Monday, 1:34 P.M.

Ah, Thanksgiving.

Lots of talking,

walking in the rain,

handwork by the fire,

fog on the windows.

After the food storm, Daisy designed a coat of arms complete with Latin motto for each of the pets and for the family*

and we played a lot of cards and did a lot of puzzles,

and I made soup.

*Our current family motto: "In toto, dictio" (In everything, discussion)

Fitzwilliam: "Amplitudo Sempternum" (Eternal width, dignity, greatness, and grandeur)

Bonnie the lame goat: Festina lente (Make haste slowly)

Sister: "Comam confluctuo" (I wave my plume)

Thanksgiving Plans

*Thanksgiving Day Menu*

for 21

*

Two turkeys

Two hams 

Sweet potatoes with marshmallows

Mashed potatoes--regular and dairy-free

Gravy

Cornbread dressing

Wild rice dressing

Rolls

Tian of beets, tomatoes, and potatoes

Roasted carrots and parsnips

Roast butternut squash with cranberries and feta cheese

Lemony green beans

Garlic greens

Butternut squash and kale gratin

Brussel sprouts and chestnuts

Cranberry sauce

Various pies

*

First we're having an informal two-family Turkey Trot at the running trail. We'll all start at the same time, and run different distances, and hopefully end all at the same time. Then have breakfast.

And we've already raked the leaves, mowed the last mowing of the year (so late!), cleaned out the chicken coop and goat stall, spread manure on the garden, tilled the garden, and bought hay.

Friday we'll be resting while it rains.

Towards the Barn, at Dusk

I went down to the barn with Daisy at dusk to hold the flashlight while she shut the chickens up and coated Sullivan the Rooster's comb with Vaseline--to protect it from frostbite.

Last Pitcher of Hydrangeas

The sweet part of the Venn diagram that catches the hydrangeas *and* the camellias.

Today It's Two Wool Tote Bags

It's a series of things done in twos! Yesterday I made two wool totes. I had two related-but-not-similar pieces of crewelwork from the thrift store (still in their hideous green plastic frames).

After unpicking the stitches that held the embroidery to the cardboard backing, I just trimmed the linen ovals and then joined them to the wool with bias binding.

Sister bags, I guess, for your trips to the library! Cotton velveteen handles, pansy-printed lining.

They'll go in etsy soon, or you can email me if you want them. $22 each, or $40 for the pair.

The proceeds from my last few weeks of sales are going to a young family here with four children--one birth, two adopted, and one foster. To pump up their Christmas a little :)

Two Begonias

Yesterday two ovens--today two begonias. These live on the corner of my work table in the living room. I like having something alive next to the computer.

New Stoves!

My new stoves came today! I'd been needing them for a couple of months--my left oven was beyond repair and the right one was getting iffy. On the other hand, I had eight functioning burners--but that won't roast the Thanksgiving turkey.

 I'm very grateful to have full function once again, and just in time for the hungry hordes.

A Festive Library Bag

I think a library book bag should remind the carrier that it's a treat to go to the library. A whole building full of books! And you can take any of them home with you! For free!

Vintage crewel-work panel set in corduroy, lined with bright pink cotton, handle lined with velvet ribbon. In the Etsy shop soon.

Just Monday's Supper

Steamed broccoli, roast sweet potato pieces, a green salad served with pear slices and crumbled feta, and turkey burger patties (not shown).

I just passed the one-year mark of eating no grains and no sugar. I keep my carb intake low and my  fresh vegetable count very high. I've never felt better in my life.

Daisy Makes a Baby Gift

A church friend is having a baby boy very soon, so Daisy embroidered this darling truck on a piece of white muslin. I turned the edges under and zigzagged it to a onesie.

You can embroider right on the jersey, but it's definitely trickier.

Length of Silk, Dyed

I bought a length of ivory-colored silk printed with little teal leaves and little gold butterflies. Why did I? I know I can't wear ivory.

