Duckpond blues

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Things of beauty...

Things of beauty...: "Here we are again! Some weeks, Friday arrives and I feel like I blinked and the week flew by; today is one such Friday.

I have been thinking about childhood and how each stage of your children's lives seems to be the defining stage. But then it passes and you realise that it was just one phase in the whole journey of parenthood. I have attended lots of school events this week and have observed the Boos standing amongst their peers. The realisation hits every time how much they have grown. Especially my daughter, whose contemporaries have been by her side at her school since she was 4. To see them all grow up - how worldly and mature they seem now. And just to cement that view, Boo then returns home and asks me 'what is antidisestablishmentarianism Mummy?'. Pipped to the post by 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' for being the longest word in the dictionary, apparently. You have to think on your feet as a parent! They break up from school today for nearly a month....eeek.

A weekend ahead of more activities - I am longing for some quiet time. It's Mothers Day on Sunday so maybe then? I have tactically scheduled a duvet day on Monday...can't wait.

...the stunning Natalia Vodianova photograph by Annie Leibovitz...

via Toast home

Vilhelm Hammershøi, Portrait of a Young Girl, 1885

photograph by Polly Wreford

I just love this buttonhole...the second I have posted lately...buttonholes should be worn more often I think.

Photograph by Braedon Photography

Photograph by Mario Sierra

via skona hem

Almost certainly, we will have some beach time this Easter holidays...

There is something about this row of scarves that I just love...

via tiny white daisies

The bun: my new happy hair do - although mine will never be quite as resplendent as SJP's...

Photograph by Sara Kauss via Hey Gorgeous

Daddy has been working alot lately...

Photograph by Mario Sierra via Sarah Klassen Haute Design

Photograph by Lars Ranek

Photograph Mikkel Vang

Have a wonderful, restful weekend...!

~Let Them Eat Rose Petals~

~Let Them Eat Rose Petals~: "

For some time now I have been longing to try my hand at stirring up a fragrant concoction of

Rose Petal Jelly…

dreaming of this sweet delicacy…

imagining

what it would look like…

and how it might taste slathered on my favorite scones.

I now know why the bees and hummingbirds are so passionate for my roses…

*****just heavenly*****

I began by gathering some of the most fragrant roses from my garden…

pesticide free, of course.

I chose mostly pink…and one red.

Don’t you love how pale pink the delicate jelly is sans the petals…

some recipes call for the petals to be strained out, but I opted for leaving them in.

I consulted 5 different recipes trying to decide which one to go with and in the end came up with my own version that combined techniques from them all…I would love to share it with you, but it needs a little fine tuning before I do that. Some call for pectin and some do not. I went pectin free and my “jelly” is a bit more syrup like, which actually makes this rosy delight even more versatile.

My customized version reminds me of Sciroppo di rose ~ a wonderful Italian rose syrup I discovered a few years ago. Add a few drops to a glass of Prosecco or Champagne for a little intrigue…or drizzle it over vanilla or strawberry ice cream.

As you can see, even with this consistency it still clings well to the scone.

Taking 8 cups of petals to yield 1 pint…this elixr lends itself to being made in small batches. Bottle it in pretty little containers and rose petal jelly becomes a beautiful gift.

I first acquired my taste for the romantic indulgence of eating roses at Ladurée in Paris…the Marie Antoinette cake is heavily infused with the essence of roses…

and then there is irresistible Religieuse a la Rose pastry…

filled with rose infused cream and fresh raspberries, and then finished with a soft pink fondant.

Take my tour of Ladurée here.

If any of you have found or perfected a good rose jelly recipe, I would love to hear about it.

And now I think I shall sit down to a cup of tea and a fluffy scone covered in a generous drizzle of

Rose Petal Jelly

Friday, April 22, 2011

Easter weekend kicks off

Easter weekend kicks off: "

Our Easter weekend got off to the most wonderful start this week, the youngest children on holiday from school, the eldest son home from university, the remaining child back from Paris and my mother here to visit.

Add to that daughter number 2 who organises a photo shoot in the garden, then the youngest son who returns from a bike ride with three friends and everyone wants to stay over ..... the solution - tents !! This has to be the first year that tents have been out at Easter, I love it.

Added to that the amazing warm sunshine and the colours in the valley., I'm quickly typing this then I'm off for a horse ride in the forest - we know we're lucky, we love every minute of it!

Things of beauty...and a long, warm weekend...

Things of beauty...and a long, warm weekend...: "Here again...another Friday list of prettiness; whatever might have taken my fancy this week. Today heralds the start of the Easter weekend, which to me means family and quieter times, seeing friends, resting up. Of course I couldn't not mention the weather which, as I look out today, is shaping up to be a beautiful sunny day. Maybe a late beach visit this afternoon? Cook fish on the barbecue?

I've been trying to just take some time of late, to work through chores more mindfully, to concentrate on the task in hand rather than just muddle through. I need to get more centred on what I am doing. I need to keep my nostalgia in check, as much as I love it, looking back all the time is counter-productive. Time to look forward and to plan...