Busy busy September

September 16 - We woke up to seeing THIS outside our bedroom window.

 

I climbed out of bed and took a closer look very carefully. I even managed to take a  Video  (0:59 minutes) and I am very proud of that.

Our weather is quite nice again, definately autumn but we take every opportunity to get some steps. While we were walking in the neighborhood we chatted with a lady who is also from Germany. Renate is not very mobile and likes to sit in her open garage with several large flower pots on the driveway. Her daughter came also out of the house and she too spoke very good German. She told us that she had just baked a "Zwetschgenkuchen", German recipe. She told us that those special plums had been available at the Publix supermarket which is in walking distance to us. In all those years living in the USA, even in different states, I have seen Zwetschgen for sale only a very few times. 

I was so excited that we walked to Publix the first chance we had and bought all they had (smallish 5 bags). I found a recipe for it, baked these two sheets and put the rest in the freezer. 

It was a very nice dessert ... especially each portion smathered with whipped cream. But we did share with friends. 

The only thing with this recipe was that it was quite soggy the next day. I asked for Renate's recipe. She (now actually her daughter) uses a recipe for a springform (not sheet cake) but it tasted very much the same and worked well. I think the baking temperature and time made the difference. 

Yes, we had gone back to buy more of the fruit several times and put enough for several cakes in the freezer. By the way, I learned that those plums are called Italian plums or prune plums. I had not known that.

Lots was going on in the second half of September. On Saturday the 23. we had a presentation at our church by a county clerk about PROBATE. I had been very involved in arranging it and was a bit worried about attendance, especially since we ended up with a storm coming through. But it was all well and James and I thought it was very important for us to hear. 

Oh yes, another of our (almost) daily routines is playing our card game. How many games have we played by now? In all those years? No telling. But this was the first time that I had not a single bad point.

Monday September 25 our three "local" grandsons had no school. We actually got them Sunday evening for the night.

This is how we were whoken up Monday morning (at 6:30). OMG, a miracle that I have no blue spots on my body. But who cares when you are having fun.

Breakfast!

And then we went for a walk. At 10 am we had parked at the James River downtown. Two of the boys didn't have proper shoes so we didn't know how far we would go. We went across the bridge to Belle Island. We love that walk. 

Since we had torrendous rain just two days ago the river was flowing pretty fast. 

On the other side the boys were eager to climb on the stones whenever possible. But they were very good and listened to us when we thought it was not safe. 

There was a lot of driftwood from the storms but the boys liked it all. Sorry to say that they helped the driftwood a little further along the river. Since it is not littering we didn't see any harm in it.

We went back to the car but there was still time so we continued along to the other side. There is the Memorial Bridge for pedestrians which starts at the historic area close to the American Civil War Museum from Tredegar Street. Right there we found a picnic table and had our lunch.

Afterwards we went across the bridge. It is very interesting and on the other side is a bit of river which is away from the flowing water, more like a pond. This is area wildlife, especially turtles, like. The boys had great fun trying to count them all. That was not so easy since some of them kept moving. 

Finally we had enough. We also didn't know when Wade would come to pick them up. He had been away for the weekend and they had not seen him for several days.

Well, I had hoped that our favorite donut shop was open but it is always closed on Mondays. Second best had to do. Each of the boys selected the donut they wanted. They also asked whether we could buy one for their Dad. They knew exactly his favorite. We enjoyed them on the back patio ... after we had washed our hands thoroughly with soap (I hope). 

Wednesday the 27th I had committed myself to demonstrate bobbinlace making at the VA State Fair in Doswell with my friends from the Colonial Lacemakers. Most of them live in Williamsburg. We used to do it every year before the pandemic. I had not seen them in a very long time since their monthly meeting is now on Sundays and I can't make it in time after church.

I had a really good time, even figured out how I had worked that pattern on my German lacepillow I had taken last time to that fair.

To stretch our legs we did take time to walk around a little bit. Here are some samples of what there was to see. 

Oh yes, we could venture out to have some lunch too. Lots of teenagers walking around who had come in schoolbuses. I could not resist the funnel cake. Honestly, I shared with the others.

Back at demonstrating. A selfie!

Only a small part of what we are busy with. Not enough hours in the day to do all. But at least we are NEVER bored. I consider that an ugly word.