Well, snatch me bald-headed, it’s November. How did that happen? November means that we have been in Okinawa for four months, it is National Novel Writing Month, and Thanksgiving is looming large. I already need a nap.
Four months into this tour and I am beginning to feel like I’m in a groove… course it might just be a big hole. God has placed some great people alongside us here—specifically the chaplain spouses group on island. A few of us went on an adventure out to the farmer’s markets a week or so ago. Produce availability is…different here. The commissary does carry the basics, but the quality is usually not great. It was great to get out and get some fresh local produce. I tried a couple new things—persimmons and kabocha (Japanese pumpkin). Both were delicious.
From the commissary, I also got some pie pumpkins to roast and puree:
Pumpkins roasting
Then, I peeled them, threw them in the blender with water and voila! Fresh pumpkin puree… which I used to make these:
Pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. As you can see, I am clearly all about health food.
Moving on… November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short.
The goal is to write a novel in a month, which is complete madness. If one writes around 1,700 words a day, it is possible to finish a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. One of my goals is to write more during our time in Okinawa, so I signed up. I am currently at 15,000 words. Don’t ask me to tell you about the book or to *heaven forbid* read it. My goal is to complete a novel; next I’ll try to write a READABLE one. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to make writing a priority and write like the wind. I have been channeling Anne Lamott’s advice to “let yourself write shi*@y first drafts.” I have been amazed how quickly I can write, with the inner editor dead and stuffed in the freezer for now. Memphis’ English class is participating too, and Memphis has a goal of 5,000 words by month’s end. Each day, Mem has demanded to know how many words I finished. Sheesh…I should have put her on word patrol a long time ago.
I’m in denial about Thanksgiving for now. Already missing our family and friends across the U.S.—wishing I was going to be there to remind my Granny Helen to get the jello fluff and salad out of the fridge BEFORE dessert. I do know I am roasting turkeys for two to three events before Thanksgiving, so by the time turkey day arrives, we might be eating enchiladas (but only if I can find avocados). Alas.
Thank you so much for continuing to read and follow the blog. Love hearing from you all and thanking God for each one of you!