The Tree

This was not a planned photo, but Sunday morning this is what they both did.  Just wait until there are presents under that tree.

Santa -
Now that the tree is up Jackie was asking if Santa was coming.  We told her it was not for a while still, I told her that Santa would come and put presents under the tree, but right now he is at the North Pole making all the presents.

Then I told her that Santa will come at Christmas, he rides in a sleigh and the reindeer pull it.

Her response was so cute:  "Ohhhhh".  Like it all makes perfect sense now.  I love how kids believe this.  I love that they can believe something so completely impossible.

Christmas Tree Setup

The last weekend in November or first weekend in December is our traditional time for setting up the tree.

Of course we had to get Egg Nog for the occasion.  Adam and I like ours with Disaronno - yumm!

The kids had Egg Nog for the first time, it was pretty cute to see and hear their expressions.  Needless to say - they both love it.

We had a great family time setting up the tree.  Jackie was so excited and even remembered her Dora ornament.

After we were all done, they parked themselves for a little while in front to admire it.

On My Nightstand - A Reliable Wife

A Reliable Wife - by Robert Goolrick

I liked this book.  It was a very different kind of book than I normally read, first it was written by a man (I have noticed I tend to favour female authors - not sure why exactly - but the books are written so differently). 

On the back cover:

Set in a small Wisconsin farming and manufacturing town still crumbling a decade after the great depression of the 1890-s, this is the story of Ralph Truitt, a wealthy businessman who advertises for "a reliable wife" in newspapers across America. 

The woman whom he chooses, Catherine Land, describes herself as "a simple, honest woman," but in truth she is both complex and devious -- not the missionary's daughter she describes in her letter but a courtesan of great beauty, kept by men and haunted by a terrible past. 

Her plan in accepting the marriage offer is simple: she will win this man's devotion, and then, ever so slowly, poison him and leave Wisconsin a wealthy widow.  What she has not counted on, though , is a passion she finds in this seemingly solid, forthright man -- a man who also harbors secrets and whose past is far from pure.

Filled with remarkable characters and drenched with colour and atmosphere, A Reliable Wife is a story of love and madness, longing and murder, played out in a world that seems to have gone temporarily off its axis.

My rating: 3 1/2 out of 5

The Princess and the Hansom Boy

Conversation between Jackie and I:

Jackie:  Mommy, I am a princess!
Me: Really!
Jackie: Not him (Anderson), he is a hansom boy.

 Hmm - I agree.

A New Canadian Citizenship Exam

My sister, Amy and I thought we should give Catalina the "real" Canadian citizenship exam, so we came up with a few questions. 

See how you do, answers are posted below.  Please note some anwsers could have more than one correct answer, and some questions are more funny than real.

1. What tree do you use to make Maple Syrup?

2. When is winter in Canada?

3. What year did the Nadeau family move to Alberta?

4. What is the Wheat Capital of Alberta?

5. Where is “the centre of the universe”?

6. What is a nick name for Calgary?

7. How long does it take to drive to Vancouver from Calgary?

8. What animal is on the Canadian Nickel?

9. Spell colour the Canadian way?

10. What is the tallest building in Canada?

11. Name one province where you would find Polar Bears.

12. Name a Canadian Invention.

13. What is Canada’s biggest province (by land space)?

14. What is Canada’s biggest province (population)?

15. What are Canada’s official colours?

16. Where are the highest tides in the world?

17. What is the largest Island in Canada?

18. What is the largest land animal native to Canada?

19. What province has the greatest population density?

20. Near what city was the first oil well drilled in North America?

21. What is the National Canadian word?

22. What is bigger? A Winnipeg Horsefly or a hummingbird?

23. What is the official Canadian beverage?

24. What cleans the ice in between hockey game periods?

25. What is the Canadian Tuxedo?

26. What is the Canadian name for couch/sofa?

27. What is the Canadian name for “napkin”?

28. What is one of Canada’s national foods?

29. What is Canada's national sport?

30. Name a famous Canadian singer.


Scroll down for answers....

