It’s getting cold, kids. I kept hearing this was going to be a bitter cold winter, so I’m a little surprised at how mild it has been so far. Now exactly breaking out the heated blanket just yet. But I guess time will tell. When we hit February, we’ll see how I’m feeling. Maybe, not so hot after all, right?

It is nice to get the woodstove running, though. I love the smell of the wood. It’s not just the burning, but it’s that wonderful smoky, smell. It gets on my hands and makes me think of these delicious smoked almonds my Aunt used to have in her basement. They were in cans, part of a holiday gift or something. I was forever asking for those. She must have had a dozen cans.

I remember one time, when they’d been gone for ages, maybe years, we were cleaning out her basement and we found a can. The last can in the back of the pantry. It was this wonderful discovery, better than pirate treasure. We had smoked almonds and ginger ale in her little den. So good.

You can roast all the chestnuts over open fires that you want. I’ll take a can of roasted almonds by the woodstove any day.