Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you all make it a happy one in some way or other  ....

Today I read ..if you don't have huge expectations for it ...you will be happier.  That sounds good.

I always think too much is made of certain days of the year ...mostly to generate sales of anything and everything... and we fall for it ..of course.

Days like Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.... hmmm.... we should make those days special all year 'round.  Well, that's how I feel about it anyway.

Here are a couple little furry guys to wish you all a Happy Heart Day.

Tuffy, Posie and Scruffy... playing with the heart cookie cutters.  Think they are lobbying for cookies? .... oh, yeh....

And.... here are some chocolate dipped strawberries....... yummmmmmmm

Little Darla says please have one.... "they're luvly"....
                                                                                 


... and, some chocolate covered cherries....... why not?

I'm giving them all to you ... because... right now I am on a chocolate, wine and coffee hiatus..... sigh...
My gut is giving me grief and I am trying to figure out what is causing it.  And, I definitely am not giving up breads and cookies or thinking gluten right away  ...forget that !!  I'll give up the other three before I give up bread.
I love breads...as a matter of fact...today I am baking pretzels... a first time for me but had to give it a go after seeing some my neighbour guy baked ... Trevor, the Renaissance man.... baking and cooking and .... well, he does it.... so why can't I? ....

A Valentine's Day gift

It was an amazing day.  I opened the door to the postal guy who was delivering a package....along with special encouragement and generosity from a fellow blogger, needle felter, artist extraordinaire and friend.

Remember me saying I wanted to make my own Snowdrop?  Just like Gretel makes..?  Well, of course, it would be pretty well impossible to make a twin of anything she makes because she has a special knack and plenty of talent and ... hahaha.... a much healthier, working arm/hand..etc.... .... ...but I so wanted to try one.  Beginning slowly due to this silly arm business.... I did make a start ... but, then had some questions....especially about the type of wool...

This is mine that I was using and I have used it for several little bears of course..but, the finished surface will never be very smooth when the wool is kind of rough textured like this, and  ...well, ...almost kinky by comparison ....  but mostly I put on some extra 'fur' after making the little shapes for my bears anyway...so it doesn't really matter with them, does it?











However, her Snowdrop looked so smooth to me...I was sure I needed something different for wools...so I asked.... and she explained how different her wool is compared to my rough stuff.  And, then...she sent me some lovely soft Snowdrop wool ... (I could hardly stop caressing it) and a close up picture .. so I have a better chance at playing copycat.  How lucky am I to have a friend like that?
Look at the difference in the texture of the two wools.

And, this says it all.... one of her amazing whimsical art cards. A special fantasy boat.. swan figurehead and all ...  an intrepid passenger aboard... . Guess what it is called?

 The Hopeful Quest...

It's me sitting there I'm sure .....  .... the intrepid traveller ..  ..on my quest to make my own little Snowdrop.... thanks so much Gretel.....

                                                                 

Happy Valentine's Day

Not much exciting to show that looks like it belongs to the day though....so I give you, instead.... flowers from my garden last summer.  I love peonies .. they look like fluffy pink clouds.

I gave away my heart cookie cutters a couple of years ago to another blogger... silly me.... and haven't come across a new set yet.

 I didn't always use them just for cookies either....they were handy for all sorts of things.  See how cute they look as part of my table decorating on another Valentine's Day?

So, no cookies..but, I did bake a cute little loaf of bread yesterday... and we had a slice of it hot ...slathered with lovely butter.  And...I declared it was our "day before Valentine's Day treat" ... does that count?

Actually the recipe, which is Carson's, from over at The 7 MSN Ranch, makes two cute little "couple" sized loaves (or one bigger loaf), but I took the other to a neighbour.  Bread is so lovely hot and fresh.  And, the husband of the couple wants to learn to make bread...so this is the very simplest of loaves to make ...and,....it tastes great!  I'm encouraging him.

It finally looks like winter here this morning....we had a few inches of snow yesterday........

the day after Valentine's Day...

Somebody went to work on Sunday after being sick and off work for a few days..... so of course, I thought it was Monday all day while he was gone.  Then... Monday... all day I thought it was Tuesday... and today I haven't a clue what day it is. Oh, just a second....there goes the garbage truck..it must be Tuesday now!! Acckkk!

