Tennessee

Driving on windy roads around the mountains and seeing the rocks and tall trees, such a delight in nature, so different from Ohio.  We spent a few days in Tennessee, on the way home from Georgia.

We love all the shops!  There was a band with a singer, banjo, guitar and mandolin player outside Ole Smoky Moonshine, we sat in one of the rocking chairs for about 30 min. to listen.

 Homemade apple pie coming up...

Back where it feels like winter and there is snow!

Georgia

This is St. Simon's Island.  We arrived last night.  We spent several hours at the beach, gathering shells, driftwood and sand.  I put some in a glass jar.

One more photo from our visit with Fr. Anastasy!

South Carolina

We're visiting Sts. Cyril and Methodius church in South Carolina.  Father Anastasy is the epitome of kindness & hospitality.

Last night we ate dinner at this cool place called Crust.  Pizza paddles for the fan.

Baby, it's cold

Last night we went to the high school for a
Christmas band concert.  Hannah started playing the vibraphone.  She's still playing piano, singing and playing guitar every once in a while...

She got all this tea and a mug as a gift from a friend!

We made cookies for teacher gifts.  And tea everyday in the morning, afternoon and evening because it's been cold all week.  High in the 30s or 40s. Trying on Dad's glasses.

So happy to see stamps with images from one of my favorite stories, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.  And stamping with paint to make wrapping paper.

A hike with Grammie at French Park.

Baking

Hannah made a yule log or as the French say bûche de Noël.

I love how it looks after she added the powdered sugar.  Like snow!  And it snowed a little this morning, just flurries in the air...

Olivia made salsa for her Spanish class.  No baking required, just a bunch of chopping peppers, scallions, cilantro, tomatoes, cucumbers, black beans, corn, Himalayan pink salt and lime juice.

I used almond meal, not blanched as the recipe suggests, and substituted peanut butter for almond butter and put coconut on top, just because...
Try this vegan tart for yourself:
https://www.bakerita.com/no-bake-chocolate-almond-butter-tart-gluten-free-paleo-vegan/

Thank you

My sister gave me a jar to start homemade kombucha!  Do you have any suggestions on what to add to it?  I want to start with ginger and lemon.  Maybe blueberry next?

We fed a friend's cat, while she was out of town.

I'm thankful for my family.  Cozy home and hot tea.  Ice skating.

Sunshine.  Fresh milk.  My nieces and nephews.

It's been 17 good years married to my dear husband!  Ups and downs, but I wouldn't change anything.  Challenges make you stronger.

I have so much to give thanks for...