Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Linzer Love

December 22, 2017 at 9:03 am by Claudia

I can only concentrate on one thing today.

“What’s that?” you ask? (Can you have two question marks in the same sentence? I’m thinking no.)

Anyway.

I’ll tell you. These.

Oh my heavens. My attempt at making vegan linzer tart cookies worked! It was a resounding success!

Have to say, it was a messy process, but it was worth it. So worth it that I’ll probably bake a batch to take over to The Boy’s house on Christmas. This will be in addition to baking the annual Christmas Coffee Cake on Christmas Eve.

One of these guys is missing some confectioner’s sugar due to what looks suspiciously like my finger getting in the way.  We each had one last night and promptly reached Nirvana.

Next time, I’ll make them with a smaller-sized cookie cutter. These are almost too big. That way, I’ll get more cookies. I also know now how thick to roll the dough; first couple of cookies were too thin.

This has always been one of my favorite cookies. In fact, when I used to work part-time at my friend Heidi’s now defunct shop, I would consistently trot across the street to the bakery and buy one of these.

I’m chuffed.

The recipe is courtesy of Chef Linda who works with the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, an organization we support. In fact, I just renewed our membership. Here’s the link. They have a whole list of Christmas cookies that have been ‘veganized.’ And let me tell you, no one would have the slightest inkling that these are vegan. I guarantee it.

We are due for some snow and ice tonight, so I’m going to go out and buy the ingredients for the coffee cake so I have them on hand. I might take a run to my favorite antique shop. Just because.

And it just might snow on Christmas Eve night. At least, that’s what yesterday’s weather report predicted.

I call this “Early Morning Glow of the Lights from the Christmas Tree and the iPhone.”

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: baking, Christmas, vegan 30 Comments

A Little of Everything on a Thursday

December 21, 2017 at 8:57 am by Claudia

Yesterday’s sky as I was about to set off on some present buying. I love a moody sky.

And so far, fingers crossed, it looks to be another sunny day. My mood likes that. My plants like that.

I bought the last present for Don yesterday, and it turns out, the most expensive. But it will make him very happy and I confess I was happy at the prospect of seeing him open it on Christmas morning. Up until that point I was sort of ‘meh’ about my choices for him. But now? I’m excited.

Today, I’m going to try out a vegan recipe for Linzer cookies. It’s from the Catskill Animal Sanctuary’s chef. I gathered up the ingredients when I stopped at Whole Foods the other day. We’ll see how they turn out! Then, after the holidays, we’re cutting way back on our sugar intake. We’ve sort of begun already, but as it’s the holiday season, we know we’ll indulge a bit.

The new leaf has opened on the maranta. I’m so tickled when I see new growth on my plants.

Just want to say again how much we love our little table in the kitchen, which was going to be a temporary solution for removing the sideboard-turned-kitchen-island. It turns out it’s not temporary at all! It doesn’t block Stella (a must) and that aging and weathered blue paint makes me smile.

Finally, I took a picture of a picture. This gem is on Mere’s Christmas card this year and we think it’s one of the best pictures of Little Z we’ve ever seen. (Meredith is the photographer.)

Sweet but full of sass and vinegar, I tell you. Our phone conversations with him are such fun! Oh, I love this little boy. Love, love, love.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: baking, Christmas, Don, Little Z 42 Comments

Counting Down

December 20, 2017 at 10:25 am by Claudia

The inevitable bokeh shots of the tree. It’s a little harder to do with such a small tree, but I managed to capture a bit of it in this picture. The key is to focus on something other than the tree, which results in the round circles of light on the tree. I’m going to play around with it a bit more in the coming days. Because it’s fun and challenging and I like a challenge.

Then this morning, an early morning shot focusing on the objects in my sightline.

I went to the dreaded mall yesterday and felt every bit of energy I had drain out of my system. And it wasn’t even that crowded! It’s just…the mall. Too much for yours truly, who, when she was a young twenty-something, liked nothing better than to go to our local mall. Now? I will do anything I can to avoid it. And here’s the kicker: the object I was looking for wasn’t in stock. The only plus was that I got to stop at Whole Foods and grab a few things.

Still trying to finish gift buying for Don, who mentioned something this morning that he would like. So, off I go today in search of it. I, on the other hand, am having problems giving him any ideas, which happens when you have a birthday relatively close to Christmas.

We’re figuring out the menu for Christmas dinner at Rick and Doug’s. I think we will be bringing stuffing, mashed potatoes, pies, Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, and of course, my grandmother’s biscuits. Two old friends of Rick’s will be there as well, one I’ve known for a long time and one I haven’t met yet. It should be lovely.

This was posted on the Instagram account @buffettmusical yesterday:

Whoo hoo! (Shouldn’t have put my watermark on the picture as it’s just confusing!)

My husband is going to be part of an Original Broadway Cast Album! Since I started out in musical theater and used to own hundreds of original cast albums, this is a big, big deal to me. And, though he tries to be casual about it, to Don.

We’re so excited!

Okay. Have to get a move on. I hope you are hanging in there as the countdown to Christmas continues. I also neglected to say Happy Hanukkah to those readers who celebrate that holiday. Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Wednesday, as well.

Filed Under: Christmas, decorating, Escape to Margaritaville 32 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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