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Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

To Blog or Not to Blog …

24 Saturday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Thanksgiving

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Cancer, Thanksgiving

“You should do a cancer blog, Aunt Paula,” Addie exclaimed as I was attempting to explain my blog to her.

“Well,” I gulped, searching for the words that would appropriately answer such a statement.  “It would be boring as I’m actually really fortunate,” I meekly responded.

It’s Friday evening; black Friday has been in full swing for more than a few hours. And here I sit, with the utter knowledge that I should be elated, so thankful, and operating in a state of complete, joyous gratitude.  But, that’s not how I’m feeling.

Don’t get me wrong, I do give thanks.  I don’t talk about it much but ~ 14 months ago I was diagnosed with cancer.  Today, I sit here typing, basking in the glory of being in remission for more than 5 months. From start to finish, this endometrial cancer messed with about 10 months of my life.  Some people give birth; others get diagnosed with and treated for/cured of cancer in that time frame.  It’ been quite the ride.

But throughout my ordeal, I never faltered from being a person…a person irked at having to organize and do the heavy lifting of a Thanksgiving away; a person perturbed that for the second time today she had to clean the kitchen from top to bottom knowing that in less than 24 hours she would be faced with cleaning and closing down the wonderful cabin she’s been residing in for the past week, or a person who should be rejoicing in the fact that she now sits here in front of a fire, in the quiet, wee hours of the morning – cancer free– enjoying the remaining hours of her Thanksgiving weekend.

In early November 2017 I had a hysterectomy which was to cure me of the cancer I had been diagnosed with less than 4 weeks earlier.  Two weeks later, a few days before arriving at this fantastic cabin for Thanksgiving 2018, I was advised that the cancer had spread and was now classified as stage 3. Today, I type this in the glow of a fire, smiling at the fact that I am in remission.

I reflect upon all those inspirational sayings and poems about feet walking in the sand, or sob, sob, sob “when you’re 96 you’ll look back, glad that your hands were busyed with the work of a crazy person” or, better yet, “while you were alone, I carried you,” blah, blah blah…And I want to scream.  This is not how it’s supposed to be (‘Suck it people,’ I bellow to myself, in my head; “just because I have cancer, doesn’t’ mean it’s my last days!!”).

While I sit here with conflicted emotions, at the end of the day, I’m happy – happy that I’m in remission, happy that I was able to treat my brother and his kids to a great weekend with the goats, and thrilled that I’m even able to enjoy such an evening.

As we look toward the beginning of Christmas, I want to thank you for listening; wish you safe travels and, of course, as always, bon appetite..

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The Turkey Ran Away

22 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, Thanksgiving, Travel

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Epicurean, Food, Massachusetts, Thanksgiving, Travel

Upon Thanksgiving Day…they said they’ll make a feast of me so I shan’t stay….

Earlier in the week, a bunch of Toms ran through our yard.  On the most appropriate of days, here’s a picture of them running…for their dear lives. 

Wishing all my North American Friends the happiest of Thanksgivings. 

And, to all my followers, safe travels and bon appetite!  

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The Great Orchard Hunt

21 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, Thanksgiving, Travel

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Massachusetts, Thanksgiving, Travel

The fire is roaring, Tony’s entertaining us with his guitar playing, my brother and his family have arrived safely, and the kids are popping popcorn and roasting chestnuts over the open fire.  Another fabulous day. 

We ventured off the hill earlier, in an attempt to make our way to the local orchard.  There’s one a few miles away, Breezeland Orchard, but it was closed for the season; we zipped past another, but I was driving too fast and we couldn’t tell if it were open.  Then, as we were going through downtown Brookfield, we saw a promising sign for Brookfield Orchards – café open year-round.Things were looking up.  

Brookfield Orchards

After an idyllic drive through the the Brookfields – I say that as, yes, there is a Brookfield proper, a North Brookfield and a West Brookfield; didn’t drive through or see an East or South Brookfield, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they existed – we ambled upon the orchard with ‘The Happy Apple’.  With acres of trees, the family who operates the land and facility really have it going on. The area along the orchard itself is lined with playground equipment for those with kids and the shop is part bakery, part yard sale and part purveyors of local fare.  And the family running it was super sweet to the extent that they opened a bag of cider donuts and pulled one out as for me as I didn’t want to buy the whole bag.

Upon arriving home, we watered and fed the goats and hens –they’re Red Rhode Island Hens…who knew?!?  Restocked the firewood for the evening (we’re going through the wood) and served a sumptuous beef stew to the relations.

Tomorrow is the big day; I’ll be busy burning food…err,cooking so I’m not sure I’ll be posting. That said, I want those traveling to their friends and family tomorrow to be safe and, of course, I wish you all bon appetite.

