So here's the short of it, 
Happy Samhain (Halloween)!

And here's the long.

Before there was a Halloween there was an old Celtic Holiday called Samhain (pronounced sow-een or shav-nah depending on who you ask). It's the start of winter and the new year in the old Celtic Calendar.  Lots of the Celtic traditions resonate deeply with me - perhaps there's some genetic memory of those ancient celebrations.  This was the night of the first fires to mark the change of seasons.  To the ancient Celts, fire was a symbol of holiness, divinity, truth, and beauty.  The bonfires would have been lit on every hilltop in the countryside to honor the Gods and Goddesses, to usher in the light of the New Year, to purify the ritual space and to ward off evil. The fire was also used to guide the souls of the dead home as this was the time when the thin veil separating this world and the other world was lifted and communication with the dead was possible. All manner of creatures, fairies, demons were abroad on this night!

This must have been an amazing holiday.  There were two major holidays this one - the winter one, and Beltane - the summer one.  Lots of historians think this was the most important. It was the culmination of the harvest season, and getting the storehouses ready for the winter.  They also believe that the Celts understood that in the darkness of the winter, new beginnings are born.  So tonight, ancestors are honored and divinations for the new year are performed.

The Celts extinguished their home fires and Hearth fires were lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land. I love the idea of bringing home the fire to protect and warm my family from the same bonfire that every other member of the community got their fire start!

So here's a traditional Samhain blessing from my heart to yours.

May the ancestors deliver blessings on you and yours...
May the new year bear great fruits for you...
May your granted wishes be as many as the seeds in a pomegranate...
May the slide into darkness bring you light...
May the memories of what has been keep you strong for what is to be...
May this Samhain cleanse your heart, your soul, and your mind!

So here's the short of it, 
Tonight I made eggplant parmesan - well sorta.  

And here's the long.

Mom harvested her eggplant yesterday afternoon in anticipation of the predicted frost.  So we had a bunch of Japanese eggplant that needed to be used up.  I tried breading them - that didn't work so well for me.  Yes I used an egg wash (Alan's advice).  Yes, the skillet was hot enough (more of Alan's advice). No I didn't use egg, then flour, then egg, then bread crumbs (Mia's suggestion) that seems like lots of work and a big mess.  Anyway, I cooked the eggplant a bit without the breading.  Then I browned the breadcrumbs and spread them around on top of the eggplant!  It actually turned out great!
I think I'll make this dish again.

Cousin Mia and her son Clyde joined us for dinner tonight.  Neither of our kids made it tonight. Mia brought a selection of pastries from Rembrandt's for dessert in honor of my birthday.  I love having my birthday celebration continuing! And they were sure yummy. Their Russian Tea Cake is an absolute favorite!

This is a busy week, and it's almost midnight so I need to head to the bed!

So here's the short of it, 
Today I got "stuff" done!

And here's the long.

I could use about 14 more days like today!
I had a chance to work on a couple of projects that have been calling my name for several weeks (well, OK maybe months) now.

I was just right here at home - relatively undisturbed - not distracted by the computer, the television, or the beckoning outdoors.  I take Sophie out for her daily walk, and I did make it out to the garden to harvest all the green tomatoes since we are supposed to have a frost tonite.  I hope they keep for awhile so that I can make some green tomato pickles.  They were quite a hit last year  - I won't have very many but I'm going to try a repeat on that recipe.

But for most of the day, I just hung out at the house, getting "stuff" done.
I love that!

So here's the short of it,
Today was a two car meal day!  

And here's the long.

This afternoon Mom and I drove to Gadsden, Alabama to have her follow up appointment for her cataract surgery.

She has this great wonderful doctor (the reason to drive so far to begin with).  Dr. David Judge - (my cousin, her nephew, and one great Doc)

He gave her an all clear on her eye, told her to keep doing her drops and then got the next eye scheduled for November 15th.  She's looking forward to having both eyes "fixed".

On the drive down she remarked a couple of times about how bright the fall colors seem through her new eye.

We had a good visit.  Mom made lunch for us to eat in the car on the way down.  We had no trouble at all getting there, and except for the stretch of Highway 59 where there's construction, the drive was really very pleasant.

After that great check up, we passed a JC Penney's on the way out of town and stopped in there for a little shopping. Then on to a drive through to pick up supper and home again.

Two car meals might not be the most healthy in the world, but they sure do let other things besides eating get the non-driving time priority!

So here's the short of it, 
Today I went to the doctor with Mom for an appointment. 

And here's the long.

On Saturday when everyone was there for my birthday celebration she had a "cognitive event" that has left us all perplexed.  For about 4 or 5 hours she seemed to have lost her memory - even though she remembered who we all were.  Then on Tuesday she had an extraordinarily painful day with her back/hip pain.

Dr. Cannon was great this afternoon.  She is going to have some tests run to rule out stroke if possible. and thinks that it's possible that it was caused by a Urinary Tract Infection. So we'll see how that goes.

It looks like a middle of the road approach for the back/hip problem is to try another round or two of epidural injections.  So that is also in the works.

I'm so glad that Mom is here in Chattanooga.
I'm really glad that my work is flexible enough that I could take time off to be with her at the doctor.

So here's the short of it, 
It's my birthday.

And here's the long.

The card is here.

What a great day for a birthday!  I've been celebrating since Saturday, but today is the real deal and it's been wonderful. 

So one of the really fun things that happened was my birthday present from Aunt Frances and Aunt Joyce.  Last night Mom brought this big bag stuffed full of gifts to dinner at Provinos. When we got back home, Frances called and said - oh no it's not time to open it yet there's more coming! 

It turns out I got 60 for 60.  60 presents from the Aunts! Actually, Frances sent more than 30 because she thought Joyce was having trouble coming up with 30, but then Joyce ended up sending more than 30 too.  So I was told that I could only have 60 (I don't really want more than I'm entitled to) Who wants to take 70 gifts on your 60th birthday!  So this evening I went to Mom's and we put it all out on her table and I found the 60 best.  She and I had lots of fun with that. I got everything from an insulated lunch box, to a staple remover (and staples), a beautiful little Hummel figurine and a music box and a toothbrush with a travel size dental floss!  60 wonderful little gifts chosen with me in mind.  

I've had so many Happy Birthday wishes through cards, on Facebook, by e-mail, and in person! It's been such a happy time. One of my favorites was a call from Shelley where Max left me a Happy Birthday message.  "I can't see you" he said.  Love that little guy so much!  (his Mommy too!).

Well, let's tackle another decade!  That should be some fun!

So here's the short of it, 
Still another birthday dinner!

And here's the long.

Mom and Russ went with us to Provino's tonight. That free dinner on your birthday sure does bring in the business for them! And for some of us it's such a tradition that even if we can't get there on the day that the birthday dinner is free an early or late visit has to be in the cards for an order of eggplant parmesan.

Russ is on his way to California tomorrow to visit with Elizabeth and Josh and the two grandkids. It's been good to have him here visiting and spending time with Mom. He's been able to be with her a couple of times when she was feeling really awful. And while I really hate for her to do poorly, it's good that the brothers are able to see some of that.

We are trying to get into see the doctor tomorrow.  She''s had appointments cancelled several times. We may have to look at changing doctors if we keep having trouble with getting and keeping appointments.

So after a good day at work - a good day with family at dinner - and a good evening with the sweet animals, it's time to get some sleeping done.