Rock Knob

 The view from Rock Knob on the old Hartley Farm. 

Bagley at its Best

 

One of my favorite local escapes in all its Fall glory.

After the first snow

The season's first 2 inches of snow that fell this morning got me outdoors in a panic to photograph fall colors before the opportunity disappears, which can happen overnight in the Northland. Above, the Chester Park neighborhood reservoir road that reminds me of "home" in West Virginia. Below, fall foliage enhanced by the sun's light.

Hanging with the Cousins

Playing canasta with the cousins. We usually budget time for two or three games. And a follow-up night, in case Suzanne's team doesn't win. This trip, someone thought it was funny to bring these napkins. 

 What a difference one week makes:

First Haircut

 Stay Safe Day 326:

First haircut since the pandemic.

The Code (of Baking)

Minnesota Stay-At-Home Day 6

Baked cherry muffins this morning. My fumbles in the kitchen reminded me of Captain Barbossa from The Pirates of the Caribbean: “The code is more what you’d call guidelines...”

Didn’t have plain yogurt in the house, so I substituted vanilla. Beat in 1 egg instead of 2 egg whites before I read that step in the recipe. Didn’t have oat bran either, so decided 1/2 cup of flour mixed with 1/2 cup of oats would be close enough.

Only when I added the cup of frozen cherries, did I realize almonds weren’t on the list of ingredients. But I clearly remembered our favorite cherry muffins having almonds. Turns out I should have used the strawberry almond muffins recipe, in which I substitute 2 cups of cherries. And that would explain why I froze my cherries in 2-cup batches instead of 1-cup batches.