Snow Globe Mah Jongg at High Hampton

High Hampton was purely magical today. I woke up to a winter wonderland as I opened the curtains to discover a few inches of fluffy white snow. In the early morning hour all was silent as the flakes swirled around the graceful fir trees, dancing their ways to the ground.

Day two of Mah Jongg is always a fun one, but it was made even more special as the snow came down all day around us, yet we were toasty warm with fires, and hot drinks and the glow of new friendships forming.

In my morning class I discovered that Charlie and Susan are good friends of my friends the Cutshaws. It is such a small world. So we sent off a message to De to let her know of our discovered connection. My beginners had some winning mah Jongg hands and I was especially happy that Dave made Mah Jongg, after he thought he would never get this game.

My beyond beginners toiled with opponents who had all the jokers, but learned so much. There was no better way to spend a snow day, than playing Mah Jongg and laughing.

Sara Foster and I had to go outside to get a photo in the snow. We had to make it fast. It was in the single digits. Back to the mah Jongg room and the warmth of the fire.

Tonight I had the great pleasure of having a special dinner with Paula and her daughter Layla who came back to see me after meeting me the first time in class in April. And we were joined by sister-in-laws, Sherrie and Lisa, and Andrea, my new friend from Blackberry Farm. So many great stories were told over our yummy dinner and desserts that were much too big.

I was showing Sherrie a photo of my mother, Russ and myself. She said, “Is she here?”

I said, “No.”

“Who is that man?”

“That’s my husband.”

“Is he here?”

“No.”

“But I’ve seen them.” Then she realized…

“I saw them in your blog the

Surprise Student

When I do resort Mah Jongg I am not privy to the student list before the class. Sometimes students will let me know they are coming. (And Mary Inman I miss you.)

But I don’t look at the list of name before the class starts. With the weather that is expected we had a bunch of people cancel at the last minute. Good thing I didn’t know who was coming so now I don’t know who I am missing, except Mary.

So when the students came to beyond beginner class today I was so pleased to see Paula and Layla from last year. Paula told me as long as I am here they are coming back. How sweet.

But there were a bunch of students I had not taught before. As they were all getting seated I recognized one woman. At first I thought, “have I taught her before?” then she spoke. Her voice was very familiar and I said, “Hi Sara. I’m Dana Lange from Durham.” It was Sara Foster of Foster’s market.

Sara had moved to Pawley’s island a couple of years ago. So it was great fun to have her in class. She only recently started playing mah Jongg in SC.

After class we spent time visiting with the two other ladies at her table and then Sara and I decided to have dinner together. We talked all about her Martha Stewart years. We decided that the few times I cater waitressed for Martha were before Sara was her Catering Chef.

We talked about Durham and Durham people, Foster’s Market and my love for her biscuits. We reminisced about our dear friend Holley. We shared dessert and had a had time deciphering what flavor the ice cream on the sticky toffee pudding was. I guessed pumpkin, which was close as it was butternut squash ice cream.

We decided to take a photo together tomorrow, “when we are fresher.” I told her I am never fresher, just always about the same. She said maybe she was the same.

It was a fun treat to teach her mah Jongg and we have two more days together. She said she looked forward to more of my stories. Good thing. There is no getting away from them.

The Weather Forecast Is the Killer

Last week the weather forecast in Durham went from 20 inches of snow, to 16 inches of snow, to 9 inches of snow and then to 1 inch of ice, to 3/4 of an inch of ice to settling in on 2 inches of sleet. The panic at 20 inches of snow or one inch of ice were huge. Sleet, not so bad. Yeah, we stayed home, but we had power.

So here we go again. 20 inches of snow. That was enough to make Rufus’s cancel his trip to visit his 87 year old father. I was getting out to Cashiers, to teach mah Jongg at High Hampton come hell or high water. We had 45 people coming.

The drive today was a breeze. Not that many people on the road. I was listening to the end of a fabulous book, Theo of Golden. Stopped in Black Mountain and had my favorite lunch at the veranda, their Hungarian mushroom soup and half a turkey sandwich.

Arrived at High Hampton and Russ let me know the forecast had gone down again for Durham, 2 inches now. But the forecast for all of North Carolina had done it’s voodoo magic and a bunch of people canceled their mah Jongg reservations due to the forecast. Not actual snow, just the talk of snow.

No worries. I”m still here having a grand ‘ole time. The Inn is fabulous, the staff are jovial, the food is superb. The classes will be even more fun.

I just want the forecast to be correct.

Two Belated Birthday Celebrations

It was a busy day for celebrating belated birthdays. The first was at lunch for my friend Shelayne. Lynn and I met her at Nantucket so Shelayne could have her favorite salad. We all knew what she was going to order before she sat down.

It was wonderful to catch up with her for this delayed birthday. See, earlier in the month she was on baby watch at her 12th, YES, TWELFTH grand child was born. That one eight year old and 11 under six.

Besides talking grandchildren we got to hear all about Lynn’s African adventure. I was quite pleased she actually came home. Knowing her love of animals I was worried she might just decide to stay in Africa. I think if she had known that their canceled flights meant that their journey home was going to take 46 hours she might have stayed. It took her almost a week at home to recover.

Tonight was the delayed birthday dinner for my mother. Russ and I picked her up. The cutest sight ever was watching Russ bend down and zip up my mother’s coat in the lobby at Croasdaile. After a yummy Vin Rouge dinner, she did say that he was her favorite. She didn’t even try and cover it up.

I can’t blame her. He is my favorite too. We had such a nice dinner out. People appeared to be glad to be out and about. This might be the small window they can go out, considering the weather forecast.

Glad we got those birthday’s in today.

Snow Day Lazy…

I don’t mind a snow day, especially if I already had a free day. Unlike being a kid in school, a snow day happening on a day you have a lot scheduled is a nightmare. Turns out these snow days (even though we really didn’t get much snow) happened on my planned days off.

I did not make the most of them. I did not clean out any closets or cabinets. I didn’t even clean anything. I watch movies and worked on my Christmas arts and crafts projects. I am now ahead on my goal. Good thing because I won’t get a thing done in. April.

I scheduled another new card class, which will be added to my website when the details are done in two days. I also sold out of my Hayes Barton Place class. So sorry if that was one you were considering, it’s too late. I did add a class at North Ridge Country at the end of April. They don’t let people sign up for anything until six weeks before the event. Members take priority, but since we can have over 150 people in that class I am certain non-members will be able to come. Just can’t sign you up until members have had their shot at it. Unless you know a member and ask them to take you. I am also working on a Charleston Class in May and two classes in Boston in August. I guess I did a little work today.

I hope everyone is staying warm. It is butt cold here, but not nearly as cold as it is up north. I am cold enough that I put on my Lanz flannel nightgown, exactly like the ones I wore in boarding school. I don’t know what I will do if they ever decide to stop making these night gowns. Well, the one I have might last the rest of life since there are only a handful of nights that re cold enough to wear it.

Thanks to all the friends who sent me messages that you are praying for Mike Mansuy. He messaged me thanks for your prayers. I am thinking of an “overwhelm campaign” between us humans and God. If he gets an overwhelming number of people all praying for Mike he might want to stop the noise and provide a medical miracle.

Be safe out there. Still going to be very cold, but thankfully the sun helps melt the ice. Back to real life tomorrow.

Asking for Prayers

Two weeks ago I got a message from a college friend, Mike Mansuy. He was sending a few college friends the news had just been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and that it had spread to his liver. This was devastating news. MIke is one of the nicest people around. He had been a high school principal in Napa California before retiring a couple years ago. During his retirement I followed him on his health quest where he worked out everyday, hiked many many miles and fished in the ocean often.

I never have met his wife Tammie or daughter Jacqueline, but from his messages I can tell they are a devoted close sweet family. Mike invited me to join his Caring bridge that Tammie was writing to help keep us informed. He was not asking for anything except prayers. If I lived closer I would have brought food anyway, at least for Tammie. I knew I could do prayers.

So far the news has not been what they were hoping for. I will not go into the laundry list of things he is fighting, but I can bet he is fighting with all he has. He has so much to live for.

