On the Hunt Again...

Hello, friends!

Hope everyone is getting in the holiday spirit! Peenie and I have had quite the exciting week, with two new additions to our families--CHRISTMAS BABIES! One to the Purgason family, and one to the Edwards family! That makes Peenie a GREAT GRANDMOTHER, and I guess that makes me an...aunt-in-law? Cousin-in-law? 2nd cousin? What are you if your cousin has a baby? Anyway...

William Matthew Dillion (my cousin Carrie Purgason's baby boy) was born on the 17th. He's a big boy! 8 pounds, 3 ounces.

Adair Lee Yates (my cousin Nell Yates' baby girl) was born on the 18th. She's a little one--born a whole month early! 6 pounds, I believe.

Both babies and mothers are healthy and happy. So fun! Can't wait to meet little William in Greensboro on Christmas Day. Don't know when we'll meet little Adair...she's a California baby! But we hope to meet her soon, right Peenie? (Peenie squeals in delight at the thought!)

Alright, so even in the midst of all this activity, I am "on the hunt" again. The DREADED job hunt. This is where I need your help, friends.

We learned last week from the doctor that Peenie's congestive heart failure will most likely get worse in the next six months or so. Of course, there's no telling what will happen--she could be kickin' till she's 110! Heck, she could outlive me--and I wouldn't put it past her! But we're beginning to prepare for what COULD happen. Mom has begun to get the house ready for sale, we're looking for care options for Peenie, and I've begun fishing for prospective job opportunities in Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

I'm looking for something in the nonprofit world, something administrative, or something marketing-related. Any magazines hiring? I DO like to write! Shocker, huh? Hehe. Benefits would be lovely! Start date in the Spring or Summer.

Will you keep your eyes peeled for me, friends? I can shoot you my resume to forward along, and I can provide excellent references! 'Twould be much appreciated.

I'll leave you with this:

Entertaining tidbit of the week...

Peanut found two unrecognizable tubes of lipstick in her purse this week. NOT of the Orange Flip variety. Of the pink variety. WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? They're not mine. They're obviously not Peenie's. Did she accidentally pick them up at a restaurant somewhere? Did she unknowingly (gasp) SHOPLIFT them? It's driving Peanut nuts. She's driving ME nuts. We've re-traced her steps, trying to pinpoint the location where she came to possess the mystery lipstick tubes. So far, no luck. I'm thinking about swiping them out of her purse and trashing them--just so she'll forget about it! Poor little nut. Her (did I shoplift?!) conscience just won't let her drop it.

Peenie, Please Go to Bed

It is now almost 8:10 pm, and Peenie has not stopped talking since 8:00 this morning. Granted, I was at work for a portion of the day, so I had a few hours break...but when I got back, I saw that the yapping had continued. It continues even now, as I type.

"Katy, what are you doing?"
"Katy, how do you spell laughter?"
"Katy, doesn't that news-anchorwoman's hair look just TERRIBLE? I wonder when she last washed it."
"Katy, where's my cell?"
"Katy, can you go downstairs and get me a roll of paper towels?"
"Katy, I can't believe that poinsettia was only eight dollars!"
"Katy, what's that spot on the wall behind you?"
"Katy, what color is your hair?"

(Just so you know, I have patiently answered every question she has asked me today. Even the four questions she asked earlier as I was crossing two lanes of heavy traffic.)

Right now, what I really want to say (but won't) is, "Peenie, please go to bed."

I feel like Louis Griffin with Stewie right next to me going, "Mom? Mom? Mom? Mom? Mommy? Mom-ee? Mom-aa? Mom-ee? Mother? Moooooom? Mom?" And...I'm tired. I just want a little bit of quiet. I wish Peenie would be quiet.

Ok, she just went to bed.

Whew! All you moms out there--I feel for ya.

Oh, and...now she's back.

You know how little kids boomerang when it's bedtime? You send them to bed, and then less than a minute later they're back asking for a glass of water or some silly question like:


"Katy, where should we go to lunch tomorrow?"

"I don't know, Peenie...maybe we should decide that tomorrow."

"Okay! Sleepy tight! Love youuuuuuuuuu!"

"Love you, little nut."


Just like a little kid, Peenie boomerangs...but she's too cute to be annoyed at for too long. And, you can't exactly put your grandmother in time-out, can you?

I'll leave you with this:

(Peenie, looking at the news-anchorwoman's hair.)

Peenie: Her hair is really brassiere.
Katy: Peenie, don't you mean bizarre?
Peenie: Oh. Yea. That's right. Her hair is bizarre...BUT...she's probably wearing a brassiere!
Katy: On national television, I certainly hope so.
Peenie: Hehe!

Getting to the Bottom of Hurt

Have any of you seen the movie "Lars and the Real Girl"? I watched it last night on Netflix, and was really glad I did. Before you Google it, let me provide you with a description, for fear of you thinking the worst. Trust me, it's not as bad as it sounds! In fact, it's not bad at all. It's a really thought-provoking movie.

"Lars and the Real Girl" is about a guy named Lars (played by Ryan Gosling) who is lonely (though somewhat by choice), extremely socially awkward, but very sweet. He lives in a garage apartment, just a few steps away from his brother's home. His brother has a wife who is newly pregnant, and she regularly reaches out to Lars to join them for meals. Lars almost always refuses. She worries. The brother shrugs it off and tells her not to fret--that Lars is fine and that he's always been a little strange.

