Currently...

The weather...at 9:30 p.m. is a balmy (for October 30) 55 degrees. Rain is on the way this week, but temperatures are expected to remain in the 60's during the daylight hours.

I am

Reading...The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon. The self-appointed mayor of a small Italian town needs to raise a lot of money fast to fix the town's pipes. If he can't the water will be turned off and all the residents will have to leave. 

In order to boost tourism and raise money, he starts a rumor that a big movie star is going to be filming his next movie nearby. The rumor takes on a life of its own and the whole town goes crazy. So, what happens when the move star doesn't show up? Or if he does?

Finished reading...The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick. I gave the book 5 stars. I really enjoyed it and the feelings the main character, Olivia Green, experienced rang true with me. I could identify with her struggles with an empty nest and figuring out what she wanted next in life.

Loving...the sectional I bought at an auction on Saturday and can't wait to pick up the oak table and chairs tomorrow that I bought at the same sale.

Still loving...the beauty of the Asian Lantern Festival at the Pittsburgh Zoo. I rode along with my daughter's family Saturday evening. The whole zoo was filled with lanterns. It took us an hour and a half to walk through. Since Saturday was also our trick-or-treat day, the kiddos were really tired and kind of cranky. They were asleep within minutes of getting back in the car.

And one bonus shot of Colton, Leah, and their cousin, Sarah, dressed up for Halloween.

Celebrating...that while taking out the old sofas and bringing in the one I bought, I decided the large 8 x 11 rug in the living room needed to go, too. It was old, had taken a beating, and totally didn't match the new sofa. Underneath the rug, clear in the middle of it...I FOUND MY WEDDING RING!!! It's been months since Jasper stole it. How it made it that far in under the rug I will never know, but I am so glad it is finally back on my finger.

Thinking about...rejoining the working world on Tuesday. Still a bit worried about pain and being on my feet on concrete all day, but we have to do what we have to do. It's too good of a job to pass up.

Thankful for...a lovely weekend, time with my mom, time with my daughter's whole family, fun things to do, and great bargains scored.

Have a blessed and happy week, everyone!

Saturday 9: Haunted

I'm joining in the fun, but once again I don't know when I will get around to visiting. This is a busy Saturday for me. I'm going to an auction with my mom, our trick-or-treat is from 4:00-8:00, and I'm going with my daughter's family to the Pittsburgh Zoo to see the Asian Lantern Festival. Our scheduled entry time is 8:00 so it will be late when we get home. I will get around at some point, though. If I have signal I might be able to comment from the auction.

Saturday 9: Haunted (2013)

Unfamiliar with this week's featured song? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Beyonce sings that she's sure if a man is haunting her thoughts, she must be haunting his. Who is on your mind this morning?  I'm doing this Friday evening and I can't say anyone is on my mind at the moment. I'm tired, the TV is on, and I'm playing on the laptop...I'm too distracted.

2) The lyrics mention her "wicked tongue." Have you said anything recently that you wish you could take back?  No, I don't think so. When I was younger I said somethings I wish I could take back, but as I've aged I've worked to be more thoughtful with my words and, I hope, kinder.

3) Beyonce says her lucky number is 4. Her birthday is 9/4, her mom's birthday is 1/4 and her husband's birthday is 12/4. She chose 4/4 for her wedding day. Do you have a lucky number?  I've always liked the number 9, but I can't say I think it's ever proved lucky.

 
4) Beyonce told an interviewer  that, while on the road, she loves to eat Popeye's fried chicken and the fast-food chain offered her free food for life. She admits she's been too embarrassed to take them up on it. If you could get free food for life from any restaurant, which restaurant would you choose?  Probably Red Lobster. I love seafood and while Joe's Crab Shack has better food, the nearest one is far enough away that we rarely go.

These questions will help us get into the Halloween spirit ....

5) Candy corn is a trick-or-treat staple. Do you like it?  No. It's too sweet and the texture is just too yucky! 

