Windy City

DSC_0726, originally uploaded by PaulaK.

This picture has been digitally enhanced by Daryl. It was a cool picture to begin with, the sun shining on the trees on a cloudy autumn day, but he brightened the colors a little.

Lincoln Park Zoo

DSC_0720, originally uploaded by PaulaK.

I know these pictures are out of order, but I finally got some pictures available to post from our trip the first weekend in November.

The Gang in Chicago

DSC_0509, originally uploaded by PaulaK.

Birthday Girl

DSC_0810, originally uploaded by PaulaK.

Baby is 1!!

My baby turned one on November 19. Always a bittersweet day for me, although it is not really the end of babyhood, but a significant milestone, a warning that this stage is passing quickly.

She had a nice day. Grandma came to visit and we had a simple butter cake with whipped cream icing in the shape of a heart.

All About Me

That's the title of the new fun quiz I created! Thanks, Kathy!

Take my Quiz on QuizYourFriends.com!

Seasonal Favorites

Wanted to share another couple of favorite recipes before fall officially draws to a close. I know it's another month until the equinox, yet as the first flakes fell today, winter seemed imminent.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2 cups canned pumpkin
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
4 cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda combined with 2 tsp. milk
1 11 oz. bag chocolate chips

Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes

These are a delicious, soft, moist cookie.

I use only half a bag of chocolate chips, and I think that's perfect, but the recipe calls for a whole bag.



APPLE BREAD

1 1/2 C vegetable oil
2 C brown sugar
3 eggs
3 C flour (I use a combination of white, whole wheat, wheat germ, ground flaxseed, and oat bran)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cardamom (optional if you don't have it)
2 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. apple juice, cider, milk, or water
3 C chopped apples
1 C chopped nuts (I don't use the nuts)

Grease a 10 inch bundt pan or 2 9 inch round cake pans or a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes (depending on size of pan) until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

This is actually more of a cake or coffee cake than a bread. It is SO good, excellent for breakfast. It's one of my family's favorites.

5K!!

Last weekend I ran in the local 5K Turkey Trot. I have been training for it for the past 7 weeks, starting with running 1 mile and adding a tenth of a mile each time I ran, which was approximately 3-4 times a week. I was inspired to do this by a friend of mine, who has been running for the past year and was planning to run this race. I told her I might begin running and do it with her, but she told me that she felt I didn't have enough time to build up to running that far. Being intrinsically competitive, I couldn't ignore that challenge! I ran a 5K 3.5 years ago and spent about 4 months training to do it. At the point at which we had this conversation, I had about 3 months, but didn't get started right away because I have been struggling with foot pain and I was hoping it would improve. When it didn't, a visit to the doctor confirmed that it was Plantar's faschiaitis, but the doctor said running wouldn't make it any worse.

It was a beautiful balmy morning, and I finished in 28 minutes, 55 seconds. My goal was to finish in under 30 minutes. Last time I finished in 29:48, proving that I am indeed getting better with age! I was 20th in my age group, 40-44 year olds. My friend finished in 28:35, only 20 seconds faster than me.

Running in this race was a lot like giving birth for me. It was painful, because I ran a lot faster than I normally do, and I was SO glad when it was over! All I could think was "I never want to do that again!" for the first 5 minutes after I finished. After about 30 minutes, however, I was excited and thinking how much fun it would be to do that again. Which is exactly my thought processes after giving birth.

I encouraged my kids to run, and 2 did. L. took 3rd place in his age group in a 1200 meter race. J. ran the 5k and finished in 29:27.

Chicago

The first weekend in November we went to Chicago. We kept the kids out of school on Friday, and had lofty goals of leaving at 9am. Unfortunately, D. got the stomach bug on Thursday evening, and was unable to help get ready. I had spent most of Thursday getting the oil changed on the van and other necessary errands. As of Thursday night, 2 kids didn't want to go and were being uncooperative and the others were being only marginally helpful. Friday morning dawned with a trashed house, tired mama, and sick dad. We almost changed our minds about going, but the kids had better attitudes, one of the naysayers had changed his mind, I went back to bed for another hour and awoke feeling fresher, and by midmorning D. was feeling a little better. So we left at noon, arrived in Chicago around 4pm local time. We walked around Millenium Park, enjoying the art and sculpture, and then went to Giordano's Pizza for Chicago style stuffed crust pizza. From there we proceeded to our friends' home in Downers' Grove. They have one child, who is 18 months old, and he was amazed to see all of us arrive, and overjoyed to have so many kids to play with.

The next morning we laid around and relaxed. After lunch, we went to the Field Museum of Natural History where we spent about 4 hours with our friends enjoying the exhibits. Exhausted, we returned to their house and had carryout Mexican. On Sunday, having exhausted our hosts, we headed home, stopping to enjoy the free Lincoln Park Zoo on the way. Unfortunately, my digital camera was in my daughter's pocket, which was unzipped, when she visited the restroom. After a dip in the toilet it no longer works, so there are no pictures of the trip or anything else until I replace it.

The trip was a much needed respite from real life, after a whirlwind fall that included many sports and other children's activities and a very intense work and travel schedule for D.