One day, Lars, out of his loneliness, orders a life-sized doll off the internet as a companion. The doll, whom he names Bianca, is actually a sex-toy, which everyone else seems to notice but Lars. Lars suffers from a delusion that Bianca is actually a real person, and he begins a (non-sexual) relationship with her.

The brother and wife are, of course, in shock. Out of fear/concern, they convince Lars that Bianca may need a "check up" at the doctor's (who also happens to be a psychiatrist). At the doctor's (played by Patricia Clarkson), they are first told of his delusional state. When they ask what can be done, the doctor tells them that they must go along with it (much to their embarrassment) until they can find out what part of Lars or his memory the delusion is coming from. The doctor agrees to talk to Lars every week during Bianca's "check ups", to see if she can help get to the heart of the matter.

This is where it gets interesting. The brother and wife ask for help from their community and church. Together, they all accept Bianca and treat her as a real person for Lars' sake, ultimately getting to the bottom of his hurt, and leading to his healing.

Wow, right?

The message of the movie--getting to the bottom of fear and hurt through LOVE and CARE--hit me like a ton of bricks. It's something we all need to learn, and man, am I preaching to the choir when I say that.

As I've said before, living with Peenie is fun, but it also can be tough. Very tough. This week, especially. After we got back from the hospital last Saturday, I spent the next two days battling her on taking her medication. Peenie was resistant, insisting that there was nothing wrong with her. I kept insisting that there was. Out of fear for her health, I began to take on a forceful and patronizing tone. This obviously made things worse, and the little nut continued her revolt until we both exploded.

On Sunday night, I realized that I needed to change my approach. Instead of treating her like an unruly child, I needed to be more loving and more patient. Who wants to take orders or receive help from someone who's forceful, anyway?

It's now Friday, and we're in a completely different place now. Because of this different approach, we've had a great week! Talk about a turn-around! Peenie is taking all of her meds, we've both been in contact with her doctor, and she's actually LET me help her with some things that she normally wouldn't.

Peenie and I were both afraid when we got home from the hospital, and Peenie was hurting from embarrassment and the realization of her age and condition. I initially took the wrong approach with forceful words on the importance of her medication, but now I know that was wrong of me. I need to remember that in this relationship (and in all relationships) it's best to get to the bottom of fear and hurt through love and care.

I'll leave you with this:

A picture of Peenie during her check-up at Dr. G's! Cutest patient ever, right?

I Could Make a Living on Peenie Quotes

These quotes might possibly be the funniest things I've heard yet from Peenie. And they all happened within the last 15 minutes. Could possibly be all of the new meds she's on, but still...I could resign from blogging after these:


Mom: Mother, I don't even remember how many boyfriends I had.

Peenie: How many rocks are on the seashore?

---

Mom: Remember when JD asked me if I'd have his punkards?

Peenie: He was a big guy. Probably had a big punker.
---
Peenie: Sue, I wish you'd just leave Ed. Come down here and live with me.


I'll leave you with this:

...and, I quit (for now). Partly cause I'm still doubled-over and can barely type. Wouldn't Flannery O'Connor have a hay-day?

More Gift Ideas and A Peenie Quote

Peenie was checked into the hospital this morning, friends. Shortness of breath due to her congestive heart failure. Turns out the little nut has been "picking and choosing" with her meds...not good. But we caught it, we're on it, and it looks like they'll release her from the hospital tomorrow or Sunday. She's feeling feisty, too AND she downed a whole Chik-Fil-A milkshake--both good signs! I'll keep you updated, you keep Peenie in your prayers! We want to keep the little nut around for as long as we can!

And now (drumroll please), some gift ideas for the ladies! Or, in other words, things that I'd like to have! Hey, no problem with that, right? To tweak a common phrase, "Gift others as you would have them gift you!"

As promised, they're all under $50. Hope you like the suggestions!

1. Vintage-Looking Lipstick Holder
aka: What I bought for Peenie! She's gotta have a system for keeping track of all of that Orange Flip! ($28)

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/29299674.jsp?cm_vc=SEARCH_RESULTS

2. Persuasion Book Scarf
Handmade Cotton Black and White Scarf with a page from Austen's Persuasion printed on it! ($42)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/118276575/persuasion-book-scarf?ref=shop_home_active

3. Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles
Made in England. Truffles with a Milk Chocolate, Butter, and Champagne Center ($24)

http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-1072123/Charbonnel+et+Walker+Pink+Marc+de+Champagne+Truffles

I'll leave you with this:

...a funny/scary thing that Peenie said to me this week, after I told her that she really should get a hearing aid:

"Katy, some man is going to put you in a straight jacket someday. And ELECTROCUTE you!"

Forgiveness

Good mornin', friends! Hope everyone had a lovely, restful, food-and-family-filled Thanksgiving! Peenie and I both did! Peenie says she ate so much food that she felt like the stuffed turkey that she ate must've felt (read that again...it's funny). Can't believe that it was a whole week ago (partly because the swelling has just begun to go down). How time flies! Now onto Christmas...

Speaking of Christmas, did anyone get a jump-start on their Christmas list? I did (which has never happened before), and it feels great! I highly recommend the feeling. And if any of you are looking for gifts for the men in your life (hardest people to shop for, right?), allow me do a little sharing. These gifts are affordable, useful, and sure-to-please! Trust me, I did my research (ie: James told me these are cool).

