Wednesday, May 28, 2014

My Writing - First Impressions


This is a little piece I had to write for a course, I'm taking at the moment from this site -- http://www.creative-writing-now.com/


Lesson 1.
Your feedback and critique is welcomed :) 
"Beautiful day, isn't it, ma'am?”
Cassy turned her head to see a bright faced young girl standing by her, “It is a beautiful day.” she answered.
“So what will it be... Ma'am?” asked the waitress, as she tapped her pen on the side of her notepad.
“Oh, sorry I've been busy looking at all the buildings and the hustle and bustle of this adorable street, to look at the menu.”
“No worries ma'am.”
Bending her head, Cassy absent-mindedly twirled her hair with her fingers, as she quickly browsed the menu. Everything looked delicious, making her already hungry stomach, grumble in protest, “Hmm... The choices are quite delightful,” Cassy scanned the menu once again, “Gosh, I don't know which one to choose, what are some of the best ones?”
With her bright young eyes and an innocent smile, Betsy answered, “Well, ma'am, we've got the blueberry streusel pie, which rather scrumptious, there's chocolate chip mousse pie; which is j-ust the best, then we have apple raisin pie and our famous cherry pie.”
Glancing up at the waitress, Cassy smiled back, “Oh my, they all sound divine but... I think I'll go with the chocolate chip mousse pie. Chocolate is my one weakness.”
Betsy giggled, “And would you like something to drink with that?”
“Iced sweet tea, thank you.”
“I'll be right back with that for ya ma'am.” And with a swift twist and twirl on her cowboy boots, Betsy clip – clopped away.
Cassy leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes for a minute and let out a big sigh. She'd finally made it to Nashville, home of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Cassy couldn't contain her excitement as her eyes gazed upon the largest collection of country music, artifacts in the world, and when she saw the dazzling rhinestone costumes, a giggle escaped her lips as thoughts of the time her sister and she, had made their own cowgirl outfits using a be-dazzler kit that Cassy received as a birthday gift. When she stood in front of a large glass case and read the 'tear stained lyric sheets', a tear or two trickled down her cheek. But the best part of her day was when she stood inside the famous RCA Studio B, where many of the greats had recorded there, even Elvis had recorded well over 200 of his songs at the studio, many of which Cassy loved to sing along to her mothers records and to top off that moment, she'd asked a tourist to take her picture of her standing outside, with a wish in her heart, that maybe one day she'd get to record one of her songs there too.
Betsy set the plate down with a clank on the bistro table, “Here you are, ma'am. You're gonna enjoy every piece.” She then set down the iced sweet tea.
“Oh my... It looks so good and it's quite a large piece of pie.”
“It sure is ma'am.” Betsy did that little twirl thing again and trotted away.
Cassy looked the pie... The huge slice of pie! She sunk her fork into the mousse, pulling off a thick piece, then slipped it into her mouth. Rolling her eyes and a low 'Mmm', she savored her first taste of the chocolate chip mousse pie. It was creamy, light and very decadent and against her better thoughts, she couldn't resist eating the whole slice. The iced tea was the best accompaniment and as she sipped on the tea, she jotted down some thoughts in her leather bound notebook.
Sitting slightly behind and across from Cassy, sat a scruffy and disheveled man.   From when Cassy had walked down the street and sat down at the bistro table, Reid couldn't keep his eyes off her. She was the most beautiful woman he'd seen and he'd seen his fair share. And while he ate his slice of cherry pie and a cold root beer, he couldn't help but admire her. With her flowing red hair and freckles that dotted her face and a figure that wasn't stick thin, but a shapely size 6, he guessed. Cassy had been so caught up in snapping pictures and watching huge trucks drive by, people going about their business, and tourists who would point and say, “Oh, look that's so cute” or ''Wow, look at that', then snap a quick picture and move on. She'd been completely unaware of Reid sitting there, watching her.
His day had not been the easiest of days, actually he'd been up all night acting in a music video and had been on his way home, when he'd decided to stop at his favorite cafe bistro and get some famous cherry pie for his breakfast / lunch. While eating his pie, and chugging down his drink, Reid had mulled over in his head of whether or not to go and speak to Cassy, but little doubts crept in. He knew he wasn't the best looking guy on the block or town and especially now – he knew, he looked a mess. But he knew that his quiet charm and a great humble personality, that of which had landed him the job in the latest video shoot, might give him a slight shot. He kept thinking to himself, I'll never get a chance like this again.
So he took the last swig of his drink, pushed back on his chair, stood, straightened his plaid shirt and walked towards Cassy. With a quick clearing of his throat, he stopped next to Cassy's table, “Hello there ma'am.” Reid smiled.
Cassy's head hung low, engrossed with scribbling words in her notebook and was a little startled at the voice next to her. She peered up, “Oh, um... Hello.” her eyes widened.
“Beautiful day, isn't it.”
A little puzzled as to why this guy and an unkempt, dirty, grubby bearded guy at that, was standing at her side, trying to strike up a conversation with her, Cassy snapped, “Yes, it's a beautiful day.”
Reid stood mesmerized by her features. Being this close to her he could see her cute freckles and blue eyes. Eyes that looked back at him. With an unsure and concerned look, a look he should of expected.
“Sorry to interrupt you, but I was wondering if I....” out of the blue, Reid's mouth felt dry and rough just like sandpaper.
With her eyebrows raised, “Wondering what?” asked Cassy.
Reid glanced down, shuffled his boots on the ground. And mumbled to himself, “get it together man.” He looked up and straight into Cassy's big blue eyes, “I was wondering if, I may sit with you for a little while?”
Her shocked expression said it all, “You want to what?”
With the biggest smile he could muster, Reid answered, “I would love to sit with you for a while and buy you another glass of iced sweet tea, and maybe another slice of pie?”
Cassy was speechless.
She tapped her pen on her notebook, as her thoughts ran a muck, who does this guy, think he is? Do I have a big sign over my head saying, easy target or something? Cassy looked at Reid standing there in front of her, his hands half jammed into his torn pockets, dirt and grimed laden pants, her thoughts only got worse, and a gosh awful blueish plaid shirt. Oh, my, that disgusting beard and he had the nerve to ask to sit with her buy her tea... Iced sweet tea at that, and pie!
Reid began to doubt himself, this was a bad idea, she thinks I'm some kind of homeless hobo or by the look on her face something worse! And seeing that she didn't know what to say Reid blurted out, “I promise not to bite.” then as a final silly gesture, he placed his hands together as if he was ready to say a prayer.
And with that, Cassy just burst out laughing.
It was no use, this guy who in all circumstances, should be hosed down, scrubbed with a sweeping brush and a receive a total makeover, asked to spend a little time with her. HER! A somewhat shy freckled faced, redhead who had traveled miles to get here. With her fathers stern words of her amounting to nothing and that she would never be welcome back home', as she walked out the door. She swore she'd never be as mean as her father had been. She promised herself and her sweet dead mother – that she would do something good with her life. As those thoughts of her mother came to her mind, so did a saying she'd always preach to Cassy, “Cassy darling, we should never judge a book by its cover.” Then who is she, a lowly farm girl to be so mean and not allow this guy to spend time with her.
She finally stopped laughing and looked at Reid, “Well then, how can I refuse an offer like that.”
Reid sighed, “Why, thank you ma'am. I sure do appreciate your kindness.” He pulled the chair out and sat down.
“Just for the record, I'm not, ma'am – I'm Cassy.”
Reaching his hand across the table, Reid smiled and said, “I'm pleased to meet you, Cassy. I'm Reid Tennyson. Now how about we order another slice of pie.”

