Plain scones

My Anglophilia kicked into high gear today, for obvious reasons,* and I felt I must make some scones to have with my tea. After my walk with Edmund, we stopped by the store and picked up some strawberry preserves, lemon curd, and heavy cream, then I whipped up these plain scones in no time.

• 2 c. flour
  
• 2 tsp. baking powder
  
• 1 pinch salt
  
• 1/8 c. sugar
  
• 1/4 c. butter
  
• 1/2 c. milk, + 2 tbsp.

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix dry ingredients, then cut in butter. Add milk and mix to form dough. [EDITED TO ADD: you may find you will need more milk than just 1/2 cup -- the dough should be sticky enough to adhere together in a ball, but not so sticky that it sticks to the bowl.] Divide in half and shape each into a flat round (about 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick). Cut each round into six triangles. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the top of each scone with extra milk. Bake for 10 minutes, or until tops are golden.

I am not sure where I got this recipe; I think I found one online and then modified it. It is my favorite plain scone recipe, though. On their own, the scones aren't much, but they make a perfect stage for delicious jams and spreads.

*I don't normally follow the doings of the royal family, but when I remembered that today was Prince William's wedding, I looked up the highlights on YouTube, and Edmund and I enjoyed watching a few selections. His favorite part was when the planes buzzed Buckingham Palace to congratulate the newlyweds. :) I loved the ceremony as it reminded me of my own wedding (same format, though the Royal wedding used a slightly modernized version). The Brits sure know how to pull off a gorgeous wedding with pomp and elegance!

Vintage hangers

While I was in Arizona, my sneaky but sweet husband got on my Etsy favorites list and ordered a few surprises to welcome me home. I didn't even know he knew I had an Etsy favorites list, tee hee.


I completely love these whimsical vintage baby hangers! Thanks, darling!


(From Etsy seller theenchantedfigtree.)

He is Risen!

Hot cross buns

When I was a girl, I abhorred dried fruits in baked goods, especially raisins or currants. When I visited England for the first time at age 11, I was dismayed to find that every tea room we visited only offered fruit scones. At last, on our final day in London, I found civilization -- a.k.a. The Ritz -- where one was given a choice of currant or plain scones!


(Since those days I've gotten over my pickiness and I even like the extra sweetness raisins provide in Irish soda bread and hot cross buns.)

A posy of violets

I love the simplicity of a little bouquet of violets in a pretty glass vase. Placing it on a windowsill allows the light to filter through the petals in a most becoming way.


Despite the wonderful sunshine in Arizona, I wouldn't miss the beautiful Midwestern spring for anything. It's my favorite time of year!

Arizona!

Please pardon my lack of posting lately! I was quite under the weather in early April. God graciously healed me just in time for Edmund and me to fly to Arizona to spend some time here:


My longtime friend, Jessica, and her daughter M. (three weeks younger than Edmund) joined us there, as well as Jessica's older sister. This trip was courtesy of said sister as a birthday gift to Jessica. It wasn't my birthday but I sure felt like it was! We stayed in a beautiful rental home, decorated in a luxurious "Old European" style.


Not exactly kid-friendly, but with a few strategic rearrangements we managed. Edmund and M. are so close in age and they were often interested in getting into the same things, but we could definitely see differences in their personalities already. So fun!


One of my favorite experiences of the trip was making homemade lemonade from lemons we picked ourselves, right off the tree! That was such a novel experience for a Midwesterner. :) Not to mention the result was delicious.

I really enjoyed having a "feminine" vacation -- a.k.a. a lot of relaxing, resting, a little shopping, enjoying the good company and good food, etc. My husband was chiding me for not getting out and seeing the scenery but I told him we could do that next time when he's with me. ;) Edmund saw so many new things and we did some fun activities for the toddlers, like going to the park and a children's museum.


Flying is not my favorite thing to do and I was nervous about traveling by myself, with a toddler, but God gave me so many traveling mercies, not to mention the wonderful opportunity in the first place. Thank you, Lord!

Birthday bowties

My husband's birthday was a few weeks ago, and one item on his birthday wish-list was "spring-colored bowties." Well, I can do that! I found some masculine, yet spring-ish cotton at Jo-Ann Fabrics and whipped these up, once again using BurdaStyle's David pattern.


I altered this one to be more of a bat-wing shape, with pointed ends. I love the way it turned out.


I have plenty of fabric left over so I think Edmund needs a matching bowtie for Easter!