Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Food, Tea, Coffee, oh my!





This past weekend we expanded out palates with a cute little alien looking fruit called the Kiwano. "Why not?" Mia said as she picked it out in the shop. I took a good look and thought (as you do, as a mother--"I'm about to waste $3 on this thing")....The man shopping next to us just watched with a smile as we discussed it.  In the end she won, and here we are, opening our minds a bit. 




It was ...okay. Kinda smushy, but sweet like a Kiwi.



*********************************************************************************


Later that day we collected some nettles from the garden and made nettle tea

You can do this too, it's so fantastically simple. 

Eartheasy blog has a great recipe with photographed directions. All the benefits are listed out as well, so you can unwrinkle your forehead right now and read that before you judge a nettle. Bahahahaha




For one thing, it aids digestion. 'Nuf said.










 It tasted like spinach to me. But then, I take my tea without milk or sugar now. Gasp! I know. Sick.














I was so inspired with all this close-to-the-Earth nourishment that I progressed to baking these bitty muffins, made with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, almonds, almond flour, and other stuff I've already blanked. 

They are quite the healthy snack indeed. The recipe is from Elana's Pantry. She is an amazing gluten-free chef, I love everything I make from her book.





These were hearty, tasty, and healthy. And those huge man hands are not mine ya'll. 

The husband even ate them-even though I told him there was no sugar or oil. Double- triple gasp!













After a bit of nourishment it was time to work in the garden. We had a few hours of sunshine and man, was I ready for it. Seriously. Need sun. 





I may be a pseudo healthy person but I like me a tan.....A la' Christy Brinkley or Cindy Crawford style. I grew up with that as a beauty ideal, I can't help it.
Ya dig me?  (Your answer: "Like a garden.")


I am so pale I'm see-through right now. I nearly match the natives. (Heeheeeheee slight dig at the English. You know I love you so chin up.)








The Bluebells have arrived. Yippeeee!











We found Lilacs in our garden...it was an ecstatic moment for us all. I had poured Miracle Grow on this shrub last year hoping it was something special, but I didn't realize it was a Lilac bush...So so lovely.





























 I love it when the apple tree blossoms and they fall, it's like magic. I tried to catch them mid flight, but alas, I did not. I sat there instead and smiled, as they fell around me. I felt like a fairy princess for a moment.

















I weeded all day.
Da-yum.







This is a weed right? I can't find it in any book. It's EVERYwhere.....literally.

 Prickly stems and leaves, purple flowers...proliferates over everything else. Huge. What else can I say-it's annoying.




















The girls planted their seeds including strawberries, pansies, herbs, and lettuce.
I let them each pick out packets at the garden shop. Now it's their responsibility to keep them watered.
:)















image via Pinterest



Is it too much to ask that I have a statue made for the garden like this one--in my likenes, with obvious edits and reconstruction in the various parts? LOL  Is that vain? Oh I dare say not. Perhaps a celebration of the female goddess in us all, yes? 






***** Anyways....carrying on....




I'm ready for a nice, rich coffee. Do you remember my post about the coffee that is better than that three letter word starting with "s"? ----- Yeah, that one.  



Oh man, it is my fave treat, I only have coffee once every three days or so now, so it is even more special than before. Slurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp.

Oh that's my mom drinking coffee, not me. I don't slurp darlings, I'm civilized now from all this cultural learning whilst living amongst the English. Or as my English friends tell me, "We'll try to civilize you darling. We'll try."    meow


(  Love you Mama.  )







My music Sadhana just stopped, so I know I've spent far too much time blogging. 
Time to get my sew on. 

See ya'll soon.





♥♥♥

Just remember- you could die tomorrow, so make the most of right now. 

HUGS







Sunday, May 19, 2013

Union Flag patch work quilt



 The task to finish a quilt includes mopping the floor several times, taping the backing down to the floor, then sandwiching the batting in middle (while smoothing all the wrinkles out), and then laying the top on it all. The whole time smoothing and resmoothing it out to prevent wrinkles and whiskers. Then once it's all good, I pin it with safety pins every few inches to secure everything in place. Then I roll it up like a burrito and carry it upstairs to quilt.  

