Miller Time Friday Brought to you by Vanilla and Navy

It is still cold here!  Someone has got to turn up the heat!

Okay, my disorganization is still here with me!  I haven't even begun to dismantle Christmas, as we have workmen coming today to lay the laundry room floor and all of my appliances are in my family room and I can't even get to my Christmas boxes.  That's okay.  Tomorrow is another day, as Scarlett would say!  Until I can get back to Tara I will continue to read and relax.  Tabs - I had a Vanilla Bean Latte yesterday at Starbucks - thought of you, though I don't think  you drink the vanilla.

But don't you think that Vanilla is the official "flavour" of January?

I guess it is that velvety off-white colour that seems so appropros when you look out at the winter weather..

You can wear it, decorate with it:

 Make a lovely cake with it:

1. 

I make one by Nigella Lawson and here is the recipe here:

Ingredients

• 2.25 teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 188 ml Vegetable oil
• 250 ml milk
• 625 ml Flour
• 4 egg(s)
• 500 ml caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line two 9-inch (23-cm) round cake pans or one 9x13-inch (23 x 33 cm) rectangular baking pan with parchment paper. Grease the paper and the sides of the pan well.
2. In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs together until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add flour, milk, oil, baking powder, and vanilla and beat for another minute, just until the batter is smooth and creamy. Don't overbeat. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan(s).
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick poked into the center of the layer comes out clean. (A single rectangular pan will take longer to bake than two round ones.) Loosen the sides of the cake from the pan with a thin knife, then turn out onto a rack and peel off the paper. Let cool completely before covering with frosting, if desired.

Today I am all in black yesterday, I was completely in navy!





All J Crew (Merino turtleneck, tippi cardigan and wool cafe capris)

Since it is Miller Time, I reminded myself of the following:

Yohoho and all that!!!  Dani - best set out the coke - we may need to go immediately to the hardstuff tonight!

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On the 10th Day of Christmas WMM gave to me:

A reminder that there are many paths to take




Sometimes in life, we go round and round.  Sometimes we go down paths only to find that we are somewhere other than our intended destination.  That's okay.  What I love best when I travel is taking, to quote Mr. Frost, "The Road Less Travelled". 

You just never know what is around the corner.  At least I don't.  This picture reminds me of a very hot day at a medieveal village in southern France.  People have walked through this little alley for centuries.  I am just another set of feet poking along and I take a lot of comfort in that.  Fabulous Florida Mommy always has such great advice and wise words in her blog.  I particularly liked her most recent wise words here.  Time does indeed have a way of showing us what is important.  Take those little sidepaths.  And look for me around the corner, as I will be there (only today, I will be holding a rum and coke!)

Have a safe day out there!