Snowing Night and Day

It snowed all night.

It snowed all day.

The little birds were foraging for berries.

I ate cinnamon crumpets for breakfast

I drank Chai Lattes

Doing what I enjoy, writing.

We just had our second snow storm. Twelve inches on top of twenty-six inches. One of those 100 year records.

No school, no work for hubby, my day off in any case. All home, the fire is roaring, crumpets for breakfast, chai lattes for afternoon tea and writing a letter to a friend.

While looking for my mugs with lids I thought I'd show you the Coates mug, a gift from a friend 25 years ago.

That was my day yesterday. Another snow day in today. Took some great photos at the park, I will post those tomorrow.

Well hope all those up North are warm and I hope those all down South are cool.

Christy

12.28 AM and a Snowstorm has hit the Eastern Seaboard

Snow plow going by.

Well it's just gone mid-night and another snow storm has hit. Not sure how much they a forecasting. I've heard the snow plow go by a couple of times. That's one thing about over here in the States, they do snow plow and shovel the sidewalks. In fact every householder is responsible for shoveling their sidewalk and if the borough wanted to enforce it, they could fine you if you don't do it.

Shops positively make sure that parking lots and in front of their premises is totally clear of snow. I remember when I was home one year in the UK, I was quite unprepared for sloshing around town with none of the pavements shoveled I'd quite forgotten how it was.

Well that will be our weekend, shoveling. Hope to get out for a walk.

Hubby brought in lots of firewood and there's a big pile by the house.

Have a great weekend.

Christy

Shortbread and the Nanny

Shortbread.

There are many recipes out there for shortbread and what goes better with a cup of tea?

But don't be mislead. Any shortbread recipe that says cream the butter with the sugar, then add the flour is rubbish. I know because I've tried a few. Then I went back to a cookbook which I bought in the seventies.

When I first came to the States I was a Nanny to four children ranging from 10 to 16, driving was a must. Pick them up here drop them off there. Boxing lessons, tap dancing lessons, horse riding lessons, take them to the fair, take them to the movies, run them to the mall. No it was not bad, they were a very nice easy going family.

One day Mr. N went out and bought everyone skies. None of the family or I had ever skied in our lives. We hit the slopes of Vermont almost every weekend and within one winter, I was pretty good. Especially for a girl who found it impossible to learn to ice skate.

I digress. I also had to cook for the family. After looking for a coffee cake recipe; which to me was a cake with coffee in, but in the States is a cake you eat with your coffee, I realized that I needed a good cook book and set out to buy one. This is what I came back with, The Creative Cooking Course, edited by Charlotte Turgeon.

This is a great book, lots of pictures and where I found my best shortbread recipe. The secret, you must rub the butter into the flour, as if you're making pastry, then add the sugar and knead and knead until it is warm and pliable dough.

Basic Scotch Shortbread

2 cups sifted self-raising flour
1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar

Place the flour in a large mixing bowl. Dice the butter and add to the flour. Blend with fingers, until all the butter is absorbed in the flour. Add the sugar gradually, mixing with a wooden spoon until well blended. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth. The dough will be very soft. Divide the dough in half. Press each half into a 9" x 12" rectangle on a 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" ungreased cookie sheet with sides. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 22 minutes, or until just set but not browned. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then loosen around the edges carefully. Place a sheet of aluminum foil over the pan and invert carefully. Dust with confectioner's sugar if desired. Cut into squares to serve. This makes about 30 squares.

I like to put my shortbread into two round pans 9" diameter. Cut into wedges, while still warm.

Christy

What lights my night?

I changed my sitting room around a bit. So my gateleg table landed up on this wall, with one of a pair of lamps that I have. I keep meaning to buy a softlight bulb for it.

Biscuit barrel and tea caddy from the UK.

Christy

Gift for a Tea 'O' Phile

A gift from a friend who knows that I love tea. I would say I'm a Tea'O'Phile.

This seems perfect for a personal cup of tea. Love the Eco Green colour.

Christy

15-91 Singer Sewing Machine

This is one of the two Singer 15-91 sewing machines that my husband found in the trash. He picked both of them up for me. One is from 1932 with the original manual and this one is from 1950, no manual, but there are lots on the web.

It was partially rewired in 1989, and probably serviced at that time, bill $138.00. I have cleaned it, and have plugged it in and it runs. It needs the plate put on; which Bo said he would put on for me.

