The Simple Woman's Day book

FOR TODAY, March 8th, 2011...

Outside My Window...
It's clear and cold. The ground is covered with a light frost, but the birds are singing and it promises to be a dry day! Hooray for dry days!

I am thinking...
About the cortizone shot I am going to have later today in my knee. I am dreading it. I was able to have a Priesthood blessing last night and that helped me to rest my mind a bit more about it. I know they will freeze the knee first, at least someone told me they would. Here's hoping. In all truth I am probably dreading the drive there more than the shot! We have to go on the M56 and it's horrendous!

I am thankful for...
Having the Priesthood in my home. That is something that I did not have for many years. It is an extra blessing and I am so grateful for it.

From the kitchen...
Not a lot really. I have been trying to be a good girl! Oh darn . . . I just remembered I have a container filled with Gypsy Creams . . .

I am wearing...
A nightie, some jim jam bottoms, my robe. Layering to keep warm.

I am creating...
Still working on new designs. My first set should be out on the shopping channel QVC, this month. I'm working on the second set and there will be a third set down the road. I am also working on some Mother's Day art, and a special doll.


I am going...
Runcorn Hospital this afternoon, Primary Presidency Meeting tomorrow night, a Pampered Chef party on Thursday evening and then I think that's all I have planned! A fairly quiet week for sure!

I am reading...




Toujours Provence, by Peter Mayle

A second enjoyable helping of rural life in France from the author of A Year In Provence. Skulking through customs with a suitcase full of truffles, toads singing the Marseillaise, taking pastis lessons and finding gold at the bottom of the garden . . . you might think there is little time left for pleasures of the table. Toujours Provence proves that while you might not be able to get away from it all, you can have fun trying. I keep laughing outloud as I am reading it, tis very witty you know . . . and Todd looks over at me like I'm a nutter. I just tell him, he'll have to read it for himself. It's really quite humorous and enjoyable!

Can you believe that I've never read A Year In Provence? I know . . . it's next on my list!

I am hoping...
That we have a safe and uneventful trip to Runcorn and back again this afternoon, and then, thankfully it will be all over. I think we'll be having a Takeaway for our tea tonight!

I am hearing...
Early morning sounds . . . the house cracking and snapping as it comes alive. Clocks ticking. Walls creaking . . . cars passing by the front of the house . . . the honk of the taxi's horn. The world is coming alive. The birds are singing more and more in the mornings . . . a sure sign that spring is just around the corner, and I am thinking we are all needing more than a little bit of that!! My daffodils are blooming at any rate!

Around the house...
Not a lot to do really. We had company last night and we all know how that goes. The house is in tip top condition except for the basket of laundry that needs ironing!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
I plan on playing with my doll's house at some point, and working on my designs and then just the ordinary stuff that life is made from. A bit of this and a bit of that. Life is good.


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



This is a picture of Mitzie sitting in her favourite position watching the television. She likes Animal Planet. You should see her when they have Owls on. She is absolutely fascinated by them! She graduated from her Dog Training Sessions yesterday and was a star pupil! She and Todd spent a full hour over in Westminster Park off lead and she came back every time when called and was a very good girl. We are very proud of her! She is snoring away and having a good old sleep just behind me here on the sofa at the moment. She was very tired yesterday after the training session. So was Todd!

And just as a closing thought for today . . .

Mix a pancake
Stir a pancake
Pop it in the pan
Fry the pancake
Toss the pancake
Catch it if you can!

~Christina Rossetti

Yes, today is Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day as it is lovingly known the world over. When I was a child it was the only time we ever got pancakes and we sure ate our fill of them! (My poor mother standing at the stove for all that time!) Happy Pancake Day everyone!

And there you have it . . . my day book for this week. Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries! (Or better yet, do a simple day book entry yourself! It's not that hard and I am betting you would enjoy it!

In honor of Pancake Day here is my recipe for Silver Dollar Pancakes. Why is it when you give something a quirky name like that, the children love a dish all the more? My kids could not get enough of these and would vie to see who could eat the most!





*Silver Dollar Pancakes*
makes 28 (2 inch) pancakes
Printable Recipe

Silver dollar sized pancakes, as light as an angel's breath. Serve with fruit and syrup for a real treat!

1 1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
pinch salt
1 1/2 cup low fat buttermilk
2 large free range eggs
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted, divided

Sift the flour into a large bowl. Whisk together with the sugar, salt and baking soda. Beat together the buttermilk, eggs and 2 TBS of the butter. Add all at once to the dry mixture and whisk together until just blended without overmixing. (Overmixing makes tough pancakes)

Heat a large nonstick skillet, or griddle, over medium heat until hot. Brush with some of the remaining melted butter. Drop batter by heaped tablespoons onto the heated pan. Cook until bubbles break the surface and the underside is browned before flipping over and cooking the other side. Remove and keep warm while you cook the rest in the same manner, brushing the pan with more butter as needed.

Serve warm with some syrup and fresh fruit. Delicious.



Over in The English Kitchen today, delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding Pancakes!