Friday Favourites: Baking and Sewing

 

Even on the dreariest days when rain drips constantly and electric lights are needed all day long there is still loveliness in the landscape. Tiny droplets cling to branches during lulls in the drizzle, and behind them are the muted colours of autumn.

This morning the pale pink horizon line gave way to blue sky as the sun rose. Now, mid-afternoon, there are clouds once again, but no rain. I'll take it!

I baked a cake this week, maple flavoured. The cake recipe wasn't that great so I won't link to the site. I think using maple syrup as the sweetener changes the texture and something else should be done, I'm not sure just what. The icing was delicious. Just a butter icing with 1/4 cup of maple syrup plus icing sugar and butter beaten until airy. On top of the cake I placed some apple slices preserved in a slightly spicy syrup. It all tasted very good. 

I decided to try a thin sliver of cake before our friends arrived, just to make certain of the taste. I was SO glad that I did so, for I discovered that I had neglected to pull the lining paper off of the cake. Fortunately, I was able to slide it out without disturbing the filling. There are always new mistakes to make in life, and this was a one for me. 

It's been a good week for soup. Creamy cauliflower and carrot with a topping of blue cheese, accompanied by baking powder biscuits made a delicious light dinner one evening. So cozy while the rain came down outside. 

It's young Cora's birthday today. She's having a friend party on Sunday, and next Saturday we'll gather as family to celebrate her and her cousin's birthdays. I made a camping toy for her and will give it to her at the family party. There's a tent, sleeping bags, dolls, and some extra clothing. 

One of my favourite parts is the little campfire I came up with, complete with two marshmallow roasting sticks. 

One of Cora's tasks at home is collecting the eggs from the chickens, so Tim thought I should add a couple little chickens to the array. 

Cora thoroughly enjoyed the camping trip we took last summer, and I think she will have fun playing with this. There are two of everything, because play is best with a friend or sister. 

A friend gave me some Italian Geraniums (if there is such a thing), given to him by another friend (who is Italian). I clipped back the plant before putting it in a cool spot for the winter, and plunked the clippings into a jar of water on the kitchen windowsill. I've been rewarded with several lovely bright blooms. Now I think I need to pot up the stems with their roots and I'll have more geraniums to enjoy. 

I'll begin pulling out the Christmas decorations soon. Sunday is First Advent. December is such a beautiful month.