The Power of Tea

There are no less than three tea shops in the neighborhood where my new job is located.  My favorite is a rather plain little spot that is wonderfully quiet and peaceful.  A young man waits on me everyday and he has been looking at me with growing curiosity.  I sense he wonders who this newcomer is but I am not quite ready for friendly small talk or introductions.  I like being anonymous in this unfamiliar place where I am still unsure of myself.  I order a decaf English Breakfast tea that is delicious and brewed in a hand tied tea bag.  I steal a place by the sunniest window where I sit and sip and try to get the lay of the land of my new workaday world.

I learned tea drinking from both my grandmothers.  One honored the three o'clock tea hour by gathering mismatched china cups and then let us have potato chips and pickles in a disarray at the kitchen table while we slurped.  She also didn't care how many spoonful's of sugar were emptied into our cups from the sugar bowl.  It was the best of times.

When I was a young wife I had the opportunity to stay at Boston's Copley Plaza Hotel in the winter while my husband was attending a seminar.  Feeling cold and lonely one afternoon, I ordered tea from the room service menu.  Soon a waiter arrived with a large silver tray which held a silver tea service with milk and lemon slices.  On the tray was also a petite silver basket overflowing with plump green grapes and juicy oranges cut in quarters.  The repast was rounded out by delicate water biscuits and perfect triangles of subtly piquant cheeses.  I had never beheld such a banquet for one and it forever raised the bar for creating tea trays at home.

Tea is often put into the hands of my favorite literary heroines, and writers have always romanticized the tea hour in books.  Tea has been part and parcel of many a children's story too, such as the fanciful classic, Alice in Wonderland.  Whenever a book I am reading has a character that drinks tea, he or she is suddenly elevated.  Tea is a true seal of elegance and refined living.

I like black tea with milk best but I am not opposed to a fragrant jasmine with honey when I am feeling fickle.  Sometimes I try to recreate my hotel tray but for long afternoons with a book, a mug is my favorite vessel.  The one I currently use has a lid which keeps my tea hot during page turning.  Tea is consoling and takes me back to the days I spent with a grandmother who shamelessly and magically indulged our whims.  Tea comforts and cheers - it's the pause in the middle of the day to gather thoughts or sift through cobwebs.  And tea helps us find our feet just before we step out anew.

Location

What Would Cissy Do?

Do you remember them?  They are the Davis family from the sitcom Family Affair.  Naturally, I aligned with Cissy, the eldest sister.  Family Affair was one of those shows that I only saw in reruns when I was home sick from school.  Twins Buffy and Jody were adorable and Mr. French so very debonair, if a bit put out by his new charges.  But it was Cissy whom I studied carefully.  Her colorful mini-dresses were neatly tailored with Peter Pan collars and trimmed sleeves.  I loved her striped skirts, chain belts and bouncy flipped hair.

As for a big sister, Cissy was benevolent and loving to her siblings and tried to explain their new world to them.  The Davis' landed on Uncle Bill's doorstep when they became orphaned suddenly.  I clearly remember the night Cissy went to the mother/daughter dance in a beautiful chartreuse gown on the arm of loving and stoic Uncle Bill, her tawny hair attractively piled on the top of her head.

Thankfully, the Davis' were well-to-do because the family resided in a toney New York City penthouse that had nickel doorknobs in the center of its doors.  And Cissy had a splashy mod bedroom with daisy wallpaper. 

I was a pre-teen when I watched Family Affair and it was at that time that I began to be drawn to youthful muses to emulate.  I was also experiencing a passionate and blossoming interest in clothes and Cissy had plenty of them, all with that quintessential late 60's vibe I still find so appealing.  Her pale tights, small boxy handbags and pastel spring coats made my heart leap with joy and the fact that she was just so nice.  There was a soft ladylike vulnerability to her face and I imagined she was my older sis too.

Our heroes and icons give us blueprints for living and help us hone in on the kind of women we want to become, not just in appearance but also in grace.  "What would Cissy do?" was something I asked myself often and then acted in a way I thought she might, which always seemed sunnier and more pleasant.  Cissy taught me that it was ok to be soft-spoken, considerate and that it was also ok to love and wear clothes that were unabashedly feminine, with hues plucked from summertime. 

 Valentine is now closed.

We will reopen at our new location at 581 Woodward Ave. on Friday September 25th. with new and recent paintings by Bobbie Oliver curated with Mary-Ann Monforton. 

It's a bit smaller but the real estate wolf won't be knocking at the door for many years. It is with humble gratitude and appreciation to all who have given me the opportunity to share your work and to all who have visited that I say 

Cheers!

