Weekend Treasures

I've enjoyed the beautiful sunday outside in the autumn sun, brunching, drinking spritzer, and chatting the day away. I've also started on some Christmas presents, unusually early. But it's the same traditional toil every year; come the week before Christmas I am stressing out like nuts and can't find anything appropriate for the ones I love. Because I want gifts to be special, thoughtful and suiting. Perfectionism always breaks my legs.

Well, but I started. And I would love to post the result right now, but the lady it's for stumbles upon this site every now and then, so I will have to keep it a secret. Oh, the tensionnnn...

Grandma sent me some recipes from my childhood (with the most awesome vintage illustrations). She used to make this unbelievably rich and luscious chocolate cake. And even though she says the recipe is nothing special at all (my grandma isn't exactly of the cheerful kind, as you might remember from the conversation at my grandparent's diamond wedding about her lovely hairstyle), it brings back memories from good old times. Like doing crossword puzzles together. Feeding the chicken. Spending half the day in that old tree, playing with my cousin. And 4 o'clock sharply we had to come in for tea. There it was, that juicy chocolate indulgence. Even though I've got a ton of new recipes for chocolate cakes, none of them will mentally send me back into that old tree - big-eyed and red cheeked.

And some more music is on the way. I'll see these talented guys in concert this weekend. Here's a little video of one of their rehearsals.

Sunny wedding and a gift

We were invited to a wonderfully relaxed wedding, celebrating with close family members and a few friends. A welcome change in stressful times. It was raining during the ceremony (which I heard brings good luck) and the sun peeked out as soon as we left the register office to head to the restaurant.

Loved the bride's dress and groom's tie.

Tried very hard to withstand the urge to lick my plate after every single course of the most delicious menu.

Had such pleasure to inaugurate my cam on this blessed occasion. 

For their wedding I gave them the little hat I have started a while back (and fortunately managed to finish on time), since the bride is expecting a baby girl. I'm so happy it was well received and am promised a picture on the little one as soon as it's born and grown into it.

Sunny sunday

Oh, such a sunny morning! I spent some time on the balcony looking after my tomato plants. They look terrible. As if all their energy went into providing me with so many delicious tomatoes, and now they're just totally worn out. I might have to find a foster home for them.

I also made another to do list. I have several scattered around the house, which I sometimes find after months. It's always amusing to browse through them, and still satisfying to strike off the things I managed to actually do. The leftovers make their way onto my current list. Like movies I really wanted to watch for ages. And musicians I never had the time to check out properly.

Here's another knitting project that's been occupying me for a while. I started rather feverishly with the smaller sleeves, and didn't think I would actually get this far. Now I'm out of wool.

The pattern is so adorable, reminds me of waffles. 
With powdered sugar and icecream. Mhmm...

Late nights in the kitchen

This weekend has been so incredibly hot. The lovely sun has downright requested to spend as much time as possible outdoors. It's a miracle I found my way into the kitchen to try out a recipe that's been on my to do list for so long. I actually made this around 11pm, after the sun went down.

As I told you a couple of days ago, I am so inspired by this wonderful food blog. I've always wanted to make a carrot cake ever since I tasted one in London waaay back, and it's been such a challenge to find a recipe close enough to bring back old memories. 

The only thing I altered from this recipe is the amount of sugar. I don't like my cakes overly sweet, and I am still not sure if the sugar in other countries might be a little different taste-wise. I've been trying a couple of American recipes lately and always had to decrease the amount of sugar. Is it possible that it's much much sweeter over here in Europe?

What I will definitely recommend is the buttercream recipe used for this carrot cake. It's just so delicious and easy to make! And so much fun to slather on the cake after all the layers are done. Decorating is my favorite part. Besides munching the entire creation of course.

The layers are not as fluffy as I wished them to be, but I blame this on my fear of over-baking the dough. I remembered that adding a bit of sparkling water could also help, so I'll try that next time.

Oh, how I'd love to invite you all to have a piece! Some tea anyone?

Picking up the trail

Time to pause.

Take a few deep breaths.

Finally enjoy the sun.

Some things need to be called to mind consciously, or the wheel just won't. stop. turning.

The last two weeks have been so hasty, I simply couldn't find a moment to sit down and write a few lines.

I've had the most wonderful birthday party with close friends gathered in my little place (and still did not have the heart to take down all those garlands - they remind me of all the chatter and glee and happy munching mouthes). I attended the release party of a musician most dear to me, and was reminded once again of my weakness for live concerts (why don't I enjoy these more often?). And right after that I spent a week in Spain with my mother, enjoying the feria. 

Family holidays are never easy, but I think once we got over the initial discomfort regarding the difficulties to find some proper food to fill our bellies, everything went pretty well. Oh I know, Spain isn't exactly famous for its poor culinary treats - but sadly the very city we visited was. And I am one of those that can't think nor act on an empty stomach. If I do, it's with a rather moody tone of voice and wrinkles all along the root of my nose. I try telling peeps about this quirk before they get too concerned about my seemingly grumpy nature, but it's a race against time...

I returned to the most sprouting and springing little garden on my balcony. The tomatoes are doing so good. Almost too good, I ran out of space now and find myself postponing the replanting.

This week will be another quiet one, filled with sun baths, strawberries, laughter and good music. After that it's back to the less pleasing things of life, that simply need to be done. 

I'm wishing you a wonderful sunday, just as sunny as this one here!

Childhood treasures and birthday cakes

Once upon a time in midwinter, 

when the snowflakes were falling like feathers from heaven, 

a queen sat sewing at her window, which had a frame of black ebony wood. 

As she sewed she looked up at the snow and pricked her finger with her needle. 

Three drops of blood fell into the snow. 

The red on the white looked so beautiful that she thought to herself, 

"If only I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, 

and as black as the wood in this frame."