1. Harry's German Engineered Razors ($12)

Gift Pack Includes Razor and Shave Cream in a Stocking-Worthy Gift Box

https://www.harrys.com/the-one-two-set

2. Richer-Poorer Socks ($32 for pack of three)

Gift Pack Includes 3 Pairs of Expertly Designed, Colorful Socks

http://www.richer-poorer.com/men/mens-gift-packs/holiday-gift-3-pack-d.html

3. Corter Leather Bottlehook ($36)

Belt Loop Key Hook Bottleopener, Handmade in New England

http://shop.corterleather.com/collections/frontpage/products/bottlehook

Hope these suggestions are helpful! I'd share more, but I don't want to give away all of my secrets...hehehehe. I'll share some gift ideas for the ladies later in the week! Like these, all are under $50! Believe me, I know what it's like to be ballin' on a budget. Tough, man. Tough.

Now to the real meat of this post. The topic of forgiveness. I don't know if any of you have seen this shared on Facebook lately:

Get ready to plug your ears...

That, my friends, is BULLSHIT. Bullllllllllllllllllllllllllllshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. Bull. Freaking. Shit.

Ok, un-plug your ears now.

Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace?! No, no. That is not the reason we forgive others. Let me give you the ONE reason we forgive others:

Ephesians 4:32: Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

We forgive because we have been forgiven. Not because we or anyone else deserves anything. 

To add...

Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That's actually what we deserve, friends. Not forgiveness, not peace. Death. But we have been given a gift (much better than any Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal) which was the gift of Jesus Christ from God the Father. And if we choose to accept that gift, we inherit eternal life.

None of this is deserved. It was paid for.

*steps off soap box*

I'm preaching to the choir here, friends. As much as I love Peanut and her antics, she drives me crazy and hurts my feelings on the daily (none of those details included on the blog, though--the purpose of my posts will never be to trash my grandmother). But I forgive her. Not because I think I deserve peace, but because I love her. And because I know that much has been forgiven me. 

I'll leave you with this:

Hope everyone has a nice hump-dayyyyyyyyyyyy (MikeMikeMikeMikeMike)! Already halfway through the week! Look for another Peenie Post on Friday--gift ideas for the ladies and some Peanut quotes from the past 7 days!

Happier than a Pig in the Sunshine

And now, I present to you today's favorite moment with Peanut...

At Panera Bread:

Katy: Peenie, how's your soup? You need more coffee?
Peenie: Soup's good, coffee's hot, and I got my crackers! Don't need nothin'. I'm happier than a pig in the sunshine!

...and that's just how the little nut is. Happier than a pig in the sunshine! Most of the time. Unless she's talking about French bread, or her foot (OH, FOOT!), or...a few other unmentionables.

I'll leave you with this:

Has anyone seen this "Fabulous Fashionistas" video that's circling the web? "Older women saying NO to drab"? I checked it out! Props to those senior ladies! But I must say, though I may be biased, I think Peenie's more fashionable than any of them: http://seniorplanet.org/dont-dress-your-age-six-inspiring-women-say-no-to-drab/.

So fashionable! Here she is, checking out a pair of Ugglies a few weeks ago:

Check out that color-blocked top!

Goodnight, friends! Or, as Peenie said to me a few minutes ago, "See you in the funny papers!"

Peenie's Birthday

Ok, I was wrong. Peenie is 92, not 93. She was born in 1921. 2013 minus 1921 is definitely 92. Whoops! I've always been bad at math. But hey, I'm sure Peanut would rather be 92 than 93, and 92 is just as impressive, right? I mean, it's only one year of difference. Just don't tell Peanut that.

Peenie had a great #92, though it was her first birthday since she was 19 without Paw. Can you imagine? Paw's absence this year was, of course, grieved by all, but we made sure that he was still part of the celebration. Every year on Peenie's birthday, Paw would go to Vaughn-Russell (a local candy store) to buy the "nut assortment" box of chocolates for Peanut. We did the same. Paw would also give Peenie a birthday card every year and sign it, "Love and Prayers" with a Scripture reference at the bottom. We did the same. She cried at both.

Another thing we did to honor Paw's memory while celebrating Peenie was to go pick up her engagement ring from the jewelry store. It was there being repaired, and had been for quite a while. We picked it up just before going to a birthday lunch at Word of Mouth. She stared and smiled at it the entire time we ate. Just like a new bride. It was adorable.

As far as the rest of the celebration went, we had a big family dinner at the Olive Garden on Tuesday night, followed by a slumber party at the house with mom, and a big family breakfast with lots of coffee and storytelling on Wednesday morning. In my opinion, the perfect birthday, whether you're 92 or 25.

I'll leave you with this:

A picture of Peenie in her birthday outfit! I gave her the jacket. She looks like one continuous ruffle! So cute.

The Ugglies

Peenie sent the Ugglies back. Said they made her feet look too big. I wanted to take a picture, but she "put her foot down". Ha! Back to the drawing board, folks! The hunt for Peenie-perfect shoes continues...

I went home briefly this weekend. While I was there, I went to one of the best, if not THE best, concerts of my life--all thanks to my boyfriend and his parents of equally excellent musical taste. Have any of you ever heard of the Kruger Brothers? I hadn't either, but after hearing them on Saturday night, I'm now a huge fan! Their style is like jazz, classical, and bluegrass all rolled up into one. They're hilariously funny and shared stories and experiences throughout the evening. The banjo player, Jens (they're originally from Sweden), is the best banjo player I've ever heard...incredible, a "virtuoso" (And I can say that with authority because James, who actually has musical authority, was the one who actually said it)!

