Trying to keep promises - continued

 Still trying to catch up. There are many more blossoms on this camelia now. This was November 23.

It was the day of one of USA's major holidays: Thanksgiving Day! People mostly think of it as the time when the first settlers and american natives had a meal together. Of course we have a day of thanks (harvest festival etc) in Europe too. Most celebrate it here with lots of family and friends. James and I decided to make it special too. After all, we have a lot to be thankful for.

We enjoy the kitchen in the table because the light comes in and we watch different birds come to the feeder. Sometimes there is a squirrel or chipmunk too. We arranged the table a bit differen and it was lovely.

It is very different to find proper rolladen meat but I get sometimes creative while cooking. There were no complaints (ha-ha).

Thanksgiving is always the time to remember when we got married. 1975 it was the day (Wednesday) before Thanksgiving when we went to City Hall Manhattan. This year it was the Sunday after. 

But we had decided to spend 2 nights in a hotel in Smithfield, VA. We had reservations and went on our way Friday morning. It's about a 2 hours drive. We arrived a bit early at Smithfield Station and the room of course was not available yet. It didn't matter to us since it was a fresh but sunny day and we wanted to do something anyway. 

At the reception we found a flyer that there was Windsor Castle Park across the street from our hotel and it looked inviting to us. It was just what we needed. The ways were very nicely marked and very nice maintained. Many people (day after a holiday = long weekend) were out and about. Every one of them greeted us in passing and some even stopped to chat. 

The walk was very enjoyable. 

I got a text from the hotel that the room was ready. It was 1:30 pm by now and we decided to have lunch in the restaurant of the hotel which was highly recommended. Our mainmeal is usually at lunchtime so we decided to order accordingly. 

At riverside close to the ocean I had seafood of course.

The view out of our room. It was getting dark by now.

Later we wanted to walk and look at the old town. It was only half a mile further. That too was a lovely walk. The old houses were all decorated and prettily lighted. At one paint we walked along a property with a high hedge looking more red with berries then green. Amazing. I tried to take a photo to remind me.

We had thought surely there is at least one old pub or even more but we could not find one. We walked into the Smithfield Inn but said right away that we did not want food. There was a bar and we wanted to have something warm to drink. Grog? Glühwein? Oh no, only coffee or tea. We were almost the only people and the server was very nice. We said we would like to buy a bottle of red wine if she would pour 2 cups into a jar to heat in the microwave for 3 minutes and put a little sugar into it and pour it into w cups for us. She was happy to do that and it warmed us up nicely. 

Even the bartender (owner) started chatting with us. When we paid we asked whether Glühwein would be on the menu now.

Smithfield has a reputation for ham. Obvious, this was not the only decorated concrete pig in the town.

Next day breakfast was included. It was buffet and not really anything special. But it was a nice place. We went back to the room on the riverside and it was bistly cold.

We took the car and went on a discovery. We happened to come to Target and our favorite card game was on sale. I had forgotten to pack it. 

Yes, problem solved. More fun.

This day we decided on proper dinner time. We walked over the bridge in the other direction. 

Looking back from the bridge at our hotel/restaurant. The Pagan River is right behind it which flows eventually into the James River which flows into the Chesapeake Bay / North Atlantic Ocean.

On the other side of the (long) ridge was the Red Point Tabhouse. Oh oh, we should have made reservations. We didn't have the best table right at the door with a cold breeze coming in every time somebody opened it but we did enjoy it anyway. We ordered food we not usually have which is always nice. There was a bit of people watching and everybody was nice and chatty.

And of course we injoyed the walk back too. 

Sunday morning there is a brunch at the hotel but we don't favour buffets that much. So we went on our way home early, grabbed a breakfast muffin and coffee on the road and went straight to church. Just two minutes late. 

We had treated ourselves weeks ago and bought tickets to see Sarah Brightman in her Christmas Symphony 2 days after our Anniversary. Oh, what a treat it was. 

Well, cought up a little more.  - - - Are you happy, Julie?

