Playing Catch-Up (November 1-3, 2013)

As I noted in the welcome post… it took a while to discover a proper photography/blogging routine for this 365 project.  After numerous unsuccessful attempts, I finally decided to start this new blog devoted exclusively to my camera adventures.

Rather than write a post for each of the three missed days, I thought I would write this one summary entry and then begin with daily posts this evening.

Day 1:  November 1, 2013
I wrote in detail about this photograph on my personal blog, but here is the abbreviated version.  November 1st not only signified the beginning of this photography project, but it also kicked-off the crazy writers' event, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).  Writing is my passion, and since I am not sure whether my interest lies more in fiction or non-fiction, I am experimenting with both.

I have had an idea for a middle-grade historical fiction story (with a bit of time travel) for over three years.  I have done extensive research into the lives of Impressionist artists and the Parisian culture in which they lived.  The three pink moleskins at the top of the heap hold these research notes.

The remaining books in this stack represent similar fiction stories currently in the marketplace that I have read in order to help me develop an appropriate writing voice for this age-group.  In addition, I am also reading two "how to" books to help me hone my writing skills to meet the expectations of these readers.

Day 2:  November 2, 2013
I had great plans to take a picture of the row of autumn trees lining the side of one of our city streets.  However, the day got away from me and when I finally had time to photograph, the light had faded in the west.  Oh well, I have hopes of securing that photo later this week.

Instead I decided to capture what will probably be the last grilled meal of the season.  The chill in the air, coupled with the brisk midwest wind, makes outdoor cooking unpleasant in these latter months.  My husband is a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy, so I found some nice looking Kansas City strip steaks and served oven roasted fingerling potatoes, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes as a side dish.  A nice  glass of buttery Chardonnay provided the perfect beverage after a day of raking leaves.

Day 3:  November 3, 2013
Our family adores the holidays, and for some beloved members, the season begins once Trick-or-Treating is complete.  One of the first events of the season is a popular culinary celebration sponsored by a local grocery store and held at the city's convention center.  My daughters have attended the previous two years, but this was my first time to join the fun.

Food vendors from all over, whether locally owned companies or international corporations, set up booths with tasty treats and holiday decorating ideas.  We sampled everything from croissants for breakfast to a mini Thanksgiving meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing, to delicious pumpkin, pecan and apple pies for dessert.  Cheese samples were abundant as well as snack chips and special edition soft drinks.  We made sure to arrive hungry and we left with our bellies full.

One local farmer set up a station where we could make our own beeswax candles and lip balm.  The girls had just finished the dipping process and were holding the wax sheets before going to the next station to add the wick and roll them into a candle.

The event was a lot of fun and I am sure will continue to be a girls' day out tradition for years to come.