The first set of the concert was a trio of banjo, bass, and guitar--with only the two brothers (Jens and Uwe) and their friend (Joel) on stage. They played one of my all time favorites "People Get Ready", and brought tears to my eyes:

Kruger Brothers – People Get Ready

"People get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord"

The second set was a presentation of their "Appalachian Concerto", and a string quartet joined them on stage. All I can say about that is it was absolutely beautiful. Mrs. A gifted me with a recording of it, and I listened to it on my drive back to Greenville last night.

The third set was mostly covers and such, with a lovely version of Sting's "Fields of Gold" and possibly their biggest hit, "Carolina in the Fall":

Kruger Brothers – Carolina in the Fall

I really wish there was a recording of Saturday night. Their performance was absolutely perfect, and I'd love to share it with you all! I can't recommend them enough! Here's the link to their website: http://www.krugerbrothers.com/. They also have concerts this weekend and next in Mountain City and in Asheville. If you can make it out to see them, you won't regret it!

Have a great Monday, friends! Make sure to look for those last glimpses of "the color of the leaves in Carolina in the Fall"--won't be around for much longer!

Funnies

Peenie's been really funny this week. I SO must be rubbing off on her...though that may or may not be a good thing.

It all started on Monday morning with her personification of breakfast:

"Katy, I just love breakfast. I just love it to death."

Continued on Tuesday when I apologized for cursing in front of her, to which she responded:

"It's ok, you're my roommate. Our relationship is different now."

Carried over to Wednesday, when she shocked both of us and said:

"Tomorrow's gonna be cold as a bitch.

...I mean, WITCH! I meant to say WITCH! Ohhhhh, Katy..."

And this morning when she began with:

"What do you want to do for dinner tonight, Kate? No pizza. I'm declaring a war on pizza."

I'm wondering what she'll come out with tomorrow!

I'll leave you with this:

We're currently awaiting the delivery of a pair of Uggs. Yes, Uggs. I ordered my 92 year-old grandmother a pair of Uggs. Not because I think it's funny dressing her like a 13 year-old, though. And not because I think it's smart shopping to spend that much money on a pair of ugly boots. Sorry if I'm offending anyone, but Uggs are hideous. Wouldn't be caught dead...

Anyway, I digress. I bought them for her BECAUSE Uggs are really just glorified house slippers and I think they'll be comfortable for her bad foot (OH, FOOT)! And keep her warm, of course, cause she's always cold.

They're set to arrive today, so I'll be sure to post a picture off Peenie in her Ugg-lies tomorrow! Stay posted.

A Favorite Picture and Some Oversharing

Good Monday and Happy Veterans Day to you, friends! Peenie and I are both thinking about Paw today. Here's a picture of him (possibly my favorite, cause it looks like it's from the set of South Pacific) when he was overseas during WWII:

Kinda blurry, but isn't he handsome? Best to all of you on this day, but especially to those of you who have family and friends who are veterans. Our love and prayers go out to you.

So, I know this is oversharing, but there's so much activity at Peenie's house these days that I can't even take a poop. Sorry, but it's true. Between Peenie squalling for me every five minutes and the phone ringing every 10, I can't turn the bathroom light on without having to yell out, "What?!", or turn back around to answer the phone. It's driving me crazy. Think I'm making this up? In the seven minutes it's taken me to type the words above, the phone has already rung twice and Peenie has yelled for me three times. Last night, after I finally got the little nut to bed, I walked into the bathroom, sat down on the toilet, and the phone rang. I ignored it. Then Peenie's cell phone rang. Also ignored it. Then the house phone rang again. I'd lost all focus by then, so I got up and answered it. Uncle Bruce asking for Peenie. Told him she was asleep. Hung the phone up, walked to the bathroom, and it rang again. Walked back, answered it. This time it was Aunt Pandy. Chatted with her a bit, told her Peenie was asleep. Hung up, but by that time, I'd been holding it so long I didn't even have to go anymore. I kid you not. So friends and family, please do me a favor. Peenie goes to sleep between 7:30 and 8:30. Please, please, please do not call at that time...cause I need to poop.

...I hope I still have readers after this post.

I'll leave you with this:

As Peenie and I ate dinner together one night last week, she confessed something to me. Dot Smith, one of Peenie's best friends who lives two doors down from us, used to have a vegetable garden. Years and years ago, Peenie went for a run around lunchtime and saw a big, juicy tomato right in the middle of the garden. She was so hungry, she said, that she ran right over, grabbed it, and gobbled it up as she ran down the street. She's never told Dot.

A Few Shots from the Week

It's been a week of good eats down here in Greenville! Check out some "Peenie the Foodie" action shots!

Peenie chowing down on some of my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies (I'm happy to share the recipe if anyone wants it):

Peenie with two of her favorites, Donna and Steadman, at her favorite lunch spot, Word of Mouth:

My apologies for the brief post! Hopefully the action shots make up for it? 

I'll leave you with this:

A few nights ago, as we were nomming on some oatmeal cookies and sipping our nightly tea, Peanut shared some childhood stories with me. Speaking of her school days:

"Kate, when I was a little girl in school, it was so cold in Kentucky that us country kids would stand by the radiators until 10:00 in the morning. That's why I don't have any sense!"

Daylight Savings

Happy Monday to you, friends! If you're anything like me, you're feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed due to that extra hour of sleep yesterday! Yet another reason why the Fall season is far superior to any other. Love it.

