Saturday, March 10, 2012

Blackout

Last week, we had a very unexpected snow storm. The weather has been mild and the daffodils are close to blooming. But snow it did, all day. The children were very disappointed to see slush accumulate instead of snow. This might have been a blessing, because where the snow did stick, it downed power lines, and enjoyed creating chaos, in any way it could.
Those downed power lines, although an hour from our house, were OUR power lines. So, along with 140,000 other homes, we spent 6 hours without power. This, of course, is fun for awhile. Candles are pretty and plentiful at our house. And since we heat mainly with wood stoves, we weren't cold. (Other people were not so fortunate.) But I must admit, the idea of no electricity for days, doesn't sound so fun. What happens to all the food in the freezer? What to do with the clothes that are washed but not dried? No internet? No cell phones?  (How did we get so dependent on those pesky things?) So when the power came back on, I admit some of us cheered!

Music by candlelight. Our piano is so old that it even has candle holders, just for this sort of emergency.


Débora, our niece, wanted to make Pavlova... Luckily the meringue was waiting and ready, but whipped cream by hand? I'll admit it was a bit buttery, but the dessert still disappeared quickly. And Nathan's headlight helped for the decorating.



Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Weekend "Chocolat"

Jérémie's chocolate making days go back a few years. He used to fill raspberries with good things and dip them in dark chocolate. But recently he has gotten serious about chocolate making.
Saturday he enlisted helpers and went crazy. The chocolates were as good as they look. Try not to drool on your keyboard.

First the workers put chocolate around the sides of the molds and let it harden.




 Then they fill them with yummy things and cover with more chocolate.

Once the chocolates are cool and hardened, they take them out of the molds.

Then they decorate. This is very important. In French we say that we eat with our eyes. (Sorry, but it sounds better in French)

















Did I mention that I love chocolate?!!!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Puppies one more time...

Our house is puppy free. A bitter-sweet feeling. That was the plan from the beginning, but we still miss those little balls of fuzzy fur.