All I know is... Valentine's Day got all screwed up somehow....seeing as I didn't really know what day it was. My sister reminded me in an email the night before.  And in reality, Mr. BV and I don't do much for "special" days anyway... I always say every day around here is special.  But, sometimes, if I know in advance, and feel the desire to do something... well, I do.  And, this time I did sort of think about doing some cupcakes or a cake at least.... 'specially after watching Cupcake Wars on tv a few times ....cupcakes are calling meeeeee.......

Somehow (along with the women's shopping gene), I am missing the gene that causes big celebrations to happen on specific dates chosen for us by "somebody" ... ...the genes that get people so busy doing and planning special events.  I'm usually just happy with all my days because, well, because in my other life I had plenty of not so wonderful days...and I am truly thankful for this great life I now have.  Sometimes we do mark special little occasions...but, it isn't really a big thing with either of us.   Kind of like my Mom used to do.  For no reason..out of the blue...a little "just because" giftie would arrive in the mailbox...and it was such fun.  How I miss the silly little fun things we used to do when she was still alive.  Just for that...I'm going to send somebody something.... for the fun of it.

I stood in front of Bernard Callebaut Chocolaterie yesterday and wondered if perhaps somebody would stop in on his way home from work and buy some....and thought.... maybe I shouldn't ...just in case.  So..I didn't.   Darn it.  But...I did go next door and got this little cutie....

Catherine will have a good laugh.... we obviously have the same ideas on a few things....  but, my photo is certainly not anywhere near as amazing as hers of her orchids is.... along with her beautiful hands....

I had planned on a nice supper once I knew what day it was though.. and had kicked myself in the butt to make me get going. I picked up some cheese for my version of Chicken Parmigiana stuffed with asparagus.  (and, no there are no photos...I forgot ... and all of a sudden...it was too late... eaten!)   but...it was delicious if I do say so myself...and I do.  Decided to do cupcakes too... and found a recipe with no egg if you can believe it.... how weird is that?  I couldn't figure out how they would be light and airy with no egg. But...... no cholesterol, so thought I would give them a try. Who needs more cholesterol when there would be cheese on the chicken?  Not much...but, there has to be some when it is called Parmigiana.... hahahhaha..

I did not get around to icing the cupcakes.  My treat for the day after Valentine's Day will be ... pink icing on chocolate cakes!  Maybe with some raspberry jelly in it...mmm.... we'll see how the day goes today....... first there is vacuuming...dusting...some laundry and oh, yeh...exercise.  I'm into it now with a will and a way and noticing good results.  Feeling stronger and fitter...woohooo... guess I'll have to add a few extra jumping jacks to offset the cupcakes I definitely intend to eat.... ... what am I saying?  I don't like jumping jacks....my knees don't like jumping jacks... maybe just extra time on the treadmill, some kicks, some shadow boxing and, oh, 40 or more crunches for a week should do it.... that sounds more fun. ..

... and where is my little toy piping kit I bought years ago?  I want to learn how to decorate cakes and muffins.... er...cupcakes... some day.  Gotta do it.  I'm really a muffin kind of gal myself.  More rustic... less fiddly... and perfect for snacks... not as many crumbs and no icing ... although, I have to say...these little cupcakes are very, very moist.  Not dry or crumby at all!  They are great just plain...of course, I tested.  Have to make sure they're edible.  It's the little lady's job after all... . keeping her family safe...

Hearts to you.....

An exercise in time consumption to say the least.....  because ....

I forgot that I had given away my heart shaped cookie cutters and obviously forgot to buy another set.  Sooooo........ too late once I had the dough mixed wasn't it?  Nothing for it but to cut out some heart shapes from paper ... and then cut out around each with a little knife.  By the time I was done....I WAS done..... phew..... who makes more work for ourselves than us?

I made several different sizes and had fun icing and  stacking ..

Making a cup of tea in my special mug was much easier.... hahahha....

This little doggie has intrigued me since I got this mug several years ago... must make one just like him some day.....

Hope you are all having a great day...