as i procrastinate from finishing up the packing, etc, i am getting flashbacks to my childhood.

the morning we left for holidays was a mad rush for the breakfast table. not because we were in a hurry to hit the road, but because frugal blake had been monitoring grocery purchases for the past week. it was the fight to have no perishables left over.

"no need to buy our usual amount of milk, we won't be here the full week..." was his mantra.

resultingly, if you weren't one of the first to hit the breakfast table, chances are good that there would not be enough milk for your cereal. i didn't get too bothered, i have always liked cereal and yogurt just fine. but i thought my dad was pushing it one year when he suggested to the very late arriving graeme that he add sour cream to his honey nut corn flakes, as the yogurt and milk was all gone.

it could work in reverse as well. bread all gone? excess milk? don't drink too much tea, there isn't a wee break scheduled for 300 kilometres. well graeme, we need to finish up that milk somehow. i suggest you disguise the taste of grape nuts with, um, well, some, i've got it, premium plus crackers. just crush them up a little, chumley. then add brown sugar, and lots of milk, finish up that milk, okay, and viola.

the man was a genius.

the night before departing dinners could be very interesting as well. every single leftover from the last six months was on the table. and dad was no hypocrite. he would load up his stale taco shell with cranberry, goat's cheese, cabbage, tuna fish, a pinch of roast beef, and rice, and smile as he tucked into it. chew.

after taking a drink of water (possibly milk depending on supply) he would then suggest we all build our own before he made his second taco or whatever and all "the good leftovers were gone".

i wish my parents were here right now.

Comments

[Lala]

I cannot wait until you are on Canadian soil....

[Auntie Pammie]

I got some flashbacks too, but i doubt if we ever had goat's cheese??? I too now remember those days. I wish we were all there to help you right now, travel safe and we see you soon!
Love , Auntie Pammie xoxo

[Charles]

What would we feed them... there's nothing left in the house!??? Rice and lime Perrier?

xx

[Maureen aka Mo aka Grandmother aka Mozilla]

Hem hem! Methinks my husband's name is being taken in vain! Were the 'day before' and the 'day of' really THAT bad?
:-)

M xox

[GRANDAD bLAKE]

Tessie, it is even better now since we joined the Co-op. I pull up to the gas pumps to get gasoline( big discount for Co-op members)and while I'm doing that Mom can scoot inside and get FREE coffee,cookies AND juice for the trip!Love to all, Frugal Blake

[lyns]

love grandpas comments!!!! Hope you have a great trip and that you enjoy every blasted minute of the fresh air and wide open spaces..(dixie chicks playing in movie soundtrack of your life...) hope that you can all eat well...or at least take advantage of the all night snacks on the flight... he he... xo lyns

[Kara]

God bless you, Tess and your family. good journey wishes to you guys.

[Karen Ritchey]

Hi Tess,

I am just gagging a little from your description of your Dad's leftover specials!
Kinda glad now that he never asked me over for a meal! I think Landon was there once, but I am sure your Mom had done the shopping and perhaps the cooking!
Hey! Are you coming to Canada? Where will you be? I need to see you all... Edmonton? Kelowna? Where?
Would LOVE to see you and meet your miracle kids!

Love you,
Karen