November 30

Gorgeous autumnal produce....  Mary

November 29

Beautiful red onions at the coop....  Mary

November 28

We have two cats that Eileen adopted when she was in New Mexico.  Duvy, the older cat, was abused and abandoned in the desert.  He now has kidney disease, most likely from dehydration and the mineral salts in what water was available.

Monster is the younger cat who was abandoned as a tiny, tiny kitten.  Eileen and Duvy grew him all by themselves with lots of kitten milk from an eye dropper and Duvy warmth and cat lessons.  Eileen named him Monster so he would have a name to grow into, only it didn't really work.  He is one scrawny specimen.

So, not that we spoil our furry friends, but the blanket they are lying on is heated.  Duvy spends his entire day on it, and Monster keeps coming back to it to get Duvy warmth and blanket heat.  After all, they are living in Wisconsin now, and it's cold....  Mary

 Duvy in black and white

Monster "helping" in the studio

November 27

The last kale of autumn....  Mary

November 26

Sky berries....  Mary

November 25

Beautiful, shiny red apples at the coop....  Mary

November 24

The beginning of the holiday shopping season.  All we need is some Walker's Shortbread for a couple of relatives down in Illinois, a donation to the Heifer Project for the extended family, and we're done.  Well, except for Rick's Christmas Eve shopping excursion.  It's a tradition that he carries on from his father who never, ever shopped before the 24th of December.  Sometimes not starting until noon.  He considered any earlier to be for amateurs....  Mary

Another Kleenex box design

November 23

We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner last night with the family of Eileen's young man.  They are very nice people, so interesting and creative.  And today I went to work to cover the office for the whole 5 people who showed up in our department.  But that's okay because other staff members got to spend time at home with their families....  Mary

Kleenex box art

November 22

This vintage crocheted trivet hangs on the wall in my studio.  It was purchased at an estate sale for 25¢.  Someone carefully wrapped bottle caps with foil, then crocheted little jackets in purple variegated thread around each cap and joined them all into this lovely trivet.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Mary

November 21

Rick gave me this little painted wooden cat for my birthday a couple of years ago.  It lives on top of frame in my studio....  Mary

November 20

The dried flowers on the granite table at LaBrioche....  Mary

November 19

It's a strange contrast between our decorated malls and bountiful grocery stores and Ken Burns' new documentary, Dust Bowl.  We have much to be thankful for after the summer drought which was followed, gratefully, by October rains.  Let's hope we can learn from the stories Ken Burns has gathered for us....  Mary

November 18

This is the pattern on a duvet cover at Macy's today.  These flowers were 18 inches across.  Very striking....  Mary

November 17

The rock walls in our neighborhood are filled with beautifully colored sedum.  One of our neighbors was walking her dog while I was photographing the plants.  She said that a former resident had planted all of the rock walls by himself about 15 years before.  What a delightful gift he gave us all....  Mary

November 16

JK and I met for our weekly meeting of the World's Smallest Quilt Guild after work today.  There was a beautiful granite table top in the waiting area of LaBrioche....  Mary

November 15

Fuzzy rainbow yarn....  Mary

November 14

'Tis the season of Eileen's favorite color, SHINY!  Mary

November 13

Sometimes you just have to smile, splatters and all....  Mary

November 12

Purple cauliflower at the coop....  Mary

November 11

Anne got a red paper Remembrance Day poppy when she was in London....  Mary

November 10

The tree across from our house has these lovely red fruits on it.  The birds will spend the winter picking them off....  Mary

November 9

Hydrangea are one of my favorite flowers.  Everything from the giant white snowballs in front yards to the heavenly blue of potted Easter plants to these beautiful rosy flowers at Olbrich....  Mary

November 8

Gorgeous, colorful peppers at the Willy West Coop....  Mary