Hello!
You know those days when you find yourself dragging your heals because you can?...Many would say...lazy....Well I was having one of those days today...really moving slow because I didn't have anything on my platter until noon...so it wasn't until quite late in the morning that I finally stuck my head out the door and decided to walk the dog. Wow! The view was literally breath taking!
Our neighbors across the street have a beautiful willow and it was silhouetted in the sunshine with snow drifting out of its branches. Luckily I was able to catch this while fumbling with gloves, dog leash and my phone! As I walked closer I noticed that the poles people stick in the edges of their lawns to show the snow plows where to stop - were covered in precision cut crystals. In fact, it was a very particular kind of crystal formation...rime ice. I had taught a unit about this when teaching school children. Great to see in person. Rime ice forms under just the right conditions and apparently we had just that the night before.
Later today we drove into Spokane, Washington and went through dense fog along the way. Fog is one of the conditions that must exist in order for rime ice to form so I am pretty sure that is what it is...as much of it is still around tonight since it stayed cool and many places even cooler because they are shaded from what sun we did get.
For more information on rime ice do a google search or follow this link:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?14714-Ice-crystals!
I have a felting project that is now inspired by this formation...I am not sure I can get anything close to the precision cut look of the crystals today...but I am going to try and get as close to the idea as I can...more to come on this project later... In the meantime, I am finishing felting Christmas gifts which I am not posting since my relatives monitor my blog :) and would see them. Also I got hired today to teach some classes in January. WhooHoo!
Hope you are enjoying the Season and the weather wherever you may be,
Janet
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Holiday Cheer!
Good Evening Everyone,
I have had the most enjoyable couple of days - and this despite attending the funeral of a dear friend of my Mom's. It must be that I am finally catching the holiday cheer and relaxing a bit. Whew!
Last night I wasn't blogging because at 5 PM I was at the store. At 6:30 pm we had just finished dinner and by midnight we (hubby and I...the dog bailed out and went to sleep) had made Dark Chocolate Orange Scones, Caramels and my Yummy in the Tummy Bars. To this I added loaves of Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread that I made earlier and tucked into the freezer. Why all the goodies? It was not for the funeral reception, though I would have gladly shared, but rather to treat my fiber friends to a bit of sweet for their Christmas celebrations. Tuesday afternoon is Fiber Fun at my friend Silda's house.
So today after enjoying a wonderful celebration of Walt's life I headed home with my Mom in tow. We ate a quick bite and then piled all the yummy treats into her car and off we went. It was a joyful afternoon - just the kind of tonic my mother needed. We chatted, knitted, laughed and ate.
I hope everyone else is getting some time to stop and enjoy their friends and family like I did today. I am including a recipe for my scones in case you decide you need yet another delectable treat in your pantry. Cheers!
Janet
Dark Chocolate Orange Scones Heat oven to 425 degrees
2 cups flour sifted before measuring (very important to sift)
1 tablespoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
Measure all dry ingredients and mix together well. Zest one orange and add to dry mixture. Stir well to separate and coat the orange zest. If you wish you can also add a tablespoon of candied orange peel at this point. Stir this in well.
Next coarsely chop 1 cup of chocolate. Make it a mixture of super dark (75+%) chocolate, dark (70%) and (65%) and a little bit of semi-sweet. Add to the dry ingredients. Stir.
1 and 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tab butter melted
2 Tab sugar
Add the cream and use a fork to stir just until the mixture holds together. It may be sticky. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead 10 times turning 1/4 turn each time. Pat into a 9-inch circle. Use a pastry brush to brush on the melted butter. Sprinkle with sugar. Cut into 8 wedges...or like I did last night, I made a whole bunch of small bite sized wedges!
Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12-17 minutes or until just turning light brown at the edges. Remove to a rack to cool. May add an orange glaze by squeezing the orange you zested and mixing it with some powered sugar. Cool scones before adding glaze. Store in air tight container. Can be frozen.