Unlike us though, Peanut ain't feelin' so bright-eyed or bushy-tailed. Why? Well, it could be from all of the sugar she ate last week. But yesterday she missed the Daylight Savings memo and woke up at her normal 5:00, not knowing that it was actually 4:00. Poor Peanut. Needless to say, she hit the hay early last night. Not before she yelled at me for not telling her about the time change, though...which I, in fact, did. She just didn't hear me. Maybe it's time to resurrect "The Great Hearing Aid Debate" again.

In other news, I've been reading more poetry! Dusting off some old favorites, mostly. James and I went for a hike on my birthday weekend at Hanging Rock and spent this past Saturday driving around the mountains. Both were glorious days to be outside, drink in the crisp air and enjoy the Fall color and nature surrounding us. So I've been reading much of Hopkins, a fellow lover of nature, and one of my favorite (or should I say favourite) English poets. I love his sprung rhythms. Here's Pied Beauty:

GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;	5
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:	10
Praise him.

Glory be to God for dappled things, yes? YES.

I'll leave you with this:

I'm currently on the hunt for some birthday present ideas for Peanut. She turns 93(!) on November 19th. She claims she doesn't need anything, but I want to do something special for her. Any suggestions, friends? Refer back to "A Few of Peenie's Favorite Things" post for inspiration, if need be!

Happy Halloweenie from Me and Peenie!

Happy Halloween, friends!

Peanut and I are currently at the house awaiting the trick-or-treaters. When they arrive, they'll be greeted with UNFROSTED vanilla cupcakes (I "out-foxed" the Peanut, tinted them orange, and made them into punkin' faces with chocolate chips), candied apples, and hot Percolator Punch. I've typed recipes below! Enjoy, and if you scroll to the end, you'll see a picture of Peanut in her purple wig!

Vanilla Cupcakes:

4 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon table salt

2 sticks salted butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 cups plain Greek yogurt

1 bag Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels

Orange food coloring

Cream together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs in, one at a time. Add vanilla and Greek yogurt. Continue to mix batter. Make sure to scrape down bowl. Add baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add flour slowly. Add food coloring until desired color is reached.

Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes, rotating halfway through. Remove from oven and place chocolate chips on cupcakes.

Percolator Punch:

1 qt. apple cider
1 pt. cranberry juice
1 pt. orange juice
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. whole allspice
1 tsp. whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks

Combine cider and both juices in automatic percolator; place sugar, allspice, cloves and cinnamon in percolator basket. Allow to go through heating cycle; serve hot.

Have a safe one, dear friends! I'll leave you with this:

Anyone else think she looks like Garth from Wayne's World? No way? I say, "Way"!

Candied Apples and Unfrosted Cupcakes

Many thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday last week! My 26th was almost a full week of celebration, and I'm feeling very spoiled! I had a lovely dinner date with my AmeriCorps gals Abby and Evan on Wednesday, Peanut and I had TWO celebratory lunches on Thursday and Friday, Mom and Dad sent me an incredibly beautiful bouquet of flowers (pictured below, which Peanut placed next to Paw's picture) on my special day, and I spent a fantastic long weekend at home in Greensboro that included a large family meal, and excursions to Saxapahaw, Hanging Rock, and Winston-Salem (in a vintage VW bus) with James (insert extremely large smiley face here). You see? SO spoiled! I returned to Greenville yesterday feeling very loved, celebrated, and sleepy from a weekend of activity! I'm blessed beyond measure, friends.

Now, if that's not enough activity for you, it's on to the next event: Halloween! One of Peanut's favorite holidays. And I'm sure I don't have to tell you that she doesn't celebrate it in the typical way. Peanut does not pass out candy to trick-or-treaters. Cause that would be too predictable, yes? Instead, she hands out homemade candied apples and UNFROSTED vanilla cupcakes to kids in costume...in a purple wig, no less. Don't you worry--I'll post pictures. I want to see Peanut in a purple wig as much as you do! As far as the cupcakes though, I have no idea why they must be (as she insists) unfrosted. Maybe because they're less messy that way? Guess I'll find out. We've set tomorrow as our Halloween prepping day! And depending on how everything turns out, I'll post recipes here later in the week. Peanut wanted to buy boxed cake mix for the cupcakes, but for any of you who know me, I believe boxed cake mix is the cardinal of all sins. So, we're making them from scratch. I just don't know how they'll taste without frosting. Which makes me wonder, if a cupcake doesn't have any frosting, doesn't that make it a muffin? Hmmmm...one of life's deeper questions, for sure.

I'll leave you with this:

When I got back to Greenville yesterday, Peanut asked me to turn around so she could look at my jeans:

Peenie: KATY! You look like you've been poured into those things! How'd you get them on?!

Me: What? Do you think they're too tight on me, Peanut?

Peenie: No! I want a pair!

26

I'm 26 today. Twenty plus six. Thirteen years older than thirteen. Two score and six. Thirty minus four (yikes). Fifty two divided by two (whoa). Today...I am many combinations of numbers. And 66 years younger than Peanut--though I don't think she'd like to be reminded of that!

So, where should you be when you're 26? By society's standards, it's been three years since college, so I should either be midway up the corporate ladder or almost finished with graduate school. I, in case this is news to anyone, am neither. But let me tell you something, friends--I'm glad I'm not. Though I do have to remind myself of that sometimes. Because just like when I see a skinny, beautiful model on television, I sometimes forget who I am and think I should look differently than I do.

