Thanksgiving

As you can tell from my last post, we have much to be thankful for.

This years' Thanksgiving started out as a quiet one. Well, as quiet as one can get with our rowdy crew. But then the Accident happened (see my last post) and now we are joining with that family for Thanksgiving. So we will be serving ten children and four adults. But, I serve a crowd that size quiet often since, as my friend B says, "We hang with a big crowd."

However, if you happen to be in the British section of our local Hiller's grocery store and hear mournful moaning, that would be me. Because as much as I am thankful for friends and friends-who-are-family here, I long for a traditional Welsh Thanksgiving.

Yes, my dear readers, you read that correctly.

A traditional Welsh Thanksgiving is very fun and I suggest everyone try it.

First, you must have at least five countries represented. Our five were: Spain, USA, England, Scotland, and of course Wales...and please don't make me give you the Wales-is-not-a-part-of-England speech!

Then you have the traditional food: turkey (brined a la Nigella Lawson), candied sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, vegetarian lasagne, mashed potatoes, southern cornbread dressing, cake with candy corns on top, tortilla (Spanish not Mexican, it's basically a sort of potato omelet, It's lush, it is!), tea (naturally!) and lots of friends and children. I think we had 15 children and 15 adults. It was so much fun! It was my first year making a turkey and one friend of ours, a vegetarian for years, was overheard saying "I see why people would want to eat turkey, that looks good." and a few months after his wife told me that she wished he had eaten some of that turkey because he talked about it so much afterwards! The children played football (that's soccer in American) and well, I'm not sure what else they did. I think there were light sabers involved at some point but I can't be sure.

And obviously the traditional Thanksgiving caroling. (Ok, so nobody sang along but me, still we did play the song!)

It was lovely. Thanksgiving always is for me. But this year should be much quieter.

Happy Thanksgiving! (Wonder how one would say that in Welsh?)

because sometimes bad things happen to good people, too.

It's been a hard week here. Not so much for me, but for people I love very much.

See, on Sunday, it was a sad anniversary. A life was cut short some years ago. It was a horrible tragedy and I just can't, even now after years have past, make even the least bit of sense about it. Some tiny part of me clings to the impossible wish that one day we'll find out it was all some kind of cruel hoax and it had never happened.

Then this Sunday we almost had a repeat tragedy. One of my oldest and best friends was in a very bad car accident. I saw a photo of the vehicle today and would give anything to un-see it. It is truly a miracle that she survived and that she will recover. But the road to recovery will be long and hard for her and for her six children and her husband.

So tonight I ask for your prayers. I ask you to hold this family in the Light. I don't care who you pray to, but I ask you to pray.

And hold your loved ones tight and whisper a prayer of gratitude while you are at it.

Joan Baez, Diamonds and Rust - Live, 1975

Sooo...

Sorry, I've neglected this place lately. I don't know why. Just haven't felt motivated I guess.

Repatriation is Hard. I think it is, in many ways, more difficult than originally leaving the states for Wales. This move we have six people "homesick" for the old place. Yes, even Miss Mousie and the Tiny Goddess have mentioned wanting our "old house" and our "old car".

But life goes on. We are settling in here and starting to build a community. And before you say, "Oh but you are so outgoing, you're good at that sort of thing." Sure, being outgoing helps (and don't think I don't force myself to be outgoing. I have to force myself to put myself out there.) I'll repeat it here again, community building is a skill not a talent. Yes, like any skill it comes easier to some but it is still work and hard work at that.

The children are doing well. The boys still would "rather be in Wales" (their words). But they do like it here and are making friends. We live in a nice neighborhood where we can bike to the library and walk to parks and shops. Near our house, in our neighborhood, is a great nature preserve and wetlands. We consistently see blue herons, swans, ducks, seagulls, and cranes there. I've also seen bats and deer.

We found a lovely homeschool group and enjoy our local Quaker meeting. I'm even teaching the Explorer and the Tiny Goddess' First Day School class this month.

The leaves are changing colors, the weather is bright and sunny and cooling off. I'm enjoying the autumn breezes and sights and trying very hard not to think about winter.

David Mitchell Writes - Dear America...

PETE SEEGER ~ Barbara Allen ~

This moment...

What I'm hearing: Pete Seegar on the Artist's iPod as he sings along and washes dishes. The little girls chatting in the tub to Sweet Benny.

What I'm smelling: the lovely lavendar chamomile bubble bath

What I'm thinking/feeling: It's not so bad, this life I live. Not bad at all.


Much better than the way I felt earlier this week. I'm glad of that.