And now I hear whimpering...

It was all fixed - the word shower was mentioned.  Wrenches were being put away and one last check made before returning the extra parts to the store and... and then I heard whimpering.... 

I think a cake is in order.  Mr. C. loves a bundt cake and I think he needs that with a piping hot cup of Yorkshire Gold tea.

Maybe by the time the cake is baked the water will be fixed.

Water Leak

Last night while making dinner...

What is that sound in the pantry??? 

  Oh no I hope I don't have a mouse.

      That's water spraying not a mouse.  (in truth at this point I was relieved)

I called Mr. C. who was over an hour away.  "Houston, we have a problem."  He walked me through turning off the water in the house behind the water heater. I came out dripping but successful.  His statement of "if that doesn't work you'll have to...",  had me quaking...  Thankfully I didn't have to go under the house or go out back and shut off the main.  It worked in the house.  Then the mop up and the drying of all my cookbooks.  I have water in five gallon containers with spickets in storage.  I pulled one out so I had water for washing supper dishes etc.  We do have water outside in the hose, blessings, so we can fill buckets for the lav. 

Mr. C. giggled this morning as I heated water on the stove so I could wash up and shampoo my hair.  He said, 'I'll have the water running shortly after nine when the hardware store opens up.' 'Cool I thought this would be an all day event.' 

He is now in the pantry - he has replaced the part that leaked.  I hear words like, I hate old plumbing. fix one and another breaks, dad-gummit, this may be an all day event... Latest was "I'll be back".  He's headed back to the hardware store. 

So that's whats up at the Roost.  We are fixing water pipes.  And thankful for water in the hose and storage and most of all that I was here to hear the leak..

Pumpkin Curry Soup

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 cup diced celery
1 tsp curry powder
1/8 tsp ground coriander
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
3 cups water
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
1 32 oz can pumpkin puree
1 cup fat free half-and-half

Directions:

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, and garlic; cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in curry powder, coriander and crushed red pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add water and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes to develop flavors. Stir in pumpkin and half-and-half; cook for 5 minutes or until heated through. Transfer mixture to food processor or blender (in batches, if necessary); cover. Blend until creamy. Serve warm or reheat to desired temperature. Garnish with dollop of sour cream and chives. Preparation Tip: Soup may be prepared the day ahead. Cool to room temperature after adding pumpkin and half-and-half. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, blend then reheat to serving temperature, but do not boil.

Preparation Time: 45 minutes

Number of Servings: 4

Doesn't this look yummy and healthy.
recipe credit http://www.healthmatters.idaho.gov/Featured_Recipe.html

Shortbread... Short Lived

I made shortbread last night for a treat. It was short lived. Craig really enjoyed it and finished the last of it after lunch.


1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup)
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350; cream butter, sugars and salt; stir in flour to make stiff dough. Press dough into a 9" round pan. Score into 16 triangles. Pierce dough with fork; bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Land of the Silver Birch

Our granddaughter sang this to us last night.  It's a great teachable song, thought you might like it too.  The youtube is the tune.

This is a Canadian song - but being raised in Michigan it sounds like home to me.  Mr. C and I love to dip the paddles in and canoe the lakes and streams.   a little bird

Land of the silver birch
Home of the beaver
Where still the mighty moose
Wanders at will
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, bo-oo-oom

High on a rocky ledge
I¹ll build my wigwam
Close to the water¹s edge
Silent and still
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, bo-oo-oom

My heart grows sick for thee
Here in the lowlands
I will return to thee hills of the north
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, bo-oo-oom

Land of the silver birch
Home of the beaver
Where still the mighty moose
Wanders at will
Blue lake and rocky shore
I will return once more
Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, Boom-diddy-ah-da, bo-oo-oom



It may also be mixed together with another short song that is used to keep time while paddling a canoe:


My paddle's keen and bright
Flashing with silver
Follow the wild goose flight
Dip, dip and swing
Dip, dip and swing her back
Flashing with silver
Swift as the wild goose flies
Dip, dip and swing

Dresses for Little Girls

Pattern and Instructions

These are very easy little dresses and so cute and comfy.  RR

Make it Yourself

 Homemade skills are good to have.  Mending, cooking, growing, baking...  all good talents to foster and fun to do as well.  

When Mother Lets Us Sew

Click the link to read the book online

When Mother Lets Us Cook

Click on the link to read the book online

Just one more...

When Mother Lets Us Garden

These three books are from the early 1900's; they really are treasures.  They are available for download in a PDF format as well.  Hope you enjoy them and learn a skill to share with your children or grand children. 

 

Yogurt Success

Yeah!!!

My starter yogurt was past it's date - okay it was well past its date...

It tasted fine, smelled fine, looked fine but apparently those little active cultures only last so long.

I went out yesterday and bought a new yogurt starter and success!!

The recipe I used:

4 cups of water

1 3/4 cup dry milk powder

mix well and bring up to 180 degrees (I used a candy thermometer)

allowed to cool to 95 - 100 degrees (again candy thermometer)

whisked in two rounded tablespoons of starter yogurt

(with billions of active live cultures and probiotics)

placed in a warm spot for five hours

I have read that you can freeze the starter yogurt in ice cube trays and then when its time to make yogurt again just  thaw a cube or two.

I don't know if this is true or not??

I think I will give it a try though. I love yogurt and it is so healthy for your system.

Happy Day,

RR

Your Kitchen Pharmacy

Your kitchen pharmacy
How common culinary herbs and spices
can help you feel better

By Rebekah L. Cowell

The link above will take you to this interesting article.

Fondant Recipe

Great Recipe for Fondant

Too cool not to share. If you decorate cakes here is a recipe for fondant; you probably already have everything in your pantry.