Comfort Food

Happy February everyone! I'm hearing all sorts of different predictions from Groundhog day. Here, our own 'Shubenacadie Sam' made a break for it and bit a reporter. Not sure what that means- maybe he was saying 'we're all doomed, I'm outta here suckers!' 

I hate being trapped inside. I always have. I can putter outside and not be bored but once I'm in the house puttering I'm completely bored. I needed to find a way to amuse myself that was different then scrolling through FB posts.

So I turned to cooking and baking.

It started with me making a stew and wanting some sort of bread to go with it. I decided to try making my own bread.

It was delicious. 

 From there banana bread and muffins seemed like a good choice.

Then oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips.

Then last weekend a couple girlfriends and I went to a Wine and Lobster event at a local winery. 

The joys of living on the coast

It was amazing. 

Each little course was accompanied by a different wine. The chef came out to describe the dish and then the wine owner described the wine and why they chose it. Each taste of wine was about 1.5 ounces. But they were pretty liberal with the wine and topped up freely. 

Part way through no one was listening to the chef or wine owner oner anymore. We were all having too much fun. I tried to listen but honestly I don't remember. 

This lobster taco was my favourite. I thought of 'L' while I was  devouring eating it. 

The local community college is putting on a series of dinners by their students. The food is amazing and beautifully presented.

Spring better come soon. Poor Shanea will be teaching two marshmallows.  How are you passing the winter? 

Domestic Goddessing

The weather has turned cold and bitter. Which I guess is fair since it's winter. But any riding has come to an abrupt halt.

not ready to stop 

There's nothing I can do about it and I'm pretty sure that Santa is not going to bring me an indoor for Christmas no matter how good I've been.

The horses stand outside at the hay feeder and eat all day. I am sure that they are muttering about the 1.5"holes in the net. Irish can eat with attitude! I've cut Carmen's feed and hay since she's not in work and she is not taking it well at all. Last night we had a chat about what is an appropriate way to express her emotions about this and what is not. I suspect we will have this conversation again.

Guinness is getting a lot of walks which he's enjoying quite a bit.

someone has figured out the warm place to lay while he waits for me to be finished

On the up side I am more ready for Christmas then I have been in years. All the presents are wrapped and placed under the tree.

who is this woman?

Last year a blogger posted a recipe for candy cane bark but I can't remember who (Hawk maybe?). Anyway, I've been playing with the recipe this year. 

dark chocolate, salted caramel with milk chocolate drizzled on top

I find myself googling 'things to do with candied ginger'. 

Part of it is my free time. The other part is that I am really looking forward to this Christmas. the last few ones have not been great- there's been a shadow thrown by death and illness the past few years. This year I feel in a good place and I want to make the most of it. Snow might be coming so I can snow shoe. 

Do you have times you can't ride because of the weather? What do you do instead?