6) In 2019, the most popular pet costume was a pumpkin outfit designed for dogs. Have you ever dressed your pet in a costume?  Yep. Daisy owns a lobster costume, a bumble bee costume, a costume that makes her look like a horse with a cowboy on her back, a halloween dress and a witch hat with orange hair. When our big hound was with us I dressed him as a dinosaur with a caveman on his back and a squirrel. I've tried to dress Jasper, but he's not having it.

7) According to the Guinness Book of Records, the award for highest number of jack-o-lanterns in one place went to Keene, NH, where in 2013 there were 30,581. How many carved pumpkins will be at your home on Halloween?  None at my house. We helped the grands carve pumpkins last weekend, but they took them home to their house.

 

8) In years gone by, the Irish celebrated Halloween not with pumpkins but by carving turnips, potatoes and beets. Are any of those foods in your kitchen right now?  Just potatoes. I will eat pickled beets, but they aren't a favorite and I can't remember the last time I saw turnips in the store.
 

9) Some Elvis fans believe they have seen his ghost hovering in the trees over Graceland. Have you ever seen a ghost?  No. I don't believe in ghosts.

Thanks to Sam for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday, y'all! I can't believe it's here again. The days and weeks just seem to be rolling by lately, but then that's what usually happens in the fall. There's just so much going on. 

Today I am thankful...

🎃 For another beautiful fall day. It's a little cooler than it's been (only 55*) but it's sunny, the sky is blue, and the remaining leaves are gorgeous!

🎃 I indulged in a scratch-off lottery ticket yesterday and won exactly enough to buy Colton and Leah new winter coats.

🎃 Megan starts training on her new job tomorrow.

🎃 I start training on my new job next Tuesday.

🎃 My new job has good health insurance after 60 days. Switching to that will allow me to drop the coverage on me through Tim's employer...a savings of nearly $700 a month!

🎃 The outreach committee from my church met last night. We are planning our next event...a Christmas play (written by one of our members) and a family-style dinner. I am in charge of sets for the play and table decorations for the dinner. 

Everyone works so well together and there is none of the stalling and arguing endless disscussion that I have been used to in previous churches. It's so uplifting to be a part of this body of believers.

🎃 The "rumble strips" (plastic mats with little spikes) I found on Amazon seem to be working...at least a little...to slow my maniac cat down. I have to be sure there aren't any gaps, though, because if there are he will find that small space to sit on or walk on. Mostly there are just a couple of spaces I want to teach him to stay away from so it isn't like I've covered everything.

🎃 Fresh roasted pumpkin seeds (made from the seeds out of the kids' pumpkins).

🎃 Good books that entertain and inspire me.

🎃 They are done digging in front of our house for now. The quietness is so nice!

🎃 For family and friends and all of you who make life better!

Currently...

The weather is an incredible 72 degrees. The sun is shining. The sky is blue. The leaves are beautiful. It's a perfect fall day!

I am...

reading The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick. 

From the cover: Mother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can't believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, megabestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse. The last thing Liv expected was to be the only person Essie talks to, which leads to a tenuous friendship.

But when Essie dies suddenly, Liv is astonished to learn of her last wish: for Live to complete Essie's final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie's shoes. As Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women-one that will change Liv's own story forever...

watching... nothing really. I'm not finding anything that holds my attention lately.

listening to the cat chase something around on the kitchen floor.

celebrating that my daughter got the call she was waiting for concerning the job she interviewed for last week. She got the job! 

Also, I had an interview this morning at the county Blind Association and if I want it, the job is mine. I think I am going to take it. It pays a little less than jobs at nursing homes, but the hours are great 8-3, M-F and after 60 days I can get good insurance for $50/month. Not being on Tim's insurance would put between $600-$700 back in Tim's pay each month. No weekends and no holidays, either. I will mostly be supervising disabled adults as they sort and shred paper for customers. I will also help with meals and the bathroom if they need it and deal with customers bringing papers to shred. My only concern is finding a REALLY good pair of shoes because I'll be on my feet all day and it's on concrete.

feeling...proud of my cousin. This is him on a billboard in Nashville.

thinking that Chinese for supper was a great idea.

grateful for all of the weekend's blessings. I shared the photos from Saturday's trip to the pumpkin patch here but here are some other moments from the weekend.

