Trevy Thomas's Blog
Posted by Trevy Thomas
I have been a fireplace lover all my life. It's what we had in my childhood home, and what I came to think of as the superior choice in my adult houses. Once, I rented a tiny house that came with a tinier wood stove. While it wasn't my preference, I was grateful to have some means of burning wood in that particularly cold winter. Once I realized I had to order wood that was only 13-inches long, and figured out the tricky technique for finagling the flue, I developed a certain respect for it. But when I purchased a house after that, it was an old one that came with a proper fireplace. While I had to rely on the radiators for real heat, I was back to my preference for fireplaces. It could have something to do with a fondness for wine drinking and listening to music while gazing into an open hearth.
I've since moved again to a house that had a fireplace, but I learned to despise it. Nothing we did here would allow us to have a proper fire without smoking out the inhabitants. Many specialists later, we learned that the fireplace opening was not the proper size for the chimney and that there was no way to have a fire in it without looking at it through a smoke screen. The only solution? Insert a wood stove.
This was the first time I could actually choose the fire source, so I did my research and came up with a beautiful Jotul wood stove with a white finish. I have finally been converted. Not only do I get to enjoy the fire view through the screened open door, but the warmth is unbeatable, the fire easier to keep going (and more economical), and best of all, I've finally found one that is even more aesthetically pleasing than a traditional fireplace. So I'm back to wine and music, but it's warm enough here to enjoy it all in shorts.
Posted by Trevy Thomas
Last year's tulips were a success. For some reason, the deer didn't eat them as I expected. Just yesterday, we had two standing right at the edge of the deck, suspiciously close to my remaining little flower bed. Sneaks, all of them. But since they left my tulips alone last spring, I'm adding more this year.
Cool weather is usually the time of year I want to hibernate, but I love knowing there are new bulbs in the ground waiting for spring, so I've learned a few tips for getting my lazy self out there.
- Buy a bulb planter
- Make a reasonable plan
- Plant just a few bulbs each day
- Use a knee pad
Supposedly, a full-size bulb planter is available that you can use while standing, but I couldn't find it. So for about $2, I bought the little hand-held one and it works like a charm. No need to dig a whole trench.
Don't tackle the whole yard at once. Maybe just go around one area, like a shed or the deck or down the side of the house. One bag of bulbs is enough.
Don't do it all at once or it starts to feel like work. Give yourself 15 minutes or a half hour per day. Keep an eye on the weather and look for warm days, particularly after a rain where the ground will be softer.
A rubber pad to lean on while you're working will save your knees and your clothes. The pad and gloves are helpful garden tools.
Have fun.
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Posted by Trevy Thomas
I'll admit I've never made a liqueur before, but after reading Luscious Liqueurs, I've got several recipients checked off my holiday list. If I make big enough batches, I can even keep a few bottles around to encourage the fesitivities at home. Sweet sticky liqueurs have never been all that appealing to me, but I discovered several drink possibilities in this recipe book that I never would have thought of. The Asian-inspired Lebaoku sounds refreshing and exotic, and it also makes great use of leftover lemongrass. Once I hunt down the Thai basil, I'll make a batch and let you know how it goes. Happy cocktailing.
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Posted by Trevy Thomas
My first attempt at gardening was painful. I didn't have much knowledge or experience, and was overwhelmed by the number of books available to gardeners. It all seemed complicated and frightening to me. Gardeners were born, I decided, not made, and a big part of my first experience proved that to be true. I also didn't have a lot of fun, and spent many years after telling anyone who would listen "I'm not a gardener." Sometimes I still say that about baking, but gardening has held its appearl for me. As most of my life is spent working at a computer, I didn't want gardening to be about plans and details. I just wanted to go out and have some fun in the sunshine and make my yard a pretty place to be. The Intuitive Gardener is a book that gives us all permission, and a bit of instruction, to do that. I love that she uses nothing more than a garden hose for mapping things, and is as quick to yank something out that didn't work as she is to instinctively throw something in that might. This is gardening I can handle, a little bit at a time.
Posted by Trevy Thomas
No wonder I've never liked baking. Clearly, it is full of little secret tricks that only experienced bakers are let in on. Fortunately, I get to pick the brains of professional cooks so I can be in the know without all that hands-on practice.
Dede Wilson, author of The Birthday Cake Book, taught me that when a cake is stuck to the pan (I mean really stuck as in no way to save it), you simply add some cream, fruit, maybe a liquor, lump it all in a pretty dish and call it a trifle. I didn't even know there was such a thing, but next time I try to bake a cake, I'm going to keep the fruit and liquor at the ready just in case.
Learn more tips and tricks on cake baking in my recent interview with Ms. Wilson. Happy baking.