Today Mike posted on Facebook telling everyone about his diagnosis. Since he has gone public I feel it is OK for me to write about this. The family would welcome prayers. Prayers from people who know Mike are wonderful, but prayers from everyone would be better. See, he may be a stranger to you, but he is not a stranger to God.

So if you would like to do something good for the world today, in this world that is so broken, please say a prayer for Mike, his family and care givers. We never know exactly what miracles are available and how they come about. So let’s try everything.

I have lost too many friends in the last few years. I am tired of that. I am going to fight for my friend every chance I get.

“Storm” Report

I woke up at 2:40 last night. Mostly just to use the bathroom. Then I looked out the window to see if the snow/sleet/ice had started. Just a little snow was on the roof of the back part of our house could be seen in the dark. Enough to know something had happened. There was nothing falling at 2:40. The other note I made was the power was on.

Of course, I could not go back to sleep. I tried all the regular tricks and eventually did the unthinkable. I looked at my phone. It is amazing what other middle aged women are also awake at that time of night. I had a mah Jongg question, which I answered. I had an email from a woman in Charleston that was sent at 4:34 AM about the potential of my coming there. I also answered.

I had a comment on Facebook from a college friend at almost 3:00 in the morning. I responded and said isn’t terrible we are both up. I know she is always up at those hours because she takes early morning walks in the dark! She said it’s just her way now.

I played wordle during this time and posted my results to my wordle group, made up of four college friends. On any given night one or more of us are doing wordle in the middle of the night.

Thankfully, due to the storm, everything for today was already pre-canceled. Even the dinner we were supposed to take my mother for since today is her 88th birthday! So I finally fell back to sleep after 5 and slept until 9 without any guilt.

We waited most of the day to see if the precipitation would start again. Finally at 6:00 the sleet started. It is noisy if you open the door, but except for forcing Shay to go outside, there is absolutely no reason to open the door.

Friends from far off places kept texting me asking if we had power. So far, and that is all I will say about that not wanting to jinx anything. Russ says the sleet is going to end and we are going to get thunderstorm and a little warm up in the middle of the night. A little warm up means it might get above freezing.

Let’s hope this is the extent of this situation. And maybe sleeping through the night.

Storm Prep Advice

My dear friend Janwas texting me this evening asking about our storm preparations. Since she was a good Girl Scout she shared her list of her preps with me. I matched her, flashlight for flashlight. There was one thing she mentioned that I had not done. Water banking.

I mentioned that I had not filled her bath tub and wasn’t worried about losing water. Jan told me about the ice storm she survived in Texas years ago when the city lost power and couldn’t run the water treatment and could not filter or pump water.

Now this is not Texas, but I did not want to take any chances. So I filled up water. Jan and both are of the like mind, if we do the work and plan for it hopefully we won’t need it.

No one in our house takes baths so I was shocked how long it took to fill the bathtub. It just reinforced to me that baths are a huge waste of water. I know ole Thor people who love a good soak, but I am just such a conservationist when it comes to water I can’t justify it.

If I don’t end up needing this tub water I am going to use it to water plants, at least for a while.

I hope everyone is safe, and prepared and that this storm is not as bad as was first predicted. Only time will tell.

I Almost Forgot to Write

After writing this blog for 14 plus years you would think that doing it every night would not be something I might forget to do. You would be wrong. Depending on my week sometimes by the time I get to Friday I just plain out don’t know what I am doing.

Take this week. I taught six classes on Tuesday- Thursday to 48 different people. I registered 165 people for new card classes in April. I refunded or moved 41 people into different classes. I responded to 272 inquiries, and proactively sent over 450 emails. I had one in person planning meeting. I had five planning calls and scheduled 7 different classes.

I taught another class tonight. I visited four shops today gathering supplies for the ice storm. I visited my mother delivering batteries and blankets. I repaired her flashlights and battery powered lanterns. Helped her with come computer stuff, looked at her art show, met various friends at her community, visited her chapel and met her pastors, brought her a birthday treat and card and cleaned all her magnifying glasses. I talked to Carter and played wordle and posted the outcome with my wordle group and Inplayed at least five hands of mah Jongg.

So when I finally got home from teaching my class I started in reading my emails. Forgot to take my medication and now just before midnight realized I have not written today’s blog. And thus I can get to the end of day and not have anything to write about, and be up against a midnight deadline and need to go take my weekly and my daily meds all before I pass out, and do it all gain tomorrow. Well, only teaching …and writing my blog. It goes without saying. I will be writing my blog…as long as I remember.

From One Day to the Next

If you don’t like the way today is going, wait ‘til tomorrow because things will change.

So I had something not great happen Tuesday that was nothing but a pain in the ass. I was teaching two classes in Cary that went great, but this other thing happened between the two classes that ruined the day.

Today, I was teaching the same two classes, and they were still great, but I had a bunch of great things happen before, between and after those classes that made it a great day.

I had a wonderful meeting at the Umstead Hotel. They even gave me a sweet present. More exciting news to come from that meeting. I scheduled some more classes at North Ridge Country club, including new card class on Sunday, April 26. The website will be updated soon.

Then one of my cute students in my beyond beginner classes gave me an envelope before class ended. I opened it at home and read her sweet note and found a gift card along with it.

Then I got an email from a Bostonian asking about the potential for Boston classes. Woo Hoo. Great day.

Kind Friends

Yesterday was a day. I had two great classes I taught, but in the middle of them I found out I had to move 85 people from classes they had already paid for to different classes. So I had to send 85 different emails. It was actually 82, because I did not have three people’s email addresses, so I messaged them through Venmo and they haven’t emailed me back yet (stressful.).

I was so worked up over this development that I could not go to sleep. I finally passed out around two in the morning. That alone was not helpful.

Today I woke up to a lot of kind and wonderful messages from people who made moving them to other classes easier. They were supportive and understanding.

One dear friend, Angier wrote, “Please do not be sick. You are a national treasure. I’m just so grateful that you teach this!!!” (There were some good emoji’s in it too.)

She has no idea how much that meant to me at that very moment. I hate having to disappoint people. Telling people that they can’t be in a class they thought they were going to be in kills me. Also it’s a huge amount of work and waste of time and space, when I promise that now there will be empty seats in that class which could have been taken by people dying to get in them.

My take away from this is I am always going to offer grace and encouraging words to others when they face a situation like this because getting those kind messages really helped me.

Then to top it off, a book arrived today, a gift from my friend Jill. She had read how much I loved the infused water in Florida and sent me a recipe book on every kind of infused water one could think of. It was the sweetest act of kindness at a time that I needed lifting up. She didn’t know that, or plan it, but that was what it was.

So thanks to the universe for putting these wonderful people in my life. And thanks to the friends for coming through when I needed you.

Now if someone could give me a theatre in Cary in April for three hours I could solve my new card scheduling problem. I have too many people who want to come to new card class and not enough seats in the right places at the right times.

NEW CARD CLASS CHANGE for April 8

For years I have taught at the club I am teaching at on April 8. They allowed me to have non-members fill the seats that members did not take.

This year they just changed how that works. Now a member must bring a non-member as a guest. So anyone who is signed up for my April 8 classes who are not members of that club I need to contact to change the scenario. I am heart broken as it means some people will not be able to come to that class.

I will look for another place in Raleigh to host the class where you do not have to be a member of the club. So now after teaching two classes today I am staying up emailing everyone who pre-registered. I apologize for this sudden change. It was just announced to me today.

Club members still have all the options open to them. I hope they come out.

Annual Goal

On December 23 I came up with an idea for a Christmas craft to make for next Christmas. So In ordered all the supplies I needed to get started. I think the days of overnight delivery are behind us. It took until yesterday for the last of my order to arrive. So much for starting on this craft while all my house was decorated.

The timing is funny. As soon as the last Christmas ornament is in the attic I was able to start working on next year’s new star attraction. I will not be posting exactly what it is, but here are some of the supplies. It is not something I can carry around easily so I expect to only be working on this when binge watching some great show in my gathering room.

