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We had two long tables almost full, and a day of food, music, knitting, swordplay, talk (LOTS of talk), and beautiful weather. In honor of Anne McCaffrey, I had changed the table decorations to include horses, more green, and a large bowl (standing in for the cauldron of plenty in Irish mythology) instead of a wicker cornucopia. We toasted her life, achievements, and influence in mead brought for the purpose by one of the guests (he made it, which was even more special) and those of us who’d been fortunate enough to meet her or work with her told Anne stories.
Guests were enormously helpful since (thanks to the many interruptions/distraction of my usual pre-T-day prep schedule) I was behind on a number of things while trying to get the food out on time. I was very thankful for helpful guests. Our old friends with whom we’ve done T-day for 40 years now are used to helping (and Ruta took over as director in one house while I was making the spinach casserole in the other) but it took more than four people to get the feast out on time.
Due to the distances traveled (three couples came from the north side of Dallas, at least 200 miles) most people left before or just after sundown, with fewer leftovers than we tried to foist on them. (No matter–that’s what freezers are for.) The turkey remains (other than the sliceable chunks) went into the big stockpot, which I’d started earlier with onion, garlic, carrot, celery, etc. It simmered all night, so sometime today I’ll get up the energy to deal with it.
What are writers thankful for? Readers. Booksellers, who connect readers to books. Editors, who (usually) make books better. Each other (the support of other writers helps.) Family and friends and a chance to gather. And more, but that’s enough for now. (There’ s more cleanup to be done, stuff cleaned yesterday to be put away….)
Comment by Carolyn Rau — November 25, 2011 @ 10:10 am
Readers are thankful for writers. Anne McCaffrey first, because I read her first. You. Diana Wynne Jones. Robin McKinley. And others. I thank God for all of you.
Happy Thanksgiving. And have a good Advent.
Comment by Laura BurgandyIce — November 25, 2011 @ 2:05 pm
Readers are SO thankful for writers!!! and all the stuff we don’t even know to be grateful for! Absolutely including Anne McCaffrey who made me feel like I could ride a dragon.
Comment by Kip Colegrove — November 25, 2011 @ 4:22 pm
Thankful for the good sense to celebrate, to wage abundance by all good means. Remebering the key metaphor for the kindom of heaven is a big dinner party.
Comment by elizabeth — November 25, 2011 @ 5:28 pm
Today was the “clean up everything not cleaned up immediately” day…laundry, for instance.
Took a nap in the afternoon, and hope to finish most of the rest of the stuff this evening. My new MESSIAH score arrived; if I can get it rebound in black tomorrow, there’s a bare chance I can transfer all the marks by Monday night’s rehearsal (if not, I can take the old one to rehearsal). Big rehearsals Monday and Tuesday night, then next Saturday, then Sunday and Monday night, then performance Tuesday.
E.
Comment by elizabeth — November 26, 2011 @ 9:13 am
Jim (one of our guests) took pictures at intervals (none of the knitters at work or the fencers at swordplay–the same people, BTW) and here they are.
There are a couple of new posts up at my LJ about the Thanksgiving prep (part of it) and a picture of a rose that bloomed yesterday. (I wouldn’t have that rose if not for Robin McKinley, who kept talking about her roses and showing pictures on her blog, until I suddenly had to have a couple more roses. OTOH, I infected her with the desire to do more singing, and people on her blog infected both of us with knitting fever, so…)
Comment by Naomi — November 26, 2011 @ 9:49 am
I’m busy knitting too, Elizabeth, glad you had a happy thanksgiving.
Comment by Jenn — November 26, 2011 @ 10:12 am
I have an old knitting encyclopedia that has a cartoon two women holding long needles as if fencing and making a scarf as a result.
I am back to knitting. We just had our charity boutique and I now know what sells and what doesn’t so time to get started for next year.
It is interesting to see from your various blogs how the circle of sff writers is so closely connected. Is it because you meet at the various dragon/world/comic cons?
Comment by elizabeth — November 28, 2011 @ 12:02 pm
Jenn: There has been a writer-connection resulting from convention attendance, but there’s another resulting from internet connectivity that includes people who’ve never met at conventions (or go to them, for that matter.) But even when I went to a lot of conventions, I didn’t meet everybody, and some pairings just don’t “click.” The field is now so big that you have not one circle, but multiple circles, some of which don’t really overlap. I suspect (no data) most of us are connected most strongly to one or maybe two circles and are maybe peripheral members of several more. I’m in two specific writer-only listservs, where I’m not one of the central people (but present: read almost every day, post sometimes), on another writer-only listserv where I read at least weekly but have yet to post, and then I have “my” circle where I read and post on their blogs and they read and post on mine.