I haven't looked at the other one very closely, as it's out in the garage. It has a very fancy chrome plate.

These machines are gear run, as opposed to my Husqvarna which has a belt. They're meant to be a real work horse and be able to sew through great thicknesses; which well may help me to sew Rob's guitar case.

I read that in 1950's one of these machines would cost almost three-hundred dollars, people would buy them on the never, never. It would obviously be a special purchase. In today's money that is well over two-thousand dollars.

Bo says he'll work on the cabinet for me. I did clean it all up. When he'll get to it, I don't know. But a nice find.

Christy

Fruit Cake From a Friend

A friend Rose, who comes from S. Africa, made me this lovely fruit cake. I had said that I love fruitcake but rarely make it.

It's interesting it seems that all my friends from former British Empire countries, ie Jamaica, Tobago, S. Africa all like fruit cake. Americans do not; at least on the whole.

My husband does not like fruitcake, but my son taking after his mum, loves fruitcake. The E-mail card sent out over the holidays from work said "Orange you glad we didn't send you a fruitcake?' I said I like fruitcake.

So I'm enjoying this one.

Christy

My writing journal with my photographs from the Isle of Skye

My photography journal of the Isle of Skye.

click on the link above and view my writing journal

This is what I have been working on. I have made a writing journal on Blurb, with inspiring photographs I took while on the Isle of Skye. If you click on the link above you will be able to view it.

I'm pretty happy with it. One boo boo, but you'll have to look hard to find it.

So that's been my 20 minutes a day doing something creative, I hope it counts.

I hope you like it.

Christy

P.S. If you'd like to buy a copy you may do so via Blurb

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

I learned something the other day Hummingbirds are only found in the Americas. This is the Hummingbird you see in our area. Eastern seaboard. Their wings beat 53 times a second. So fast in fact and they are quite small, that you sometimes hear them and think it's an insect. If you put out a nectar feeder and plant the right flowers and shrubs you can attract them to your garden. I have sometimes seen them on my butterfly bush.

In winter they migrate to Mexico and Central America. They double their weight to fly over the Gulf of Mexico, over 500 miles, a nonstop flight of over 18 hours.

The smallest hummingbird can be found in Cuba, it is the size of a bumble bee.

So not everyone gets to see a hummingbird, and they are delightful.

Christy

Guitar Case Saga

Marmalade Rose had a great idea of spending 20 Minutes a day creatively.

So I'm working on this. Creativity is I think a great outlet for the inner soul, it's needed in our hussle and bussle of everyday life.

I started this guitar case a little while ago for my son. I had no pattern and worked to my own design of putting it together Quilted red fabric for the lining, thin foam in between and upholstery fabric for the outside. I even found old Gibson tape for the handles.

The problem I'm having is stitching the thickness of fabrics together, so have had several thoughts on how to do this. So I've spent my time on serging the edges, in itself problematic. It's rather a love hate relationship with my serger.

It's a work in progress so will keep you updated. Hope it all comes together.

These photos were taken at night, so sorry about the colour. Sitting by my old Husqvarna, which purrs along.

Christy

Patio and Pond

I never did post about my lovely patio; which my 15 year old son made for me. While I was away last September, visiting my family in UK. My dear boy Rob, with some help from his dad, put down this patio for me. He insisted it be done correctly, with the crushed stone base and sand tampered down. You buy the stones all pre-cut for the circle. He did a great job.

I never really got to enjoy it last autumn, so hope to do so as spring and summer come.

American Robins are larger than the British Robin and a more orangey red. We do not seem to keep too many fish in the pond, but the wildlife love it.

Below they are on the tree drying themselves out on a cold winter day.

Christy

Glass What?

I bought the glass cottage at a thrift shop along the harbour in Portree, Isle of Skye. I just liked it, it reminded me of crofts and cottages. It's hollow inside. I asked my sister what she thought it was used for? BB said I have a swan like that which is hollow and someone said you set it in jelly/jello as a decoration. BB gave me the swan so now I have the pair. But I'm still not sure if that's the answer or they're used for decoration or something else.

Anyone know?

Christy

Rob with friends New Years Day

A belated post, of Rob with friends, playing 'Apples to Apples.'

Here they are sittng in the kitchen.

Christy