Stars

 Maybe if I had a redo, I'd order gold stars for the banner.  But maybe not.

I found the silver fabric in the neighborhood Michael's small selection of fabric from Joann.  Marked costume fabric, which probably means some undetermined (to me) synthetic.  Very silvery with added woven silver glitter..  Stiffer than satin, easily frayed.  Not for use in sleepwear.

Not that I'm complaining, it was perfect for what I needed, lots of shine, added sparkle.  $3.99 a yard.  And those foil stars are fine.  Just understated enough.

Sarah helped me hang it, and she has also put up the Christmas tree.  And those new little solar lights outside, shaped like little Christmas trees and very bright at night.

Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  I hope you are thankful and your day is wonderful..

Photo by Gay Waldman

Turkey Vultures and Deer

 

As seen at the North Carolina Arboretum this morning - turkey vultures.  On Thanksgiving Eve - why not?

There is no turkey roasting  in my kitchen, but there is at my daughter's.  There are sweet potatoes cooking here.  Maybe mac and cheese later.  I love the Thanksgiving prep cooking.

It was 52 degrees when I got up this morning, and that was the high for the day.  We're heading into highs in the 30's and freezing every night.

I just put a birthday card in the mail for my brother.  He's five years younger than I am, so he will be 75.  And that's amazing

There is deer in my freezer - can you believe it? My neighbor went deer hunting in the country.  It's only in temporary storage for him.

Trivia - the adjacent city allows bow and crossbow hunting for deer

a.  within city limits

b.  from half an hour before sunrise to 10:00 a.m. during deer archery hunting season

c.  with a permit

d.  not less than 200 feet from a residence, apartment, or business

e.  when the hunter is not more than 35 yards from the target

f.  and a few other regulations.

That city borders the Ohio River in spots, and there are SO many deer.  I saw four happily crossing the road just the other day.  I don't know whether much deer hunting actually goes on there.

Thanksgiving Week

 

Yesterday was the nicest day, temperature in the 50's.  And so, toward the end of the afternoon, I put the Christmas lights on the porch railing.

I'd just visited my friend in the nursing home and she had been talking about how it was too early to turn on Christmas lights.  So I didn't - soon, though.

And I felt accomplished.  Hopeful for a healthy season.  Happy for plans for Thanksgiving.  

Glad that the shoofly pie disappeared at the church potluck - it was the right crowd for it.  

Today I'll have a second grocery pickup.  Thanksgiving things, company things.  

I'll make applesauce and cranberry relish.  My daughter likes the cranberry sauce with rings from the can.  I like the "real" thing with cranberries, an orange, walnuts.

Pies

 

It all sounded so lovely and creative when I checked the box to bring two pies to the church potluck tomorrow.  And I did spend some happy minutes this week googling Thanksgiving pies.

I decided on the fall backs, apple and cherry.  But then today apple sounded like it might require more energy than I had, and my grocery order subbed a different kind of frozen cherries in a smaller bag.  Not enough for my pie.

I did start on the way to the store to get another bag of cherries but then I stopped at Graeter's to see if they had any pies.  They had one cherry and that was good enough for me.  No trip to the store on a busy Saturday.

They also had pretty turkey cupcakes, and my neighbor loves their decorated baked goods so I got a package for her.  (Sorry that I didn't open the lid so you could have had a better look - they really are cute.)

So, just one pie to go, and I decided on making a shoofly pie.  If you have an Amish/Mennonite background, you'll know what that is.  Molasses, hot water, baking soda, an egg, then a crumb crust.  

My pie isn't lovely, I wish I'd divided the crumb crust and layered half with the filling.  And discarded some of the filling since there was a lot and it spilled over the crust and on the baking sheet under the pie.  Luckily I'd put parchment paper on the baking sheet so there was no scrubbing required.

I don't have the pies of my dreams, but I do have two pies.

Early Shopping

 

My daughter and I went Christmas shopping at Cincinnati's Findlay Market yesterday.  There are about fifty permanent vendors plus seasonal vendors as well.  There's a lot going on.

One of our favorite places is actually across the street, a delightful store called Bee Haven.  Lots of bee related items like honey,  beeswax candles, salves, and bar lotions.  And a few other goodies like handmade cards, cool stickers, and local jams.

The flower above is one of the pretty beeswax candles. wrapped in red tissue paper.  I know just who will love it!

And then we went to the art museum, which had a holiday artist bazaar.  So many artists, nice music, and quite a crowd.  We came home without anything, but it was fun to admire so many nice things.

Three Seasons

The last of the red geranium blooms.  Snow.  Pumpkin.

The weather app says it's 28 degrees tonight, feels like 19.  On Saturday the high will be 66.  That's just how November is here.

I had a day trip scheduled for today but because it was snowing the trip was postponed until tomorrow.  That was fine with me.  Because I've been busy things were in a bit of a mess and I needed today at home.

I ordered more window candles and now I have a candle in every window.  It's my November way of feeling better as the days get darker. They will stay in place until the days start getting noticeably longer, or until I get tired of them, which ever comes first.  I usually don't get tired of them.

I have oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to take tomorrow.  Best cookies ever, except for Diana's 1-2-3 Snap brownie recipe made with Eagle Brand milk.  Google it.  You will love it.