Thanksgiving Tree

We showed you our Thanksgiving Tree right after we put it up (Oct. 13 blog). Here it is today, right before removed all the leaves and read them around the table. Each leaf has written on it something that someone it thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving

The five kernels of corn remind us of a winter when reportedly the Pilgrims' daily ration was five kernels of corn. How thankful we are to be able to enjoy a nice meal together around our family table. Acorn Hill Citizens have much to be thankful for, including friends who take time to check in and see what's happening around Acorn Hill.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Main House President Dad

Eli

Guess what I ate for lunch!

5 minute chocolate mug cake!

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
1 large coffee mug

1. Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

2. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.

3. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

4. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake may rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

5. Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

6. Eat!!!

A recipe sent by an Acorn Hill Press reader.

It may not be the prettiest cake you've ever seen, but it's cake!

-Sarah Daffodil

Barn Loft Solo on Stage

Nathaniel Barn Loft and I just finished four fabulous days of workshops, concerts and jams at the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association's Fall Festival. A highlight for Barn Loft was playing solo on stage during the "Open Stage" time. He had played quite a few solos with the group or when he and I played together (necessary, because I can't keep up with the fast ones and I make the prettiest ones much less pretty), but he had never gone up onto a public stage by himself. He played Gray Cat on a Tennessee Farm and I'll Fly Away.

Hope you enjoy I'll Fly Away - and sorry it's sideways (techno-dumb dad).

If you want to track Nathaniel's dulcimer playing more closely, check out the newly created www.dulcimermanthan.blogspot.com.

Dad

He's Here!

New Acorn Hill Citizen Arrives!

Acorn Hill's newest citizen, Pastor Eli Wayne Hemlock, arrived this morning at 2:22 a.m. and tipped the scales to a whopping 7 pounds, 1 ounce. The Main House First Lady and Pastor Hemlock are both doing well. More details and photos to follow soon.

Pressed-Flower Pictures

I've been making more pressed-flower pictures! Here are my two latest. First is the Brown Trout. It's made out of tulip leaves, heuchera, aucuba, money plant, French hollyhock, skeletonized leaves, butterfly weed, dogwood, Swiss chard, mum, cantaloupe, pansy, dill, eucalyptus, smoke tree, fall leaves and mica for the background. The next picture is one I call Joyful Mother. It's made out of: larkspur, bark, aucuba, poppy seed, corn silk, cornflower, corn husk, forget-me-not, dill and ferns. The next picture I'm working on is of two coffee mugs. Maybe I'll post it when it's done. If you want to see other artists' pressed-flower artwork, visit www.wwpfg.org. (World Wide Pressed Flower Guild)

-Sarah Daffodil

Fern's Friend

It has been said that dog owners and their dogs look alike. The same goes with friends. Autumn Fern and Baby are no exception.

You may recall that Baby arrived in Acorn Hill this summer. Fern and Baby became fast friends.

Acorn Hill Running

Mayor Asher and I have been doing a lot of running bases. Asher is good at this for a four year old. When he runs I run nine feet and back, throw a pop-up to give him time, then throw the ball against a little rock wall, then catch it. Then I try to tag him- Mayor Asher is a good slider. When I run the bases, he runs nine feet, picks up the ball , runs back, then tags me.

-Nathaniel

New Things

The morning was new with the sun shining on the leaves so that their full glory could be seen. It was going to be a good day at Acorn Hill. It wasn't until the evening when residents took in the next site. That's when they met two-week-old Bloom, the calf of Blossom. Bloom was born 3 weeks early. "She looks like a fawn," said Main House First Lady Mom. Autumn Fern smiled at Bloom. Bloom was soft and a little feeble looking. The men of Acorn Hill picked up a tractor for Mayor Asher Ply Wood while the others enjoyed the calf. Ply Wood's mind had been weighing heavy earlier in the week with the tractor that was offered to him. He was glad that the day finally arrived for pick up. Ply Wood has been riding his new John Deere hard ever since it was brought to Acorn Hill.

-Mom

Barn Loft Plays "Black Mountain Rag"