Back in the Burg

Back in my hometown of Strasburg, Va

It feels strange but good.

The lack of snow and cold is particularly pleasant.

We’ve caught up with a few friends from childhood

Most connections were broken by time years ago.

Sad but true.

As I’ve aged I’ve come to notice the scars

of war and the deep ties to history 

the Valley holds.

I always return to Belle Grove plantation,

usually to go in the gift shop for unique and old time

gifts and to walk the grounds

(as the tour is ingrained in my head).

Unfortunately it’s closed this week but I got a photo:

I wanted to post a recipe in time for your holidays. 

Enjoy family and friends and His creation!

Thanksgiving Ahead

I set aside my Grandma's Rug to make

four cardinal ornaments for friends.

The design is my own. But super simple and cute.

The glue spots near the eye beads

will be removed before giving!

The bittersweet had a banner year.

Because I will be travelling much of the next month

and a half, I chose to let the birds have at them.

The berries continue to cling to the vines even after the snows

began to come.

Scottish terrier, Lucy, was enchanted.

That will be a feeling that will not carry her through the 

whole winter, poor pooch.

And as we gallop toward Thanksgiving for

 you folks in the US, I'll post my ab fav recipe for quick bread.

It is best left to cool, then cover and refrigerate

6 hours, allowing the flavours to marry.

Harvest Loaf

1 ¾ C flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp ginger

¼ tsp cloves

½ C margarine or butter

1 T vegetable oil

1 C brown sugar

2 eggs

1 C canned pumpkin

¾ C chocolate chips

¾ C chopped nuts

Oven to 350. I insert an extra loaf pan with boiling water in oven to add moisture during baking.

Grease a loaf pan. Combine all dry ingredients well and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in oil. Add eggs and pumpkin slowly. Beat. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients. Add nuts and chocolate chips.

Bake 65-75 minutes. Cool. This is the important step: Let stand 6 hours in refrigerator before removing and slicing. Does not need refrigeration after this. 

The bread tastes much better after this step.

Harvest Hook-In

Snows are headed our way...

10-15 cm for the weekend!

I adore the first snows and then I could leave for the rest of Winter.

This past weekend I hit the road and headed to

a hook-in in picturesque St. Andrews, NB.

Two gals rode down in my truck with me.

Honestly they are such a hoot it was equal to the fun of the day.

The Quoddy Loopers hosted

 and they did such a terrific job.

The church hall was brimming with hookers and a vendor.

As per usual, the homemade soups, sandwiches and dessert 

squares were delicious;

 and no one makes a cup of tea like a Maritimer.

Sande Gunning of Leamington, Ontario
(and formerly from here) returned with awesome wares

Sande made these on a 100 yr old knitting machine
I bought some for my daughter for Christmas
shhhh, don't tell

The rug show was smaller but good
I don't know why there were no labels this year

These are some of the baskets waiting for the drawing

This is the basket I won-
the biggest one there,
stuffed with wool and a mug and tea.

 I have won a basket every year except last year.

It has gotten a bit embarrassing (I get ribbed a lot)

but not so much that I don't buy tickets.

Oh! And three of the women from the mental health day program

came to the hook-in and really loved it too.

So grateful they could come.

 I'm looking forward to some travel South for American Thanksgiving.

I know the month will whiz by so I am savouring the moments:

the last colours of Autumn, the smell of the leaves,

the urgent activity of the squirrels, the Canada geese honking as they flap 

Southward...

Enjoy the moments too friends.