Apples and oranges

As most of you know, I am one of three children. My fabulous big brother is the biggest, then their is my wonderful sister and I bring up the rear. We are all totally different. Completely 100% individual. Yet, we love each other unconditionally and love to be together. We put our political differences aside.

My brother has a very big soap box and is VERY passionate about ALL his beliefs. That is what makes him, him. Oddly enough many of the things that have made my brother tick for most of his life are now things that make me tick too. Hmmm.

My sister is the crazy one. She has always let her heart rule her life and make all her decisions. She gets hurt very easily. She is as loyal as any junk yard dog and you always want her on your side.

I miss them both and wish I lived closer, as do my girls.

Me, I was always goody two shoes. I NEVER got into trouble. Never even got a spanking. Lame!

My parents treated us as 3 individuals and sent us to 3 different schools. We were never compared by our teachers. This was a great thing. My sister was a language whiz, a geography know it all, I was not but the teachers could not compare notes. My brother went to boarding school he just got into trouble and was sent home sometimes. Boys will be boys!

I need to put my girls in schools in different countries! Lily is setting the bar really high for Rosie and setting some lofty goals. Lily has always been a go getter whereas Rosie is more of a come hither-er. Lily grabs the world by the horns, Rosie is scared of horns.

Lily gets letters sent home for talking ALLTHETIME. Rosie is to shy to talk. Lily wins math contests, Rosie forgets that number 7 actually exists. Lily could make up poems with rhyming words at age 3. Rosie rhymes Rosie with couch. But I love them both, equally.

We received a really nice letter from one of Lily's teachers today:

A very good morning to the 4 Copes
Re: Lily Cope

Several weeks ago, Lily was playing volleyball on the court, and found a change purse with money in it. She brought it to me, and I told her, I would keep it in my desk & see if anyone claims it. That day, a student which I know asked me if I found a change pure, that his girl friend lost it. It was identified & returned to the rightful owner.

Today, during Lily's physical education class, I spoke to the entire class on what occurred several weeks ago. I told the class that I usually only select a fifth grader for student of the month, because I am only able to select one student each month for this special award. Since Lily showed such character & honesty, I am selecting her for student of the month here at W****** Center for the month of January 2012, when we return to school.

It is such a pleasure to have such a wonderful student such as Lily here at W********** Center and especially with in my physical education class.

Have a wonderful day to the 4 copes.

Sincerely;

*********

B**** M*****
Physical Education Dept.
W******** Center


It's not fair, Rosie can't compete with this.
Does anybody have any addresses of overseas schools?

Pre Thanksgiving jitters

My kitchen looks as if it was the target of a terrorist attack. I look like a went a few rounds with Tyson and it's all because I am trying to get a head start on the Thanksgiving meal. I was not cut out to be a cook. I don't even like food that much. Each year I host Thanksgiving for all my family and any Ex-Pats that get lost in the shuffle. This year it is going to be smaller....probably because my cooking skills killed off a few last year.

I dutifully went to the supermarket with an almighty list in hand and came home sans a turkey. Seriously such responsibility should not be thrust upon me. As I meandered the store grabbing all the things that one needs for Thanksgiving, minus the Turkey, I was struck by how much stuff the other people were buying and thought I should get the extra stuff too. Perhaps it really isn't Thanksgiving without garbage sack sized bags of chips or the worlds largest container of whipped cream. What do I know, (a) I'm a foreigner in these parts and (b) I can't flipping cook!

There is so much to do. So many side dishes to be made. Each one more fancy and complicated than the last. As I type my stuffing is sitting on the stove, the flavours all "coming together" whatever the h*ll that means. It smells good but that just might be the wine. Not the wine in it but the wine I am drinking just to stay a float. It stops me throwing things across the room too when the cookery book uses a term that I actually have to Google before I can do it.

There's a saying in this house: Mummy only has a kitchen because it came with the house.

I found this recipe and still think I should try it. It's for people like me who don't know how to cook.

Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing ingredient -- imagine that. When I found this recipe, I thought it was perfect for people like me, who just are not sure how to tell when turkey is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try.

1 - 15 lb. turkey 1 cup melted butter 1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good) 1 cup un-popped popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT IS BEST) Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan making sure the neck end is toward the front of the oven, not the back.

After about 4 hours listen for the popping sounds.


When the turkey's ass blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room,.... it's done.

Happy Thanksgiving and gobble til ya wobble.


Oh and I am adding a new label for my posts, it's "humour" for those who might think I am 100% serious and actually drinking wine by the vat at noon.