I decided to dye it--I had nothing to lose, because like I said, ivory. I used a box of forest green dye and got this gorgeous noncommittal gray-green. Love it! It will be a dress.

Dinner at the Barn

Last night the Composer and I were making good on a gift certificate we gave his parents last Christmas--a dinner party.

We've done this before with great success--they invite the guests, we plan and execute the food and just generally act like caterers.  This year they decided to have it in an interesting space--the barn-like annex of a friend's office! I'd never seen anything like it before--just tacked on to the main building, the walls lined with art, and big tables in the middle. It's not very barn-like, but they call it a barn, so okay!

I had to prepare everything at home and bring it ready to serve, so I carefully planned a workable menu. I served three plates (and you'll see I went kind of Cajun):

1. Red beans and andouille sausage in a little Pyrex cup, with tiny cornbread muffins and two crawdads and a baby onion on each plate.

2. Crab and shrimp gumbo served over rice, with potato salad, cole slaw, and marinated green bean salad (fresh steamed, please, no canned!) on the side.

3. Homemade coffee ice cream with chocolate sauce and ginger 

shortbreads.

For a travelling menu, it worked pretty well, and the guests enjoyed it. But I will never, no never, want to be a caterer in real life. Too much carrying.

During the Molt

Daisy's hens are molting. Let's call it a Chicken Crown.

Sister, for Your Enjoyment

For your enjoyment. 

We certainly enjoy her. She has inflated ideas of herself, and loves to spend most of the day pouncing after invisible things in the yard and now, emboldened, the pasture.

This is one of my favorite stretches of time. Everyone is settled into the school year routine, and I'm finding some extra hours to clear my spaces, prep my kitchen, and plan for wonderful holidays. I hope you get to do some of that too.

The One Where I Crash Through Technological Barriers and Create an Etsy Sale

I think I just managed to create my first ever sale at my etsy shop! It's time to clear out the closet where I store these goodies. I'm in that kind of mood, you know? I've also scrubbed the bird cage and cleaned the refrigerator. 

30% off everything (except the wrap cardigans). If you've had your eye on an item, now is the time!

Don't forget, all my proceeds go directly to charity (full disclosure: I reimburse myself the cost of shipping).

See ya!

Report from the Backyard

It *looks* quiet in the back yard, but the roofers are making a racket, the neighbors are bush hogging,  and the utility company is laying out new lines within earshot. Yowsa.

Easy, Any-Night Chicken Curry

I'm sure I'm not the only out there needed to make family meals that are dairy-free, gluten-free, red-meat free, and low carb. Here is one that we have almost every week.

*Easy, Any-Night Chicken Curry*

Cut any number of skinless boneless chicken breasts into bite-size chunks.

Heat a good drizzle of olive oil in a skillet, then add the chicken in and start to saute.

Add about 2 T. curry powder, some salt and pepper, and a crushed garlic clove.

When the chicken is partially browned, but not cooked through (just a few minutes), add a can of full-fat coconut milk, then about a tablespoon of curry paste. I generally have green on hand, but there are also yellow and red pastes. Start with less, then add more as you learn how hot your paste is.

Bring to a simmer, and add your vegetables. These can be almost anything--diced eggplant, thinly sliced sweet potato, zucchini slices, carrot slices, green onions, cauliflower florets, green beans, diced white potato. The harder the vegetable, the thinner you'll want to slice it, so that you don't over do the chicken while it cooks. So slice the potato thin, the zucchini thicker, etc.

Partly cover and simmer for about ten minutes, until the chicken and veggies are cooked through, and the coconut milk is slightly reduced and thickened.

Serve in soup bowls as is, or with shredded coconut, crushed peanuts, lime slices, or tamari sauce. A year ago I would have added a scoop of rice, but I don't miss it anymore. You can do as you wish :)

Archery Lesson

Felix was home for a day and a half, and brought his bow and arrows. Clara's hooked, and is borrowing them for the next month while he travels. 

No one shot the chickens.