Seckel pear muffins, my Sugar Maple

These muffins are lovely: whole grain but light as can be, lightly scented with cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg, studded with finely chopped pears. I used the same recipe as for all my muffins (see Ginger Peach recipe for the one I actually looked at this morning when making these) but instead of the crystallized ginger, peaches and so forth, added 3/4 tsp of both cloves and cinnamon, a 1/4 tsp of ground ginger, and 1/2 tsp of freshly ground nutmeg. I also included 1 c of diced pears and 1/2 c of unsweetened applesauce.

Our Sugar Maple out back has come into its fluorescence. Stunning! It'll only last about a week and the rate of leaf-dropping is positively diarrhetic, but I just love this tree; it's what I see from my kitchen and dining room. It is magnificent, and when its leaves are yellow like this, the whole house lights up.

Sleep! Kids!

Sleep is just amazing. I am a new'ish woman today. Last night consisted of the following: glass of red, Indian food, attempt -in vain- to read the paper, melatonin just to ensure slumber, bed at 9:30p. Scene. I woke up at 7am (bless my husband), am not as sore as I feared, feel SO improved and am now in the midst of muffinpalooza because, to my dismay when I checked this morning, our freezer was devoid of even one muffin crumb. So, first up...spiced Seckel plum muffins. Next, ginger peach with Last Tango peaches, and after that, I'm not sure... Jack did make it to school but we'll see how long he lasts poor sweetie. I'm trying to keep my expectations at a minimum regarding the time alone I'll have this morning.

So, while I wait with eager anticipation for the first batch of muffins to emerge, I'll leave you with some cute new shots of the boys. I fall more in love with both when I look at these shots: Jack shaking hands at El's wedding, and Oliver in all his glory.

PS- Perhaps it's because my arm muscles cramped sculpturally, but I swear I have more definition today. Heh.

Binders Full of Women, Personal Space

Have you seen this new blog, Binders Full of Women? Hilarious and so quick (re both timing and wit). My favorites include:

Can we talk a bit about personal space? In my opinion, it is sacred, and in certain places, you just don't breach it. If you do, you're weird or need some socialization. In other instances, some space would surely be nice, and why the eff don't you want it too? Example 1. Oliver and I took Percy for a walk today and went to the ATM to deposit a check.  As I began to enter my PIN, I smelled a strong perfume and heard some breathing immediately behind me. Some freaky woman in black - I think there was some sort of feathered accessory- was standing RIGHT.THERE. Really? Who doesn't understand ATM etiquette? Lest you think you was from Mars, no. She spoke to my dog, calling him Little Beast in a weird, sing-songy American English.

Example 2: Before the previously discussed personal training episode, I was in the locker room putting up my bags and getting water. No one else is around. A woman walks in and which locker does she choose? Out of the hundreds available? The one directly under mine. Really? That's just effing weird, readers. Really strange.