book recommendations and a knitting project

these are two of the books i've read in the past few weeks. i'm currently reading elena ferrante's neapolitan series, though i had started anna karenina. the bronx is burning was so good, that i've decided to get it for my nephew for christmas. i know he would really enjoy it. jonathan mahler writes about new york city in the year 1977. rosemary sutcliff's black ships before troy is a retelling of the iliad, and has helped me understand that story immensely. the knitting project is the igagasi shawl which is now completely blocked and only needs a pic of it off the needles . . why haven't i done that?!

and in austria . .

 morgana helped the littlest one make an advent calendar today.

i think in the above pic she's punching holes in the tags for the string to go through. the small packages hold cherry liquor, tissue packets, shot glasses and other chocolates.

pics from tuesday's walk

monday breakfast

breakfast this morning included delicious whipped butter my cousin finds at her amish market in annapolis. she always brings two containers for my sister and i.

chanda is starting up her ballet lessons again. finally. she's had a few therapy and acupuncture sessions with a specialist recommended by her dance teachers, and she's now doing much better. she has a lot to catch up on. the nutcracker show will open in two weeks.

sunday vet visit and a mini thanksgiving

 greg and i took hermione to the vet this afternoon, to have the growth on her bottom checked.

 i'm not sure who looks more mopey here, greg or hermione.

 we had a difficult time getting her into the carrier. she gave us some good scratches.

there's not too much that we can do for the growth, except put on an ointment when it seems most irritated (well, of course many tests were recommended, but we're not going to go there again. we had bloodwork done on her, along with a thyroid test, a year and a half ago, and it was expensive). we're also cleaning her ears now, and inserting an ointment for an ear infection.

 i was motivated today to cook a turkey. my butcher had a small nine pound bird still available. i also followed two recipes on my food box newsletter, and made celery root and potato gratin, and savoy cabbage roasted with balsamic vinegar.

i also made a cranberry lemon pie . . it's very tart and delicious!

sunday poem

the sea gypsy

i am fevered with the sunset,

i am fretful with the bay,

for the wander-thirst is on me

and my soul is in cathay.

there's a schooner in the offing,

with her topsail shot with fire,

and my heart has gone aboard her

for the island of desire.

i must forth again to-morrow!

with the sunset i must be

hull down on the trail of rapture

in the wonder of the sea.

by richard hovey (1864 - 1900)

more songs from vagobondia, 1896

family time

 we had a delicious big breakfast this morning of scrambled eggs with bacon and home baked bread made by the amish of maryland that my cousin always brings when she comes to visit.

 with also talked with cousin ryan in london (my cousin cindy's son).

aunt cindy was also getting ready to get on the road with uncle jeff.

 waving good-bye.

 showing off her birthday earrings.

 with the sons home it was a day for climbing up on the roof and clearing out the gutters . .

 raking up the leaves on the deck . . 

 and planting pachysandra as a ground cover beneath.

 tonight's game was yahtzee.

 which uncle warren won, and greg came in second.

morgana did some baking too. i love her little pumpkin and leaf decorations.

thanksgiving day

 we left for connecticut around 9 am and sat down to dinner around 2, i think.

 my sister made the turkeys and the gravy and mashed potatoes, my cousin supplied the sweet potatoes, and i made creamed celery, steamed apples and raisins and pumpkin pie.

 i also made turnips for my mom and i. i think we're the only ones who like them!

 resting after a big meal . .

talking with nana . . 

cleaning up . . 

one of my favorite parts of the day: going for a walk.

 forsythia in bloom!!

 back at home . . 

 talking with morgana . . 

 getting ready for dessert . . 

 singing happy birthday to chanda and adam, our autumn babies (and korrina if she had been here).

serving a slice of pie to uncle jeff.

 cindy is handing out christmas gifts, as we haven't been able to celebrate christmas together in a long time. my sister and i sometimes get a box out to her in annapolis for her to open (along with her mom and dad when they were still with us), but cindy has never been able to get this together (she works full time for the pentagon!) she always makes up for it when we're finally together.

 helping her favorite aunt (and second mom!) open her gifts . .

 my mom was excited to open her gift and see a milk glass vase . . (she has always loved milk glass) . . . .

and a sweet snowman . . 

playing one of our favorite charade games . .

the answer was "booksmart." the game happens in three rounds. first, each person writes on a piece of paper a book, movie or phrase, or even just one word. we did five papers per player for this round. the papers go into a bowl and teams are chosen (we usually do every other person around the table). a timer is set and one person begins by using words to describe what is written in the paper. this person continues to pick from the bowl and describe the written phrase or book or movie until the timer goes off. then it's the next person's turn, and this goes on around the table until all papers have been successfully revealed. the papers are counted up by each team and the score written down. all papers are returned to the bowl and the game continues in the same way but this time just one gesture is used to describe what is written. again, all papers are counted up by the teams and the score written down. for the third and final part of the round, only one word is used. the teams for this evening were me, adam and my cousin cindy; jason, my sister and chanda. we tied for parts one and two at fifteen each, and lost by one point for the final part. 

reading one of his books . .