E.
Comment by Adam Baker — November 28, 2011 @ 4:20 pm
Oh wow, I knew absolutely nothing about the passing of Ms. McCaffrey, and I have to say I am very very deeply saddened to hear about it. Her Harper Hall Trilogy was my first real foray into Sci-fi & Fantasy novels, and its been an amazing ride ever since. I always looked forward to reading her books with a huge sense of anticipation.
Unfortunately I dont read any of the new’s sites that had announced it, so I knew nothing of it.
Rest in peace Ms. McCaffrey.
On a positive note, glad to hear that your festivities went well. I had an enjoyable Thanksgiving with my family.
Comment by Eloise Twining — November 29, 2011 @ 11:28 pm
I’m one of those very, very thankful readers who has never been to a con and never written a letter.
I’ve loved SF/F since I discovered Heinlein’s children’s books in mumble (ok around 1965). The Paks books have been a favorite of mine since they were first published. Can’t imagine why. I grew up an only child on a Northern Californa Ranch 3 miles from the nearest neighbor. Now work at the SF Opera House.
Thank You for being You.
Oh, and I’m very glad you have gone back to the Paks world. Along with the sheer fun of reading, it is almost like a “comfort food” to have new material in a universe that has been part of my life for so long.
Comment by Bridgett — November 30, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
Elizabeth, I saw a NESCO in your photos! Do you find it does a good job on turkeys? Any tips? I have a NESCO sitting patiently in its box, waiting for me to get up the courage to try it.
Adam, the SFBC’s Harper Hall omnibus was my introduction to Anne McCaffrey, too. I remember it fondly!
Carolyn, a good Advent to you, too. It is nice to see the liturgical seasons remembered.
Comment by elizabeth — November 30, 2011 @ 6:57 pm
Yes! The roasters do a great job on the turkeys, though the older roaster is slower (we have two, because we thought hte older one had died, but it hadn’t…it just limps along slower.) I use it for turkeys and–if we’re having a lot of people–I can make chili or stew in it. But mostly it’s a turkey-cooker and it leaves the oven open for other things. Do pre-heat it to the temp you want (and do fold the sides of the rack out of the way, or take the rack out before preheating. I’m a minimalist with turkeys, whether stuffed on unstuffed…put them in the roaster and leave them until they’re done.
A good Advent to you, too.
Comment by elizabeth — November 30, 2011 @ 6:59 pm
Eloise–what’s your job at the SF Opera House? I have a friend in NYC who’s an opera buff and has even taken at tour at the Metropolitan Opera to see the backstage stuff. Sounds fascinating. Glad you’ve shown up here and please do so again.
Comment by elizabeth — November 30, 2011 @ 7:01 pm
Adam, yes, Anne’s death was a shock to me–I knew she had had some recent health issues but at last report was on the mend again. T-day was a lot of fun; I’m glad you had a good one with your family.
Comment by Mette — December 1, 2011 @ 6:14 am
Elizabeth, I’ve been following your blog for a little over a year now, ever since I accidently stumbled over it during random googling.
I’m a relative newcomer to Paks’s world, but the first Paks-book has already become one of my “comfort-reads” which I always return to when there’s nothing else I’d like to read og I’m sick and need something that I know well enough not to have to put too much energy into reading it. (that may sound odd, but it just means that I’ve read the book enough not to be suprised by anything anymore.)
Anyway… I just wanted to let you know how happy I am that I found your site. I truly enjoy reading about the writing-process, the snippets, and the everyday stories from you life, and I found that a thanksgiving-post was the right time to let you know that I’m here, and that your blog makes me happy. Thank you for taking the time and the energy to upload posts.
Comment by Mette — December 1, 2011 @ 6:19 am
og = or… Sorry. My native typing skills got the better of me I suppose. 😉
Comment by elizabeth — December 1, 2011 @ 7:14 am
Thanks, Mette, and a belated welcome.
Comment by Jenn — December 6, 2011 @ 8:23 am
It snowing!!!n 🙂 🙂
Comment by elizabeth — December 6, 2011 @ 8:55 am
How much?
We’re due a hard freeze–into the upper 20s plus a stiff wind–but not snow. I hope. Tonight’s the Messiah performance and I’ve had to drive back from that into the teeth of sleet and snow before.
Comment by Jenn — December 6, 2011 @ 12:54 pm
Just beautiful “snow globe” snow for an hour but it is cold enough to make it stick!!!!
Drive Safely and have a wonderful performance.