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Butter situation has been stabilized.
Now we ran out of Kirsch.
These are going to taste so good. I mean sooo good. The Linzertorte may just be my new favourite, based on the snitches of dough alone. Soooooo so so good. There aren’t enough ‘ooo’s in this world.
Yes, I’m sharing pictures soon.
How can we possibly need more butter?
A-shopping we will go.
Work In Progress Wednesday
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60 eggs
5 lbs butter
3 litres of whipping cream
5 boxes of chocolate, grated or melted
1.3 kg of nuts, finely chopped by hand
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Cakes, tortes, flans, squares…the baking is well underway for the Dare To Remember Fundraiser this Friday.
There were a worrying few hours when it became apparent that our oven was melting the electrical wires in the wall. But with a little help from our friend, the wiring is safe and baking has resumed.
Remember, you can take part, even from a distance. Just donate and put a note requesting your copy of three delicious, mind-bendingly tasty recipes.
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With the most primitive means the artist creates something which the most ingenious and efficient technology will never be able to create.
Kasimir Malevich
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How do we make time for, make a priority of, the beautiful inefficiencies?
From the Stone Age through to the Latte Age in one day.
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The Museum of Man and Nature in Winnipeg and the Starbucks inside the Chapters book store. A good day.
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You are cordially invited to an evening of elegant desserts and interesting conversation. Except that you can’t come because you’re my far-flung friends. Instead we offer a trade. We dare you to be part of our Dare To Dine event.
We’re proud and excited to be hosting an evening that is part of 1,000 dinners across Canada to help Turn the Tide against AIDS in Africa. The Stephen Lewis Foundation has set a goal of raising $100 million in five years. It sounds impossible, but all over Africa ordinary people are doing extraordinary things, and we want to join them.
Inspired by our extended trip to Europe last year, we’re hosting a night of Terrific Terrifying Tortes the night before Halloween. The Austro-Hungarian Empire serves as our starting point. We’re leafing through our cookbooks and debating the merits of Austrian tortes and berry tarts. Our current list of possibilities includes recipes Rainer’s Oma has been baking for decades as well as newer additions: Sachertorte, Black Forest Cake, Greta Garbo Schnitte, Dobostorte, and a few other treats including German coffee.
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As part of Dare to Dine, we set a fund-raising goal and we’re asking all of you — family, colleagues, and friends — to sponsor us. All of the funds we raise will support African grandmothers who are transforming lives in their communities.
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Please donate online now by selecting an amount from the Sponsor Me section on our webpage. It’s simple, fast, and totally secure and will make such a difference to the incredible grandmothers in Africa.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Everyone who donates but cannot attend will receive translations of 3 of the recipes we’re serving that night. Simply let me know in the ‘private message’ part of the sponsorship form that you’re wanting the recipes. No matter the amount donated. Please contribute. Even $5 will make a huge difference in the big picture.
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Intrigued? A Dare to Remember is open to everyone, not just Canadians. The Dare to Dine part is just one side. People are doing all sorts of things. Go have some fun and watch videos of Stephen Lewis, music star k-os, and others performing their dares here and read about featured dares here. Then Dare yourself, or Dare your cousins.
Help us make a difference. We dare you.
WIP = Work in Progress
Reading her first adult novel, “Going Postal” by Terry Pratchett. After all the reading fuss and need for vision therapy we’ve been through, this is thrilling. But in a deep, quiet, heartfelt way. First this was her favourite audiobook scammed off my iTunes, then she spent her own money to buy the novel:
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Soccer tricks of various sorts:
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We recommend these two videos of tricks to get inspired. Oh, all right, three.
Inspired by one of the Hand Embroidery Network’s ‘stitch a day’ posts, closed cretan stitch autumn leaves:
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Turned the heels on both knee socks. It feels like I’m nearing the homestretch:
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And working Mind Maps into our thinking, dreaming, learning.
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Two of my favourite details:
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“Although it may seem unbelievable to those who have not lived it, every potential project in the stash, no matter how long it has been there, was at some time supposed to be ‘next’.”
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
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What’s next for you?
Grrrr Arrrg!
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That boy. He’s my Taoist master. Since the moment of his arrival, he’s taught me so much about being in the moment. At first it was to keep up with his body as he nursed, crawled, and leaped. Then it was because that was where his mind lived. In. This. Moment. There is no past or future in his thoughts. There is merely the incredible purity of now, of these emotions, of these passions, of these friends.
In March I smiled as he complained about snow and winter: “I hate winter! Snow is so stupid! I wish we lived somewhere where I could bike all year round. Stupid winter!”
I smiled because I knew there would be a time like this week. I knew the flakes would fall and he would proclaim: “I love snow! I wish it would snow for three days and not stop! Winter is my favourite season, isn’t it, Mom? I always get so happy in winter.”
Right now. That’s all we have. Enjoy your moments.
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Good morning, snow! We didn’t expect you yet, and neither did the trees – they’re still clad in garments of green leaves.
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We may have slept long, kept in grey dimness far longer than usual, but then we all rushed out to greet you.
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Some of us were so eager to see you that we didn’t stop to change out of pyjamas. Mama’s boots and Mama’s parka did the trick. It is mild, after all. Mild enough, snow, that you stick together. A rare treat for us since you usually squeak and crumble in the cold, cold, dry air of our winter days.
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Your surprise arrival meant it was a good time to have a snowball fight with Papa last evening. It meant it is a good morning to be a boy who likes to throw and a dog who likes to snatch snowballs from the air.
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In autumn you’re always a trickster, snow, full of jokes and surprises. And we can laugh at you and tumble about with red-cheeked happiness, telling stories of the time Mama finally convinced her feminist parents to let her be a princess for Halloween and there was a terrible blizzard and all you could see of her was her snow-suit and her toque and scarf and the blue eye-shadow she was wearing, or the time Papa visited Canada for his first winter and a plastic bag broke as he was walking over a frozen lake carrying groceries to a cabin.
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Good morning, snow! Good morning, world!
Good morning to moments taken as they come!
