Luanna Stewart's Blog, page 6
October 24, 2017
Wine Wednesday - still not wine...
As I mentioned last week, I’m in full-on pumpkin spice flavoured foods mode. I baked these pumpkin cookies and took them to our friend’s house for our weekend stay. They were a definite hit. And boy, were they a nice treat during our deconstruction/demolition project.
The recipe only calls for one cup of canned pumpkin puree so, hm…What to do with the remaining pumpkin? Well, I’m giving this recipe a try.
Pumpkin Roll Bars
Janet made these and passed along the recipe so I know they’ll be tasty. I’ll let you know what Hubby and I think.
The mainland as seen from the lighthouse at Boar’s Head.
Cheers!
The recipe only calls for one cup of canned pumpkin puree so, hm…What to do with the remaining pumpkin? Well, I’m giving this recipe a try.
Pumpkin Roll Bars
Janet made these and passed along the recipe so I know they’ll be tasty. I’ll let you know what Hubby and I think.
The mainland as seen from the lighthouse at Boar’s Head.Cheers!
October 23, 2017
Maudlin Monday - too warm...
My apologies for the lateness of this posting. I had a busy, tiring weekend and by the time we got home yesterday all I wanted to do was nothing. So I coloured in my colouring book whilst listening to CBC radio.
How did it get to be the last full week of October? This whacky weather doesn’t feel like early October. Today, for instance, the temperature will reach 17°C, or xx° in Fahrenheit speak. That just ain’t right. Way, way back in my early years, we had to design our Hallowe’en costumes to accommodate a winter jacket.
I do appreciate the extended spate of warm weather given that our bedroom is Mum’s old house is unheated. I’m not looking forward to chilly sheets. Too bad my hot water bottle is in a box somewhere in the storage unit.
But it doesn’t feel like autumn so that’s my whine for today. For which I feel conflicted. See above.
In other news, we spent the weekend with friends and we disassembled the extra roof truss system. And we did it in one day!!! (Thank you to Ron for his knowledge and labour. And thank you to Janet for the excellent picnic lunch.) I think we recovered enough lumber to frame out the garden shed and the chicken coop.
Here I am wielding a power tool – a dangerous prospect.
And here’s a photo of the house progress. I love the colour more and more every time I see it.
What did you get up to on the weekend?
Cheers!
P.S. I still haven’t updated my newsletter sign-up page. But I’ll be doing it soon so this might be your last chance to use the old, boring page.
How did it get to be the last full week of October? This whacky weather doesn’t feel like early October. Today, for instance, the temperature will reach 17°C, or xx° in Fahrenheit speak. That just ain’t right. Way, way back in my early years, we had to design our Hallowe’en costumes to accommodate a winter jacket.
I do appreciate the extended spate of warm weather given that our bedroom is Mum’s old house is unheated. I’m not looking forward to chilly sheets. Too bad my hot water bottle is in a box somewhere in the storage unit.
But it doesn’t feel like autumn so that’s my whine for today. For which I feel conflicted. See above.
In other news, we spent the weekend with friends and we disassembled the extra roof truss system. And we did it in one day!!! (Thank you to Ron for his knowledge and labour. And thank you to Janet for the excellent picnic lunch.) I think we recovered enough lumber to frame out the garden shed and the chicken coop.
Here I am wielding a power tool – a dangerous prospect. And here’s a photo of the house progress. I love the colour more and more every time I see it.
What did you get up to on the weekend?Cheers!
P.S. I still haven’t updated my newsletter sign-up page. But I’ll be doing it soon so this might be your last chance to use the old, boring page.
October 19, 2017
Fabulous Friday - Heigh ho...
Now that we have that ear-worm firmly lodged in our skulls…
We’re heading off the island today to check on the house construction progress, leaving Mum to mind the cats and catch up on her DVD viewing.
Then we’ll tackle a little (ha!) demolition project. You see, due to an error (pointing no fingers) the incorrect roof trusses for the garage were delivered and installed. Strangely, the truss company didn’t want them back. I couldn’t stand by and let all that new lumber get cut up and thrown away so I said we’d take it. They lifted the entire roof off in one piece and set it on the ground off to one side.