Leah and I playing with Snap Chat filters.

Watching Scooby-Doo 2

My silly boy snoozing with his mouth open.

The finished pumpkins. Leah's are on the left, Colt's on the right.

giggling at...

 

Sunday Stealing

Play along here.

What type of day are you having?  I'm doing this on Saturday evening and I've had a good day. I took my grandchildren to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins, had a pizza lunch with them, planted some plants in the yard that I'd brought back from my visit to see my birth father, relaxed a bit, and babysat the kids for a while tonight while Mom and Dad went grocery shopping. 

Was there anyone who "made your day"?  Those little munchkins in the photos above. They ALWAYS make my day.

Are you liking how you look today?  Eh...it was an okay day. I didn't try very hard since I was going to be outside. 

Have you ever eaten a bug?  Not that I know of and I really hope that means I haven't, but I know the odds are not in my favor.

Are you vegetarian?  Nope. I am doing my part to save the planet one methane emitting cow at a time.

When was your last paycheck?  July, which was way too long ago, but I was needed in the family so I couldn't really work. Things have settled down a bit so I am on the hunt again. I have two interviews this week.

How many pets do you have?  Two. A Toy Poodle who is getting older and crankier and a Maine Coon cat who is pretty and sweet, but terribly naughty.

What kind of toothpaste do you use?  The kind that restores enamel, reduces sensitivity, cleans tartar, fights cavities, and whitens. So, old people toothpaste. 

Are you closer to being rich or poor?  Compared to much of the world I'm closer to being rich, but by U.S. standards I'm closer to being poor. But when we talk of non-material things, I am blessed and rich.

What was the last gift someone gave you?  A friend gave me some fall decor. 

Do you appreciate that person?  Of course! 

Did you talk to anyone you didn't like today?  No

Do you like picnics?  I like eating outside on our deck or at our daughter's, but other than that I'm not as big on the actual picnic thing as I used to be. 

What book are you currently reading?  The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick.

What song did you last listen to?  I don't remember, but it was earlier today on the oldies station in the car.

How many tabs are open on your computer?  Two. This one and Amazon. 

Are you a very stressed out person?  Only when my cat is having one of his spaz fits and I am worried about him destroying everything in the house.

Saturday 9: Things

Saturday 9: Things (1962)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Bobby Darin is sitting beside his window, looking out onto a crowded avenue. What's the view outside your nearest window?  Our front yard, the street that goes by, and our neighbors' home....oh, and all the mess from the work on the neighborhood's drainage problem.

 

2) He likes to remember the romantic things he and his girl used to do, like walking in the park. When did you most recently go for a leisurely stroll? Did you have a destination in mind, or were you just enjoying the walk for its own sake?  I guess it was a couple of weeks ago when Tim and I took the grands for a walk around the neighborhood. If we had a destination I guess it was getting back home after our stroll through the neighborhood.

3) He notes a couple holding hands. Are you comfortable displaying affection in public?  Yes, it doesn't bother me.

 

4) When Bobby recorded this song, he was married to screen sweetheart Sandra Dee. Today she is best known as the inspiration for the song, "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee." Can you name another song from Grease?  Summer Lovin', Beauty School Drop-out, Greased Lightning, We Go Together, Hand Jive, You're the One that I Want... Grease was a huge hit when I was a senior in high school and it's still one of my favorite films.

5) Bobby loved gadgets. He was enthusiastic about his suitcase telephone, which was one of the first mobile phones. Are you an early adapter, or do you wait for new technology to be around awhile and not so new before you try it?  It depends on how interested I am in it. Some things I will jump right on and others I hang back on.

 

6) He was a chess fanatic and always kept a magnetic chess board in his briefcase, just in case he found someone who was willing to play him. Are you a good chess player?  I am not even a bad chess player. I've never learned to play.

