Month: December 2024

End of Lise’s Visit

Daughter Lise and friend Toke did a number of repairs around the house. They replaced batteries in smoke alarms, enlarged holes in the burn barrel and moved it to a new location, brought in the Christmas totes filled with decorations, and helped me change solar lights from pumpkins to red stakes.

Major move for the burn barrel

We all worked on the family jigsaw puzzle.

Finished puzzle

Lise took a photo of my new togs – penguin nightshirt, candy cane tights, and warm fuzzy socks.

I needed warm clothing and was glad daughters Lise and Kate convinced me to buy thermal underwear. I wore the top and bottom walking in snow the day before Lise left. I think it was 19 F (-7.222 C) when we walked. The day after Lise’s departure it was 11 F (-11.667 C) when I went out and 12 F when I returned. I saw a notice from the alert system that Haywood County opened a temporary warming station to assist those affected by a recent power outage. Brrr!

I failed to get a photo of Lise with neighbor Cindy when Cindy drove us to the airport. I think my brain was cold. Lise texted me when she was boarding the flight from Amsterdam to Copenhagen. I presume she got there safely and is now at home.

Thanksgiving 2024

We had a great Thanksgiving celebration, although there were only three of us. I took one photo. Toke was at the stove, and I asked Lise to stand with him. He was making a Danish dish which translates as Brown Potatoes. That is a humdrum name for something I would describe as fancy caramelized potatoes. He boiled the small potatoes the day before, and I think he peeled them then. The next day he browned them in butter and sugar, shaking the pan from time to time. The result was marvelous.

For the foodies – our menu included roasted turkey breast, stuffing, gravy,Toke’s potato dish, green bean casserole, acorn squash filled with spiced apples, Connie’s grape salad, pumpkin cheesecake, and pumpkin pie.

Because Toke’s airplane was too late to make the connection to Amsterdam, he spent an extra night here. That gave us enough time to finish the annual family jigsaw puzzle. Blogger Linda Schaub (Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy) chooses photos from my blog and has them made into a puzzle. Her choices are superb, showing people closest to me throughout the year.

Lise and Toke with puzzle