Murder in Miniature

Hi Folk,

This morning I just had a few minutes while drinking my morning cupper, I was listening to BBC radio via my iPad, so I heard the word Baltimore which held my attention, as Baltimore is quite close to us in the scheme of travel in the USA, just a couple of hours south.

The program was about miniature scenes, some of houses or barns, so somewhat like miniature dolls houses, but with a twist.  These are forensic miniatures of crime scenes, made by Frances Glessner Lee born in 1878 to a wealthy family in Chicago, she lived on Prairie Avenue, where all the rich people lived, their fortune was from International Harvester.

Her father would not hear of her going to college, so she took the traditional route of wealthy women of the time, married, had three children and not so traditionally was divorced within eight years.  It was not until her father died when she came into her own, that she pursued her passion which was legal medicine and especially death scene crime investigation.  See here details Death in Miniature

It seems that over twenty detailed miniature scenes are housed in Baltimore, but can only be seen at special request.

Corinne May Botz wrote a book about Frances Glessner Lee.  I may go to the library and get that.  The miniatures were built by a carpenter and his son, and took as much time and cost as much as a regular house of that time period would have cost.  Frances also contributed to the miniatures and it was her eye for minute detail that makes them so interesting and used as a teaching tool for homicide detectives.

Burned cabin miniature.

Pink bedroom miniature.

I found it quite fascinating so go to the link Death in Miniature

This morning was a beautiful ride to work.  There was a cold mist hovering over the grass and shafts of sunlight were filtering through the autumn foliage, very lovely.  I just wanted to get out with my camera and take photos, but of course had no time to do so.

Take care,
Christy

Summer Loving

Have you ever carried on merrily with a project, just rolling along when voila! it hits you that it isn't right, that's me with these Japanese crochet flowers.  The pattern that I was following said twelve spokes on each round, OK got that right, but where I went wrong was it did not say twelve petals, it just said chain five and slip stitch it every third stitch, and consequently my counting of third stitches must have been incorrect, so I landed up with too many petals.  It wasn't until I went to block them that it struck me that these were never going to lay flat, as pretty as they might look, see photo above, it could not be left like this. So now I had at least thirty which I had to undo and re crochet, see photo below.

I took the easier route and bought the multi coloured yarn for this project.  There are several more colours in this range of yarn, but I would have to buy them online, as my local store does not carry them, I am thinking of doing that.  It is going to be a rainbow of colours, I'm not going to be conservative.

My vision is an oblong shawl, connected with a plain green trellis with leaves and dangles of some sort, possibly leaves at each end.  I have what I think is the perfect colour plain green for this project.  I wanted a bright green, but not garish and I found a lovely Moss Green Bamboo and Silk yarn, so I hope this works.  As with all things it's just in my mind and reality may be quite different.

What do I love about summer, well especially the mornings, when it is warm enough to sit outside very early, the light is wonderful then and you have this feeling that the day stretches ahead of you with endless possibilities.

Tea and toast in my Italian set, it reminds me of my day at Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera, a UNESCO heritage site. of towns climbing the cliffs, such names as Manarola and Riomaggiori, just roll off the tongue.  A little zucchini and ginger jam on my toast.  All accompanied by a little crochet.

I love to use the words that I like best, for instance I like the American word for marrow which is zucchini, but I like the English word for eggplant which is aubergine, using the best of both cultures. 

Now to my garden, a new perennial has been introduced, David, a hardy garden phlox.

What about these planters already made up.  This is not the way I usually buy plants and flowers because they are just over priced.  So my tale is this, I went to Lowe's looking for more hosta, but the selection was limited. I thought I had seen the mouse ear hosta there, which is a tiny little curled leaf variety of hosta, but I must have seen that at a different nursery and will if I want it, which I do, have to pay the price.  Just love that name Mouse Ears.  But in the mean time I couldn't make the trip and come back empty handed so I bought a little container of  Leptinella, more on that later, just as I was checking out I asked if they had a clearance section, sure enough, hidden in a corner they did, and look what I came across.  There were probably five of them, but I resisted and left some for other people, originally $25.00 I would never have paid that price, reduced to, wait for it $3.00.  With a little trimming they look quite respectful.  The trailing petunias were mostly gone, so I may buy a few individual ones and plant those in there.  In any case I love to resurrect plants.

