Toothwhale

Gorgonzola and pear salad

 
Thanksgiving is November 26. Between coughs this week, I've been thinking about the holiday and getting pretty excited. One of my sisters is coming to visit, and bringing my brother-in-law and my nephews with her. It will be extra busy and noisy to have two more young children in the house, but I can't wait to see all the cousins playing together. I also can't wait to cook Thanksgiving dinner with my sister. We've talked a little about what our menu should be, but beyond turkey and pumpkin pie, it's not set yet. To help me decide which side dishes I want to lobby for, I'm going to be making some of my old standbys and trying some new recipes in the next two weeks. I started today by putting together this gorgonzola and pear salad I've served the past couple of Thanksgivings. The flavors are wonderful together, and I think it goes so nicely with turkey.

 

Ingredients:

Mixed baby greens (I use washed lettuces packed in a bag or clamshell.)

Two perfectly ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced

Optional: One half of a Granny Smith apple, cored and thinly sliced

Dried cranberries, sweetened or unsweetened, added as desired

Shelled (or chopped) walnuts, added as desired

Crumbled gorgonzola cheese, added as desired

Bottled raspberry walnut vinaigrette dressing, added as desired

A reframe

 
Rather than mention how I've coughed so much and slept so little in the past three days and nights that I'm struggling to make it through, I'll show off a picture Jake took of Henry tonight, post bath, post haircut. Rather than bemoan the fact that the cough is the worst I can remember ever having, and it's not showing any sign yet of letting go of its grip on me, I'll share that Henry told the stylist who cut his hair today that he likes football and is a Florida fan (see TV, see Gator game). Rather than dwell upon the past by telling you that before now, the title of Worst Cough In the History of My Life was held by the one I had when I gave birth to Henry in December 2004, I'll say that I'm looking forward to feeling well, and to sleeping well, again. How's that for a reframe?

How was your day? What did you talk about?

Once we're on the road home from preschool, I ask Henry and Harper about their days. Neither of them usually offers much information, but I ask anyway. I figure it gets them in the habit of that nicety of conversation, and it gives them an opening in case there is something on their minds. So, I'll ask, "How was your day?," and Henry will say, "It was good." I'll ask Harper, "What did you talk about?," and she'll try to remember. She remembers with mixed success. Take yesterday, for example:

Harper: "Me talking about H."

Me: "H?"

Harper: (shaking her head) "Q."

Me: "Q?"

Harper: "No."

Me: "Not Q?"

Harper: (after a sip of water) "No. Talking about owls."

Henry's class was talking about owls one day last week. Maybe her class had been now.

Me: "You were talking about owls, Harper?"

Harper: "No. You remember, mom? Talkin' 'bout H."

Of course.

With that, we were on to other topics, such as which character part Henry had played on the playground. He was a good guy -- always a good guy.

I checked the lesson plans that hang on the refrigerator. Harper's class was talking about the sense of taste, and the letter S for senses.

Outside and inside the library

 
Today was picture day at preschool. Because Henry and Harper don't attend on Tuesdays this year, we dropped in to pose for portraits, and then were on our way. We stopped at the library afterward, and I took a picture of my own of them before we went inside.

If you live in Nashville, I hope you've heard about the Community of Many Faces program that the Nashville Public Library has going on in November. The main library and each branch has its own schedule.

We have a birthday party to attend this Saturday morning, November 7, but if we didn't, I'd have Jake drive us downtown to participate in the Herman's Journey event at the main library at 11:30 a.m.

From the program guide: Herman's Journey is a true story about a caterpillar that hitches a ride with two friends on a road trip to attend a kirtan, a traditional celebration of India. Learn about kirtan, listen to drums, and make a butterfly craft with Herman's Journey author-illustrator Kaaren Engel.

I do hope we will be able to make it to one of the Nashville Ballet's presentations of The Nutcracker. It's at various branch libraries on various Saturdays.

From the program guide: Complete with glittering costumes and sets and a story line that incorporates figures and events from Tennessee history, The Nutcracker by Nashville Ballet is a new classic. Celebrate the season and this spectacular holiday production at this special story time. A Nashville Ballet dancer will read their version of the traditional story and lead the audience in special ballet movements.

There's lots more happening for Community of Many Faces, plus there's the puppet show A Child's Calendar in the Children's Theater at the main library on Fridays (except November 27) and Saturdays from November 13 through December 19 at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. "John Updike's collection of poems for children is transformed into a delightful musical puppet show," the library says.

It's for all their special events and for all their regular great stuff that I truly adore our library.

November snuck in the back door

I saw October coming like she was drivin' six white horses. I came out to meet her, shoutin' "Hallelujah." But November? November snuck in the back door and caught me in my housecoat.

I've got a cold, and I'm not ready to go anywhere. I'm not ready to move on. We didn't get to the pumpkin farm or the zoo's Halloween-themed fun, and I don't want to wait a whole year for another chance. Given a couple more October weekends without obligations and without rain, I'd make sure we did both.

But here, already, is November.

Late October

In late October, ... 

... trees were ablaze with golden leaves.

... dozens of dewy spider webs greeted us early one morning.

... Spider-Man and the princess went trick-or-treating.

Banana-oatmeal loaf

 
Are you ready for a break from pumpkin? Try this banana-oatmeal loaf. The banana and buttermilk make the loaf moist, and the oatmeal gives it a lovely crust. The recipe is from the February 2005 issue of Cooking Light.

 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup regular oats

1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium)

1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next four ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Stir in oats.

Combine mashed banana, buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs; add to flour mixture. Stir just until moist.

Spoon batter into a loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.