I saw a message that he had some big jobs, he does free lance work so has to do the work when it's available.

I miss him, and hope he makes it back soon.

Annie

Maybe I'm dreaming this but I thought he said , in addition to being so busy with work that he was going to Texas for the holidays.......

None the less he did post and say he was super busy and was going somewhere, he's OK an will be back.

I wondered if he was going to Texas for Christmas too. Hope he is having a good time wherever he is.

Ann

Lars, if you're not working or in Texas, you need to check in here...We miss you!

He said he would leave town last Wednesday, but not where he was going. Texas sounds like a good guess. Didn't say when he was returning, but I hope he gets a chance to check in with us.

He's in Texas visiting his parents & they don't have internet access. I forget when he's coming back but he should be home before the New Year.

~Amanda

Thanks, Amanda - I didn't know that was you! I was beginning to think, "How does adnama know where I was?"

Anyway, she was right. I was going to post something about this in the conversations side. My mother is recuperating from radiation therapy for breast cancer, and she will recover fully, but she has had very low energy. She wanted to make sure that I would be there to take care of all of the cooking for the Christmas holiday. She's been unable (or unwilling) to leave the house except for trips to the post office to pick up mail. Also, she's not supposed to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds.

I roasted a turkey for Christmas (even though she did not want me to), and it was the best one I've done yet. I don't like cooking on an electric range, but I was happy that her electric oven would get to the temperatures that I wanted. I used the dry salt method, and I also put butter (mixed with black pepper) under the skin. I started it at 425 for an hour and a half (I went back to bed for this part - it probably should have been only one hour) and then reduced the heat to 325° and put a tent of aluminum foil over it because it was already plenty brown. I basted it a few times even though the recipe said it wasn't necessary. The pan drippings by themselves made an excellent gravy, although I made another gravy with broth that I made from the neck and tail (Pope's nose, I think) that I cut off the end. I also made my grits faux cornbread stuffing (which my step-niece loved), broccoli, asparagus, baked Yukon gold potatoes, green salad with Roquefort dressing, and a velouté sauce (gravy). For dessert, I had made two chocolate hazelnut Bavarian cream pies and my Danish butter cookies. When I first got to Texas, I made my lime pie, which I actually like better than the Bavarian cream.

I also made a huge batch of Minestrone soup (from the recipe I got here), and I froze three quart containers of it for my parents to eat later. I also organized the turkey leftovers into individual servings in Ziplock bags and froze those for later use as well. They should get 12 meals of leftover turkey from that, some of which contained stuffing (although there wasn't much left over, even though I increased the recipe) and some had Spanish rice. I cooked dinner every day I was there, which my mother appreciated, and I also did the shopping. I had to take my father with me to do the grocery shopping (He insisted, so that he could pay), and so I was unable to go to the store of my choice. I had anticipated this, however, and did some shopping in Austin before visiting the parents.

I was impressed with the Pumpernickel and rye breads that we got at Central Market in Austin - also with the selections of cheeses, granolas, and chilies. There was also a very good selection of salsas - some of which I can't find here.

The trip was rather stressful, especially because my father was being difficult - even more so than usual. I might start a thread on the conversations side about my concerns in this regard. My father is legally blind (from macular degeneration) but refuses to stop driving. He also just got his drivers' license renewed via mail, even though he is 84 years old. That means he won't have to go into the DMV for an eye check until he is 90!! Many of my family members are afraid he will kill himself and/or others in an accident - but mainly are afraid he might kill others. I'll write more about this later.

It's nice to be missed! I wasn't sure that anyone would notice I was gone, especially since it was during the holidays.

Lars

Lars of course we missed you! I've been noticing that you haven't been posting much lately and was hoping that it was just temporary as I've always enjoyed your comments and contributions as well as your photos.

I'm sorry to hear your mother has been ill and do hope she recovers fully. You certainly must have been like an angel to them arriving there to do so much cooking and taking care of the holiday kitchen. Sounds like you made some really delicious meals.

Sorry also to hear about your father losing his eyesight. He really shouldn't be driving in such a condition so I hope you are able to influence him or other family members to take steps to have him checked by the drivers' licence office before he has an accident.

I hear you've had a lot of work on, so that is always good news.

Have a lovely New Year's Eve Lars.

SharonCb

I missed seeing your posts way before the holidays..

Happy New Year Lars..

I am sorry for you and the concerns regarding your parents..MDD is very sad..I have had clients that have had it.. one in particular... let me read his legal documents for him.I was honored for his trust..But I did feel their loss of independance..My clients have not driven..I am sure that is of huge concern to you~
I live in a small community w/ a large percentage of older people..and do wonder how some..still drive..

She will pop back amazingly fast after the radiation....but be sure she doesn't rush things!
I ended up with an infection at the site of the surgery....they said it was mostly due to the radiatiopn....and me messing up healing tissue! Tell her to skip the transplanting stuff in the garden!
As for your father? I think I would "tattle" Call the local cops and have them pick him up for something petty.
Good of you to cook....I well remember the low energy....towards the end of treatment...I took 3 naps a day! A morning nap....then I had lunch and ran errands....and had an afternoon nap....did dinner and gardened a bit....and an evening nap before the news! LOL!
That lasted about a month!
Glad you're back.
Linda C

Thanks! Linda, I did consider reporting something to the drivers' license bureau - I think it is irresponsible of them to give him a license, especially since he is a very difficult and uncooperative type and listens to no one. I think he might listen to a highway patrolman, and my sister is considering contacting DF's lawyer. DS could be his lawyer, but he won't listen to her either. He treats all of his children like we were no more than 12 years old.

Before I left I ordered a complete series of Perry Mason TV shows (48 DVDs), and they arrived just before Christmas. As long as my mother has something to watch, there is no danger of her overexerting herself, unless my father pushes her to it. He keeps treating her as if nothing has happened.

My parents live about three miles from the nearest village, but there is still a sufficient amount of traffic on the rural roads. The nearest large town (over 60,000), Temple is about 8 or 9 miles away via back roads, some of which are gravel, and these are not too dangerous until you get to the outer loop, and then it's quite dangerous. Still, he will take back roads to go to other small towns, and this is not a good idea either, no matter how small the towns are.

Lars