Christmas Catch Up

Hello.

Been a bit busy the last few days so thought I'd let you see what I've been up to.

I've been doing some making and baking so have some yummy clementine curd as an alternative to lemon for a change.

I've been making mincepies with the Mary Berry pastry I think I mentioned. In the picture below you can also see an open copy of one of my Pretty Nostalgic magazines. Anybody heard of them? I subscribed to it for a good while and love using the vintage images in lots of my sesonal decorations throughout the house. This one as you can see is Christmas themed.

 

No picture of mincepies as all my first batch have been eaten, but I am on it!

Now this image is of something I have been getting round to doing for a couple of weeks and finally it is done! I saw something on Pinterest making stars out of wood so I salvaged some kindling and made this. It may go outside in a little while but for now adorns the microwave with the other items. Quite chuffed with it.

Today, after cutting some greenery for a a friend to take to her craft class I decided not to put it off and have brought in my own. I love the fact that I have cupboard and shelf tops I can dress!  The photos below are from the kitchen; the first the top of the dresser (my Panetone cake is sitting there, too, nom nom!).

The above photo is one of the shelves above the cooker end and below are the shelves above the Rayburn and microwave.

We were busy at the weekend and did not have time to get a real tree, plus the busget didn't really allow for it, so we have decided to go with the fake white one. I love it, and here we are.

And finally the front door now has a decoration. I never quite get them big enough but I love it and it is nice to see when people get up close at the door.
 

Ok, all caught up and now must dash as I've muffins to come out of the oven for when the boys come home in a little while, and a slow-cook sausage casserole to go in.

Louise.xx

Inspiration for us stay at home-ers!

 Hello

I have today discovered a fantastic blog called Down To Earth.

I came across it and thought how wonderful it was to find somebody celebrating and enjoying a more simple life, homemaking etc and not being ashamed of it. I have commented on a couple of the posts and hope you will visit it some time as I feel sure you will find it inspirational and encouraging.

Yesterday I really got some use out of the Rayburn. I worked out the timings and managed to bake two loaves of bread, a proper baked rice pudding, baked potatoes and chicken kievs for the boys' and our tea. Really proud of myself because I wanted it all ready so the boys could have the bread warm when they came home and everything would be done for tea time.

What do you reckon to my loaves? Yummy with just butter or for breakfast with baked beans was lovely, too.

And I've just taken scones out of the oven ready for the boys getting home shortly.

Right, must dash as they will be home any second.

Bye for now.x
 

Christmas, Cakes and Cawl

Good afternnon.

On Sunday I got the Christmas cake baked. I use an American recipe I found on the internet where you boil most of the ingredients before adding the flour and eggs. Fool proof as far as I am concerned. I'm really miffed because I'm not able to put photos on my blog at the moment so apologies for the plain text until I get it sorted.
 
It is now sitting in a tin in my newly prepared Christmas cupboard until I feed it with some form of alcohol next week. I normally use Gluvhein, is that how you spell it, so hope Lidl have the equivalent to the bottle I used to buy from Aldi. My youngest said the cake mix smelt like mince pies so I siad they would be coming soon, too, but not just yet! 

I've also tried my hand at baking Welsh cakes. The first batch have come out ok I think. My youngest just loves them and I normally cannot go into the shop at Bont without picking up a pack, hence giving them a go myself.

Little heads up. If you have an Asda near by or you normally order on line they already have the fabulous Pierre Darcys bubbly on offer, £10 instead of £18 and this lasts unitl the new year. I bought a total of six bottles over the festivities last year and it is great to make sure you always have something decent in the fridge, good to take if you are popping to see somebody and just because, basically! I will be ordering my supplies when the Drambuie is on offer as that it my husband's tipple. Personally Christmas isn't Christmas without a proper Snowball made with Advocat, plus it is fab poured over your Christmas pud - that is in the cupboard already as one left over from last year.

The reference to Cawl was that I thought I might make my soup into Cawl as I learned to make it at the cafe, but I think I will leave that to another day. 

