Lise left 11 days ago, and yes, I have recovered. I’ve heard of mothers my age crying when their children leave, but I don’t do that. I grieve quietly a few days before Lise leaves. When the departure is imminent, I tell myself that she has airline tickets and has to go back to her normal life. It is also time for me to resume my single life. The photo shows her eating the last meal before leaving.
She was here for a full month, which is longer than usual. I got used to her being here. The day after she left, I kept expecting to see her appear or to hear her voice from another room. I reminded myself that she was home safely, and I wouldn’t selfishly pull her back.
Grandson David kept himself in the background while all the company was here. That was true of texting from daughter Kate and son John $, too. I appreciated being free to concentrate on people in the house. David and I went to Watami Noodle later in the week.
As a gift for me, one of Lise’s friends prepared dinner for us. She is noted for rice paper wraps in Denmark, and that is what we had here. She diced a number of vegetables, stirred together a peanut sauce, and provided fried chicken bites and cheese for the wraps. We each put them together for ourselves. What a treat that was! Days after, I discovered almost a whole head of cabbage neatly stored in the refrigerator, left from the wraps. I’m such a miser that I wouldn’t throw it away, even though I have very little use for cabbage. Whenever I hear that name, I think of school lunches when I was in grade school. For a few years, the cooks slapped a slab of raw cabbage on our plates at least once a week, and the teacher made sure we ate it. Lise and I did have another round of rice paper wraps. After she left, I cooked about half of the cabbage with apple and onion. It was edible, and David helped me eat it. While writing this, I decided I’ll make coleslaw with the remaining cabbage. I do like slaw!
A few days ago I took the innards of the family jigsaw puzzle apart, leaving the outer edge complete. I cheated, though. I put the left section of pieces on the left side of the puzzle, and the right pieces to the right. The middle was jumbled, but still in the middle of the puzzle. I have been delighted to work on it, putting in a few pieces a day. It’s so easy when I can see the pieces near where they belong, otherwise I’d be endlessly walking around the table. I may take it apart that way, putting the pieces in three separate plastic bags. I will definitely thank myself if I do that.
Mehrling Muse 
Sounds like a good recovery!
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I’m sure the house felt a bit empty after all that company, but you always seem to find lots to do. I would love some cabbage to make cabbage rolls with. The heads are all too big for just me. xo
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I’ve never made cabbage rolls.
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My mom and grandmother always made them especially for special occasions. I think I might make them this year for Christmas. They freeze well too so I could make a big batch. You gave me the idea by mentioning the cabbage in your fridge. Thanks!
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I finished making the slaw and still didn’t use up all that cabbage. I’ll have to give half the slaw away, because it’s too much for me.
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Glad you are able to push through the heaviness of saying goodbye and get on with your days♥️🎄♥️. I’m sure it’s not easy.
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I never heard of eating raw cabbage in anything other than slaw. We usually had it boiled–like most other foods back then! Watami noodles sounded so good, I looked them up, and they do make some good-looking foods.
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Cabbage provided crunch in wraps.
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I was referring to the slab of raw cabbage you were made to eat at school lunches.
It has been my experience that cabbage is common in many Asian foods, so putting them in a wrap was not surprising. You’ll find them in spring rolls here, both the rice paper wraps as well as the fried rolls.
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I always ate cooked cabbage at home, but that raw slab was torture.
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Nice photos. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful smiles, the delicious looking food. I am glad you have recovered and are getting on with your life. Good start on the puzzle.
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I’m looking forward to having almost nothing on my calendar for the rest of the year, in sharp contrast to my former life. This is marvelous.
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You were so lucky to have her for a full month! Your house must feel empty but you seem pretty good at filling up your time. 😊
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My house is back to normal, meaning I’m always looking for ways to fit everything in. I can’t imagine time hanging heavy on my hands.
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I’m still plugging along with my big Christmas puzzle. I work the little Advent squares on the side.
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It looks like a huge undertaking, but fun.
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Love how the puzzle pieces of 2025 are all done, and the frame, but nothing else (yet) – seems like a nice metaphor for the end of the year… or something?! Best wishes for the holiday season, glad the visit went well! ❤️🌟💚
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I started with the banner for the year. When I took the finished puzzle apart, I kept the outer edge. My eyesight isn’t good, and I dislike making a mistake on the edge. Cheating, I know.
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Not at all – you do you – if it works, it’s wonderful!
🎄💚🎄
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Hi there, it’s that special time of year that being Christmas time and I am sending this email to wish you a wonderful Christmas.
However, you spend the day, be it with family or friends or home alone just chilling with your pet and the TV as long as you are happy and feel loved, appreciated and not to stressed.
Remember to think of yourself and not just others it is far too easy for some of us to forget about our own wellbeing and our state of mind. Stressing over a meal or if you bought someone the right gift, isn’t important, if something goes wrong just laugh it off.
When it comes to giving gifts, it isn’t about the cost or the amount of gifts, if someone feels they are being hard done by it is their problem not yours.
Lastly, I wish you quiet moments with those you care about and a safe and happy time.
Your online friend
Jo-Anne aka Aussie Jo from Jo-Anne’s Ramblings
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You are lucky you have friends around you when you are not immersed in cooking, blogging or puzzling and that makes the time go quickly until your next visit by any family member. I am on Day #18 of my mini, 50-piece Advent puzzles of Christmas dogs and have taken a photo of each completed puzzle for my Christmas Eve Wordless Wednesday post. I have to admit that the puzzles with a lot of solid-colored fur and no colorful Christmas doo dads were tricky. That’s okay you kept the outside part – it made it easier. I had a couple of pieces come out of the bag attached and I confess, I kept them as is. 🙂
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I would have kept attached pieces together, too.
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Ha ha – I don’t feel badly about it and at least we both admit to taking liberties.
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