Sitting in my seat waiting for the symphony to start I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I'd forgotten something. I checked my purse; opera glasses, cough drops, iPhone, miniature rubber pig that makes oinking sounds when you squeeze it. Nope, seemed like I had everything. But I still couldn't sit back, relax and enjoy the soothing sounds of ABBA as interpreted by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Mama Mia. I knew what I forgot.
I forgot I should be in my living room which currently looked like airline wreckage, not on the first balcony of Roy Thompson Hall, swaying back and forth like some sort of Swedish music loving lunatic. I had things to do. Deadlines to meet.
I HAD 12 PEOPLE COMING FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER IN 4 DAYS AND MY HOUSE LOOKED LIKE THIS.
But when someone texts you the night before and asks you to go see a symphony, the entire evening dedicated to Swedish supergroup ABBA complete with soundalike singers flown in from Finland ... well you just don't say nej.
You also don't say no when someone asks you to go to Vancouver for a week, an antique show, Ikea, or down the street to see a really weird shaped insect carcass on the sidewalk. You just don't.
In spite of all of this I am pleased to announce that after 3 weeks of hard work and late nights I did not meet my Thanksgiving deadline for making over the lower floor of my house.
It was quite an accomplishment for me to not meet my deadline and choose fun over work for 3 weeks.
I took a chance on me. 'Cause you know, I've got, so much that I want to do. It's madnessss.
I took these photos about an hour before I went out for the night instead of staying home and putting together a bunch of bookcases. I glanced around, stepped over some garbage and locked the door behind me muttering screw it.
Thanksgiving in Canada was yesterday. I had my Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday.
As of Tuesday I had bought no groceries, couldn't even pick my way across my living room and even though I had finished painting all the rooms, I was afraid to clean and put away my painting supplies in case I'd missed a spot and needed them.
This was not a kitchen ready for my famous Thanksgiving walk around the island with my arm up a turkey's butt while saying "Lambchop! Where did all your curls go?". It just wasn't.
But guess what? Even after going on vacation for a week, wandering the streets of Toronto, and having some socially conventional fun, I still got enough done that come Sunday afternoon all 12 guests could meander through the house, sit at the dinner table and spray whipped cream directly into their mouths.
Which really is all Thanksgiving is all about.
Go ahead. I dare you. ;)
Linda J Howes
Go ABBA! Go Karen, it is what it is :-)
Karen
Ha! ~ karen!
Lauren
Show me the person that clicked the link and didn't sing along WITH some shoulder action and you'll be showing me a liar ;-)
Robyn
Thanks Karen I needed that! Cooking a big elaborate meal for visiting family I got to dance in the kitchen to one of my favorites! Yay!
Jan in Waterdown
Btw, did you happen to notice last time you were @ Ikea, there is now a black version of that white metal pitcher? It is very cool. I scored a white one in the "as is" section, my fave department, for very little but now I *want* (need?) a black one!
Katie C
Imperfection is a beautiful thing. As is ABBA. :-)
Lois Baron
Love your posts. Love your stuff.
At the moment I'm up to my armpit in boxes because I'm having the floors refinished next week; a cleaner came yesterday. I told him to ignore everything and just clean the kitchen and bathrooms. While I was out of the house, he stacked everything up so we can walk through the house without tripping. (He might have done it out of self preservation.) No idea where stuff is, but it is lovely to have a clean path.
Darla
Love the soundtrack and sometimes you just gotta do what feels good!!
Ev Wilcox
So very good for you! If you really did not take pics of your Thanksgiving, could you tell us what wondrous dishes you and your diners had? Happy Thanksgiving, and you were right-the house will wait!
Karen
There was no time for fanciness this year Ev. :) Roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, turnip, red cabbage, White Trash Salad, Pumpkin Pie, individual sized maple cakes. I took care of the first 3, everyone else brought the other dishes.
Jan in Waterdown
And that's not fancy HOW? Glad to hear the family stepped up and brought stuff . . . good for them!
Melissa in NC
A girl has to live a little, good for you! To bad a bunch of little elves didn't invade your home and finish the work for you.