Fred Valentine

the best cinnamon-sugar donut muffins you'll ever eat

Do you remember eating cinnamon toast as a kid? I loved it. This recipe is an ode to those nostalgic days (makes me feel like I'm 7 again!) and is also the perfect comfort food. You'll end up feeling warm and cozy, no matter what the weather.

I made these sweet cinnamon coated cakey donuts yesterday and posted the recipe today. This lack of procrastination is testament to how bonkers delicious they are and how badly I wanted to share them with you. Plus the recipe comes together easily and will fill your house with the most heavenly scent.

The hardest part is waiting for them to cool so you can dunk them in the melted butter and cinnamon sugar and eat 'em. Consider yourself warned: your patience will be tested but it's well worth the wait.

Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Muffins
Makes 12 muffins or 24 mini donuts
Adapted from The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook

Here's what you need to make them:
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or ground nutmeg)
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons buttermilk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs

For the doughnut coating:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

To make the muffins: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly spray 12 large muffin cups with vegetable oil spray OR if making mini donuts, lightly spray two mini donut pans.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cardamom. In a medium bowl, combine the milk and buttermilk.

In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium speed, cream the butter for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the speed to low and gradually add the sugar. Continue to mix until the mixture lightens in color. Add the eggs one at a time, beating just until combined. Add the dry ingredients in thirds, alternating with the milk mixture, mixing just until smooth; do not overmix or they will become dense.

With a large ice cream scoop or spoon, scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them approximately two-thirds full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are firm to the touch and lightly golden. Please note: I used a teaspoon to fill the mini donuts pans and the mini donuts were done after about 17 minutes.

While the muffins bake, set up two bowls to dunk them in. In one bowl you will have the melted butter, and in the other bowl you will have the cinnamon sugar.

Let the donuts cool completely on a wire rack (waiting is the hard part!). Dunk them in the melted butter, then coat them with the cinnamon sugar. The muffins can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Enjoy!

Notes:

• Please don't omit the cardamom. Although it's only a teensy amount, it makes such a difference in flavour and aroma.  Trust me, it's worth seeking out. 
• With the batter, I made a combo of 12 (very large) mini donuts and 5 muffins. 
• The Back in the Day Bakery is my new favourite cookbook. I bought if for myself a few weeks ago but hadn't made anything yet until last weekend when one of my friends made the Buttermilk Biscones (a cross between scones & biscuits). They were amazing! Tasting those tasty biscones inspired to try something from the book too. Highly recommend! 
• The winner of the Duchess Cookbook giveaway is revealed here. Congratulations to the lucky lady! And thanks to everyone who entered.

valentine's day as a single lady

Fourteen years ago today, I was feeling hopelessly single and wondering if I'd ever meet my soulmate. Didn't seem likely. I had gone on a bunch of unsuccessful blind dates (online dating hadn't quite yet taken off at that time) and one day I found myself discussing the topic with a close friend. Her mom, who was listening in on our conversation, quickly piped up and told me the reason why I was single is because I talked too much. "Men don't like that," she added.

"Ha," I thought indignantly to myself,  "I'm not changing who I am so I can meet a man."

And I didn't. Because I'm stubborn like that and even back then, I knew my worth. Not too long after, I met Scott. That first night we talked for hours (take that friend's mom!). Goes to show that you just never know what's right around the corner. And that, as corny as it sounds, you should never change who you are. 

Hope you have a wonderful day with the people you love. Scott and I are having an at-home date night and we'll be chowing down on these (can't wait!).  xoxo

P.S. Six ways to keep the sparks flying in your relationship.

Of the Commonplace

Not too long ago, I happened upon a notebook I kept when I was a young married wife.  It was tremendously fascinating to me.  And although it had lists of homekeeping things such as cheeses to try, it also said a lot about its author.  I had great fun pouring over a list of items to bring on a Junior League retreat in 1982 to a remote farmhouse:  good pens, notepaper, knitting, and a Topsy Tail - that odd ponytail maker that was so popular then.

 

 A few years ago, my library had a small exhibition of commonplace books, those notebooks filled with poems, songs, lists, and sketches that people often kept in the 19th century.  They were captivating to me as I thought about all the hours that went into maintaining such notebooks.  I can certainly see why they are so valuable today as they capture lives lived so well with their array of entries.  Some reminded me of the notebooks kept by Leonardo Da Vinci which are famous for his drawings of the human body.  I always keep a small "Da Vinci" notebook in my handbag to jot down thoughts or reminders of things that I suddenly realized I forgot.  My notebook is most likely not very interesting with its notations to remember to pick up a wool skirt at the dry cleaner or a box of dishwasher soap. 

