Day 178

Yesterday it was foggy and freezing, so this morning there was some impressive frost on the ground. We went out into the countryside for a walk (and some photos, of course!). And then we got to come home to leftover pie and hot tea.


The most amazing part of the afternoon was driving over a hill and suddenly coming upon a winter wonderland. This little valley looked like it had been visited by the frost fairies - absolutely magical.










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Day 177

Thanksgiving potluck menu:
cheese and crackers, pickles, olives, veggies and dip, mixed nuts, snack mix, cheese straws, sugar cookies, turkey, squash and chickpea stew, bread stuffing, rice dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, peas, corn, waldorf salad, cranberry sauce, cranberry-orange relish, two kinds of rolls, bread, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple-cranberry pie, two kinds of ice cream, and whipped cream.

I could only fit a third of the people and a third of the food into the picture! more...

Day 176

The view from our bedroom window tonight. more...

Day 175

Happy Thanksgiving! more...

Day 174

For some reason I'm really struggling with this week's lecture prep. Ugh. more...

Day 173

I'm going to start a weekly amaryllis progress report. So here's week two. It's a bit taller, I think. more...

Day 172

I'm rediscovering my slow cooker. Most recently, I've found that it steams Christmas puds to perfection. No muss, no fuss. Brilliant! more...

Day 171

Snow!!! A teensy bit, at least.




I dutifully stirred up my Christmas pudding today, it being Stir-Up Sunday:

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- Book of Common Prayer

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Day 170

We spent far too many hours shopping today (mostly for my Christmas pudding!), so all I snapped was this building, still under construction. more...

Day 169

Apple crumble and custard, mmmm. more...

Day 168

Happiness is a husband who volunteers to do the washing up. :) more...

Day 167

The ultimate comfort food. more...

Day 166

A bud has emerged from my amaryllis bulb! Hooray! more...

Day 165

It's been a while since the last kitty photo. A whole week, in fact! more...

Day 164

Waterfowl at Golden Acre Park. more...

Day 163

York Minster. Amazing. more...

Day 162

This afternoon I went to York for a two-day workshop. When I got back to my room in the evening, I heard strange noises and smelled smoke. Looking out the window, I discovered that they were fire-walking in the courtyard. more...

Day 161

Gluttony: my biggest temptation.

(No, I didn't eat the whole packet tonight!) more...

Day 160

What a gorgeous day! more...

Day 159

My kitchen "art". As you can see, it barely fits in this teeny kitchen! But it makes me smile. more...

Day 158

Moby has discovered the joy of the gas fire. It may be ugly, but it's warm! more...

Day 157

Carolyn and I did some Thanksgiving planning this afternoon over her luscious brownies. Yum. more...

Day 156

Tonight we went to a Dia de los Muertos celebration put on by the university Mexican Society. Lots of fun and yummy food! more...

Day 155

I love the effect of the light glowing through the yellow leaves of this tree. more...

Day 154

I honestly didn't know when I chose this week's theme that tonight was the city Christmas light switch-on. more...

Day 153

Bonfire Night. more...

Day 152

I stayed home sick today, so I finally managed to finish the cross-stitch project I started in...um...March. I even managed the French knots, more or less! Next step, obviously, is washing and ironing. more...

Day 151

This is where I'd rather have been today. Preferably with a packet of chocolate biscuits. more...

Day 150

Honey-roasted figs with almond cake. Not bad for clearing out the fridge and freezer! more...

Day 149

The River Aire in Leeds. About 5 pm. more...