Right on Time

HOLIDAY WONDERMENT: We've been marveling over how beautiful our 'Christmas' cactus has become this week. We thought it an early bloomer, but we thought wrong.

Christian Googled the plant a couple of days ago, and imagine our surprise when we learned it's not a Christmas cactus after all! It's a Thanksgiving cactus, which means it's right on time!

An article on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach webpage explains it all. ...

"The difference between the three cacti is found in the shape of the leaves. The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumgera truncata) has very pointed and claw shaped projections on the edges of the leaf. The Christmas cactus (Schlumgera bridgesti) has leaf projections which are more scalloped or tear drop shaped. The Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertnerrii) has very rounded edges which are centralized on the leaf."

Illustration from Iowa State University Reiman Garden Pamphlet RG 308Thanksgiving

COOKING UP A STORM: Thanksgiving is just a day away, and we've been busy readying for that holiday.

We're heeding experts' opinions regarding this pandemic era holiday, not mixing households and keeping it home alone, so to speak. What we are doing, however is a cooperative Thanksgiving. Three of us (Kennedy, my parents and our household) will each be making our own turkey, but we divvied up the side dishes. I am making cranberries, Chex mix and wild rice, sausage and shitaike mushroom stuffing. Ken has the potatoes and green beans covered. Judy is making rolls and pies. We're going to swap side dishes outside, masks on, with social distancing. Though unorthodox, it will be a nice way to enjoy dinner with one another without sitting down at a communal table and sharing air. 

NOT THROWING AWAY OUR SHOT: I listed 'exercise' on our list of things to do. "Just Dance" via the Nintendo Switch is an easy go to, but honestly, I don't love most of the very poppy music they use, and the choreography seems pretty random at times.

So, I decided to turn to YouTube for some inpsiration. I had been singing a song from "Hamilton" just moments prior, so I thought, "Well there *has* to be a 'Hamilton' workout."

I'm right. There is. In fact, there are many. We chose the top viewed one, and fired it up without warning for the kids. They were super happy about it. It was well done - great music and good exercise. We'll be back for more!

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