Hydrangea Hype

Did you ever see something and be so inspired that you absolutely had to re-create it as soon as possible or you thought your head would pop right off?  I'm sure I'm not alone here!  This is how I felt when I saw these cupcakes.  My own hydrangea bush is doing very well this year, after what I can only guess is a year off.  It didn't bloom at all last year, but a week or so ago it started blooming and has been wooing me ever since.

I have been outside daily to check on how it's blooming: every day the shades of purple, blue and cream have blended to a new masterpiece.  If I could somehow paint a room that embodied the colors of these hydrangeas I would never leave it.
Anyway on to the cupcakes.  When I saw them I was smitten. Aren't they gorgeous?!  And wasn't it just serendipity that I happened to have 1 cup of buttercream icing and some vanilla cupcakes in the freezer?

This was our dessert tonight:

 Floral, buttercream ,cupcake heaven...

Pansy-monium

Can you tell which one isn't fresh picked?

After fertilizing my wisteria, I found this little visitor:

Poor thing; I must have scared it half to death.  All she was doing was hiding and waiting for her mama to come feed her, when a big monster came along and doused her with water and Miracle-Gro.  After taking the picture I backed away and the mama did come back with some juicy worms in her mouth.  I heard much frantic chirping from the baby bird (bird bawling?) before she got fed.  Mama took off and watched from a distance, and finally baby made a safe exit.

We had a rainy weekend here.  I was supposed to have a garage sale on Saturday morning but we had torrential downpours.  I had to run around in my pyjamas at 6:46 am and remove all my signs :(  Perhaps next weekend....

We spent a good part of the day in the city - big stuff for us.  We ended up at Yonge and Lawrence, and it just so happened they were having a bit of a street party.  The kids got to see some clowns and have their faces painted.  We ate at a little patisserie  (Patisserie Sebastien?), but it wasn't so much fun for the kids who really just wanted a toasted bagel and a doughnut.  We had to make up for it and buy four really expensive desserts: the fancy French kind.  They were very good I have to say, and now I'm determined to recreate the lavender panna cotta with strawberry sauce.  It took all my willpower not to lick the cup clean.

Afterwards we came home and ordered pizza and watched Fantastic Mr. Fox.  I will have to read the book again because we didn't find the movie very good.  I know my Mum read it to me when I was little, but that's all I remember.

Today I hope to get a start on some teacher gifts while listening to my new Vera Lynn CD.  If all is successful I should have them posted later in the week.

Have a great day!

Aromatherapy

Our crafty world has been smelling very good these last few days.  Starting with these:

 ...pilferred from the neighbors tree.  Since they were hanging well over our side of the fence I felt justified in cutting them off.  Oh my did they smell heavenly!

On Thursday Mr. Crafty World and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary, and he brought home this lovely bouquet of roses:

Over the weekend I decided to dabble a bit with some embroidery. 

 Those bullion roses are enough to drive anyone up the wall!  For my first attempt I'm happy enough with it, and finished it off as a small sweet bag filled with lavender.

Today while My Favorite Boy happily kneaded and squished some homemade playdough (scented with coconut extract!), I made some bath fizzers. 

 I haven't made these in years, and it was lovely to get back into it. 

On the left I have coconut/mango/pineapple with chunky sea salt and on the right is lily of the valley.  I used a vintage baking mold and I love how they look like little cakes.  I ran out of a few ingredients, but am definitely planning on making some more.  I have tried a lot of recipes for making fizzers, but this one has always been my favorite. 

Bath Fizzers

2 tablespoons of citric acid

2 tablespoons corn starch

1/2 cup baking soda

2-3 tablespoons light oil - I use almond oil, but you can use grapeseed, apricot kernel, even sunflower though it's a bit heavier.  Just make sure you aren't allergic to whatever oil you use!  I used 2 tablespoons.

1/4 or so teaspoons fragrance/essential oil

3-6 drops food coloring if you want

Mix everything in a bowl.  You will probably have to get in there with your fingers and rub it all together.  Shape it into balls (if you used lots of oil), or pack it into a mold.  Let it rest and dry out for a few hours before storing in an airtight container. 

Have fun!

I had four people express interest in the Polstitches chart.  I used the ultra scientific method of throwing a dice to pick the recipient.  I rolled a two, so that means it's going to Annette.  Annette, can you please email me and give me your address?  I will send it off shortly. 

Thank you to all those who left me nice messages; it really makes my day!

Spring Is Coming

At least I keep telling myself that. I think I have come down with the February blues.

I'm tired: tired of snow and dirt; tired of putting all my winter gear on every time I have to go outside, even if it's just for a minute; tired of feeling like my get up and go has gotten up and left.

I need a bit of sunshine, a break in the clouds, a bit of green, a burst of energy.

Our snow has returned, and it seems the whispers of spring have been silenced.

Spring is coming, I know it. All I need to remember is that it is always worth waiting for.