My second perennial buy this year, Indian Feather, Whirling Butterflies, one would buy it just for the name.

My herb garden area, coming along quite nicely.

Cleome, need I say more.  Cleome would take over the world, it is on a quest to do so, at least in my garden.  Once introduced, you never need seed or plant another one, but just need to be vigilant in digging them up and relocating to where you would like to see them.  I just let this area go wild, including some other plants which I know will grow up to have dark berries on and the birds love them, so have left them.

My blackberry bush with thorns which seems to produce far more fruit than my thorn less blackberry.

In Joanne's on clearance a little cup and saucer flower pot.  I had the choice of three colours, white a teal green and this colour, but there was no decision here because this colour seems so iconic to fifties and sixties pottery planters.

A few cats and kittens taken off my boot planters, plus a trailing succulent that just grows in my garden.  Now this is what I bought the Leptinella for or Black Brass Buttons, just to fill in.

Here is the Leptinella squalida, originally from NZ.  When I first saw it, it reminded me of fern, and something that you would see at the Philly Flower Show, on those miniature garden displays.  Isn't it exquisite?  I think so.  You use it as a ground cover and it must be a moist area.

So these are some of my summer loving things.

Christy

Victorian Afternoon Tea

 The girls at Afternoon Victorian Tea held at the Clifton House, by the ladies who belong to the Historical Society.

We had torrential rain last Saturday, well on Sunday it bucketed, so afternoon tea in a cozy room was well received by us all.  We had a table for eight and it was a most enjoyable time.  Even accompanied by a quartet from the local High School, they were very good.

Last year I came and was seated in the other room see here, which suited the bright sunny day that I came on, dressed in a spring dress and a shrug, but this year with the dreadful weather this cozy room was just right.

Christy

Strawberries and Cream French Macaroons

Strawberries and Cream French Macaroons

Recipe:

3 large egg whites
1 cup toasted slivered almonds
2 cups confectioners’ sugar*
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons strawberry extract
Red food coloring

Vanilla Bean, Cream Cheese Filling

• Place egg whites in a medium mixing bowl, and let sit at room temperature, uncovered, for exactly 3 hours. (Aging the egg whites in this manner is essential to creating perfect macaroons.)
• Line several baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a pencil, draw 1½-inch circles 2 inches apart on parchment paper. Turn parchment paper over. Set aside.
• In the work bowl of a food processor, combine almonds and 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, pulsing until very finely ground. (Don’t over process or a nut butter will be created. The nut particles should stay separate and dry, not clump together.) Add remaining confectioners’ sugar, and process just until combined. Set aside.
• Beat egg whites at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until frothy. Gradually add sugar, beating at high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. (Egg whites will be thick, creamy, and shiny.) Add strawberry extract, beating well.
• Using a toothpick, add food coloring, a small amount at a time, beating until desired color is achieved.
• Add almond mixture to egg whites, folding gently until well combined. Let batter sit for 15 minutes.
• Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a medium round tip. Pipe batter into drawn circles on prepared baking sheets.
• Slam baking sheets vigorously on counter 5 to 7 times to release air bubbles.
• Let sit at room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes before baking to help develop the macaron’s signature crisp exterior when baked. (Macaroons should feel dry to the touch and should not stick to finger.)
• Preheat oven to 275°.
• Bake until firm to the touch, approximately 24 minutes.
• Let cool completely on pans, and then remove to airtight containers. Refrigerate until ready to fill and serve.

Vanilla Bean, Cream Cheese Filling

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise, scraped and reserved

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, cream, and reserved vanilla beans. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer until mixture is smooth and creamy, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary and increasing to high speed.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Let come to room temperature before piping.

