MARIE'S MUSES

Good morning!! This is a picture of one of the daffodils that have taken to bloom in our garden that I took yesterday afternoon. We’ve been having some wonderful weather down here in Kent just recently. The sun has been shining and yesterday, as I walked home from work, I saw my first fuzzy little bumble bee buzzing by. I just love those little creatures. They seem so bumbling and harmless and cute. I also killed my first wasp yesterday in the house, a down side to warmer temperatures I’m afraid. This is just a teaser though, I know spring really isn’t here and winter has a few more surprises up her sleeve to bash us with, but this brief respite sure is nice and I’m going to enjoy it while I can.

Do you ever wonder why some of us are quite plain and ordinary, or seem to be, and yet other’s of us are striking in comparison? One might be tempted to think that it just isn’t fair. Why should some get burdened by being plain while others have the gifts of being pretty and talented and seem to have lots of money to go along with it? (Insert stamping foot and big pout here!)

We must take heart though, and remember the old gardener whose garden plot was a riot of beauty and colour, except for one small patch of the original old stock of polyanthus . . . Plain and quite drab.

“Why do you keep those when there are so many brightly coloured modern plants to choose from?” he was asked.

His reply?

“Ahhh, but it’s the plain ones that set off the rest and help them look prettier.”

How true and how very applicable to life that statement is. We may not all be pretty and showy, but we and our various talents do have special purposes in life, even it if it is to only help set off the rest!!!  It's nice to know we come in handy!

Personally, I like to think it's what inside that counts.  The plainest of people can be  found to be quite beautiful when you see that they have a sincere, honest and lovely spirit.  I've known some people who were very attractive physically, that were made quite ugly by their insides.  I think I'd rather be pretty on the inside . . . how about you?

It was the Mr’s birthday yesterday and so I made him a birthday cake. Nothing special really. I make the same one every year and it’s his favourite. A yellow butter flavour cake made from a mix (Duncan Hines butter recipe) , covered in homemade chocolate butter cream icing. It’s really very good, but I like to think it’s my icing that makes it so special!

Makes enough to frost and fill one 9 inch layer cake

This is a lovely frosting that goes very well with both vanilla and chocolate cakes and cupcakes. It never fails and is always deliciously creamy.

100g of good dark chocolate (I use Lindt or Green and Blacks)

3 cups sifted icing sugar

1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

¼ cup milk

Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt it over very low heat, stirring until it is completely smooth. (alternatively you may put it into a bowl and melt it in the microwave, heating it on high for 15 second bursts until it melts completely. Be very careful though not to over do it as chocolate seizes very quickly when over heated)

Beat the butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add one cup of the icing sugar, the vanilla and a little dab of the milk. Beat until totally incorporated and fluffy. Beat in the chocolate. Add the remaining icing sugar a bit at a time, alternating with the milk until you have a light and fluffy mixture with a good spreading consistency. If it is not thick enough you may add a bit more sifted icing sugar until it is thick enough. If your mixture is too thick you may add a bit more milk, but be careful not to add too much or you will need more icing sugar.