Homme Less

The CBC featured a story on Mark Reay this morning.  It was so interesting that I searched out the trailer for you...

In this new documentary from Thomas Wirthensohn we meet Mark Reay, model, and fashion photographer. Reay is debonair, handsome, and well dressed.  But at night he sneaks onto the east side walk up where he sleeps, on the roof under a tarp.  It is an illuminating look at the "glamorous life." And the hardships one man's faces while living a dream.     

Sunday Baking

Made biscuits this morning.  I used the basic recipe but modified it a bit to suit what I had on-hand

2 3/4 cups brown rice flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Combine ingredients in a bowl.  In a separate bowl gently combine

3 ounces of your favourite grated cheese with
8 tablespoons of cold cubed butter.

 It is best to divide the tablespoons in half before gently mixing into the grated cheese.  Add the flour mixture to the cheese and butter, again coarsely mixing.

Now the recipe calls for 3/4 cup buttermilk, which I love but didn't have so instead  I used,

 1 cup of Greek yogurt and
2 tablespoons of soy milk.

 I slowly poured the yogurt and milk into the flour and cheese and gently combine.  Roll the dough onto a floured surface.  Add extra milk, one tablespoon at a time if needed. form the dough into a rectangle and slice with a knife in 1 1/2 inch thick pieces.

Place your biscuits onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

For the last ten minutes I added extra grated cheese to the top of the biscuits.  They should be golden brown.  Serve immediately!

Weekend Arrangements

Spring has arrived at the Cedarvale Cottage, in the form of wild white roses, white lilies, hyacinth and spring greenery.

Lauren's roses and lilies are opening.

For the larger living room arrangement I added onto the theme with a big beautiful hydrangea, and those gorgeous white cranberries.  I also used larger yellow lilies for this arrangement.  

A small snapped stem makes a perfect bathroom bouquet.  One small stem of yellow lilies, and a rose set in a quirky shot glass will keep the bathroom smelling fresh all week.    

Project time

Since being let go, (more on that when I can put it eloquently) I've had a lot of free time on my hands!  This of course has prompted me to get into home repairs.  I have done lots of great stuff around the apartment including, winterizing my planters, fixing dents and scratches in the walls and counters, and painting.  But the really big project is re-upholstering my couch.

The budget is tight so I am going to do the upholstery myself.  

While researching I found Bubba!

This one is going to be really useful for me

And this one is just my favourite.  Bubba is fantastic.

This morning I went down to Queen West and picked out some amazing off-white vinyl fabric at one of my favourite places on Vanauley St.  Total cost with two extra yards was $32 bucks.  Crystal is going to help me make pillow tomorrow with the extra yardage.

I also arranged to rent an upholstery staple gun from Stephenson's.  If you ever need trade equipment, big or small, and you don't want to buy it, Stephenson's is the place.  I was hoping to take it with me, but they didn't have the right staples. However, they promised to order them in first thing, and sure enough I got a call later today.  I am going to go pick everything up tomorrow midday.  The rental is gonna run me about $30 dollars as well, staples included.  They guys there were so helpful and service was exceptional.