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Answer Key:

1. What tree do you use to make Maple Syrup?
- Maple Tee

2. When is winter in Canada?
- October to May

3. What year did the Nadeau family move to Alberta?
- 1989

4. What is the Wheat Capital of Alberta?
- Three Hills

5. Where is “the centre of the universe”?
- Toronto

6. What is a nick name for Calgary?
- Cow town

7. How long does it take to drive to Vancouver from Calgary?
- 12 hours

8. What animal is on the Canadian Nickel?
- Beaver

9. Spell colour the Canadian way?
- colour

10. What is the tallest building in Canada?
- CN tower

11. Name one province where you would find Polar Bears.
- Manitoba

12. Name a Canadian Invention.
- Basketball, telephone, insulin, light bulb, 5-pin bowling, wonder bra, pacemaker, Robertson screwdriver, zipper, wheel chair, snow blower, road lines, superman, and many more

13. What is Canada’s biggest province (by land space)?
- Quebec

14. What is Canada’s biggest province (population)?
- Ontario

15. What are Canada’s official colours?
- Red and White

16. Where are the highest tides in the world?
- Bay of Fundy

17. What is the largest Island in Canada?
- Baffin Island

18. What is the largest land animal native to Canada?
- Buffalo (Bison)

19. What province has the greatest population density?
- Prince Edward Island

20. Near what city was the first oil well drilled in North America?
- Calgary

21. What is the National Canadian word?
- “Eh”

22. What is bigger? A Winnipeg Horsefly or a hummingbird?
- Winnipeg Horsefly

23. What is the official Canadian beverage?
- A Double Double

24. What cleans the ice in between hockey game periods?
- Zamboni

25. What is the Canadian Tuxedo?
- Blue jeans and a matching jean jacket

26. What is the Canadian name for couch/sofa?
- Chesterfield

27. What is the Canadian name for “napkin”?
- Serviette

28. What is one of Canada’s national foods?
- Poutine

29. What is Canada’s national sport?
- Lacross

30. Name a famous Canadian singer.
- Too many to list

34,108,842 + 1

A New Canadian Citizen!

Yesterday my sister-in-law, Catalina became a Canadian Citizen!

Congratulations Catalina and welcome to Canada!

(I told her earlier this week, as it was -30 or colder out, that this was a test to see if she really, really wanted to be a Canadian.)

Things I Love about Calgary #1

One thing I love about Calgary is the weather. 

I know, I know - I must be crazy, especially considering the year we have had, but here me out.

#1 - We have never had a hurricane.
#2 - Although there might be tornadoes in the area - we do not live in Tornado Alley.
#3 - We get a lot of sun (especially when you compare to Vancouver or London, England).
#4 - We get snow. I know not everyone is a fan of the snow - but kids love it - and I loved it as a child.
#5 - Summer is not +40 temperatures.
#6 - CHINOOKS!!!

I do not consider myself a winter person, I do not ski, I strongly dislike skating (my feet always get cold), tobogganing is fun, but not as much fun as sitting beside a fire drinking the hot chocolate after, so I love that I live in the land of Chinooks.

I love that we can go from -30 one day, and then next day be at only -3. 

I love the little mini breaks we get during our winters, the only problem is it always starts to make me think about camping... only 5 more months to go....

Blog Watch - Smitten Kitchen

Smitten Kitchen

I love this blog.  Deb, the author lives with her family in New York City and is very well known in the food blogging world.  She takes amazing pictures and I am always floored to see what she can produce in her small kitchen (42 square feet).  And I complain about mine, with my huge basement for storage...

Here are a few photos I pulled from her blog.

Lobster Rolls

Onion Soup

On My Nightstand - Sarah's Key

Sarah's Key - by Tatiana De Rosnay

I came across this book in the summer, read the back cover on-line and it gave me shivers.  I immediately said - there is no way I can read that book.  But I was fascinated, I kept coming back to it.
Finally I gave in an picked it up.
It took me a while to get to it (shivers still), but WOW, am I glad I finally read it.

