Slow days of chilly weather and seasonal comforts.
November 24, 2025
It’s the week of Thanksgiving and finally looking like proper sweater weather! Very dense fog again today that began in the early morning hours (prior to 4 am) and as time went on, slowly filled the city basin. When we first got up, everything outside the window was completely obscured. It’s a bit of a strange feeling, like the world around you has suddenly vanished, leaving you deserted on an island shrouded entirely in mist. The rising sun slowly pushed back the clouds as dawn turned into day and by 10:30 am (EST) it had fully dissipated. However, the sunlight was weak and the sky remained covered with thin clouds.
November 25, 2026
A deeply quiet and overcast day. The raindrops make a soft pitter-patter sound as they land on the roof hatch. Misty trailing clouds hang low over the huddled brick buildings. I am grateful for a peaceful morning of calm. It’s not normally this quiet in the city, so I enjoy it while it lasts.
A wet chickadee out in the rain. I wonder how they find food and manage to stay warm in this kind of weather? Google says they grow more feathers in winter and fluff up to create a warm insulating layer. For food, they rely on caches (and good memories!) they built up over the warmer months. Gah I just love them so much! They are SO cute!
November 26, 2026
Overcast, cold and quite windy. No noticeable precipitation. The bare branches of the trees sway and dance in the gusts of wind. A cold draft can be felt across the floor in the kitchen, leaking under the back door sill. I think its time to winterize the house.
Now and again I can hear distant wind chimes and the air rushing through the trees. A stray leaf flies past the window in a blur. Suddenly the sunshine breaks through the clouds to reveal tiny ice pellets bouncing off the window ledge. It makes for a striking contrast, bright sun against dark storm clouds. It seems winter will soon be upon us.
All the Yummy Things
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without having a few yummy things to share! So in the spirit of sharing, it only feels right to include the following recipe. It’s an old favorite of mine that has seen a lot of love over the years. I hope you enjoy it!
Homemade Apple Pie
Oil Pastry Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 ½ tsp. salt
- ⅔ cup oil
- 6 Tbs. cold water
Apple Filling Ingredients:
- 6 to 8 apples; peeled, cored, and sliced into bite sized pieces
- ¾ to 1 cup sugar (depending on desired sweetness)
- 2 Tbs. flour (or more depending on juiciness of the apples)
- 1 tsp. cinnamon or apple pie spice
- Dash of nutmeg
- 2 Tbs. butter
Directions
- For the crust. Mix together flour and salt. Pour oil and cold water into a measuring cup (do not stir). Add all at once to the flour mixture.
- Stir lightly with a fork until combined. Form dough into two balls; flatten slightly. If the dough cracks too much or crumbles, it’s too dry. Add more oil or water a tablespoon at a time. Try not to overmix.
- Roll out the dough between sheets of waxed paper, ensuring it is large enough to fold over the top of the baking dish. Line greased pie dish with bottom crust, using a fork to ensure there are no trapped air pockets. Set crust aside.
- Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
- For the filling. Combine sugar, flour, spices and mix with the apple slices. Taste. If apples lack tartness, sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon lemon juice. You can also adjust the amount of sugar used to suit your preference.
- Fill pie dish with apple mixture, dot with butter.
- Place top crust, making holes to allow the steam to escape. Fold over excess dough and pinch it to create the rim of the pie crust.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the juice from the apples has started to bubble up out of the pie.
- Best served warm with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
(Based on a recipe from the Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from Seasonfold! I wishing you and yours wonderful harvest season. A time for food, friends, and family. May we savor these moments along side those we hold dear.
– Charmaine J. Forde
“Don’t wait until the fourth Thursday in November, to sit with family and friends to give thanks. Make every day a day of Thanksgiving!”