Christy

Tea And Symphony At The Highlands

It has been a long winter, I know everyone thinks the same.  On the way to work for months there had been a sign  strung up Tea and Symphony at the Highlands Sunday 23rd February, then for at least a month it was buried under a snow pile, so I totally forgot about it until some brave soul resurrected the sign out of the snow.  So last week I phoned to see if there were any places and there were, so hubby, friend and I decided to go.  I meant to go last year, but did not.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon, even though the parking lot was just mud, Mr. B parked the car so us girls were dropped at the pathway.  Just lovely to get out and do something a little different.  In fact that has been one of my new year resolutions, for want of a better word, to take hold of the opportunity here and now.  Not say I'll do that another time, you never know when another time will come.

The Copeland String Quartet Chamber Music Concert with guest performers of Dr. Cecilia Kang, Clarinet and Amy Leonard, Viola.

They played Clarinet Quintet K581 In A Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Viola Quintet, K515 in C Major.

I have never been to a live performance like this, very soothing to ones soul.

In the Intermission they had Afternoon Tea.  Some of what was left above.

The Tea urn lady.  I did go back for a second cup, just right.

The Highlands was first owned by a Quaker, this area in Pennsylvania was settled by a lot of Quakers, a lady at The Highlands, was telling us, a Quaker could not just have a second house for the sake of having it, even to escape the Yellow Fever, so it was a working farm.

THE HISTORY Wishing to provide his family with a refuge from the yellow fever epidemics sweeping Philadelphia, Anthony Morris (1766-1860), a wealthy politician and merchant, purchased just over 200 acres of land in Whitemarsh, Montgomery County, in 1794. Construction of the elaborate country estate, “The Highlands” was completed by 1796. Morris suffered extreme financial difficulties and in 1808 was forced to sell The Highlands to Daniel Hitner (1765-1841). Hitner sold the property and its accumulated 300+ acres to a Philadelphia wine merchant, George Sheaff (1779-1851) in 1813.

During the Sheaff family ownership, which spanned more than a century, there were numerous improvements made both to the Georgian mansion and to the landscape. After George Sheaff’s death in 1851. His heirs sold part of the estate and the youngest son, John, retained 59 acres including the mansion and adjoining outbuildings. In 1917, two years after the death of the last Sheaff heir, the property was sold to Miss Caroline Sinkler (1860-1949), a native South Carolinian with strong ties to Philadelphia. The house and gardens had deteriorated, but through the efforts of Miss Sinkler, the property regained its elegance and prominence as an historical treasure. Miss Sinkler’s niece, Emily Sinkler Roosevelt, and her husband Nicholas, purchased the property in 1941. The Roosevelts gave the property to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1957. In 1975, The Highlands Historical Society formed to preserve, restore and interpret the historic mansion and grounds from 1794 to the present.

Above what it looks like in Spring time.

The murals are in fact French wallpaper depicting on the right the Hudson Valley and the nearest is Boston Harbor.  There were two large ones opposite depicting the natural arch bridge in Virginia along with Niagara Falls side by side, some license was taken here.  Also an Indian mural, but I'm racking my brains on that one. Louise and I loved all the archways and fan light windows.

Mark Ward, Cello.

Eliezar Gutman Israeli-born and a member of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, as were all the Quartet.

Thomas Jackson, Violin and Nina Cottman, Viola.

The Copeland Quartet and visiting Viola, Amy Leonard.  My favourite was actually the first piece with the Clarinet, I love to listen to the clarinet.

Mr B. and I.

Some of the grounds around The Highlands.

In May they are having a Community Day with historic games, 18th century style ice cream and Colonial dancing, with costumed guides, so Louise and I hope to go to that, sounds fun, plus the trees and flowers should look beautiful.

