Two New Plants & Meeting With Cousins

I now have one  Mother in Law’s Cushion (Echinocactus grusonii) of my own 🙂 I was at the flower shop yesterday to buy flowers for to give to my cousin as I visited her yesterday. I saw these Mother in Law’s Cushion plants in the window. 8 € ! Last week or was it the week before I bought 3 green plants for 5,90.  I didn’t take me many seconds to decide to buy it 🙂 After all eight euro is not that much. 

Today at Citymarket they had plenty Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis).  I saw most people had one or two plants in their shopping trolley. I looked at the price. Only 1.50. I took one. The Rosemary is not a herb I’m used to. If I’m not going to use it for seasoning it still looks so nice on my kitchen counter.

Yesterday I was visiting my cousin living in Borgå. We actually don’t meet very often. Last time was 7 years ago. She arranged a cousin reunion for four of us. We are about the same age. I’m the youngest, 70 and the others 71,73 and 74. The other two I have not seen for a long. long time. It was such a nice day. We also looked through old photos. There was one with us all four taken in early 1950’s. I had no idea I was in the picture as I can’t even recall the event. But they all were 100% sure about it.  Looking closer I had to agree they are right. It’s me to the right 🙂 

Tussilago farfara

Beautiful weather. Plus 11 degrees Celsius. Sun is shining. My spring officially began today because I saw the first Tussilago. It was difficult to get a good picture because it was on the other side of the ditch. I just zoomed it in and hoped for a not too blurry picture. I couldn’t step over or jump the ditch because my back is still not okay from lifting Canelo in the beginning of March. Yay for the spring 🙂

Apelsintårta

Har haft detta recept på apelsintårtan sedan 1982 då jag faktiskt gjorde en. Kan berätta att den lyckades bättre än denna jag gjorde idag. Botten och krämen lyckades också denna gång men tyvärr blev det viktigaste misslyckat. Alltså garneringen. Borde nog skurit av det oranga på apelsinskivorna. Efter att ha gjort glasyren färdig glömde jag bort den så den hann stelna för mycket. Kom senare på att jag troligen kunnat rädda den genom att värma den lite. Förra gången rostade jag inte mandelspånen men bestämde mig för att göra det den denna gång. Hällde hela påsen med spån i stekpanna och satte på plattan. Ve och fasa ! Vilket hönsminne ! Hur kunde jag glömma hålla ett öga på dom.  Efter ett tag kände jag en konstig doft. De understa var kolsvarta. Så jag plockade bort dem.  Ja inte blev kakan vacker men familjen bedyrande att den var sååå god. Och det är väl ändå huvudsaken. Möjligen gör jag ett nytt försök nästa påsk 🙂

Apelsintårta

Sockerkaksbotten:

4 ägg

2 dl strösocker

1 ½ dl potatismjöl

1 ½ dl vetemjöl

1 tsk bakpulver

rivet skal och saft av 1 apelsin

Kräm:

3 apelsiner

2 ägg

2 ½ dl strösocker

100 g smör

ev vispgrädde

Glasyr:

1-1 ½ dl pressad apelsinsaft

2 msk strösocker

5 blad gelatin

Dekoration:

Rostad, flagnad mandel

apelsinskivor

Till botten:

Vispa ägg och socker vitt och pösigt. Tillsätt mjölsorterna välblandade med bakpulvret. Rör ner apelsinskal och saft. Häll smeten i en välsmord, bröad eller mjölad form med avtagbar kant. Grädda ca 35 minuter i 175 grader.

Till krämen:

Riv skalet och pressa saften ur de tre apelsinerna. Häll detta i en skål tillsammans med socker och smör, ställ skålen i en kastrull med vatten på spisen. När smöret har smällt tillsätts de vispade äggen och krämen vispas tills den tjocknar ca 20 minuter. Tag från spisen och kyl av. Skiva tunt 1-2 apelsiner, lägg i en liten kastrull, slå på sockret och den pressade apelsinsaften till glasyren och låt det hela koka upp. Tag kastrullen från spisen och låt skivorna ligga kvar och dra en stund. Sila av saften.

