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"Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful."
- Unknown

"That which does not kill you, makes you stronger."
- Handed down through the ages.

"Life's tough. It's even tougher when you're stupid."
- John Wayne



Snow's Coming

Well, the first storm of the year is predicted for this weekend, so it's time for us all to get out and finish up those last-minute chores . . . of which there are always TOO MANY! For me, that means putting my cold on the proverbial back burner and bundling up to finish putting the batch of perennials (that I got for free last month) into the ground so that there's some slight hope of preserving them and enjoying them year after year to come. That's what I'll be doing as soon as I publish this post . . . until the rain comes (before the snow).

Tom subcontracted out his Trapper Cabin Handyman Services to a fellow Mr. Fixit yesterday and helped install a new, large livingroom window. One of the big bonuses of doing this-and-that work is that we often get to take home the "discards" from the job. In this case, it was a nice 4' x 5' tempered-glass window that will go into the greenhouse (that I still hope we'll get built yet this fall). So, you can't beat that: getting paid for a job + taking home free materials!

Today Tom's off installing a new kitchen sink (and ripping out the old one) and fixing a hot water heater. This weekend, he's helping another guy (or the other guy is helping him?) install a new bamboo floor. It's at the home of our massage therapist, so I hope to post some pictures from that job later on.

As you can see from the blog title photo, all the leaves are gone. Once the killing frost hits (it STILL hasn't - which is UNBELIEVABLE!), the grass will brown up, and Bleak November will be here.

The loggers seem to have kicked things into overdrive and hauled 3 or 4 loads out yesterday. I suppose they're trying to beat the weather. Oddly enough, there's something almost comforting about the rumble the big rigs make as they climb the hill out of the cut and up towards the trapper cabin and then carefully idle down the curves of our narrow driveway out to the road. I'm sure that (mental) connection exists because logging was SUCH a founding aspect of this part of the country.

We're supposed to finally be meeting our "nephew" this weekend (the son of my oldest girlfriend and her superhubby), but with our colds that may not happen! :( He was the one who was so sick with heart problems when he was born, and they still have to be super careful about germs around him. But, with seemingly EVERYONE being sick right now, that might be an impossible proposition! Anyway, the decision will lay within the parents, and we'll just sit tight until then. But, if we DO visit, you can be assured that pics will follow! :)

Last Saturday, we had an early 50th celebration for one of our dear friends. (Incidentally, that's also where I was introduced to the cold germs, thanks very much!) He doesn't turn the big 5-0 until November 1st, but he's been doing bunches of traveling lately and will be gone for the special day. This isn't the most complimentary picture of such a good looking guy, but he WAS illustrating the imminent "death" of turning 1/2 a century old! ;)


The gal who hosted the intimate gathering suggested this Guinness cake (I'd offered to make it). She'd just had it at another birthday party and coerced the baker into sharing the recipe. And, let me tell you, it is TO DIE FOR! I've been looking for that "ideal" chocolate cake for years since "chocolate cake with white frosting" is what Tom wants every year for HIS birthday. And, I've never found that perfect cake . . . until now. I don't know what makes it so moist (the Guinness?), and it's just barely sweet . . . not too sweet as most chocolate cake recipes are. The frosting is heavy & creamy (from cream cheese) - and the frosting it supposed to imitate the foam on a pint of Guinness. Anyway, this one is THE new chocolate cake recipe around here!



And, to be fair to the Birthday Boy, here is a MUCH more complimentary picture of him (far left) with us and the rest of The Usual Suspects taken . . . when? . . . 2005, I think? (And, no, J in the front isn't really that short . . . !)

1 comment:

  1. Birthday Boy's cake looks BEAUTIFUL. When do WE get to sample this delightful confection?

    Mama Pea

    ReplyDelete

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