THE SEASON OF FOOD

Regulars at this blog (Gentle Readers) know that I love food.

I love to read about it.

I love to occasionally try new recipes.

I especially love to eat SWMBO's cooking.

So if you're warming up your kitchens for the holidays, let me show you some throwback pictures from our various kitchens over the years.

Some recipes call for Julia Child's favorite ingredient: but-tah!

The big eating day of the year is Thanksgiving, just down the road a bit and in most homes that means turkey.

Years ago we came to an understanding that roasting a whole turkey is more work than it's worth and turkey breast became our holiday meal.

But not everyone likes turkey (like my wife) so maybe throw tradition to the wind and go with boneless orange pork chops.

Or maybe some grilled fish and asparagus.

Fresh-baked bread is always a treat.

And, of course, veggies are a must no matter how they're part of your meal.

Of course, at Thanksgiving there's only one way to end the meal . . . with PIE!

It might be the traditional pumpkin pie.

Or a Key Lime Pie.

Or you may want to go way out in left field and make a Chocolate Truffle Pie!

Let me tell you, couple a slice of that with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce and you will remember it in your dreams.

I don't know about you but I'm hungry!

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Okay, Gentle Readers, hang onto your hats.

I've got a big opening for you this week.

Are.

You.

Ready?

There.

I bet you're feeling better already.

Let's not procrastinate.

Let's get started.

I love that one.

What's your favorite?

All done, Fellow Followers, now the rest is up to you.

Proceed to the gate, enter the Wild and Wooly Weekend and have yourselves a great one.

Not a good one.

A GREAT one!

Oh, and always remember to k-e-e-p  l-a-u-g-h-i-n-g!!!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(oh, no)

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Back to the 60's.

Cruising in my MGB.

Headband, mutton chops and a smirk.

And That's Jazz!

Roy Blount Jr., in his book "Save Room for Pie", states that the following is the greatest music video ever made.

An all star celebrity sing-along from the 1988 prime time PBS pledge drive special. The catchy song was written by Chris Cerf and Norman Stiles.

The celebrities, in order of appearance: John Candy (as Yosh Schmenge from SCTV), Andrea Martin (as Edith Prickley from SCTV), New York Mets Keith Hernandez & Mookie Wilson, Jane Curtin (of SNL and Kate & Allie), Madeline Kahn, Joe Williams, Paul Reubens (as Pee Wee Herman), Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Wynton Marsalis, Celia Cruz, Ihtzak Perlman, Gordon Jackson & Jean Marsh (as Angus Hudson and Rose Buck of Upstairs Downstairs), Paul Simon, Jeremy Irons, Pete Seeger, Rhea Perlman and Danny Devito, and NY Giants Sean Landeta, Mark Ingram, Karl Nelson and Carl Banks.

Quite a cast.

MAXIMUM CATTAGE

For the second time (that I know of) our bird bath had a non-Avian visitor this morning.

The big fluffy orange and white neighbor calmly strolled across the yard, climbed up on the back of the Blue Cat and balanced herself with her front paws while drinking long and steady.

I had seen her do this one other time recently.

This time it was Blackwell, gazing longingly out through my window, that alerted me to the visitor's presence.

When she had finished drinking, she got down and started away until I tapped on the window.

Then she walked across the yard again to come up to the slider in SWMBO's room.

Blackwell dived down and scurried into the other room to see what she was up to and met her nose to nose.

Muggles, from her vantage point on the bed, also got a look.

There is never a dull moment when one has cats in and around the house.

THE BRD IN PV

The BRD (rear view).

She knows how to relax.

A week in Puerto Vallarta with this kind of sunset to look forward to . . . and at.

ANOTHER SIGN OF AUTUMN

Pyracantha berries, golden in the sun.

They are said to be mildly poisonous and can cause gut problems if you eat a lot of them raw.

The Great All-Knowing Google says they are only edible if you crush them and wash them under running water.

As for me I think I'll just enjoy their visual beauty.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Yes, it is nearing the end of the week and Spookin' Season is over.

We now enter the Regretful Season.

Don't know what that means?

Take a look.

Yup, here come the Foodies' Holidays.

So there you have it, Gentle Readers.

Might as well give in to it.

This weekend prepare for the big eating of "the holidays" by feasting well and always remember: KEEP LAUGHING!!!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

SO LONG, KATIE

Katie Lee has died.

The Arizona legend reportedly passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Jerome yesterday.

She was 98 years old and according to friends of hers, she was active right up until her death.

If you don't know of Katie, you really missed someone.

I met her and blogged about her a couple of times.

The first was here in a celebration of her 90th birthday.

The second time was here, only a few years ago when I had her sign a book for me that she had written.

She was a great lady with a stellar career and a strong attitude about the place in Northern Arizona called Lake Powell, coupled with a wont for salty language.

If she could have had her way, Glen Canyon Dam would have been blown up and the Colorado River allowed to run free as it once did.

Rest in peace, Katie.

Ahhhh, November

Today is the first day of November and Judy has just turned the furnace on for the first time in this house.

She said she needed to take the chill off and I can hear the device humming and feel the warm air coming through the vents.

What's next?

This?

Well I doubt it.

That's the house I grew up in, in far-off North Dakota, just about 50 miles south of Canada.

The snow on the ground and on the trees is real.

The snow falling is fake (fake news?) put there by a Google app.

But where I live now, in Arizona, it's unlikely I'll see snow this winter.

Oh it does snow here but it's usually gone in a day or two.

And from what I hear from the Weather Gods this is likely to be a warm winter in our part of the world.

Halloween is over once again.

We had 8 trick or treaters and we turned off the lights at 7:30.

My friend, Baseball Steve in Phoenix, reports they had 119 before turning off the lights at 8:00.

Trick or Treating is a big thing on Mount Vernon Street in nearby Prescott.

It's a street of old Victorian homes which are decorated wildly for the fun.

Trick or treaters come by the thousands for the treats, some reportedly from as far away as Phoenix!

Whiskey Row in Prescott also draws some wilder costumes on Halloween Night.

The BRD and her Beau Jack have been known to host Halloween parties on Whiskey Row.

She became a brunette for one such night.

(I have no idea who the she-male is standing next to her.)

She's been a big one for costume parties.

Once, many years ago, SWMBO and I went to one she gave in Phoenix.

Judy made the costumes.

And some years later, when we were living close to where we are now, she put on her best face to greet the little visitors who rang our bell.

I hope your Halloween was sufficiently spooky!