Have a Cookie

Hello! How are you? It has been a while, I know, so here I present a photo essay of Ella baking her first solo batch of cookies. I sat on the sidelines offering tips and drinking a glass of wine. I also got a little nostalgic remembering my own mother showing me how to level a cup of flour using a table knife. I also have a vivid memory of her showing me how to measure tricky ingredients like shortening and peanut butter using the displacement method in a Pyrex liquid measuring cup. I love you, mom!

Ella levels her scoops of flour like a pro.

I remember when the sound of this mixer used to send her fleeing in terror from the kitchen.

Best part of baking: licking the beaters.

Scoop!

Safety first. Ella demonstrates proper (and enthusiastic) use of oven mitts.

The finished product!

Sharing a cookie with Annie.

Other things are happening besides baking. Soccer season is wrapping up. Ella loves playing goalie, but Annie, after seeming to enjoy the first couple of games, now declares that she hates the sport. "I'm tired! Is it time for snacks?" (Pulls shirt over head.)

Ella has started guitar lessons (and choir and runner's club - whew). She kind of seems like a natural, strumming and singing "Yellow Submarine" with nary a pause after just a few lessons. Spencer wants her to grow up to be Patty Griffin.

Since July we have been living through foundation repair and the resulting chain of other repairs - new flooring, paint, roof leaks and so on. We are still eating in the living room but hope to have a usable dining room within a week or two, fingers crossed. Painting feels like my second job.

But it's fall! Hard to be grumpy when there is hot apple cider and pumpkins and Halloween. I will post some corn maze fun soon. I promise. In the meantime, M-I-Z-Z-O-U!