Snug

My Christmas cactus has tripled in size in less than a year

We changed back to Standard Time last week, so I have had seven days to get accustomed to earlier darkness in the evenings.  The weather seems to finally be synchronizing with the calendar--there is a welcome bit of a nip in the air today.  This morning, when I left for church, the sun was brilliant, although the air was cool.  I needed, at last, a jacket.  Now, there are grey clouds tumbling overhead and little drops of rain have made slash marks against the window.

Raindrops on the office windowpane

I pay no attention to the rain or the chill.  I am snug inside.  My new apartment is so warm, I didn't realize that I needed a jacket this morning.  Yesterday, I baked my first pumpkin cake of the season--no small task, given that I had to peel and chop some fresh potimaron to cook and then puree.  No canned pumpkin in this country! It was like peeling bark--that skin was tough.  I am almost daily reminded that saving for good knives was worth the effort and investment. And I keep them sharp!! One slip of a dull knife while trying to pare that tough pumpkin skin could have resulted in a severed thumb.  

Changing sky

First pumpkin cake of the season

Since I have so few pots, (and even fewer lids)!!!!!) I needed the same pot that is was using to cook the pumpkin for heating my leftover soup; lunch had to wait until the pumpkin was cooked.  So, I had to wait for my lunch--big deal!  The resulting cake was--is--delicious.  Today's projects will be "updated" chicken pot pie,  a French grammar lesson, and the Sunday paper.  I need not go out into this changeable weather; everything I need is in my snug little nest.  It's warm, cozy and bright and all is well in this little corner of the planet.