Lemonade

Nothing is better than fresh squeezed lemonade made with homegrown lemons. Lemons off the tree in my backyard just make such a tasty treat. especially with mounds of sugar, and a frozen strawberry or two.

Lemonade
1 1/4 cups white sugar
5 2/3 cups water
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Boil the sugar and 1 cup water together till sugar is dissolved. chill. Mix it all together.

I like to use a little less sugar (scoop up a cup and then shake a little of the sugar out) and a little more lemon juice (but only a little) It's also good with a frozen strawberry or two as ice cubes. the strawberries add the perfect flavor.

Hot Cross Buns

1 a penny
2 a penny
Hot Cross buns
Are delicious
Hot Cross Buns are actually fairly easy to make and I am proud to say that I spent the time (considerable) and made some this weekend. It was a wonderful treat this week before thanksgiving. I only wish that mine had turned out looking as good as the ones in this picture. Oh well, maybe after I've practiced tons...

Thames

"The Sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway. In the offing the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint, and in the luminous space the tanned sails of the barges drifting up with the tide seemed to stand still in red clusters of canvas sharply peaked, with gleams of varnished sprits. A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness. The air was dark above Gravesends, and farther back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth." -Heart of Darkness














You can almost see how the river and the sky meet, so that it's nearly impossible to tell where one begins and the other ends. I have to say that Conrad's novel is beginning to grow on me, maybe one day I will like it. In the mean time I miss London with all the passion of my young girl heart.

Remember Remember the Fifth of November

"Remember, remember the fifth of November,

The gunpowder, treason and plot,

I know of no reason

Why the gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.”

Yes, that is correct, today is indeed Guy Fawkes day. I sorely wish that I had time to parade some sort of effigy around; however unfortunately, there are papers that must needs be written. I will take a brief moment though and remember the fifth of November and I encourage you to do the same.

Museum Delights

Last night, my roommates and I decided that since it was Friday and none of us wanted to do our homework that we should do something fun. I imagine that it says a lot about my apartment that we decided that it would be utterly delightful to go to the MoA and look at one of the exhibits there. We decided to see the exhibit called "Windows on a Hidden World: Japanese Woodblock Prints."

They were stunning, but as we were wandering through the exhibit it reminded me of home. Here I was, standing in a museum, with my red scarf around my neck, my black bag slung over one shoulder my coat over my arm and my book in hand. It was just like the good old days when I could wander through the National Gallery or the Tate or the British Library. It felt wonderful to be back in that cultural air and remembering how it used to be. It was a wonderful evening, made bettter when we went home and made a pie, but that's besides the point.

Pasties

Yesterday I made some delicious pasties. Of course they're not as good as the real cornish thing, but it's the best that I can do at this time. and really they weren't too bad. It made me remember how much I miss Cornwall and Devon though. Both counties are such beautiful areas and filled with such happy memories. The trips we made to the west country I think we by far my favourite.

Withdrawl

well I think that London loved me so much that it felt the need to send me home with a cold so I wouldn't miss it too much. But we'll pretend that's not the case and that some bean head on the airplane gave it to me instead. Yeah I've decided that London is the best place to live. Life was so much simpler then. I didn't worry about how much I spent or where the money was coming from. It didn't matter that I didn't have a job or anything like that. Now here I am with one little tiny part time 12 hour a week job that isn't going to pay the bills. Yeah life was so much simpler. I didn't have to worry about the rising price of oil, or how my car was parked in the garage. Or which side of the road we drive on or anything. I just hopped on The Tube and away I went. Oh good times. And when I felt particularly anxious or worried I could just bop on down to Tesco and get me a nice Dairy Milk bar and life was wonderful again. Now I have to ration the few Dairy Milk bars I had the foresight to bring home because who knows when the next one will be. Oh how I miss the simple times. but perhaps things will get better soon. I suppose this is all just part of going through London withdrawl. anyhow.... Oh the good times in London. And yes this is a rather delightful picture of my dear Great Gherkin.

goodbye`

This will be very short as I need sleep. but I just need to take a moment and formally say goodbye to my dearest London. She is such an amazing city and I cannot wait till the time when I can once again fly over her lovely landscape and into one of her airports. I will miss dearly everything about this city, except perhaps the people who refuse to stand on the right of the escalators thus clogging them up for those who have places to be and people to meet. but suffice it to say that this was a wonderful trip and I am thoroughly glad that I could have the opportunity to come here and learn and grow and study. I hope that I can manage to come back again soon. Dear London, I love you. I already miss you. Take care of yourself.