This is a wonderful, amazing book. 
Incredibly sad considering the content, but so well written, so well told.

I really liked this book.

On the back cover:
Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten-year-old girl is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door-to-door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night.  Desperate to protect her younger brother, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard - their secret hiding place - and promises to come back for him as soon as they are released.

Sixty Years Later: Sarah's story intertwines with that of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist investigating the roundup.  In her research, Julia stumbles onto a trail of secrets that link her to Sarah, and to questions about her own romantic future.

My rating: 4 1/2 our of 5.

Mom's Famous Curry Chicken

This recipe is famous in my family.  Mom makes it all the time and I requested it when she came to stay with us after each child was born.

Curry Chicken

1 lb bone-in chicken pieces

2 medium onions, diced

1 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP ground tumeric

1 TBSP chili powder

2 tsp ginger

1 tsp nutmeg

1 TBSP ground corriander

1 TBSP garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 large container plain yogurt (600 - 700 ml)

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat, add onion cook until starting to brown.
Add spices, stirring and cook 2 minutes.
Add yogurt.  Taste and add more spices if needed.
Add raw chicken pieces.  Lower the tempurture to medium low, cover and cook for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.  Stirring occasionally - cook until the chicken is done.

Serve over rice and enjoy!

Homemade Bread

This weekend I decided to make some bread.  It has been a long time since I have made bread at home and I realized how much I miss it.

The bread turned out great, but the recipe I used was weird.  The timing on everything was way off compared to the recipe, so I will wait to share it with you all until I make it again and can nail down the timing.

Jackie helping with the punch down.

What amazes me is the ingredient list, take a look at what is in my regular store bought brown bread and compare it to my ingredient list.
Store bought bread ingredient list:
Whole grain whole wheat flour, water, yeast, sugar, glucose-fructose, wheat gluten, canola or soybean oil, salt, vinegar, acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and digycerides, calcium propionate, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, monoglycerides, sorbic acid.

My bread ingredient list:
Whole wheat flour, water, powdered milk, brown sugar, canola oil, yeast, salt

I am not planning on making all our bread now, but I am going to make an effort to make more of our own bread, especially now that it is winter and we are inside so much more - besides - who does not like the smell of bread baking?

On My Nightstand - That Old Cape Magic

That Old Cape Magic - by Richard Russo

This is another book club book.  I have to admit, I found this book reather borring.  There was not much substance there.

On the back cover:
Griffin has been tooling around for nearly a year with his father’s ashes in the trunk, but his mother is very much alive and not shy about calling on his cell phone. She does so as he drives down to Cape Cod, where he and his wife, Joy, will celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura’s best friend. For Griffin this is akin to driving into the past, since he took his childhood summer vacations here, his parents’ respite from the hated Midwest. And the Cape is where he and Joy honeymooned, in the course of which they drafted the Great Truro Accord, a plan for their lives together that’s now thirty years old and has largely come true. He’d left screenwriting and Los Angeles behind for the sort of New England college his snobby academic parents had always aspired to in vain; they’d moved into an old house full of character; and they’d started a family. Check, check and check.


But be careful what you pray for, especially if you manage to achieve it. By the end of this perfectly lovely weekend, the past has so thoroughly swamped the present that the future suddenly hangs in the balance. And when, a year later, a far more important wedding takes place, their beloved Laura’s, on the coast of Maine, Griffin’s chauffeuring two urns of ashes as he contends once more with Joy and her large, unruly family, and both he and she have brought dates along. How in the world could this have happened?

My rating: 2 out of 5.

On My Nightstand - Blame

Blame by Michelle  Huneven

I chose this book as my pick for book club, I read some good reviews about it and liked the concept.

Overall - this book was okay, I feel like it could have been so much more, the characters were well developed, and the story well done - but still there was something missing; maybe it was that the suspense, the shocker of the book was revealed on the back cover?

On the back cover:
Patsy MacLemoore, a history professor in her late twenties with a brand-new PH.D. from Berkeley and a wild streak, wakes up in jail - yet again - after another epic alcoholic blackout.  "Okay, what'd I do?" she asks her lawyer and jailers.  "I really don't remember."  She add jokingly:  "Did I kill someone?"