Copyright 2014 Freckles. All Rights Reserved.
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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Memorial Cake



Yesterday was Memorial Day. 

This at a federal Holiday, in which American's remember all the Men & Women who have died while serving their Country.

Being of Welsh Birth, but now an American citizen, I don't have a grave to visit and place flowers upon. But we do have Rememberence Day

But, I did have family that served in the British Army and I remember them as well as all the US soldiers; men & women on this Memorial Day.

But for dinner, we did the usual burgers, hot dogs and lots of fixings on the side (of coarse all homemade)

And for dessert, a patriotic
Red, White & Blue

MEMORIAL CAKE





INGREDIENTS
Boxed White Cake
Marshmallow Fluff
2 Pkts (8oz) Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup heavy Cream, whipped
Raspberries
Blueberries
Powdered Sugar

Bake Cake as per instructions on the box. Allow to Cool completely.
Wash Fruit and allow to dry on some kitchen towel
Whisk Cream Cheese until smooth & the whipped Heavy cream and whisk.
Add 1 tablespoon of powdered Sugar
Add 1 full Cup of Marshmallow Fluff
MIX WELL. Pop in the fridge until ready to decorate the cake.

 Cake, spread the frosting all over, raspberries around the edge, blueberries in the center.
Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar


Light, fluffy and moist, with the sweetness and tartness from the fruit, makes a wonderful dessert.



Drizzle with some homemade fruit syrup.



Memolicious!!

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Strawberry & Raspberry Cookie Dessert


What do you get when you have sugar cookie dough, strawberries, raspberries, cream cheese, heavy cream & birds custard powder in the pantry and fridge?

A
 Yummylicious 
Strawberry Cookie Dessert.