That is not much time, so I need to set a goal to get a certain amount done each month. I am a goal oriented person. I think it comes from my early years in sales. I learned that if I set goals for all the actions I needed to do, the outcomes I was searching for would happen.

Wishful thinking was not a goal. Hoping something would happen almost never worked. Planning and completing tasks almost always paid off. And it was planning the small steps that made the giant task not too daunting.

So task one for this year-long project is complete. Obtain the materials and sort them into useable containers. I have ten months to make a dozen of my items. One and a quarter a month. Since I just started today I am going to have to finish the first one in less than two weeks. That should be a good pace since I will be away teaching about half of all weeks this year.

I’ll report back half way through the year to see if I am on track. What are your goals this year? Don’t tell me to work out more.

Some Sunshine

The news in America is disheartening. It is hard to watch what is going on in Minneapolis. But watch we must. We can’t ignore the disintegration of rights and problem is we also have to keep our strength up to fight.

For me this means eating as healthy as I can. Today Russ bought me a box of liquid sunshine and vitamin D. They are Sumo mandarin oranges. The beauty of them is that the sweet orange flesh pulls cleanly off the peel.

Eating this orange was a tiny moment of sweetness during a time of anguish. I can’t fix what is wrong in the country, but I can’t share a sweet treat that can give you a moment of escape.

New Card Class is Coming

It’s January! So Mah Jongg players start dreaming about the new card that comes out on April 1. For the last five years I have taught a New Card Orientation class. It started small and now it is a world tour.

I don’t get the new card any earlier than anyone else. So when it does come I have about six to seven days to play the card and analyze it and write my 80+ slide power point presentation.

The big thing I have to do is figure out what the new Charleston decision tree is going to be, based on the new hands. I have to play a lot of games in six days. Russ will come in a room where I have multiple computers going and say, “Are you still playing mah Jongg?” I look at him exasperated and say, “I AM WORKING.”

As hard as it is to get ready to teach new card classes, this time of year is worse.

This time of year I am promoting my classes and having people sign up for class.

As of today I have fourteen different classes in different locations as well as a zoom class on the calendar. Some classes are controlled by the country club where I will be teaching them. Some classes I keep track of the class lists and the payments.

Either way I have to ensure that there are enough seats for the people who sign up. So as I trickle out the word that it is time to sign up I am inundated with people signing up so they make sure to get into the class they want. Some people in the past waited until the last minute only to be shut out of their first choice. I am so sorry when that happens. So those people sign up fast now.

Responding to all the inquiries is a full time job unto itself. I consider my students friends and I love hearing from them. I just hope they all understand I don’t have time to write long messages back to each of them. It’s purely because I am getting a couple of hundred messages every couple of days.

I try and send out emails to class groups who have taken classes from me to alert them that new card classes are available. I always alert the newest players first because they need the most help. So some of you might have received an email from me already. Some will soon get an email and some may never get an email because I had such a bad system of keeping emails long ago.

Or sometimes people don’t write their email in a way I can read it in my class book. Sorry, I couldn’t read your hand writing.

So let this blog alert you that April is coming fast. You can find all my new card classes, along with all my classes at www.learnmahjongg.com

Don’t wait to sign up. You can contact me through my website if you have questions. Feel free to tell your friends. My zoom class is recorded so if you can’t make an in person class and the zoom class is not a good time for you, you can always get a video of the zoom class.

I too am excited about the new card. By this time of year I am ready. Just a few months to go!

It’s Only January 16

I had the day off from teaching. That meant I was able to finish all the undecorating. It also meant I was able to contemplate what has gone on in the country so far in 2026.

It is hard to imagine things can keep going in the direction that we have been going. American’s being gunned down, babies being gassed in their family van. None of this is right, good or making anything about being American better.

I in no way understand anyone who can condone this behavior, let alone the people who are actually carrying out these heinous acts.

We are only 16 days into the year. Our trajectory is awful. We have to turn things around. I wish I knew exactly how, but I do know we have to speak up and hold bad actors responsible for bad actions. We can’t be afraid of bullies. Even the biggest bully of them all.

My Daughter Knows Best

I have been looking for a dress for Carter and Claire’s wedding in Maine in June. Maine in June can be cold or hot. The wedding is going to be outside if the weather is nice or on the porch if we need cover. Either way I am going to be outside so I need to be ready for what ever the weather brings.

It is going to be small and intimate. It is not going to be overly formal, so the normal black tie mother of the bride dresses are too dressy. But summer resort wear is not dressy enough. I know what Carter and Claire are wearing and I want to be in the color palette they have in mind. I hate my upper arms so I want them covered.

All this makes finding just the right dress hard.

I ordered a dress that could be for the first night, or the wedding, but I think it is not formal enough for the wedding. So I keep looking. I sent Carter a picture of a dress I thought I liked. She thought it was too busy. She was right.

I am so glad I sent her that dress. It got her on the case. In less than 24 hours she sent me a photo of the perfect dress. It is on pre-order, with delivery expectations at the end of April. That is perfect. So I went ahead and ordered it.

Now the only problem is going to be finding the right shoes. I might need to ask Carter.

Tough Love

I’m a tough teacher. I am a lot nicer as I age than used to be, but no one gets away with much with me. It is my job to convey information to students in the most concise way possible. I want to make sure students learn.

I know not all students learn the same way. I know that some people are more sensitive than others. Once in a while while I can scare the bejesus out of some of them. They eventually understand why I do it. And when they get it, and they almost always do, they are thrilled and happy.

Sometimes you have to walk through a little fire. In the end it usually worth it.

Tonight I had a student who did not pick a hand early enough in the game. I had said clear as day, “I don’t care how smart you are, or how good you are at games… pick a hand at the end of the Charleston and just try and make that. Don’t try and play multiple hands, don’t wait and see what you get. It is hard enough to try for one while you are learning.”

This poor woman, did not pick a hand, but she did pick four flowers and four jokers and never got a hand. Her table went to a wall game. She easily could have won if only she had decided earlier. It was a lost opportunity.

At another table a woman picked her hand and stuck with it, even though it looked questionable. She asked me if she could change. I told her to stick it out and keep trying. She won. She felt such satisfaction and excitement with winning.

You need to have a win to help your confidence. I am tough because I know that once you have a win you will keep going. I also know that if you try and second guess your original decision it leads to confusion and frustration.

I am always going to be a tough teacher. I make you pick your own tiles to pass. It does you no good for me to play your hand for you. My goal is that you don’t need me. That takes tough love.

Please Sleep

Last night Shay woke me up at 2:00 in the morning. It happens. Usually she wakes Russ, who is up in the middle of the night almost every night. I am not. Except for last night.

I could not go back to sleep no matter how much I tried to stop thinking. Everytime I looked at my clock it was another hour later with still no sleep.

So I had a busy day. Garden club, then drove to Smithfield and hour and fifteen minutes, taught two classes and drove home. At least at nine at night the drive home was ten minutes faster. In spite of my shortened night’s sleep I was not tired, but I am desperate to have a full and goods night’s sleep tonight because I have to go back to Smithfield and do it again tomorrow and the next day. The driving and two classes without sleep multiple days can have a bad effect on how effective a teacher I am.

So for the good of my students I have taken a sleep aid tonight and am praying for a good night.

At least I saw a beautiful sunset between classes today. It was cold put colorful down there in Johnston County.

If I Won the Lottery

I could have finished the undecorating today. I worked diligently on it. I got all the house decorations put away. I took off a few thousand tree decorations. But I did not finish the tree. I needed the big ladder. I could have brought it up from the garage. I did not. I waited until Russ came home.

I went up and down the ladder a few times. Then I had had enough. I was tired of this chore. There is no reward in doing the undecorating. It is messy and sad. In the end I am left with a dark and dull house. No sparkle, no light, no joy. So doing the job just to end up joyless in not inspiring.

I have a crazy day tomorrow. Garden club, then driving an hour to Smithfield to teach two classes and driving home and get back at ten PM. I seriously doubt I am going up and down the ladder before garden club..so let’s draw out the undecorating another couple days.

