Thank You

There is something wonderful about receiving an unexpected parcel in the mail.  Today a special thank you to A. whose package arrived and whose tea and cookies I have been savouring. 

What a very nice surprise!!! 

I do believe that friendships, be they old or new, are one of the grandest treasures in life.

They can brighten the darkest of days, they can inspire, encourage, support or just make us burst out with laughter. Yes, good friendships surely are one of the finer things in life. 

May you (those Americans among you) be enjoying the company of family and friends on this Thanksgiving holiday. 

Blue skies and the finding of new friends

Two of life's simplest delights.

My middle child, 

she -with- curls

found a new friend today, 

sometimes it can happen in a moment!

Was heart warming to witness.

 I was lucky enough this week to catch a view of a wondrous sky, made me wish I possessed the words of a poet, would have certainly written a poem. The sight had the pleasing affect of making me feel caught up in some vast net, like a small fish, the magic of something larger (a nice feeling after an especially exhausting week).

Hope your weekend has been a little restorative. 

- J 

Friendships

Phew, busy week here! Must give a brief update, the bed did get remade just in time (and I did have that glass of wine that evening) and we had a really lovely weekend with our friends. Which is what brings me to today's ponderings, that being the joys found in friendships but this time from the perspective of a mom witnessing the bonds children create with eachother. This weekend seeing how smoothly my son fell back into synch with his old friend (keep in mind he is only 5 years old) was heart warming to witness. After not having seen eachother in almost  two years it was unexpected the way the boys picked up just where they left off as if they had never been apart. The sign of a real friendship in my mind, for although both now live in different countries T in Malta and L in Italy they have enough in common that they seemed to have plenty to talk about.  They met as 6 wk olds on a summer day when we lived in England 5 years ago, breastfeeding under a shady tree. You just never know in life how or when you will meet someone who can become so dear and how this starts even at a young age. From cards, races, legos and tent building, bear hunting to sleep over pillow fights and endless giggles they were like exhausted happy puppies by the end of the weekend when it was time to say good bye. T was sad and whistful in a way I have rarely seen him the following day, and insisted on drawing L. pictures and beginning on preparing to send a parcel to Italy, (he also has taken to drawing maps, (which now prominently include Italy and Malta). Isn't it a delight when you meet a kindred spirit and low and behold your children also find a connection!
Lastly some recipes as I have received quite a few emails
first is the dipped figs and the mulled wine but I did make it and it was very good. I did not include the lime but did include everything else.

 Chocolate dipped figs 
8-12 Figs
1/2-3/4 cup Brandy
dark chocolate
1/2 cup walnuts

step 1. Make one small 2 cm incision on side of figs and place in a bowl, cover with brandy and set aside for a few hours to overnight.
step 2. Stuff each fig with some walnut pieces (you can toast the walnuts first) and form each so sitting on a plate.
step 3. Melt chocolate in a double boiler,  dip each fig (holding fig by the tip so it's important you don't cut the top parts off).
once they are all dipped place in fridge and when hardened put in covered container.

and here is the mulled wine recipe I used (honestly a really nice one) I think the key thing is making the syrup and the fact that his recipe uses tangerine peel,star anis  and bay leaf (who would have thought bay?!) so thank you Jamie Oliver.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/other-recipes/jamie-s-mulled-wine