Sunday, February 24, 2013

Sweet Surprises

You never know what you might find when you least expect it.



We were rushing about running errands trying to make the most use of a cherished Saturday when low and behold...

a new antique store has opened.


I found an ironstone serving dish,


a beautiful deep platter that will be perfect for serving pasta,


and a beautiful white eyelet lace coverlet.


Unexpected and lucky finds.
All for $18. 


Sweet! 

have a good week, K

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Sunday on a Long Weekend

We have insulation! 
  

This is the rebuilt back porch.
I imagine having morning tea here in the winter. 


The kitchen sink will be centred under the large window on the left of the photo.


A view of the kitchen from the living area. That's the sink window on the right.
The rooms in the background will be a sewing room and a laundry room. The back porch is there behind the little square window.


We found a second hand claw foot tub that will go under this window. The commode will not be in the middle of the room :-) . 


Our bedroom. It's really large ( smile ).


The second bedroom. It's really large too. I don't have grandchildren yet but I'll be ready when I do.

Tomorrow is a holiday and since I don't have to work I putzed around in the kitchen.  It's a luxurious way to spend an afternoon. 
 I made steel cut oatmeal in the crockpot last week  - genius, let me know if you're interested in the recipe. - and had eaten it all week and there was still some left so I used it to make oatmeal bread. It turned out beautifully.  I used the bread machine to make the dough then did the baking in the oven.  

Oatmeal Bread 

1 cup cooked, cooled steal cut oats and barley
1 egg, stirred
3?4 cup water  
1 tbsp molasses 
1 tbs sugar
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour
2 tsp dried yeast

Just put all the ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Set to the dough setting and let it go. Drop it out onto a floured board and punch it down. Shape into a log or divide into 2greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for about half hour or until it sounds hollow when you tap it. 

It was so good even Adam had 2 slices and he won't eat home baked bread because he only likes white bread and he doesn't trust me to  just make white bread.


And then chocolate chip cookies from Martha Stewart. If I wasn't sure Adam will make these disappear lickity split, I be concerned about the temptation. ( I'm getting healthy come he!! or high water! ).


And then some good for you breakfast muffins.



Carrot Oat Bran Muffins 

In a bowl grate 2 large carrots  ( about 2 cups ) and 2 apples - don't drain. Add 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.

In another bowl: 
1 cup oat bran
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

In another bowl:
3/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp vegetable oil

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry as quickly and gently as you can. Stir in the carrots, apples and nuts.
Spoon into a greased or lined muffin tin. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of one muffin comes out clean.

Enjoy. Adam definitely won't eat these... but they really are moist and delish! 

Hope our weekend has been yummy :-) 



Monday, February 11, 2013

My Treasures

For the most part everything I've ever collected is all packed up and fills this 3 car garage and the chicken coop turned shed ( one day it will be a little guest room ).
You can see the elliptical right there in the front. I brought it in to town to our temporary home when the weather got too cold to run outside in the fall. 
It sat in the living room until 2 weeks ago when I started using it again.


I've managed to collect a fair bit more in the near year that we've been in our temporary home.
I can hardly wait.


Just think how much fun it will be to unpack those 17 boxes of china :-) 
I really can't remember what I had that takes up so much space. 


I imagine it'll be like christmas. Or a reunion. 
We should have insulation by the end of this week - I'm beyond anxious.


Random thought - I ate my first fresh fig last fall - Wow.
  Don't you love figs? 
I cut them in quarters, wrapped them in prosciutto and drizzled them with a little honey. 


:-) Karen 


Sunday, February 3, 2013

Dreaming Spring

I'm thinking SPRING - forward and backward.
Planning the new veggie and herb gardens and flower beds.
Remembering our trip to England last spring.... and the amazing Borough Market where you could buy anything foody. 


Wall to wall people...


bedding plants...


cut flowers...


 jams and chutneys...


blue and green eggs
( hey!  we grow these )...



yummy pasties...


yep, a section for turnips! 


farm fresh veggies...




any mushroom you can think of... 




game...


fish and seafood...


and lunch!


Outside the market there was the most incredible cheese store. Also wall to wall people. All queued up  out the door for a taste to help decide which cheeses to bring home. 


I loved that it was all family farm; artisan, one of a kind. 






Just thinking about it makes me want to put on a floppy straw hat and carry a basket to market.
:-) 

hugs, K