Little Bites of Heaven

It's been so long!  (A month actually) since I wrote.  There have been numerous blog posts floating around in my head, but life had got the better of me and "me" time (writing time) went straight to the bottom of the list.  I've also had a bit of upheaval recently and working really, really hard to see positives in it all.  Anyhow, I've found the positive and I'm back on track!  Mum arrives in two days and I can't wait!!

But this post is not about my mum, or about being kicked out of our house, or packing... it's about Little Bites of Heaven.  Since I read Megan's post about mini chocolate and caramel tarts "... or little bites of heaven" as she likes to call them, I have been obsessed.  Poor Phillip has heard me nattering on since June about needing mini-muffin tins.  No, no, no, regular muffin tins simply would not do.  I need mini-muffin tins.  I asked Louisa to borrow Mum's the next time she went down to Katikati (I cleared it with my mum-in-law, not to worry) but to no avail, she brought back the regular ones (she said she couldn't find the mini ones.)  I harrumphed and carried on checking out mini-muffin tins when we were out shopping.

Then... Nana asked what we wanted for Christmas.  We needed a roasting dish and as I stared off into space (as I tend to do) Phill reminded me about the mini-muffin tins.  So, as I tend to do once a desire has been fulfilled, I promptly put it out of my mind.  It's quite amazing really.  Anyhow, on Christmas Day, there I was peering at the curiously wrapped packet with my name on it; I wondered idly what it was, but then got caught up in others opening their goodies.  I peeled the paper back from my package, and there they were!  My tins!  (That's what's great about me - I can tell you the gift I really want, but then I forget that I told you I wanted it, so it's still a surprise for me.)

So very yummy!

So yesterday, I baked.  I'm into the easy baking.  These required a bit of work.  But it was so worth it!  If you have a bit of a sweet tooth and have the patience to bake, it's definitely worth a trip over to the Lovely Megan's blog to find the recipe (if you click on recipes in the tags, you'll find it there.)  My chocolate seized up and just wouldn't melt.  I suggest a double boiler (I used my metal bowl on top of a small saucepan - make sure the water doesn't boil and it's just simmering) instead of the microwave (which is what I had done in the first place to make it seize up) A dribble of vegetable oil did the trick and they hardened up just fine when I refrigerated them.  Megan's recipe calls for dark chocolate - I used milk chocolate, as Phill doesn't like dark chocolate.  I have a sneaking suspicion they'd be even better with dark chocolate, as the bitterness would balance out the sweetness of the caramel.  (Of course, then there would be none left on the plate to take a photo of, since I already love them and I'm mad about dark chocolate.) 

I suppose I have to mention that the plate was full yesterday... and Phill only had three... I'm just not sure WHERE the rest went!

Thank you, Megan for posting this delicious, divine and delectable recipe!!

I get so excited...

when I write letters to send and receive them, that I forget to take photo and to blog about how awesome they are!

I never used to be very fussed about checking the mailbox... but now, I can hardly wait.  I rush to the mailbox, full of anticipation - if it's empty, there's still hope... Phill often (usually) checks it before I do (because I may or may not have been a bit slack about walking out to the postbox in the past.)  So when there's a letter / card / postcard for me, I just can't wait - I rip it open in my extreme excitement... only to be a little regretful that once again, I have not restrained myself long enough to take a photo.  The regret doesn't last very long, because I'm too busy reading what's been written to me, and finding a spot to put it on my "Letter Line" that hangs above the TV. 

So... no photos of incoming... but here are my most recent outgoings (I did toss a handful of letters in the post last week though, so there are more than just these ones!)

About a week ago, I got the most awesome card and letter from Ang.  She had also included some mildly hilarious photos from my university days.  I'd like to say... I think I've definitely improved with age.  Enclosed in this magical envelope is my lengthy response to her letter.

I do not understand why this photo keeps uploading sideways.  I've tried flipping it and all sorts of carry on, but it's just not feeling the photo love.  Regardless, this is a letter I wrote to Michelle.  I "met" Michelle through Megan's Penpal Mailing List at Time After Tea.  This is our first correspondence. 

This is another first correspondence, courtesy of Megan's list.  I'm loving this (and I'm loving my new stickers!)

A letter for my lovely Faiza.  Written and sent with so much love. 

It's funny.  I've found, through writing letters - it's a bit like picking up where Ang and I left off many years ago.  Faiza's always been awesome at sending cards and letters and they always seem to arrive just when I need a pick me up.  I appreciate it more than I can ever express in simple words... I have a sneaking suspicion that I am not the only one of her penpals who appreciates her endless supply of thoughtfulness. 

The thing is, in writing the "first" letters, I'm a bit apprehensive.  What do I say?  What shouldn't I say?  How much is too much, or too little?  Will I scare this poor person off with my openness and babbling, or will they appreciate that I'm (mostly) an open book, ready for reading?  It's a bit nerve wracking - especially the wait for a letter back.  I mean really, it could go either way.  What if my letter turns them off completely and they think "Wow.  She's nuts."  It's a bit of pressure I tell you!  Time will only tell.  In the meantime, I'm going to keep writing.

'M' is for Mail!

Everyone enjoys a bit of snail mail.  I've always sporadically written and received letters from cousins and friends around the world.

