Felicity~

Pleasantness~

For some reason..I find it hard to believe that I pressed Publish..for the 900th time today since I started my humble little blog.It was just a bit of a surprise this week when I saw how many I had posted.
When my friend suggested I blog I told her I would have nothing to say after talking about a few recipes and my little ones at the time..
I just tried to find my first post..November 2008..I wnet to the next..Lucas was such a tiny thing..and he will be double digits this year'
Santa put Brut after shave in his stocking here this year..apparently..lol..it is being put to very good use his mom tells me:)
So much has changed..
Happy I stayed with it.
I enjoy it so much.
Part of my little life.
Food for the soul.
So many nice people♥

I bought tulips for the first time this past week..this winter..Bunches had frozen I think..in transport and they were $2.00 a bunch.
I took care of them and they brightened up the sunroom immeasurably during this yet again cold spell.

I made another of Josée Di Stasio's soups..this time her spinach one.And I am certain her brussel sprout topping had something to do with it~
I loved the green on green and redid it here.
I repainted my favorite chair and liked this trial better.
I cut it out because I made a mess next to it trying calligraphy in the wrong color..so I cut it out and made a gift tag.
I found I enjoyed making gift tags out of  my trials.
That really is my favorite chair here..Perusing seed catalogs in January:)
I stitched the pillow on the left about 100 yrs ago.. and the one on the right was a gift from a friend..many many years ago...I have mentioned this pillow before..it has a button from clothing her mom wore..
She is ..like I am.. a motherless daughter and we have missed them dearly..So this meant  lot..the button..since then I have tried to add my mother's buttons to things too.
I thought it was such a sweet gesture..idea..
Those Ikea chairs are great.You simply put the slipcovers in the washing machine...I really do like IKEA..every time we go..which is rarely ..I do find a little kitchen gadget..like a cookie cutter..loaf pan..that we just don't find anywhere else..I find the prices good too.
Really at my stage of the game..I don't need much..so we go maybe once a year:)

I made a little challah bread ..to go with soups and chilis..
This one proved so easy and good..I made half the recipe for 1 loaf.
This bread is excellent w/ a little honey butter..
I take my salted butter..add some honey and a bit of icing sugar.
Just put a bit on a slice..and your meal is even better.
I made the dough in the bread machine..then shaped and baked.
Still need a bit of practice on this shaping..it's not a perfect round..:)
PS..On Saturday I made it again..again halved the recipe to make just one..
Turned out just as well..I think I am getting the curving:)

La Recette for the soup:

Cream of spinach and parmesan cheese

4 portions

2 tbsps butter or olive oil or half and half..that's what I did.
1 leek chopped..white and tender green parts only  or one onion  chopped
2 potatoes sliced..Yukon Gold or Idaho
2 garlic cloves
3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
4 cups packed baby spinach
Nutmeg to taste
4 tbsps parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

In a pot heat the butter or olive oil.
Soften the leeks or onions a few minutes..
Add the garlic..potatoes and broth..
Cook until the potatoes are tender ap.20 mins.
Add the spinach and nutmeg..(I omitted the nutmeg)
Cook until softened ap. 2minutes
Let cool add cheese and then use your immersion blender..
Check seasonings..
Warm and serve.
Garnish as you please..I blanched some brussel sprouts and topped my soups with them.


Felicity ..another of the pretty words:)

I have written about my daughter putting a special napkin in Noah's lunch every day..From Pre K to K and now grade one..every single day..It amazes me..that I took my watercolor pencils and tried to draw Paddington from a book cover..it was fun to try and use the pencils ..as I rarely use them..but I did not get his expression at all..I will show you one day..

                                                                            ♥

But my daughter did capture  his expression

Every night before she goes to bed..  she makes one ♥
I asked her if he mentions them alot..she said:"Not really..he gives them to his friends:) "
Apparently his friends ask him for them:)
I found a cute cute Paddington Treasury book for him w/ a CD..
I know he will like it..as for me I am dying to take the cello off and look at the images and read it.
But I will wait for him.