Especially When The October Wind

 It is indeed October, and there's wind. I live in Nebraska, there's always a roaring wind. We're still a few weeks away from "Frosty fingers punishing my hair" though. 

Here's something I saw...

What's your pathos taste like? Sometimes it is easy to see how products end up on the sale shelf.

 No pity here, at least not aloud .

Silly poses, of course. You don't wear a suede fringed skirt to stand all stiff like a statue. No, a skirt like this demands movement.

Some very old pieces from my collection. I have had the earrings since I was a student.

The bracelet is more recent, purchased this year. I wear it quite a lot. I believe it was a tourist item from Greece (yes, I know the bull rider is from the fresco at the Knossos on Crete).

There's another de la Renta scarf.

 I've been trying to keep the grocery bill down amid soaring inflation which has been challenging. When I came across tins of whole, small artichoke hearts being discontinued, I pounced. There's still two years left on the use by date, and these are really a luxury at a buck a tin. I bought fourteen. I have plenty of pantry space to store tins, so it would have been silly to pass it up.

I've already put some to use in a rich tomato sauce made with overripe tomatoes (on the discounted produce shelf at the grocer), capers, hot peppers, and garlic. I didn't have anchovies to make a putanesca, but I did have fish sauce-so I used it. I'm used to improvising when I cook, and with prices as they are I don't see that changing soon. 

Speaking of improvising, I made an almond meal, sugar-free cake for Mr. ETB. At the Jewish High Holidays it is traditional to eat honey cake (for a sweet year). There's no way he could eat honey with diabetes, so I baked what is essentially an almond spice cake that he could put a bit of agave syrup on a slice. Is it exactly the same? Of course not. But skipping the honey and white flour does create a perfectly good cake that doesn't leave anyone feeling excluded, and won't spike blood glucose. I made a regular honey cake for Dan, but he gave this one a try as well. I did a similar thing with the challahs. One is baked with Einkorn wheat (lower glycemic value, higher protein content) and one was regular strong flour. Each recipe made two loaves, so I froze some for the next holiday. I'm always happy to save time. 

Traditional potato kugel was given a makeover as well using frozen spinach, bell peppers, grated courgettes, dried onions,  carrots, eggs, and a tiny bit of rye breadcrumbs to hold it together. It baked and sliced perfectly. We haven't had many potatoes since the diabetes diagnosis, or white rice for that matter. This was nice, if different. It certainly added colour to a plate of slow roasted meat. I made two, freezing an unbaked one for next time. 

Happy New Year, Beet Poot. Fancy honey from Quebec, also on the sale shelf.

The table was set pretty. Bought the velvet pumpkins a couple years ago and of course the pumpkins and squashes that are edible will eventually be used (no wasting edible squash around here). At least squash has been affordable. 

 The front yard continues to bring me enjoyment. I'll bring the mums inside to over-winter when it gets cold. I will try leaving the one I planted in the ground heavily mulched, but I don't have much hope. Nebraska winters, even mild ones can be too much for mums.

Thumbs up and peace

The green skeleton glows in the dark as does the skull atop the pole. I've owned the skull about 35 years.

My neighbour a few houses down told me his daughter (about two years old) loves the decorations and comes by to say hello to the tinsel cat. That makes me so happy. During the first year of the pandemic when everyone was out walking as there was nothing else to do, I put a number of ceramic figures around the garden and would see children stopping to pet them.

I treasure Dan's paper plate skeleton made years ago.

Mystery weed growing in the garden. I'm not an expert on broadleaf weeds (I'm more of a spurge woman, myself) but if you know it, please tell me what it is. It hasn't seeded or tried to spread all summer so I just sort of left it. The ants seem to like it. UPDATE: someone on Tumblr said it is Curly Dock. I guess I really ought to get it out if that's correct. Dock is terribly invasive once established. People eat it, but from the description it sounds like a similar flavour profile to sorrel which I eventually got rid of. I like sour/lemon greens, but I'm afraid I'm alone on that. 

No idea where it blew in from as it is a weed more common to rural areas.

The butterfly bush just keeps getting better.

We had 100 degrees F. three days ago, then a day that was 50 degrees F. This time of year is unpredictable, but this has been extreme. 

Same, Ghosty. Same.

The lavender is from last Christmas. It began life as a mini topiary shaped like a Christmas tree. It is now 10X larger and happily growing in a protected spot. I will bring it in again this year. Our climate isn't good for lavender as a perennial. 

This isn't a suit, but the pieces were close enough that I *think* it works.

I do love a good vintage jacket with big lapels. The big brooch is Kenneth Jay Lane.

The acrylic polo neck is vintage too. I've sewn it back together more times than I can count. I do wear it a lot. 

Saturday before last we were up early to attend the health department vaccine clinic. This will be my fifth covid jab (I'm immune suppressed so I had an extra one back in March). All went well, and compared to the flu jab last week, this was easy on the reactions. I was a bit tired and sore Sunday, but otherwise fine. A giant THANK YOU to our public health employees who have to face such awful hostility, threats, and violence just to do their generally underappreciated jobs. The local health department is responsible for restaurant inspections too-but these idiots clamouring to get rid of the department should think about that when they go out for dinner. But they won't, because they don't think. 

Kilt is 70s vintage. Shirt is Kate Beaton. I bought it for Dan when he finished reading Moby Dick, but he's since outgrown it.

 

Very old sweater clip. I can't remember where I bought it.

This 70s dress felt so familiar when I bought it that I have to wonder if I owned it at some point in the 70s. Definitely my style. The original belt was missing and I can't say I like how this one looks, but it will do.

Had the perfect velvet handbag. The dress has a sort of brushed flannel feel to it.

Because our weather is erratic I also wore a chenille cardigan that came on and off through the day.

Staying with autumn looks...

did you catch a peek of my Halloween socks?

This poor bag is falling apart. I thrifted it about ten years ago, so I suppose I got my money out of it. It is vinyl, so hardly worth trying to replace the handles.

The Boden bird dress makes another appearance. I wear this one quite a lot.

Might as well make it a bird theme...

This bag from the 40s isn't falling apart. They just don't make 'em like they used to.

That's about it from here. Lots to do, not enough time to do it, but that's life I guess. See you later.