Someone asked me if I was going to scale back on the decorating just so I would not have as much to undecorate. Not on your life. I live all year to get to live in a house that screams Christmas. It makes me so happy.

What I really wish I could re-do in life is the building of the addition of our house we did 30 years ago. We designed the perfect place for our Christmas tree, but not the perfect place to put it away.

If I could do it over I would have made my windows French doors and would have put a Christmas storage area on the backside of the room so I could roll the tree out of the room into a giant secret closet.

So if you have a chance to build your own house, consider building a closet right behind where you would put your tree and put in a secret door, or wall that opens. I dream of not undecorating my tree and taking it down. A dream that will not come true unless I win the lottery. And as my daughter always asks, “did you buy a ticket?” The answer is, “No,” so I will forever be undecorating.

Waiting for the Walk For Peace

The Buddhist monks who are walking from Houston to Washington DC are going to walk through my part of North Carolina sometime around January 22. I hope that I am going to be able to witness these Monks walking. I feel like we really need their message for peace in a calm way.

I also feel like we need to keep protesting. Making our voices heard that we do not support ICE and the heavy handed and illegal way they are handling immigration issues. Personally I would like Congress to cut their budget to nothing and stop wasting our taxes killing Americans like Renee Goode. People need food and health care. And peace!

UnSparkle Day 1

It had to start sometime…The taking down of Christmas. I have put it off long enough. Russ went to the attic and handed down the almost 50 boxes that all the Christmas goes in. I hate this process. Taking away all the sparkle and lights is sad and depressing.

I started with the needlepoint and did the living room first. I got the entry hall, dining room and sunroom done to. I started on the big room, but not the tree. I will get to work on that tomorrow, but don’t anticipate finishing it. I don’t see a need to rush.

No one is coming over. All the parties are done. It won’t matter if I do a little each day and put the tree away next weekend. Spending a little more time with my decorations makes me happy. I used to have my house decorated one month a year, but now I am up to two months. Why not? Life is short, spend more of it in Christmas mode.

Clear for the Win

Apparently people who travel from Ft. Lauderdale airport in the middle of the day don’t have Clear. I went to the airport with plenty of time to spare today. I hear that Fridays can be bad because of cruise ships. I agree most things can be bad because of cruise ships.

I was flying Delta so I was in terminal 2. My uber was driver was doing an excellent job avoiding the many law enforcement vehicles on the airport property. Don’t know what that was about, but there were seriously like 30 different cop cars between terminal 1 and 2. So she drops me off at door 221. (That’s a high numbered door. I wonder how many doors there are at FLL?)

I walk in and see this giant line snaking through the whole terminal for security. I walk past that to the Clear plus line. Not one person in the line and five clear agents. Takes less than a minute to scan my face and get escorted to the dedicated TSA agent who was just waiting for me. That takes ten seconds and I walked down this empty cattle chute. That is where I took this photo. There was one guy walking up the cattle chute way in front of me. And to my right was a giant line of people waiting to get through the x-ray security.

There was a totally dedicated Clear security machine and team and just the one guy in front of me. Those other people had waited in a giant line to get through tsa and then the line was very backed up for them to go through screening, even if they had pre- check.

I was never more glad to have tsa- pre check as well as Clear in my life. My picture does not really show how many hundreds and hundreds of people were waiting and I was one of two. If you fly more than twice a year, get Clear. It’s worth it. (You know I am not paid to promote any products on purpose so if I say it’s good I mean it and if I say it’s bad, then it was for me.)

Last Day of Classes at Hillsboro

When someone tells me their club is special, I take it with a grain of salt. Most people who belong to clubs usually remain members because they like their club, but “special” that seems like a rarity to me.

There are clubs that are beautiful and clubs with great food or fabulous facilities or programs. Good clubs have nice people who work there and know the members by name. But what really makes a club different is one that has all those things and members who are interesting, kind and fun that all know each other and like each other.

When I was invited to come teach at the Hillsboro club, the manager told me it was a special place and asked me to stay over an extra day after the class was finished because the members would like it and I would enjoy it too.

I don’t usually stay an extra day anywhere, no matter how nice the club, because I usually want to get home. For some reason I decided to listen to this manger and took him up on the offer to spend an extra day.

I am so glad I listened to him. It is not because of the facilities, or the fabulous (too fabulous) food, but because the members have been so spectacular.

I had one woman who really wasn’t that interested in learning Mah Jongg, but she was humoring her daughter. She went from a skeptic to a mah Jongg winner in three days. Tonight she told me, “I didn’t want to do this but it was more fun than the time the pigs ate my brother.” Trust me, she meant that as a real compliment.

I am looking forward to going home to be with Russ and Shay, but I really cherish the friends I have already made here and I look forward to coming back to spend time with them again.

It’s Like Grown Up Girls Boarding School

Yesterday when I was at cocktails before dinner I was chatting with a group of my students. I can’t remember exactly how we got on the subject, but I found out that two of the women had gone to Miss Porters and they told me that another woman In the class, Janet had gone to Ethel Walkers. I promised them no demerits for going to Porter’s my school’s rival.

So in class this morning I asked Janet if she had gone to Walkers and she had, graduating 11 years before me. She told me Sigourney Weaver had been in the class ahead of her. Janet was already a superior mah Jongg player, as a Walker’s girl.

After classes today two of my students invited me to have dinner with them and one of their husband tonight. People are so nice here about inviting me to eat with them.

As we were getting to know each other I discovered that they both had gone to Chatham Hall together. Trina had also been on the board of trustees there when they hired my friend Gary Fountain to be their head of school.

Trina and her husband Jay had lived in Knoxville, and are friends with my aunt Edie’s best friend, and my friend Townes. Townes and Edie were supposed to be here this week, but had to miss. I wish they had gotten to come and spend the week with me, but we will have to do it next year.

The men in the classes, and there are men, are really good sports, because at least this week, the classes are like a big girls boarding school event. If you went to a girls school you would understand what that is like. If you didn’t I can’t really explain it to you. Just know that everyone is connected somehow and we are having lots of fun, everyone wants to win, but is still really happy for the person who actually does win.

Delightful Day One

So far the Hillsboro club has not disappointed me in anyway. The people, both staff and members, could not be a nicer group. The accommodations are lovely. The food is fantastic. I even found some cute clothes in the shop.

The weather is perfect. The air is soft and gently warm. The night sky is brilliant.

Classes are going great. Everyone is attentive and bright.

So when I tell you about my favorite thing it is a tough decision because so much of it is great. But my favorite thing is the Infused Water Program. Yes, the water!

Carter and Claire had been here for a wedding and they told me about the water and I’m so glad they did because I might have missed it if they didn’t. Yesterday I had the strawberry Basil water and it was my favorite so far. The apple mint and Lime today is excellent. I can hardly wait for the water tomorrow.

How exciting to discover that I love infused water so much.

New Club for Me

I flew to Ft.Lauderdale this afternoon to get to the Hillsboro club in Hillsboro beach. This is my first time to come teach at this club. The first time I go anywhere I like to get there early enough to make sure everything is set up right.

It was a good thing. There was a potentially big snafu I had to remedy. Thankfully the staff were right on the fix we were able to make happen so by the time class starts first thing in the morning all will be perfect.

I was shown to my lovely room overlooking the ocean. And I got some yummy strawberry water from the fruits water station. Carter and Claire had been here in January for a wedding and told me about the fruit water program so I was on the lookout for it. Apparently there is a different fruit water everyday. I will report in on which ones are my favorites.

I went to dinner, which was outside, on a perfect 75° night. I arrived at the hostess stand and told her I was a party of one. She asked me who I knew, looking to seat me with someone. I told her I sadly didn’t know anyone, that I was the Mah Jongg teacher. A nice waiter was standing there and he took pity upon me and said he would take me at his station.

Since this is a members only club, no one is allowed to use their phone in public. So I sat silently and enjoyed my yummy branzino looking out over the black ocean. When I finished a nice woman came up to me and introduced herself. Janet, from Chicago. She said, “We have the same haircut and we are both alone. Would I like to join her for dessert.”

