I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged. It's been over a month...BUT it has been a nice break. I've been able to get a number of things done around the house and focus on my kids and my husband. It's been so refreshing. I can't say that I'm sorry I took the break.
If you've been wondering what we've been up to...first...our "Not-to-Be-Forgotten" Thanksgiving. Oh, the plans I had...the recipes I searched endless hours for...the ingredients I carefully chose (spending way more than any normal person should have)...just so we could have a perfect Thanksgiving dinner never to be forgotten by any one person who tasted the scrumptious delicacies. (Not to mention, my dad and I used to have contests to see who could "secure" the most turkey skin before the other one got to it...mmmm I just love perfectly baked turkey skin..I know it's kind of sick, but it's one of my quirks. )
My 14yo dd and I spent from Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday baking and cooking and mixing and whatever else you do in the kitchen to create a culinary work of art for the most special "eating" day of the year. We had 2 delicious apple pies, and a pumpkin pie baked on Wednesday, I went out to buy some last minute sewing supplies for out International Fair we were hosting (more on that later) and came home around 11:30 PM...finished a few things in the kitchen and went to bed. I woke up at 6 AM to start on the rest of the baking. My DD made our version of Boston Market cornbread. I started on the turkey (which had been thawing since Monday, but still wasn't completely thawed ...that should have given me a hint of what was to come), paying careful attention to all the hints and tips I found on how to bake the perfect turkey. When I finally got it into the oven, I started simmering the giblets for gravy (for hours...I think they were way beyond tender when they were done...mmmmm).
The day went on and the potatoes were peeled, the stuffing was prepared (a wonderful recipe using pumpernickel bread, apples, raisins and sauted onions...mmmmm it smelled so good), the green bean casserole was mixed up, the carrots were glazed, and all was going according to plan. The turkey was finally finished cooking so I took it out of the oven...it looked so good I almost didn't notice the little bit of turkey juice that spilled over the side...oh well, I'd have to clean that off later, but for now, I had to get the green bean casserole and the stuffing in the oven so it could be done by the time the turkey was ready to carve. Perfect timing!!...It was all coming together.
I turned away from the stove to get my wooden spoon to start making the gravy and when I turned back to the gravy pan, there was black smoke pouring out of the oven...I looked down and saw an orange glow in the oven window...needless to say, I started to freak, but remembered that baking soda puts out oven fires (don't ask...but I had a previous experience in high school Home Ec. where it was necessary for me to know that..and we'll leave it there). So I grabbed the box of baking soda (as I yelled frantically for my husband)...just to toss a few measly teaspoons on the fire...I was out. My husband came in (did I mention we have a gas stove)...telling me to find the phone "in case" we had to call the fire department. I'm thinking ...PHONE!!! I'm saving my PERFECTLY PLANNED AND COOKED MEAL!!!!!
So I'm trying to pull my stuffing and green bean casserole out of the oven (which I would highly NOT suggest doing if I had been in my right mind) and he's running to the garage to get the fire extinguisher....which I am happy about. The kids are running out of the house in case the whole house blows because we're dealing with gas here...while both mom & dad are inside putting the fire out (and potentially orphaning my children). They're having a party out in the front yard and my husband (turned firefighter) tells me to get out of the kitchen (which I watch from over the "bar") as he sprays the tar out of the oven with the fire extinguisher. What a HERO...the fire was out thanks to my "big strong man" and his trusty fire extinguisher. I was so happy to be able to get back to Thanksgiving dinner. That Turkey looked so good...and smelled even better. Turkey skin here I come! The kitchen was still smoky (as was the rest of the house...the smoke alarms had been blaring for at least 5 minutes...time to check the batteries. I think we may have sucked the life out of them) and funnily enough, we could see smoke coming out of the bedroom windows. so we let it air out for a few minutes before going back inside.
What I didn't realize is this... fire extinguishers have a dusty kind of stuff in them to put the fire out, and it goes EVERYWHERE when you spray it. What I thought was all smoke was partially fire extinguisher dust...and it was settling all over my kitchen and the adjoining rooms...including my turkey, my gravy, my potatoes, my green bean casserole, our apple pies, our carrots...everything except the pumpkin pie (which my husband had put into the microwave to make extra counter space), the cornbread (which I had covered to keep it from drying out), and the stuffing (covered in foil...which my husband informed me that we could not finish baking because the oven was now unusable). I was so stunned I couldn't even cry (right away..that came later))...I just went outside and sat in our lawn chairs on the driveway with my head in my hands...no "perfect" Thanksgiving meal to bless my family with. No "Oooos" and "Aaahs" over the great recipes I found. No TURKEY SKIN!!!