It looks like a small house!!
And it needs to be disassembled. So with the help of some friends, a chain saw, and a few pry bars, we’ll be salvaging enough wood to build a garden shed and a chicken coop. At least. Like I said, it’s a small house!
Do you have any ideas for what we can build with the leftover wood?
Here’s a sunrise from last week.
Cheers!
We’re heading off the island today to check on the house construction progress, leaving Mum to mind the cats and catch up on her DVD viewing.
Then we’ll tackle a little (ha!) demolition project. You see, due to an error (pointing no fingers) the incorrect roof trusses for the garage were delivered and installed. Strangely, the truss company didn’t want them back. I couldn’t stand by and let all that new lumber get cut up and thrown away so I said we’d take it. They lifted the entire roof off in one piece and set it on the ground off to one side.
It looks like a small house!!
And it needs to be disassembled. So with the help of some friends, a chain saw, and a few pry bars, we’ll be salvaging enough wood to build a garden shed and a chicken coop. At least. Like I said, it’s a small house!
Do you have any ideas for what we can build with the leftover wood?
Here’s a sunrise from last week.
Cheers!
October 17, 2017
Wine Wednesday - not wine...
All I can think of is pumpkin spice. I don’t believe there is a pumpkin spice wine, but I could be wrong. Let me know if such a thing exists.
In the meantime, I’m craving baked goods with all the pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, cloves layers of flavour. We had pumpkin pie the weekend before last for Thanksgiving, but that was a long time ago. Right now we’re working our way through Hubby’s birthday apple pie. So tasty. But the minute the last piece is eaten I’m making my favourite autumn cookies. Iced Pumpkin Cookies
These are so good. It is literally impossible to eat just one. If you say you can eat just one I’ll know you’re telling a fib. Or you are a Cyborg.
The only change I make to the recipe is I add ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger to the cookie dough. And I increase the frosting ingredients (because you can never have too much frosting, am I right?) to 3 cups icing sugar, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and additional milk or cream, depending on the humidity of the day. The amount of vanilla stays the same.
Goodness gracious, my mouth is watering just thinking about these gems. I’m going to serve larger slices of pie so I can get to these cookies faster.
Do you have a favourite pumpkin spice recipe?
Cheers!
*Note: I use these shiny baking sheets so the cookie bottoms don’t get too dark. And I line my baking pans with parchment paper to make baking and clean-up easier.
In the meantime, I’m craving baked goods with all the pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, cloves layers of flavour. We had pumpkin pie the weekend before last for Thanksgiving, but that was a long time ago. Right now we’re working our way through Hubby’s birthday apple pie. So tasty. But the minute the last piece is eaten I’m making my favourite autumn cookies. Iced Pumpkin Cookies
These are so good. It is literally impossible to eat just one. If you say you can eat just one I’ll know you’re telling a fib. Or you are a Cyborg.
The only change I make to the recipe is I add ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger to the cookie dough. And I increase the frosting ingredients (because you can never have too much frosting, am I right?) to 3 cups icing sugar, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and additional milk or cream, depending on the humidity of the day. The amount of vanilla stays the same.
Goodness gracious, my mouth is watering just thinking about these gems. I’m going to serve larger slices of pie so I can get to these cookies faster.
Do you have a favourite pumpkin spice recipe?
Cheers!
*Note: I use these shiny baking sheets so the cookie bottoms don’t get too dark. And I line my baking pans with parchment paper to make baking and clean-up easier.
October 15, 2017
Maudlin Monday - whine...
Ha! I bet you thought I got my days mixed up and was talking about wine, the beverage. Nope, I know it’s Monday and therefore I’m here to whine.
Although, I do prefer the British word – whinge – pronounced with a short ‘i’ like ‘wind’. Just the sound of the word is annoying, as is most whining. Or whinging.