In fact, two Jehovah's Witnesses, a mother and daughter, are dead, run over in Patsy's driveway.  Patsy, who was driving with a revoked license, will spend the rests of her life -- in prison, getting sober, finding a new community (and a husband) in AA - trying to atone for this unpardonable act.

Then, decades later, another unimaginable piece of information turns up.

For the reader, it is an electrifying moment, a joyous, fall-off-the-couch-with-surprise moment.  For Patsy, it is more complicated.  Blame must be reapportioned, her life reassessed.
What does it mean that her life has been based on wrong assumptions?  What can she cleave to?  What must be relinquished?

My rating: 3 out of 5

Swimming Success!

I am happy to report success last night in Jackie's swimming lessons.

As I posted two weeks ago, she did not have a good class, and neither did Anderson - we pulled Anderson out of his class - he was way too old to be playing baby games, did not want to be held , he just wanted to do his own thing.

Jackie - was terrified, so for the second class, we decided to send her with Adam - but this time Adam would be dressed to go into the pool with her.  That did not work out so well - I think she got her big toe wet and that is it.

So - last night was class number 3.  I took her - drove on those crazy, crappy roads, got into my bathing suit - and got to the pool - and she freaked out.

But there was no way I was going to give up - after battling traffic and bad roads to get there - so we pushed through (we are the only ones that actually came for that class).

Michael, the swimming instructor was trying to tell me how to deal with her, suggesting I leave the pool - let her work it out on her own - but I knew it would be even worse if I did (I did some of my own research on dealing with shy kids).

What we did however, was have her join an older class that had a female swimming instructor - and it worked!

She slowly started to join the class and I slowly started to back away from the class.  By the end, I was sitting on a bench - out of the pool and she waved to me.

It was definitely a proud Mommy moment as I was finally able to sit back and watch her.

Let's hope next week starts out better but ends the same way!

Snow + Traffic

Well I feel like I have to say something, I don't want to, but I feel like I have to.

A picture taken of an intersection on my drive home last night

I have tried very hard not to complain, you see back in September I decided to try and be more positive - I stopped complaining about most things that are out of my control - specifically the weather.

And for the last 2 days, I have done very little complaining, but here is where I feel like I need to say something.

Is it just me, or does it feel like Calgary is just realizing they are a winter city and they actually need to have a plan when it comes to snow removal?

I know the city has put more money into snow removal this year, I know they are all talking about it, I know this is a major complaint every year and with every big dump of snow - but seriously - Calgary - get it together already.

I lived in Winnipeg for a year, so I went through a winter there - and let me tell you - not only do they get WAY more snow, the snow does not melt there - no Chinooks.
Winnipeg has it together in their snow removal - why can't Calgary sent a few people there to learn from them and implement some changes here.

Here is what happens in Winnipeg:

1. You are not allowed to park cars on most roads from November until April (I think it was April - can't quite remember).
2. The city clears not only the major roads, but all the residential roads (hence the no parking on the street law), they also clear the back alleys (so people have a way to get their cars into their parking spots, and then they also clear the city sidewalk infront of your house.
3. The best thing they do, is no snow plow goes out alone - they are always in teams - staggered to clear an entire road at the same time.

It is funny - I lived in Winnipeg over 8 years ago - and yesterday I heard on the radio someone talking about how Calgary was implementing this great NEW way to clear roads - multiple snowplows - staggered to clear the whole road at once.  Hmm - NEW? 

Okay - rant over - cheers to Calgarians slowing down and not having anywhere near as many accidents as past years!

I will now suck it up and until I am willing to become a city alderman and actually do something about my issue, I will keep my mouth, turn back to being positive - and drive slowly.

On a positive note - the kids are loving the snow!

On My Nightstand - Room

Room by Emma Donoghue

This is a phenomenal book!

It is gripping and heart breaking at the same time. 

