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Nora's friend showed up with a pair of fashion glasses, no prescription, and Nora was most smitten. When Aaron saw hers, he was smitten as well. So here are the two of them, looking mighty cute. Aaron actually has an appointment with the eye doctor next month - who knows, he may have glasses for real. If that happens, I hope he loves them as much as these.
I made my dinner contributions early this morning - mac and cheese, applesauce, cranberry relish. Listened to Smitten Table on NPR, love the Thanksgiving show. And now I'm about to head outside to put the Christmas lights on my porch. It's a wonderfully warm day, and that may not happen again for awhile.
Then, I'm going to try a ten-minute table runner. I don't think it will only take me ten minutes because I'm a slow sewer, but even if it takes three times that long I figure I'll still be in the ball park.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
These jackets will be a Christmas surprise, so no story about them yet, other than to say that they are silk. I'll be delivering them in a couple of days.
I was looking forward to a few relatively relaxing days after the intensity of the jackets, but now of course I'm looking at projects set aside. Can I finish quilting a baby quilt before the group meets tomorrow? And bind two baby quilts?
I think that some of this hustle comes because of an "early" Thanksgiving. Even a few days makes a difference. Maybe next week it will seem that there are extra days between Thanksgiving and December 1.
Tonight I drove to Oakley for a church meeting, only to find the office dark. A quick check of my calendar told me that in fact the meeting was tomorrow night. Sigh. I'd done my homework, too.
Back home again, a little comfort sounded good and I decided to bake a loaf of banana bread before resuming my sewing. I added chopped cranberries because (1) I only had two bananas, not the three called for, and (2) the cranberries had been in my freezer since last year and it's now this year.
I'm really happy how things worked out, very yummy. This recipe isn't especially sweet, but it's ever so good. I remember the days when I'd put chocolate chips in my sweeter banana bread, but no more.
Cranberry Banana Bread
1 cup bread flour or all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 ripe bananas, mashed (3 if you aren't adding cranberries)
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
2 eggs
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup old-fashioned oats
half a package cranberries, chopped
1 cup walnuts
Combine dry ingredients, add the remaining ingredients, and mix with a spoon until everything is blended. Put in a loaf pan and bake 45 - 50 minutes at 350 degrees.
(Thanks to Tiffany for the original recipe)
Yesterday's visit to the Nature Center reminded me of the November day just two years ago when I was also there with the kids. Same kind of weather as yesterday, mild and sunny. Just smaller kids.
As for today, I need to get outside and mow the grass and clean up the beds. Empty the rain barrel because it's supposed to rain again tomorrow.
When I drove up this afternoon, I noticed that my big white pumpkin was gone. It was very heavy and took two of us to lift it in place, so not just anyone could have taken it. I'd like to know the story.
I love those precious November days in Kentucky. You never know quite when they are going to be, but the wather turns sunny and the temperature is 70 degrees and there's one last gift from nature before cold, gray weather comes to stay.
Today and tomorrow are those days. These pictures were taken in southern Ohio, but that's close enough. Steph and I took the kids to the Cincinnati Nature Center, where both kids love the Playscape. I always feel happy there, amazed at all the people and dogs in that spot in the country.
It was also one of those days when there was more to do than I had energy for. I put the sleeves in a jacket I'm making, met a friend from the quilt guild to get the membership materials, spent hours at the Nature Center, then had to postpone evening events with a friend because I was just worn out. Maybe tomorrow for that.
And, it's Homecoming at Brerea. I'm looking at all the pictures on facebook and wishing that I was there, too.
This is going to be the same message as my facebook post of last night, but our political polarization has been so much on my mind, so I'm going to say essentially the same thing again.
Today, let's make a first step to putting our political division behind us. When you vote, vote with your head and your heart, then say a prayer of blessing for the person behind you in line.
As I said, I've thought and thought about this and what I can do and this is what I've come up with. That, and going to communion in my church once the polls have closed. There are two local churches doing communion (that I know of,) Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship. You can read more about it here.
As usual, when we left Winnie and Sarah's house, there were tears and pleading from the back seat to go back, just for a minute, please, please, please. We headed for the North Carolina Arboretum for one last adventure and Aunt Sarah showed up on a Mule. Instantly, the tears and pleading stopped at the sight.
We had thought the kids would love the temporary dinosaur exhibit, but it is the greenhouse that they love. The marvel of the big walk-in refrigerator with its light switch, the long movable benches, and the jobs that could be done -
cleaning the floor
taking pictures -
watering -
sweeping the parking lot. A made-up game of sweet gum ball hockey outside. All good for a kid's heart.