So…what’s my complaint today? The ever present lack of internet in the house. Yeah, first-world problem. Cry me a river. But no internet is cramping my style I can’t just pop on the world wide web when the mood strikes, or when I think of something needing to be done.
For instance, I was reading about how to personalize my newsletter sign-up page. The one I have now is boring. Go take a look, I’ll wait…
See? Nothing exciting. So I wrote out and thought out what I want to change to make it all sparkly and enticing. But I’m so slow with figuring out that tech stuff I know it’ll take at least a few hours of tinkering and cursing. Sitting in the car. With no bathroom facilities. I’m not that young anymore. Thank goodness we have what we have, with thanks to the folks who run this village and are helping us out.
But still… *whinge*
What’s your complaint for today? (It being Monday is a given.)
Today is Dictionary Day. Go look up a word. Try matutolypea. My picture would fit nicely next to that word.
Most exciting news! Tomorrow is the launch day for a fabulous new book by my good friend Cara Carnes. Jagged Edge at Amazon
I dare you to look at that cover and not get all hot and bothered. Rawr! And knowing her stories as I do, the inside of the book is even hotter. Go! Order that book!
Cheers!
Although, I do prefer the British word – whinge – pronounced with a short ‘i’ like ‘wind’. Just the sound of the word is annoying, as is most whining. Or whinging.
So…what’s my complaint today? The ever present lack of internet in the house. Yeah, first-world problem. Cry me a river. But no internet is cramping my style I can’t just pop on the world wide web when the mood strikes, or when I think of something needing to be done.
For instance, I was reading about how to personalize my newsletter sign-up page. The one I have now is boring. Go take a look, I’ll wait…
See? Nothing exciting. So I wrote out and thought out what I want to change to make it all sparkly and enticing. But I’m so slow with figuring out that tech stuff I know it’ll take at least a few hours of tinkering and cursing. Sitting in the car. With no bathroom facilities. I’m not that young anymore. Thank goodness we have what we have, with thanks to the folks who run this village and are helping us out.
But still… *whinge*
What’s your complaint for today? (It being Monday is a given.)
Today is Dictionary Day. Go look up a word. Try matutolypea. My picture would fit nicely next to that word.
Most exciting news! Tomorrow is the launch day for a fabulous new book by my good friend Cara Carnes. Jagged Edge at Amazon
I dare you to look at that cover and not get all hot and bothered. Rawr! And knowing her stories as I do, the inside of the book is even hotter. Go! Order that book!Cheers!
October 12, 2017
Fabulous Friday - birthday & house...
Happy Birthday to my dear hubby!!! I’m so glad he was born. I’ll be baking his “cake” today. Cake is in quotes because he prefers an apple pie for his special day. I bought a bag of locally grown MacIntosh apples, my preferred type of apple for baking, when we were in the Annapolis Valley earlier this week.
In other news, the house construction is coming along beautifully.
I love love love the colours we chose and I can’t wait to get in there.
Cheers!
In other news, the house construction is coming along beautifully.
I love love love the colours we chose and I can’t wait to get in there.Cheers!
October 10, 2017
Wine Wednesday - make your own...
For less than $3 per bottle you too can enjoy delicious wine in the comfort of your own home.
Many moons ago we used to brew our own beer. Then we moved, life changed and happened, and it’s only now that we’re getting back into being our own brew-masters and vintners.
Much like cooking and baking you can do everything from scratch, or you can start with a mix, i.e. a kit. Everything you need comes in one box, you just add water.
Brewhouse
RJS
Firstly, and most importantly, you need to sterilize all your equipment. Yes, it is time consuming but you don’t want a stray bacterium to ruin your batch. Hubby is in charge of that chore. Actually, he does most of the work, letting me help in the bottling. And consuming.
Cheers!
Many moons ago we used to brew our own beer. Then we moved, life changed and happened, and it’s only now that we’re getting back into being our own brew-masters and vintners.Much like cooking and baking you can do everything from scratch, or you can start with a mix, i.e. a kit. Everything you need comes in one box, you just add water.