Written from the perspective of a 5 year old makes it interesting to read but it is still a pretty easy read. 

I read this book in 2 days.

On the back cover:

It's where he was born.  It's where he and Ma eat and sleep and play and learn.  There are endless wonders that let loose Jack's imagination - the snake under Bed that he constructs out of eggshells; the imaginary world projected through the TV; the coziness of Wardrobe beneath Ma's clothes, where she tucks him in safely at night, in case Old Nick comes.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it's the prison where she's been held since she was nineteen - seven long years.  Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in that eleven-by-eleven foot space.  But Jack's curiosity is building alongside Ma's own desperation, and she knows that Room cannon contain either indefinitely...

Told in the inventive, funny, and poignant voice of Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience - and a powerful story of a mother and son whose love lets them survive the impossible.

My rating: 4 1/2 our of 5.

All About Us

I saw this over at Alison's blog and thought I would join  in the fun and sharing.

All about Adam and I!

1. What are your middle names? Desmond & Marguerite

2. How long have you been together? married 5 years, together 7 1/2 years
3. How long did you know each other before you started dating? a few months
4. Who asked who out? Adam asked me out
5. How old are each of you? Adam - 37; me - 31
6. Did you go to the same school? No, never - however we have worked at 2 different jobs together.
7. Are you from the same home town? No - Adam is from Toronto, moved here after University; I am from the Prairies.
8. Who is the smartest? Me - hands down!
9. Who majored in what? Adam - hmm - not sure what exactly - nothing he is using now.  I did not do any post-secondary.
10. Who is the most sensitive? Me.
11. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Mexico.
12. Who has the worst temper? hmm - we both have a bit of a temper - but he tends to lose his faster with the kids.
13. How many children do you want? 2 - we are done!
14. Who is more social? We are both pretty social - but I would say he is more than me.
15. Who is the neat freak? Neither one of us - but I tend to be neater than him.
16. Who is the most stubborn? Both - it just depends on what it is.
17. Who wakes up earlier? Me - well, he might be awake before me, but I will get out of bed before him usually - unless it is my morning to sleep in and he takes care of the kids.
18. Where was your first date? We had a small date - drinks at Melrose - but I would say our first big date was dinner at Murrietta's
19. Who has the bigger family? We both do - I have more sibblings and we all live close, he has a bigger extended family, but they all live far away.
20. Do you get flowers often? No!  Adam has a terrible time remembering that even the grocery store sells flowers!
21. How do you spend the holidays? Holidays - Christmas - with family usually. 
22. Who is more jealous? Neither of us.
23. How long did it take to get serious? Do you want that in hours or minutes?  Once we started dating it was serious from minute one!
24. Who eats more? Adam
25. What do you do for a living? Adam is in sales; I am an executive assistant.
26. Who does the laundry? Both of us.
27. Who's better with the computer? Me.
28. Who drives when you are together? Adam 75% of the time, me 25%.
29. What is your song? We don't really have a song.

Household Tips

I came accross this website a while ago and found a whole list of helpful household tips.  I thought I would share some that interest me with you all.

Kitchen Tips

1. To keep marshmallows fresh and moist, store in a freezer.
2. To revive dried out marshmallows, put them in a wire strainer and hold them over boiling water.
3. Stuff a miniature marshmallow into the botton of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream cones from dripping.

* None of these tips have been tested by me, I just thought they were good ideas and just might work.

Puppy Love

I love how a dog will always find the sun spot in the house.

I love how much he is part of our family.

I love his character, even his attidude - and let me tell you - he has ATTIDUDE!

I love how he thinks he is a big dog - and really he is - he was jsut born with short legs.

Temper Temper

You gotta love a 2 year old.

This temper tantrum is because I said no to candy at 6:20am.

On My Nightstand - The Lost Symbol

The Lost Symbol - by Dan Brown

When this book first came out it did not get the best reviews, and now after having read it I have no idea why? It is a great book - full of thrills and shockers that will keep you reading right to the end.

As always Dan Brown does an amazing job at describing the details and background as the story develops.