I have such a weakness for old tales (particularly for having them told), and there is one specific book which I treasure most tenderly, since it has accompanied already my father, and after that myself through our childhood. It's from 1957, and probably out of print by now, which I consider a great loss for all those generations still to come.

Flicking through these pages brings me way back into my early years, when I foolishly ripped and tugged on the animated parts, not knowing of its true value yet. The pages still smell like those linen sheets of my grandmother, and I remember her voice reading the story to me long before I knew how to decipher it myself.

There are a couple of books that I won't be able to part with, and I can't wait for the day I'll be reading their lines to my own kids, watching them tug and tear on the pages. The kind of memories they'll plant in their minds are priceless.

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This weekend the sun has been spoiling us to make up for all the rain a few days ago. I made a birthday cake yesterday, and apart from the slightly sticky dough (I had forgotten to buy baking powder and had no substitute at hand) it turned out quite delicious. 

It's called a Snow White cake and consists of a simple dough, cherries, buttercream and a luscious chocolate icing, and it's best to keep it chilly in the fridge until serving. Just perfect for these sunny days.

Gone too soon

I miss summer already. It somehow went by without me noticing. My legs are still white, I haven't had enough ice cream yet, and there's still a bunch of dresses waiting to be taken out.

Oh, and our heating is not working.

Weekend Treasures

We've been having the sunniest weekend of all and spent most of the days outdoors which is, for those who know me a little, quite unusual. What better thing to do than to head to the flea market on such days?

But despite all our good intentions both my friend and I overslept Saturday morning. We got to the flea market far too late to find a reasonable bike - they say (hubby did, too). But maybe it was fate, and this little dutch Lady and me were meant to be together, so she was waiting for me until I got there.

It was obvious that we would have to do a bike trip on Sunday, so we wrapped some snacks and enjoyed a warm cup of chocolate cappuccino in the park, listening to the cheers of the worldcup games in the background. Note to myself; believing a fleece blanket is the optimal choice for hot summer day picnics is very foolish...

Well, but back to my little Lady here. The breaks aren't really working properly yet (yes, that squealing and giggling girl passing by you on the traffic lights, using her feet to stop - that's me), and there's no light in the back (who needs that in summer, right? And am I not shining enough already, Mr Police officer, so you could connive at those little flaws?), but I just can't get enough of little trips with her.

You have noticed by now, it is definitely a 'she'. And I am looking for very oldfashioned names by the way, just like Edna or Dorine. Suggestions welcomed!

Hubby got really lucky too. He has been looking for a puppet for a while now, and didn't really want a super professional one, since well, he is no professional. We found Mr Black, who was also waiting for us, it seemed, dozing off between some old tableware. It took us 4 hours to unravel its lines (including several fights about who pulled the knots tighter of course), but it was so worth it. 

This little guy has so much character and charm, he draws you in with just a few nods of his head or the gesture he gives you if you ask him what time it is. It is odd how quick you form some kind of relationship to him and forget about the puppeteer.

Now this week ahead of us will be a short one. Guess where we're going on Thursday! We'll do a little short trip back to where it all started, but I'll tell you all about it next time. Right now I really need to finish another layer of that white wall. 

Oh, you thought I was done with it already, didn't you?

Lovely Substitutes

 

It's been such a busy week, and so unexpected. I was supposed to enjoy some sunny days in Spain, and even celebrate my birthday there. But Eyjafjallajökull had its own plans I guess, who could blame it. So against expectations I spent the whole week dealing with various plan B's. And there were plenty of little substitutes to choose from, who would've thought.

The weekend was so sunny I even got freckled cheeks and a sunburn on my knees while knitting all afternoon or painting my pale toes for an imaginary Spanish flair. I believe nature had a bit of a guilty conscience and compensated us with the brightest rays of sunlight for two days. I could finally get on with my little project and make use of those adorable buttons I ordered from Etsy.

Sadly my birthday was rather rainy, but the lovely flowers out of my mom's garden made up for all the clouds and grumpy faces on the street. And of course these delicious shoes I simply had to get my hands on helped as well. I am constantly losing myself in thoughts about how to combine them with my entire wardrobe.

It's curious though, even though I feel I am quite good with choosing my own clothes when out shopping, my mom always picks those kind of things I can wear for years and which I can combine with so many things I already own. She has that talent to spot timeless classics, and even though we've been caught up in endless discussions about how this or that might not actually fit to me or my style, she was always right in the end. I just needed a lot longer to see it. 

Maybe this is something I will only be able to learn with age. Too often I am tempted to buy things that look awesome right this moment, and make me roll my eyes in a year from now. And those things can be heavy on your wallet, I can tell you.

My excuse for having more strawberry pie

Did the hubby-snorts this morning again. But otherwise I'm doing fine.

I rambled through a few boxes in the attic and dug out some spring and summer clothes today, inspired by more sunlight flooding my bedroom this morning. Between worn out tops and skirts of the "how could I ever think this was fashionable" kind I found a cute pair of jeans shorts I bought last summer in France. But oh, how annoying - when I tried them on they were too loose.

I know, nowadays everyone is rather happy about losing some pounds, especially since we're moving towards the sunny season and craving (or fearing) to show off a lot more skin. It's a difficult thing with the womanly shapes, and how it doesn't really count how everyone else sees you, but the tiny parts you notice when you look into the mirror.

The thing I always say is "my shoulders are too wide". Like those of a swimmer, really. And unfortunately you can't lose weight on your shoulders. So anything I find that makes my butt and hips look a little bigger to balance the Y is divine. Therefore jeans shorts with a cut that adds a few grams. And therefore my disappointment that I can't fill them anymore this spring.  

Well, bring on the chocolate cakes and strawberry pies, I got work to do, and only a couple of months left.