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No longer on the river and, again, an empty nester. Back to living on Fleming Island and making some more friends!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

All this pumpkin talk!

Many of my friends, both 'live' and on Facebook (as though they are not live!?) have been raving about their pumpkin coffees, candles, and other flavored or scented pumpkin delights. This got me thinking about a delicious pumpkin treat we used to serve at Shady Lane Home called Harvest Loaf. It so happens the recipe was in my dark pine recipe box---all I needed were the ingredients. 

Justin and I decided to have dinner at Nishiki last night even though I was making a version of Swedish meatballs. Somehow I was not in the mood for them but could choke down some fried rice at the former Koko's. 
                                              
After dinner we stopped at Publix and picked up items needed for the next week. He has been wishing to make his chicken and broccoli dish again, made the first time for Lynn and Grandma K., and then again for Linda. Next, for us! Also, got the stuff needed for making a harvest loaf.

Today I decided to mix up the recipe and was doing well until it came time to put in it the pan....no loaf pan to be found! Justin did a room to room search, even looking in the cabinet above the refrigerator, where no one ever looks! By the way---there is nothing up there but dust. 
                                               
This made me sort of sad because it was a pan I'd likely had since getting married, a Mirro pan, and now, it's gone. He wondered if I gave it away like I had the bundt pan, but I am sure I'd keep my loaf pan at least for making meat loaf, or breakfast bread. It's a mystery! I wonder how long it has been gone....Guess I need to attend a Pampered Chef party to replace my vintage pan.

We are having a gloomy day today, no sunshine but very little effects of the passing storm. The 'sea' is mostly calm, not like yesterday, and the wind barely moving the palms. No rain thus far, with a brief passing shower yesterday afternoon. 

My sister, Kerry, reported that a large number of AT&T trucks from WI were heading to the upper east coast to be ready to help restore service after the storm. I hope the storm swerves away and does not pound them like Hurricane Irene did last year.
Speaking of Kerry, she has submitted her vacation request for next year in hopes of getting the weeks she wants to come down for a visit again. That was the finest time ever when she came and stayed for a week. Oh my...great time! I had so much fun watching her have fun. Everything, things I take for granted, were such a delight for her. I hope to do that again next summer if she can arrange it. 

That was in 2010, and only a couple days after I took Kerry to the airport and cried my eyes out saying good-bye (as I cry right now!), I went back to get Lynn and Linda! That was another great week.

When they left, I wrote on Facebook how I'd never had such a wonderful September, reveling in the great times we had had. And two days later, my life changed dramatically---the Great Flood! But, that is enough of that, let's revel in Harvest Loaf made in a square Mirro cake pan instead!