And then came the tears...because not only did I realize that we had nothing to eat...and nothing to cook it with...I also realized how much I had spent on what was now covered in fire extinguisher dust...and how long it had taken to do it all...and that I was REALLY HUNGRY...because even though I spent my entire morning around food...I hadn't eaten since dinner the night before and it was now 4 PM...I was starving. And the cornbread my husband brought out for my kids to eat just made my stomach hurt even worse because it reminded me of everything else that was GONE! While my kids ate cornbread and played, I sat crying because now I just wanted to feed my kids something decent...even if it wasn't the perfect Thanksgiving dinner...and I couldn't. I had let everyone down...and there was nothing I could do about it. My husband suggested that we go to over to a family from church's house since they had given an open invitation to anyone who wanted to come for Thanksgiving dinner...to which I said (and I have no idea why I said this)..."NO!!" I think I just didn't want anyone to make fun of me for burning dinner (which I didn't do...the oven caught on fire AFTER most of it was done and it was sitting perfectly cooked on the counter waiting for someone to enjoy)...and to be honest..I really didn't want to be around anyone at the moment...especially if they were having a great time.
So I suggested we go to Cracker Barrel...the only place I could think of that might be open...Apparently, everyone else in town who wasn't cooking their own dinner decided to got to Cracker Barrel too. So much for not being around anyone. At least no one here knew what happened or was going to ask me why we were there. We waited for over an hour for a table...and they were so busy that we actually waited almost another hour to get our food, but I really didn't care. Normally I'd be watching the clock, but then I was just happy to be able to get something to eat. I would have waited 5 hours for it. The lady who brought our food out to the table (not the waitress) was so sweet and she asked us how our day was...and before I could say my normal "fine" (which it wasn't)...my husband spilled the whole story out (being in a good mood and all...taking it in stride)...The server actually turned out to be a Christian and she (out of nowhere) said "you all seem like Christians. Do you love just Jesus?"...then we started talking about how the Lord was good...and she went along and we ate our food.
Then we waited what seemed like forever to get our check. (Did I mention the place was REALLY busy?) But again, I didn't care because I was just happy to have something in my stomach besides a low rumble. Finally our waitress came out and told us that the server told the manager what happened and he wanted to buy our dinner and we weren't even allowed to leave her a tip!!! So I started to cry again...and she started to cry...so I had to stop so she could stop...then the manager came out and talked to us...turned out he was a Christian too...and apparently 4 or 5 other people there were Christians because they stopped us on our way out to encourage us.
You know...I think God had that planned all along. I'm reminded of Psalm 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." I am so thankful for the staff of that Cracker Barrel. On the way there, my husband said, "I think this will go down on record as the worst Thanksgiving," but it turned out to be one of the best. God is so good...even in the midst of the "fire." He always has a plan that is for our ultimate good in the end. Here are a few pictures of the "Not-to-be-Forgotten" Thanksgiving (and even though you can hardly see it, there was a fine layer of fire extinguisher dust on the turkey and the water in the pan on potatoes, but you can see the black residue on the stove and the dust all over the inside of the oven and the stuffing pan--covered in foil-- and the "festivities" outside after the fire was safely out)...
I think that will do it for now. I had planned on telling about our International Fair project, but that will have to wait...just to give you a "teaser" though...someone got "shot." But I'll leave you with these tow things I learned...1.) Keep a fire extinguisher in your house. You may never have to use it, but that one time you do, you'll be glad you have it. And 2.) Never put your turkey in a pan that "just fits" or you may be needing that fire extinguisher sooner than you think. My FIL (who used to be a volunteer firefighter) told us afterwards that the cause of the majority of house fires is grease fires in the oven. (OK...I'm done with my community service announcement)...and 3.) (I know I only said 2....but I must reiterate)...God is good...all the time. Even when you think all is lost, He has another plan that is better than MY "perfect" plan. And after a week of the oven not working because we had to clean every square inch on it...I am VERY GRATEFUL to be able to use my oven to cook again.
Sonia,
Wow! What a Thanksgiving!
I love how God brought good out of the chaos! Thanks for pointing to God's goodness and faithfulness during this trial. I rejoice with you. May God continue to bless you and your family in 2009 as you live for Him.
Love in Christ,
Dea
Welcome to my blog...Why "gidget"? Well...my husband tried to teach me how to surf before we were married. I was lousy at it, but he called me his "gidget" and the name stuck.
Why "Treasure Trove"? I love sharing about my sweet little "treasures"...and God has blessed me beyond measure....and no, I didn't mean that to rhyme.
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