Woke this morning to a fresh layer of snow.
It is absolutely beautiful.
And true to form...along with the cold and snow came the 2013 Burpee's Plant and Seed catalog. They know what they are doing. It's no coincidence, you know. If it arrived during the burgeoning warmth of a Spring Day you would lay it aside in an "oh-that's-nice" fashion and bustle on about your day.
However, when it arrives on a slate gray snowy day...when the gardens are buried under several inches of snow and the gazing ball is sporting a wintery crust of its own and it is 22 out but the wind-chill makes it feel like 14 degrees...well...that's an entirely different matter.
And, as gardeners we fall on it like a Dunkin' Donuts box at a Weight-Watcher's meeting.
Necessitating an hour or more spent day-dreaming about next season's colors, herbs, vegetables and vines. A nice cup of English tea with cream and a pen circling the possibilities. All the while visions of Hollyhocks, and Roses and Begonias dance in our heads.
Oh yes...those Burpee people are a scheming lot.
Buttoning up the year's end at The Den. Embarked on a room to room de-clutter and reorganize over the next three days. A place for everything and everything in its place by the New Year. Papers sorted and shredded and tossed. Year end projects completed. Even cyber-housekeeping...as the computer gets cluttered over the course of a year, too.
Finished a read I had purposely avoided-- for what will soon become obvious reasons-- last year. Just completed: A Widow's Story by Joyce Carol Oates. Yes...Diane (and everyone else at DS who recommended it) this non-fiction account of her husband's death and her journey to the place where life goes on...is nothing short of amazing! If you have ever lost a spouse through death you will find yourself nodding and understanding every word. If you haven't...you simply won't "get it"...and that's okay...hoping you never have to.
So with the snows and chill comes winter-fare. The hearty soups, stews and chili. Heavy round loaves of homemade breads. Gingerbread and bread pudding with hard sauce...and one of my NYE favorites...rum balls. Wanted to share this recipe :)
Holiday Rum Balls
(...although a perfectly serviceable rum ball can be made with crushed vanilla wafers or chocolate cake crumbs I tend to enjoy the rich chocolate of these which start with a fudge brownie base...)
Prepare one 8x8 pan of boxed store bought chocolate brownies. The .99 cent variety works fine. Under-bake for about 5 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
While they are baking soak 1/2 cup raisins in 1/4 cup 151 rum.
Measure out 1/4 cup chopped walnuts.
With a spoon scrape mostly baked and cooled brownies into a deep mixing bowl. Add the raisin and rum mixture and the chopped nuts. Mix thoroughly.
Using hands roll mixture into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in powdered cocoa...granulated or powdered sugar...and place on serving plate or tray.
Enjoy!
Watching Congress do the year end scramble, too. Seems they've slowly realized that if the Stock Market nosedives...or the US Credit rating is downgraded again...well it is going to affect their investments and life savings, too. Not to mention their re-election chances in 2014. Enlightened Self-Interest?
Just finished an assignment on CNN (...hopefully to be vetted...) on The Fiscal Cliff.
Feeling much more optimistic about a positive outcome tonight.
