Kristen worried about her meringue pie sweating. I think it looks like amber beads – pie jewelry! The prettiest pie for Pie Morning.
The pie artists. I counted 17 different pies this year.
Bridgets house was full of wonderful things to see and eat.
Cheers and Blessings
The joy of goofing off.
Puppy Pleasures. Gotta love a doggie kiss.
Happy Thanksgiving 2011.
Nan’s Christmas piano recital is coming up, and this year Sam and Kyle and Mark are excited to perform their newly prepared trio. Linda and I were excited to hear how well they played together for the first time.
Our Meg is decidedly a part of us already. She has had her first bath/shower, come to enjoy her crate, escaped her boundaries of the tiled floor several times, and is trying to figure out her name is Meg and when she makes eye contact (are they grey or green ?– I can’t decide) when her name is used she’ll enjoy a miniscule puppy treat. Whew, hard work for one so young - time for another nap.
Nutmeg (short for Meg) became ours last night. True to her breed (she’s a purebred border collie) she is eager to please and wants a job to do. She is a cuddle-pup too. Mark and Kyle can’t wait for her to sleep in their room. Come see her! And put your order in for when SHE has pups because they will be brilliant – just like we’re sure their mother will be.
First night behind us, and we’re all still smiling instead of yawning. Good night sleeps were had by all.
The Elementary school Halloween parade was progressing nicely – down, around and back up from the park. Scores of princesses and cowboys and little harmless monster characters were filing by. It was splendid weather - nothing chilling about the whole affair. Then . . .
A lone figure appeared atop a grassy knoll just across the street from the school. It was silent, wary. Even the horse stood still, its presence more startling because of its unflinching, unnerving control. The cloaked figure carried a broad sword, intricately and wickedly carved, close to its side.
It was my good luck that I was armed and dangerous myself. I had my trusted 50D Canon with my powerful 24-70 mm ready to shoot. And shoot I did. First at respectful distance. Then, gaining confidence, I approach the thing, winging off better and better shots. It didn’t speak, only reaching out its metal-cold hand in silent warning. Incredibly, I venture to engage in conversation. Would it know English? I would send a print of my favorite shot back to the school with our 4th grade boys. They were in Mr. Clarks class. Or perhaps he would share his mailing address – if Ring-Wraiths had such a thing? “I have a 4th grader in Mr. B’s class.” It spoke!
In reality I found him to be almost jovial, very friendly, obviously full of tender and paternal feelings, a great civic-minded citizen having appeared on other such occasions for the shivering enjoyment of many. This new exchange left me with the only conclusion I could make. Ring-wraiths have been severely misunderstood. But not today. Not here. Not on Halloween.
We had a birthday celebration for my lovely Finland-born mother-in-law Liisa yesterday. Here’s the cake that marked the once-in-a-lifetime event (you only begin your 70th decade once in your life! She is such a young 70. Alas, I left the camera home and don’t have the portrait to prove it on my blog.)
I saw Keli use these adorable edible acorns last week and decided to imitate the best. She used a Hershey kiss for the bottom and a Nutter Butter Bites cookie for its cap. I didn’t have those so I used our Grandma Nebeker’s Ginger Crinkle Cookie recipe instead.
3/4 Cup shortening
1Cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 Cup molasses
2 Cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. soda, 1/2 tsp. ginger, 1/2 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp. cinnamon
Cream shortening and sugar. Mix in egg and molasses. Add dry ingredients. Form small balls of the dough. Roll in sugar. Flatten slightly and bake @ 350 F for approx. 12 min. Roll tiny balls for the acorn buttons.
I’m just a little partial to this handsome trooper. He happens to be provider and protector of our grandson and his mommy. His favorite thing is NOT posing for his camera-happy mother in law, but he is always such a good sport. And who can resist snapping pictures of a man in his uniform? Not me.
