GlacialLake of Ember
Dec. 10th, 2025 07:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ismoLast night I slept quite well, but not long enough. I woke up at 5:30. I wasn't coughing, which made it all the more frustrating that I couldn't go back to sleep. Eventually, I got up. When the Sparrowhawk continued to sleep, I thought that I really should do something other than sit around and watch the sky very slowly acquire a tinge of light. Queenie sent me some Florida lemons the week before Thanksgiving. She felt they were kind of on the brink, and would need to be used quickly. I meant to make a lemon cake for Thanksgiving, but then the Duchess requested chocolate. I wanted to make both, but I just couldn't. So the lemons were still waiting. I used a half cup of the juice to add to my curry, in lieu of lime juice, which I didn't have, and it added a perfect kick to the mix. but I still had some lemons in the refrigerator, begging not to be forgotten. I didn't want to use the Kitchenaid and risk waking up the Sparrowhawk, so I mixed up a lemon-olive oil cake by hand with a wooden spoon. It came out very nicely, popped out of the pan neatly, and smelled divine. The Sparrowhawk says it tastes like the lemon cake they sell at Starbucks--but better, he assures me.
It turned out that I did not have to visit Madame today. Mademoiselle let me know that there was a Christmas party at Madame's residence this afternoon, which both her daughters would be attending. I felt that one party and set of visitors per day was about all she could take, and decided to put off my visit until next week. I was so happy to stay home instead--particularly as there was at least three inches of heavy wet snow blanketing everything I had scraped bare yesterday. The FedEx truck got stuck in the street again, opposite my driveway. Two of the girls from next door went out with their shovels and helped him get unstuck. They were having a snow day.
It looked as if it would keep snowing until noon, so I decided to take a nap until then. It was a delicious nap, almost worth waking up too early for. When I woke up, the snow had stopped. I put on my boots and made a good faith effort to clear off the porch and sidewalk in the time I had available. I had to quit before finishing the job. Later the Sparrowhawk got the iron shovel and scraped the underlying layer of ice off the steps. Around four, I was able to go back out and finish clearing the driveway and the front walk. Again a helper magically appeared from the house next door. This time it was one of the older girls, probably Violet, though it's hard to tell because they are twins and when they're wrapped in winter gear, I'm not sure which is which. She offered to help me, and between the two of us, we made short work of it! Such a kind helper! I told her to stay put for a minute, and went inside and got half the lemon cake and gave it to her. She said "You don't have to," as well brought up children are taught to do, but she wasn't too hard to convince. I hope they enjoy it.
For dinner, I introduced the Sparrowhawk to that Michigan dish, the olive burger, plus a baked potato and some zucchini and mushrooms with oyster sauce. The miraculous thing about today is that it has been 24 hours since I had a coughing attack! I'm afraid of putting a jinx on it, but I am hopeful. It has been a week since I stopped taking the spironolactone, so perhaps my system has finally recalibrated itself. Or it could be completely coincidental. Either way, I fervently hope it lasts.
It turned out that I did not have to visit Madame today. Mademoiselle let me know that there was a Christmas party at Madame's residence this afternoon, which both her daughters would be attending. I felt that one party and set of visitors per day was about all she could take, and decided to put off my visit until next week. I was so happy to stay home instead--particularly as there was at least three inches of heavy wet snow blanketing everything I had scraped bare yesterday. The FedEx truck got stuck in the street again, opposite my driveway. Two of the girls from next door went out with their shovels and helped him get unstuck. They were having a snow day.
It looked as if it would keep snowing until noon, so I decided to take a nap until then. It was a delicious nap, almost worth waking up too early for. When I woke up, the snow had stopped. I put on my boots and made a good faith effort to clear off the porch and sidewalk in the time I had available. I had to quit before finishing the job. Later the Sparrowhawk got the iron shovel and scraped the underlying layer of ice off the steps. Around four, I was able to go back out and finish clearing the driveway and the front walk. Again a helper magically appeared from the house next door. This time it was one of the older girls, probably Violet, though it's hard to tell because they are twins and when they're wrapped in winter gear, I'm not sure which is which. She offered to help me, and between the two of us, we made short work of it! Such a kind helper! I told her to stay put for a minute, and went inside and got half the lemon cake and gave it to her. She said "You don't have to," as well brought up children are taught to do, but she wasn't too hard to convince. I hope they enjoy it.
For dinner, I introduced the Sparrowhawk to that Michigan dish, the olive burger, plus a baked potato and some zucchini and mushrooms with oyster sauce. The miraculous thing about today is that it has been 24 hours since I had a coughing attack! I'm afraid of putting a jinx on it, but I am hopeful. It has been a week since I stopped taking the spironolactone, so perhaps my system has finally recalibrated itself. Or it could be completely coincidental. Either way, I fervently hope it lasts.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-11 06:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-11 01:26 pm (UTC)That cake sounds excellent. I have many baking Plans but have not executed any for a while because we got gifts of baked goods.