Tried this recipe a few weeks ago.  It was one of the best gluten free breads ever!

Best Grain Free Banana Bread Ever
        adapted from The Everything Wheat-Free Diet Cookbook

1/4 cup butter softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 Tbs plain yogurt
2 Tbs water
1 Tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbs ground flax seed
2 cups brown rice flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
1 cup mashed ripe banana
½ cup chopped  nuts

Preheat oven 350 degrees
In large bowl beat the butter & sugar until creamy, beat in eggs one at a time.
Stir in yogurt, water & vanilla
In separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.  Add to butter mixture
Stir in bananas & nuts & mix well.
Put into two or three greased mini loaf pans or one large pan
Bake 50-55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in pans for a couple of minutes, then turn out of pans & cool completely on rack.  It's even better toasted! 

Not much to write home about, but it is our first snow in two years,  I believe. 
This picture was taken early this morning, but the temperature  was already above freezing.  Guests had no trouble getting out of the driveway!

The picture shows our Christmas decorations on the front porch.  As you can see, we don't get too carried away.  Will put up the star yesterday.  Two years ago his cousin Paul gave him five pieces of wood in a bundle and told him to put them together to make a star.  Isn't it splendid? 

The FUYU Persimmons are ripe!  We don't have many this year but we still share them with guests.  I first tasted them out in San Diego where my sister had a tree in her back yard.  From the first bite I knew I wanted a tree of my own.  Fortunately, the tree does well in our climate here in Matthews NC.
The persimmons have a beautiful star design when cut crossways.  These fruits are not astringent like so many persimmons.  They can be eaten when they are fairly firm to very soft.  If they are very soft, you need a spoon.

Will and I took a Segway Tour in downtown Charlotte last Thursday.  Here we are in front of "The Firebird" at The Bechtler Museum.  It was a beautiful day and we went from Trade & Tryon to the Panthers practice field, where we saw them practicing...they need it!  Also saw the Elmwood -Pinewood Cemetery, Fourth Ward and some historical highlights.  It was a two hour tour and we arrived back without any scratches on us or the Segways!   www.CharlotteNCTours.com