I wasn’t going to have dessert, but I gladly joined her and spent another hour and a half getting to know her. She was such a delight. When she found out I was the Mah Jongg teacher she wanted a photo with me so she could send it back home to her mah Jongg playing friends. So I broke the rules and took my phone out a snapped a quick selfie with Janet.

I think I am going to like it here.

Time to Order Your New Card

It may only be January 4, but it is time to order your new Mah Jongg card for 2026. And you aren’t going to receive it until April 1. But don’t wait to order it.

I know it seems crazy, but waiting to order your new card means you might not get it in time to start playing it on April 1.

For all you people who don’t play Mah Jongg you can come back and read tomorrow. Today is all about getting ready for the new card year. The National Mah Jongg league takes orders in advance. In fact, they take your money now, even though you will not get your product for months. In spite of that, you still should place your order.

There is nothing more exciting than getting the new card. I hope that 2026 is a better card. I will go out on a limb and say it will be better because even number years are better than odd number years in this century.

I am scheduling my new card classes right now. The first one will be April 7 in Durham, April 8 at Carolina Country Club in Raleigh, April 9 in Charlotte, April 13 at Hayes Barton Place in Raleigh, April 15 in Smithfield, April 16 at Benvenue in Rocky Mount, April 21, at BCC in Alamance, April 19-20 Lyford Key, April 22 at Cape Fear CC in Wilmington, May 4-7 at the Tides Inn in Irvington, Va. I will be in Atlantic beach and will also have a Zoom class.They will all be posted on my website in the next two weeks and you may register for classes then.

April is my favorite month as there is nothing more I love than sharing all the secrets and strategies of the new card with all you Mah Jongg lovers.

Friends Around the Table

On our last day in Scotland, at our friend Boris’ birthday, we decided we needed to have a thank you dinner when we got home. The friends of Boris knew there was no way we could ever properly thank Michelle for giving us this most perfect trip, but we had to try.

I discussed the possibility with Nick and Amy and they were in, so we knew we were good. I wanted it to be as soon as possible so that it wasn’t six months before we all saw each other again. Sadly not everyone could make it tonight, but Michelle and Boris and Amy and Nick and Jaymie and Amit could so we had a party.

These are some good foodies so I wanted a good dinner, but it is after New Years so I wanted something not too heavy. I decided that Mediterranean was the way to go, even though that meant I was going to be cooking for the half Greek, half Lebanese Nick. I think I passed the test.

It was a festive dinner as all the Christmas was still up. Jaymie said I should just leave it up until valentines. It was just wonderful to get to sit around the table and tell stories, no matter how many interruptions. I still need to come up with another way to thank Michelle and Boris as one dinner hardly comes close to showing our appreciation and love for the time in Scotland. The best parts are the friendships.

I love starting off the year with a dinner party. Especially since Russ is down in the kitchen doing the dishes right now. He likes the leftovers, although there are not many lamb meatballs left.

I guess I am going to have to make time to have a few more dinner parties this year. It’s time to get back to having people sit around our table.

Little Brown Dog in the New Year

I’m an old lady. This year I will turn 15. In dog years that’s old. But most of the time you would not know I’m old.

I still have my same 22 pound girlish figure. I like to play hard with my Daddy. He is my person. I demand for him to snuggle with me. If he is sitting in the wrong room, I just herd him to the place I want him to sit with me. He rarely says no.

He takes me on walks, but I determine the route. He never knows how long or which direction I am going to take him, but I always bring him home.

I don’t care about other dogs I meet along our walk. Big or small, loud or quiet, I ignore them all. The only thing that is important to me is my Daddy.

I sleep longer and harder than I used to. My hearing is not what it used to be. Sometimes I have accidents in my sleep. I am sorry about those. I don’t mind the indignity of diapers, but Daddy is always hopeful I don’t need them.

I cry and cry when Mommy and Daddy leave me at home alone. Daddy gets a message from Alexa, “Dog crying, playing dog calming music.” Alexa should know that only thing that calms me is being with my humans.

I may still look like a puppy, but I am an old lady. I am going to do my best to keep loving my Daddy here on earth for a few more years, as long as he keeps letting me be in control. It may be the year of the horse, but in my house it is always the year of the dog.

Time to Stop Cooking… Soon

Just when I thought all baking for the holiday was done I remembered I had to bake cookies for a funeral. I am happy to do this because our church is very good about providing a really nice service for church members we lose. I know that one day it will be me someone is baking cookies in honor of so for now I bake for others.

We started our day going to a sweet neighbor’s house for a little brunch. That is when I remembered the cookies. Thankfully making snickerdoodles is something I can almost always do as the ingredients are staples. That is unless I run out of cream of tarter. Thankfully I did not. And by the way, cream of tarter is one of those things that used to be very inexpensive, but now is a fortune. I wonder if it comes from a country with a high tariff?

I think with the completion of these cookies I am done baking for a couple of months. It’s back to work on Monday. This should also mean the end of eating holiday food.

I wish that summer came right after the holidays so I could just get food from the garden. Perhaps living in the Southern Hemisphere would help post holiday eating. I want to just have salads, but it’s not great salad season.

At least it will not be baking season. Oh, and soon the peppermint ice cream season will be over as soon as I serve the whole peppermint pie that is the freezer on Saturday night. Please let the eating end.

Ready for 2025 to Go

Some years are better than others. 1968 – with the asssintion of MLK and RFK and the Vietnam war, 2001 with he 9/11 attack, stock market crash of 2008 stands out in my mind as some bad ones. But 2025, with the guide book of project 2025 will probably go down as the worst for me.

Personally it was not a terrible year. My family is healthy, I had meaningful work, my child is thriving, I met and made hundreds of new friends. But I also lost a couple of friends, and I miss them.

The hard part of this year was how our country changed. And the worst part for me was how many people thought it was OK. I will never be OK with a government that allows one person to set the agenda with no checks and balances. I am not OK with a lack of due process. I do not want people to feel afraid to go to school or go to work because they worry if a loved one will be taken while they are gone. I don’t like people being disappeared with no record.

I personally was not subject to these issues, yet I personally felt the ugliness that grew in our country this this year. I yearn for the place that believed that if your neighbor was doing better you were happy for your neighbor. Sadly I feel like now we are in a place where if one is doing badly then that one wants everyone to do worse than they are.

My hope for 2026 is that everyone does better. Everyone is kinder. Everyone is more generous. Everyone finds happiness and spreads joy.

Poor Caroline Kennedy

Caroline Kennedy is four years older than I am. She has been in the public eye all of her life. As far as my memory goes, she has done an outstanding job of being a good human being. But how much does one person have to endure?

She lost her father by assassination at the age of five. Then her uncle and godfather five years later in the same horrific way. Her mother remarried an older man, she told her cousin she did not like, and gets moved out of the country during her adolescent years. She lost her 65 year old mother when she was 43 and her only sibling, John two years later in a tragic plane crash with his young wife.

Now her middle child, Tatiana, has passed away at 35, leaving two children without their mother.

As if all of this is not enough, she has a crazy cousin in RFK and now the current office holder of the White House has slapped his name, illegally above her father’s on the Kennedy Center Memorial.

Through all this she stands strong and calm, but good Lord, Caroline deserves a break. I pray that she does not have to endure another tragedy for the rest of her years. Seems like she has had more than her share too early.

Remembering Margaret Lamberton

Russ carried a package into me today that I was not expecting. It was from my cousin Rawlings. I opened the well-wrapped package with a white box and sky blue satin ribbon on it. Inside was a beautiful red silk scarf with light blue flowers and a note.

“My mother had quite a scarf collection and my father wanted me to share one with you.”

Rawling’s mother Margaret passed away earlier this year. She had been planning an 80th birthday party for her husband Harry. We had reservations to go to the celebration at their home in Blue Ridge Summit. Margaret called me the week before the party to discuss a breakfast she decided to add to the festivities. Since she didn’t drink coffee she wanted to talk about if she needed coffee at the breakfast.

