Friday 31 May 2013

Wonders

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here is our world today...










Thursday 16 May 2013

Into Spring...

 Gratitiude is the memory of the heart. - Jean Baptiste Massieu

I think I had forgotten about spring.  I had gotten use to cold days...but for the past few weeks...warmer weather has come...
I glanced out of my window...and saw a beautiful moon...delicately floating low on the horizon...above the lake.  I wish you could have seen it too...
Then I remembered all that I had forgotten.  There is so much we all have to be thankful for...
Here is my world today...


A golden moon...

Apple Blossoms...

Our path to the lake...

Children's anticipation of first swim in lake...

Enjoying the wind...

Feeling the cool water between our toes...

A newly discovered nest of eggs (wild turkey...I think)...

Green Grasses...

Blooming Lilacs...

Saturday 11 May 2013

Homemade Kisses

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. - Charles M. Schulz



I think that homemade gifts are the nicest to both give and receive...especially for Mother's Day. So today, we wanted to send our own homemade Kisses...
Here is what we did....

1.First
We made the homemade kisses with this recipe from the Joy of Cooking: Homemade Old Fashioned Fudge
(but you could use any recipe you like...)
 After we had made the fudge, instead of pouring it into a pan to cut into squares, we rolled the slightly cooled fudge into balls...and let them firm up...

2.Next
We collected the materials needed to make the wraps:

Materials:
Pen for writing
Foil Origami Paper or Aluminium Foil
Extra strips of paper for writing individual notes
Mason Jar (optional for presentation)    

3.Then
When the fudge balls were cool...each child was given a small strip of paper to write their message and a piece of colour foil to wrap their kisses...



    
  


 

4.Last
Then we carefully wrapped the fudge ball with the foil paper...
Make sure your small piece of paper with a message sticks out of the wrapper slightly

Carefully Draw up the corners


Twist the "Kiss" closed
 
5.Time to Give...
You can add the kisses to a mason jar to complete the gift...or a basket...it's up to you!
  

 Happy Mother's Day!!

Thursday 9 May 2013

And Now the Ice Melts...

Under the snow...blossoms a daring spring. - Terri Guillemets

A walk to the lake...

Spring has come almost over night here in Canada.... Our world has transformed from ice and snow...into a beautiful green landscape....
Here is our world today....


pear blossoms....

sweet spring flower....

water's edge...

at the boat launch...


Our Newfoundland, Navy Bleu, in for her first spring swim

Our first Canoe trip of the year...


A beautiful green canopy already fills the forest...


Lilacs about to bloom...

sweet scented flowers fill the air...

first spring trip to the lakeside beach...

Friday 3 May 2013

Sweet Potato Pie

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together.  Keep me in your heart and I'll stay there forever. - Winnie the Pooh


A few days ago, I arrived back home after a trip down to the Deep South.  There are so many things that I love about the South...family, friends, hospitality, ocean waves, the scent of freshly bloomed jasmine wafting through the air, tall oaks, and quiet evenings...(and of course the food).

Besides Grits... Sweet Potato Pie always brings back sweet memories from the south.  On weekends when I was young, my dad would buy this freshly made pie for Sunday Dinner.
If you would like to taste a bit of the south...give it a try...it is one of my favourites!

Sweet Potato Pie (adapted from Allrecipe)
makes  2 9-inch pies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup milk
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon vanilla
2 unbaked pie shells

Directions:
1. Boil sweet potatoes whole in their skins for 40-50 minutes.

2. Run cold water of sweet potatoes and remove the skin. (about 3 cups mashed).

3. Break apart sweet potato and add butter.  Mix well with a mixer.

4. Stir in sugar, milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla.  Beat on a high speed until smooth.

5.  Pour filling into a prepared pie crust (pierce the bottom and sides of crust and lightly baked for 10-15 minutes at 350)

6.  Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes, or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Pie will slightly puff up as it bakes and then sink down as it cools.

Enjoy!

Thursday 2 May 2013

Pictures of Spring

No winter lasts forever;  no spring skips its turn. - Hal Borland