Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Scones With Double Cream and Jam


This morning I could not resist taking a photo of my home baked scones with natural berry jam (no sugar added) topped with double-cream, a product that cannot be found in very many places in the U.S.  I do not think I can transport it out of Australia, and I cannot understand why our cows don't make it. What a pity when it is so nice.


The afternoons are sunny and warm.

There is a pretty-ish sort of park here,

I have added a mug to my mother's unused cup rack. I sure hope no one tries to use them.

I had the first birthday I have celebrated with my family in 42 years. This is a tea cup someone gave me. They must have seen my blog.


This patchwork cushion has a story connected to it.  I made a checker board so that my mother and I could play a game of checkers.  Neither of us had played in so long that after numerous attempts, I had to look up "How to play checkers" on the web.  If anyone had observed our comical attempts to play the game, they would have thought we were both daft.  After reading aloud the rules, we were able to play, but my mother won the game quickly.  The next day I decided the cloth checker board would make a nice pillow. Mother says she can still beat me--with the pillow.


These are some of the manufactured houses in the caravan park, which they call "units".  Someone with more imagination could start a line of these units and call them cottages. Who wants to live in a unit?     
This one is pleasant. No one has invited me to view the interiors of these little homes. I would love to see them.

I am sitting here in shock that the blogsy app I bought for ipad actually published the post. The only problem I have is that I cannot remember how I managed it.





5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Lydia,

your scones and dbl.cream topping look delicious. I believe the cream is better in Australia and in the UK. because of the type of fodder the cows receive and the way the cream is processed. It may be fermented a bit.

Love your whimsy cups and the matching pillow to the window treatment and table covering, so cheerful.

The caravans (mobile homes here) should be called cottages. They are lovely. Thank you for sharing and Happy Belated Birthday!

Mrs. J.

Rightthinker said...

Lydia,

Happy Belated Birthday! How neat you got a chance to spend it with your mother after all those years. I know you must miss your "home" family so very much, as well!

The scones are wonderful! I would love to have the chance to taste that type of cream. What is it closest to? Whipped cream? Pastry cream?

I think the little cottages are very sweet. I often imagine myself when I am old, living in one myself..plenty big to have my children and grand children visit, but not too much to care for..and in a nice country-ish community of ladies my own age. Still little spaces for flowers and gardening.

Of course, I'd rather meet Jesus and never pass away, and before my husband left me a widow, but you get my point, I hope!

I love your checkers explanation. I cannot tell you how many times I've forgotten a once known by heart game, simply because it's been too many years!

I've been thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers as you have a visit far away. These posts are so wonderful.

God Bless you!

Anonymous said...

Wry Thinker,

double cream is a rich, thick cream, not whipped or sweetened. It is very good indeed. Even better is clotted cream, but that may be even harder for you to obtain than double cream.

Sadly, Lydia, I think customs may liberate any double cream you have from you on the way back into the US; notwithstanding its need to be properly chilled at 4 degrees Celcius...

We are indeed spoiled with excellent produce and dairy here (with a concerted effort to allow a raw milk industry for cheesemaking etc to evolve - give it time).

Lydia, the East Coast of Australia is turning on some spectacular weather for you at the moment!!

Re the 'demountable homes' in your mother's caravan park, an old friend lives in one a couple of hours north; everybody tends their little gardens beautifully and the sense of pride in the owners' homes is evident. Interiors are snug yet comfortable and inviting; a two-bedroom cottage is spacious enough that one would not feel cramped, but not hemmed in either. They are delightful, with modern fixtures and good bathrooms/kitchens. They're looked down upon here, but the homes I've encountered are more than perfectly acceptable. Of course, the tenor of the 'home village' will dictate its livability. If residents are friendly, take pride in their cottages and gardens, look out for one another etc, said homes will be a good fit. if there is squabbling, an air of dilapidation, scandles, intrigues and the like, said homes will of course not seem nearly quite so inviting.

Make your choices well. you may also wish to gauge the level of active Christian culture within said village; if its full of boomer and builder hippies and semi-atheists, it'd be a poor fit indeed.

Might I recommend 'body shop' for lovely soaps and bathroom things (there used to be one in Frankston back when I spent time in Melbourne in 1995). Also, take a look at 'dusk' the candle-shop chain. they sell beautiful candles, lamps, candle-sticks and stands plus other pretties that I think you would enjoy. Furthermore, 'Spotlight' is a good sewing shop, though the prices of good 'quilters' fabric (what good old fashioned dress fabric is now sold as here) are extortionate, but you may find something lovely.

Blessings,

Sarah,
Australia.

Cynthia Berenger said...

Many happy returns of the day, dear Mrs. Sherman!

About the double cream: Many years ago, I asked a dairyman about the lack of double cream here and was told that the common breeds of cows in the US are valued for the quantity of milk they produce rather than higher amounts of butterfat.

The Galah have inspired my clothing plans for next Fall--a pink and gray ensemble is in the works.

I look forward to reading more of your Australian adventures. May God bless you and your family.

Agape always,
Cynthia

Lydia said...

Sarah, I remember the soap store and candle shop from years ago and i will ask someone to take me there, and get some photos