" The sun broke like an egg into a full sunset and the water caught fire." ~ Pamela Johnson January sunset (Hubbard Lake) __________________ SOUPE A L'OIGNON GRATINEE (adapted from Mastering the Art of French Cooking ) “Onion soup sustains. The process of making it is somewhat like the process of learning love. It requires commitment, extraordinary effort, time, and will make you cry." ~ Ronni Lundy _________________________________________ (FRENCH ONION SOUP) 6 pounds thinly sliced yellow onions 6 Tbsp. butter 3 Tbsp. oil 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. sugar 6 heaping Tbsp. flour 5 quarts good beef stock 2 cups dry white wine coarse salt and cracked pepper few drops of Kitchen Bouquet 12 Tbsp. Cognac 1 pound Swiss cheese* 1 - 1 1/2 pound assorted shredded cheddar, Colby and Swiss or Parmesan Cook onions slowly in butter and oil in covered stockpot for 15 minutes. Uncover, raise heat to moderate , and stir in salt and sugar. Cook for 30-40 minutes stirring frequently until on...
~ Cacto de Navidad
~ Cyclamen, Cymbidium orchid, Ivy, Christmas Cactus
Comments
Great quote, even though I am finding it hard to enjoy this season any longer. :}
Marnie
Lovely, lovely lovely! The flowers and your photos are wonderful! Keep warm and take care...gail
My Christmas cactus didn't bloom this year :( sometimes it surprises me and blooms around Easter. I love the Samuel Coleridge quote! Another beautiful post bloggin sis'!
Hugs
Cat
Our indoor plants will see us through until spring.
Donna
Happy for me, this guy doesn't seem to want to quit, Marnie! I must admit, it was a gift to 'self' in early December.
I agree, Nancy .. . a gifted pen for sure. Thanks for the kind words ... stay warm and do hope our nasty weather isn't headed your way but I fear a good portion of the map is, one way or another, suffering our woes!
Astromerias are easy to love, Racquel. Have you noticed when cut, seem to last forever!
Thanks Shellmo & Bren ~ whatever it takes to keep us warm is a good thing!
As you know, it's amazing how flowers can bring welcome sunshine into our lives, Gail :) Thank you.
Hearing from you warms my heart, dear Cat ... thank you for your delightful visits. (As I confessed above to Marie, my Christmas cactus was NOT a rebloomer but 'gift to self' in early December.
How true, Donna! Surrounded by an outside tundra, we must get what we can to sustain us until glorous Spring!
Don't hold your breath, dear Rose, but spring will come ... it always does. Until then, thankfully we have many good friends to hold our hands and cheer us on :)
Thanks dear Colleen ~ starting way too early in November, this has already been a LONG WINTER with, as you know, another FUN forecast for the weekend ... YIPPEE!
Many frost patterns look like flowers, Jodi ... I would count them for bloom day! I can live without many luxuries but when I no longer can cut from the garden (excluding greens & decorative twigs), for indoor happiness and peace, I MUST be surrounded by plants & flowers that fill me with great joy ... and at least 1 orchid in bloom :)
Frances
we are having our own artic blast with no snow. stay warm my friend.
I agree, Marmee. Alstroemeria are not only beautiful but seem to last forever ...your wedding bouquet must have been lovely (I carried lily-of-the-valley). This weather is somethin' else, isn't it! Seems to be record-breaking everywhere and we sure have our share of snow ... want some :)
How sweet, Kim! Thanks. I love it too. It must be very happy 'cause it's still going strong :)
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
You have such a gift for putting together lovely posts!
The beautiful blooms sustain us, don't they? That Christmas cactus is gorgeous and your collage is so colorful and pretty. Thank you!
Thanks dear Kerri ~ indeed, beautiful blooms do sustain us through this long winter!
As always, lovely images. But the first one reminds me of a Degas ballerina painting. Do you see it?
Of course you do.
Blessings,
Nancy
www.basketmasterweavings.blogspot.com
Thank you for the visit and kind words, Nancy ~ please do return.