I don’t drink coffee in the morning either, but quickly volunteered to bring the coffee as I was certain that others would want coffee. She was quite excited the family were all coming to honor Harry, the youngest of my father’s first cousins on their mothers’ side.

We were excited too since we had not seen many of these family members all together since my father’s funeral, and that was during Covid so plenty couldn’t make it.

Four days before the party we got a text that Margaret had a stroke. No party. We prayed for her recovery. She worked hard, but after a few months she passed away. Sadly we’re couldn’t make it to her funeral.

So this surprise gift is a reminder of the elegant lady we lost this year. There are only two left in my father’s generation of cousins, Harry and his older brother Ben who lives in England. They are the children of my grandmother’s sister Nancy, the youngest of the six Michie girls of Charlottesville.

My mother and Aunt Janie Leigh are the in-laws of that generation, part of the original members of the Michie in-law support group, a term which my husband Russ coined. He welcomes any new member who marries a family member with any Michie blood and explains why there is a support group. This, and he didn’t actually know my Grandmother or three of her six sisters. But the Michie traits are strong, so he was able to recognize the need for support.

Margaret Lamberton was a good member of the club. She always showed up at family events and was supportive. Her children, Harry Jr. and Rawlings are still two of the great Michie cousins, (which is a name no one carries on, but we all identify as.)

It was such a thoughtful gesture and a lot of work on Rawlings part, on behalf of her father. I will think of Margaret lovingly when I wear this scarf.

It’s Time to Join the Craze

If you know what this mat is you probably already know how to play Mah Jongg. If you don’t it might be time to learn. If you know how to play, or think you know how to play, or play, but are worried you aren’t doing it to the best of your ability, it might be time to take a more advanced lesson.

I have been teaching mah Jongg for over 27 years. Over than time I have taught over 30,000 people to play this most fun game. The way I teach Mah Jongg today is wildly different than the way I started teaching it. I am a student of the way people learn. That is what keeps me interested in teaching the same game over the years.

Because I learn from each person I teach I have come to understand what is most important to learn first and then second and so on in order to help people learn to master the game.

I hear often of people who fall in love with the game and after six months of playing it decide they are going to be a mah Jongg teacher. Of course this happens because they want to share their passion for this game with their friends so they have more people to play with. My only issue is with someone who tells people they can teach them to play mah Jongg in two or three hours.

If you just learned to play you only know enough to spend two-three hours teaching. What a novice teacher does not know is how to build a foundation and teach strategy in a way that is understandable and consumable by a mah Jongg virgin. Any teacher who picks the tiles you should pass, rather than explains how to figure out which tiles to pass is just playing the game for you, rather than teaching you how to play.

There are lots of Mah Jongg advice givers on the internet. It is amazing how much of that advice is poor or without explanation. I don’t make videos and give advice on the internet because that is not fun for me. Fun for me is being with people in real life, looking you in the eye and seeing how you learn so I can convey the information to you in a way that works the way your brain works.

Mah Jongg is a complicated enough game that you need a foundation and strategy to really enjoy playing. If you want 2026 to be the year to learn or improve your Mah Jongg I would love to have you in one of my classes. To find a scheduled class visit www.learnmahjongg.com. If you want to create a class of your own just contact me and we can talk about it.

There is a reason Mah Jongg is so hot. It’s just very fun. Come join me and see why.

Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree

Carter texted me today as she was teaching her mother-in-law how to needlepoint. Then she went to a Local Needlepoint store with one of her sister-in-laws and she taught her how to needlepoint.

While she was out shopping she got a mah Jongg Hair clip. She may not be at my our house for Christmas, but she is still my daughter through and through.

I love that my mother is a great needlepointer and that love is carrying on through three generations.

Details Matter

Details Matter

I got an idea in my head for a Christmas craft. I get these ideas this time of year because of the inspiration all around me now. So I have to act on it now, to start making it for next Christmas. I am not inspired for Christmas in August.

This craft involves a lot of small pieces so I went online to find all the various bits and bobs I anticipate needing to make it. As I have never made this craft I am unsure exactly what will look right so I ordered a lot of various sizes and colors of tiny things.

In total I ordered about eight different groups of items from Amazon which were supposed to be delivered Dec. 23. Perfect. I can get started on this craft while I’m off work during the week between Christmas and New Years while all my decorations are still up and I can experiment.

I got an Alexa announcement on December 23 that six of my eight items had been delivered. I went to the front door. No boxes. I went to the garage door, no boxes. So I looked at the website to see the tracking photo.

That’s when I noticed what looked like my father-in-laws front stoop. Yes, I had not looked at the delivery address when I placed the order. Russ had ordered his father a present and changed the delivery address, but Amazon did not go back to our default delivery address.

Totally my fault, but since I didn’t order the gift, I didn’t think to look at the delivery address. Russ called his Dad, who loves to have an errand, so he is repackaging everything into one, well packed box and sending it to me. Sadly I don’t think I will get everything in time to play with it during my break.

I may keep the Christmas up a bit longer. I need the inspiration, but I also need all the supplies. Oh he details matter so much.

Cozy Little Christmas

Our first Christmas without Carter home, and don’t tell her, we had a lovely day. Not to say it wouldn’t have been better with her and the whole family here, but it was not sad at all.

We, well I, slept late. Russ made me a yummy slow egg while Shay snuggled with me. Eventually we got up and got dressed to open our little group of presents from Russ’ Dad and my sister Janet. Russ’ Dad is a champion present giver and wrapper.

He loves it if you tell him what you want, but then he comes up with bonus gifts on his own. I got a a beautiful Mah Jongg Mat that matches my living room rug, which is exactly what I asked for. The bonus was the advent calendar of paper goods. I love me beautiful paper. This went perfectly with the Tom’s studio pen Russ bought me in London, but had already forgotten about.

We had great FaceTime calls with my sister’s and Mom, with Russ’ Dad and sister and with Carter and Claire and the Dicksons. There were no meals to prepare as we just had leftovers from the various earlier yummy meals. Sadly we did finish up the homemade spinach and artichoke dip which Russ is asking me to make again.

We had such a relaxing day, reading, and being together. The house is all cleaned up. Now my only decision is do I keep all the decorations up past Jan 3, when we have one last party, or do I start taking them down this week and have a clean house for Jan 3? I love the decorations, but dread the taking down. I’ll think about that tomorrow. Today, I will still enjoy the sparkle. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Christmas Eve New and Old

This is our first Christmas without Carter at home. She and Claire are with Claire’s family who are very fun. Since I am not there I wanted to send them something that would be fun for them to do. So I made a giant Saran Wrap Christmas ball full of lots of small gifts and cash.

Carter sent me video’s of them playing the game and it was just as chaotic as I thought it would be. One person has to unwrap the Saran Wrap while the next person in line is rolling the dice. Once doubles are rolled the balls of presents moves to that next person. You may or may not get a prize on your turn. I think I put about 20 prizes in the ball.

Back home we were having our traditional Christmas Eve with the Toms coming for dinner. Since it was just going to be the five of us I made the easiest dinner ever of Russ’ favorite pasta carbonara. We ate quickly so we could get to church and get our regular pew. Our music director’s Husband Jaeywoon Kim, who is the most fabulous tenor performed as well as the Westminster Brass and the choir. It is a most joyous service.

After church we came back to the house with the Toms to continue dinner. We missed having Carter and Claire, but I faced timed with Carter and read her ‘Twas the night before Christmas as I have every Christmas Eve for her whole life. She might not be in the same room with me, but we were together nonetheless. Wishing everyone every where a Very Merry Christmas.

Childhood Christmas Cooking Training

When friends ask me about how I looked to cook I tell them I was trained as a child. Not professionally trained, but parentally trained. See, I have a non-cooking mother. My father was the cook, but he also was the provider, so he was not around to cook much except on weekends.

So my father did what he did best and that was train surrogates. As the oldest child he decided that once I could reach the stove I could cook. I was tall so I started cooking very young.

