Menu Along: 2016 Gift-a-Long

I called it Friday night (that photo is my progress from Friday night). I probably could have gotten the pattern for Saint Nicholas released in time to be included in my sale bundle, but it would have meant staying up until around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m., so I decided it was better to sleep enough and release it this week as I initially planned. The goal is still to release it Thursday, but I'm having a couple hiccups, so it may be Friday.

However, I am officially participating in the 2016 Indie Designer Gift-a-Long. I have eight patterns that will be on sale with the coupon coupon code found in my bundle description and on the Ravelry group between 5:00 p.m. PST on November 22 and 8:59 p.m. PST on November 30. I hope you join us!



All single patterns I sell are eligible for the KAL, but the bundle will be offered at 25% off during the sale. It's only a week away!
As for books, I read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child this week. I enjoyed the story and the development of characters in it. It was a quick read. I started and finished it in one day.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On and Yarn Fanatic.


The harvest dinner was a great success this year, which pleases us quite a bit. It's always nice to get a good response to our invitations.

I shook things up and roasted squash wedges and made Nantucket cranberry pies. Or rather, Rich did, because I was out all day with two girls who had a Nutcracker rehearsal, knitting and running errands and so on. It was great to see so many neighbors, and to share in the great food. Someone made the best lemon bars, they were a layer of crisp shortbread with tart lemon curd and lemon icing over that. So good!

We are knee deep in Nutcracker rehearsals and preparations. Oh, and Thanksgiving, too. So, it's busy around here. Also, poor Dominic is getting a reprieve from school work, but not for anything fun. He got a scratch on his eye from a flying Pikachu toy, which healed, but developed into iritis, and he looks terrible and is in tons of pain. When I called our doctor, she said to call the eye doctor, as we were fairly certain that it wasn't pink eye, and she wanted to make sure that if there was scarring or infection that his eye sight was preserved. Blessedly, the abrasion had healed and there was no infection, but his iris and cornea are essentially a giant bruise right now. So, he's on anti-inflammatory drops and lots of ibuprofen. We're heading back to the eye doctor later this week to see if enough progress has been made with the medicine and rest.

Today is the fifth anniversary of our losing Rayan. Five years ago, it was a Tuesday also, and we were a week from Thanksgiving. This is always a hard time around our house. Rich and I share the memorial each year, and both of us find ourselves a little more depressed at this time of year. We would be blessed by your prayers.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Leftover Nantucket Cranberry Pie, Buttered Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: White Chicken Chili with Cheese, Salsa, Guacamole and Chips, Roasted Squash
• Monday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Brown Sugar, Sliced Apples, Coffee
  Dinner: Hamburger Stew, Cornbread
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Cream Cheese Toast with Za'atar and Olive Oil, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftovers
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Ful, Hot Sauce, Toast, Sliced Apples, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner:
  Macaroni & Cheese, Vegetable Sticks, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Tunisian Shakshouka, Peppers and Onions, Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Baked Kofta with Potatoes and Tomatoes, Rice, Harissa
• Friday
  Breakfast: Cereal and Milk, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Black Bean and Butternut Squash Quesadillas, Salad
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Sausage and Cheese, Fruit, Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Boys Are Making Dinner

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.