Hope everybody is well. xxx

Harumph!

I have just one thing to say today, well nearly, you know me I ramble a bit. 

I am really missing not being able to bake properly. 

The caravan oven is just about able to cope with our family meals, as long as I start everything an extra 30 minutes early! 

Now the house kitchen is out of commision completely until we move in I cannot even pop anything in there.

Never mind, I will have a right old time of it getting used to and using the Rayburn very soon!

 

Step by step but in limbo a little, too.

Good afternoon.

Feeling a little out of sorts at the moment if that is the right description for it.

The contracts for the house move yesterday so me, the boys on their bikes and Jake set off for the Post Office after breakfast. We went to send the documents back to the solicitor, guaranteed next day delivery, because of the Bank Holiday. We wait for the next stage and are twiddling our thumbs somewhat.

We have a huge amount of the house packed up ready to go so are wating for contracts to be exchanged then hubby will be all systems go down to Wales. I have nothing to keep me occupied really regarding to sale or purchase, no paperwork just now, no point in cleaning anywhere to a great degree as things will be going soon. I have today been baking to use up a few things out of the cupboard to pass the time, so we now have a tin of cherry and oat flapjack and a delish yoghurt and poppy seed, lemon flavoured loaf cake, one of my favourites!

In the last couple of days I have spoken to the boys' school, their teacher actually and got myself a little straighter regarding uniform etc so I'm now waiting for the school outfitter to call saying sweatshirts and polo shirts are ready and how much it will be for her to post them to me here so we are organised for the first day, whenever that will be.

I have informed the school here that they will not be returning for the Autumn term and have arranged for them  to visit their class friends on the day they should have returned. It will give me a chance to have a quick word of thanks to the teachers, too.

That is about it for now but we hope to hear something tomorrow regarding the next part of the process, failing that it will be on Tuesday due to the darn tootin' Bank Holiday, harumph!

Will be in touch.

 

Here we go again, maybe?

We have stalled in our attempt to sell the house. We are still waiting to see if the two-time viewers are in a position, or inclined, to make an offer. As I said in my last post, it is a waiting game, always!

Anyhow, before the boys were up from their pits this morning I made sausage rolls. Don't you just love ready-made, ready-rolled puff pastry? Harry had requested them so I could put them in their lunch boxes as he likes to have pate on toast for breakfast and I try not to give the boys bread at more than one meal a day.

So here are the finished articles, looking quite tasty I think?

At the same time, well I put it in a little earlier, as baking the sausage rolls I popped a whole butternut squash in so I was making the best of the oven. When properly baked and nice and soft I scooped out the flesh am now in the process of making one of my yummy snacks for when I am watching my weight - when am I not? Here you see other ingredients; lemon, olive oil, lentils and garlic paste. You simply add the boiled lentils, juice from half a lemon, a teaspoon of the oil, a sqirt of the garlic and just combine. Absolutely tasty with a savoury biscuit and if you are on Weight Watchers Filling and Healthy plan you don't have to count any of it!

I haven't posted any of my makes and bakes for a while so thought I would this morning,whilst everything looks nice and fresh or has at least lasted until lunch time. To be honest I can't guarantee the sausage rolls will make it beyond tomorrow's lunch boxes!

Hope you have enjoyed my ramblings.xxx

Febraury is almost over but here I am!

Well, it has taken me a while to get back here but never mind.Hope you are happy to be reading a little about what I've been up to recently?

I purchased some pom pom makers and have begun a project to make a rug for the house we finally move to! I am not counting how many I have made so far, but the boys like emptying the bag to see where I'm up to -  I have some way to go yet as you can see.
 

I have also begun sewing a pair of jimmers for myself. Inspired again by The Great British Sewing Bee of course. The fabric is yellow gingham winceyette kind of and cost me £1.50 from a charity shop - it's actually a cot blanket. I'm doing my best to take the pattern off a pair I already have so wish me luck as I have it cut out and hope to get them sewn some time this week. Photo of the finished item to follow later.

