delicata squash

There's nine inches of snow on Buddha there and more to come. I measured. For some reason I've recently formed a weather habit -- I check the forecast several times a day and the temperature much more often than that. I've decided to break this pattern. It's going to be a New Year's intention for me to not check the weather or the temperature unless circumstances require doing so. I want to look out the window and see if the chickadees are plumped up, then I'll know it's cold out and I need to wear a heavier jacket to walk the dogs. Or if there's more activity than usual at the feeders, then I'll know snow is likely on the way. Like that. It'll be more of a challenge in the spring, of course -- a new plan may be needed at that time.

For my moonthly stitch ritual, Pathways, I chose a white sashiko stitch. The idea of the sashiko stitch is to make the thread on the top of the cloth larger than the thread that passes underneath -- the underneath thread is about one-third the length of the top stitch. This is moon #12 on a natural linen runner. Next month all 13 moons will have been represented, each a different color and variation of stitch. The project has been an easy way for me to ritualize the passage of time over this past year. At each new moon I choose the thread color, number of strands, and stitch; by the full moon I am usually in the middle; and by or during the dark moon, that pathway is finished.

Carmelized delicata squash doesn't need peeling -- that's the main reason I tried out this recipe, I avoid peeling squash whenever however I can. Definitely a thumbs up, delicata squash will be included on my 2016 garden planting list. The recipe is here -- basically it's baking it whole beforehand, cutting into slices and tossing them with avocado oil, then roasting on a sheet pan until carmelized. The delicious sweetness might actually tamper the desire for sweets in case you have a craving. And these convenient-sized slices can be eaten as a snack, added to salad, or warm as a side dish.

A new use for all the leftover leaves we used for autumn decorating -- leaf mulch in the houseplant pots! Binoculars are always at the ready lately as more birds come to the feeders with snowy weather. A suet feeder is especially popular with northern flickers, downy woodpeckers, and small birds that have not been identified yet. Thus the binoculars. Yesterday there was a hawk sitting on the back fence looking for her lunch, I hope it was a mouse and not a bird she wanted.

Bee is her name. She had been used quite forcefully in her previous life (before I found her), you can tell by all the pin marks. I'm thinking her next wig should be of flowers and bees.

xx