Well I won’t lie, this year has been a particularly challenging one for me and for our family. Most of it was spent in one transition or another, which is tough enough on adults but really disorienting for children. Moving is hard. I know. It could be much worse, people do this all the time, it will get easier, we just need to give it time, the worst is behind us. But sometimes it’s important to just stop and acknowledge that something is difficult. No positive spin, no bright side. There is comfort in validating your feelings, even wallowing in them for a few minutes. You cannot change what you won’t acknowledge. Moving is hard. Starting over from scratch is hard. It takes so damn long to find a groove.
So you can imagine my joy when some of our dearest, oldest friends came to visit and celebrated Thanksgiving with us. At last something warm and familiar. I don’t know if there is greater comfort in life than sharing familiar stories, strong opinions and a leisurely meal with old friends. Just like that, house became home, and we get brief respite from the lonely road we are traveling.
Pip has been collecting and painting rocks for the past few months. Every guest at our table got one, and deposited it in a bowl as we went around the table giving thanks. It was lovely.
Should you ever be so lucky to host friends you love, consider this recipe for dinner: Farm Girl’s lasagna soup was hearty, inexpensive, fed a small crowd and was delicious. I edited a bit by using ground beef instead of sausage (my kids like it better) and just mixing all the cheeses together and really going for it. I also humbly offer you my own pancake recipe, which is requested 3 mornings a week by my kids, and which I cooked twice on the weekend for my friends. It is the only recipe I know by heart.
Love my Pancakes
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tbs sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tbs baking powder
Stir dry ingredients together. Make a well (dig a hole in the middle), add:
1 1/4 cup coconut milk *
1 egg
Whisk
Stir in generous 1/2 cup cottage cheese **
Drizzle to drown with maple syrup.
* I can’t take credit for that, that’s Miss Kathleen’s genius. We use Trader Joe‘s light coconut milk, which helps to alleviate guilt
** It’s good, trust me. Stir in at the end so you don’t mistake lumpy batter for cottage cheese.
Try them! Let me know if you like them!
I’m glad you had a great Thanksgiving! Miss you xox
I’ll see you soon! how exciting is that?!
That’s a really great note Jo’, twas a pleasure to see you all and the peeps. Piper and Becket were in rare form… what energy… although as I realized they do sleep for a good ten hours a day!
The pancakes were amazing. btw. amazing. I was just thinking about them today!
Thankyou so much for the great friendship and I look forward to the next visit!
xo
Uncle Peter (Opaki/Llama herder/dogwalker/butterflyracer/backupvocalist)
Brando’s got nothing on you babe, you’re a terrific godfather!
Definitely feeling you on this one! Moving IS hard as it starting over, making new friends, finding your groove. So glad you could enjoy a lovely Thanksgiving with good friends. There truly is nothing like being able to share memories and a bit of history with others. Here’s praying that you’ll soon write new histories with folks nearby. Sounds like you can woo them in with your pancakes!
Love your blog – I always check to see if you’ve written something new!
PS – I STILL think of how we used to war over – jeepers, what was his name? That actor we were both in love with! Name has totally slipped my mind at the moment… Ah, c’est la vie, eh!
Thanks for the lovely post and for sharing your recipes. You and Christian are such wonderful hosts.
It was so nice to see everyone. You really made it feel like a slice of home!
Stacy
We can’t wait to see you again Stace!