Adapting a recipe...and Dabbling in paint

Catering to a crowd of calorie conscious women is tricky.
It necessitates offering smaller sizes so as to allow for sampling of a variety of foods and ultimately reduces waste.

How to do this?
Adapt recipes and their cooking times.

For an afternoon tea introducing a new baby...
I think it's easiest to keep things relaxed and simple...
Two teachers have newborns and the staff are putting together a group shower in the Library.

We are serving small scones with jam and clotted cream, a fruit platter, small sandwiches, a veggie tray and decorated mini cupcakes.
A variety of teas, black, green, herbal and milk, lemon wedges, sugar and honey.
It's always a good idea to have a large pitcher of water with sliced lemons on the table as well.

Place everything on a table laid with a pretty tablecloth...don't forget the flowers...they needn't be expensive just a cheery bunch in a simple vase.
You'll also need plates, cups and saucers and some pretty napkins...

Scones in miniature...

Best of Best of Bridge Cookbook

Cranberry Scone Recipe

I substituted blueberries for the cranberries...

Generously floured counter

I used a small jar as the "cutter" because all my others were too large

necessity is the mother of invention!

I had to use 2 pizza pans as well

so many scones so few cookie sheets!

Golden and ready to serve

I watched the oven very carefully so as not to burn these

instead of the 15-20 minutes that the recipe stated

I only needed 10 minutes.

I have packed them up in a large Tupperware container and they are good to go.

After all this baking I made a pot of Chai Tea

which is new to me and I love it.

I like it with milk and one sugar cube

I do not use sugar in other teas

just this one.

YUM!

I decided to play around with paint...

dabble if you will.

I have felt the urge ever since my girlfriend D. bought the Poppie painting...

just a little nudge was all it took

and so it goes...

Pepper was so funny when I was painting

She was leaping around, scratching and exploring all the corners

of

"my studio"

which is also 

"Pepper's Room"

she was a great companion!

I enjoyed her antics

she is such a great kitten

Pets really make a difference

do you agree?

I am also curious...

what hobbies do you engage in?

White Wednesday...

Something rather experi- mental...prepare yourself...it gets silly!

I have seen quite a few blogs with themes of white
which happen to fall on Wednesdays...
maybe you have seen them too?
They are of few words...mostly images of whites.

white spring hyacinths

Hamilton, the King of Irons

white roses in a matte white Weller vase

J. Peterman white Tee

about to be flattened and smoothed by Hamilton the King of all Irons

beachwalk blooms

Moonsnail and oyster shells

Fish bone washed up by the tide

Romneya coulteri

Smilacena racemosa

white tulips

Meissen platter

Humble Bungalow bathroom floor

and 

Clawfoot leg sporting Last Season's Nickel

So what do you think

about my stab at White Wednesday

a not so serious post?

and 

 always room for improvement...

(isn't that why WhiteOut was invented?)

Hope you have a great day :)

Home Sweet Home!

Homecoming is sweet...
all that is familiar and cozy awaits...

Our getaway was filled with mostly sunny skies
and was completely relaxing...
Mr. HB works very hard and puts in long hours... so to be able to take him away
for some well deserved rest is such a gift.

I hope that you can get a sense of the peace, quiet and serenity of this magical place.

Sunny tulips 

The rustic cabin...

"Eagle"

was our home away from home for 5 days.

we spent time in the evenings 

cozy and warmed

by the fire

Rocking chairs

arts and crafts style

private sun drenched deck 

with a hot tub

and 

red comfy chairs

which looked out across the sea

 crashing and pounding of the surf 

was heard all day and night

it lulled us to sleep

or

perhaps it was the fresh salt air and the beach walks

The Beach House 

with firepit

and 

ample seating

and a great view beyond...

barnacles

mossy rocks

  sandy playtime

rocky outcroppings

enormous mussels

wildlife!

who could resist that face?

this little Miss stole a cookie from the Steller's Jay

and she hung around quite awhile hoping for more!

Steller's Jay

eating a westcoast trail cookie

bright blue feathers

looking south to Washington State

foamy seas

 a lovely sunset

Stepping away from it all to nourish and rebalance

meant no phones or internet

no demands

 time to reflect

 read

relax 

 unwind

beach combing

 listening to the waves

padding about in boots

blown by the wind

drawing in the sand

searching for stones

thoughts meander and wander

  natural beauty

offers up many gifts...

some

souvenirs

Hostess style

simple

smooth

shades of green

with one rogue mauve pebble

something to remind me

of a holiday spent 

in a place of rugged beauty...

Stop, Look and Listen....

A few weeks ago I entered a blog giveaway...
Adrienne of  The Rich Life on a Budget  generously offered gifts from Luxuria.
I find it hard to believe, but my name was chosen randomly!

The ring that Adrienne gave away is from Vanessa at Luxuria
please do pop on over and look at all her sparkly Bling!

Good things come in small packages!

I love the grossgrain ribbon bow 

and look it's in my favourite colours

black and white!

Adrienne has her own blogger cards

a nice touch...

As is her habit

Pepper had to supervise

She is licking the tissue paper

the tip of her tongue is just visible if you look ever so close.

Playtime continues...

The ring fits perfectly 

and in case you are interested the colour is Fume

it is multi faceted and really sparkles 

I am also planning to use it as a scarf ring

because of it's size 

it makes a statement and will not be lost in a scarf.

I am thrilled!

Thank you Adrienne 

and 

Vanessa

Pepper loves the bow

she's got her paw firmly planted

and she doesn't want me taking it from her

I'll let her play with it to her hearts content.

Yesterday I meandered in the garden 

in the sunshine with my camera...

Janet at the Gardener's Cottage 

enjoyed a morning walkabout with her camera

she has roses blooming

it will be several months before ours will even hint at flowering.

King Alfred daffodils

succulents have taken over the bird bath

this is what I call a happy accident

Hellebore

Hellebore

I love these but have forgotten the names!

Hellebore

another variety unknown

English primroses 

English Country Living 

with 

a springtime theme

I'll be sipping tea while perusing this luxe magazine.

Spring-ing into

Fashion 

In Style UK

can't wait to see what they are forecasting...

I will be offline

 and

 incommunicado

for the next few days...

I plan to

 read some books

 watch some DVD's

live simply

listen to the sounds of the birds

look at details - absorb beauty

breathe in the fresh air

 eat simple wholesome food

walk

ponder and reflect

Take care,

Hostess