Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Whether summer clothe the general earth
With greeness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch
Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.



Thursday, November 02, 2006

The Christmas Cake Part Two


What have two dogs got to do with a Christmas cake you ask? Well, nothing actually, it's just that first of all I thought I'd add these photos from our walk on the moors that wouldn't upload before. At the top are Bilbo and Martha enjoying the stream.


The foreground here is heather which looks wonderful in September when the moors are a great sheet of purple. This photo will definitely benefit from a double click to enlarge it so that the sunshine on the hills in the distance is more visible..


The autumn colours have been very poor here so far but I thought these trees with the sun shining on them looked rather good.


I'm always entranced by the small streams that are everywhere on the moors, they always seem magical to me especially when they tumble over mossy stones like this.There just have to be elves hiding somewhere nearby.


There were a lot of these scarlet fly caps as we dropped lower into the birch trees, they are a typical fungus of birch woods and rather beautiful. Also rather poisonous so best left well alone. Except that something obviously hadn't been leaving them alone, every single one had been eaten to some degree!


Now on to the main event,these are the remainder of the ingredients for the Christmas cake which I made yesterday.


Ready to go in the oven.


Four hours later.


Cooled overnight in the tin and wrapped in double clingfilm ready to go into a storage tin on top of the kitchen cupboard. It will come down twice between now and December 7th to have more sherry drizzled into it - 2 tablespoons each time. Then around the 14th I'll make the marzipan for it.

The parcel for America is also on its way now, I posted it this afternoon so I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself this week. It's been a beautiful day too, a slight frost this morning so for the first time this autumn I could hear the leaves underfoot rustling and crackling as I walked. They aren't deep enough yet for kicking through but when they are the 0 comes off my age, 60 becomes 6 and I have a thoroughly good time! The sky has been blue and the sun has shone - it's been a perfect November day and tonight there'll be another frost, it's already very cold and the sky is clear with a brilliant moon even though it isn't full yet. Life is very good. Though not for poor Kaitlyn's mum who fell and broke her wrist very badly on Monday so I shall have to go over tomorrow with offerings of meals - I'll take them a casserole, Somerset chicken and the big cinnamon apple crumble that I made on Tuesday so that will do them for a couple of days.

10 comments:

sheila from life @ #17 said...

oh wow...a little toadstool like the ones I always saw the the books I read as a child...but never in real life...and a little faerie waterfall!

you live in a wonderful place :)

Anonymous said...

Those photos are so beautiful. That cake you made is perfection! You are such a kind lady Rowan, to help the lady who broke her wrist. I'm sure they will enjoy your wonderful cooking! Might I come over sometime for some of that cake?

Have a wonderful day.

;-)

Melissa said...

That stream is definitely without a doubt magical!! Wow!! I love it. Wish I could see it for real.

The cake looks delish and I bet when the aging process is over will be delish too...I would love to stop buy over the holidays a be served some with tea... :)

I need orange said...

Thanks for persevering with the pictures of your walk. I like the sketchy branches in front of the golden trees, and I love the tiny waterfall!

I bet your cake will be wonderful.

Anonymous said...

oh my ... such beauty! I love the walk, your dogs, and the Christmas Cake is a true inspiration. It's all lovely!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely area you live in for walking. It's funny you saying about the lack of real colour in the Autumn leaves this year, I felt the same way here. They changed but not to the vivid colours we expect, and after the first hard frost most of what was left, fell from the trees, though some of them were still partly green.

rel said...

Rowan,
It's good to return to your warm and inviting posts.
Vacation was good and needed, but it is also good to return to the comfort of good friends, including those only met on the internet.

You have a lovely family. Thanks for sharing your photos. I think These photos add a richness to online friendships because it rounds out the image we form of our new friends.
rel

Anonymous said...

You've reminded me to get on with my christmas cake too. I usually make it in half term but it felt too early this year. Better make a shopping list tonight and do the prep tomorrow.

Julie H said...

That little fungus is surreal! Like Mrs G I thought these belonged in books.

May I ask which part of the UK you are in?

vicci said...

I have a question about your lovely cake...Is this like a Christmas fruitcake? I love fruitcake (lots of people think I'm nuts)...would you mind sharing the wonderful recipe? Thank-you...I enjoyed visiting your blog...Vicci