October 7, 2001

A day borrowed from winter

prev home mail archive next Day 3 of The Great Writing Experiment Location: On my laptop, in bed. Time: 11:30 a.m. Momentary Thought Is it me, or did bin Laden come off as a complete idiot during his speech this morning? High/Low High: I have nothing I *have* to get done today. Maybe a little laundry. And laying around reading the paper with Calvin. Low: Back to the grind tomorrow. Current Obsession Aimster downloads on the new computer. We're getting a high speed cable connection on Thursday to replace the dial-up. Grin Source Rolling my eyes at the previews for "The One". Singing Nuthin'. A Year Ago More or less Anxiety. Storyteller Bio Dramatis Personnae Who I Read Recipes

The weather was like a day borrowed from winter yesterday. Not so much in that it was cold, but it was overcast and rainy. We threw the front door open, and opened the french doors in the bedroom, and let the smell in. The rain smell in Arizona is different than the rain smell in Maine. Damp earth and rocks, as opposed to damp grass and trees. At first I didn't like it as much, but now I've come to appreciate it. I adore the sound of rain. Calvin and I were sitting in the living room, dark and quiet, listening to the patter on the skylights and the sidewalk outside. Lightning flickered and thunder rumbled, and Calvin's lids got heavier and heavier until he was asleep. I sat and watched him for a while, then moved to the bedroom to read and listen to the rain. The dogs were laying on the threshold of the french doors, as close to the inside as they could get without being actually inside. They know better but like to pretend that they don't. Kye will nose her ball around until it bounces inside and rolls under the bed, and then look at me as if to say "Well, I've *got* to get my ball, don't I?" We really need to get screens for those doors. I gave in and threw the ball for them for a while, out in the back yard. I was supposed to get three things done outside of the home yesterday - grocery shopping, a de-eyebrowing appointment, and a hair appointment. I went grocery shopping around noon, after looking through my Quick Cooking magazines for new recipe ideas. The local grocery store is having a 25% off sale on all packaged meats, and since I was in a nesting mood I decided to stock up while I was there. When the weather gets like this I want to fill the freezer and cupboards with food, to the detriment of my diet. Anyway, I only got the grocery shopping done. The closer it got to the time of my appointments, the less I wanted to leave the house. It was dim and quiet in the house, I was comfortable and happy reading my book and visiting with Calvin, and the rain was pattering away outside. Finally I called and rescheduled my appointments, so I could be a true homebody. Then, in keeping with the winter feeling, I was struck with the desire to make the house smell like cinnamon. So I put together some pumpkin bread, while both Calvin and Marie slumbered on the couches in the living room, and Michael slept on the couch in the computer room. The kitchen became a well of light in the darkened house as the overcast day brought sunset earlier than usual. Pumpkin Bread 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 4 eggs 2 cups sugar 2 cups cooked or canned pumpkin 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips -or- 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts -or- 3/4 cup chocolate chips and 3/4 cup chopped walnuts In a large bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. In another bowl, beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil. Stir into dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in chocolate chips/nuts. Pour into two greased 8in. x 4in. x 2in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans and placing on wire racks.