 

Yesterday as I waited for my mother to finish her grocery shopping, I noticed an older bearded gent scribbling away in a composition notebook in the store's caf�.  His pages were filled with lists, prose, drawings, and business cards attached with staples.  It became almost unbearable and finally I crept up to him, apologizing for the interruption but asking what his notebook was for.  He told me it was filled with all the things his brain forgets:  things to buy for the properties he owns, lists of items for his boat, examples of tools that may work for a certain project, etc.  He turned a few pages for me and I could see that this Da Vinci was filled with a man's life.  I asked if he knew he was creating a commonplace book and that if discovered, say 300 years hence, may be of real interest to someone.  He seemed amazed at the possibility and then told me that he was a former college professor and had kept several such diaries over the years.  Soon I was showing him the small notebook I carry in my purse and we laughed over the fact that literary people often do keep journals and notebooks.  I then found myself asking him to enter his name on one of my notebook's pages.  He did and underneath, he wrote "The man of the commonplace book".  Our exchange was lovely and filled with humanity and humor.  We bade each other goodbye and best wishes.

 

Currently I am reading A Lady of Fashion; Barbara Johnson's Album of Styles and Fabrics which is a fashion diary that was kept by an unmarried English woman who lived in the 18th century.  All her entries are about her clothes:  where the cloth was bought, yardage, how much it cost, the seamstress' name, and where the dress was worn.  Beside each entry is a scrap of fabric from the garment.  The swatches come to life on the page in all their glorious colors and prints.  But Miss Johnson also included clippings of fashion plates from the lady's magazines of her time.  Although she lived far from London, she had a passion for clothes and must have brought true flair and glamour to her rural village.  I wouldn't call Miss Johnson's album a true commonplace book but it certainly offers a birds eye view into an obscure life that I would never have known. 

 

 

 

Page from Barbara Johnson's Album

Unknown Scrapbook 

~

 

I set about filling my notebooks with odd facts, recollections, and all sorts of other things, including the most trivial stuff.  Mostly I concentrated on things and people that I found charming and worthwhile, but my notes are also full of poems and observations on trees and plants, birds and insects.  I am sure that when people see my book they will say, �It�s even worse than expected � now you can really tell what she is like.

     � Sei Shonagon, The Pillow Book

6 ways we keep the sparks flying

Scott and I have been together for 13 years, 8 months and 16 days. After spending that much time as a couple, we've reached a level of intimacy I never knew existed. While there is something to be said about being completely comfortable and intimate with each other, it's also important to be reminded of the butterflies we had when we first started dating. The bonus is that butterflies usually lead to flirtation and sexy-time. And who doesn't want sexy-time?!

Here are a few things we do to keep the sparks flying in our relationship:

• Meet separately at the restaurant. I always get excited when I meet up with Scott at a restaurant or bar. I love that moment of anticipation as I scan the room to find him! There's nothing quite like seeing a handsome man and then realizing it's your handsome man to stir up the butterflies. That is such a lovely feeling and it makes me feel fun and flirty. Meeting separately also gives me the chance to see him not just as the person I share my home life with, but as the person he exists beyond that. 
• Keep phones off the table during meals. I've been known to take photos of our food, but I've started to do less of that (you might've noticed this if you follow me on Instagram). The time I spend with the people I love has become much more valuable. 
• Hold hands at the table (but really, hold hands every chance you get). Scott and I do this all the time, whether we're on a fancier dinner date or just having some pho at our fave Vietnamese place. So simple but it sets a special mood.
• 5 minute make-out sessions. One of us just asks "Wanna make out for 5 minutes?" and it's nearly impossible to turn down or be turned down. Everyone has five minutes for a little old school making out, right? Sneaking in a kiss each day that lasts longer than 5 seconds takes me back to the early dating days. Sometimes while we're watching tv, I'll plank on Scott. Sounds bizarro, I know but it's our special thing. And no, it's not sexual, dirty birds. I'm always fully clothed while planking (;
• Ask each other out on dates, don't just plan dates. I'll text or call Scott and ask if he'll go on a date with me and then plan accordingly and vice versa. Again, it adds just enough of those same butterflies.
• Scott purchased this book for us recently. Whoa, spicy. I'm thinking an entirely separate blog post might be in order here (;

These are all little things, but sometimes life is about the little things, right? What funny little things (or big things!) do you do to keep the sparks flying in your relationships? I'd love to hear...

