I always have mugs of Alternanthera cuttings in water through the winter. They can switch to Santa for the Holidays, then return to a non-seasonal mug.
Thursday
Santa Mugs
Not for drinking hot cocoa, for decoration.
Yogurt cups make fine liners to hold a Christmas Cactus cutting, a small Begonia plant, a bit of Mistletoe Cactus, a Hyacinth bulb or some other fun plant of a size that fits into a mug.
I always have mugs of Alternanthera cuttings in water through the winter. They can switch to Santa for the Holidays, then return to a non-seasonal mug.
I always have mugs of Alternanthera cuttings in water through the winter. They can switch to Santa for the Holidays, then return to a non-seasonal mug.
Saturday
Hot Cocoa Italian Style
When we ran out of 'mix' packets and I searched for hot cocoa recipes I discovered the most sensuous of Cocoa recipes. It took a little tweaking to adjust to our tastes but this is wonderful.
I froth a little milk and add to the top of the filled mugs. The easiest froth is when there's not much milk left in the jug and you just shake it hard.
HOT COCOA Italian Style
2 tablespoons Cocoa 2 tablespoons Sugar -- whisk together in a saucepan 1 1/2 cups of milk -- we use 2% add milk and continue to whisk over medium heat until it simmers.
Have prepared: 2 tablespoon cold milk 1 tablespoon cornstarch Whisk milk and cornstarch together and add to the simmering cocoa/sugar/milk mixture. Whisk over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper -- barely a pinch. I had written that 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla was optional; I forgot to add that. It could hardly have been better but I'll add it next time.
This makes enough for two. It will not fill large mugs but it's plenty filling, not to complain.
*The original recipe called for 3 tablespoons of Cocoa -- too much! and less sugar that I used. This makes a thick drink. I could not imagine how comforting it is on a cold day until I tried it.
I froth a little milk and add to the top of the filled mugs. The easiest froth is when there's not much milk left in the jug and you just shake it hard.
Monday
Fruitcake
He-Who-Mows cracked enough pecans that I had a quart of pecan halves once they were shelled.
This year I left out coconut and only used a half pound of candied pineapple because that was all I found at the store. It was chopped more finely than what we used to buy, which came in little wedges.
My fruitcake consists of a pound cake batter using a cup each of sugar and butter, 5 eggs and 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla flavoring and a cup of flour.
The other fruits are a cup of golden raisins and a pound of candied cherries.
Mama used to use a similar recipe except that she used dates instead of raisins.
In previous years I 've added spices and different flavorings like lemon and rum extracts. I like a purist fruitcake: simple fruit and nuts with batter to hold it together.
Because it is more than 2 weeks before Christmas, we will likely have eaten the whole thing by Christmas. I have enough pecan pieces to make a Chocolate Sheet Cake for Christmas Day.
This year I left out coconut and only used a half pound of candied pineapple because that was all I found at the store. It was chopped more finely than what we used to buy, which came in little wedges.
My fruitcake consists of a pound cake batter using a cup each of sugar and butter, 5 eggs and 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla flavoring and a cup of flour.
The other fruits are a cup of golden raisins and a pound of candied cherries.
Mama used to use a similar recipe except that she used dates instead of raisins.
In previous years I 've added spices and different flavorings like lemon and rum extracts. I like a purist fruitcake: simple fruit and nuts with batter to hold it together.
Because it is more than 2 weeks before Christmas, we will likely have eaten the whole thing by Christmas. I have enough pecan pieces to make a Chocolate Sheet Cake for Christmas Day.
Gingerbread
Imagine a small boy sniffing the chimney of a gingerbread house and saying it smelled like Christmas.
Gingerbread conjures all kinds of memories. Mama used to make gingerbread using locally made sorghum syrup, dark and rich. One year she served us gingerbread squares with sliced bananas and whipped cream. I asked where she got that idea. 'Good Housekeeping magazine.' I'd skimmed past the elaborate dessert with piped swirls of whipped cream as too much trouble. Mama reduced it to its lowest terms: gingerbread, bananas and whipped cream.
