Late nights and little lacey things

I'm sure you know the feeling...

"Was that just last weekend?" / "Did we see each other a week ago or a month ago?" / "Today arrived so quickly!"

Time is always on the move. We can't get it back, and we can't control how quickly or slowly its passage is going to feel. It's good to remember that some things are simply beyond control so that I do not waste too much energy on trying to get everything right.

I tend to do this -- when I accomplish something, my next thought is "now, if I can just align that with this and this, then life will be perfect." Silly me.

Last night I didn't sleep. No, I wasn't fitfully twisting in my sheets, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, or partying till dawn. My bed patiently waited as each hour after midnight came and went, and I sat on the living room couch with research paper materials sprawled across the coffee table and Sigur Rós keeping me company.

It's my fault. And I don't recommend all-nighters, but this morning, as I walked toward the English building with a fat manila envelope in one hand and hot cup of coffee in the other, my parcel looked quite beautiful in a faded, flattened, well-loved-childhood-teddy-bear sort of way.

So, as I look back on this busy week I'm struggling to remember the separate days. Monday seems like ages ago. Sunday even longer.

However, backing up to Sunday brings up a small bridal shower I went to for my dear, dear friend. I made some promises to blog about it and have been anxious to put my pictures up, but I had to get through this week before finding the spare time. So, it's 11:15pm and I'm running on a three hour nap since 5:00am yesterday, but I don't want to wait any longer!

The party was lovely. It was small and intimate and full of laughter, lace, little panties, and brunch-y food. I especially loved our mismatched collection of glasses for mimosas!

Once I got home I had a proper photoshoot with the remaining scones I had made. These scones were a last minute decision as I attempted to work with what I already had in my cupboards and to keep myself from being so adventurous that I was doomed for disaster. I almost always have the ingredients for scones on hand and am perfectly satisfied with a simple cream scone with jam and tea, but many people like theirs less traditional and more fully flavored. I wanted to shy away from anything too sweet, knowing there would be plenty of sugar on the table.

I came up with coffee hazelnut scones based on a cream scone recipe I've been using for a couple years, and I threw in coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts and added instant espresso to the wet ingredients. They turned out quite delicious!

Coffee Hazelnut Scones

Makes 8 scones.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated white sugar

2 t. baking powder

1/8 t. salt

1/3 cup chilled, unsalted butter

3/4 cup chopped hazelnuts, skin removed, toasted

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 t. vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (or half & half or whole milk)

1 T. instant espresso granules

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Place rack in the middle of the oven.

2. In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, bakig powder, and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces (or use a large grater) and cut it into dough until it resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in hazelnuts. In a small separate bowl combine egg, vanilla, cream, and espresso granules. Now stir together wet and dry ingredients until just combined.

3. Empty onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead. Pat the dough into a circle 7 inches round and about 1-1/2 inches thick. Cut into 8 triangular sections. Transfer triangles to cookie sheet and bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown.

4. Cool slightly but serve while still warm!