Christy

Fontina, Parmesan, and Roasted Red Pepper Scones with Smoked Paprika Butter

Fontina, Parmesan, and Roasted Red Pepper Scones

Makes 12 scones

1 3/4 cups self-rising flour
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup coarsely shredded fontina cheese
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese*
1/4 cup very finely chopped roasted red pepper
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream, divided
Smoked Paprika Butter

Smoked Paprika Butter

This recipe, teeming with the smokey flavor of paprika, is the perfect complement to our Fontina, Parmesan, and Roasted Red Pepper Scones.

Makes ½ cup

½ cup salted butter, at room temperature
½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• In a small bowl, combine butter and paprika, stirring until thoroughly blended. Pipe or decoratively swirl butter into a serving dish.

Make-Ahead Tip: Smoked Paprika Butter may be made a day in advance, covered, and refrigerated. Let come to room temperature before serving.

Fontina, Parmesan, and Roasted Red Pepper Scones

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Spray 2 (6-well) heart-shaped pans† with nonstick baking spray with flour. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour and black pepper, whisking well. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cheeses and roasted red pepper, tossing to coat with flour. Add 1 cup cream, stirring until mixture comes together as a dough. (If mixture seems dry, add more cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until uniformly moist.)
• Using a levered 3-tablespoon scoop, drop dough into wells of prepared pans, patting dough to create a level surface. Brush dough with remaining 1 tablespoon cream.
• Bake until scones are light golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in the centers comes out clean, approximately 15 minutes.
• Serve warm with Smoked Paprika Butter, if desired.

I do love a savoury scone.  My mum had a friend who we always called Auntie Gladys and we would often visit and one of my most vivid memories is hot cheese scones straight out of the oven with lashings of butter, yummy.

So I think I'll give this recipe a go.

Christy

My Saturday Always Busy

I was grounded by my son on Saturday.  He needed to borrow my car to pick up a hose that he had ordered for his car, then he needed to drive to a friends house to install it.  On the way home from work on Wednesday, his car radiator was over heating and he realized that he had a leak, so called his dad and together they took his car over to a friends house not wanting to drive it too far.  So Saturday was the day that Rob and Seth were able to fix it and now he's back on the road again.  That meant I was without a car most of the day.  That's OK though, because when you work all week you're glad to potter around one's own house on the weekend.

I just wanted to share with you a dear little pin cushion that I bought a little while ago.  Well a Brit cannot resist a teapot, you know that.

Some wonderful fabric from South Africa that my friend brought back for me.  Now to decide how I am going to use it, I love the vibrant colours, so good to give one colour in the dead of winter and to think of far off sun, people and places.

I found the huge holder at T. J. Maxx for $10.00, it's wonderful for holding tons of my fabric, such a lovely pattern, almost Bloomsbury.

I made a Blurb Journal, but when I found this one Marjolean Bastin, I just couldn't resist it.  Plus I made a mistake on my Blurb book, by using too large a template for an every day journal, after you have done all that work though you are not about to discard it, plus I had uploaded it before I really thought about it.  To enjoy it I will use it for note taking, thoughts and ideas.  The photos in the journal are of Florida, Rob and I, so happy pics and memories.

Some of the wonderful pictures of nature in this 2014 Journal, everyone different, my type of Journal. 

I keep wanting to write 1914, I guess that year has been on my mind as it is the one hundred year anniversary of that Great War that ended an era.

I rather liked this photo which reminded me of my Cheese of The Month Club.

I forgot to include some pictures of the African animals which are included and seemed to be fitting in my mind with things African and my African fabric.

I've finished the grey scarf and I'm know working on the winter white scarf, so many yummy yarns to make these in.  I think the winter white would make a lovely little shoulder shawl, I do have a pattern, just need to work it out.

So my Saturday was cleaning, cooking, sorting things and knitting.

I made my old stand by Florentine Soup, which is chicken and chicken stock, tinned tomatoes cut up or diced tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, spinach and noodles.  It's an easy good tasting soup.

Drum roll !!!!!

After five decades and plus I have found an easy way to make pastry and it tastes great.  I'll leave that to another post. 

Have a great weekend.

Special Assembly Day on Sunday.

Take care,
Christy