Oh, I do love a good rainy Sunday. They are somehow my most productive days, even if my productivity is limited to the delightfully domestic, as it was today.
The highlight was procuring and carving the Hallowe’en pumpkin. All of the pumpkins on offer this year seem to be outrageously large, or maybe they all just seemed that way to me since I knew I had to carry it home. Having lived in an apartment the last few years, this was the first time since graduating university that I’d carved a pumpkin and, I have to admit, I was a little out of practice. However, since both the pumpkin and I came out of the experience in tact, I’m going to count it as a success. I went with a very traditional design:
I also whipped up an amazing cranberry cake this morning, one I’d been wanting to make ever since I first came across the recipe a few weeks ago. It is far and away the best thing I’ve baked in ages. Moist but not too dense, tart with just a hint of sweetness, I am ridiculously pleased with it. Now the hard part is going to be giving half of it away to my brother, as promised. At least I know it will be going to an appreciative eater. 
All that’s left is to settle down with my book for the rest of the afternoon to make this a truly perfect day!
Wow, that cranberry cake looks great! I love cranberries. When I lived in New England, I hiked around the many cranberry bogs. The bog owner sometimes gave me bags of cranberries. What a treat! I can easily veganize your recipe for a wonderful after Thanksgiving (if I can wait that long!) treat.
I love visiting cranberry bogs! That was always the best school field trip when I was in elementary school, especially since the one we always used to go to had a mini train. Very exctiting.
Great face on your pumpkin, Claire! I carved two in an hour yesterday and was glad to come out of it without needing stitches…my cheap knife broke.
Well done with the cake…and sharing.
A broken knife? Eek! I’m always a little freaked out when I’m carving, especially since I use a steak knife (yes, all about delicacy over here), and am always very happy when I come away unpunctured.