5 Months ~ Wuthering Heights

As you will recall, a dear dear friend of mine is getting married on July 4th, 2010 and I am marking the countdown to her big day with …

~A six month journey through the greatest love stories of all time~

With it being approximately February 4th (okay, so, I’m a few days late on this one), it’s time for round #2!

Wuthering Heights
by Emily Bronte

“If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it.”
– Ch. 9

I picked up a used copy this morning at The Recycled Bookshop on McCaul.

And I wrapped it up all pretty with a cupcake card as promised.

Also this morning, Grandma’s delicious sour cream pancakes with my special apple cinnamon sauce for Tim’s breakfast.

|| The Recipe ||

3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking flour
2+ tablespoon sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon+ vanilla

& fry in light oil.

|| The Results ||

All in all, a pretty nice Saturday.

Au revoir,
k*

The Love of My Life

My husband, the love of my life, is far far away … in a cold, cold place … working so very hard … and I miss him terribly.

Come back soon! xxoo

Au revoir,
k*

6 Months ~ Pride and Prejudice

A dear dear friend is getting married on July 4th, 2010 which is exactly six months from today and, as a devoted bridesmaid, I thought it my responsibility to mark the occasion.  And, so, I introduce …

~A six month journey through the greatest love stories of all time~

And, I am happy to present my personal favourite to kick things off:

Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen

“I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation.  It is too long ago.  I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”

Darcy to Elizabeth,
who asked him to account for having fallen in love with her

Each book of six, chosen carefully by a panel of experts (aka me and my parents) and picked up used at stores around the city, will make its way into the bride’s mailbox with a cupcake card and recipe … because what bride can read a deeply beautiful and truly profound love story like P&P without a few douzen cupcakes by her side!  I don’t know about you, but I cannot think of a better way to prepare a young woman for the blessed sacrament of marriage.

So much love to you, oh beautiful bride to be.

Au revoir,
k*

P.S.  There is some debate around the dinner table as to which books should make up the remaining collection of five.  Please feel free to voice a favourite if you have one.  Cheers!

Count Your Blessings

This blog is supposed to be a place for ‘glass half full’ thinking.  So, inspite of a few setbacks, I’m going to do my best to look at the present situation optimistically.

First things first, I’m sick.  Being sick sucks but at least I’ve got a peach of husband here to take care of me and get me things and force me to get out of bed and have dinner at Golden Turtle and draw me a bath and rub my back and on and on and on.  Kind husband.  Blessing.

Secondly, we’re living in temporary accommodations.  A bachelor basement apartment to be more specific.  The ceilings are low and natural light is at a minimum, it’s really the sort of place that could drag a person down … deep down … into the dumps.  But, on the upside, we are blessed with friends who would invite a newly-married-down-on-their-luck couple into their home which is pretty amazing.  Moreover, we are blessed with family who would help us lug all of our possessions down three flights of stairs and into a trailer and drive away with it all until we figure things out.  Good friends and good family.  Blessing.

Thirdly, I found seasons 1, 2, and 3 of Northern Exposure in our ‘housemate’s’ movie collection.  I love this show!  It’s especially perfect right now because it kinda feels like a little cottage down here.  Plus, I think it’s helping me to better empathize with my Timmins family and with my dear friend who’s moving to Nelson, BC and with my friend Joanne who is living in the Territories.  Visions of the North.  Blessing.

Fourthly, the bathroom down here is newly renovated and has a JACUZZI TUB!!!  So, whenever I’m feeling down, I promise to will treat myself to a candlelit bath and this month’s book club book:  Consolation by Michael Redhill.

Art.  Books.  Blessing.

Au revoir,
k*

Pie!

Before …

After …

Recipe to follow (when I have permission from the author)!

Au revoir,
k*

Weekend of Promise

This weekend is full of promise, the restful kind, the good kind …

Friday || A good, full day of work followed by a charming night-in with husband.  Wine from wine weekend and an oh-so-delicious portion of goat cheese to start.  Next up we have a handful of smart hors dourves.  Then, fettuccini with a rose sauce and a side of roasted red pepper and onion spinach salad.  To end the night, a piece of ‘mama kate’s old fashioned cheesecake.’  What could be better?  I know!  Add sweatpants, a cozy blanket, late night hot chocolate and popcorn, a cuddle, and a video rental from 2Q.  Exhale.

