Flexible Flyers

Do you remember trying to "fly" down a hill in a direction of your choosing?  Somehow we managed very nicely.   The big boys would run carrying these sleds, then throw themselves onto their bellies atop the sleds so they could fly even faster down the snow-packed runs.  Now I slide on a molded plastic sled!  Seems safer at my age!    These are vintage "flyers" I find, restore and decorate with painted snowmen for my booth in the annual Holly Berry Art & Craft fair.  Fresh cedar & hemlock from the woods!  Very festive on your front porch!

Turkeys

Happy Turkey Day!  Here is my mincemeat pie with a turkey cut out from the extra pie crust.... and an apple crumb pie beneath the mince pie.  I love the old fashioned fold-open paper turkey on the table.  These never go out of style for Thanksgiving decor!  We were fortunate today to serve an organic free-range turkey from a nearby farm.   Delicious!   Hope your Thanksgiving was bountiful in food, friends and family.

Little Rascals

These four furry raccoons are why we have been bringing in the bird feeders at night.   I suspect they are siblings from this past summer.  They are very resourceful and should survive the winter well!

Forgive the blurry and foggy photos.  The first three were taken in the dark through the double pane glass of the kitchen window.   When I went outdoors to try to get a clearer view, they would scamper away, but not too far..... as in the last photo.

And notice that the deck railing is wrapped with holiday lights already.   My husband has learned to do this fun chore before the weather gets too cold!  
 

Autumn Beauties

This autumn continues with mostly mild and beautiful weather.  I cannot resist posting a few more photos of local scenery.  The tamaracks along the highway have been prettier this year than ever before, or so it seems.  They look like conifers but shed their "needles" so are actually deciduous trees.

And the protected red Michigan Holly berries are plentiful in the swamps. 

Today the sun was shining on this tart cherry orchard..... beautiful all year 'round!

Good Timing!

In the last 3 or 4 days all the leaves have fallen from this lovely twin birch on the shoreline of our front yard.  Bushels and bushels of maple leaves have fallen ankle deep into our yard as well.  The oaks have not yet let loose of their leaves.  It's a good thing, too, or we would be buried in leaves.   My husband had hernia repair surgery Monday and I call that very Good Timing!  He got out of late season yard work this year!  Fortunately I enjoy raking and using the leaf blower and today was beautiful for working outside.  It brought back memories of childhood when it was legal to burn leaves.  One neighbor always burned leaves on a clear chilly evening and invited all the neighbor kids to bring a stick for toasting marshmallows over the leaf fire.  Great fragrance.... leaf smoke!

Pears and Cranberries!

Another fabulous fruit crumble!  No sugar with the fruit, just in the topping.  The sweet pears and tart fresh cranberries balance each other out.   I never tried this combination of fruits before, but saw a version of this on the site "Smitten Kitchen."  I used my favorite crumble topping and..... voila!  Give it a try! and check out the site for more good recipes.