Pumpkin and cookies

I need a vacation!!
Time is nearly up. We are ready to go.

Yesterday I  picked the last vegetables out of my tiny garden. My two "magic squares" were a real success and I hope we will have another good crop come next summer.

Cauliflower, broccoli and spinach, November,7th

For supper I transformed the Halloween Pumpkins into a nice pumpkin vegetable stew, 

 and today hubby's wish was to get enough cookies for the

 days of travel. So I emptied the pantry and baked about 60 pieces ;-))

It is always good with a coffee break and home baked goodies. 

What is left: packing the stuff in the van and finally get going!
That will be done tomorrow and Saturday in that order.

A "Sandy" Casserole

Amazing, it isn't yet 9 AM and dinner is already done.

I decided to be on the safe side in case the news and weathermen are
right about "Sandy".
Society has become so dependant on electricity that simple things stop right up when an outage occurs. It needs just one toppled tree to cut the power lines and we would have to sit in the dark and wait for the repair crew to show up. That can go fast or take days - you never know.
I don't necessarily want to turn back the time, but in these cases having a well, an outhouse and wood stoves just seem attractive again.
Having survived power outages before we know it is always a good idea to be prepared.

The bathtub is full of water (in case the pump stops), a 5 gallon jug of drinking water is sitting in the entrance and, I grabbed a bunch of vegetables and made casserole that can be warmed up on small a propane stove.
There are batteries in the drawer and candles within reach.
J.P. went and got gas for the generator and/or chain saw. The cars are gassed up too.
Too bad that we don't have a wood stove to heat the house with in case of an emergency, though we have a standing invitation to come and stay with a neighbour who has an open fireplace in her house. Thank you for that!

Link to NOAA page

Any way - we are not in the immediate path of the storm and we are thankful for that. But we are in for gusty winds and a drench later down the week when the remnants of the storm turn to move north-eastward again and come to cross our area.

All European Dinner

Thursday,October 25th.
Another clear fall day, but the temperatures dropped to the 32°F (0°C) mark last night.
While J.P. was working to convert our sightseeing van into a mini-motorhome I was busy preparing a fall supper for our dear friends, Rogette and William, who took good care of Molly this summer whenever needed.

It will be an "All European Dinner":
Mediterranean soup as an entrée,

German green beans with roast as the main course

and a Norwegian semulepudding (semolina) with cherries for dessert.

How does that sound?

There were some potatoes left and a tiny bit of roast. The rest: GONE!

I had to smile when I saw this photo. Nice plates and glasses - and then what: the Casserole on the table. :))
That's how we had it: very casual!

Recipe for the soup is to be found here, if you like. But you might need a translator.

Green beans and pot roast

Wednesday.
After a day of driving around looking at used travel trailers we were starved when arriving back home. It is to say that we haven't found anything suitable yet.

Luckily I could prepare a dinner i a hurry. I roasted a beef roast the day before. There was only left to boil some potatoes and green beans. While they were getting ready I made the sauces. A thing of about 30 minutes. Nothing without a good sauce, says J.P.
I had to stop him eating the whole roast. We need that for Thursday:))

But there are some from the trip. After a week with strong winds the most of the leafs are down. Winter will be here soon..

View of Lubec, ME

Milltown Border Crossing, St. Croix River

Blueberry field in fall colours