Sat 30 Nov

End of November already. Heading down to Madison today to have brunch with Laura and take leftovers to Axel, though I haven't told him yet that we're coming. I feel a little badly about not including him in the brunch, but it's been awhile since we've seen Laura and I don't want to share our time with her. I suspect he'll feel bad to not be included, but I can't please everyone. Food: 8:00 am 82 g julekage, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 29 Nov

Black Friday is here! The holiday of commercialism, oh what shall we buy today? Thanksgiving is oriented to family and food, then the very next day, it's all about spending money. Oh, well. Food: 8:05 am 82 g cream cheese frosted cinnamon roll, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 28 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving! We are going to Michael and Taylor's for homemade babka and coffee at 10, then cooking a turkey breast and fixings for ourselves later today. Baked a cranberry pudding pie yesterday, and made sure the turkey was thawed. Will dry season it this morning before we go, and perhaps cut onions and celery for stuffing. Food: 8:00 am 34 g almond kringle, apple cider donut, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 27 Nov

Body Pump this morning, then start prep for Thanksgiving. Planning to brine the turkey breast and bake the pie today, then tomorrow I will cook the sweet potato in the crock pot (unless I decide to do it today and then slice and bake it tomorrow). Might cut up the veg for the stuffing today as well as it's nice to have it ready to pop into the pan to make stuffing. Food: 8:00 am 105 g cream cheese frosted cinnamon roll, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 26 Nov

Looking forward to an uncommitted day today. Will do some planning for Thanksgiving. Michael and Taylor have "the cold" now, so wouldn't be surprised if they back out on Thanksgiving morning babka. Food: 8:10 am Chocolate marbled tiger twist, 97 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 25 Nov

Happy Birthday, Mark, you would have been 73 today. Very nice week in Ironwood hiking, no Covid. Found a new restaurant in Wakefield, the Korner Kitchen, where we had grilled cheese, bacon, and tomato sandwiches one day and an excellent fish fry on Friday. Good poke bowls from Suffolk St Eatery on Thursday and a couple of Super One deli meals, and a frozen lasagna from the Italian market in Mpls. Home now for this week with plans to do a more traditional Thanksgiving dinner for two on Thursday here. Food: 8:05 am Prune danish, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 19 Nov

Dentist appointments at 11, then off to Ironwood for the remainder of the week/weekend. Packed my suitcase this morning, but still need to pack all the accoutrements for a week up north. Yesterday was just too busy with laundry, OBT, and a Sanctuary meeting to do more than think about things I need to pack today. Hopefully I'll remember it all. Would really like to finish the last part of the Gamache book so I can drop off books at the library before I leave town. I am taking 3 library books along that will come due either while I'm gone or immediately after and all are on hold and can't be renewed. Food: 8:25 am 60 g Costco streuesel coffee cake, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 18 Nov

Very nice weekend in Minneapolis, nice hotel on Thurs night and lovely time with Kurt and Barb Fri/Sun. Got some shopping done for stocking stuffers and was able to find the things Laura requested on Amazon and get them ordered. Weather was lovely the whole time, sunny and mid-50s. Saturday we did an informative walk to a toxic waste dump left behind by the Ford plant. Food: 8:05 am Pecan roll, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 14 Nov

Celebrated Leone's 104th birthday yesterday. She enjoyed her tuna salad sandwich and homemade applesauce and the TJs cinnamon roll blondie bar and seemed to like her Oreo packets and hot cocoa gifts. Heading off to the Twin Cities today after my dermatologist appointment to have a few days with Kurt and Barb after shopping today. Food: 7:15 am 62 g almond kringle, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 13 Nov

Leone reaches 104 today. I have a pan of cinnamon roll blondie bar mix in the oven, and I'm making tuna salad for sandwiches and homemade applesauce to take over for lunch today. Hopefully I can manage not to give them my still-hanging-on cold along with the food. Food: 8:10 am 92 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 12 Nov

