Hardy Geranium Foliage

Pansies and Larkspur

This is what a week of 60 degree weather can do for a garden. It's been beautiful. Tonight's forecast is cold and windy with rain.

November Rose

Modern Bonica. The leaves are as pretty now as they were in summer. The bloom, not so much, but still incredible for November.

No Flowers to Post Today

so I'm going through withdrawal. In the meantime, here's a pie recipe that made a big hit here for the holiday.

Caramel Pecan Pie
Melt together: 36 unwrapped caramels, 1/2 stick butter, and 1/4 cup water.
(Be careful--this part is so good, you might just have to eat it with a spoon and forget the pie!)
Pour into an unbaked pie shell. I used the refrigerated Pillsbury dough and put it in a deep round baker so that there would be plenty of room.

The following is the pecan pie recipe from the old Kresge's in Paducah, per Cooking with Curtis Grace.
Beat: 3 eggs, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and 1 cup of white karo syrup.
Mix together: 1 heaping tblsp flour and 3/4 cup sugar and add to the beaten egg mixture.
Stir in 1/2 stick melted butter, 1 cup pecan halves, and 1 tsp vanilla.

Pour the pecan mixture over the melted caramel in the pie shell. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour. Everybody raved over this one. And Mark said it could use a few chocolate chips too, as if it weren't dangerous enough as is.

Too Much Turkey (and Pie)

Good Thursday

We had way way too much to eat, including four deserts--apple pie, pumpkin pie, caramel pecan pie, and cherry-pineapple dump cake. I wonder why no one ate the salad? We missed Rachel and Judson something awful. The dishes are all washed. Zoe, Lucas, and Nelly are sleeping. The guys are watching football. Happy Thanksgiving.

Two Turkeys

More artwork from the boys' school years. I'll have to ask Judson who Mary McBride is. Actually, it's three turkeys this morning--the third one is cooking in the Nesco Roast-Air oven.

More Pie, Please

I like this one better. Most of this arrangement is a recycle of the flowers from the last pie. Amazingly long vase life for those beautiful dyed sunflowers. And sticks improve any arrangement.

Posey

I'll have to leave the posey-in-a-wine-glass up to the Bonny Doon company. The posey is okay, but with the short stems it's top-heavy and really easy to tip over. Those ladies at BD must use a really heavy pedestal glass to hold theirs upright. The flowers at the florists and the grocery stores are pretty, but I miss my garden flowers something awful.

Pilgrim Woman

It can barely be seen, but Isaac signed this one, vertically down the lower right. Must have been from kindergarden or first grade.

Thanksgiving

Lately I have been cleaning out closets. Usually that's something I consider a chore to put off for years, but I've found the most wonderful things as we've been going through all this stuff. Here's a Thanksgiving drawing that Judson did back in grade school. I love the detail.

It's Pie!

Just a Few Months Ago

Missing all those beautiful garden flowers. Can't wait to see them again.

November 13, 29 Years Ago

This was taken a year or two before Tommy died. He's sitting on his brand new Harley and he is so happy, so proud of it. He loved riding motorcycles. A big one like this for the road, or racing little scrappy ones through the muddy woods. I bet he's still riding.

Re-Post

Still the best picture ever. . .

Serviceberry

Blooming in November

Charlie's science project--Look at all those blooms! They may have to make zuccinni bread!

Art Institute

We went to the Art Institute in Chicago, which was fabulous. Mark made fun of me because I took this first picture. In fact, he called me a hick! But I swear, it was the prettiest pat of butter I've ever seen in my life. We were tired and starving and when the waiter brought that warm, fresh bread, it felt like heaven. That's a beauty aster in the vase--a great cut flower that lasts and lasts. The second shot is through one of the windows looking over a beautiful little garden with huge trees--very simple and formal.

November

Time keeps on slippin. . .into the future. Wasn't that a song? The colors are beautiful in the back yard. Hard to believe it's November. It's been a big year.

Halloween

These were meant to be posted yesterday but I couldn't get the pictures to upload to blogger. Anyway, these little Halloween things made me smile and remember those moments when the boys were young and so excited about trick-or-treating.