It's snowing!

And that means.....Snow Cookies!!!

We make them every year on the first "real' snowfall. Easy to make and yummy. Little hands can mush them and mash them and they still turn out great! We write the date of the snowfall in the cookbook, and now have a record going back many years of the first snowfall each season!

Snow Cookies!
(really just sugar and spice cookies)

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
13/4 cups all purpose flour
1tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 teaspooon nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until smooth
3. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat for an additional 2 minutes.
4. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves,nutmeg,and salt.
5. Stir in dry ingredients into butter mixture in 2 additions.
6. Flatten dough into a disk shape. Wrap disc in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least an hour or up to three days
6. On lightly floured surface, roll out dough into 1/8 inch(3mm) thickness. Using 3 inch cookie cutters, or a small glass upturned cut out shapes and place on parchment lined, lightly greased sheets. You might have to half the doungh or keep putting it in the fridge to firm as you work, it is easier to roll out.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until edges are JUST browned. Immediately move to cooling rack. makes about 50.

Now, the icing! The best part.
Put some icing sugar in a bowl and add a bit of milk to it. Add a splash of almond extract. You hardly need any milk, just a tbsp or so. Keep stirring until it is a thick icing like consistancy. If too runny add more sugar. Glop the icing into a baggie and cut the tip and decorate cookies like snowflakes!

My wee brother

Another fun picture, can't help myself! This is my brother!!!!!!! Taken some time in the early sixties. Kenneth was sooooo cute! There is just something about little boys in ties, and check out those freckles! He had a cowlick that he hated and it was carefully slicked down for this portrait.

I am always grateful for Monday. After a long weekend of work at the market it is so nice to work from home! I have a long list of "to dos" that never seems to diminish. Time to get cracking. Have a great week!

old snap

My grandmother Isobel, Auntie Jessie and my mom! Niagara Falls. circa early 1960's. Love, love, love this picture. I've come across a treasure trove of old negatives and prints and film. This was scanned from a negative strip that had been printed, it was tiny and I enlarged it. Hope to find the real negative in that trove.

He's here!

"So Much for Muffin's Bad Boy Personna", my first mini painting by Meaghan Smith!

I LOVE him. My morning was turning out to be one of those frustrating, "Gee whiz I can't seem to get ahead of myself days," when I heard the clunk of the mailbox and mailman leave. Ah respite! I popped down to see what sort of mail day it was going to be and I spied a wee white parcel from M. Smith. "M. Smith? Who in the world is that?" I had FORGOTTEN all about this little painting! Hooray, what a lift to my day. Isn't he an adorable fellow in a feisty, pissed-off sort of way? Place of honour on my mantle. Thanks Meaghan.

Monday!

Ever wonder what your paintings might look like large and in a gallery? This is an old app but a fun one. Dumpr.net Poking around my photos, I found this one. Quite like it in that gallery:))

Today is one of those mild, damp, grey November days. Actually, the colours outside are grey, with rust and a few splashes of yellow. The leaves are now mostly on the ground but a few determined stragglers are still hanging on. We've got a few days of rain ahead of us and I am ok with that. I have a lot of work to get done and inclement weather is helpful. Easier to keep my nose to the grindstone. (Quite a horrible saying, when you think about it, and what does that mean? MEANING: it comes from the practice of knife grinders when sharpening blades to bend over the stone, or even to lie flat on their fronts, with their faces near the grindstone in order to hold the blades against the stone and keep a close eye on what they were doing!)

I enjoy Mondays. The week is a clean slate, ours to embrace and make the most of! Have a good one!

November 11

Wilfred Owen was a young soldier during the first World War. He died aged 25, Nov 4th 1918, shot just seven days before the war was over. A fervent poet, he was incensed by the non-combatants who wrote sentimental poems glorifying the war.

Anthem for Doomed Youth ( 1917)

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells,
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Need some photography inspiration?

Last day to register for the Sensational Snap Society! Starts tomorrow:)

who are you

I have a fascination with this young lady.... every time I pass by the window of Lady Luck Boutique in the Hydrostone, I have to stop and take her picture. Weird huh. Really. I wonder how many people over the years have paused to admire her? I'm thinking she's about 75 years old. I wonder if mannequins were based on real people or just a creation of the designer's imagination.

Seaport Market Dawn

Isn't this just the perfect gull in flight? I was taking a picture of the rosy dawn last Saturday at the Seaport Farmers Market and this wee gull posed absolutely perfectly as he sailed past the window! I snapped just as he flew into my frame. One of those happy accidents. This time of year I get to see all the sunrises across the harbour as I set up for the day. Each one is different and they are all lovely.... even the grey ones:)

Here are just a few of my market morning views:)

ALWAYS beautiful...........

Don't forget to turn back the clock tomorrow night.


This is Hangman's beach....see the tiny lighthouse at the end of the spit?

Golden hues


Just last week

Don't forget, my Photography e-Course starts on November 11th.
Still time to sign up:)

computer break

I love finding paintings I don't remember doing. This is an old one from the archives. I must start some more of these bordered gardens. So many options! Love these colours.

I'm taking a quick break from cleaning. Moving mountains of clutter from one spot to another:) Things always look worse in the middle of sorting. Kind of discouraging but I must soldier on! Time to step away from the computer:)