I’m always reminded of my grandma when the holidays grow closer.  She WAS the holidays to me.  She would slave away in the kitchen making everyone’s favorite dishes, including creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes with nary a lump.  I would make my plate and then get a huge soup bowl just to fill with mashed potatoes.  We’d have dessert and instead of going back for a piece of pie, I’d go back for more mashed potatoes.  I don’t think I will taste mashed potatoes like that ever again.

Don’t get me wrong, her pies were epic.  I remember her trying to teach me how to roll out her handmade crusts without having the dough lose it’s tender, flaky consistency.  Though I’m sure I don’t do her justice in the least, I took over the pie making duties after we lost her in 2004 to lung cancer.  I found out I was pregnant with Gigi just a few weeks after she died.

O6 - Chris, Sarah, Oscar & Shirely

She wasn’t just a brilliant cook, she was opinionated, talkative and sharp-witted.  I remember one day in the hospital in her last few days, she turned to me and said, “Sissy, I wish you weren’t so hard on yourself.”  She turned and pointed to my uncle, who was in his mid-forties and had a bit of a belly lapping over the waist of his jeans.  “Look at your uncle!  I still love him!”

She wouldn’t just give you her unsolicited opinion, though.  She’d give you the shirt off her back, or the blanket off her couch.

I use to cuddle up in this throw every time I went to her house.  It’s warm and fuzzy, and I’ve always loved it.  I remember one evening, long before she got sick, she just said, “Sissy, take it home with you.  It’s yours.”  I use that blanket every evening now as I sit on our couch, and I think of her.

I woke up this morning with a touch of Lulu’s cold, so I spent much of the morning snuggled in my blanket, enjoying the view.

Daddy read Strawberry Shortcake to his girls.  Now that’s love.  Especially because that book has about 4,000 unnecessary words.  It’s “very berry” long.

I watched Lulu and Gigi put together this monstrosity.

I’m thinking maybe it was a makeshift pulpit, because that’s a Bible Gigi’s reading there.  It’s a pretty laidback congregation, if you can attend services in blankies and lay in the aisles.  Preach on, Gigi.

I eventually dragged myself off the couch and made a warm and fuzzy Sunday breakfast.

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Makes 4 large pancakes

  • 2/3 c. whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 1/2 t. baking powder
  • 1 t. cinnamon
  • 1/8 t. salt
  • 1 t. stevia
  • 3/4 c. almond or soy milk
  • 1/2 t. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 c. applesauce
  • 1 small apple, peeled and chopped

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, stevia and salt.  In a separate bowl, combine applesauce, almond or soy milk and vanilla.  Pour wet mixture into dry and stir until just combined.  Fold in chopped apples and let batter rest.

Place a skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray over medium heat.  Pour batter into pan to form pancakes.  Let cakes cook on one side for several minutes, until bubbles start to form and pancakes are golden brown.  Flip pancakes and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.

After breakfast, I had the privilege of going to my first parent teacher conference ever.  I was relieved to know that Gigi’s teachers adore her.  I was also happy to admire some of Gigi’s schoolwork, like this family tree:

There’s Mommy.

There’s Dad.

There was also room for Lulu.

I believe those two dots above the eyes are her ponytails.

But there was one more family member who Gigi would have been remiss not to mention.

Who could forget “Magic the Unicorn?”

Miss Julie said that Gigi insists that the class prays for unicorns.  Daily.

We also discussed what Gigi is thankful for.

I almost cried with joy when I saw Lulu made the list.  I definitely cried with joy when I saw Gigi’s first school picture.

After Gigi’s glowing review, we took the girls for a treat.

I also had something warm and fuzzy.

I had a soy misto with 1 1/2 pumps of gingerbread syrup.  I’m keeping the festive holiday cup and washing it out to put my coffee in every day from now until Christmas.  I fully expect to be walking down the street on a “non-shower” day in the rotation and have somebody drop some change in my ratty old cup.  I’m keeping the change too.

After yesterday’s housebound horror, I was equally excited to get a date night tonight.  We went and saw a very warm and fuzzy movie, The Blind Side.

I LOVED it.

After dinner, the Whole Foods salad/hot bar made me feel all warm and fuzzy all over again.

This thing was a hotter mess than Adam Lambert’s AMA performance, and though I did gasp several times, there was no tongue involved here.

  • spinach
  • broccoli
  • beets
  • chili tofu
  • maple carrots
  • sesame kale
  • pineapple
  • falafel
  • hummus
  • roasted butternut squash
  • sesame sticks

Pretty much the perfect ending to a great day.  Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a warm and fuzzy blanket with my name on it.