Country in the City

I could tell you that we hopped in the car the other day and drove out to the country to pick up a pumpkin at a pumpkin-patch. Or I could tell you the truth and say that I popped over to the corner-store/grocer on King Street West, to grab a few apples and some milk. I was wearing my flip-flops because it is still that warm out up here in Toronto! yay. Summery weather was very late in coming to us this year, but it is sticking around now, so we don't feel totally ripped-off. Because, we know we're in for an unavoidable cold and nasty winter. Can you guess what season is not my favourite?!

Cafe au Lait, aka Latte : How to Make it at Home

c="http://www.loulou.to/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/cafe-au-lait2.jpg" alt="" title="cafe-au-lait2" width="640" height="347" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2235">A few years ago our drip coffee maker bit the dust. As this was the type of machine I had always used to make coffee, I suggested to Nick that we go to the department store and replace it. He had a different suggestion, which turned out to be a much better idea!We hit College Street in Little Italy for an item that is called a "Moka Pot", also known as a Macchinetta, which means 'little machine' in Italian. These were first invented in 1933 and are not expensive to purchase. And boy, do they make terrific coffee. I have mentioned before that coffee is my favourite beverage, so I know what I'm talking about on this topic! ;)

Making it : Lavender Oil

Lavender is a delightful, easy-to-grow plant, that I was first inspired to try by a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland some years ago. Nick and I were newly married at the time of the trip and he was taking me to meet his beloved Aunt Lucy. She was truly an amazing woman who had a large aromatic patch of lavender growing in her garden. Sadly, she passed away a few years ago but the memory of her beautiful plants lingers on.

Lavender has always been my favourite scent for soaps, lotions and candles. Whenever given a choice it is always what I go for. This has been the case since I was little and my mom had this little basket thing hanging in her closet, that was filled with lavender. I loved it!

However, until the visit to Aunt Lucy, it had never occurred to me to grow my own. It does well in a very sunny dry location ... basically, in a spot of the garden where pretty much nothing else will grow. My patch is beside the walkway to our front door, so from mid-June until September, visitors are greeted by the beautiful gentle aroma.

In previous years, in the fall I have cut it back, (as the plant really benefits from a yearly haircut), but have done nothing much with the cuttings, except put them in an open jar, where they would scent the room briefly until they dried out.

Palace Arms Hotel

* * * UPDATE : March, 2025 * * * The Palace Arms Hotel Building was completely torn down this week. The site will be used for new housing.  I have read that they saved some of the elements from this historical structure and will incorporate them into the new building.—————There is a beautiful old building located at King Street West and Strachan Ave in Toronto, called The Palace Arms Hotel. (I haven't been inside so I am talking about the outside.)While it is called a hotel, today it is more of an affordable long-term residence for men.It was built in 1890, making it over 125 years old.

Thrifting Score : Cutlery pieces

Last time I visited my parents in the small-ish city where they live, my mother and I spent an afternoon at the Thrift Stores to see what treasures we could find. At the Goodwill I came upon two heaping trays filled with mismatched cutlery pieces. A quick look turned up some unattractive forks with bent tines and plenty of scratched up spoons. When did they make cutlery with plastic handles?!

Then I spotted a nice long-handled parfait spoon. I had just bought some of these new and knew the pretty spoon was a deal at 12 cents. So I started digging deeper. After 1/2 an hour of very noisy searching, I came up with a nice assortment of serving type pieces. Little spoons that would be lovely in a jam pot. And two nice butter/pate/soft cheese knives. I didn't already own any of these so I was happy to find them. And how about that little hors d'oeuvres fork? Cute right?

Here are some photos of what I found. I prefer stainless steel cutlery over silver, even choosing stainless for my 'good' set. Not that I had the option of silver at this particular thrift store, but I'm just saying. I do love silver for jewellery and serving trays though.