(Photo by Harry Benson)

Point me toward tomorrow

I love reading about pioneering women.  How brave they were to leave all they knew and loved back East and head out into the uncivilized unknown.  They often brought cherished talismans from home:  china, candlesticks, a quilt or two.  Ever-hopeful for a new life, they did the best they could, sometimes creating primitive yet comforting homes to keep their loved ones safe from the brutal elements.  I often think about these strong resourceful women when change is coming in my own life.

I am about to leave a job I've had for twenty years.  I have a mere five days left in an environment that I've hinted at before, has been very grueling and at times cruel.  I'm convinced I have the mentality of someone who is institutionalized and it will take time to change that.  My doctor claims I have saved my own life.  The nature of my work has prevented me from talking about it publically.  But I am leaving now and soon I will be employed in a place that I have no doubt, will be very nice indeed.

My eyes are dry - I know I gave the very best I had and have no regrets.  Well, maybe one - I should have left five years ago.  What is so astonishing to me is that my captors were so surprised.  But I can no longer care any more than they do.  I will be going to a place where respect rules the day - being gun-shy, I have completed my due diligence and my homework. 

The tipping point was a meeting I was called to on a false pretense two weeks before Christmas.  It left me so distraught, my daughter offered to sleep with me so I wouldn't be alone.  That was the night I began to look for a new position.  I lifted my arms up to the heavens above and they were filled.  Fairly quickly too.  I won't be looking back.

Those I am leaving will soon find another victim.  And so, they must...  The other night I dreamed I was riding in the back of a wooden wagon led by three wild horses.  I glanced down at my leg which was clamped tight in a thick iron bear trap.  As the wagon pitched and bumped in the dark, the trap fell away leaving my ankle bruised with a wide crimson welt.  It was tender and it hurt.  But when the wagon stopped, I limped away.  Whole.  And standing.

duchess cookbook & treats giveaway!

Duchess Bake Shop has had my heart since it opened its doors in the fall of 2009. It's one of my favourite spots in Edmonton to grab a delicious French pastry and then sit, eat & chat with friends for hours. If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that last statement couldn't be more true.

When I found out Giselle Courteau, the shop's co-owner, was writing a cookbook I was elated. Its release date, November 12, was a happy day for me and I wasn't disappointed in the least bit. The book is a true keepsake with stunning photographs and invaluable accompanying step-by-step instructions. This is the first time I've owned a cookbook in which I've sampled most of the recipes (which makes owning it that much more special).

You can probably tell from the picture above that I've already tried many of the recipes (& also have a hard time keeping cookbooks clean, mine are almost always covered in batter & flour), including our family faves: double ginger cookies and raspberry white chocolate scones.



I'm happy to report that Giselle has generously provided a signed copy of Duchess' cookbook as a giveaway for one lucky reader. Also included in the giveaway: a package containing the shop's beloved salted caramel sauce (which I used to make these), hot chocolate, raspberry rose jam and a Theo gingerbread milk chocolate bar.

For a chance to win, please visit Duchess' website and then leave a comment below with the name of the baked good you'd like to try making at home. For additional entries, follow all kinds of lovely on Instagram and Facebook and comment on the giveaway post/picture. 

Entries must be posted by Friday, February 13 at 9am MST*, and one winner will be chosen at random.

Best of luck!

You can also purchase the cookbook in Edmonton at Provisions or online. Highly recommend!

Contest is now closed. Congratulations to Brie of A Slice of Brie! Thank you to everyone who entered.

style: chic earrings

   

Gorgeous earrings can change your whole look in a instant. I know my winter wardrobe could use a perk up right about now (anyone else over winter?). These four pairs are at the top of my wish list.

Clockwise from top left:

• Edgy & wear-with-everything studs from my favourite Canadian shop, So Pretty Jewelry.  
• This exotic pair from Club Monaco has been on my mind for a while now. Beautiful, right?
• Feminine & sweet reminder bows handmade by New York based By Boe. 
• Etsy shop Dinosaur Toes makes these simple modern hammered hoops. Such a great price, too. 

Wouldn't they all be beautiful to wear to date night? Or anytime really. (: Which pair is your fave?

I just purchased these art deco chandeliers which can be worn three (!!) ways. Love. They were a "I survived the January blahs" present to myself. The So Pretty studs are next on my list.

Hope your week is off to a good start! Be sure to check back here on Thursday. I have a delicious giveaway I'm excited to share with you featuring a beloved bakery of mine.