The key word in there, though, is forget. These days, it's very easy to forget who we are. We're overstimulated. By technology, our fast-paced environment, the accessibility of EVERYTHING--all are key factors in distracting us from what is important.

I, lucky girl that I am, have only recently realized that I've been given a gift. In this 26th year of my life, I've been given the gift of time with Peanut. I'm seeing life from a different perspective now--the perspective of my grandmother, a member of the Greatest Generation, a woman with 66 more years of life experience than I have--and it's changing my perspective...on EVERYTHING.

In 1941--when my grandparents were coming of age--the corporate ladder, graduate school, and looking like a model were the last things on everyone's minds. During World War II, people were simply trying to survive. And I think it's safe to say that when your survival and the survival of your loved ones is all that you think about, your perspective on life is altered. You can't forget who you are in a situation like that. Who you are and where you are (and where the people you love are) is staring you straight in the face 24/7. Because of this, you learn to know what's valuable and what's not. PEOPLE become valuable. Family becomes valuable. Not things, not degrees, not impressive careers, not your own vanity. People. Relationships. Love. 

I think that this instinct is engrained in the minds of the Greatest Generation. In the Millennial Generation, however, this instinct appears to be lost. That's why I am so grateful, on my 26th birthday, to not be climbing the corporate ladder, to not be buried in a stack of books, to not be trying the newest diet or cleanse. I am grateful for this gift of time with my grandmother. And I am hoping that in this year with Peanut, this instinct of remembrance rather than forgetfulness will rub off on me. That maybe, somehow, in a year's time, I can become a member of the Greatest Generation by exposure to the elements. That's what I want for my birthday. More time with Peanut. More time for remembrance. For family. For people. For relationships. For love.

I'll leave you with this:

Just look at what was on my pillow last night.

When the Frost is on the Punkin

I remember having a conversation once with my brother, Mitch, in which I expressed to him how much I love the Fall and all that it entails. Colorful leaves, hot drinks, fireplaces, holidays, more family time, cozy clothes, pumpkin patches, shorter days, decorations, crisp air. He told me that I love Fall because I'm an "October girl", which I must say is at least partly true because my birthday is the 24th. However, I don't think you have to have an October birthday to know just how magical this season is. Take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the next few weeks and see if you don't agree with me. Look at the color of those leaves! See? Magic.

Fall was Paw's favorite season too, and he was an April birthday (day before Mitch's, in fact), so that proves my theory right there! He loved it. It was the season where he canned his fruit, visited his beloved Limerick Plantation, ate his favorite foods (Peenie says he craved a good, hearty chili and boiled peanuts), enjoyed the changing color of the leaves, and it was the season where he frequently quoted the poem, "When the Frost is on the Punkin", by his favorite poet, James Whitcomb Riley:

WHEN the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then the time a feller is a-feelin' at his best,	5
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here—	10
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock—	15
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;	20
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover overhead!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps	25
Is poured around the cellar-floor in red and yaller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With theyr mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and sausage too!...
I don't know how to tell it—but ef such a thing could be
As the angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me—	30
I'd want to 'commodate 'em—all the whole-indurin' flock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

I can hear him reading it now. Isn't that just the most simple, wonderful, and sweet thing? It's become one of my favorite poems. Because of Paw, yes, but also because I know those feelings! I'm a-feelin' at my best in the Fall--always have! It's definitely the season that I'd want to host anyone as company--angels, friends, even foe. For me at least, the season inspires sharing.

Hope you enjoyed "When the Frost is on the Punkin", and that it got you in the Fall spirit. Here's another share, for good measure. I memorized this short poem in the fourth grade. "Fall, Leaves, Fall", by Emily Bronte:

---

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree. 

I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night's decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

---

Nothing like two good poems in celebration of the best season EVER!

So, get out there and enjoy that crisp air and those beautiful leaves! I, myself, plan to go on a long run through them both.

I'll leave you with this:

Speaking of accommodating angels, Peanut says she hosted some while I was in North Carolina this weekend. Even though she hates Fall (too cold, she says), I guess she was still in an accommodatin' mood.

...Wonder if she let them use the kitchen?

Hunt for the Perfect Handbag

I've realized another similarity between me and Peanut. Joked with James the other night that she's influencing me so much that by this time next year, he might be dating a hybrid of the two of us. By then, I'll probably have cut my hair into a bob with one side turned under, one turned out. I'll be applying Orange Flip to my lips every five minutes, saying "Oh FOOT" every ten, re-washing dishes, and demanding crackers to accompany my soup at restaurants. My saving grace, however, will be that I'll make the best pot of coffee in the world, so maybe that's why he didn't run for the hills. Lucky for me, coffee's a pretty good bargaining chip with James. 

The recent observed similarity: Peanut and I are both constantly on the hunt for the perfect handbag. We're a little obsessed. But we're also delusional because we think that ever elusive bag of perfection is ACTUALLY out there! Sometimes, we even think we've finally found it! And we get SO excited! But then about a month into using the bag of our dreams, we're all like, "No...this isn't it. The right bag must still be out there somewhere. Gotta keep looking."

Common issues include:

-Too many pockets.

-Not enough pockets.

-The wrong color with the right hardware.

-The right color with the wrong hardware.

-Too large.

-Too small.

-Too expensive.

-Too cheap.

