Monday, December 8, 2014

Today's Update - 8 Dec 2014


What a Monday!  What is it about the beginning of the work week that turns people into either babbling idiots or monsters that could rival the ones that hide amongst the dust bunnies under the bed?!  Wet miserable weather that I didn't expect or plan for hasn't helped either.  Every little sproing I have in my hair has taken on a life of its own and I look like a hen that stuck its tail feathers in an electrical outlet.  Hanging Christmas lights in a heavy, misting rain wasn't exactly lovely either ... especially after Darth Molly decided she wanted to help.  Oy, you have no idea.  It has been one of those days that always reminds me of that old show "Candid Camera."  Oh well.  At least I can say that I'm getting things accomplished.  LOL. 

Google is slowly letting me spend more time on the various blogs before it stops responding.  I'm having my lines checked to see if maybe my carrier is choking my bandwidth and it is causing something to time out.  Despite it all I have managed to get a few things up.

For those wondering about the liqueur and cordial recipes, I think I've gotten most of them up at the recipe blog.  I need to check around and see if there are anymore hiding out on my computer that I can just copy-n-paste in tonight or tomorrow.

Mother Hen's Recipe Blog
http://motherhensrecipes.blogspot.com/

For those that asked about the book that has all of the frugal recipes for both cooking and household products, Rodale publishing produced several nice ones.  Reader's Digest did as well.  Most of my books are years old so will likely not be in print these days.  If you happen to go to a bookstore don't overlook books on herbs in the garden section as sometimes they have sections in them on what you do with herbs besides cooking.  The ingredients I use in mine are very basic, I don't even bother with using essential oils though I know that is the trend and even my married daughter uses them.  If I had to come up with a basic ingredient list for my homemade cleaners I would say:  alcohol, lemon juice, ammonia, salt, baking soda, borax, vinegar, and instead of bleach I use hydrogen peroxide.  The main commercial product I use is Oxy-Clean which I use on antique linens and laces as a good soaking solution.  I will try and share my cleaner recipes over the next couple of weeks.

The stories I managed to get updated are:

Up On Hartford Ridge
http://uponhartfordridge.blogspot.com/

A Bunch of Wild Thyme
http://bunchofwildthyme.blogspot.com/

Zombies Aren't Real ... Are They?!
http://zombiesarentrealarethey.blogspot.com/

I wanted to do more but "blogger is no longer responding" so I'm going to give it a rest for the night before I get tempted to do some damage to "blogger" whoever he or she is. 

Tonight, after realizing I was caught somewhere between The Grinch and mean ol' Herod I decided I needed to do something to get over my Monday Blues and get in the spirit of the season.  I've been listening to some new-to-me Christmas music, probably a group that everyone else has already heard of just like Pentatonix.  LOL.  Anyway here are The Piano Guys.  Their Carol of the Bells (for 12 cellos) is amazing and so is their other work, some of which I'm posting below.  I'm also baking cookies ... and my mother sent me a really good recipe for Meringue Christmas Tree cookies so I'm gathering what I need for that as well.  First batch probably won't last too long ... I love meringues.  (blush)  LOL.  Feeling less and less Grinchy as each note rises and as the smell of baking fills the air.

 
 
 





10 comments:

  1. Ahhh. When you get down, just remember, you can sneak a nip of that strawberry liqueur. It should give you a "lift". (lol I'm not gonna let you forget that one.)

    Thank you for the music, and thank you for the story.

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    1. That strawberry liqueur is being used to make some filled chocolates and truffles. A youtube link for how to make the truffles can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV72pLbx5cE

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  2. I just discovered the Piano Guys a couple of weeks ago. I love their version of Let it Go. They've taken a good kids song and turned it into a beautiful piece of classical music.

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    1. It is on their new Christmas CD. A friend surprised me with it after her daughter - a friend of my daughters - told her I didn't have it.

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  3. I think I read all updated chapters before you even updated your main blog. LOL! We're all sick here, and it just so happened you posted right as we're laying down for a nap.

    Thanks for all the chapters, it is helping pass the time while being sickly. I was starting to wonder about all those liqueur recipes...maybe you have a vice we don't know about, LOL. Have an excellent day, Kathy!

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    1. ROFL. No vice. In truth it isn't just a matter that I don't really drink but that I can't risk drinking. Diabetes is a real problem in my family and alcohol is nothing but sugar.

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  4. Love The Piano Guys, it is fun reading about how they do the videos, they even have a "stunt cello", one that has already seen a lot of wear and tear so they don't mind taking it into harsher environments then they would take the nicer cellos into.

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    1. OK, now I've got to find this. LOL. Sounds like they are not only talented but have commonsense ... a winning combination.

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  5. Like everyone I guess my day is gray and rainy and generally nasty. So I went to the store this morning and got everything I needed to makeup several of your yummy liqueurs . After that I just felt better ... hmmm, wonder if it was the fumes or the "quality control" samples that helped with the downcast mood.
    Somebody else try it and let me know.

    May all your days be sunny and bright........

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    1. Yep, those fumes can be quite ... uplifting. ROFL.

      I found out that it is a myth that all the alcohol cooks out of any baking you do. How much cooks out is directly related to the temperature and cooking time. I have friends that definitely appreciate a liqueur soaked cake at the holidays. Every after-season sale I try and pick up all of the large cake tins (most people think they are just for cookies). Unfortunately a lot of them are going plastic. Sigh. And the metal ones aren't always heavy duty enough to hold the fruitcakes and jam cakes that I make. I may resort to buying a large supply online if I can find a good provider.

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