Friday Favorites: The Week Before Thanksgiving

 We had another great week this week.  The weather is definitely getting colder but we're still trying to spend lots of time outside.  I'm usually pretty determined to get in fresh air and exercise until the first snow/ice storm. 


It poured all day on Friday but right before dinnertime as the sun was setting the skies cleared up and the lake looked so beautiful with a bit of fog lifting off the water.




I had 19 points remaining on my WW app/day after dinner (it was a busy day and I hardly ate anything!) and I was craving something sweet so we popped in some frozen pre-prepped cookies from Alec's school fundraiser and I have to say that these triple chip cookies were a hit!  




Saturday started out so beautiful and sunny! I love how the lake looks as the fog is lifting.  I took Alec to karate and settled in to try and finish up my Christmas cards.  I finished stamping up the inside of the cards and that inspired me to get some Christmas shopping done too. 


We had a huge storm roll through our area Saturday night with warnings of power outages and even a tornado warning that showed up on our phones urging us to seek shelter in the basement for 40 minutes.  Thankfully we kept our power on the whole time and saw no signs of tornados! 


It was pretty chilly Sunday but that didn't stop my husband and I from going on a RZR ride.  I really found myself hoping that windshield we ordered months ago comes in soon though!  I don't know if you can read the temp on the dashboard but it was a chilly 43 degrees out. 




Alec baked up some challah bread this weekend and, while I have tried not to eat any, it looks SO good!


Evan and I went hiking on Monday and then Ian, Evan, and I walked the river trail on Tuesday.  It was chilly both days but the sun was shining! Thursday was downright warm and we went on a nice long hike at Natchaug.  

At the Thompson Dam:



River trail:



At Natchaug:







My husband and the younger two boys had an early hair cut appointment Thursday night and we ended up eating diner at the Outback.  It was so nice not having to cook a meal after hiking most of the morning. 


Linking up with:







Comments

  1. JoesetteNovember 19, 2021 at 7:52 AM

    You live in such a lovely area! Kudos to your will power for staying away from the challah bread, it looks beautiful and I'm sure the smell was torturous for you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. HollyNovember 19, 2021 at 7:54 AM

    Hiking and baking- love it all! Have a great weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. TorontoSAMNovember 19, 2021 at 8:55 AM

    I will never tire of your view, and I'm sure you won't either! How lovely to see that everyday. Have a lovely fall weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dara @ Not In JerseyNovember 19, 2021 at 9:13 AM

    The challah looks good. I'm defrosting some that I made today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 20, 2021 at 7:14 AM

      He already told me he plans to make it often; he's been having toast with it each morning before school.

      Delete
  5. Andrea NineNovember 19, 2021 at 9:32 AM

    Those cookies!! And yay for fabulous hikes. Happy Weekend love.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Alex (ScribbleandScran)November 19, 2021 at 11:24 AM

    Challah and the cookies look amazing! I'll be round in 5!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 20, 2021 at 7:15 AM

      LOL! There's always something good being made around here. My baker likes to keep busy.

      Delete
  7. Lindsay's Sweet WorldNovember 19, 2021 at 12:00 PM

    Tornadoes in November? How odd! Love all of the pictures from your hike. I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kim CarberryNovember 19, 2021 at 12:55 PM

    I am glad you have had a great week. It has felt milder here this week but we're due some cold weather over the weekend.
    Those cookies look so good. I could just eat one now and well done Alec with the bread. x

    ReplyDelete
  9. R's RueNovember 19, 2021 at 1:36 PM

    I now want some challah bread.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sparkles and LattesNovember 19, 2021 at 2:35 PM

    Cookies and bread. They both sound so good. And a tornado? Really? That is crazy!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 20, 2021 at 7:28 AM

      It was nuts! I heard one touched down just a few towns over. Our weather has gotten crazy lately.

      Delete
  11. Jodie's Touch of StyleNovember 19, 2021 at 4:19 PM

    What a fabulous baker you must be. I never have the patience to make bread.
    XOOX
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 20, 2021 at 7:28 AM

      I love making bread! But I fully admit my son is the baker in the family. He just loves baking up anything.

      Delete
  12. onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.comNovember 19, 2021 at 8:43 PM

    I really want to try challah. I am thinking either you shared your recipe with Dara or Dara shared her recipe with you. At any rate, I need that recipe!! Please let me know where you found it or email it to me!! Your loaves look bakery beautiful.

    I love the way the lake looks with a layer of lifting fog, too. A little spooky, and little moody and a whole lot pretty.

    Bet that RZR ride was nippy. Hope the windshield comes in so you can continue to enjoy those rides even on chilly days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 20, 2021 at 7:29 AM

      We're already talking about buying a heating kit for it because I'm really thinking the windshield isn't going to cut it when winter really comes.

      Delete
  13. NatalieNovember 19, 2021 at 9:23 PM

    Lovely nature. Challah and cookies look perfect. Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nancy 's Fashion StyleNovember 20, 2021 at 2:19 AM

    I love that fog photo, fog is so fascinating. Well at least if you can stay inside. Luckely the tornado stayed away!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tamar SBNovember 20, 2021 at 7:14 AM

    That fog is such beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gary A WilsonNovember 20, 2021 at 11:12 AM

    Well - ugh. I'm trying to avoid breads, all grain products in fact, to help lose some weight and keep my blood sugar low. The thought of that Challah bread and cookies is not helping. . . They look fabulous - almost as good as your other photos. Have a great week Joanne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 21, 2021 at 5:10 PM

      Sorry! I struggle with not eating carbs and sugars too.

      Delete
  17. Pamela Kay S.-C.November 20, 2021 at 4:11 PM

    Oh, the cookies and bread look scrumptious! I love your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  18. DawnNovember 20, 2021 at 5:58 PM

    The bread, cookies and hikes all look so good. Another great week up your way.
    Blessings, Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  19. NY Foodie FamilyNovember 21, 2021 at 2:34 PM

    Love seeing the beautiful scenery from your hikes! That challah looks amazing! That is something I haven't tried baking but probably should give it a try! Hope you had a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 21, 2021 at 5:11 PM

      Thanks! We love getting out hiking... challah is a pretty easy bread to make. I found my recipe on Not In Jersey and it makes 2 loaves.

      Delete
  20. KirstinNovember 21, 2021 at 10:55 PM

    You sure live in a beautiful area. I always love your photos. The fog over the lake is pretty. I love a good storm, but not when there's a lot of damage

    ReplyDelete
  21. NatashaNovember 24, 2021 at 6:34 AM

    I'm so glad you didn't get tornadoes. Carbs are always my downfall too :( And I'm so sad we haven't made it out hiking this fall. I MISS it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 24, 2021 at 3:30 PM

      It was such a relief. That is the third time in the last year or so we've had one... I don't think I can ever remember having a tornado warning when I was a kid.

      Delete

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