Thoughts on Thanksgiving and More

Thanksgiving....

A time that Americans spend days preparing a feast to show that they are thankful for what they have. Then go out and trample people as they try to get all the good sales before everyone else.

This year, some shops are starting their sales the day of Thanksgiving! Talk about being un-thankful for what we already have!

Okay, enough rambling.

This Thanksgiving, it has been assigned that I will do most of the cooking. I still am not very sure what to think about that. In a way I am happy because I do really enjoy cooking but I am also wondering how I am going to prepare for our doll clothes sale that's coming up in December. I suppose it is only two or three days that I will not be sewing so it shouldn't hurt my inventory too badly.

Today, I cooked almond cookies. As usual, they are gluten-free. This recipe is our most delicious recipe. I have never heard anyone not like them! We gave them out as Christmas gifts one year and everyone absolutely loved them. I personally prefer the batter better than the cooked cookies.

I don't really know how I am finding time to post this, but I am anyway. :)

Here is the first and unedited chapter of a book I am writing called Quest for the Cabin of Light:

The Ocean Comes Too Close

 I inhale sharply as I round the last bend in the path and look ahead. My entire view is filled with stormy splendor.

A huge expanse of gray-blue Ocean fills up most of my vision. White-capped waves are rolling in and out, up and down, over and over again. They never stop, never tire, relentlessly carving the rocks into a masterpiece of Great Father’s design.

Gusts of wind coming off the ocean blow my hair around my face, and my skirt around my ankles. I smooth my hair back and step out of the forest.

Between me and the open beach is a maze of gigantic driftwood. Some logs have roots sticking out the ends, looking rather like they are having a bad hair day.

Laughing at the thought of logs trying to comb their hair, I decide to climb on top of the nearest log and sit for a little while. It is harder than I first thought and my bare feet slip on the sun-baked wood, I fall on my back unharmed and lie there remembering Dear-Old-Man’s words, “The path that leads down to the ocean you will follow, left you turn when the water you see. Three bends the beach will take before a brave traveler will find a path leading away from the ocean. Take this path or find your way blocked, the Cabin of Light is along this path.”

Dark, angry-looking thunderclouds are approaching along the western sky, making the sea look angrier than ever. I decide that I had better hurry and find the cabin before I get soaked to the skin in one of our famous rains.

Standing up, I notice that the wind has gotten stronger, almost blowing my jacket off! I zip it up, pull it tighter, and begin my long walk down the beach.

I try to remember what Dear-Old-Man had said, was it around the first bend or the second? Would the cabin be hard to spot among the forest or would it stick out?

Because the cabin is called The Cabin of Light, maybe it shines like the sun and will be easy to find!

Scanning the thick forest, I notice a dark shape moving through the trees, keeping pace with me. Is it just my eyes or is something in there following me? I feel a cold shiver go down my back as I remember Dear-Old-Man’s words,

“It is a very dangerous quest my dear Mouna. Shadow-Man will do anything to stop you. You will need to keep your wits about you at all times. He is very tactical and will show you many other paths but, you must stay on mine.”

Maybe that is Shadow-Man or maybe one of his warriors! Maybe he is already trying to stop me! I haven’t even entered his domain yet!

The wind is getting stronger; fingers of cold are pricking sharply through my thin clothes.

How much beach will be left after the tide comes in all the way? Shuddering, I forget Shadow-Man, and begin running down the beach, hoping I can find the path before the tide comes in all the way.

I look into the forest and there is the shadow keeping pace with me even now, when I am running! Another shiver goes down my spine and I decide to think about how warm and dry the cabin will be instead.

Presently, I have rounded the third bend in the path and in front of me is a small inlet with no path around it.

Dear-Old-Man had said, “Take this path or find your way blocked.” I turn around and walk slowly along the forest to find the path leading away from the ocean.

Being this close to the forest, I can feel my nerves trembling; the shadow warrior could be right next to me! I glance into the forest but see no one.

I guess I should be relieved but instead, I get more nervous, maybe it is hiding so that it can jump at me?

Each time an ocean wave comes in, I can feel a little bit of water tickling my bare toes. Still I can’t see the path and I am coming upon the third bend again! I turn back towards the inlet and follow the forest again.

Now the ocean is beginning to swirl around my ankles each time a wave comes in. In frantic haste, I begin to run, trip on a rock, and fall, landing full length in the icy water.

Disgusted with my self for being so foolish, I slowly move myself into a crawling position.

Right in front of me is a little path leading into the forest. How did I miss it? I must have been going to fast.

I pick myself up, shake off, and walk into the Forest of Darkness and the foreboding domain of Shadow-Man.