Etcetera, etcetera, and so forth. Currently, Peanut is carrying an orange (duh) LongChamp tote with an alligator handle, and I'm using a black leather crossbody purse with stitching and faux fur detail. The other day, after struggles with our own bags, we actually considered trading. But then we talked about how if we morphed our bags together, they might just be (drumroll please) THE PERFECT BAG! Gasp! But seriously. I mean, think about it. A burnt orange and black crossbody tote with alligator handles, stitching, and faux fur detail. Yes? Yes?

...Ok, maybe not. Sounds a little busy. But we think if it was worked just right, it would be THE PERFECT BAG. We'll call it...the Kanut. Or...the Peaty. Or...some other form of our names squished together.

See? The hybrid formation is already happening.

I'll leave you with this:

This morning, Peanut accidentally set off the house alarm at 6:30 am. Proved more effective at waking me up than The Star Spangeled Banner...by a long shot.

Love One Another

Today I had one of those mornings where everything just...connected. That ever happen to you? I just love it when it does. When recent things I've read, seen, heard, and felt all register in my mind simultaneously, echoing the same message, causing me to step back and go, "Wow. Katy, have long have you been asleep?" Well apparently, it's been a while. Cause this morning's message was simple, profound (as these moments tend to be), and hit me like a ton of bricks. It was only, "Love One Another."

In Thornton Wilder's play "Our Town", the character Emily poses the question, "Does anyone ever realize life while they live it...every, every minute?"

This is what I'm talking about, friends. The answer to that question is, obviously (and unfortunately), "No". Not every minute. In my case anyways, it's pure Providence if I am aware (even on a weekly basis) of how fragile both my existence and the existence of my loved ones are. And anyone who's outside of that bubble? Ashamedly, I am probably only aware of those people every few months or so. I'm distracted and I'm selfish. I take my sweet time, thinking I (and everyone else) have much of it to spare. And that's the irony of it, friends--we take time for granted, never knowing how much we really have. But even if we did know the number of our days, would we THEN realize every minute of life? Maybe. And yet, maybe not even then. 

MUTEMATH, one of my favorite bands, has a song called "Clockwork". The lyrics are:

---

Time is a thief with a loaded gun

The sky runs by while the days are gone

The night falls prey to another sun

All like clockwork they won't stop

Don't stand still, or we'll lose our ground

The world keeps spinning just to wear us down

Say what you must while we're still around

The days go to sleep but they won't stop

We never should allow another sun to set

On all the words that we have held so long

I know we'd rather sort it out once tomorrow comes

But tomorrow already happened

Today we have to make the most of love

Tomorrow we don't have a choice

All we ever get control of is now

---

Those last lyrics always get me. Today we have to make the most of love. Tomorrow we don't have a choice. All we ever get control of is now. 

After jamming to that old album in my car a few weeks ago, I've been trying to remind myself of that message on a daily basis, especially in relation to Peanut. You know I adore her, friends. But sometimes she's a little much to handle. She's a stubborn little nut, after all. Especially when her kitchen is involved. 

Last night, as we were cleaning up after dinner, she took a dish that I had just rinsed and placed in the dishwasher out of the dishwasher. She then wiped it with a cloth, re-rinsed it, and placed it back in the dishwasher. "Small potatoes" as that may be, I was a little frustrated. I sighed, tipped my head back, and was about to roll my eyes when they focused in on this:

And there's that message again. Love One Another. Boom. 

Peanut has many of these needlepoint pieces throughout the house. This one, for some reason, has always been my favorite. I love the color and detail, the frame, its location over the window; but I think I'm beginning to appreciate it now for its message more than anything. Yea...the little old lady who stitched it would probably giggle and shake her head at that last statement. That's one of my greatest faults, friends. My eyes are so drawn to anything aesthetic that I sometimes miss the message. You feel me? Well, last night, the message grabbed me and held on.

...Until this morning when I woke up and forgot it again.

...UNTIL I read this post on Don Miller's blog:

http://storylineblog.com/2013/10/15/are-cell-phones-ruining-our-relationships/?utm_content=buffer71f9c&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

In the post, Dean Nelson asks the question, "Are cell phones ruining our relationships?" Pretty standard 21st century question, first-world problems, etc. Right? But instead of the article predictably blasting cell-phone usage, it takes an interesting turn. It's actually a self-reflection piece by the author himself, wherein he examines his judgement of strangers. He refers to an inspirational speech by David Foster Wallace where Wallace encouraged his audience to, "stop presuming we know what everyone’s motives are, to stop putting ourselves and our own outrage in the middle of everything so that we can maybe understand someone else’s story". Nelson then shares a few personal recollections of impressions of strangers being dead wrong. He closes with a quote by Mr. Rogers: "There isn’t anyone you can’t love once you’ve heard their story.”

*Cue my mother's laughter* (Inside joke between the two of us.) 

...And, there you go. "Love one another" is, once again, brought to my attention. And now, hopefully yours!

To land this plane, let me end with another Thornton Wilder quote. He once said, "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” 

Agreed, Mr. Wilder. But to add, we can't be conscious of our treasures if we do not love one another. So in closing, love one another, friends. Remind yourself to daily, and experience a few more moments of being alive.

The French Baguette

And now it's time for another round of "Peenie Dislikes"! Today's topic of hatred? One of the most wonderful things in the world--the French baguette.

Imagine for a moment that you're in a strange city. It's below freezing out, the wind is blowing, you're not dressed warmly enough, and you're trying to find somewhere to duck inside. Suddenly, you stumble upon a charming little French cafe. You open the door and are immediately greeted with the delicious aromas of the two most complimentary things on the planet, the duo of deliciousness, the answer to every wearied travelers ills: a freshly baked baguette and a cup of hot soup. You order a cup of steaming French onion accompanied by a huge hunk of baguette to dip into it. You're in heaven, yes? Yes. Because what is more simplistically perfect than a bowl of French onion soup and a fresh baguette? Hmmm? Okay, if you're stumped, the correct answer would be nothing.