One of my big training schools was helping cook for the many parties my parents through. Every year we had a big Christmas Eve party. All my parents friends, their kids and any visiting relatives of their friends would come to our house for dinner and drinks. This started in the early seventies so drinks were big, but food and feeding people was very important to my father.

As the only southerners in Wilton, Connecticut, my father felt compelled to always have southern Christmas food for all our Yankee friends. I learned at a very young age how many days it took to soak the Virginia country ham in the bathtub to remove the right amount of salt to make it edible.

I became proficient at making tiny ham biscuits with slivers of country ham and lots of butter as those were a huge favorite of our Wilton friends. I also thought that there were only two ways to buy oysters, on the half shell at the oyster bar in Grand Central or in gallon sized paint cans. Oyster stew was always on the menu and we bought gallons and gallons of oysters for this party as we were serving hundreds and hundreds of people Christmas Eve dinner.

My friends Charlie, Tommy and Andy Hurdman could often be found in the upstairs kitchen washing Minton china bowls we served the Oyster stew in because we always had way more guests than bowls. We may have run out of bowls, but we never ran out of oysters.

Since today is the eve of Christmas Eve I still have the feeling that right now I should be cooking something. It was so ingrained in me that Christmas Eve was all about having a big party. It did make Christmas Day come faster.

I learned my love of Christmas entertaining at a very young age. I still have friends who grew up with me who still talk about those parties. I also learned that having two hundred people to your house on a Christmas Eve is so much work and that I don’t have enough child caterers to want to do that now. This is why I have so many smaller parties during the season. It may not be one big party, but all those small parties add up to my childhood Christmases, just without the gallon sized buckets of oysters.

Parties are Dwindling Down

As we get closer to Christmas the number of parties I still have to throw is dwindling down. Tonight we had our neighbor’s over for a drink. They have lived across the street from us for a year and a half and finally we have them over.

We got to share with the the stories for all the various people who have lived in their house over the last 32 years. When we first moved in our house we were the youngest people on the street by at least a decade. The Outlaws lived in the house across the street and always told us all the gossip about everyone in town. Mary Teer Outlaw was the best since she was a Durham native of the finest order. I do miss her.

Some of the others who have lived in that house were not my favorites. But the current occupants are tops and we are glad to be the old people and have some young people around.

Carter and Claire sent some beautiful flowers today as a surprise. It was so thoughtful since we don’t have them for Christmas. The flowers will be perfect for our Christmas Eve dinner with the Toms. That will officially be the final Christmas party. Anything after that will be considered new years.

That makes seven parties for this Christmas season. It does not seem like enough given how decorated the house is. If you want to stop by and have some Christmas cheer go on and do it. Everything is clean and bright. I think I can wedge one or two more parties in somewhere.

Cooking and Puzzle

My obligation cooking for the winners of the garden club auction started today. I have four “winner, winner Chicken dinners” to make. Today two of them happened, although they were not the same menus. I had one winner who had kids who do not like strong flavors and adults with low salt requirements. They chose Chicken Parmesan. The other left the menu up to me, so I chose green peppercorn chicken for them.

I was able to complete the cooking and deliver all the food by four this afternoon. I am glad to have half of these meals behind me. This means my required cooking for the season is dwindling down.

Once I finished with this job I went to work on the most difficult puzzle I have ever worked on. Russ gave me this crazy puzzle a while ago. I started working on it in September. Every few days I would try and find a few pieces. On the last few days I have made a concerted effort to try and complete it.

I use puzzle piece sorting trays. I usually start with eight of them. Today I got down to two and was hopeful that with few pieces to chose from I could finish this puzzle up.its bigger than it looks in this picture.

Not sure what I am going to do next now that I don’t have as much to cook and don’t have a puzzle going. Of course I have needlepoint…

Mirror Math

I have a light up mirror. It has a regular mirror on one side and a 10x mirror on the other. I also wear readers. They are very strong readers — 3.0. I can’t see anything smaller than a 25 font without my readers so I wear them on a chain around my neck.

If I have to look at something on my face that is smaller than my nose I have to look at the 10x side of the mirror. When I use the 10x side I don’t wear my glasses because the mirror is doing the work that my classes usually do, but even better.

I have a question about the 10x mirror and my glasses. If I were to wear my glasses and look in the 10x mirror am I seeing everything 30 times greater, that’s 10x multiplied by 3 or am I seeing it 13x greater, that 10x plus three?

Just wondering how magnification works? If you know the answer please message me. Not that I need to see 30x better, but now that I have thought of this question it is driving me crazy to learn the correct answer.

One bit of advice for all my friends with 10x mirrors. It’s fine to use that to find the stray hair you are trying to pluck, but please don’t obsess about wrinkles you are looking at with your 10x mirror. Just remember that no one has 10x eyes. So the things you see in the mirror, no one else can see.

Great Raleigh Friends Come to Durham

The best part about my job is the new friends I make in Mah Jongg classes. If you take just one class from me it’s not quite enough time to become friends. When you take two, and I like you, then we are approaching the friending area. If you take more than two, well we are starting to know each other.

When I teach multiple classes at the same club for years and years, then I have a great opportunity to make some tried and true friends. When those same friends also belong to multiple clubs I teach at, well now you are talking a real relationship. When you invite me to come and stay at your houses, now we are like sisters.

The only bad thing is, when I teach at your same clubs for years, eventually I run out of people at your club to teach and I show up there less often. This is the case with some of my favorite Raleigh friends.

Since I have spent less time in the neighborhood I decided I needed to invite these wonderful friends for a Christmas lunch to catch up. I wish I could invite all my mah Jongg friends from Christmas lunch every year.

Today Holly, Bit, Jill, Martha and Mary Jo came for lunch. They brought dessert, which in fact were two giant desserts. Their club makes these special peppermint ice cream pies. Apparently they are hard to get because everyone wants them. They brought one for us to have for lunch and a second one as a gift.

Each pie has sixteen very large pieces. Since there were only six of us we hardly made a dent in these yummy Christmas treats. I will be serving this at a couple of events so don’t be surprised if you get a bite of this dessert. You will know I did not make this.

Mostly it was just fun to get a chance to see my friends, who I wish I saw much more often. Hazards of being a Mah Jongg teacher is I don’t have time to just play Mah Jongg with all the new friends. I hope they know that I miss them. I really appreciate them driving all the way over here and that they will come again sometime soon.

Need Soap?

I am posting this terrible photo of myself just to give a visual reference about the difference in my home to my friend Lynn’s. We had our annual Christmas party at her house this year. After most everyone left I got to washing her wedding china by hand. She wanted to put it in the dishwasher and I objected. I worried the gold rimmed edges would get ruined.

I asked Lynn for dish soap as there is never anything related to cooking or cleaning on her counters. See, not much cooking goes on in her kitchen, therefore not much cleaning is needed. And her marble countered kitchen must stay pristine white.

Lynn instructed me to look under the sink. I should have been able to figure that out for myself. There in the tidiness of Lynn’s cabinet under the sink was one tiny bottle of dawn. So tiny I thought that perhaps it was a sample mailed to her to clean ducks who had gotten in an oil slick. (Lynn, whose nickname is “baby squirrel rescue,” is a notorious animal lover.)

I picked up the tiny bottle as if it were a delicate flower. It weighed as much as a whisper, nothing like the Costco gallon sized jug of dawn at my house. “This is your dish soap?”

Then I realized I was washing the dishes in the kitchen sink, which was purely for show, like Architectural Digest show. So perhaps the tiny bottle was also a prop. I went to the butlers pantry, where the big refrigerator lived and the working sink. I found the bottle of dish soap there.

Just as tiny and delicate as the show sink. Yes, she has a butler’s pantry, but still no cooking and therefore no cleaning. Green tea lattes come in the house fully made and once consumed, the cup is disposed of. No need for soap, no washing to be done.

I wanted to put a little mark on the bottle of dish soap to show how full the bottle was, like your parents might have done on their liquor bottles when they had teenagers in the house. I wanted to do this because we will be having this party at Lynn’s house in two years and I wanted to see if any soap was used between this year’s party and the one in 2027.

