Biscuits & Bulbs

 Let's take a break today from all the holiday travel, lights and excitement...

just for a post or two, and talk about making homemade biscuits.

Before today...I am ashamed to say, I have never made a homemade biscuit.

I was inspired to bake some by my friend Liz.

She sent me a video to watch, I watched it, but the woman in the video didn't measure anything.

I replied to the text Liz sent, "measurements?" she replied "2".

After I stopped laughing, I replied "not for the size of the biscuit cutter,

measurements for the ingredients...the flour, buttermilk, and crisco?

She replied "there are no measurements, just follow the video".

I am a baker more than a "cooker" and I always use exact measurements when I bake,

 but I decided to give it a try.

You can find the video of Brenda Gantt making her biscuits on her YouTube channel...

  

Cooking with Brenda Gantt

You have to use self rising flour and you make a well in the bowl.

She put in 2 lumps of lard, she called them "egg size", I used 1 because I wanted to make a small patch.

Then you add buttermilk, again no real exact amount, so I eyeballed it.

You are not suppose to use all your flour...I have NEVER baked anything in this way...

grease your pan...I can do that,

I used a small drinking glass to cut the biscuits and that seemed to be the right size.

They looked great...

but did not taste good, they were very dry.

The hubs ate his 2 but never said they were good, 

and that is so unlike him.

Anything I make, he loves, even burnt food.

My theory, not enough buttermilk and the dough was not thick enough,

I think someone mentioned 2 inches, but I am not sure.

anywho...

I am not discouraged, I will try again...and I will share the outcome!

In other news, the hubs planted the 

Spring Flowering Bulbs

300 in total, he ordered 500 but some were out stock and they did not notify him.

 They just shipped what they had.

He usually plants about 500 so he was disappointed, the neighbors will be disappointed

and those that walk by always comment on how much they look forward to seeing them.

I took pictures of course...

The hubs...

some of the bulbs...

I can't wait to see them in the spring.

Today's positive thought...

 A cherished holiday memory...

- getting engaged on Christmas Eve -

Longewood Gardens - The Lights

We started the month off right...on December 1st, we visited the Christmas display at

Longwood Gardens

In yesterday's post, I shared pictures taken inside the conservatories.

After walking through the Main, East and West Conservatories, 

we walked outside along the candle lit paths, surrounded by brightly decorated, colorful trees.

It was cold, but the chill in the air was so crisp and it was so welcome.

A Longwood Gardens Truck filled with Christmas Trees

 

Along the walking path, by the lake...these stars are floating on one of the many lakes!

Twinkling lights dance in the fountains, that when temperatures allow, are alive with water.

Now that it is so cold...they replicate the fountains with lights that move with the Christmas music.

Here we are...we had an amazing day!!

Today's positive thought...

 My home is cozy because...

- the hubs is always there -

- and because it always smells like cookies...and it has a lot of pillows and warm blankets -

Longwood Gardens...Christmas 2025

Christmas at Longwood Gardens 

will take your breath away...

This year, the gardens are inspired by the rare jewels and gems that inspired them.

The gardens have been transformed into a living "jewel box".

All that glitters is here...emerald greens, ruby reds and deep blue sapphire.

Every path, every single place you look..

there is a gem around every corner.

It was still light outside when we arrived...we strolled about in the outdoor gardens!

Here we are...

The Wildlife Tree

Lakes District

Canopy Cathedral Treehouse

Next, we had dinner at the 1906 Restaurant, pictures of that another day, after dinner it was dark outside.

This is the view as you step into the Main Conservatory, the trees and ornaments were extraordinary. 

A Diamond Statue surrounded by poinsettias, water and lights.

Icicles hanging from the ceiling around this beautiful Christmas Tree that rotates 360 degrees.

Bright beautiful blues.

West Conservatory

Today's positive thought...

 This year I was good at...

- being creative -

Wise Words On Sunday

 

Today's positive thought...

 I can bring joy into someone's life by...

- being kind -