As I mentioned in my last post, Diane gave me the idea for this weeks HNW a few days before Valentine's Day. I told her I was thinking of making a batch of my mother's fudge candy. I usually make at least two batches of it for Christmas. She told me I should make up a batch as she missed having it then and I should take pictures as Cooking Candy for Diane would work for the C or D theme. I did take a progression of pictures of me doing the various steps of making the candy. Of course, I was wearing my usual baking outfit. Monday I posted how I was having my usual trouble picking just one picture or even which ones if I did a narrative. I also posted a rear view picture of me standing in front of the stove stirring the candy. As what I was doing was not apparent I knew it would not work well for a narrative. Still I thought it was a good rear view an some some might like it.
Well I have done my picking and here is my official HNW picture which has me showing the end result of my cooking as I taste a piece. I even put a thong of so I could claim to be sort of dressed.
Today is another one starting out breezy with below zero F temperatures as the case since Saturday. The up side was that the last 3 days were also bright and sunny all good ones to get out for a car ramble in the country with Diane and enjoy the views of snow covered fields and roadside snow drifts. Diane and I would have done so on Sunday but her sister and partner had invited up out for one last supper at an Italian restaurant we all love. We were not happy to hear it was closing so wanted to go there one last time. Diane did not come up afterwards as she felt she needed to be alone to think on some family concerns her sister told her about at supper. While I regretted not having more time with her I completely understood her reasons. Monday Diane has her art class/group meet so that is a day when I do not usually call her or get to see her. Otherwise it would have been a great day for a ramble. Yesterday was another frigid on but was also bright and sunny. Finally got to get out with Diane for that car ramble. She did have an appointment just after noon so I drover to it and we went for the ramble after. It was a lovely time where just picked a general direction and drove. Slowly looped around first west or Madison then south a ways looping east and then back north ending up at our favorite St Vinnie's. We talked about how we both found the journey more fun and important than the destination. We also both believe that by not getting so wrapped up in the end where we pay more attention to and get more joy out of the trip. In fact, sometimes we never do get to our original destination because we have have taken the time to stop or look at other places that we did not know about and likely enjoyed as much or more than where we planned ot going.
St Vinnie's was interesting. Every month they have at least a week where they feature selling certain sorts of things. In the fall, hunting clothes and gear. in December, Xmas stuff. The one they were doing this time was of Quilts, blankets, fancy tatted, embroidered, stitched napkins, table runners and misc usually vintage clothe household items. They had racks of vintage wool blankets, old hand sewn quilts, newer machine sewn quilts etc. I saw a number of old quilts going for over $100 an one at almost $200 and they were worth it as they were awesome! I took a few pictures of the racks of quilts etc and a few pictures of a few quilts. One was of an old but in good shape Crazy Quilt with the old fashioned fancy yarn "hook"? stitch around each patch. A large number of the old wool blankets were at least 50 years old with some older as Diane and I recognized them to be like ones we slept under as kids or our friends had as kids. It was fun and as I took the pictures I thought of how PonyGirl and some others of you would likely have enjoyed looking at all the quilts.
As I said Cooking Candy, I may as well post some of the pictures I took that show me actually making the candy Being totally naked, but covered, I do not consider them official HNW pictures.
I did not get a good picture of me stirring the candy as it cooked on the stove though I did take several. This picture is of me beating the cooling mix. To be honest, I am not sure just why the fudge needs to be beaten, or even if it does, but it was how I was taught to make the candy. I have been tempted at times to skip that step and just pour it into the pan to cook and see if it makes any difference.
Here I had poured the mix into the pan to cool and am enjoying one of the perks of being one of the ones to beat it. Licking the spoon and the scrapings from the cookpot!
I am posting an alternate pair of somewhat less discreet pictures in the first comment. As has become usual.
I don't think I mentioned it in an earlier post but I did give Diane some of this candy, as planned, to her as part of her Valentine's gift.
Well, it looks like the sun is trying to come out and it will get a bit warmer than yesterday. I should finish this and my coffee, get dressed and bundle up and go for a walk.
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12 comments
From the moment I read quilt, I got extra excited. I love browsing old quilts and linens. The workmanship is so precious.
You are so brave to cook naked. I would be terrified of being burned.
And I pondered which to eat first, you or the candy
Hugs!!
When we walked in the store and I saw all those racks of quilts I said to Diane that PonyGirl would love this. In fact the reason I took several pictures was with the hope I got a few good enough to post for your benefit. I shall try to do that soon.
I do not consider myself brave to cook naked and have never burned myself in anyplace clothes would have protected. I do admit I am careful. You well endowed women have a more hazardous situation with uncovered bits more at the height of hot pots and pans and where those bits can swing forward into something hot. I think wearing a bibbed apron with nothing under it would be sufficient protection and allow a gent like me to delight in watching you cook or bake.
As to which to eat first there was a perfect point where you could have done both. When the candy was not more than a little warm but not yet set you could have spooned a dollop on my bits and then eaten both.
Sending you big pointed naked hugs. The pointed it from thinking of you eating the candy off of what got pointed.
Yummy! I haven’t made fudge in a very long time. Happy HNW.
The fudge does taste good. May you cook up a batch of fudge soon and keep in mind that it tastes even better when you do it in the nude. Bet someone would love to take pictures while you do it.
Sending you big hugs and a Happy HNW.
Love it! You 2 are too cute!
Thank you. We two just share a trust in each other that allows us to be ourselves with no guards up.
Sending you big naked hugs.
Diane came up with a great idea for the theme 😁
She certainly did! Was not sure about doing a progression of pictures but it just seemed that would fit best.
Sending you big naked hugs.
Cooking Candy for Diane is a brilliant take. Happy HNW!
I shall tell Diane that you thought her idea to be brilliant. She really enjoyed the candy and I enjoyed enjoyed making it and taking bare pictures of me doing so.
Happy HNW right back at ya.
PS I had posted a comment just a bit before this one. Not sure what happened to it.
"Cooking for Diane". GREAT idea!
Happy HNW.
She definitely came up with a good idea.
Happy HNW.
I liked these to pictures but felt they would be better shown in a comment.
The first one was not really needed to show the process of making the candy but liked my smile and showing the unmarked surface of the candy.
I would have used this picture of me marking the candy if I had not cut the top of my head off. For some reason I really like the facial expression I am wearing so I am including it here.
May you all have a Happy HNW.