Errant Appliances

Yes, I have really pissed off the oven gods.

Right now, in the back of my mind, while I have other stuff to do, I’m trying to figure out the best way to make Thanksgiving dinner.  For years I have done everything myself, save the pumpkin pies, which my sister in law does so much better than anyone.  But a couple of weeks ago, my oven broke.  I don’t yet have the money for the repairs, nor do I have a clue as to what’s broke.  I only know that I can turn it on, preheat it, have it stay on about 9 minutes or so, then it shuts off by itself.  So, I can bake some biscuits, but very little else.  No turkey is going to fly out of it anytime soon.

This is the fourth appliance to expire.  The TV was first (if you want to call it an appliance), just sound, no picture.  It’s plasma, so it’ll cost more to fix than to buy a new one.  Next, the washing machine.  It was the drum.  Fortunately, it was still under warranty, but I still had to pay for the labor.  After that, the dishwasher.  I haven’t a clue what’s wrong with it, just that a piece from the inside has broken off (the part that squirts the water) and nothing gets clean.  Next came the oven.

I guess I've pissed off several appliance gods.

I told my sister in law of my predicament, and she loaned me both her electric roaster and electric rotisserie so I can make both a turkey and a ham.  That, along with my crock pot (for slow cooked baked beans) will be my contribution.  My son has decided he will risk it and he will be making the biscuits since the oven doesn’t have to work very long anyway.  He did a trial run on Sunday and they baked up nice, right before the oven shut off.

I’m really hoping that I don’t piss off the refrigerator gods…

How can you not love gravy?

I love gravy.  I dream about it even.

My first memory of gravy when I was about 4 or 5 years old, living in Martinsville, Indiana.  My Aunt Patsy made the best gravy on the planet, and still does to this day.

"What do you want for breakfast, Ellie?" she would say.  "Biscuits and gravy," I would say.  "Don't you get tired of biscuits and gravy all the time?"  "Nope".

That was one of the main reasons why I was completely in shock when my granddaughter, Makayla, had a tearful outburst over the heavenly substance the rest of the world knows as gravy.  Makayla is the only child of our child number 4 out of 6, Pamela, who is in the Navy.

As a treat, sometimes on Saturday's or Sunday's, I make turkey loaf. It's not quite an entire turkey, but is great for one meal for just a few people.

This one particular Saturday, I made the turkey roll, green beans, a nice salad and mashed potatoes with a nice brown gravy (and biscuits of course).  My husband, Jerry and my youngest son, Benjamin love to drizzle (or dump) the gravy all over everything - their food might as well be swimming in it.  They are people after my own heart.

Makayla, who was just 3 years old at the time was sitting in her chair fidgeting a bit waiting for her meal to be served to her.  I cut the turkey into very small pieces, and dashed a little gravy on it, along with the mashed potatoes.

What came next will be the subject of controversy for years to come.  Makayla began to pout, which turned into a whimper, which transformed into a sob, which concluded in a wail.  "Grandma, I can't eat this."  "What's the matter, Makayla?"  "Grandma, I don't like this food!"  "Why not, Makayla?" 

"Grandma, this food is dirty!".

Probably from her father's side of the family...