 

7) He very much wanted to play Tony in West Side Story, but he didn't the part because the producers didn't think he looked like a romantic leading man. What actor or actress makes your heart skip a beat?  My two favorites are:

Jason Momoa

Kyle Chandler

 

8) In 1962, when this song was popular, Jack Nicklaus launched his successful golf career. Do you enjoy playing golf, or watching it on TV?  I'm not a big fan. I have played and I used to be pretty good. I hate watching it on TV, though.

9) Random question: Which would we find in your kitchen right now -- cookies or ice cream?  Neither one. Sorry.

Play along here.

Blog Challenge: Day 21

It's another gorgeous fall day here...sunny and near 70 degrees...and it's only going to get better Saturday and Sunday. I kept Leah this morning so Megan could get some medical tests done and apply for a job at a local nursing home. It was so good to see Leah come through the door smiling and happy.

Yesterday when I picked Leah up from school, the teachers brought her out to me first. She was not feeling well at all. She was asleep before I even got off the school grounds and before we got home she got sick all over herself and her car seat. She was just completely out of it so Megan and I took her to MedExpress to get checked out (they are in the process of switching pediatricians and the paperwork hasn't gone through completely). They found both of her ears were pretty seriously infected and started her on antibiotics. She slept straight through the night and while still congested and doing a bit of coughing, she obviously feels a lot better. Thanking the Lord for that! I don't think there is anything worse than when a little one is sick.

Today's prompt:  Share 5 things you need to do less often.

1. Procrastinate.
2. Say "yes" to all my daughter's demands for help.
3. Waste time on the laptop.
4. Eat out.
5. Give in to impulse buys.

Blog Challenge: Day 20

Today's prompt:  What's the best and worst thing about being your current age?

The best thing is definitely being a grandmother. Those precious children are definitely life's reward for surviving the raising of my own children. Ha! Seriously, it's an easier relationship, somehow, even though I share quite a bit in their care due to work schedules and their mom's health issues. They bring me such happiness.

The worst thing is the body that is getting older and has lots of aches and pains and miscellaneous ailments...it sometimes prevents me from doing things I would like to do.

Thankful Thursday

Brrr...it's a cold one out there this morning! Crazy that by the weekend the weather will be sunny and 72 degrees. I guess it's not quite time to switch out the summer clothes for the winter ones. But it's coming soon. I think this next little stretch will be our official "Indian summer." 

I don't know who will be hosting today so I'm linking to both Rebecca Jo and Jen.

This week I am thankful...

** I got to break out my fuzzy socks!

** The new season of Expedition Unknown is on and it's about King Tut. Like, the whole season! Be still my nerdy little heart.

** I got to wear some of my sweaters. (I'm a sweater girl from way back.)

** Our daughter got a job and found out what it was really like on her first day and quit (we advised her to). The other aides she worked with were truly foul and crude even around the residents and their families, she is sure one was stealing drugs from the med cart. There were other things, but yeah, she doesn't need to be there. Plus, it was kind of far away. She is applying at an assisted living place closer to home today.

** I have a job interview with the county's Blind Association on Monday. They run a workplace for disabled adults. They mainly shred documents but also do some other things. I'm interviewing to be...well, I guess I don't know what the position is called, but I'd be supervising them, making sure they don't run out of materials, keeping the floor clean, assisting with meals, and some personal care if they need it. It's full-time, but all daylight and Monday through Friday. No weekends and no holidays. 

I've also applied for a part-time activities position at a nursing home and a part-time receptionist job, also at a nursing home. I kind of like the part-time thing, but anything in a nursing home is going to require some evenings, weekends, and holidays. I kind of really don't like that, but you do what you have to do.

** I got the closet in my office cleaned out and organized and a bunch of stuff out of the middle of the room. Yay!

** the tooth with the cracked root (already has a crown and root canal) is hanging in there even though it's been wiggly for about 3 weeks now. I thought it was going to come out yesterday, but I pushed it back in and it seems to be staying. The crack is below the bone line of my jaw so it can't be fixed. We're trying to nurse it until the dentist's office hears back from my insurance about what they will cover (implants, bridge, or partial) and how much they will cover so I can make a choice.

** I had to pick up both kids from school yesterday so they were with us for supper and we decided to have breakfast...pancakes and bacon. It's one of their favorite meals and we had a good time together.

