I tried my best this year to keep ahead of the melancholy of the holidays, but it has arrived.
The stress, the anxiety, the stomach aches, the inability to sleep throughout the night, but the ability to sleep throughout the entire day. I hate what this does to me…
Boop! Mia’s nose…
When I woke up this morning, it was 2oF, outside with a windchill of 8F. The cold had arrived in Kansas. I went downstairs to pack the kids lunches and snacks for school. I gathered their water bottles, and made sure that homework was done and in the backpacks. I pulled out their Winter coats, scarves, and hats, and got them ready for the morning. And then I remembered her…
There is a girl at Agnes’ school, who doesn’t have a coat. She is outside at car rider pick-up everyday: rain, cold, wind, no coat. I noticed her at the Halloween parade, when we had the first cold snap of the season. She didn’t have on a costume, and she was without a coat then as well. She is often in the same set of clothes, jeans, t-shirt, she’s a tomboy, and I felt in my heart that I had to help…
We had an extra Winter coat that my kid’s have outgrown, it is plain black, nothing fancy, but it would work for this little tomboy. I packed it in the car, along with a handmade hat, and said a prayer for this little kiddo.
My kids were having a rough morning. We were running ten minutes late, everyone was upset, and they complained that they had to wear their coats to school. My teenager scoffed at me, my tween told me how much he hated me for making him wear his coat to school. my big kid wailed that it wasn’t cold enough for her winter coat (it was a balmy 20F) , and I kept thinking about that kiddo going to school, cold.
I got everyone to school just before the tardy bell rang. I found a parking spot and made my way to the office. I asked they secretaries there if there was any way they could help me with my mission. I asked them if I could donate a Winter coat to a child at the school. I don’t know her name, all I know is she is in the first or second grade, and she is a tomboy.
At first, they looked surprised, and they knew exactly who the child was… I was told that my gift might not be welcomed, the parent’s might not accept it. I was persistent though, and told them I’ve seen her for the last two months without anything, and it is 20 degrees outside, please let me donate this.
There was a long pause and a sigh, and she said “let me ask the teacher”. The teacher had also noticed her student needed a warm jacket, and the secretary let her know that a parent was here to help with the need. The teacher asked “is it girly?” The secretary said, “no, it’s plain black”, and the teacher said I will make sure she has it before first recess.
The secretary thanked me, and said “you are good person, you did the right thing. You saw a need, and you did something. ” I barely made it out of the door, before the tears were rolling down my cheeks.
I often don’t feel good enough, I don’t get enough done, but deep down I want to help wherever I can. I thought of my kids fighting with me this morning about having to wear a coat to school, and here was this little kiddo going to school without a coat again.
I don’t know her name, and she doesn’t know mine. But I wish she knew that someone is looking out for her, and praying for her, and wanting her to stay warm on the playground. I wish there was more that I could do, but this little deed was something that I could.
So if you can, do something. Even if it is small, even if they don’t know, give where you can, and make a difference to someone…
November flew by, and I seemed to be in the kitchen pretty much every moment of the day. I got in a tiny bit of crafting, and starting working on Christmas decorations too.
I crocheted seventy-five of these cute little stockings for homemade Advent Calendars for the kids. They took me a little longer than I thought they would.
I’m working on a knitted Gryffindor scarf for Agnes’ teacher. Her teacher is a Harry Potter fan, just like Agnes. I love the look of this scarf.
I’m making Agnes another Ravenclaw scarf too. She liked her other one, but wanted another one in grey and navy too.
Dylan and Agnes have Christmas parties soon, so I’m making crocheted ornaments for their classes.
I’ve got sixty to make.
They are coming along nicely. I hope I can get them all finished by the twentieth.
Time to get back to it.
Let’s be honest, November wasn’t my best month. I veered off the vegetarian path, and I’m not too happy about it. I have a few dishes to share, and a lot of shame too.
I’m still using up my stockpile of veggie items. I made a big batch of Vegan Mexican Rice, and Agnes really liked it too.
Vegetarian Smothered Burritos
I love love love these restaurant style burritos. I use what I’ve got and top them with homemade salsa and shredded monterey jack cheese.
Here comes the shame… I’m allergic to dairy, but I’m hopelessly in love with Bagels and Cream Cheese…
Sometimes vegetarian dishes aren’t the prettiest, but I have to say this is one of the tastiest ones I made. It’s nachos with chickpeas, homemade Mexican rice, corn, salsa, and cheese that I can’t have, but I did anyway.
Homemade “Fancy” Deep Dish Pizza
Oh man, this was goooooooood!!!!! It really seemed like I was eating fancy restaurant pizza, but this dish was made in my kitchen. It was unreal.
Vegan Rice Noodles with Veggies
I raided the fridge, and used whatever veggies I had on hand to make these spicy noodles.
And this is what happened after Thanksgiving…
Misery…
A good five days after Thanksgiving. Still miserable.
O.k., back to the veggies.
Time for some Homemade Vegan Goodness!
A little salad with salsa and black olives. Homemade Mexican Rice with Tortilla Chips. I even made some Chili-Lime Corn, that was crazy delicious.
One request from Agnes. Vegan Sushi for dinner. Agnes has become a big Sushi fan, so when she asks, I gladly say yes!
She likes to keep her’s simple. She likes rice with Nori, and she can eat about as much as I can.
For mine I made avocado rolls (my very favorite), and kimchi and avocado rolls. Oh goodness, I think I could eat this for every single everything.
O.k., so in November I decided to try out the Flexitarian diet, so I could properly celebrate Thanksgiving… Turkey and all. You know what happened? I got terrible heartburn, brutal migraines, and felt really terrible in general. Time to get back on track in December.