You get the chewy-ness from the cookie base


Filled in with the rich cream cheese frosting


Finishing with the creamy Birds Custard.
Topped Strawberries, Raspberries, drizzled with melted chocolate and sprinkled with a little powdered sugar.

HOW TO MAKE

Bake the cookie dough as in my recipe HERE
Make the custard as my recipe HERE

To make the Cream Cheese frosting:
Take 2 packets of Cream Cheese, room temp.
2 Tsp of Vanilla Extract 
1 cup of heavy cream, whipped
1/4 cup - 2/3 cup Powdered Sugar
 (Depending on how sweet you want it)

Mix everything together well.

Once the cookie base is cooled, layer with the cream cheese frosting first
Then add the Birds Custard
Top with sliced strawberries and raspberries
Drizzle with melted chocolate
Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar

Chill for 30 mins


With a fresh Strawberry and Raspberry Sauce
It also compliments a vanilla ice cream too!

To make the Sauce:

1/2 punnet strawberries
1 punnet of Raspberries
1/3 cups water
Juice from 1 lemon
1/4 cups of Sugar

Wash  strawberries & raspberries
 Slice the strawberries
Place everything in a saucepan & reduce down until the fruit is soft. Then puree.
Chill until ready to serve


Mmm.... It not only looks creamy and tasty
It is!


ENJOY.


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Dandelions.


Dandelions!

A pesky weed or a healthy plant?
Many green thumbed gardeners would probably answer my question by saying,
 "They're, PESKY WEEDS".

But for me they are a pop of color amongst a field of green and when their bright color of yellow turn into those wonderful 'Puffs' of seedlings in which kids of all ages love to blow away. They become fun.

Dandelion puffs away.....

Make my wish come true someday.



I grew up with lush green lawns dotted with dandelions and daisies and buttercups!!
 And for a child, that is heaven. 
Buttercup and daisy chain necklaces and head crowns. 
Buttercups held under our chins to 'see if we love butter or not'.
 Pulling each petal off a daisy to find out if, 'he loves me, loves me not'.

But not only are dandelions fun, they have a good side too.



Whether you eat the green leaves in a salad or boil the flower heads or even make a tea. Their health benefits are great. Now I'm not saying go out to a garden and go wild picking every dandelion in sight, because unless it's your garden and you don't use any chemical pesticide, you're not going to want to use them.
(Think dog poop and pee etc)

Grow your own in a big pot, or go to an organic farmer that does grow them or just pop into a local heath food store and pick some of the green leaves up.

I love to drink dandelion tea it helps with digestion, weight loss etc and very refreshing even though it has a slight bitter taste. But add same raw organic honey and you won't notice the bitterness.

But don't just take my word for it, give the tea a try or next time your in the health food store, pick up some dandelion leaves and mix them in your salad.













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Saturday, May 17, 2014

Pallet Makeover 2014



I've been holding on to these FREE ugly fugly, Pallets since last fall.
With the intention to break the pallets down and make something 'cool' from them.

But, if i'm honest, I've pretty much run out of steam & places to put anything in our tiny student apartment.

So with my only spot left to makeover -- was right outside our front door.

THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE BEFORE. 
Although the other one was much lighter.


Mixed up some white paint to make a wash. I didn't want to waste tons of paint, as when Jason's
Done with his masters, these pallets WON'T be coming with us when we move.

I also had some pine crates from a grocery store which I gave two of them a little wash too.
All I did was give each pallet a quick white wash and left to dry.
Add some newly planted flowers pop them in the top of the pallet and Viola. 

My Little Pallet Seating & Display




I knew this needed a little something -- so I go looking inside to see what I can repurpose

I used my bathroom clock wood project I did last year.
Gave it a lick of paint and screwed some hinges on to make it look like, Gardenish!




And painted on our Apartment #



EASY PEASY LEMON SQUEEZY!



I flipped the crates on their sides, gave them a lick of white wash paint.
The crates will be useful for my little girls sit on and take muddy/wet/sandy shoes off 
Before they go inside!



The opposite side has  little more sun, hence the glare in the photo.
This is where my girls like to keep their, buckets & spades for when they go and play in
The big sand pit downstairs.

I know myself, I will probably add a few more pots of flowers or something cute to the front of the pallet.
Because, the left side is begging for a little something extra!!



Again rummaging through all my stuff, I came across a chaklborad picture frame, not being used.
Draw a quick message and add some cheap hooks (taken off something ages ago)
Add a cute little family name tag. 
Makes a nice warm welcome to all.






All in all, I think my 2 hours today has transformed my drab outside area
To a much prettier and useful area, for the summer months.
HAPPY PALLETING!!!









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