My Favorite Time of Year!

It looks like Fall is on its way! My favorite time of year. The days get a bit cooler, a nice sweet smelling breeze blows, and the beautiful colors. Oh how could you forget the beautiful oranges, reds, yellows, and browns. As not only a writer but a photographer, great photographs can be created from the fall season. 

I’m a spring child, although I think I was really supposed to be a fall baby. Spring I do not like, let me say it again – I DO NOT LIKE SPRING! I do however LOVE fall. My boyfriend is a fall baby and I guess that’s why we get along so well. I hate snow and anything that has to do with the cold. I’m alright with summer as long as it has a steady breeze blowing and rains here and there a few times a week. Fall however is mine – all mine.

Even the holidays – There’s Halloween – my ultimate favorite and Thanksgiving – the time of being thankful and eating. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, yorkshire puddings, pumpkin pie, yams smothered in marshmallows, buttered rolls, and sweet potato pie. Yum! I’m starting to get hungry just thinking about it. Now don’t get me wrong, Christmas is great too – the gifts and basically the same foods you had for Thanksgiving, but with Thanksgiving you also get that great romantic fall weather.

Last night I finally got one of my list articles in order and tracked down the magazine’s email address and sent it off to them. Keep your fingers crossed, I really want to sell this article. It didn’t really take all that long to write, but the editing process was a bit rough. It started out with 16 items on the list, and by the time it was completed, it had only 9 items. 

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

A Quiet Sunday Evening

Well today was a pretty good day. Nope I didn’t get any writing done today, but I did recieve two response to emails from interviewees. One was from Les Parrott, Ph.D – His newest book is out in your local book store or can be found online. Be sure to check it out. He so graciously answered a few questions I had for an article that I have been working on and sent out a few queries to potential markets in hopes (fingers crossed) that they will love my article idea and say “yes awesome, it’s all yours.” That is the email or phone call I’m waiting for.

I love how helpful everyone in the writing world as well as some of the experts in particular fields are. They are all willing to help out someone. It’s so great to see that.

My Diet

Well, so far so good. I still have kept the 2 pounds off, but I haven’t lost any more. It’s the weekend (I know I should really stick to my diet) but I have been eating a bit of junky type foods, but not in large amounts. Very small amounts – I don’t know, maybe that makes a difference. Tomorrow however, I’m back to rice, veggies, and fruits. I still tend to drink quite a bit of soda. I try not to, but sometimes that is all that really goes with certain foods.

Birds and Windows Do Not Mix

This little guy flew straight into our window this morning. He hit the ground and we thought he had a broken neck. He was twitching and on his back like he was about to die. I went out and cupped my hands around him and he jumped out of my hand. Then I picked him up again and he just sat there, stunned. We gave him some water and he just sat there drinking. Later on we put him on a low tree limb and he sat there. A few hours later he was gone. We’re not sure if he survived or not, but he was no where to be found. We have a lot of small birds fly into our windows and some don’t make it. We find their little bodies laying on the ground in front of the windows or on the sidewalk further away. I dont’ understand why they all keep flying into the window, but some say its because it shows the reflection of the sky and trees. I wish they wouldn’t fly into the windows though. I’m afraid that one day they’re going to break on of the windows. This doesn’t just happen in the summer time, but all year around. It’s kind of freaky when you think about it.

My day was pretty good over all. We went to my boyfriend’s Grandmothers 87th Birthday party, ate a great dinner, had some Yorkshire Puddings, cake, icecream, and played a game of Trivial Pursuit – I didn’t win. All around it was great. I had a lot of fun.

I didn’t get any writing done today, but at least I did get this blog entry completed so it counts as some writing along with posting on a few forums earlier this morning.

Yorkshire Pudding Recipe –
with Eggs, Plain Flour, Milk, Cold Water & Lard

Ingredients
2 Eggs
4 oz (125g) Plain Flour
1/4 Pint (150ml) Milk
1/4 Pint (150ml) Cold Water
Salt & Pepper
2 tbsp Lard or Dripping or Cooking Oil*

Directions
Pre-Heat the Oven to 425F (220C, Mark 7). Crack open the Eggs into a cup and mix well. Add the Milk and Water together in a jug. Sieve the Flour into a large bowl and season with a sprinkling of Salt & Pepper. Pour the Eggs into this and stir together well with a fork. Gradually pour in the Milk and Water and stir until you have a stiff batter. Beat or whisk well until you have no lumps **. Allow to rest for half an hour.

Slip the Lard or Dripping into a deep sided baking tin and place just this in the oven. Allow to heat up until visible smoking. Quickly, but carefully, take out and rest on the top of the oven. Pour in the Batter mixture. Place back into the oven and bake for around half an hour until the batter is puffed up, golden brown and crispy.

Serve immediately

Serves 4 as a side dish to a main meal.

Yorkshire Pudding – Notes

* Not the healthiest of ingredients, but Lard does have a higher smoking point than Vegetable Oil. This is important if you want a successful puffed up crispy Yorkshire Pudding. The hotter the fat is when the batter first hits it the better the end result. Once in a while won’t hurt, but alternatively use Vegetable, Groundnut or Sunflower Oil, but not Olive.

** If you have a hand blender place all of these ingredients in a jug and just wiz until thoroughly mixed. If you don’t then these instructions should help avoid lumpiness.

(This recipe comes from TheBrittishShoppe.com.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2008 UpSideDownGrl