So, we slip into the high holidays officially this week. Tomorrow, for me and, well, for millions of other home cooks in this country, will be pie baking day. Pie baking, prune cake making (well, maybe not millions will be doing this one), roll baking, and anything else that will require an oven with a temperature at higher than 325 degrees.

For some reason, I am at my lowest ebb for holidays this year. Hmmm, does having a baby do that to you? If so, I'll bet that when she gets older some of that holiday sparkle just may come back for me. Or does it have anything to do with living with a Canadian that could take the holidays or leave them--preferably leave them? But the Muckheads are in the house so I would think that I'd be revving up more. But them having a baby has taken all the energy out of them. The baby is getting it all, as it should be. They aren't complaining. Despite being very tired all the time, they are soaking up this new parenthood thing very excellently.

Kip, my youngest son, will arrive on the scene sometime tomorrow. We've already corresponded about what he'd like to see on the Thanksgiving table. I told him what I was making. He added mashed potatoes and corn for him and his friend Solomon who will be here. I mentioned pickled eggs and he wasn't so sure about that. Then he asked if I could make them deviled. I thought about that for a second and thought that would be neat to try so that's what we're going to do.

Lee, my second oldest, and his girlfriend may be along on Thursday. You never know about him. He'll probably call on Thursday morning to see if it's okay for them to come. Of course, it will be okay. They don't even have to ask. The other boys are too far away to want to drive up. That's okay. This house is very small. But if they wanted to come they could and they know it.

Well, either it's just too late to be inspiring or I'm tired of typing one-handed because I've got a cat reposing on my lap but I can't think of anything else I want to write about. I could write more about the raccoons because that's what I think about most the time. I rather do miss the little critters, sigh, but I won't write about them for now. I found the cutest raccoon ornament today when Amy, Addy and I went to Meijer's for Thanksgiving groceries. Had to get it, of course. Guess I'm into collecting raccoon things when I can find them. Gotta be real cute ones, though.

That's it for now. Hope you're having a good week.