Brewhouse
RJS
Firstly, and most importantly, you need to sterilize all your equipment. Yes, it is time consuming but you don’t want a stray bacterium to ruin your batch. Hubby is in charge of that chore. Actually, he does most of the work, letting me help in the bottling. And consuming.
Cheers!
October 9, 2017
Maudlin Monday - turkey day...
Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians, at home and abroad. We celebrated yesterday at my brother’s house with the best turkey and stuffing ever. His wife is the family authority on turkey dinners. I baked a chocolate pecan pie (oh my goodness) and Mum made a sweet potato casserole (yum).
You may recall that I went camping last week. Here are a few pictures of our Keji expedition to Cobrielle Lake.
The start of our trip. 
Smooth paddle. 
The end of the first portage. 
We met some researchers who were catching yellow perch, primary food source for loons, to analyze for health. 
The start of the third portage, a muddy, bumpy trek. Oy! 
A well-earned treat after a long, hard day of paddling and portaging. 
Breakfast the next morning - eggs and cinnamon-laced porridge. 
Whiling away a pleasant afternoon at our campsite playing backgammon. 
A gorgeous full moon (this picture does not do it justice). 
Returning to civilization.
Yes, it was tiring. No, I did not sleep well. Yes, my legs are bruised from getting whacked by the kayak whilst portaging. And both thumbs are blistered despite wearing paddling gloves. But yes, I would do it again. We’re already planning our first trip for next spring.
Cheers!
You may recall that I went camping last week. Here are a few pictures of our Keji expedition to Cobrielle Lake.
The start of our trip. Smooth paddle. The end of the first portage. We met some researchers who were catching yellow perch, primary food source for loons, to analyze for health. The start of the third portage, a muddy, bumpy trek. Oy! A well-earned treat after a long, hard day of paddling and portaging. Breakfast the next morning - eggs and cinnamon-laced porridge. Whiling away a pleasant afternoon at our campsite playing backgammon. A gorgeous full moon (this picture does not do it justice). Returning to civilization.
Yes, it was tiring. No, I did not sleep well. Yes, my legs are bruised from getting whacked by the kayak whilst portaging. And both thumbs are blistered despite wearing paddling gloves. But yes, I would do it again. We’re already planning our first trip for next spring.
Cheers!
October 5, 2017
Fabulous Friday - Ikea...
Something truly exciting happened last week in our neck of the woods. A new Ikea store opened – the only one east of Quebec. 
And it’s huge, the size of four football fields. I’m not sure if that’s Canadian football or American football. There is a difference. Canadian fields are longer by 12 yards.
Either way the store is ridiculously enormous. No, I’ve not visited the new Ikea yet. I do my utmost to avoid crowds. Any gathering of over twelve is a crowd, IMO. The attendees who waited in line (some over night) and clogged the roads on opening day numbered in the thousands. I’ll wait until the excitement diminishes a tad before shopping there.
But that won’t be tomorrow – National Frugal Fun Day. Being frugal in Ikea is an impossibility when confronted with all those stylish and fun bits and pieces.
Do you have an Ikea store nearby? Do you shop there often?
Cheers!
P.S. I you have an extra minute or two, come visit me here to see pictures of my furbabies:
https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/
And it’s huge, the size of four football fields. I’m not sure if that’s Canadian football or American football. There is a difference. Canadian fields are longer by 12 yards.Either way the store is ridiculously enormous. No, I’ve not visited the new Ikea yet. I do my utmost to avoid crowds. Any gathering of over twelve is a crowd, IMO. The attendees who waited in line (some over night) and clogged the roads on opening day numbered in the thousands. I’ll wait until the excitement diminishes a tad before shopping there.
But that won’t be tomorrow – National Frugal Fun Day. Being frugal in Ikea is an impossibility when confronted with all those stylish and fun bits and pieces.
Do you have an Ikea store nearby? Do you shop there often?
Cheers!
P.S. I you have an extra minute or two, come visit me here to see pictures of my furbabies:
https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/
October 3, 2017
Wine Wednesday - gift...
