Monday, January 27, 2014

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 59


A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

714 - When opportunity knock, invite it to stay for dinner.
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Heading Home

Webster is so hard to photograph outside. He's all business doing his tracking. We were just finishing our last walk of the day having walked the perimeter. He sticks his nose deeply into some of the tracks, probably those of our fox family. That's his job and he's very diligent. Webster is the best security guard ever. Happy Monday.
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Sunday, January 26, 2014

Flaxseed Muffins with Dried Cranberries


Cranberry Flaxseed Muffins

Yields 1 dozen muffins.
My muffin pan only makes 11 and I ate 2.

3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (90 grams) whole wheat flour
1/2 cup (53 grams) flax meal
1/3 cup (66 grams) brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil (I used Olive Oil)
1 cup (235 ml) milk (I used unsweetened Soy Milk)
1 cup (120 grams) dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a muffin tin or line with baking cups.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, flax meal, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the egg, vegetable oil, and milk, mixing until the batter is evenly incorporated. Stir in the dried cranberries.

Divide batter evenly between baking cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Serve with a small pat of butter or spread of jam.


They were delicious. I cranked up my wonky gas oven to 400° and that was perfect. My enameled cast iron muffin pan gets nice and hot and holds the heat after you take them out of the oven. I cooked mine for 20 minutes and let them cool for 10 minutes and they were done in the middle. I ate the first one hot with butter and the second on later with a cup tea and a spread of strawberry jam. 
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Great quote by John Steinbeck

Love!!! - found here
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New Snow on My Balcony

The snow on the decking is new because I shoveled the deep snow a few days ago. The accumulation on the top of the railing has already melted away and I hope the sun will do the floor too. I only shovel out there when it's unusually deep. Enjoy this lazy Sunday morning and let me know when you are tired of my Waterlogue watercolors. See this morning's photo here.
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Saturday, January 25, 2014

Interior Design Watercolor using an App

I had a request for an interior watercolor from a photo using the Waterlogue App for iPhone. This is the front hall of my real estate listing. I used the "technical" setting because it looks like the graph paper architects use. I like it, don't you? Request granted. Someone from Pinterest wanted this.
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Wall of Architectural Prints

I like this wall of architectural prints in thin black frames. via It's been snowing lightly since noon and I think we've gotten about 3 inches or so. I'm going to wait until tomorrow to shovel after it stops. Stay warm and cozy and enjoy your Saturday night.
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Watercolor of The Cottage


Here's another iPhone photo of my cottage converted to a watercolor. It was a gray day with a sky much like we have today as we wait for another dusting of snow. I saved many different versions, the app is very addictive that way. Have you downloaded Waterlogue yet? I love that it shows Tabitha's little body so well on the front walk. I keep repeating John Lennon's quote as I play. Have a great weekend!

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Friday, January 24, 2014

Homemade Yeast Rolls

I can almost taste and smell these rolls, can't you? This photo really takes me back to the days when they were part of every Southern homemaker's Sunday or company dinner. My mother's were the best. via

Recent Instagram Photos

My Instagram @contentinacottage
I have been trying to drink more water and I like drinking out of glass. This French Limonade stoppered bottle holds almost 4 cups. I try to drink at least two of them during the day. Last night, I noticed lots of bubbles had formed inside for some reason even though it was tap water.

Strong morning shadows on my kitchen wall. I love the radiator key projected on the wall.

Long afternoon shadows from the kitchen window on the gable end.

A vintage handmade clothespin apron from Scotland. I love the embroidered heather.

This is a closeup of the writing on my water bottle. Happy Friday, it's almost the weekend!
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