Work on Monday

My general feeling at the moment ... while I happily procrastinate here.

Halloween

Halloween in the neighbourhood. Pretty much everyone at least has pumpkins adorning the steps. The more elaborate decorations are backlit at night. Should be worth a wander around the neighbourhood tomorrow night. Hope I have enough 'treats' on hand.

Fin's dietary supplement

Fin finally did it this morning ... after a few previous attempts, breaking skin as my calf got between him and a feisty schnauzer while lapping the block ... ouch!

Morning walk along the river

Up at 7.00 am this morning for a brisk walk along the river with Susanne - friend from MBC. A little bit early for a Saturday ... but feeling better after coffee and breakfast back at the ranch. Leaves are now turning.

Sorels

One of the first pieces of advice when I arrived ... "you'll need to get Sorels for winter" ... my anal retentive nature logged this piece of information and I have my Sorels for Autumn (sorry ... 'Fall'). I fear, in my usual 'what-can-I-worry-about-today' manner, that my feet will acclimatise well before winter and the '-40 F' attribute will no longer apply!

Minnesota "Hot Dishes"

Well you probably won't be able to read the words, but the postcard (courtesy of a company called Keep the Faye) shows that Minnesotans do have a sense of humour. Some examples: Jiffy Tuna Hotdish, Tater Tot Hotdish, Busy Day Hotdish, German Porkchop Casserole, 4 Can Casserole.

What to try first? 

Autumn weather

Up at 7.00 am for an aborted attempt to meet a friend from the rowing club for an early morning walk ... crossed wires about meeting places. 30 degrees (-1 C) - but weirdly didn't feel that cold ... I think 40 is the forecast for the day which at the moment (noon) turning out to be beautiful and sunny (walking or driving around, you see bits of cloth covering bits of garden, presumably as a frost mitigant?).

Listening to MPR - there's this v funny car advice show on called cartalk hosted by two guys called the Tappet bros. They're pretty sexist and laugh at all their own jokes, but laugh SO hard at their own jokes that it is infectious.

My main aim today is to avoid housework - so far, so good! Going to a play tonight with a work colleague and her husband called Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers. I realised that I've sung along with Bob Marley for years without knowing what that meant.

I'm also starting to think about destinations for a short holiday. I was surfing the net the other day to try to find hols that you could take dogs on and discovered this one in Ontario (looks like it would be a day and a half's drive away) ... skijoring with your dog! They also have summer 'paddling' hols which look more like my cup of tea, but not sure I'll last 'til then and that will also be about the time when the next Scotland holiday is planned.

Jam roly-poly

Arrived home tonight and had a craving for jam roly-poly ... maybe due to a lively thunderstorm ... even though it's still about 80 degrees (c 28 C) inside ... I shouldn't complain though, the forecast for tomorrow is 50 (c 10 C) ... how could that be possible!

My baking obsession might also be to do with the fact that I have a functioning stove after 5 years without ... but I think it's a good sign that I'm finally weaning myself of the Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice and cooking meals again ... as well as sweets!

It's just about ready ... but I've got time to leave the recipe.

Ingredients

• 4 oz self-raising (called self-rising here) flour
• 4 oz plain (called all-purpose) flour
• Pinch of salt
• 4oz butter
• Squeeze of lemon (did without due to mouldy state of only lemon)
• 4 tblspns water
• Jam - about a cup

Method

In a moderate (350 F, 180 C) oven, place a casserole dish with 1 cup of sugar and half a cup of water. Rub the butter into the flour and salt (but don't over handle), then add the water and quickly mix to a dough. Turn out onto floured surface, quickly knead, then roll out to about one quarter inch or 4-5 mm thick. Liberally coat surface with whatever jam happens to be lying around, but leave room around the edges. Roll up, turn in ends and squeeze together. Carefully remove sugar water mixture from stove, stir carefully (so you don't get a nasty burn!), sit the 'roly-poly' gently into the dish, cover (I can't actually remember whether you're supposed to cover it or not!), return to oven and bake for ... this bit was torn off the scrap of paper that I'd written it on, but it's been in the oven for about an hour and looks about ready.

Serve with icecream, custard (another alien term here!), cream, whatever is on tap. Yum!

Almost ready

Saturday routine

Can't say I've really got the hang of this ... well Colin - you can see (if you scroll for 3 hours) why it's mainly pictures of the kids!

Wish I had a photo or three of my cycling expedition of last Wed. Decided to give cycling to work a go. Up at 5.00 (dark but not too chilly) to walk the doglets, back by 5.30, on the road at 6.00. I gave myself about an hour and a half for the 20 km trip, knowing I'd need a bit of time up my sleeve for navigational errors. A slight drizzle began about 15 minutes in, enough to cool, not bother. Opened the map about 6.30 after narrowly avoiding going down a highway ramp and unsuccessfully navigating the Mississippi River crossing ... finding that I was still on the same side ... and had crossed a highway instead. Negotiated the first river crossing, stopped in at a warehouse about 30 minutes later for directions and then arrived at work an uneventful half hour later. Besides forgetting the hair dryer, all was well.

Pulled on damp clothes for the ride home around 4.30 and stepped out into a 'bit' of a breeze which turned into a full-on chilly headwind which seemed to remain a headwind regardless of what direction I took. I think I almost made use of all 27 gears ... at least getting down to the 3rd cog. Started getting 'jelly' legs and a wind headache on the Mendota Bridge (about half way). I had my camera with me, but thought that if I stopped, that I might just sit down and stay put!

Took the scenic route along the Mississippi River back home. By this time of day it was about 6.15 or so and all the evening fit people were taking full advantage of the remaining daylight, jogging, walking, cycling along the same route and ALL looking extremely relaxed and competent in spite of the HORRID wind. I was gritting my teeth by this stage and trying to pretend that I wasn't going to die.

Made it home by about 6.30 ... dismounted somewhat ungracefully, hobbled upstairs, turned all the heaters on, ate whatever I could lay my hands on, went into automatic mode to feed and walk dogs ... then collapsed in the bath, thawing out about an hour later!

Weirdly enough, I felt fine the next day, though I'm not sure my bottom would like the feel of the bike seat just yet. But may venture out once more before the REAL weather hits.

Saturday breaky 

One-handed double-chin shot 

Approaching Opperman