Solstice

The darkest day of the year.....always something chillingly romantic about it. The dead of winter --or the first day of the austere season.

A few last leaves on the trees and the birds who chirp so merrily much more visible than usual.

And pigeons swirling in groups.

I think I like our tree almost as much bare as decked out for the season.

What do you think?

This morning early it was so wet and dark you couldn't see the top of the Empire State Building. It was raining almost as much as in the hurricane.

So the lights glittered and reflected.....

When it got lighter the rain was still falling.

On Monday night it was wet too, so I looked at the reflections on the street...bright as Christmas tree baubles.

Herewith the table from tea the other day with my lovely tea cosy handmade by Liz Smith in Scotland. Go here to see her super blog! Maybe she can make you one too!

 The chocolate chip chocolate cookies look very messy, but gosh they are good -- though I say so myself.

Recipe

4oz  or one stick of butter

4oz Sugar in the Raw (really crunchy light brown sugar)

salt

vanilla essence

one egg

6oz flour

2oz Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate powder.

chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar

add salt and vanilla

beat in egg

fold in flour and choc powder

spoon on to baking tray

sprinkle with chocolate chips

bake at 350' for 15 minutes

Here is a mysterious house on 29th Street in New York to eat your cookies in or tell ghost stories about....

Here is a skyline at dusk --the best time for tea and cookies and stories.

ps You can read Jane in Winter, my story of magic and enchantment in the 1950's free on line here. If you do read it, please let me know!