On Monday as part of my home organisation I decided to plan the boys' breakfasts as well as already planning their tea meals. Therefore yesterday morning I got up, had a bath in our bedroom bath which I really should do more often, then came down and made the batter for American style pancakes. I cannot do the crepe type so these work really well for us at breakfast or any time, soooo easy! Today was easy too, porridge and yoghurt tube for Alfie and peanut butter on Tiger bread for Harry also with a yoghurt tube. 

I love baking, as you know, and I absolutely love having fresh things baked for breakfast so I am just about to make Lemon muffins to go with fruit salad for tomorrow morning. I've decided to just make half recipes of biscuits, cakes and bakes then I can regularly indulge my passion, things don't go to waste and the boys, and hubs, get a selection of yummy eats and treats!
  
We recently went to the dentist during half term and Alfie unfortunately has a tiny hole in one of his teeth. I was mortified but then pleased in a wierd way that it is caused by him eating so much fruit. The idea of planning the breakfasts along with other meals is so I can keep a handle on the amount he eats instead of him just diving into the fruit bowl at any time of the day, which seems to be the problem. Here are the job charts for the boys and my expanded meal planning sheet.

The boys went back to school on Monday and so I am getting back into my usual routine, just about. They have been asking for pocket money recently so we now have job charts on the fridge for tasks such as feeding Jake, helping with taking out the recycling, plus the usual like keeping rooms tidy. They are keen to earn some spending money now and for when we go away in the Summer holidays.

Corned beef hash for the boys'  tea tonight; quick meal as we are going climbing I think. However last night we went to the first of two Judo sessions this week for extra practise in readiness for their next level belt grading  on Sunday so they may pull a sickie and I can't say I would mind!

That's all for now so catch ya later!xxx

January is in full swing.

Hello!

Okay, January is properly back in full swing. My boys have just started their third week back at school, we are now into after school activities having gone back to both climbing and Judo plus I've attended my first Weight Watchers meetings of the year and have managed to lose 3lbs fo far. I'd like to give you a cooking tip about the fantastic Lasagne I make using a yummy white sauce of Quark - don't knock it 'till you've tried it - and fat freee fromage frais. Check out the result of my efforts!

This is such a versatile sauce as can be used for lots of things including said Lasagne plus Mousakka and fish pie.

My post Christmas home organisation/de-cluttering of various places and rooms and so far I am happy with what I have achieved. I have sorted, tidied and cleaned out under the kitchen sink, the baking tin/jar cupboard, the place I keep miscellaneous things like plastic and lunch boxes, flasks and spare ice cube trays, the shelves down to the cellar (cellar itself is a blue job for Jon!), crafting supplies and both the boys' rooms! Phew! January is such a cleansing month and one to seriously for looking forward and planning ahead. 



On January 14 I cancelled my Twitter account and I'm more than happy about that. I really am done with too much technology; I am tired of contstantly looking down! I know this means I will be out of the loop with some things but if I was that bothered I wouldn'thave cancelled it.Some friends think we are crazy, saying we live in a soial media world, but our point is that you don't have to! The same day I was baking some blueberry and chocolate muffins. These are great for snacks and even for breakfast as there is only a little chocolate in them!

We have been to the theatre to see Spamalot and we had a fantastic meal at a fantastic Tapas bar in Manchester and I also had a nice girly lunch out which was lovely.

I am now caught up with my Post Circle and just yesterday have bought an ink pen, something I've been meaning to do for ages, to make my letters look a little more special!

I think I am all caught up now and look forward to seeing what the next few weeks bring us!

I look forward to any comments or contributions you might have to my ramblings!

Catch you later.xxx
 

Makes and bakes.

A great big hi there and hello to you!

Thought I'd catch up with a few things I've managed to make and do over the last couple of weeks. 
 
I've added a few more pages to my Smash Book so thought I'd share them with you. I'm really pleased with the effect I have created!

I decided that I won't use it simply for our road trip to Lewis at the end of next month, but for the start of the amazing journey we will be making as a family when we finally move there to start our new life, whenever that is - soon rather than later we very much hope!