After everything is finished including the binding, I wash it in my machine and dry it, just to be sure no cooties are still on it. 



This little lovely went to a good friend of mine, who happens to adorn my house with her custom painted furniture. ;)



































































Quilting it:











Attaching the binding:





























These quilts are made with tiny two inch (5cm) squares. So ummm, yeah--they take me a while to make. 

Word.

:)








Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Homemade Soft jumbo pretzels


















Easy bake homemade pretzels made with whole wheat flour. These are virtually fat free, so dip them in melted cream cheese honey pies. 
Yes- do it, it is gorgeous. If you are old enough to remember Hot Sam in the malls of America, then hold on to your pants because this is it.  
(My mouth is watering, I'll be back in a second. Need another pretzel.)







Put the kids to work after school with some pretzel making. Almost mistake proof-- just flour, water, and yeast. Bam.
Okay, so a pinch of sugar and salt too, if you wanna get technical. 




Find the recipe here: on Sally's website.










Roll dough into "snakes", wrap around, paint with egg wash, bake. Done. Eat.




























































Did I mention I hail from Pretzel City, USA? 


Yes, my high school mascot was....(wait for it)......






A PRETZEL.





(SMH)
Now you understand why I am so weird. Perhaps. Maybe. 



Nothing like a big fat wobbly pretzel to install fear into the hearts of opponents on the sporting field.


























I was thinking of giving you dear readers a complete informative lecture on pretzels---then I found my brain.  (You're welcome.)


However-

If you fancy a Wiki read, looky here
I can't resist a bit of useless trivia  knowledge. 
It's an addiction. 


(It has been a lifelong hope that someday I will win Trivial Pursuit !  Big Sigh.)
bahahahaha I digress yet again.





















Seriously.

No dipping in boiling water. No meat, no cheeses, no 48 step process here. There is really no excuse to not make these soft and luscious yummies. 

*And for the record we melted cream cheese in the microwave for 28 seconds and it was perrrrrrfect. MMhmm, purrrring like a kitty here after this snack. 



You know you want some.

;)











Monday, May 13, 2013

Whoot whoot for Windsor! Funnest Mother's Day yet.



Is he twelve? Look at that face. I think these must be ROTC kids or something...I mean, who would do this all day, being terrorized by dumb tourists wanting a photo op with the bear hat red coat? 
(Rolling eyes)  I can just hear what he's thinking....can't you? LMAO

   Yeah, I was a total tourist. I was goaded into it by the husband...really. Honest.




































































 Look I photo bombed that guys pic --there in the left corner. hahahahaha





I have a thing for curtain walls. And castles. And palaces. And and and and and......never mind.















Queen Victoria motions the coach to park right---- here.






















Crooked building alert. 













Look at these ADORBS signs! I was snapping all sorts of pics of the signs. I act like I know something when doing this, people always take a second look wondering what the deal is. If I'm really clever I start pointing and speaking in Spanish, acting all excited and stuff.....Hey, I get a laugh, that's all that matters.
















I spotted a sign there:  "Jug of Pimms £10"

I turned to my husband and said "Oh let's go in there and get pissed!"  (With a way too loud of a voice and much too much enthusiasm.)
He wasn't amused and said ~ (far too reasonably I might add) "We have the kids with us."

I said it would be even more of an adventure to transverse Windsor whilst under the influence. 
(We didn't drive darlings, we were on a coach.)

Well, after about three seconds of debate, he did not concur.


What a party pooper.

(Sticking my tongue out.)










Duchess Kate was chilling in the phone booth- umm...on her mobile phone.... (?)








I still think Dover Castle is my favorite, but Windsor was on my bucket list for sure. It's the law I think, if you live in England you must visit Windsor. :D 
Thank you husband for making it happen.




Cheerio. Darlings.