** sharing pumpkin donut holes and apple cider with the kids after school and hearing about their day.

** my husband is still a romantic (maybe not quite as often as he used to be) and I woke up Monday to find little love notes all over the place...on the microwave, the window over the kitchen sink, in the refrigerator, on the backdoor, in my book, and on the laptop screen. It made me smile all day.

** some of the ladies from church got together last Friday evening to discuss a book we'd all read. Everyone brought some kind of food and it was such a good time of fellowship, enjoying the food, and talking about the book. We enjoyed it so much we've decided we need to do it every six months or so.

** my laptop is hanging in there and limping along.

** for my family, my friends, and my always growing relationship with the Lord.

** and, of course, for all of you!

Have a blessed day, everyone!

October Blog Challenge: Day 19

Today's prompt:  Share a quote to live by. Why did you pick this particular quote?

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with[d] every secret thing, whether good or evil."  -Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

I chose this quote because I am currently studying Ecclesiastes in my small group and this particular verse really sums up all that Solomon was trying to teach his son. To live in reverence of God and obey the precepts that he has set forth is really all the Christian life boils down to. Once you have confessed your sins and need of a Savior and have accepted the gift of mercy and grace that is offered, this is what it all boils down to. Love God, love others, do what is right.

October Blog Challenge: Days 17 & 18

Day 17 prompt:  What thoughts have you been repeating in your head lately? Are they true?

For the most part, it's been "You need to find a job." And yes, it's true.

Day 18 prompt:  One thing you dream about doing is______.

Renting a big house in Chincoteague and treating the family to a vacation. 

Currently...

The weather is a cool 50 degrees with a good breeze and some sun. Tonight the temperature is to drop to freezing and the windchill factor may make its first appearance of the season. Another first probably coming tomorrow is snow. Not enough to amount to anything, but flurries in the air and maybe a dusting on the ground. That will all last through Wednesday before we bounce back to more seasonal 50's and 60's.

I am reading The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk. It's not my normal type of book, but it's quite interesting.

From the back cover:

Liesl Weiss long ago learned to be content working behind the scenes in the distinguished rare books department of a large university, quietly managing details to make the head of the department look good. But when her boss has a stroke and she's left to run things, she discovers that the library's most prized manuscript is missing.

Liesl tries to sound the alarm and inform the police about the missing priceless book but is told repeatedly to keep quiet, to keep the doors open and the donors happy. But then a librarian unexpectedly stops showing up to work. Liesl must investigate both disappearances, unspooling her colleagues' pasts like the threads of a rare book binding as it becomes clear that someone in the department must be responsible for the theft. What Liesl discovers about the dusty manuscripts she has worked among for so long - and about the people who care for and revere them - shakes the very foundation on which she has built her life.

I am listening to all the noise coming from the work crew, who is now working 6 days a week, 12 hours a day trying to get the new drainage system completed before this coming weekend. They have drug their feet for so long that an ultimatum has been given. Finish by the 22nd or else. I'm not really sure what the or else might be.

I am watching nothing at the moment, but of new shows airing, the only two that are "must see" for me are the new season of Alaskan Bush People and the new CBS drama Fire Country. 

Last night I ended up watching Return to Amish on Discovery+. It's an older show and apparently the follow up to the even earlier Breaking Amish about a group of Amish young people who left the order. It's soooo dumb, but like with an auto accident I couldn't look away. I mean, this family is mad because they are being shunned by the church, but with the exception of the father, none of them follow the Amish rules. What did they expect? Mostly, I think I'm in agreement with reviews and complaints from back when the show aired that complained it did nothing but exploit Pennsylvania's Amish. I'd agree. I live about an hour away from where the show was filmed and nothing about it particularly rings true.

Feeling loved. I woke up this morning to find little love notes taped all over the house from Tim. Later I even found them inside my book and taped to the laptop screen.

