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From Betty Cooper's recipe book (prepared for all her children!): *Take your choice of either recipe, both are excellent. 4 eggs well beaten 28 oz can pumpkin 1 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp allspice 2 cups milk 2 unbaked pie crusts Mix all ingredients together in order given and pour into pie crusts.  Bake in 400 oven - about 45 minutes (until knife comes out clean in centre). OR 1 28 oz can of pumpkin 2 cans (12 ox each) Carnation milk (not sweetened condensed) 4 eggs beaten 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 2 tbsp all purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ginger 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground cloves 2 unbaked pie shells Mix all ingredients together and pour into pie shells.  Bake 450 oven - 20 minutes or 350 oven - 40 minutes (til knife comes out clean) I've made both these pies many times and they are equally good.  Serve warm with whipped cream I have learned the hard way it's best to put pumpkin pies on a cooky sheet when putting in the oven -save spills and messy oven!!

I awoke thinking of travel. I'm headed out for a week of retreat on Sunday.  As I'm preparing, I started thinking of knife sharpeners.  Which, I guess, reflects my new-found cooking instinct.  Sharp is always best for cutting fresh fruit and vegetables. What about the hair conditioner I had just bought.  I've been looking for the last few days.  I'm sure I put it somewhere!  And shavers.  Well, the toiletries are all around.  All I have to do is gather them together. A lot of this would have been cared for by Jill.  I suppose heaven doesn't worry about things like shampoo and  the next meal.  For that I am glad!  In my retreat time, I'll reflect a bit on past memories and my present situation.  I will look to better things in the future, both here on earth and at a joyful reunion in heaven. These past few days people have volunteered their thoughts on grief.  Particularly in relation to heaven.  The point is that joy and hope overpower any sense of despair that places our final aspirations 6 feet under when we die.  No, for those in Christ there is anticipation of a more glorious place.  And so, grief is tempered and temporary.  I live with that excitement!  And as we approach Thanksgiving weekend - thank God!

I've taken to the regime of watering plants around the house quite well, thank you!  Actually, I hear this voice that says - "time to water" - in the back of my mind. So, I have been surprised that most are doing well.  I've split one plant and repotted another.  And now, I'm wondering what to do with one plant.  I have no idea what it is called - and thus can't really check on how best to transplant or to break into parts or what.  This came as a small stalk with one flower - part of a lovely bouquet after Jill's memorial. Any suggestions on what this is?

That was the early morning yesterday.  I was up early enough that I couldn't justify awakening my neighbours as I raked the lawn.  My preference would have been to use the lawn mower! The water had fallen from the sky in the last while so I was able to place the fertilizer and let the process begin for the wintering of the grass.  That was an easy task!  Meanwhile, the morning had awakened and I did use the mower to sweep up the remaining leaves. Watching leaves fall reminded me that my eavestroughs, that drain the water that falls on the roof that keeps me dry, were probably getting plugged.  Best to check and clean. I wonder if our lives need the raking, fertilizing and cleaning as leaves begin to fall in the autumn of our lives.  Much has happened.  And now there is a slowing down period.  And soon will arise spring once again.  But for now we need to prepare. Of course, God is the one who does the preparing by watering our lives.  But after that there is often a time for our own work. May the work of this time be given in love and anticipation.