I loved this book and I am sure if you liked any of Dan Brown's other books, you will love this one too.

On the back cover:

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer.

The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of story telling that find famed symbologist Robert Langdon in a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of cores, secrets, and unseen truths ... all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington D.C., The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning paced story with surprises at every turn. This is Dan Brown's most exciting novel yet.

My rating: 4 out of 5.

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

1 pork tenderloin

1 onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

8-10 mushrooms, sliced

1 red pepper

2-4 tbsp balsamic vinegar

4-6 leaves fresh basil

mozzarella cheese

5-6 slices bacon

olive oil

salt and pepper

Using a little bit of olive oil, saute the onion and garlic at low heat.  Cook until caramelized, this will take a while, so let it cook while you prepare everything else.  Once done, set aside to cool.

Roast the red pepper, if you have a gas range - roast it directly over the open fire, if not - place it on a cookie sheet and broil it in the oven, turning occasionally as it blackens.  Once it is sufficiently blackened, remove from oven and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.  Allow to sit on the counter until cooled.

Once cooled, removed the skin and seeds, then slice thinly.

Saute the mushrooms in a little bit of oil, until soft.

Slice the mozzarella cheese into "fingers", you will need enough to go the length of your pork tenderloin.

Butterfly the pork tenderloin, then using a meat mallet, pound out to an even thickness.

Down the middle of the pork tenderloin, layer, the caramelized onions, sauteed onions, roasted red peppers, basil leaves and mozzarella fingers.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper, the wrap up to form a log.

Wrap the log with bacon slices and sprinkle freshly cracked black pepper on top.

Place on cookie sheet and bake at 400 F convection for approximately 20 minutes, or until meat thermometer reads 135.  If the bacon is not crispy enough, switch to broil for a few minutes.

Remove from oven, place on cutting board and tent with aluminum foil for 10-12 minutes.

Slice and enjoy!

Source: We have a full time chef at work, and this is his recipe.

Reading

 

As you might know or gathered by reading this blog, I like to read.

I can remember exactly when I started my love affair with books.

The summer before Grade 6.
I discovered the Sweet Valley Twins and High books.

Although I do tend to read much deeper books today, I still remember them fondly and so appreciate the love of books they created.

Lasts year I read 41 books. My goal this year was to read 52, but I am not sure I am going to make it.
I am not keeping a list on my blog of all the book I have read this year.  2010 Reading List - can be found via this link - also at the top right hand side of this page.

Right now I am reading #45 - Room by Emma Donaghue - this is an OMG book. (Review will come early next week since I will finish this one tonight.

I am not sure where I got the idea, but I decided to keep a list of all the book I have read - I keep it by year, I number them and date them according to the month I finish it.

I also keep a list of books I want to read - this is super handy for when someone says - oh you have to read this book - and then 2 months later you have no idea what book that was.

I reserve books at the library according to that list. Sometimes it is long, sometimes it is really long.
Right now I have about 40 books on that list - I will not read them all - some books come off that list because they no longer interest me or I get some trusted feedback and it really does not interest me anymore.

I often hear from people who know me - "how do you find the time to read that much?" (remember I have 2 small children and I work full time).

I read when I can - I don't watch much TV anymore.

When the kids are watching some TV show, and it is before bed, I will often be found holding Anderson - while he watched TV and I am reading.

Reading is my hobby, I love to do it - and I love a good book suggestion - just no sci-fi - and no fantasy!

This is one of my favourite things - coffee and a book - it is even better early in the morning, if I wake up before anyone else in the house, and can sit and read for a little while, alone!

Blog Watch - Pinch My Salt

Pinch My Salt is a blog I found a long time ago.  I fell in love with not only the food but the amazing photography too.

Here are a few photos from her site and the links to that post.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Rosemary Garlic Sweet Potato Fries

The Perfect Couple

Would you like to be the proud owner of this ring? 

I totally would, however I am not sure I would be comfortable taking my kids to the park with it on.

Michael Hill jeweler is having a contest and the winner gets this ring!!