Not keeping my promises - birthday cake soccer ball

Got a phone call from Germany that my last blog was from Nov. 2 and if everything was ok. So much had happened after that blog that I just didn't get around to doing it. And what now? About what do I report? And of that which one first?

Of course I have to skip now a lot. Good things. Went with friends to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for the Incanto show in the evening with the beautiful lights. Took our three local grandsons to a theater performance, went to the Opera, had the first Richmond Forum of the season, and, and, and.

But first I need to talk about Caleb's cake! Mainly I need to record how I did it because with those boys involved in many sports we might have to make other ones. 

Ha-ha, for a change I read the directions. How to prep the forms etc. All sorts of suggestions WHAT to use and what NOT to use (no butter or oil). There is always the matter of what you can find. I decided on Baker's Joy with flour  because that's what I could get and it was perfect. I had to wipe the first spray off though because even that is something one has to learn.

James had bought this cake mix and that just seemed to make the right quantity.

Before baking.

After baking. It didn't matter that it had not risen all the way to the rim. Directions said though to cut the top of while still in the pan. A good suggestion because all you have to do to slide the knife across on the rim which of course makes it even.

The icing to "glue" the two half-rounds together filled the gap at the edge. All good.

I also learned (by doing) when you spread the base icing first, let it rest for an hour or so. I put Saran wrap over it and then run my flat hands over that which makes it nice and smooth. 

I had a bit of trouble with the pattern until I went into the garage to find a "real" soccer ball. I had thought it was all hexagons but of cause that is not so. The blue shapes are all pentagons. After that it was easy. But my initial nice smoothness was a bit wrecked. Well, does it look a bit like a used soccer ball?

His Mom needs to eat gluten free and told me not to worry about her making the ball. But I needed a base so I made chocolate chip cookie dough gluten free and it was all good. I had leftover dough and could even make cookies for her to take to work.

His birthday was great weatherwise too and the boys like an outside fire so much.

Many happy returns of the day, Caleb!

That was fun!

Fun and Work

Our church was celebrating the 60th Anniversary. Members from all works of life came together to perform a Murder Mystery Dinner. James and I bought tickets. The story played in the 1920s and we were told that we could (should) dress up too. I told daughter Sarah when she called on the way to work and she was highly encouraging. 

She texted a photo suggestion and told me to go to "Spirit Halloween". We did.

Back home we had a try. I texted the photo to Sarah. She aproved but said he needed a tie. Nothing suitable in the stash. 

My turn. The boa I had bought was incredibly uncomfortable around the neck. It was returned. 

Pearls. Yes! Our friends at church laughed when I told them that they were strings I had bought for making the Chrismons. Perfect. 

A few days later at the event. It was a lot of fun.

That weekend was also when they were selling the church cookbooks which I had volunteered to head. Collecting the recipes from the members, arranging them into the book, some prayers, some photos. 

We also printed and bound them ourselves. And the first printing was sold out in no time. It's a fundraiser. $10!

That was the fun. We also had some serious work. We had hired somebody to finally improve the slick garage floor. It was dangerous when it was wet. We had to take everything off the floor. OMG where to leave everything. Wade helped James to put the freezer into the middle of the kitchen for the few days. Most of it (like the 4 closets) ended up on the back patio for the few days. 

These heavy pots we just lifted up and tied to the railing. Worked fine.

October 19 was the day when the floor man Peter came with a helper ... at 7:30 am prompt! 

I couldn't do much but at least enjoy this nice cup of coffee made frothy with my new gadget I had bought with niece Maren's help in Germany.

In the evening we were very VERY happy with the results.

A few days later we could put everything back into its place. 

Sunday afternoon October 22 Sarah and I helped Colin and Owen with a school project. They are in parallel first grade classes but both had to pick a favorite book and the favorite character. Then they were to "dress" a pumpkin to look like that character. Sarah had texted photos of them to me so I could arrive with lots of material from my stash in my hobby room.

Colin with "Whizz" from the book "Do not open this book". 

Owen with "Ferdinand", the bull who rather smells flowers than fight in bullfights.

What do you think? We were all so happy about the results.