QUIET

Everything is so softly quiet over here, waiting...

JANUARY

January is a long and quiet month

A month for reflection, for staying indoors looking out of the window

Gazing at pale skies dotted with birds flying inside

A month to observe and be wise 

To sort out and start anew

Feeling time flowing gracefully!

Images from the first day of the year

TRAVELING

At the train station with my beautiful dog ... waiting.

NOTES COMPLETED

Finished the little notebook cover I made to give away.

THE REMAINS OF THE YEAR

Yesterday as I was going through my 2009 moleskine and moving some information into a brand new 2010 diary I found many dried leaves and flowers in between the days. Many, many more than words worth mentioning. I suppose it was a silent year!

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful year!

WINTER LANDSCAPES IN BLUE

Some landscapes are unforgettable ... somehow they become part of our skin.

First two images are a still from a short movie I made while traveling years ago. I remember there was a moment when a flock of birds hovered above the river. So beautiful and peaceful! The movie is now regrettably lost.

NOTES

The day is dark and gray and I have been working on a little project to give away ... it feels quiet and the silence is wrapped in whole sorts of memories. Untouchable memories.

LE PETIT PRINCE

Today I enjoyed some peaceful moments re-reading the Little Prince while the cat was asleep.

"The men where you live," said the little prince, "raise five thousand roses in the same garden and they do not find in it what they are looking for."

"They do not find it," I replied.

"And yet what they are looking for could be found in one single rose, or in a little water."

"Yes, that is true," I said.

... and the little prince added:

"But the eyes are blind. one must look with the heart ..."

from the little prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

ANATOLTORTE

In the end I simply dusted it with good quality cocoa powder and some stars ... have a joyful Christmas!☆✩✩ ... The recipe is here

THE INGREDIENTS ☆✩✩

Looking for something different to make this Christmas I found this rather unusual cake. 

It is made with cooked chestnuts and no flour involved. I'm trying it today ...

Anatoltorte (from country living UK December 2003 page 136)

✩ for the cake

150g unsalted butter, softened

150g icing sugar

5 eggs, separated

210g sieved, cooked chestnuts

30g grated dark chocolate

✩ for the cream

3 egg yolks

100g icing sugar

3 tbsp double cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

60g plain chocolate, melted

120g unsalted butter

It also takes 5 whole marrons glacés, halved and 12 gold or silver sugared almonds for decoration but since I was unable to find these I will try something else

Line the base of a 23cm cake tin with non-stick baking parchment and butter the sides. Preheat the oven to 160ºC/325ºF/gas mark 3.
To make the cake, begin by creaming the butter and sugar until thick and fluffy, then beat in the yolks one by one, alternating with spoonfuls of the chestnut puree. Beat in the rest of the puree and the grated chocolate. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then slowly fold into the mixture. Scrape into the prepared tin, smooth down and bake for 50-60 minutes until firm to the touch. Cool on a wire rack, then cut in half horizontally.
For the cream, begin by whisking the egg yolks with the sugar, cream and vanilla extract until pale and very thick. Cream the butter until fluffy, them beat in the cooled melted chocolate and fold in the egg yolk mixture to make a chocolate butter cream.
Sandwich the two halves of the cooled cake together with half the cream, then use the remainder to cover the top and sides. decorate with the marrons glacés and sugared almonds if using or create your own festive decoration.

TENDERNESS

I woke up with her sleeping on my shoulder softly breathing.

CHILDREN'S HERBARIUM

Made by children discovering the secret world of plants. From early this month, an exhibition just around the corner from home at Casa da Cerca (in portuguese only)

A HAND FULL OF ♡♡♡

So simple, so touching ... a garland made of little paper hearts that open like small petals of a flower. Thank you for your simple gesture. I love it!*

COLD HANDS . WARM HEART

With the chilly wind whispering in the trees and frozen hands and feet I spend the most wonderful moments this weekend at the crafts fair.

AT CRAFTS & DESIGN

Otchipotchi is going to be at "crafts & design" in jardim da estrela, Lisbon this weekend with some lovely bags and little Christmas presents.

HYDRANGEA

A bit of Summer on this Autumn day ...