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Pizza Zio Franciso

20 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, Pizza, Travel

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Massachusetts, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Travel

I’m officially on holiday, much needed if I do say so myself.  We started the day with an amazing breakfast and ended it with a stew cooked over the fire; #yummy.  In between, Tony made pizza in the hearth while I worked.

We were able to shoot video — pretty good thus far, but not uploaded to the cloud yet. Please bear with us, we are on top of a hill in the middle of the woods operating off of ½ – 1 bar of reception with about 4 machines going at any one time – yes, we are two people who need to learn how to disconnect.  I also need to get some sort of video editing software which I think I’m on top of, but their ‘packages’ are a bit weird…we shall see.

I’m holding off on editing in order to inspire you with my pithy words of, ‘I’m in Massachusetts, here’s what I ate.’ However, if I post a video with this article it will be a raw, unedited version to see how the process works and the end product renders.  That said, today’s food adventures included:

  • Pizza Zio Francisco:  Tony’s Uncle Frank loved making pizza on the grill;that was just one of the many things he wowed us with when we went to visit himin Florida.  In honor of his uncle, Tony made pizza over the open fire, using some sort of pita bread – with a fancy name so they could charge more.  For dinner,we had a beautiful stew. OMG so good.
  • Gingersnaps: Apparently, Tony loves gingersnaps, he’s been chomping on them since we’ve arrived which is odd as he pretty much has eliminated most processed foods from his diet.  This is also odd as I made gingersnaps as part of my holiday baking last year (I usually make at least 500 cookies each season for Tony’s students…that’s really not a lot, my relatives in Minnesota make north of 1500 cookies around the holidays…each not combined).
  • Lodge Fire Mittens:With all our (hmm, hmm…Tony’s) cooking over the flames and my mucking about in the fire; mittens are needed.  Mary Jane of course has fire proof mittens which Tony has embraced.  I’ve yet to singe myself but am envisioning that coming soon.

I’m off to figure out the video editing software. For those traveling tomorrow, I wish you safe travels and, of course, bon appetite

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What’s A Girl To Do? Martini Edition

20 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, New Jersey, Thanksgiving, Travel

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Massachusetts, New Jersey, Northeast, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Travel, Travel

Woodland Cabin

Here I sit, in front of a roaring fire hunkering down for what I believe is Boston’s first winter weather advisory (not sure if they had an advisory during Thursday’s ‘storm‘); they’re expecting 2 – 4 inches of the white stuff.  We’re not in the greater Boston Metro area, we’re close enough that we might get caught up in it.  And, really, 2-4 inches isn’t a lot of snow – we’re slogging around in that now; the advisory is for those traveling – and who would that be this Thanksgiving week?!? Considering its one of the first storms of the year, traveling will be less than optimal. Thankfully, I’m on top of a hill, am fully stocked with provisions for, at least, a week; and have plenty of wood.  “Let the snow come!” I exclaimed as I realized, I have no where to be and nowhere to go; a rare moment of quiet bliss.

I worked all day — Tony and I were just discussing the wonders of a personal hot spot — and the big man ran errands.  We are now completely situated to the extent that Tony is cooking over the open fire – chestnuts as an afternoon treat and a poached pear for dessert this evening.  This week, beyond being simply fabulous, will be a foray into film.  I’m hoping to take video or two – and obviously posting it – of Tony cooking over the fire.  This will be a free-flowing video so if you have anything you want him to discuss or explain about cooking over a fire, do let us know.

Other thoughts on this rainy evening (thus far, we’re only dealing with rain):

Traveling Off Peak:  As I previously mentioned, it really does eliminate stress to travel during ‘off peak’ times.  We drove up, from NJ to MA, yesterday afternoon and the 2.5 hour drive was, indeed, a 2.5 hour drive.  

#Yummy #Martini

Martinis:  I love a dirty martini.  And now, apparently, I love ‘em in the woods.  We bought ½ the ingredients of a Martini with us – the Gin.  This morning Tony got the Vermouth and Olives.  Of course, nobody considered the toothpicks. Well Tony our fearless mixologist found these tiny little forks and, voila, we had a whole Martini kit ‘picked’ olives and all.  What can I say, except ‘What’s a girl to do?’

The Flue:  It needs to be primed, there’s no getting around it.  After coming home from dinner last evening,  we quickly started a fire and immediately the alarms went asunder — annoying for about 10 minutes or so.  Yup, while the flue was open, it wasn’t properly primed and the smoke couldn’t deal with itself.  This morning, the opposite tactic proved the point of the post — prime the bloody flue.

Assuming we’re able to get off the ‘hill’, prior to the big day, we plan to go to a local orchard to pick up some apples and a farm for some fresh cut meat; we’ll also be nibbling on MJ’s ginger snaps (so #yummy) over the coming days and will be messing around with video…All good stuff.

Until then, we wish you safe travels and, or course, bon appetite.  

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