Seasonal Batches

Batch number three, two left, unless we decide we need more. It takes about one hour to make "Mutt's Fudge" and since my daughter enlightened me about "following a recipe", it has been creamier than it has been in years.

Apparently, over the last thirty years, the cans of evaporated milk have gone from 15 ounces to this year, I found they were only 12! If you don't pay attention to the amount called for in the recipe, it turns out stiff and dry. Thanks #1 cook.

Of Course, You Can

Of course Barbequed Hamburgers are on the menu this week. I know it is practically the middle of December and it is 20 degrees with a fierce wind on the deck, but Neil is up to the challenge.

With a little Montreal Steak Seasoning, these are better burgers than you can buy anywhere at a fast food joint, so we will continue to keep our favorite summer time meal on the menu rotation, even though it is winter!

He just has to bundle up a bit more to turn them.

You Were Probably Wondering....

what is taking Jane so long to "put up her China pictures." Martta's have been up since two weeks after we returned.

We'll I am transcribing my journal and sprinkling in all the pictures that highlight the words I wrote down.

I am up to the fourth city, Dali, but we were there several days and it was a highlight of the trip, so I am plodding along.

My goal is to finish before my birthday next year, or at least by September 14th, 2011, a year after we departed.

Started The Cards

Dug out the cards I got last year at half price at the after Christmas sale, composed the Christmas newsletter and tried to find the addresses of those people who moved this past year.

Fifty are printed, the return labels are all ready to go, and decided that was enough for a Saturday.

Made the first of many batches of fudge, sewed a little more on the secret Christmas projects and got the good news at Weight Watchers that I had neither gained nor lost over Thanksgiving holiday. Now that is a gift!

Sign Of The Season

Our kitchen cupboards are on the South side of the house, so most times of the year and at the end of the day, when you reach for a dish, it is room temperature.

But after a long winter night when temperatures are below freezing, the bowls for morning hot cereal are so cold, that for a couple of months, I pre-heat the bowl, so when I pour the measured amount of boiling water in and add the oatmeal, the cereal will cook and remain hot for me to eat.

Otherwise the measured boiling water heat is wasted on trying to heat the dish from quite cold!

Jack Is King

Jack finished dinner first in this picture, so he used his napkin to show he was King for the Dinner.

I was at the Kennedy Center tonight for a reception on the 7th floor terrace. Checked my briefcase because it was heavy and was left without my iPhone camera to snap a picture for the blog.

I don't get over there often, but it is always beautiful. You will have to imagine it.

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Jack was good to share the game boy. Caroline patiently waits for the car racing application to download, okay, not so patiently.

"Take more pictures, is it done yet?" Take another picture. "Is it ready?" It took four pictures until the game was loaded, then she was glued to the screen and lost interest in Grammie.