Saturday || A tip to the Bay for a gift and a gown in anticipation of the big day for dear friends Smita and Simon.  Afternoon visit to the Great Hall for vows and visions.  Eat, eat, eat … dance, dance, dance.  Late night / early morning stroll around the city for Nuit Blanche, in particular a big orange glowing exibit by an old high school friends.  In bed by dawn.  Exhale.

Sunday || Nothing.  Then freechurch.  Then nothing.  Exhale.

Am I right or am I right?  It’s looking good.

I also wanted to tip my hat to this week’s wine tastings.  This week’s wine tastings brought to you by wine weekend in Beamsville …

Cave Springs – 2007 Pinot Noir
On the nose, aromas of cherry menthol, cloves and star anise pierce through nuances of tilled earth; the wine is medium bodied with juicy, ripe, black cherry fruit up front and penetrating blackberry flavours bound to a core of firm, silken tannins in the middle; these tannins gently give way to a finish of tart red berry fruit.

Peninsula Ridge – 2007 Merlot
Aromas of dark plums, red berries and a touch of mint and clove. Very full, round and smooth texture with soft tannins, a slight cherry tartness gives way to softer plum and a hint of spice.

Happiness!

Au revoir,
Kate

O Holy Night

Tonight was met with a desire to eat cheesecake, drink red wine, and watch ‘When Harry Met Sally.’  Tonight was met with the melody and lyrics to a familiar tune …

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of Our dear Saviour’s birth.

Long lay the world In sin and error pining,

‘Til He appear’d And the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels’ voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts By His cradle we stand.

So led by light of A star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men From Orient land.

The King of Kings Lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials Born to be our friend.

He knows our need, To our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Behold your King.

Truly He taught us To love one another;

His law is love And His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break For the slave is our brother;

And in His name All oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy In grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us Praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory Evermore proclaim.

His power and glory Evermore proclaim.

Thirty Something

It’s a really interesting time in my life.  Things are about to change.  In a big way.  I am standing on the edge of a major life transformation.  What’s more, I have no idea how this change is going to come about or what it’s going to look like …  are we going to move to Winnipeg?  Will we stay here?  What will husband do for work?  What’s my next career step?  And on and on and on.  It’s tough, this waiting thing, and I’m a little bit down.  There is one thing I do know:  we’re moving out of this apartment in t-minus 45 days and there is a lot to pack.

I’m not the only one worrying about the state of things.  Some of my closest girlfriends are also rolling around in the tough stuff.  A plate of falafel, 2 Litres of wine, and some frank conversations last week and we all ended up in tears.  I have a lot of love for these girls and I hate to see them hurting.  But I’m happy that we’re real friends, the kind of friends who can be honest about what’s really going on, and I know things will get better for them.

I rented the first season of ‘Thirty Something’ thinking it might shed some light on this strange new phase.  The creators of ‘My So-Called Life’ suggested it to me and I’m prepared to take anything they say seriously.  I’m into the second episode and I have to admit that I’m not quite ready for this show.  Not only are me and my girlfriends five or more years too young, but we’re also not here yet.  We’re not ‘locked down’ the way they seem to be or at least the way they seem to think they are.  We still have the opportunity to move wherever we want, vacation to Paris and Berlin, try, succeed, try, fail, renew our promises, renew our vows, you name it!  Sky’s the limit for us.

So I’m pretty sure everything is going to be okay.

Husband just called from the U2 concert to dedicate a few lines of his favourite song to me.  I really dislike U2 but I sure love this husband of mine …

I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you

Feels like fall …

I feel like I should be wearing a multi-coloured scarf and wollen mittens and shopping for school supplies today.  There is something about this time of year that is just so magical, so full of promise.  My co-worker and I have decided to toast the crisp cool breeze by indulging in a cup of tea and talking about Christmas.  I’m off to boil water …

COUNTDOWN UNTIL CHRISTMAS = 116 Days

Au revoir,
k*

P.S.  I love Christmas.

Wedding Bliss – A few favourites so far …