Puzzle Table

An exciting new addition in our house means our kitchen is no longer the site for jigsaw puzzle assembly.  We got a puzzle table. 

And it’s in our bedroom.  It’s so pretty.

And then.  Guess what?  It’s too dark in there.  So I had to order a new floor lamp.

But I was going to get a new floor lamp in there anyway.  So that’s okay.

Tables made just for puzzles are a thing, but this is actually a small drop-leaf dining table purchased expressly for puzzling.

The Safavieh Home Forest Traditional Drop Leaf Dining Table in grey wash is what we chose.  Our bedroom is quite large and has a lot of empty space so using the space for our puzzles and getting out of the kitchen was our goal.

Because we have a hockey-playing furry assistant, puzzles are covered with a sheet when we’re not actively putting them together. Not such a great look in the kitchen.

The Safavieh line is available most everywhere but I purchased this and the upcoming lamp from Amazon.

Getting a big box is an exciting day in our house.  As soon as we come out from under the bed when UPS leaves, of course.

Also exciting is that hub gets to use a drill.

The table in its dropped down state is even more beautiful.

Halloween Sights

While out meandering in the local outlet mall, we stopped at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  I swear, we were just looking and didn’t buy a thing.  I certainly hope seeing and smelling doesn’t add to my hips though.

Candy apples always scream fall to me.  And they have candle apples.  And then.  Ratcheting it up a notch, they have apples covered in every concoction you can dream of and then so cute all dressed for Halloween. 

How much sugar do you think that mummy contains?  Now, that’s scary!

What I’m Reading

On Kindle I read The Guest List by Lucy Foley.  Murder mystery on an isolated island with a weather system heading in.  Sound like Agatha Christie?  Comparing it, as many have done, is a bit of a stretch.  The writing is okay.  Some of the characters were pretty believable, but all-in-all the connections at the end were just too far-fetched. 

Having said that, I did like the ending, but it just wasn’t captivating enough.  It was okay, but I am not sure I’d really recommend it.

On audio, I listened to the second in the Molly Cates series by Mary Willis Walker, Under the Beetle’s Cellar.  I am not familiar with Walker or with the Cates series, but I felt like this stood up fine on its own.

Written in the 90s, it held up over time and was a typical thriller. If that’s what you’re looking for, this one fits the bill.

What I’m Eating

I had not one thing to do with producing this yummy, but John made himself some gluten-free banana bread.  It turned out really well and made the house smell so good.

I have no idea where he found the recipe and he can’t remember, so I’ll type below and won’t be able to give credit where credit is due.  As they say.

Gluten-Free Banana Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 4 large eggs at room temperature
• 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (he used three large)
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup avocado oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.  In a small bowl, whisk eggs, bananas, sugar, applesauce, oil and vanilla.  Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Transfer to two greased 8×4” loaf pans.  Sprinkle with walnuts.  Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45-55 minutes.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

John is so much better in the baking department than I am.  He doesn’t destroy a thing, has very few dishes and doesn’t need a stiff drink afterward.

Make it a great weekend and we’ll chat next week.