Meandering on the Way — November 20-27, 2023

Monday, November 20

E went grocery shopping at the Co-op today and when she came out she had some trouble finding her car.

Wednesday, November 22

We’re going to K and J’s house for Thanksgiving tomorrow and E has promised to bring a blackberry pie. So that was the beginning of today’s business…but you know…if you’re making one pie…why not make a couple of others? So M made a pumpkin one and E put together a pecan one. And then, if you have all these pies…well, you might as well eat some. We didn’t touch the blackberry, but we did put a dent in the other two. It was enough to make a person feel mildly ill. Good though.

Thursday, November 23

K and J put on a very well-organized dinner for twenty-four. People brought sides and desserts; J cooked the turkey and managed everything. Before dinner K brought out his bingo equipment, which was pretty impressive, and we all played a few rounds. Winners received hand-knitted caps. Neither M nor E won any rounds, but K kindly provided a choice of consolation prizes. The food and drink were delicious and the invitees made for very pleasant company. Among the group were Andi and Andy, as well as three of Becca’s old friends, including, of course, K himself. E’s pie went fast.

Sunday, November 26

It’s cold and rainless these days with nighttime temperatures in the low 20’s. Mornings are foggy and the cold hangs around until the fog burns off at around 10:00 or 11:00. Also, there’s lots of frost.

More wood from the old bins. M seems to like keeping it around.

Monday, November 27

We did our grocery shopping early this morning. When the fog lifted, M went over and fetched the Jaguar from its hiding place and we headed off to the coast. Just ten miles from Newport we turned off at Toledo, looking to take the scenic route into town via North Bay Road. We promptly got lost and ended up on the road to Elk City, which was very much in the wrong direction. We turned around and went back to Toledo and found the correct turn at an abandoned gas station. The North Bay route is slow because it winds along the contours of Yaquina Bay, but it’s pretty and when when you finally get there, it takes you right onto the waterfront. We had lunch there and heard lots of sea lion barking somewhere nearby. We went to investigate.