Gingerbread conjures all kinds of memories. Mama used to make gingerbread using locally made sorghum syrup, dark and rich. One year she served us gingerbread squares with sliced bananas and whipped cream. I asked where she got that idea. 'Good Housekeeping magazine.' I'd skimmed past the elaborate dessert with piped swirls of whipped cream as too much trouble. Mama reduced it to its lowest terms: gingerbread, bananas and whipped cream.
Thursday
Things That Last
We're shopping for a new food processor. The old one just quit. It worked and the next time it didn't. He-Who took it apart and it was not fixable, so the motor base went into the garbage and the bowls and cutting parts and tops are still here.
I want a sturdy one with a strong motor so I could knead dough and shred cheese if I took a notion. I haven't made yeast bread in years and years and I usually just grate a few shreds of cheese using a hand grater as I need it.
We've looked at the ridiculous to the sublime. The very cheapest does not have a slicing disc, one of the things I use most. I love uniform carrot slices.
The most expensive I saw has a long-term warranty. I could use it worry free until I was 97. If I don't live that long, somebody would get a real bargain when my family put it in the yard sale after I'm dead. "This old thing? Five dollars," they would say, eager for a quick buck and ignorant of the original price of four hundred. Guess we won't buy that one.
Maybe I can wear out a less expensive one, slicing, dicing, grating, kneading, chopping shredding. I was reading a review where the user said she'd received her new machine that day and already used it 5 times.
Coming back to reality, we discussed whether a Cuisinart is still THE food processor or whether a Hamilton Beach for a third the price, with high wattage motor might be a better buy.
I want a sturdy one with a strong motor so I could knead dough and shred cheese if I took a notion. I haven't made yeast bread in years and years and I usually just grate a few shreds of cheese using a hand grater as I need it.
We've looked at the ridiculous to the sublime. The very cheapest does not have a slicing disc, one of the things I use most. I love uniform carrot slices.
The most expensive I saw has a long-term warranty. I could use it worry free until I was 97. If I don't live that long, somebody would get a real bargain when my family put it in the yard sale after I'm dead. "This old thing? Five dollars," they would say, eager for a quick buck and ignorant of the original price of four hundred. Guess we won't buy that one.
Maybe I can wear out a less expensive one, slicing, dicing, grating, kneading, chopping shredding. I was reading a review where the user said she'd received her new machine that day and already used it 5 times.
Coming back to reality, we discussed whether a Cuisinart is still THE food processor or whether a Hamilton Beach for a third the price, with high wattage motor might be a better buy.
Friday
Monday
Fall Blooming Bulbs
Spring flowers like tulips and daffodils are common everywhere. Less notice is taken of fall blooming bulbs like Sternbergia.
It isn't a crocus; sternbergia is a member of the Amaryllis family.
Thursday
Painted Chairs
Sanded and painted an old wooden rocker Navy Blue for the screened porch.
I am very pleased with Lagoon Blue and Lime Green newly painted folding chairs that I've had for about 40 years. The patio table from the same era I gave a faux galvanized finish.
These are in a sort of hidden garden by the pumphouse, near the greenhouse.
These are in a sort of hidden garden by the pumphouse, near the greenhouse.
Vintage metal chairs from 1963 got a coat of Primer -- I really liked them in that color; they blended well into the setting, a coat of Brown and a spritz of Hammered Copper.
I have other chairs to paint.
Wednesday
Saturday
Yellow Striped Chintz
I am always drawn to photos of chaises longue with yellow striped cushions or yellow striped awnings.
The photo above is from Design.Inc (Canada) and Sarah Richardson. Cushions are by Ikea. You can see the story and details here: Yellow Striped Chaise
Some time back I bought several yards of yellow striped chintz. What I bought was whatever was left on the bolt. I already had two folding chaises bought on clearance.
I am making simple knife edged pads -- no boxing and piping for me -- just straight seams which are difficult enough. The polyester padding is from a mattress pad that never was large enough for a queen bed.
The length of the mattress pad is longer than the chaise, so the extra is turned back and two 4" pieces of elastic webbing sewn between the folded end and the body of the pad make a pocket to pull over the end of the chaise.
Sears sells something called chair towels which have a similar pocket that goes over a beach chair or the back of a car seat, so I'm not really that original. I found those after I made my first chaise pad.
I can't do tutorials -- use your imagination and what's at hand.
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