A Snowy Day

By Bunny~

Staring: Rosemary, Aether, and Spark

    It was a snowy day in Strynhalde, the snow coming down so hard that Rosemary couldn’t even see Iorumund just over the ice and past the frozen pond near her cottage. At most just a thirty minute walk from her little cottage house to the capital city so she definitely couldn’t see the icy snow covered mountains or the icy river just past the city. As the snow starts coming down harder and the wind picks up Rosemary looks out and sees the fir and pine trees practically bending in half from the onslaught. Soon ice starts coming down and she is getting worried about Aether and Spark who went out shopping in Iorumund earlier that day when the weather was nice and the ice was sparkling in the sunlight. The weather had turned so quickly and now the evening was closing in. She had spent the last thirty minutes making Winter squash soup for supper and it was almost ready. The soup was very tasty and she enjoyed it greatly before she moved to this cold icy winter wonderland she had never eaten it. It was simple to make and delicious as well as good for extremely cold days. 

    -She had heated 1 tbsp of oil and 2 tbsp of unsalted butter in a deep cast iron pot on low heat before adding 2 cups of chopped onions and turning the heat on medium for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes she had added 15 ounces of fresh pumpkin puree, 1 ½ pounds of cubed 1 inch  pieces of butternut squash, 3 cups of homemade chicken stock, 2 tsp of kosher salt, and ½ tsp black pepper freshly ground. Rosemary had placed a lid on the pot and let the contents cook at medium heat for 20 more minutes just until the squash was tender. -

    Sighing Rosemary looks once more at the howling snow storm over the icy tundra with it’s black trunked trees that look like mere shadows right now in the direction of the capital city. She was terribly worried for her family as they should have returned to the warm and cosy cottage by now. Turning fully away from the window that overlooks the ice and snow she returns to the stove. She took the contents of the pan and placed them in a blender, blending the mixture thoroughly. Once smooth Rose took and poured the soup back into the cast iron pan turning the heat to low and placing the lid back on. She did this to keep it warm and ready to eat when Her love and daughter got home.

    Looking out the window again she wonders if she should finish decorating the Ice Flower Cakes. She watches the storm rage a black tree with snow white leaves being pulled out of the ground. She stares in shock, worry consuming her, ‘where are my love and my little Spark?’ She wonders as she shakily looks away from the severe ice storm which was becoming worse and worse. She could barely even make out her wooden gate 5 feet in front of her house. The snow and ice terrain barely visibly at this point the only thing visible thing being the raging storm. Rose finally decided to look away fully and work on the Ice Flower Cakes.

    The Ice Flower Cakes are regionally exclusive to Strynhalde, they use a flower that only grows in the snow. It is a flower that creates a vanilla and raspberry tasting syrup from the center. The flower has a delicate ice like appearance and on sunny days, you can see the sun shine through the petals giving the illusion of it being made of ice. Many people make pure syrup from this flower and treats made from it are a big tourist attractions to the region. She glances at the raging snowstorm through the window shuddering at the dark tree that had been overturned onto the snowy, icy, cold ground.

    Sighing once more she began decorating the Ice Flower cakes which were  three tiered with Manaberry jam between each layer. The frosting was buttercream icing flavored with Ice Flower syrup. She was using a piping bag to make petals to look like an Ice Flower was sitting atop the small round cakes. The cakes themselves were made out of cake flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, 1 egg, mik, and Ice Flower syrup. It doesn’t take her long to complete the decorations on the 3 cakes and she cleans up her supplies before walking back over to the window. 

    Watching the snow storm rage she sighs yet again and hopes for Aether and Spark’s safe return. Giant icicles growing from the roof of the small cottage and casting even more shadows on the icy ground and frosty window. The storm now raging so badly that she can’t even see her fence the snow piling up so high even the turned over tree no longer visible. The icy tundra and the tall dark trees with their white leaves definitely not visible at this point. Sighing yet again in such a short amount of time she turns from the window and starts stirring the soup to make sure it isn’t burning. 

    After making sure the soup isn’t burning and is staying warm she decides to make a drink for supper. She goes to the ice box and digs around till she finds some Iorumund Cream Liqueur, Hazelnut Liqueur, and some manaberries to make tea for Spark. Standing up she moves over to her espresso maker and makes a bunch of espresso for her Nutty Strynhaldemens. Which are a boozy coffee drink that is served warm and tastes fantastic. She then puts water in the tea kettle along with white tea leaves to start the tea. Rose moves past the window glancing at the cold barely visible tundra outside. She grabs a small pan and starts heating the manaberries to make a syrup for the tea. Once the brewing is done she strains the white tea leaves out and transfers the tea to a clear teapot adding in the manaberry syrup with the manaberries still inside. 

    Looking around Rosemary nods to herself everything was ready for supper, she then deflates, ‘ Aether and Spark weren’t back yet.’ Setting her jaw she stomps over to the door and throws it open intent on searching for her loved ones. There on the other side of the door was Aether and Spark looking frozen and holding several bags. Aether smiled and said, “we’re home Rose.” That was all it took for Rose to fling herself at him and hug both Aether and Spark to her just so glad they were safe. She quickly ushers them inside and sits them down by the fire before slamming the door, shutting out the storm, the snow, the ice, the tundra, the trees, and most importantly the cold. She goes over to the stove turning everything off and preparing two bowls of Winter Squash Soup. 

    She walks over to Aether and Spark who are now bundled in blankets and hands them the soup with spoons, “here eat this while I get you some warm drinks.” Rosemary then walks back into the kitchen pouring the Manaberry Tea into a mug for Spark and placing it on a tray with the entire teapot. Then Rose makes the cocktails, pouring two parts Iorumund Cream Liqueur, 2 parts Hazelnut Liqueur, and 6 parts espresso. She also places the cocktails on the tray before taking the drinks over to her beloved family. Rosemary was hopeful that the two would enjoy what she had prepared for super on that cold stormy evening. She smiles at them as she sets the tray down, noting that Aether was already finished with his soup and asking if he would like more. 

    “Yes Rose it’s delicious and I would love more,” he answers her while handing her the bowl and picking up his coffee cocktail with a small smile. She walks back over to the kitchen re-filling Aether’s bowl and filling one for herself. Walking back over she sits down and hands her love his bowl before digging into her own. They eat in mostly silence the storm roaring outside, Spark falling asleep after finishing her soup and two cups of tea. Rosemary smiles and covers Spark fully with one of the blankets setting the tea cup and the kittoms bowl on the tray. She turns to see Aether smiling at her she smiles back before drinking the rest of her cocktail and taking care of the dishes. Rose washes up the dishes and comes back to the place in front of the fire curling up with Aether as he stokes the fire.

    THE END