Christmas Cactus

The cactus, which stopped blooming a week or so ago, has begun to glow red from the tips of its dark green fronds (petals? branches?), a nice surprise that I don't remember seeing in the past.

Today's been a rainy day that made us want to cook substantial things for the week: a pork and butternut squash stew, and a good thick garbanzo soup, everything simmering and fragrant and cozy.

The answer to yesterday's mystery: an ice crusher. Two aluminum jaws that fit together and chew up an ice cube; ease depends on the hand strength of the user.