Recipe for Pecan Balls, ink and watercolor

Today was both my daughter’s 18th birthday and Thanksgiving in the US. It was also 2020, (who will forget this year?) and my son was on the other side of the country having Thanksgiving with his roommate. So many phone and video calls over the day, not to mention sharing of food pictures!

This got me to thinking about traditions. Part of why holidays and certain times of year are so much fun is the anticipation of things done only then. Special dinners and/or cakes for birthdays. Apple cider in the fall. The bedside table of goodies when visiting my parents. But going out to look for holiday lights in May seems a little strange as does eating pecan balls in the middle of August or asking everyone to come home for the 4th Thursday in March.

This year was different in many ways from usual, but with my daughter turning 18, it was also a milestone. A good one. I thought about what future celebrations and holidays will be like with the kids, but not kids any longer, joining in and adding their twists and flairs to whatever we are gathering for. I’m looking forward to it.

It’s nice to have the parts you like to look forward to but it’s also good to enjoy the changes and novelties that may be introduced because of circumstance or time.

What was the same for you this year and what was a new pleasant change?

If you like Christmas cookies, the pecan balls illustrated above are a good one. My family’s been making and eating them over 50 years. Enjoy!