Friday November 25, 2011
It’s annoying to get sick
anytime, but really frustrating when you have a family to care for. Throw in a
holiday and the stress can be overwhelming.
I knew it was coming. I had
stopped taking my vitamin drink a week before because I realized it was out of
date. Not by a little bit either. (Maybe that is why they were upsetting my
stomach.) I vowed to ask my friend where she had purchased it, then, promptly
forgot. Then I started feeling tired and blamed it on stress.
I ordered a turkey from a local
farm. Then of course, I planned an elaborate brine for the bird and all the
organic fixings. Oh yes! This is my moment to shine! We invited friends to
share the feast and went to at least 3 different stores so that everything was
just right. People don’t always understand Kyle’s diet, so this was a chance to
share our lifestyle with some of our closest friends.
I’ve heard it said that if you
don’t get your rest, God will cause you to rest. Well, I woke up Monday not
feeling my best. By the end of the day I wasn’t much fun to be around. By
Tuesday, I was in bed. I stayed home thinking I could rest and recover quickly.
And I did, somewhat. By now our friends had made other plans and I was sad, but
relieved.
So Wednesday night I started the
brine. I forgot all I had learned about brining and brought this huge pot to a
boil. Great! Now it has to cool before I can put my turkey in it. And, it’s
already bedtime. So, I set it on a table outside. Then, after waiting a couple
hours, I finally got brilliant and set the pot down in a sink full of ice
water. Bingo! Cool to the touch in 30 minutes. I put the bird in and went to
bed.
The next day I had to not only
put on a brave face myself, but start taking care of Kyle’s cold too. He
doesn’t get sick often. But many kids on the spectrum have sensory issues. The
repeated sneezing and blowing of his nose made him a very young man. He can’t
take cold medicine because of the food coloring and the dye free has other
stuff in it. So in between tending to my feast I made tea and tried to distract
him. I think he took 3 showers that day! Actually, the last was an herbal bath
that seemed to do the most good.
So, dinner ended up being served
about 7:30. The turkey was amazing! Next year I just need to leave the water
out of the brine until the end, then make it mostly ice. The smashed potatoes
were good, the dressing a bit undercooked. I ran out of ambition to make the
rolls. I made an apple pie and a pumpkin
pie. They were really good, but the crusts were a bit tough. I totally
forgot to make the broccoli until it was almost time to eat, LOL! Wow, who knew
getting a cold could make me so brain dead?
I am sad we could not share this
thanksgiving with others. I am very careful about our food. I have seen the
effects of additives on our son and I know there are better ways. Local, fresh
and organic whenever possible is the best way for all of us to eat. The turkey
was not cheap, but it is a holiday after all.
I am thankful that all the herbs
for my meal came out of my garden. We have natural food stores on our way to
work and church. Even the grocery stores are offering more organic choices. My
gardening skills are improving too. It’s getting easier all the time to get
food that is safe and delicious.
I am thankful for my family, my
cat that warms the foot of my bed and a home and garden to tend. We have so
much abundance compared to others in the world. Even with a cold, I had a
wonderful day, then was able to grab my blanket and herbs and a good book while
my dear hubby cleaned up.
Thank you Lord for my life!
