Village Life

[deliasherman]

Wednesday was spent at Wendy and Brian's house, experimenting with gingerbread recipes and an old iron mould for goldfish-shaped cakes while the rest of the family labored in the rain to put up a marquee in the garden for the wedding. There we were in their cozy kitchen, grating ginger and nutmeg and sifting flour through a sieve, and there they

Comments

[la_marquise_de_]

Villages are very soothing. But I must confess that, having grown up in them, I am now a confirmed townie. Sad but true.

[deliasherman]

I lived, briefly, in a small town on Cape Cod, and found it somewhat trying for the long haul. I'm a city girl, I am. Even Boston wasn't big enough to hold me. I need a metropolis.

At least at this point in my life. In 20 years, who knows?

[matociquala]

This post made my morning better.

<3

[deliasherman]

Awww. We aims to please <3

[birdhousefrog]

I shall rid myself of taxes and it shall be me or the story again. I take heart from your description of grimly sitting down to it.

[deliasherman]

I support you in finishing the taxes and grappling with the fiction. I managed to get the IAF taxes signed and off right before I left, and it was a considerable relief. Not least because I'm handing over the treasurership to someone else, and therefore never have to do it again, aha!

[wildwose]

Careful Delia, are you too will be drawn in the the Village Vortex.

Who is getting hitched?

[deliasherman]

Nah. Not until I'm old and dotty and liable to get run over crossing Broadway, anyway. And I can't see living in a place where I have to examine each coin to figure out how much it's worth. Sure, I'd get used to it. But the old and dotty take forever making change as it is, and it would be oh, so much worse.

It's Toby's wedding, Part 2. Part 1 took place in California, where the bride is from. The first one had better weather, but the guests at this one are going to be much more fancifully dressed. And masked, most of them. We're forgoing the masks, because of our glasses. (and because I forgot to bring the mask I got at Faeriecon, which fits over my specs)

[emilytheslayer]

Oh no! If only I'd known in more time, my friend the maskmaker does masks that are meant to go with glasses. Next time, though.

[beth_bernobich]

Now I have thing longing for tea and gingerbread!

[deliasherman]

Want me to send you the recipe?

[beth_bernobich]

Thank you, yes!

With my newly-found free time, I have this urge to cook and garden and such-like. Maybe take up knitting.

[deliasherman]

This is from my old friend Anne, who used to leave this for us when she'd been house sitting in Somerville. We made it with coffee this time, and it was yummy. You can put grated orange peel in it, too. And it's wonderful with custard (creme Anglais)

1 c boiling water, coffee, or orange juice
1 c butter
1 c light brown sugar
1 c light or dark molasses, maple syrup, or honey
3 large eggs
2 ½ c sifted flour
1 t salt
1 ½ t baking soda
1 t ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves

Pour boiling liquid over the combined butter, sugar, and molasses. Stir until the butter is melted and set aside to cool. When mixture is cooled, beat in the eggs. Sift the flour with the salt, soda, and spices and stir into the liquid mixture. Beat just until smooth. Turn batter into a 9x13 inch baking pan and bake in a 325 oven for 1 hour or until done.