Our Capon

Capon is the traditional Christmas meal here for many people. I ordered one from our friends at the butcher shop. It was all ready and waiting for me yesterday, nicely wrapped in paper with my name on it.

The butcher and family took off for their Christmas holiday after closing last night.

I went to take it out to get it seasoned so it could rest for a few hours before cooking it tonight. Imagine my shock and horror when I unwrapped it to discover it had it's head, feet and disgusting bits all still attached!!! I had just assumed they would get rid of those bits, but I guess a lot of people here like to "do it themselves." I admit it, I've always been a city girl and never saw a store bought chicken that came looking like it had just gotten off the bus before!

I contemplated NOT making capon tonight, but didn't have anything else particularly festive that would be ready in time. So I got out my Chinese cleaver and started hacking away. Got the head and feet off, but I was pretty stumped about the "inside bits." Luckily a friend of ours is a chef at a nearby Chateau, and I was able to call him for some pointers.

I told JM he'd better damn well like his dinner tonight!

And, for anyone following the sage of Shmoo the dog (he doesn't like Shmooey, preferring the plain-old Shmoo), he has his new home. It probably won't surprise many of you that the home is right here with us. When JM and I started coming up with excuses as to why various potention adopters were not "quite right," we realized the painful truth: we were in love.

Love is like that sometimes; it just creeps up on you when you're least expecting it.

So, may all of you find that love in your lives, and in the meantime: Merry Christmas to all!

Ciao and Ho, Ho, HO!!!

Randy

Celebrating Life

What with the loss of Pepete this week, and the realization that we're once again entering the holiday season, I came up with a cunning plan.

Why are do we only appreciate our friends when something goes wrong? When we realize they are ill or we get together over a tragedy? There are so many people in our lives whom we like but don't really make time to see, that is a mistake we often live to regret.

I decided, therefore, to introduce a good old-fashioned American custom to our little Possum Kingdom; we're having a holiday pot-luck with the neighbors. At first, I was hesitant, because if you invite this one, do you invite that one? Will the people you don't invite be offended? But, I realized that those thoughts would only lead to total inaction. I felt that if the the "theme" was to get together with the neighbors, then it should only be close neighbors for this particular gathering.

Therefore, others of our friends just have to be left out. We will, I hope, all find another occasion to gather that group together.

I wasn't sure when I started this that it would be an idea that would appeal to people, because except for events like the party we had for the authors in the short story collection, most folks aren't really used to the pot-luck concept. Sure, if you go to someone's house you bring something, but mostly the inviter has a menu all planned out. I like the idea of the pot-luck, because one person isn't left with all the work and expense and can therefore invite more people.

The idea seems to have gone over well with the neighbors, luckily. First, I think that they like the thought of being able to relax and have a longer conversation than what we tend to do in the street. And, with the cold weather setting in, people just don't see each other the way we do in the summer when we're all sitting around outside so much more.

And, we do have a number of widowed men and women on our street who spend a lot of time alone in their homes. I was truly pleased to see that being invited to something like this really seemed to make them happy.

We won't be a huge crowd, but a manageable 20 or so; just enough to mingle nicely and have plenty of good conversation.

I really encourage my readers to see if something like this won't work with your neighbors; maybe we can start a movement.

Ciao for now.

Randy