Mid-Holiday Break

Time in Boston is the perfect way to bridge the gap between Christmas & New Year's. A few nights at the Four Seasons being coddled and comforted by the hotel's lovely staff was the perfect retreat after a horribly hectic end to 2010. The food (Lobster Mac & Cheese, Lemon Ricotta Hot Cakes*...) was fabulous, the shopping plentiful, the fresh snows perfection. And if that isn't enough, there's always skating @ Frog Pond.

*Four Seasons Lemon Ricotta Hot Cakes

6 eggs separated
1 1/2 cups of ricotta cheese
1/2 cup melted butter cooled
1/2 cup all purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Separate eggs in a bowl. Combine egg yolks, ricotta cheese, melted butter. In another bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, lemon zest. Slowly add to above mixture. Whip egg whites to form firm peaks. Fold egg whites gently into batter. Butter griddle and form small hotcakes, cook until golden brown on both sides. Serve with Sour Cherry Jam or Lemon Curd, Maple Syrup.

Snow

{outside front door}

{inside front door}

{out of the oven}

We never get snow in this part of North Carolina, and it called for hot coffee, warm sweet rolls, a good book and a crackling fire.  Is it cold & snowy where you are?

Happy Christmas to All

and to All a good night.

Spring Fling

A few weeks ago there was sun, lots of sun, and warmth. Skies were cloudless, a pale and clear Carolina blue. Daffodils were up, my lawn was a patchwork of dark green tufts, and most of the neighbors had replaced their holiday magnolia swags with pots of fresh pansies. Temperatures were pushing 70. Was I wrong to think Spring had arrived?

I'd first seen the Townie in Vogue, then on Nantucket, and finally -- in early February -- through the window of my neighborhood cycle shop, a brilliant mass of peony, tangerine and limeade.   The Townie is a model of simplicity, and I'm so about simple.   The flat-foot technology makes riding in flip-flops a breeze.  

One of the originals, a pearly lime 3-speed with the coaster brakes of my childhood and a comfy seat, was too much to resist. Really, who can turn away from a bike that offers a surf rack accessory?  I succumbed. And not just to the cruiser, but to a big wicker basket and bright, shiny bell.

I was able to ride my new Townie around town for exactly 1 day before Winter returned.  Tomorrow we're expecting 3-5 inches of snow...

Happy Holly*days from Thimble Farm

Snow

It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow

Snow

I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow

Snow

I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow

Snow

Oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow

Where it's snowing

All winter through

That's where I want to be

Snowball throwing

That's what I'll do

How I'm longing to ski

Through the snow oh oh oh oh

Those glist'ning houses that seem to be built of snow

Snow

Oh, to see a mountain covered with a quilt of snow

What is Christmas with no snow

No white Christmas with no snow

Snow

I'll soon be there with snow

I'll wash my hair with snow

And with a spade of snow

I'll build a man that's made of snow

I'd love to stay up with you but I recommend a little shuteye

Go to sleep

And dream

Of snow