The Best Couple contest.
There are 12 challenges you have to go through, get votes and prove to be "The Best Couple"!

Are you up for it?

As much as I would love the ring (or should I say the money we could get from selling it), I think instead Adam and I are going to focus on getting Jackie comfortable with her swimming lessons, saying please every time without us prompting, changing Anderson's diapers and keeping the 2 kids from pulling each other's hair out over a toy.

On My Nightstand - Minding Frankie

Minding Frankie - by Maeve Binchy


Maeve Binchy is my favourite author. I have read almost all her books and cannot wait for her next one.
She is an Irish author and writes great novels that really let you know and love the characters.


In her latest Minding Frankie, she did a great job bringing me into the world of a few main characters.


On the back cover:
Baby Frankie is born into an unusual family. Her mother is desperate to find someone to take care of her child and she doesn't have much time.
Noel doesn't seem to be the most promising of fathers but despite everything, he could well be Frankie's best hope.
As for Lisa, she is prepared to give up everything for the man she loves; surely he's going to love her back?
And Moira is having none of it. She knows what's right and has the power to change the course of Frankie's life... but Moira is hiding secrets of her own.
My rating: 4 out of 5.

On My Nightstand - The House at Riverton

The House at Riverton - by Kate Morton

This book is written by the same author who wrote The Secret Garden, so when I saw this book at Costco, I decided to give it a try.

The House at Riverton is just as good, if not better than The Secret Garden.

I loved it!


On the back cover:

Grace Bradley was just a girl when she began working as a servant at Riverton House. For years, her life was inextricably tied up with the glamorous and eccentric Hartford family's daughters. Hannah and Emmeline. Then, at a glittering society party in the summer of 1924, a young poet shot himself. The only witnesses were Hannah and Emmeline, and only they - and Grace - know the dark truth.

Many years later, when Grace is living out her last days in a nursing home, she receives a visit from a young director who is making a film about the events of that summer. The director takes Grace back to Riverton House and reawakens her memories of the last days of Edwardian aristocratic priviledge, of the vibrant twenties and of a stunning secret that Grace kept all her life.

My rating: 4 out of 5!

Cupcakes

I made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for Anderson's birthday party. Then they were both topped with the best buttercream icing in the world!

I found this recipe with my sister in Thomas Keller's ad hoc cookbook.

It is a little bit of work - but oh so worth it. Everyone really liked this icing because it was not so super sweet (it allows for a big fancy pile of it on top of a cupcake).

Here is the recipe for the icing (the cupcakes were also from the came cookbook and were great - but nothing super special).

The Best Buttercream Icing Ever

3/4 cup egg whites

2 cups white sugar

1 3/4 - 2 cups butter, at room temperature

2 tsp vanilla

Place the bowl of a stand mixer over a large pot of boiling water, put in the egg white and sugar, and whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved.

Remove the bowl and immediately place in the stand mixer and using the whisk attachment, whisk until stiff peaks form (about 10-12 minutes).

Switch to the paddle attachment at medium speed, slowly add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, making sure it is fully incorporated before adding more.

The icing will change consistency at the very end of the butter, if it does not change, add a little bit more butter.

Add vanilla, and beat until incorporated.

Blog Watch - Amy

I thought I would let you all know that my wonderful sister has decided to come back to the blogging world.

She took a one year hiatus, but she is back and determined to be a regular poster.

Amy has a great blog going on - recipes, life, etc.

I especially want to point you to this post - she made the Caramelized Onion Tarts for us the other weekend and they are AMAZING!!

Keep up the good blog Amy!

Birthday Party #2

Sunday morning we hosted birthday party #2.
This is the one that involved children & their parents.

We had 9 little kids running through our legs, screaming and playing.
It was great!

Gift opening time is always fun with that many little helpers.

Emily

Love the hair piece!

CUPCAKES!

Once again he loved the candles - did not want to eat the cupcake - just wanted to blow out the candles over and over again.

We had a great party with some great friends - thanks to everyone who came.
Ahh - now only 4 months until Jackie's.