Well, if you disagree, then Peanut disagrees along with you. Disagrees wholeheartedly. If there's one thing that gets her more jacked up than politics, it's restaurants that offer no crackers or white rolls--only the French baguette. 

Today we went to Panera for lunch. Not a charming little French cafe, I know. But they make a durn good baguette--and bagel, for that matter! Now, Peanut has only recently been introduced to Panera. She likes it, but would much rather eat an egg roll at Oriental House or snag a sandwich from Chik-Fil-A. However, Panera's recently vamped up their menu--more greens, organic chicken, etc--so I've been trying to encourage the little nut to eat there more. It's just a healthier choice! She digs the soup and salads and the coffee, but becomes irate when there are no rolls or crackers to be had. Today's exchange with the cashier went something like this:

Peenie: Hi! I'd like a cuppa veggie soup and a small coffee.

Cashier: Sure! Would you like chips, bread, or an apple with that soup?

Peenie: Crackers, please.

Cashier: I'm sorry, we don't have crackers. Can I offer you chips, a baguette or an apple?

Peenie: I don't like those baguettes. Too hard. No crackers?! What kinda place doesn't serve crackers with their soup?!

Cashier: Um...well, we have chips? Chips are...kind of like crackers?

Peenie: What?! (Laughing) Chips are most certainly NOT crackers!

Katy: Peenie, just tell the lady what you'd like for your side. You don't have to eat it if you don't want to.

Peenie: Oh. Ok, I'll take the bread. But next time, I'm bringing my OWN crackers.

(A few moments later, at the table.)

Peenie: I don't like this bread. It's too durn hard!

Katy: Dip it in your soup, Peenie--that'll make it easier to eat.

Peenie: I don't like it. We should've gone to Oriental House.

...sigh.

I'll leave you with this:

Last Thursday, after we had eaten dinner, Peanut asked me what my plans for the evening were. I told her I didn't know--that I might put my pajamas on early, sip some tea, and read. What followed:

Peenie: Why don't you go out and DO something? Are you tired?

Katy: No, not too tired. Just feel like taking it easy tonight.

Peenie: I wish you'd go do something.

Katy: Alright, Peenie. Tell you what. I'm gonna go run around the neighborhood naked. What you think about that?

Peenie: I'll come right along behind you and do it, too!

20 Questions

Peanut likes to play 20 questions with me...at 7:30 in the morning. Every. Single. Morning. If I haven't emerged from my bedroom by 7:35, she'll come up to my door and say, "KATE??? Did you oversleep?!" In case you're wondering: I never have. So I'll answer, "No Peenie, I'm awake. At least...I am now." But of course she doesn't hear me. And she'll keep calling me until I come to the door and show her that I am, in fact, awake.

Those of you who know me pretty well know that I'm not a morning person. Never have been. Now, this doesn't mean that I'm mean or hateful before 8 am--just a little out of it. My brain takes a while to catch up with the rest of my body, and I'm kinda slow until I get that first cup of coffee. Peanut, on the other hand, wakes up at 5:30 and has about 3 cups of coffee before I walk into the kitchen, so by 7:30, she is JACKED UP. I enter the kitchen and it goes something like this:

"How'd you sleep, Kate?"

"What time you gotta be at work?"

"What are you gonna wear?"

"Is it cold out?"

"What are you gonna do at work today?"

"Do you have something to pack for lunch?"

"Do you need some money?"

"What time will you be home?"

"Do you have something to cook for dinner?"

"Do you need anything from the store?"

All of these, right in a row, before I can even answer them. I mostly just smile sweetly at her and sip my coffee. That usually does the trick, and she starts to calm herself down.

So imagine my surprise last night when she looked at me across the dinner table as we were talking and said, "Katy, why are you asking me so many questions all in a row?" Hahahaha! "Grand-apple doesn't fall far from the grand-tree", I said. She just grinned at me and giggled.

I'll leave you with this:

Not only does Peanut's telephone system play The Star Spangled Banner, it also plays Ode to Joy. Yep, apparently it's got a musical repertoire.

And speaking of musical repertoire(s), one of my favorite bands, the Avett Brothers, have a new album coming out on the 15th. Right now, you can stream it (and I'd recommend you do so) for free at NPR.com. I just started listening this morning, and I already have a favorite. It's called "Souls like the Wheels". It's lovely as lovely can be, and a perfect message for me at this time in my life--a time where I am trying to put myself and all my baggage on the back burner and focus on Peanut. Give it a listen. Here are the lyrics:

Souls like the Wheels

Souls like the wheels

Turning, taking us with wind at our heels

Burning, making us decide on what we're giving

Change this way of living

One little song

Give me strength to the leave the sad and the wrong

Buried safely in the past where I've been living

Alive but unforgiving

Let me go, let me go, let me go, let me go

One little girl

Bring me light from where I thought it was dark

Be the spark that has a chance to light a candle

Love that I can handle

Let me go, let me go, let me go, let me go

Let me go, let me go, let me go, let me go

Souls like the wings

Spreading out away from bad memories

Make us capable of taking off and landing

Alive with understanding

Let me go, let me go, let me go, let me go

Let me go, let me go, let me go, let me go