Cheese Cauliflower

I made one of my favorite British standards, cheese cauliflower for Chinese Auction yesterday. It is not the same as cauliflower au gratin which is decidedly French. I think they both are yummy ways to eat cauliflower since I believe everything is better with cheese.

Turns out many of my friends have not enjoyed the joy of the British version and found the dish to be a revelation. Why not? It’s like the best of Mac and cheese without the pasta guilt. So I promised the recipe. One friend said, “Well, it will be a pinch of this and a handful of that.” I know when I tell you how to make something that is what it sounds like since that is how I cook. So I will do my best to translate my hand sized cooking to actual measurements.

I have to divide everything by four, since I made yesterday’s with 4 heads of cauliflower. This makes my translating extra hard.

1big head of cauliflower, broken into florets

4T. Butter

4 T. Flour

1 T. English ground mustard like Coleman’s

2 1/2 cups of whole milk

1/4 t. Cayenne pepper

1/2 t. White pepper

Salt to taste

1/4 t. Nutmeg

1 cup unexpected cheddar (Trader Joe’s) shredded cheese

1 cup fontina grated

1 cup Gruyere grated

2 t. Dried thyme

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Bring a big pot of water to boil and add the cauliflower and cook until tender, about 5 mins. Drain. Place in a shallow casserole dish.

Make the sauce by melting the butter in a sauce pan. Add the flour and stir to cook the roux. Add the dry mustard as you are stirring the roux. Cook the roux on medium heat about three minutes, but not so long that it gets too brown. Add the milk a little bit at a time, stirring the whole time. Bring to a boil and then reduce and keep stirring as you thicken the sauce. Add the cayenne, nutmeg and white pepper. The sauce is done when it coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Taste and add salt if needed. (Depends on how salty your cheese was.)

Mix the three cheeses together in a bowl. Take about half the cheese and add to sauce. Stir to melt, not on heat. Pour the sauce over the cooked cauliflower.

Add the thyme and bread crumbs to the bowl with the other half of the cheese. Mix well and sprinkle it over the top of the cauliflower.

Bake in 350° oven for about 25 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling. Cherrio!

Chinese Auction Happiness

Lynn and I have been having this Christmas Party for decades. It is top on my list of favorites every year. This year we held it at Lynn’s beautiful home. That made my life as the cook easy. I made the cheese Cauliflower yesterday and prepped many parts of the salad then too. That only left cooking the salmon and chopping the rest of the things for the salad to do this morning. Lynn decorated and set the tables and made her Carmelita’s for dessert.

I arrived to set up and found Logan home downloading Spotify for Lynn. Lynn had a plan that we would sing “This Christmas” by George Micheal at the end of the party. The whole musical portion of the party was our only challenge.

Beloved guests arrived and we served them Chamord and Champagne cocktails as they quickly hid their gifts for the exchange under the tree. After mingling we started the game of opening gifts and stealing them from each other. The boxes were larger than usual and many gifts had extra gifts attached, like ornaments, to entice ladies to open them first.

There were so many great gifts so there was lots of stealing. Not one person after the first, just went ahead and opened an wrapped gift. I very badly wanted Kristin Teer’s cheeky wreath creation. I had number 10, right in the middle of the pack. I stole it once. It got stolen from me. I had an opportunity to steal it again. It got stolen from me. Finally in the last round the candy cane glasses I had got stolen from me and I was able to secure the wreath!

During all the stealing the music kept playing Wham tunes of the 80’s and nothing else. The volume went up and the volume went down, despite Kathi’s trying to control the system. Sadly Lynn never got her song played for us to sing. That was probably a good thing.

We enjoyed our lunch with the cheese cauliflower being a revelation to many. I was surprised how few people had eaten that before. (I promise to write the recipe in the blog on Thursday.)

After most everyone left Jan and Sara helped carry all the dishes to the kitchen for the big clean up. After most of the plates were in the dishwasher and everyone was gone, Lynn and I started the really big job of opening the hostess gifts that our friends bring to the party.

Going to a party with two hostesses is a pain. I am always touched that people who bring something, give us each a gift. Something happened to people his year because our hostess gifts were way over the top. I am happy with some cocktail napkins, but this year these gifts were like something your husband might give you when he is on his A game.

I looked at Lynn and said, “We are going to have to up our offering for this party next year, to meet the level of hostess gifts people are bringing.”

Lynn’s immediate response was, “Well, maybe we should get a DJ for next year.”

Don’t be surprised if there is dancing next year, and it will be all your fault because you gave such good gifts.

More Needlepoint Christmas

My small stitching group had our annual ornament exchange cocktail party tonight. It is a very festive affair and one I look forward too every year.

We pick names at the party to know who we will be making an ornament for next year. The pressure is great to come up with a new and original ornament to honor the friend you chose.

This year’s ornaments were a very cute group and also very green. I made the pink one that says “Dinner? Cooking? Oh Darling…” it was for a friend who neither eats nor cooks. She took great delight in it.

The one I was gifted was the beautiful wedding cake which I absolutely adore. I can’t wait to show it to Carter.

Each ornament is made with such love and care. Since we stitch regularly together we always have to be careful not to be working on our exchange ornament in front of each other.

I now have the names of the people who I will be stitching for next years. It is going to be hard to come up with something new and original. Time to put my thinking cap on.

Baking Day Done

I should say baking days done. Four kinds of cookies and one spiced nuts. Thanks to Carol Simon for the recommendation of the Ina Garten recipe. I also made my contribution to a party I get to go to tomorrow night. It was a long day in the kitchen.

I am not done in there. Tomorrow I have to make all the food for my Chinese Auction lunch which is Tuesday. At least it is not at my house this year so I don’t have to clean anything. But that won’t last long.

I have another lunch to host on Friday and it is at my house, so cleaning is in my future. Then I have four chicken dinners to make. I offered one dinner at my Garden club auction. Things got out of hand and one donation turned into three. Then the next day one more person asked to get in on the action for a large donation to garden club. So I said yes.

I also found out a friend needs to gain some weight before undergoing an operation. Something I can’t imagine ever needing to do. So I volunteered a fattening meal.

Then I have to come up with our Christmas Eve menu for our annual dinner with the Tom’s. I did find out that the same soloist is going to be singing at church on Christmas Eve. This was the highlight of the season last year so we have to make sure we get to church early for this performance. So dinner will be secondary.

It looks like I will be spending the rest of the holidays in the kitchen. At least Russ will be happy because that means he gets the overage. He does not care much for cookies, but real food coming tomorrow will be welcomed.

If you can’t find me, come look in my kitchen. If I’m not there I will be at the store buying supplies. Happy feasting.

New Christmas Activity

I’ve never been much of a cookie baker. Baking Christmas cookies was definitely not something that was done in my childhood home. My mother did not believe in baking, mostly because she did not believe in eating baked goods.

We did bake the occasional Betty Crocker boxed mix cake for a birthday. When I say we, I mean me for my sisters or for myself. If I wanted a birthday cake I was in charge.

So here I am six decades later and I am baking Christmas cookies. Not necessarily all cookies, but Christmas goodies for gifting. I made Christmas crack yesterday. That made Russ very happy. Then I prepped the dough for Cherry Pecan Rugelach, which I baked today. Finally I made the chocolate crinkle cookies which tomorrow I will ice with peppermint icing. And I will finish with snicker doodles made with the recipe from Nancy Mack’s mother Jane. At least I knew one baking Jane growing up.

I am considering a savory offering to fill out my gifts, but have not come up with that item yet. I welcome suggestions. I don’t have any cute tins or boxes so I guess that will be my next step on this new Christmas cookies extravaganza.

I have no idea why I felt the need to do bake this year. Maybe the Great British Bake Off influence or the feeling that people don’t need more stuff and consumables are the only gift. Of course most of us don’t need cookies, but if you can’t have one at Christmas I don’t know when you can.

I did eat broccoli for dinner to make up for the fingers licked today and the broken cookie tasted. I can’t possibly give away a broken cookie.