prepared all the ingredients, Tony enters the kitchen. He makes tea and kindly offers me a cup. I, of course, dramatically wipe my brow with the back of my hand and accept the offer. I must admit he looks uncertain about what to do. Tony sits at the kitchen table, occasionally tapping his fingers, mumbling something that sounds like, I’ve never seen you cook. I smile. Just now I realize HE has to do the dishes I've just used doing this cooking. Heh heh.

The stuffing looks pretty. It tastes surprisingly good. Elsie keeps pinching another taste. I think I feel like a Chef. I’m not washing up!

I took the bowl of stuffing out of the frig this morning. Still looks pretty. Still tastes good. Real good. Bring on the guests!

Have I caught the cooking bug? Nah, I don’t think so. Not yet anyway. We know that life is full of surprises and, believe me, this little cooking escapade of mine was a big surprise! I’m all grins today. I hope you are too!

The French say I have instead of I am when referring to their age. I like that. I have 48 years on Saturday!

I seem to always ponder the most about my life at the time of my birthday. Another year... What am I doing? Who am I being?

This year I’ve given more thought to wider hips, the depth of wrinkles and silver hair…the infamous aging dilemma. What does it mean to Age Gracefully? Am I doing that? Am I being that? For now the answer is, simply, ''I don’t know.'' So, I’ve put together just a few 'aging' things that I do know…

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But, sometimes, there are things in life just as well forgotten. And eventually I remember the important things.

I quit trying to hold my stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

I now do weight lifting by standing up.

I can see my childhood toys in antique shops now.

Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life.

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

Never lick a steak knife.

I'm sure everything I can't find is in a secure place.

You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

Seems we have 'adopted' a kitty!

NOT PLANNED...

This kitty sat at our front door Saturday looking like a baby, appearing rather scruffy and definitely lost. Tony and I took him in for just a little TLC and next thing we know, he's taken over our attention, kitchen, and everything else! We never planned on having a cat...but, as many of you know: Man Plans, God Laughs.

Even though we still had doubts about keeping the cat, we took him to the vet yesterday and with the tune of 58.47 euros quickly escaping our bank account, the cat suddenly became, without a doubt, OURS.

Well....Elsie is sooooo very happy. Apparently cats live 15-18 years, or more? So I'm thinking Elsie better enroll in a university that takes cats!!!!

Named Francis by Elsie, he is about 6 weeks old and, so far, he has been a delightful little addition around here. Problem is we are ''not too bright'' about kitty care. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

The MOB dress has been purchased!

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE...thank you very much.

Picture it: MOB, along with Bride, casually saunter into Macy's full of confidence and complete knowledge of The Perfect Dress. Not. I was a cross-eyed mess. Too many choices; too frumpy or Prom-mie or frilly or size zero-ey (btw, who wears size zero at my age?) We quickly ditched the MOB dress section and zoomed on over to formal wear. We passed the long dresses and did a sweep over knee length dresses. Loads of black dresses that had me singing ''I love these!'' ...but, hey, do I really want to wear black to my daughters wedding? sigh. I would have been HOT. (okay, slightly embarrassed, probably, but HOT). So the Bride gently tugged (I'm sure she didn't mean to leave a bruise) on my arm and we went on to fill our arms and shoulders with dresses in a rainbow of colors. On to the dressing room. First dress, in a word, YUK. Second dress, in a word, SASSY. This is IT! I'll be sassy! Bride loved it. I loved it. On to the cashier, payment made and Done! In less than 30 minutes, I bought my MOB dress and did I mention it is sassy? Now y'all are going to have to wait for photos, but don't worry, the wedding is just another 227 days!

Do you think we bought the MOB dress in record time?

Perhaps I should contact Guinness World Records.......

I start the journey back to Brittany tomorrow.
And although I am eager to smooch Tony
and bear hug Elsie,
it's sad to have to say good bye to Min and Tommy.

I'm leaving here
with loads of fun
captured on film
and
absorbed in my heart.

(pizza, beer, hot dogs, onion rings and sliders are on my hips)