A number of days ago I celebrated my birthday and our good friends gifted me with a bottle of wine. It happens to be my favourite varietal – gewruztraminer. (Gee, I wonder how they knew that?!?) Here is a description of that type of wine:
Delicious on the palate, but hard to spell, this wine is known for its aroma. Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white wine grape whose skin is pink to light red-coloured. Its origins are Germanic, but it is most known for the astonishing wines it produces in the Alsace region of France. The grape has many similarities to Muscat, but Gewürztraminer wines have higher alcohol and lower acidity.
Gewürztraminer is most known for its intensely fragrant, typically floral, aroma. It often has a very noticeable lychee aroma with hints of rose, spice and honey. It usually has medium to low acidity. Due to its natural sweetness, Gewürztraminer is often used in dessert wines.
https://mywinecanada.com/types-of-win...
And here’s the bottle of wine, as yet unopened, but that will change very soon.
Yes, it’s homemade, and it’s delicious. Gone are the days when homemade wine was likened to vinegar. Sure, that might occasionally happen but in all my years I’ve yet to encounter less-that-tasty homemade wine.
Since moving back to Nova Scotia we are once again brewing our own beer (yum!) and, with the help of our friends, making our own wine. We start with a kit (grape juice, grape skins, and yeast), add water and let it sit. Change containers and let it sit some more. Just before bottling we add a little of this and a smidge of that to adjust the wine to our taste. For instance, we like a touch of oakiness in our chardonnay so we add drops of liquid oak. Brilliant!
In other news, tomorrow’s full moon is called the Hunter’s Moon.
Also known as a sanguine or “blood” moon, the term “Hunters Moon” is used traditionally to refer to a full moon that appears during the month of October. It is preceded by the appearance of a “Harvest Moon”, which is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox (which falls on the 22nd or 23rd of September).
https://www.universetoday.com/61121/h...
We’ll be back from camping, having benefitted from the light of the almost-full moon, or cursing the brightness of the almost-full moon through the tent walls.
Have you tasted homemade wine? What did you think? Or are you one of the growing number of home brewers/vintners?
Cheers!
Delicious on the palate, but hard to spell, this wine is known for its aroma. Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white wine grape whose skin is pink to light red-coloured. Its origins are Germanic, but it is most known for the astonishing wines it produces in the Alsace region of France. The grape has many similarities to Muscat, but Gewürztraminer wines have higher alcohol and lower acidity.
Gewürztraminer is most known for its intensely fragrant, typically floral, aroma. It often has a very noticeable lychee aroma with hints of rose, spice and honey. It usually has medium to low acidity. Due to its natural sweetness, Gewürztraminer is often used in dessert wines.
https://mywinecanada.com/types-of-win...
And here’s the bottle of wine, as yet unopened, but that will change very soon.
Yes, it’s homemade, and it’s delicious. Gone are the days when homemade wine was likened to vinegar. Sure, that might occasionally happen but in all my years I’ve yet to encounter less-that-tasty homemade wine.Since moving back to Nova Scotia we are once again brewing our own beer (yum!) and, with the help of our friends, making our own wine. We start with a kit (grape juice, grape skins, and yeast), add water and let it sit. Change containers and let it sit some more. Just before bottling we add a little of this and a smidge of that to adjust the wine to our taste. For instance, we like a touch of oakiness in our chardonnay so we add drops of liquid oak. Brilliant!
In other news, tomorrow’s full moon is called the Hunter’s Moon.
Also known as a sanguine or “blood” moon, the term “Hunters Moon” is used traditionally to refer to a full moon that appears during the month of October. It is preceded by the appearance of a “Harvest Moon”, which is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox (which falls on the 22nd or 23rd of September).
https://www.universetoday.com/61121/h...
We’ll be back from camping, having benefitted from the light of the almost-full moon, or cursing the brightness of the almost-full moon through the tent walls.
Have you tasted homemade wine? What did you think? Or are you one of the growing number of home brewers/vintners?
Cheers!
