A "Grown-Up" Snow Day

Well, it's another snow day here in New England.  My girls are still asleep so they haven't heard the news yet.  But, I know soon they will come shuffling down the stairs looking for me and then I'll be "on call". 

"Mom, I'm hungry!"
"Mom, can we watch a movie?"
"Mom, I'm hungry!"
"Mom, can we go sledding?" 
"Mom, I'm hungry!"
"Mom, she's bothering me!"

Hey, this is all good stuff and I'm not complaining.  I love being a mom, but sometimes I daydream about what I would do if I had an entire day to myself.  A snow day.  A day that I couldn't run any errands or do any housework.  What would I do? 

I'd start my day with a large mug of hot tea and sit myself on the sofa to read one of the 20 or so books that I have scattered throughout the house waiting to be read.  Then I'd make myself some homemade blueberry muffins with plenty of butter.  Maybe I'd actually have time to take a relaxing bath--I've heard about them but never actually experienced one.  Then I'd put a fire on and rent a mindless movie or a great thriller.  I'd order some pizza for lunch/dinner (You can have slash meals when your not responsible for others) and call it a day.  That's good enough for me.  A day to be completely lazy and self-absorbed.

But what's the fun in that.  Instead I'll make the muffins with my girls and clean up the resulting mess.  I definitely won't have time for the books, but I could put on that fire and watch a Disney movie.  There will be laundry and dishes and picking up and playing and probably sledding.  But, best of all, there will be hugs and kisses and snuggles.  I guess the books can wait a few more years.

Here's my virtual "Grown-Up" Snow Day:


Blueberry Muffins courtesy of Martha Stewart...

Ingredients

Makes 6 large or 12 small muffins

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for tins
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1 large egg
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup milk
1 3/4 cups blueberries

Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.butter large (3 3/4 inches) or small (2 3/4 inches) muffin tins, and set aside. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

2.In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg, egg yolks, and vanilla; mix until well combined. Reduce speed to low; alternate adding reserved flour mixture and milk to mixer, beginning and ending with flour. Remove bowl from mixer; gently fold in berries by hand. Divide batter among muffin tins; sprinkle generously with sugar. Bake until light golden, about 45 minutes for large muffins, about 30 minutes for small muffins. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Remove from pan; transfer to wire rack, and let cool completely.


Book courtesy of Kristin Hannah...

Relaxing bath, courtesy of House Beautiful...

What's better than pizza you don't have to cook??

Waiting on Spring

This feels like the longest part of the year to a New Englander.  The novelty of the cold and snow has long since worn off, yet the hopes of warmer temperatures are still months away.  This is about the time of year where my husband and I have our annual promise to each other that we are going to move away from New England to someplace with better weather...but where? 
The Carolinas always come to mind even though neither one of us has ever spent any real time there.  It's on the list.  Maybe Florida?  How about California?  Then I think, why stop there.  The Almafi Coast sounds nice... maybe a Greek Island...I do love the food.
We do this for 2 -3 months just until the daffodils begin to sprout their blooms and the grass turns green. It's right about this time that New England comes back to life and we remember why it is a vacation destination.  It's tough to give up access to beautiful coastlines, soaring mountains, history, culture, and the greatest sports teams in the world.  I guess I'll always be a New Englander.  Hey, if the Pilgrims could brave the winter without adequate food and shelter, I certainly can.  Italy sure does sound nice, though..

Ahhh...The Almafi coast (fodors.com)

Good old Cape Cod (tripadvisor.com).....