Another chilly, sunny morning. Had a coughing bout in the night from drainage that wouldn't be controlled by turning to any position. Yuck! Have an HSP social justice meeting tonight. No rest for the wicked. Food: 8:00 am 105 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 11 Nov

Hardly any deep sleep last night, but still got some rest. Windy morning today. Will be ready for a massage tomorrow. Food: 7:55 am 115 g morning bun, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 10 Nov

Cantored last night with Kat, so today is a totally free day. May have occasional rain, making a hike iffy. Nothing wrong with hanging around home. Food: 8:25 am 116 g morning bun, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 9 Nov

Chilly, mostly sunny morning. No need to walk to Farmer's Market as we have plenty of bakery, veg, and eggs. Maybe a Bukolt loop when it warms up a bit. I cantor at 5 pm Mass tonight. Food: 7:55 am 116 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 8 Nov

Really fun dinner at Chef's Kitchen last night for English Pub night. I had a beef stew w/Central Waters stout and Bob had bangers and mash. We drank a Guinness and desserted with lemon lavender brulee (which tasted like a vanilla brulee as the other flavors were mostly undetectable). We also were able to collect the two bottles of wine we had bought and paid for at the wine dinner but weren't ready when I went to pick them up. Food: 7:55 am Morning bun, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 7 Nov

Pub dinner at Chef's Kitchen tonight! Should be fun. Maybe a meat pie or a Guinness roast or fish and chips. Looking forward to it. Food: 8:10 am 115 g morning bun, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 6 Nov

Well, once again America proves that more than half of its inhabitants have extremely poor judgment. Apparently the crazy oughta-be felon will be president for another four years. Hard to believe, but we can only hope and pray that the country survives again. Pleased that my lower tract discomfort seems to be alleviating, though I do have some of Bob's cold Food: 7:55 am 145 sourdough cinnamon roll, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 5 Nov

I had high hopes last night that this discomfort in my digestive tract was getting better, but I'm pretty uncomfortable this morning. Decided to skip the shower with all the required bending and movement. I'm getting my hair cut this afternoon, so she'll wash my hair and it's not warm enough to be sweaty. Hopefully it will get better soon. Election day today. By this time tomorrow we'll know the fate of the country. Nervous. Food: 7:40 am 150 g iced sourdough cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 4 Nov

Still having quite a bit of discomfort and difficulty bending and twisting due to the problem I had with my bowels at the end of last week. The chunk that blocked my intestine for a day or so did move on and out, but it seems to have caused an injury in the wall of the intestine that still hurts. I have had fairly normal BMs the last couple of days, so it doesn't seem to impair the function, but I can't really easily bend down to put on socks or the like. Food: 7:55 am 135 g cinnamon roll, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 3 Nov

Spent most of the day with Axel yesterday in Madison. Bradbury's was way too crowded so we drove to La Brioche for brunch. Went to TJs, Costco, and Woodman's with a stop-off at Penzeys since everything was half-price. Didn't make it home in time for the concert at HSP, so just did Duo and went to bed since I had to be up early for cantoring at 8 am. Fortunately with the end of DST, we "fell back" an hour so it isn't quite so early to get up. Food: 6:25 am Caramel pecan sourdough cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 2 Nov

Dia de los Muertos. New baker at the winter Farmer's Market. Delicious caramel pecan cinnamon roll but high calorie! Meeting Axel for lunch at Bradbury's coffee shop in Madison and bringing him along shopping if he wishes, which I understand he does. Laura is too busy to join us for lunch as she's giving an exam on Monday. Food: 9:05 am Large caramel pecan sourdough cinnamon roll, 100 g blackberries, coffee, 1/4 c frozen blueberries

Fri 1 Nov

All Saints Day - Mass this evening and possibly the Candlelight hike at Schmeeckle after if the weather is pleasant. Tomorrow we meet Axel in Madison for lunch at Bradbury's Coffee and then shopping. Concert at HSP in the evening with Mary Hofer, Sandy Weyers, and others. Food: 8:00 am 110 g pumpkin bread, 101 g blackberries, coffee