On the Sunday morning, the last day of our weekend workshop, we had arranged to meet close to the entrance of Cressbrook Dale, a deep, green cleft in the hills that has a strange and often dark history. Our destination was an orphaned island of rock that stands isolated in the valley that is thought to have slid away from the adjoining hillside. It is called Peter’s Rock and was supposedly so named for its resemblance to the dome of St Peter’s in Rome… though perhaps a Christian overlay was given to an older and forgotten name. Locally, though, it is also known as Gibbet Hill.

In 1815, the same year as the battle of Waterloo, the vicar of Tideswell found his church empty and the congregation missing. They had found something more exciting to do with their morning and had departed, en masse, to witness the gruesome end…

We began our walk by once again drawing a sphere of Light around our party. As we walked along Cressbrook Dale, we were careful not to colour any impressions our companions might pick up about the place. We shared a little history and geology, but it was not until we stopped by the mouth of a small cave that we began to speak of its ‘alternative’ history. Even so, it seemed that they were already tasting the atmosphere for themselves and their reactions could be read on their faces, from what looked like disgust through to delight.

The cave is a low, two-pronged shaft at the base of a cliff. It is an uncomfortable crawl to get inside, as years of fallen stones line the passageways that disappear into the darkness; we would not ask them to enter.

Instead, we gathered at the mouth of the cave for a guided…

Your DAILY MESSAGE from Angels

TURN YOUR FACE to the SUN!

We love you

Yes, Angels!!!

Home base: Lucerne

Image: Wikimedia commons

Loose in Lucerne,
Unending charm and beauty,
Camera can’t capture it all,
Every turn a dazzler,
Reeling with joy,
Near nirvana,
Everlasting memories . . .

Switzerland vacation series:
Spellbound in Switzerland
Winterthur Wonder in Switzerland
Sights of St. Gallen and Zurich

1^st of a series on my 7-day stay in Egypt

Went to Old Cairo,
Visited St. George Church and
Coptic Museum.

Later in the eve,
Khan al-Khalili bazaar
Was a place to see.

Strata is similar to quiche or frittata and is made with any kind of bread, cheese, veggies, eggs and precooked meat. I made mine in a cooking class and Chef Christal Jakopak had us make ours filled with everything bagels, two kinds of cheese, eggs, milk, red onion, green onions, tomatoes and seasonings. This is a delicious breakfast or brunch and a great way to use up leftovers. You can even make it the night before and cook it in the morning.

Ingredients – This is just some of the

ingredients we used. You can use

whatever is your favorite.

With our strata, we started by

greasing two loaf pans because we

had to split our recipe with our partner.

You will want to grease a 9” x 13” pan.

In a large bowl add the eggs.

Add the milk, salt, pepper, garlic

powder and cayenne pepper.

Whisk to combine.

Ready for Halloween?

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is a great way to celebrate while at Disney World. Trick or treat while you play!

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Start Smart: Egg Veggie Tart! Take ordinary ingredients and spread them over a prepared puff pastry crust and I promise you, your family will eat anything you serve. It’s that good. I always keep a box of frozen puff pastry on hand because it is so versatile. From main courses to desserts, they all turn out like a culinary masterpiece. For everyone to take you seriously though, be sure to wear an apron. It makes you look like a chef who means business. I think I have at least five different styles, some with pockets, some without. And I’m always open for more. Today’s version of a breakfast tart incorporates vegetables and prosciutto that not only add color, but eye appeal. Without regrets, add this recipe to your list of easy-to-assemble meals.

EGG VEGGIE TART

Ingredients:

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

4 ounces Swiss…

Aku bangun di Sabtu pagi yang dingin, di suatu kota bernama Edirne. Langit masih redup, padahal jam dinding di kamar hotel sudah menunjukkan pukul 8 pagi. Aku bangkit, memakai sandal yang disediakan hotel untuk membasuh muka. Sebenarnya aku selalu lebih suka berkeliaran di dalam ruangan dengan bertelanjang kaki. Namun, suhu dingin membuat telapak kakiku mendadak menjadi kaku setiap kali kujejakkan di lantai yang dingin. Aku membuat teh panas yang disediakan pihak hotel, sekedar untuk menghangatkan badan sedikit saja. Kuseruput teh sambil duduk di satu sofa kecil yang terletak di ujung kamar, sambil memandang keluar melalui jendela di sampingnya. Di bawah sana, seorang pedagang simit sudah memulai harinya lebih dulu.

Setengah jam kemudian, aku sudah merasa jauh lebih hangat. Setelah mandi, sedikit berdandan, aku meninggalkan kamar hotel menuju restoran di bawah tanah yang berfungsi sebagai tempat sarapan. Seorang pelayan muda menanyaiku, apakah aku mau kopi atau teh sebagai teman sarapan…