Snow Fun

Well we the entire family of five finally got to do our snowy winter walk through the woods, I surprised the kids wit a sledding treat using my very large seed trays which worked better when we stuck them into two blue sacks some other kids discarded when they were through with them.

Here are some photos of our walk.

Someone built an igloo.

This house which backs onto the woods always looks grand after it snows.

The little stream that runs through the woods broke its banks due to vegetation debris and flooded a low lying area on the edge of the woods that is prone to bogginess. I'm afraid i got trigger happy with the camera and took a lot of photos of the frozen water, etc.

The picture on the right shows where it broke its bank.

The kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves and of course didn't want to go home.

On the walk home I spied this frozen fellow being snowed upon, he didn't look upset though, actually I think he quite enjoyed it. And I love to see the bids footprints in the snow.

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When we arrived home we polished of the rest of the mince pies my mum baked the night before with some hot chocolate to warm us through. These pies were made with store bought pastry (but back home it would either be made with a simple dough mixture of flour, salt, baking powder and water, sometimes puff pastry is used), the filling was based on the West Indian version of mince pies, which are filled with well seasoned (that is lots of fresh herbs along with your salt and black pepper) cooked minced beef (we used though the vege substitute minced TVP/ soya mince as we call it).

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Back home to give the filling extra kick scotch bonnet chili chopped fine would be added, along with other yummy flavourful punches such as chopped olives and raisins, we left out the chillies though.

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They are lovely hot out the oven but taste just as nice room temp. Back home they are normally made much bigger like the size of an open palm and are generally eaten as a meal in the evening with local veg on the side.

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Because of their parcel packaging they also make great fast food and before the KFCs' and other fast food outlets took over the world they would be one of the things you could buy from a street vendor for lunch or after a late night of Trini Feteing!!!

Golly! What A Lot of Snow

Well we have been living in a snowy wonderland since Tuesday Night. Schools were closed Thursday and Friday, my mum was stuck up in London by relatives from the Tuesday till Friday evening and as it is I don't see her be able to get to work on Monday coming. My husband on Wednesday evening 20 minutes away from home was stranded in the sudden heavy snowfall and remained that way for three and a half hours. getting home after nine in the evening.

The kids have been beyond themselves with playing in the snow and hubby who also suddenly had extra days off joined in with them. I though have not felt the need to go out in the snow but had decided yesterday to go for a walk in the woods today to take some photos and to enjoy the beauty but as you can see in the video above the weather has not been conducive to leisurely walks in the woods. From day break till now the winds have been blowing hard and the snow hasn't stopped falling.

Prior to all the snow we have had, there were signs of spring on its way with the emergence of tip of daffodil leaves piercing the soil surface. There are now under at least 10" of snow.

On a completely different note; another winter squash review. Pictured above is:- Kobocha. It is a small winter squash very sweet and not at all stringy, the texture of the flesh is very dense, with very fat seeds that should lend well to roasting (though I didn't try). It is much sweeter than butternuts and I think it would make a great American pumpkin pie.

I cooked it roasted and sauteed with other veges, both ways worked well and I think this is one I would be happy to grow again.

Oh! I almost forgot I have finally bitten the bullet and made public my other blog Me But A Little More In Depth, so feel free to check it out and if you ever want to go to it again the links can be found in the right hand column under About Me

Winter Wonderland!!

Woke up to a winter wonderland,

heavily laden trees,

with it sitting 8 to 10 inches on the ground.

School is closed a day early,

let the holiday fun begin.

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Brrrr! its cold, time to come inside and warm up, maybe listen to some parang influenced Trini Christmas music to help warm up my frozen toes. Santa in this song have the right idea, don't yah think?

Machel Montano - Soca Santa

Day 17 of the Advent Season

Homemade Mini Tote Bags

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The girls got these mini tote bags today from the Advent calender, I made them from the trouser legs of an old pajama bottom that was made for my eldest when she was about 15 months old. What's nice is that both girls wore this pajama set during their toddler years and I have been wanting to make them a mini tote bags for awhile but kept putting it off. When I came a across this pajama set in my mend it bag, tote bags screamed out at me and well here you are.

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They both love them and have attached the handbag charms the received over the weekend. The little one wore hers all night before going to bed and has fulled it with all her Advent goodies plus other stuff. I'm really happy I made these out of the old pajama bottom, these pajamas are from a set of five pajama sets I had made for my eldest when she was just turned 1yr and it was her first ever big girl pajama sets (nightclothes), as prior to that between the ages of 6 months and a year living in the Trinidad I simply put her to bed in nappies and a armless vest. And as I am and old sentimentalist at heart every time I look at these bags it will help me to remember those early days of parenthood.

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They heard two bible stories today.

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Heavy snowfalls forecasted and it has begun.

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Another parang influenced Christmas song and the title says it all... Trini christmas Is The Best!!

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Susan Macio - Trini Christmas Is The Best.

Wow!! Winter is Sure Serious This Time

12th February, 09 - Well they did forecast heavy snow but I thought yeah right! three snowfalls in one winter in the South East ain't going to happen, but like I said in the title Winter is Sure Serious This Time :). It started at about 18.00 with sleet and its now 21.21 and there is already about an inch on the ground with lots more falling steadily. We'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings, as its due to have light rain showers for an hour or two from 03.00, but don't it look pretty :)

Friday the 13th of February, well there was evidence of the rain falling during the wee early hours of this morning as there was quite slushy snow to walk through on the school run today.

The back yard still looked pretty and their was evidence of the local bird life as well.

I have sown some flower seeds today, once they have grown successfully some will go into the herbal flower beds and some will be used as companion plants in and around my vegetable plants.

http://www.minifarmhomestead.com/gardening/companionplant.htm

The seeds I have sown are;

• Thyme - to be planted both in the herb bed and at the edge of the footpaths surrounding the vegetable beds.


• Echinacea - to be planted in the flower beds.


• Rudbeckia - to be planted in the flower beds.


• Salvia (annuals and perennials) - perennials in the flower beds and the annuals as companion plants in the vegetable beds.

I have also planted a couple seeds of the Torsha plant a.k.a Luffa. this plant loves it hot and humid so I plan to grow it in the greenhouse in a container. If the summer turns out to be a scorcher (fat chance) I will bring outdoors.