Thinking about Leah's fieldtrip on Friday. Since Megan got a job, she is unable to go and I'm going to have to drive (with Headstart fieldtrips each family drives). I don't know why they always choose something far away, but this time it's a some sort of park/petting zoo/pumpkin thing that's a good hour away in an area I'm not familiar with. I am hoping Tim can take a vacation day and go with me. If not I'll have to ask my mom, I guess. I just want a second set of eyes that far from home with Leah. She is fast and ornery! 

Cooking a lot in the crockpot because we like the more savory meals this time of year...lots of soups and stews, but stuffed peppers and smothered round steak, too. Tonight I'm frying porkchops and having baked potatoes.

Grateful once again for my church home and how different it is from any other experience I've had. We had a congregational meeting last night, which if you've ever participated in one of those, you know how long and drawn out it can be. It's not very high on my list of things to do. However, I was pleasantly surprised last night when we were done and out of there in less than an hour!

Also, that our great-nephew continues to do well. Tim's sister got a new report about her cancer and it's a different type than thought and at a lesser stage than thought. Hopefully, that will translate to better odds for her. And finally, for men like our niece's husband who is in the reserves in Texas. He was deployed today to the U.S./Mexico border and will be there for a year. At least it is close enough to their home in Houston that a few visits should be possible.

A few giggles:

October Blog Challenge: Days 15 & 16 (A Taste of Fall)

Day 15 prompt:  Round up your favorite pumpkin recipes.

PUMPKIN SPICE COOKIES:

•  1/2 Cup Butter (Sweet Cream Salted)
•  1 Cup Sugar
•  2 Eggs
•  1 Cup Canned Pumpkin
•  2 Cups Flour
•  4 tsp. Baking Powder
•  1 tsp. Salt
•  2 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
•  1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
•  1/4 tsp. Ginger
•  1 Cup Chopped Walnuts or Pecans (optional)
•  Cookie Sheets
•  Parchment Paper

CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

•  1/2 Cup Butter (Sweet Cream Salted)
•  8 oz. block of Cream Cheese
•  3 tsp. Vanilla
•  4 cups Powdered Sugar
•  1 tsp. Cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

PUMPKIN SPICE COOKIES:

1. In a mixer cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs and pumpkin and mix well.
3. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and spices together and fold into cookie batter.
4. Mix until well blended.
5. Drop a spoonful of the cookie batter onto a cookie sheet.
6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes.
7. Allow to cool.
8. Frost with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

PUMPKIN CHILI:

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp canola oil
• 1 large onion
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 oz garlic (4-6 cloves)
• 1 red bell pepper
• 12 oz diced pumpkin (half of a small (2.5 lbs) cooking pumpkin)
• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 cup beef stock
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 3 oz tomato paste
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 15 oz can kidney beans
• 15 oz can white beans
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chipotle chili powder
• 1 tbsp white granulated sugar
• salt
• fresh cracked black pepper

• Start by cutting pumpkin and other veggies. 

  To cut pumpkin: pop the stem off with a large knife (knife always facing away from you) and cut pumpkin in half. Scoop out seeds and membrane. I like to use an ice cream scoop because it easily scoops up the membrane. Cut pumpkin halves in two and peel the tough skin off with a vegetable peeler.
• Dice pumpkin, onions, bell pepper, and tomatoes. Try to get the cuts as even as possible.
• Preheat the pot over medium heat and add oil. 
• Add onions and saute until transparent. 
• Add tomatoes, pumpkin, and bell peppers. Cook for a few minutes. 
• Smash garlic, mince it and add it to the veggies. Stir and cook until veggies are softened. 
• Take veggies out of the pot and set aside. 
• In the same pot, cook ground beef until browned, breaking up all the clumps. Season with some salt and pepper as it cooks. 
• Add veggies back to the pot and stir.
• Increase heat to medium-high and stir in stock, pumpkin puree, tomato sauce and tomato paste. 
• Strain most of the liquid from the beans and add them to the pot. Gently stir everything well. Bring to boil.
• Lower heat to low and stir in sugar, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Taste to check if more salt and spice is desired.
• Cover, leaving a small crack for steam to escape, and cook for about an hour. Remember to stir once in a while to ensure even cooking.

Day 16 prompt:  Make a post of only pictures that shows fall in your area.