Still Winter~

So the above happened..

A Nor-Easter..LOL EASTER.Not.

It's March that's the longest.

I must say I don't miss my real estate days at all in winter.

The open houses..oy..hoisting those stupidly heavy sandwich boards onto snowbanks..w/ the car running w/people in back.

Sometimes I felt mortified.

M-O-R-T-I-F-I-E-D.

Wet snow all over me..onto an empty cold house sometimes.

Thank goodness I loved it most of the time.My clients♥

I prefer winter ..not driving.

What a great job it was though looking back.

The families,..individuals..homes..decor..stories.

Some became friends.

I learned so much about so many things.

It was exciting..but also stressful at times..I can't lie.

You want what's best for your clients and if it's not happening..you worry for them.

But some..I fell in love with.

Anyway..being INDOORS..let's me start Easter baking early..

A carrot cake is in the freezer..some cookies are started.

I also tried Broma Bakery's Strawberry Almond Tea Cake

It's so easy and good and I pump up the almond flavoring.

It's lovely w/ a dusting of snow on top;) ..Icing sugar..;)

I made an Irish Soda bread for St Pat's..but before the actual day..

..I am part Irish;) 

This time w/ caraway and raisins..if you Google..Oodles of recipes will show up.

To me it's part scone part bread.

I like it the first day.

I do like it but prefer a scone.

Or a great bread:)

But I like it.

And it's pretty..I need to eat pretty;)

Don't give me a raw oyster.

I wanted to talk about basil..because it never lasted here indoors in cooler months.

I found the trick for us.

The pic above is the day she came to live here..always so cute that first day..makes you think you can grow ANYTHING indoors in winter..and then..she leaves you.

So if  you live in a zone like mine..here are my new tips that work.

1. Don't bring it home in extreme cold.It will sulk and die.

2.Put the pot it came in..in a bigger pot..and water inside the big empty pot.It will sip it all up.

3.Only pinch at a fork.

4.Keep in sunshine during the day.

5. Place under your stove top light at night away from drafts and windows.

Look.. 3 weeks later..:)

And take cuttings! Root in water..and then pot up.

I was a very lucky girl this week and found some vintage copper canelés molds♥I had only ever used the silicone.

Not sure I'll use beeswax though..I'll see..

Ok ..and this book..RHS..fabulous...in some ways..

I bought it from The Book Depository..$10.00 less than Amazon Canada..and always free shipping.I have never been disappointed with them..

so about this book..

Look..a few instructional pages..beautifully and perfectly illustrated..and many true(albeit not my favorite ..beige..not white..and not much oomph.. watercolor paper pages ensue..all sketched..for you to try..palette suggestions)..a treasure!A treasure as in modern day learn to add layers which I am so bad at.I do everything fast and wet apart from that PEAR:) This ..these are along the Pear.. lines.

Don't expect instructions..very very few..

24 colors are in her palette..I improvised because I don't have her exact colors..I have lots though....well..lots.. is relative right?

Lots to me is like nothing to many;)

This is a game of patience and learning layers..

I spend more in a pharma..or on food in less than 5 minutes..

and these pages will last and last..

Caution:
She says to apply pressure and pull gently to remove the watercolor pages..

I am a caution girl..and gentle..and it ripped.I would use an X ~Acto..gently.

And be prepared to be patient and let layers dry.

But you cannot even go to a good movie w/ a little popcorn for $15.00 Canadian right?

$11.00 US:)

Caveat Emptor

So..the book is all about botanicals and precise work.

I am not great at this ..especially full sized.Th pear was actually remarkable lol..

Not so much this Bird Of Paradise..I did one w/ Jenna Rainey's book and it turned out much better I feel.

But it is a great learning tool..and oh so pretty to have and to hold♥

We still have a lot of snow..but all that icing everywhere has melted..The sun is shining but it's cold..

Muffins on the counter..  they rose like stars!M and N may drop by before or after his guitar lesson.

Making one of Isabelle Lambert's dinners that she gleaned from Donna Hay..Looks terrific!

Have a great week~