It has been so rainy and grey here.
Rain is something quite special in the desert.
Chilly enough for little heaters and furry slippers too.
And of course, we are still in the pumpkins.
I know I know, so many pumpkins, so little time.
A couple of weeks ago I was in the plant nursery trying to choose some evergreens for holiday decor.
I always buy trees and shrubs I can plant later.
It's funny to see how big a pine tree can get in 12 years.
Hello huge!
As I was in the nursery filling my basket with greens and getting some fresh fairy lights, the most precious little old lady came up to me and said, "you have to pace yourself dear, else you'll get plum burnt out."
I think she thought I was plunging a little too early, haha, it was so funny.
We both just laughed and laughed.
My house is a mixture of garden flowers and pumpkins, and Christmas evergreens.
The flowers are sure to end soon.
Anyone know what flowers thrive in winter?
Are there any?
I'd love to plant some in my pots when the zinnias have totally gone, which is about now.
The veggie garden is thriving.
I have about 3 more big pickings of leeks.
In fact I just made some fresh potato leek soup tonight.
Yumm.
Early, on these very wet drizzly days we have had, you'd find me running out to the garden to collect arugula and cherry tomatoes.
I lost some tomatoes running back though :)
I also grabbed some cosmos on the way, and ended up digging in mud, pulling up tree size weeds.
In the rain.
In my slippers.
What a mess, haha.
I came in with my red, weed pulling, scraped up hand and looked for a pitcher for the cosmos.
Cold feels so unusual.
It's hard to get used to when you have been so warm for sooo many months.
The cold isn't nearly as cold as some of you get.
But, to some of us desert wimps, it's bone chilling.
Flowers and pumpkins and evergreens, oh my.
Just hanging out inside for a couple days while the rain went crazy.
The first half of my life I was a breakfast hater.
What about you?
In fact, only in the last handful of years have I become a devout breakfast eater.
Mister Lovee makes fresh squeezed orange juice every single day.
He usually has oatmeal, which he makes from scratch on the stove.
Did I tell you about the time he was making oatmeal, and I was sitting at the dining table drawing, when all of a sudden I looked into the kitchen and had quite a fright?
I was looking at his profile, and from his shoulder to his ankles there was a light orange glow on him, covering his robe.
He had longer hair (in a ponytail), so his hair had an orange glow on the ends as well.
That is when I realized, he was on fire!??!
It was the faintest orange glow covering him.
The sleeve of his robe had a piece of thread hanging, which had caught fire, and let the fire travel all over him.
I was so shocked at the sight, I could hardly get the words out.
LOVEE, you are on FIRE!!!
Needles to say he lost part of his ponytail.
He quickly took off the robe, bundled it up, and ran outside with it.
Imagine if I had not been there?
When would he have noticed??
I am giggling as I type, but that was sooo scary, hahaha.
Where was I?
Oh yes, breakfast.
So, I have never been one for runny yolk eggs.
When I make fried eggs, I always let my yolk cook until it is totally set.
One of the things I never liked from runny yolks was the sort of strong iron flavor.
But, when I started making poached eggs, I noticed that the yolks didn't taste irony.
Same for soft boiled eggs.
So, on a cold dreary non-stop rainy day, I set out to make soft boiled eggs.
Plus a grilled avocado, arugula, brie, maple turkey, tomato grilled cheese to cut in half and share.
The house was so dark for over 2 days.
I loved it.
Perfect for cooking and being cozy.
I know elevation makes a difference in cooking...
But what I do to make soft boiled eggs is, just bring salted water to a boil, then turn it down to med/low heat and lower two eggs in on a spoon.
For a yolk that is minor runny, but the egg white totally cooked, it takes 7 minutes at my house.
Once the timer rings, I pop the eggs in ice water for 30 seconds.
Cut the tops off.
Have a little dish of salt and pepper.
Then...
Eat.
This is one of the last things I would have ever wanted to eat a few years ago.
But once you play with poached eggs and soft boiled eggs in a way you like to eat them, they are just creamy and lovely.
How nice.
Snuggle up after a good breakfast, while rain pours down, and nap.
Everyone in my house napped but me.
(although Miles slept with his bum on my head all night, so I needed a nap all day)
Later...
The cold evenings, with rain still going on, led me to roast marshmallows on the stove.
I am not above such things, haha!
The boys wrestled.
Wasn't Miles dapper in my gardening shirt?
He didn't even want to take it off.
He's so darn funny.
(weird lit night shots)
He looked so short and funny, hahahehe.
Then we popped roasted marshmallows in homemade hot chocolate.
A decadent sip-able dessert.
I love making my own hot chocolate because you can control the chocolate and sweetness.
A little almond milk, a little cocoa powder, a little sugar, maybe some cinnamon?
Roasted marshmallows to garnish...
Perfect on a very cool evening, sitting in front of the heater, reading magazines.
I wonder when the sunshine will return?
Tomorrow perhaps?
We watched movies in the cottage last night, while I played with my mini dollhouse.
It needs some work.
I don't know what yet.
I have a few huge dollhouses, but you can only have one out at a time, unless you have a massive space to play in.
I am getting miniature obsessed again.
Eeeks!
I hope you had a super lovely weekend.
What's going on out there in your little world?
Looove, V
