Memorial Day Weekend Plans

It's moist here in CT, with rain headed our way.  The cool, even chill, breeze that was here most of the week is gone.  Everything is sticky.  Neither my hair nor my towel dried overnight.  But all things change.  There will be rain soon and then cool, 40s temps tonight.

Almost by definition, I am not usually comfortable with discomfort.  A friend of mine notes that she knows the art of the uncomfortable.  I can tap into it, sometimes, but not usually.  Mostly when there isn't much choice and I'd rather not wallow.  That's how I feel today, so far.

It's Memorial Day weekend, which means no school on Monday.  Not being a military or patriotic family, we rarely do much to observe this one.  We talk about lives lost in war, but the whole "they died for our freedom" has been tainted for me by recent conflicts that are more about oil money and protecting economic interests of petroleum companies than anything else.  Liberty and freedom are not synonymous with the ability to make money, even if the current, highly-charged discussion about the pandemic seems to equate the two.

With the pandemic and our continuing stay-home, we won't be doing much of anything out of the ordinary.  We might take a drive; we might sit by our firepit when the weather changes.  Last night, Bud played in a video game tournament, a Splattfest.  I worked on a crocheted baby blanket.  This morning, Mama and Sis are sleeping it.  Bud is dancing to the new mixtape dropped by Agust D aka Suga of BTS.  We both loved the Daechwita video with its historical Joseon setting and savage lyrics (and various Easter eggs, including Jin and Jungkook.)  We were supposed to be at the BTS concert this evening at MetLife stadium, the third time we would have seen them in concert.  But that was, rightly, cancelled.  Hopefully, we'll get to see them again live. 

I do have some ideas for the weekend.  I've already been crocheting this morning, realizing I could make my own hair scrunchie.  I don't know why I didn't realize this before; I've even seen them at crafts fairs.  Maybe because I'm wearing scrunchies more these days, as my hair grows and I don't go out!  I got the next instructions for my Annie's Afghan Kit, which is a lovely striped blanket with a variety of stitches.  I enjoy learning new techniques and growing the blanket slowly.  Almost done. I'll work on that this weekend.

Otherwise, I might do some nature journaling or Zentangling.  I might watch a series of meditation videos.  I want to make buttered noodles from my Aunt T's recipe.  Buttered croutons would make it extra special.  Mama and I have talked of going for a drive to the covered bridges.  And doing another local outing somewhere outside with the kids.  We'll see how the weather goes. 

I think its about resilience, acknowledging what we've lost while persisting through.  We aren't often called on to be resilient and this has caught us all off guard, I think.   As an individual, family, community, particularly in the white and/or upper classes, we just aren't used to prolonged deprivation, loss, inconvenience, much less pain and suffering.  For me, part of resilience is not letting "what if" thinking or anxiety alter my actions or emotions for too long, i.e. not wallowing, dwelling, or ruminating.  I try to acknowledge that it's difficult, recognize I can't control the situation, and do the next right, needful, or kind thing, with a nod to the idea of "is it kind, true, necessary?" 

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Aunt T’s Hot Buttered Noodles

Aunt T used to bring these to Family Christmas—a real treat! I love the croutons, especially. She gave me a personal lesson during the 2000 holidays so now I know how to knead dough.

3 yolks (or whole eggs) appx. 2 teaspoons salt appx. 1 cup milk
3-4 cups flour
Mix with forks til stiff. Knead with 1⁄4 cup flour. Roll till really thing. Dry on paper towels/bags. Refrigerate until use. Boil til tender in unsalted water. Stir.
Croutons
margarine/butter
Melt butter in pan and add bread cut into cubes. There must be butter left once the bread is added. Cook on medium. Pour over noodles.

Aunt Tricia

Alternate: Buttered Noodles
2 egg yolks
twice as much milk as yolk
Salt
Add flour until like bread.
Place on floured wax paper and knead, working in more flour. Divide in 2 parts and roll out. Dry—check in 2-3 hours.
Roll and cut into strips.
Boil water and cook noodles until tender.

Aunt Tricia
1 cup (3 1⁄2 oz.) elbow macaroni 1⁄2 lb (8 oz.) Velveeta
1⁄4 cup milk
dash of pepper
1 tablespoon flour

Serve with croutons cooked in butter.