The Good Witch and the Garden Gnome

Trick-or-treating on Halloween!  Much tamer than what we've recently been accustomed, but still loads of fun!

Sword fight!

"Will it ever be time to go trick-or-treating?," they ask at 3pm.

Garden Gnome, are you real?

The Garden Gnome in his real English garden.

The Good Witch casting spells.

All smiles.

Christmas festivities...already?

So, here's what happens when there's no Thanksgiving to serve as the start of the Christmas season- it starts before Halloween!  Reading is already decorated and the temporary Christmas store is open.

We joined in the premature festivities today at Mapledurham House's Christmas Craft Fair.

We'll keep our decorations put away until after Thanksgiving- oh, wait- we don't have any.  We'll be making our own- Martha Stewart style.  Maybe an early start is ideal...

Here's a slideshow of this month's album:

Fill 'er up!

It may be hard to read, but I filled up today and the grand total was £70.07, which converts to $113.55.  Ouch...that's $7.91 per gallon- nearly eight dollars.

 Good thing those pretty little villages and rolling countryside landscapes are worth it.  Oh, and avoiding 4 buses (8 for me) each day to get to and from school.  That's definitely worth it!  

Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

With cooler, rainy weather, comfort foods with a fall flavor are the hit.  The gluten-free flours here are a bit different, so many of my recipes need major adapting.

OK, truth-be-told, my mother did most of our baking before the move, or I used a mix, neither of which are available here.  So, today I finally took a stab at my own version of baking.

The adding and mixing part was a bit dicey, calling on several versions of online recipes, major substitutions, an online temperature calculator, and spilled flour all over the freshly mopped floor.  Yes, I now mop, too.

Anyway, the end result is quite amazing (for my baking) so I feel compelled to share the recipe with you all.  OK, it's here so I won't loose it.  Either way, here it is!

Chocolate Pumpkin Bread- gluten free, dairy free, soy free

Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

3 cups self-rising gluten-free flour mix (Dove's Farm)

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 granulated sugar

1 t. baking powder

1 1/4 t. xantham gum

1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon

1/4 t. ground nutmeg

1/2 c. olive oil

1 t. vanilla 

1 egg, beaten (or use egg replacer, if you can find it)

1. cup pureed pumpkin

1/3 c. unsweetened almond milk

3 squares dark baking chocolate, ground in food processor

Mix dry ingredients, then mix liquids separately.  Combine, then stir in chocolate.  Line small loaf pan with parchment paper and add mixture.  Top with a few sprinkles of raw oats, honey, cinnamon and sugar.  Bake at 350F or 175C for 60-75 minutes.  Enjoy!

Beautiful countryside

We've been here a month now and are settling in quite nicely.  The kids are doing well at school, the house is functional, our neighbors and new friends have welcomed us with open arms, the US government is open and Eiffel will join us in a few weeks.

So far, we have enjoyed three drives through the countryside.  It's beautiful, see?  You can visit October's album here and see all the pictures.  Here are some of our favorites:

Henley-Upon-Thames, 5 October

Thames River, Henley. 5 October

Bucklebury Farm Park, Bucklebury, Berkshire.  19 October

Patriotic boat awaits a cruise.  Henley-Upon-Thames, 5 October

Nearly every corner in Henley looks like this! 

Story picked up by News14

News14 picked our story about the government shutdown and Eiffel's delay.  Seems you have to subscribe to TWC to watch, so we haven't actually seen the video, but there is a written article as well.  Here it is.  Let me know if you know of a hack... or how to forge the USDA's signature on our form.  Following the rules isn't getting us (or Eiffel) anywhere these days!