I have had the most enjoyable couple of days - and this despite attending the funeral of a dear friend of my Mom's. It must be that I am finally catching the holiday cheer and relaxing a bit. Whew!
Last night I wasn't blogging because at 5 PM I was at the store. At 6:30 pm we had just finished dinner and by midnight we (hubby and I...the dog bailed out and went to sleep) had made Dark Chocolate Orange Scones, Caramels and my Yummy in the Tummy Bars. To this I added loaves of Cranberry Orange Pecan Bread that I made earlier and tucked into the freezer. Why all the goodies? It was not for the funeral reception, though I would have gladly shared, but rather to treat my fiber friends to a bit of sweet for their Christmas celebrations. Tuesday afternoon is Fiber Fun at my friend Silda's house.
So today after enjoying a wonderful celebration of Walt's life I headed home with my Mom in tow. We ate a quick bite and then piled all the yummy treats into her car and off we went. It was a joyful afternoon - just the kind of tonic my mother needed. We chatted, knitted, laughed and ate.
I hope everyone else is getting some time to stop and enjoy their friends and family like I did today. I am including a recipe for my scones in case you decide you need yet another delectable treat in your pantry. Cheers!
Janet
Dark Chocolate Orange Scones Heat oven to 425 degrees
2 cups flour sifted before measuring (very important to sift)
1 tablespoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
Measure all dry ingredients and mix together well. Zest one orange and add to dry mixture. Stir well to separate and coat the orange zest. If you wish you can also add a tablespoon of candied orange peel at this point. Stir this in well.
Next coarsely chop 1 cup of chocolate. Make it a mixture of super dark (75+%) chocolate, dark (70%) and (65%) and a little bit of semi-sweet. Add to the dry ingredients. Stir.
1 and 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tab butter melted
2 Tab sugar
Add the cream and use a fork to stir just until the mixture holds together. It may be sticky. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead 10 times turning 1/4 turn each time. Pat into a 9-inch circle. Use a pastry brush to brush on the melted butter. Sprinkle with sugar. Cut into 8 wedges...or like I did last night, I made a whole bunch of small bite sized wedges!
Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12-17 minutes or until just turning light brown at the edges. Remove to a rack to cool. May add an orange glaze by squeezing the orange you zested and mixing it with some powered sugar. Cool scones before adding glaze. Store in air tight container. Can be frozen.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Death and Creation
Hello Again,
We have another funeral to attend...this time it's a Tuesday. Three people I knew have died in the last five weeks. Something like this can leave a person wondering what it's all about. Wondering how it is that a person's life is over just like that... "poof" and they are no more. But are they really gone? My mind has begun to spin...thinking...thinking...thinking.
I am finding that my art is what keeps me going...helps me to feel grounded again...to remember without pain... The joy of taking my silk and fiber...carefully placing one on the other and working them together in one with my own hands...working until I have created something beautiful is somehow soothing and uplifting. Knowing that someone is going to find pleasure in what I have created...knowing that I am capable of creating this! Knowing I am alive. It is all part of the cycle of life, right?
I hope you enjoy seeing my creations...I sure like making them.
Take care,
Janet
We have another funeral to attend...this time it's a Tuesday. Three people I knew have died in the last five weeks. Something like this can leave a person wondering what it's all about. Wondering how it is that a person's life is over just like that... "poof" and they are no more. But are they really gone? My mind has begun to spin...thinking...thinking...thinking.
I am finding that my art is what keeps me going...helps me to feel grounded again...to remember without pain... The joy of taking my silk and fiber...carefully placing one on the other and working them together in one with my own hands...working until I have created something beautiful is somehow soothing and uplifting. Knowing that someone is going to find pleasure in what I have created...knowing that I am capable of creating this! Knowing I am alive. It is all part of the cycle of life, right?
I hope you enjoy seeing my creations...I sure like making them.
Take care,
Janet
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