A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke I am a list maker. Shopping lists – both grocery and other – sit atop the microwave to be updated each time something we need is used up. Or, more realistically, when one of us who knows how to write gets a craving for something like pretzels and it goes on the list. Sometimes, too, when the little one who doesn’t know how to write but is aware that if something is written on a list it will magically make its way to our house, like cottage cheese which granddaughter Mildred loves, gets a hankering one of us will, if asked nicely, write down that down on the grocery list. Grocery lists are a moving target. And these days we just hope for the best when writing things down. Which is something we are all getting used to. I have to-do lists, both for work and home, for myself and more generally for anyone in the house who has the skill and muscle to do whatever it is that has to be done. That last list is not a honey-do list. It is for anyone, really, with the knowledge to fix the thing that has gone wrong but isn’t in need of professional attention. If those things happen to fall in hubby Jim’s wheelhouse, it’s a coincidence.  Other lists include menus for the week, food in the freezer, short and long-term goals, reminders of events coming up, schedules and honestly I’m not sure anymore what all else there is. I have lists and calendars and reminders in every room of the house it feels like. My list collection is about to grow with the holidays upon us.  I have written down holiday buying lists forever, as well as meal menus with timelines. A few years ago I started saving those lists to save time but, because I am who I am, I change the menu up enough for each holiday gathering that last year’s Thanksgiving or Christmas or birthday party list doesn’t work the current year. They are still nice lists to have. Like all lists, they serve their purpose and I continue to immerse myself in them. The list this year of our planned menu, giving a nod to tradition, includes turkey (the smallest one daughter Gwen could find at Hometown), dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy. No green bean casserole this year. No yams. No cranberries. Instead we’ll highlight lima beans, cornbread or possibly scalloped corn, roast parsnips and brussels sprouts with leeks, probably a leafy green salad, an apple/pear salad with grapes and pumpkin pie. Maybe pumpkin cheesecake. Or maybe pumpkin cake, which is really just a pumpkin pie with butter and flour instead of evaporated milk. We’ll decide the final menu the morning of Thanksgiving and I’ll write it on my list and keep it in the folder with other important lists. The most important list of all, though, isn’t written on a piece of paper or a white board or as a note on my phone. It’s the list of all the things that I am thankful for, written on my heart. Things like clean air and safe water that should be a given but somehow aren’t. A roof over my head, warm clothes and food on the table.  At the very top of the things I am thankful for list are my children, both of whom I am forever grateful for. They have grown up to be my favorite people in the whole world. They have taught me more about love and life and myself than I ever could have imaged. Nudging in there pretty close to the top spot is Mildred. Bright, beautiful and the most joyous person I have ever known. Jim and I are so lucky the to have each other, which I am deeply thankful for. I am thankful for family and friends, near and far, though I’m not thankful we haven’t been together as much as we’d like because of the pandemic, and are always close to my heart. And I am thankful to live here, in the Valley, with you, dear readers. Thankful each day that no matter what craziness there is in our world that at the end of the day we have each other. Your support for each other and me, through good times and bad, is something we can all be thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the holidays. Take care and be safe. Stay in touch. My phone number is (608) 574-3159 – call or text me anytime. You can also email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588.  Visit our website at homenewsrv.com Get in touch with Gwen for sports or features at homenewssports@newspubinc.com.