Nicole
Glad I'm not the only one who stared at the wreckage of my house a few days before the holiday and muttered. I wound up shoving all the half-unpacked boxes that moved from the attic last summer during my redo up there into a corner of my office and putting a table over the new dishwasher that's still sitting, uninstalled, in my dining room the day before Thanksgiving this year. And you know what? It was fine. I'm thankful to have a home where I can invite my American friends (who I'm also thankful for) for a dinner with way too much food (again, thankful).
judy
Ha! This post for me at 76 began totally with Huh? I'm reading through and enjoying as usual but my brain is saying for Gawds Sake old lady you missed Thanksgiving..Brain says but ...the kids haven't even come for halloween candy yet so how did I miss Thanksgiving? Wouldn't the Sons have mentioned it ...and shown up to be fed and NOT help with the dishes? Something in the piece brought me back to this-- young Lady resides in Canada..land of the sane and sensible with health care and nice manners and not where you live which I swear has become the land of very pissed off people who may just give us El Presidente of ..... Open large mouth,shove foot in and let the nukes fly. I'm hiding under the bed until November 9th!
Karen
Yep. That's me. Canadian, eh. Good luck under the bed!! ~ karen!
Penny
But the stubby-fingered, pouty-lipped, pedal-bin-haired, Cheeto-faced Oompa-loompa has told everyone to vote on the TWENTY-eighth!!
You're dead right to be worried; never under-estimate the intelligence of the individual or the stupidity of the mob.
Look at what happened when us brits were asked to vote recently; all the angry people banded together with the idiots, just to send a message about how pissed-off with politicians they were, and it ended up with us leaving the EU.
Don't hide under the bed, though, that's where the Dust-bunnies live. Go to a life-affirming joyous musical soiree like Karen did!
Gretchen Sexton
Way. to. go.
Proud, I am.
(I will be happy to see the completion WHENEVER it occurs!)
Cheers to you!
And Happy Thanksgiving!
:)
Laura Bee
Lambchop! I can just see it... This year I had to throw my hands up and cry uncle. Bought a pumpkin pie this year. But from a local bakery and I whipped the cream. I had even bought a pie pumpkin with full intentions to make it from scratch. I did make a great rutabega puff to bring to my sister's dinner.
Karen
A rutabega puff? That sounds interesting! ~ karen
Laura Bee
It was really good. My mom requested turnip.
This is one I found online that is really close. My recipe from a church recipe book calls for it to be all put into a food processor & puree it. (and use 1/4 tsp nutmeg) Then top with walnuts & butter. Also 400 for 15 min & 375 for 15 until golden & puffy.
Ev Wilcox
My thanksgiving will be in November. Trying to decide how to avoid, I mean, what I am cooking this year! Would like to experience a "Rutabaga Puff" though!
Christie Acker
First off... LOVE ABBA!!! In all their cheesy glory! But after reading this post, and as I often do, I veered off into some old posts of yours - which led me to the SHOP tab... Because I HAVE TO HAVE those 3 stacked pigs that I saw in one of your posts. Which I couldn't find in the SHOP... Where can I find these?
Laurie
Hi Christie, just in case Karen is too busy to answer, I saw them at Urban Barn here in Hamilton. It was in the spring, but you never know, they might still have them online.
Karen
Hi Christie! Aren't they great?? They're from Urban Barn but it looks like they aren't selling them anymore. They are selling a really great pig paper towel holder though ... http://www.urbanbarn.com/search.do?query=stacked+pigs . Also Amazon has a really nice one, but it's not all pigs in the stack. ~ karen!
Linda in Illinois
LOVE ABBA... you made the right decision.
Allison
Karen, I am so proud of you right now.
Karen
Well thank you, lol. ~ karen!
Mary W
I knew it! You really are human. Yea for you and you are richer for it. This song is a happy maker. Thanks.
Elaine
What a smart young woman you are, Karen!! It's taken me over 70 years to learn to just simply "walk away" from a mess!! Way to go! I had to smile at the picture of your living room. It looks like the Buddha is still trying to keep calm in the room while the Foo dogs are laughing at him, sayin' "fat chance, Buddy!"
By the way, I have the very same gold coloured "Wheat table". I've had it for decades and when I downsized for the condo, I was tempted to sell it but found I just couldn't. It's perfect in a little reading spot in my living room.
Karen
I have the same issue with my wheat table! I always get tempted to sell it for some reason, but always keep it. I got it at a garage sale for $5!! ~ karen
Elaine
$5????!!!!! Wow, did you score! It's funny - for nearly everything I have bought, I can remember exactly where I bought it except for that wheat table.
I think it was way back in the late 60's or early 70's - probably from some little "boutique" in Burlington - long before Burlington had any proper shopping and before their first Mall was built which was, I think, 1975. I know it wasn't cheap!
Kris
As usual. Inspiring, entertaining, and unexpected. Thanks Karen!
Marilyn meagher
They are coming for dinner to,see you and eat the food and because it's family time , the house will always be there , some people won't ! You made the right choice!
Karen
I think so. :) Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Marilyn! ~ karen!