It huffed and it puffed and it blew so much down....... We had an incredible "tree stripper" wind a few days ago. You know, the kind that brings down all those little loose bits of things in trees, fills the sky with leaves and makes them dance in the streets. Our dogwood was made bare in just a day. But it's now much easier to find all those little birds I've been hearing!
Now, if the little buggers would just hold still long enough for me to figure out who I'm looking at, that would be nice. And speaking of birds, our little female hummingbird was outside on the camellias one morning. Frost on rooftops and cars, and there she is, flying about, brrrrr. Just a couple of days ago I saw a male, first time, whose throat colors all but matched those camellia blossoms. Oh, and the crows, they're busy feasting on persimmons high up in trees. I'm very much enjoying all the juncos out in the back yard. I do, however, miss cardinals a great deal. They don't live on this side of the country, and we always had them at our feeders all year, including their fledglings.
It's nice, having the cherry Christmas lights up in the house, as they add some colors. This is the first time since 2007 that we've had a full sized tree, something that so does not fit in and RV. I had become accustomed to the poinsettia plants being outside, it's rather strange to have it indoors.
Hello Vicki, nice to meet you.
Erin, samosa bites? Dill pickle soup? No need to post a recipe for me, as I don't care for dill pickles, I just never heard of it.
Oh, I'll take those wishes for lots of sunny days, thanks! It's actually been sunnier that I thought it might be, which is very nice, as I tend to be somewhat solar powered. Don't have to be in the sun, but seeing it helps so much.
Sue, how's Spain? Get all that painting and stuff done? Will you go home for Christmas, or just stay there? I seem to remember that last year you went home and returned to Spain after the holidays, but perhaps that's not an option this year.
Lindsey, what did your husband have to say about his first turkey free Thanksgiving? Did you watch any of the Macy's parade? LOL, I did, mostly on fast forward, the fourth speed! The only thing I slowed down and watched was the Rockettes and the Santa float. Can't say as I've ever seen the Rockettes so, mmmmm, sedate.
Christmas shopping? Well, you do have small children who still believe in that lovely magic. Shop safely.
Two of our winter squashes got some bad spots on them. Drat, it shouldn't happen so soon. The red kuri got baked and is in the freezer, as I still haven't figured out how to use that. The kabocha was turned into one of those "well, there's this and that in the fridge, and how bad can it be" kind of recipes. Fortunately it was quite tasty, as that man is utterly incapable of making a small recipe of anything, and it made enough for three meals. Kabocha cooked in the Instant Pot gets really creamy, just melting into the dish.
I need to find some soup and stew recipes that do not contain tomato products, as he who shops says the shelves are not always well stocked. No coconut milk either!
At my request, hubby bought me a bottle of ras el hanout. Okay, who knows how to use it?