Thanksgiving

This year we had a smaller crowd for Thanksgiving - me, Wade, my mom, and Larry. So, we thought we'd mix things up a little and try some new vegetarian gluten-free recipes for Thanksgiving. Last year was our first vegetarian Thanksgiving, and I honestly didn't notice a difference since we had so many sides to enjoy. This year was a bit more daunting since we needed to cook without wheat... yeah, let that sink in, then think about how much of your traditional Thanksgiving foods have wheat (flour, bread, pic crust, etc) in them. Yikes. Fortunately, we all got a little creative and thought outside the box and came up with the following feast:

Stuffed squash, sweet potato goodness (casserole), potato leek au gratin, green bean almondine, corn on the cobb, cranberry apple sauce, carrot cake with creamcheese icing, and we found gluten free pumpkin pies at Whole Foods (yes!). By the end of the day we felt accomplished, satisfied, and not so full we wanted to barf. Success! We even had leftovers for the rest of the weekend too. (Below, stuffed acorn and butternut squashes fresh from the oven.)

We used Skype that day to also talk to my step-sister, Janis and her husband Miles who were also eating a gluten-free diet due to some strong suspicions about their 3mo. old Samuel's ability to handle wheat. It was nice to know we weren't the only one on a food adventure that day - Janis was brave enough (unlike me) to make her own pumpkin pie from scratch!

We hope everyone's Thanksgiving was filled with good food, family, and friends!

Annapolis, MD

The week before Thanksgiving I headed to DC, then to Annapolis, MD for meetings for work. Monday and part of Tuesday I was in DC for some meetings on Capitol Hill, then I carpooled with the rest of my team to Annapolis for a few intensive days of meetings.

Annapolis ended up being quite a surprise. I'd never been there before, but found it to be quite charming, historic, and beautiful. We even went on an educational skip-jack (historic sailboat made just for oyster dredging) tour with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Below are some EDF'ers hoisting the sails.

It was really cold, but fun to be out on the water with my colleagues. I proved to be a source of entertainment due to the absurd number of layers I had on to stay warm (me below with my colleague, Pam, in our matching sherpa hats).

Home at last

It has been glorious to be home. In October, I was literally traveling more than I was home. I traveled 3 of the 4 weeks of October. The "cool" fall air (open windows and no more AC!) is settling in, Halloween decorations have come and gone, Thanksgiving decor is up, and the birds are singing. I’m also enjoying the finer pleasures in life such as using a real shampoo bottle instead of a tiny travel size one, eating home cooked wheat/gluten-free meals, and snuggling kitties.

However, the last week of October I had the house to myself as Wade was in Miami for some training for work. It was a little weird being the one at home while Wade traveled. And not entirely pleasant. When there’s dog barf first thing in the morning, I clean it up (while gagging). When the Carolina Wren sneaks in our window to explore the kitchen and dining room for nesting space, I have to herd him out (after Marley pounces and pulls out some feathers). After cooking dinner, I have to do all the dishes. And for some reason, I always seem to get sick when Wade’s gone, which made cooking for myself kind of sucky. Oh the harsh realities of living alone - yes honey, I really do appreciate all the things you do around the house!

We've taken the last two weekends to do some spring cleaning around the house. With the windows open and the breeze blowing, the time felt right to do all the pesky chores and deep cleaning items we've been putting off. It's nice to feel like things are in order and we're ready to enjoy sitting on the deck (once the mosquitos are gone for winter) around the fire pit.

And just in time, I'll be in DC again next week for more meetings, so I know Wade will be happy to have a clean house while I'm gone!