Your Assignments for December . . .

 

Living in the Stream

 How many shows have you streamed since March? Our list is long and varied, and I'm thinking of catching up on some movies, before we begin another series. Okay, then ...

1. The Sapphires
2. Water Diviner
3. 20th Century Women
4. Roma
5. The Irishman
6. Lost Girls
7. Schitt's Creek
8. American Factory
9. Amy
10. Little Women
11. The Good Place
12. Jackson Brodie
13. Fantastic Fungi
14. Amazing Mrs. Maisel
15. Bel Canto
16. Shaun the Sheep
17. The English Game
18. Baptiste
19. Bosch
20. Never Have I Ever
21. Late Night
22. London River
23. World On Fire
24. The Untold Story
25. Collateral
26. Dead to Me
27. Dark River
28. Book Shop
29. Mr. Roosevelt
30. The Door
31. Lady Bird
32. The Queen
33. Repair Shop
34. Flea Bag
35. Very British Scandal
36. The Goldfinch
37. Love Wedding Repeat
38. Knives Out
39. Da 5 Bloods
40. Marcella
41. Moone Boy
42. Children Act
43. A Merry War
44. The Politician
45. Beecham House
46. Eurovision
47. Hamilton
48. Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
49. Fathers and Daughters
50. River
51. Britt Marie
52. Pale Horse--Jim Gaffigan
53. Kettering Incident (unfinished)
54. Radioactivity
55. Episodes
56. Endeavor
57. Bernadette Where'd You Go
58. Little Fires Everywhere
59. Normal People
60. Palm Springs
61. Shetland
62. The Assistant
63. 100 Foot Journey
64. Handmaid's Tale
65. Bill and Ted
66. Olive Kitteridge
67. Big Little Lies
68. Mildred Pierce
69. Sharp Objects
70. Damn Yankees
71. The Point
72. Great British Baking Show
73. Coupling
74. Gentleman Jack
75. The Russians Are Coming
76. Queen's Gambit
77. Clemency
78. The Crown
79. 12 Years a Slave
80. Motherless Brooklyn
81. Lala Land
82. Emma (2020)
83. Enola Holmes
84. Harriet
85. His Dark Materials
86. Rebecca (NF)
87. The Happiest Season
88. The Undoing
89. Human Nature
90. Becoming Astrid
91. Never Rarely Sometimes Never
92. Pen15
93. The Lie 👎
94. The Prom
95. Morning Glory
96. The Old Guard
97. Sylvie's Love
98. Dash & Lily
99. Black Book
100. Family Tree
101. 6 Feet Under
102. Herself

There's an app, Just Watch, that does a nice job of showing you where a particular show or movie can be streamed. This list doesn't include all of the PBS programs we watch: Masterpiece Theater, Mystery, Last Tango in Halifax, Finding Our Roots Frontline. 

This year, we'll be giving thanks for the ability to stream--both shows and music. Love, K

Breakfast Strata

 Way back, in the last half of the eighties, our wee crew was living in Roseburg. That welcoming community, that made us feel right at home, also made sure we were involved. And the main involvement for both N and I, was at Melrose Elementary. Before we knew it, we were involved in raising funds for a bell tower and I was being urged to take a position in the PTO.

One of the big yearly events, was a volunteer breakfast, that the PTO board put on for all of the school volunteers. And that's when I learned about breakfast strata. Susan Yoder, PTO president and encourager of others, had invited me to her house (the day before the breakfast) to help put together the stratas. I was impressed with her ability to estimate how much to purchase and how to divvy up the ingredients on the fly, for such a large group.

The tasty and easily changeable casserole, was something I decided to add to our family recipe file. I'm not sure how it was relegated to Christmas morning breakfast and eventually included Thanksgiving, but it made the enjoyment slightly special. (Maybe that was my plan.)

Now, I prefer making skillet strata--they're smaller and are put together and baked at the same time, rather than sitting in the refrigerator overnight. Plus, making them more often than twice a year, has placed that recipe in my memory--the recipe now is rarely needed ... unless I'm thinking of making a change up of ingredients and want to see what others have done. 

There are oodles of recipes out there. Go find one that matches your belly and your larder. Lykkelig å spise! 

Love, K

Myrn

 It wasn't until I began to compose this in my head, that it occurred to me, this name I've admired for so many years, was not a one-of-a-kind handle crafted by parents, but an "a" away from Myrna. {K takes a moment to ponder this again} 

Not only did I like to say her name, that usually brought a smile, but I enjoyed being in her company. Myrn, made this wee runt, feel special--much like my Auntie M's stepdaughter, Linda (yet another epiphany). 

Myrn, came along at a certain time of my life. I had entered the age of change, and there she was, dispensing essential advice and knowledge. Reading, together with me, one of those dreaded pamphlets, that my adults pushed across the table in my direction. My two older sisters, had each other, but not this runt--I was on my own (or so I felt). 

All to say--thank you, Myrn. You were there when this runt needed you. And you, too, Linda. You also aided this runt. Reach out and help, whenever you see a need, but also check to see if it's what's needed. "Softly, softley, catchee monkey ..."

New Yorker Radio Hour

 Such a relief, that I wasn't running the vacuum when this interview was on the radio. There was something about the tone, that made it a joy to listen to: relaxed, honest, engaged with each other. But there was also a question that's kept this old brain busy: "Do you remember when you first met another funny kid?" I remember observing my first funny kid, when I was in middle school. It was when I realized how cruel jokes could be. But I also remember my first funny work bud and how one of us could say something that seemed innocent during a meeting, make eye contact with each other and then try to keep from bursting out loud. 

Ah, Linda, such good memories. Love, K