A Nice Surprise

When we went to Special Olympics bowling this past Wednesday we got a nice surprise -- The Salvation Army is going to buy the bowling ramp we need in order for Lara to be able to bowl with the other athletes.  Feit's Lanes has agreed to keep the bowling ramp there for us.  Lara was SO happy!  The coaches have already received training on how to assist her while using the ramp.  The announcement was a surprise for Lara:



Well that was a wish that quickly came true!

Another Year

My favorite cake is German Chocolate, and most years I only make it on my birthday -- that would be today :D.  The recipe is from Meta Givens Encyclopedia of Cooking which is my favorite cookbook set.  I was glad I took this picture after I frosted it yesterday because today there already isn't much of it left!  The weather is gray and damp but my heart is warmed from the cards and gifts I've received from friends and family, and even though gifts are not important, I do appreciate them.  Thank you!  (Now I think I'll settle down and read some of Carla Emery's book, The Encyclopedia of Country Living that My Own True Love gave me this morning -- and have a piece of cake. . . .

Is It Really November?

I can't believe how fast this year is flying.  There is so much work I want to do and it seems as if there just aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done.  Today, I worked in the front yard raking leaves.  I managed to get half of it raked into piles, and some of it put on the compost pile, but now it is supposed to rain-snow tomorrow and  I don't know if I'll get back to it.  At least the chickens had fun scratching the ground behind me. 

The other day Tom took me for a walk in the woods to show me where he found another chaga growing, and I noticed then how many broken tree branches there were laying around.  I told him all we need to do for firewood next year is drag out the fallen wood.  I was surprised how much damage an early snow could cause when the trees still had their leaves. 

Tonight Lara, Ed and I finished up the Halloween candy and our Harry Potter Butter Beer -- 2 liters of good cream soda with 1 cup of Butterscotch Schnaps.  While we don't get any trick-or-treaters out here in the woods, we always have some Halloween fun.   

Well, I think I'll hit the sack early tonight.  Talk to you soon!