The thing is, it's easy to forget how fabulous it is to get mail, because it just doesn't come as often as it once used to.  In today's day and age of instant gratification (I am no exception - I want it and I want it yesterday, thanks) the anticipation and excitement of opening a letter is palpable when I'm holding it in my hands.  I sometimes get the urge to do a little happy dance.  First,  I examine it to see who it's from and run my eyes over the envelope, next I devour the words within to unlock their magic and feel that special connection with someone else who has taken the time to sit down and write to me.  I can't help but to feel so special!

My very first letter writing friend was Karine... no one forgets their first.

I met Karine nearly 20 years ago (holy crap!) at a weekend yearbook publishers' conference.  We got on famously from the moment we met and we decided to keep in touch... there was no email, msn or Facebook way back then. We wrote letters back and forth for many years.  First we wrote within Ontario, and then Nova Scotia-Toronto... then I ended up in Halifax for university, where she already was.  That signaled the death knell of our love affair with the letter.  I got an email address when I got to uni, and that's how we stayed in touch.  I think there was the odd letter here and there after that, but never as consistent as it once was.  We also spent quite a while in the same cities (Halifax, and then Toronto) so we just picked up the phone for a chat.  The instant gratification of a phone chat appeals to my impatient nature... so the letter writing fell by the by.  I'm going to write Karine a letter tonight.

So now, I'm addicted once again - but like I never have been before!  I've started writing letters, cards, sending bits in the post, getting packages and I'm loving it!

Incoming (over the past couple of months):

I got this beautiful card from Sasha.  The photo on the front is a photo from her Mum's garden - it reminded her of the Koru (aka Fiddle heads); her trip to New Zealand, and naturally, of me.  She sent it before I went home for Dad's funeral, but I got it when I came back to Auckland, from Canada.  It was lovely to have this here, with a gorgeous message inside, waiting for me. 

The most recent, wonderful card from wonderful Faiza.  Sent to give me love and strength to help me through when I'm feeling blue.  I am so blessed to get so much mail from her.  I love her. 

This was my very first swap item - A mixed CD from Tillie.  I really, really heart it!  I tried to upload a photo of the postcard she sent me after she received my CD, but it won't work... rest assured, it is a great postcard.

The most fantastic, awesome, fun package EVER!  Megan from Time After Tea sent me this package as part of Passion's New Friend Swap.  I got it after being off school, sick for a day and a half - what a lovely treat to come back to!! I whipped the tag off the bracelet as soon as I opened it at work and popped it on my wrist.  She wrote the sweetest card to go with it... and how cute are these toasty warm socks??  Thanks to Passion who organised this swap and who gave me an amazing partner!

I got this package as part of Tillie's Simply Delightful Package Swap.  It came all the way from Indonesia - I loved that!  You can't tell, but under the key chain, is a tubular shawl.  It's really quite neat, but I'm still trying to figure out how to make it look normal on me.  I also got a really cute belt with a bow on it - it's upstairs, hanging on my mirror, helping to keep me motivated and on track with my exercising.  Thank you, Tillie for such a fun idea and for being my first swapping partner!

Outgoing (again, over the past couple of months):

My partner for Tillie's Simply Delightful Swap was her very own pen pal in Australia.  We had to send three of our favourite things, so I sent her an journal which was made from 100% recycled products and it was made in Canada; some of my favourite note cards and post cards; inspirational and pretty magnets (our fridge is covered with magnets) and some stickers with some lovely quotes.   I hope she liked it - I had a lot of fun picking out what to send her.

LeeAnn is a postcard enthusiast - I got the odd postcard from L when she was in Nova Scotia and I had moved back to Toronto... and then when we both moved overseas, the postcard trend continued... a quick note scribbled back and forth, but nothing meaty.  I've decided to start writing L meaty mail.  I really enjoyed using my new stencils to decorate her envelope... I went for a summer and beach theme for the back of the envie because it's cold here right now and I've got the heater going on full!

Faiza often sends me the most wonderful and lovely cards.  I feel as though I let her down on this end, but I realise that posting is a passion of hers and I've got a way to go yet, but  I'm working on catching up and sending her my belated share of postal love!  Once again, I have a lot of love for my new stencils.  Faiza loves flowers, and I thought that since I didn't send her fresh flowers for her birthday, I'd decorate her envie with some pretty flora. 

I've recently started following Tillie's blog - I participated in her package swap and I swapped mixed CDs with her.  I thought I'd drop a note in the post for her (well, it'll be dropped in the post tomorrow, when I go to the post office!)

Tillie mentioned that it was her mum's birthday recently and she was getting a kick out of all the mail Tillie was getting, so she thought it'd be great if her mum got some mail.  Here's my belated effort (I sealed the envelope before I took the photos... but trust me, the inside is pretty.)

Last but definitely not least, my second letter to Megan (after her swap package... I won't post a picture of it, because I'm not sure if she's received it yet.)  She and Faiza also send letters back and forth, so I knew of her.  I'm so pleased that I'm now getting to know her!  I decorated it with stars because the first time I read her surname, I read it very quickly and I thought it said "Sparkle" and I thought it was the most awesome name ever!  So now, every time I see her name, I think of sparkling and stars.  I haven't told her this bit of cheesy dorkiness (yet somehow, I think it's okay to broadcast my nerdiness it on the internet.) 

I'm off, to write some more letters!