Dela botten i tre delar. Bred kräm på alla tre bottnarna. Eventuellt kan man blanda krämen med vispad grädde eller om man vill servera grädden vid sidan om. Lägg ihop bottnarna, dekorera med det kalla apelsinskivorna. Blötlägg gelatinet i vatten. Ett tunt lager vispad grädde håller mandeln på plats.Värm saften, tag upp gleatinbladen, krama ur dem och smält dem i saften. Häll den tjocknande saften på tårtan och låt den stelna.

Easter 2016

One more picture taken at the Winter Garden on Tue 22nd

Visiting Helsinki City Winter Garden

It’s always a pleasure visiting the winter garden. Specially at Christmas and Easter. The season flowers and decoration are so nice. It’s been a while since we were there last. Yesterday was the opening of the Easter exhibition and sale, of among other flowers. narcissus and daffodils. As my language lesson is on Tuesdays we decided to first visit the garden  (not far from Arbis, the adult education center) then I’d go to the class. Meanwhile hubby and Canelo would stroll the streets to enjoy the nice spring weather.

Cactus have always fascinated me. In the 80’s I had a few various cactus species. I’d heard they are very hard to get to flower. But ours did. Brother in law helped us move from one apartment to an other and cursed all the cactus as he got a lot of cactus thorns all over his arms and hands. Whenever he’s got a chance he reminds us about it. Sorrry 😉

Yesterday there were many visitors and most ones were shooting pictures of the Easter flowers. It was pretty hard to come close and in a good position for taking pictures so, I instead took pictures of these beautiful cactus.  I remember in mid. 70’s in Stockholm when I saw my very first Mother in Law’s Cushion (Echinocactus grusonii) I laughed. I thought the name was so funny. Still think it is 😀  They are pictures 2 and 3.

 

Buttermilk Cheese

The header says: Kesän kohokohta – The highlight of the summer (ups, I actually cut it from the picture)

Well, it’s not yet summer but, for some reason, I have been craving for this homemade buttermilk cheese. The recipe has been on my desk already for two to three weeks. Finally, today I made it. It’s so simple, easy and quick to cook. After cooking it has to be in the fridge for at least 5-6 hours or more. Usually I let it stay in the fridge over the night. This time I’m not going to wait till tomorrow, am going to have tea and buttermilk sandwich right after this posting.

Happy International Women’s Day

With these colorful tulips (from our sweet neighbor, thank you so much) I wish you all a nice Women’s Day !  I read about the history of the women’s day on WikipediA which says the earliest Women’s Day observance was held on February 28, 1909.  Later, in 1914, the date was changed to March 8. A lot has been better for women but there’s still much to improve.

Canelo @ the Vet

On the mattress on the floor

Several months ago we noticed Canelo was scratching and often licking his belly. More than usually. Little by little we also noticed fur lost. There were some bald spots and later his belly was totally bald. First time we were at the vet I think it was in December and then again in February as it got worse. The vet took more blood tests and made an ultra scan. He now was able to tell us Canelo had a tumor. A testicular tumor that needed surgical castration soonest possible.

Yesterday we took Canelo to the Veterinary clinic in the morning and picked him up in the afternoon. At first, when back home, the plastic collar preventing scratching and licking made him bump into furniture and door frames. Also the snow made it hard to master the collar when he needed to go out to pee. But now he is doing well. He is on antibiotics and painkillers and for the time being no long walks, no jumping up on sofas and beds. We put chairs on sofas. We also have made special arrangement for sleeping. Him and me sleeping on the floor in the spare room. Last night neither of us got much sleep. But I’m sure next night will be a better one. I pray and believe everything is fine and so will be. In two weeks back to the vet for check up. I had planned to go by my self to walk the stairs, mentioned in my previous post. But, unfortunately I hurt myself trying to lift Canelo as he had problems with the stairs at the front door. Now it ‘s hard for me to sit and also to turn in the bed. We both need to take it easy now. After being so miserable yesterday (understandable) Canelo is feeling better today. He even was looking for his toys, specially the tennis ball. We hid them all till the doc says it’s OK for him to play again.