Second Cup of Tea

Morning tea ritual with a new cup...this one is from my friend

Olivia Hurd

Each of her cups tells a story - this one of a family fishing vacation, a cozy cabin, a dog, a cat, a bird with a worm and a fox. The story aspect is great but the feel of this thrown and altered cup in my hand makes my tea drinking a total pleasure.

Morning!

Drinking tea from my

Ayumi Horie

pig cup.

Love taking pics with my computer
but sometimes
it scares me.

Procrastination

Wonderful quiet Sunday. The trees around Berkeley are bursting with blossoms - a little premature but beautiful none the less. I am putting off finishing cleaning my room. I am at the stage where everything is spread out all over the floor in piles...books, clothes, knitting stuff, old "important" papers, broken cameras, John's endless supply of electrical cords that belong to something. Now I have to decide where it's all going to go...UGH.

In between the sorting I've been baking cupcakes to take to dinner tonight. My 5 year old granddaughter is allergic to eggs so it has been hard for me to come up with a good cake recipe. What kind of grammy doesn't bake with her grandchildren? Last week my daughter, Molly, sent me Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Moskowitz and Romero. YEAH...the best chocolate cupcake recipe ever. You would never know they are eggless. Here's the recipe just in case you ever meet a vegan who is craving cupcakes:

1 C milk (they specify soy but I use cow)
1 t apple cider vinegar
3/4 C granulated sugar
1/3 C canola oil
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t almond extract,chocolate extract or more vanilla extract
1 C flour
1/3 C cocoa powder
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt

Wisk together milk and vinegar and set aside to curdle for a few minutes. Mix together all the wet ingredients. In separate bowl sift all the dry ingredients. Add this in two batches to the wet ingredients. Pour into cupcake cups and bake 18 - 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

OK, I've procrastinated long enough. Get the shovel!

Here's Looking At You....

Last Sunday we made it to the Alameda Flea Market. It was a beautiful, sunny day to wander the aisles and ponder the "antiques" displayed. Some were set out with random abandon and some with magazine stylist perfection. I am usually attracted to the more jumbled up booths - better for finding a neglected treasure. For me, on this particular Sunday, the eyes had it! Here's looking at you....