 
I have also been baking and making things over the last week or so and these include the following.

Yummy American style pancakes for breakfast with my niece and the boys.

  

Harry asked for sausage rolls but with bacon and this is what he and Alfie got. Good result and a hit with the boys.

  

Jon bought me a meat grinder/sausage maker for my birthday. Here was our first attempt. Definitely room for improvement in the seasoning but the overall look was quite good.

Then I gave my niece this apron I had been sewing as one of her birthday presents when she came to visit last weekend. She almost didn't get it as when I realised I'd sewn the tie tapes on the bottom and not the top of the apron it nearly went through the window. However I gathered, as Kate Twinset would say, and carried on regardless and all came out well in the end.

I have cut out myself a new plain blue apron; this is more serviceable than pretty as is for when we move - pictures to follow soon. We are looking at not just growing and rearing our own food but also trying to make as much "stuff" as we can in every possible respect. This means I'm going to pick up on my sewing skills, but just found instructions for making a new ironing board cover so we're ok on that front!

Should go now as I need to get back to my in- anticipation-of-moving de-cluttering jobs!

Hope you like what you see!

Catch ya later!xxx

Pretty Nostalgic, me and mine.

After a fairly turbulent time recently, the newest issue of Pretty Nostalgic will very soon be hitting the doormats of its new Society members all over the country. 

 

  
The changes being made by the wonderful Nicole and her team are so exciting and I for one cannot wait!

So in celebration of this fact I have been looking at just a few of my favourite articles and features, going right back to issue1. (I was lucky enough to get my hands on every back issue and my book case looks all the better for it!)

As you know I have started sewing in the last few months and the regular A-Z feature in issue one was about haberdashery.  

There is just something about the idea of adding some nostalgia into a new project, I use these kind of items for things other than sewing, too. Vintage buttons and bows, fabric and fasteners. If you are looking for something special for your next project here are a couple of wonderful websites offering this type of sewing paraphernalia, Pocket and Pin and The Old Haberdashery. 

I have again chosen the A-Z feature in issue two as this is about afternoon tea. 

As you know I love baking and nothing beats a full cake tin when you need something yummy to go with a brew. One of my favourites has to be lemon drizzle, maybe because my boys and husband love it! Another regular bake is wholemeal banana muffins, often to be found in the boys' snack boxes on the afternoon school run with extra sometimes for friends at the park.

I am an established member of the #PostCircle scheme, thanks as always to the wonderful Anna from Tea with Miss Beatrix.

 I chose this feature in issue two about letter writing as I love writing to the eight or so people I have been regularly corresponding with for the last six months or so, due in part to Anna. I so enjoy opening my post box knowing the envelopes beautifully decorated with Washi tape, labels and stickers are from my #PostCircle and #happymail pals. We have great fun sharing our news and, as some of us are creative, we talk about our latest projects and I much prefer this to social media. I have no Facebook account and am seriously considering cancelling my Twitter account; only the other day I as explaining how I felt life is so instantaneous and there is no anticipation; that is what I love about getting a letter!

And lastly I chose an issue nine feature about Medical Memorabilia. I, too, have been collecting some sort of medical items because I bought a fantastic vintage first aid box. 

Since then I have been gathering things to pep it up a bit. Thanks to friends gifting items to me and buying some items from places such as flea markets, boot fairs and a website called
Vintage Purveyor I have amassed quite a collection as you can see. 

This is a really effective addition to my spare room.

I hope this vintage ramble gives you an idea of what you can expect as you turn the pages of this wonderful, soon to be, book. Join this Society which is helping us appreciate what went before, bringing it into the present and hopefully making our lives just a little Pretty Nostalgic!

Catch ya later. xx

Busy, busy, busy and news!

Phew! The last week or ten days have been rather busy. During the middle of last week we started getting the house clean, spick and span because on the following Monday we had an appointment with an Estate Agent. 


Yes, our house is on the market again and this time we will definitely be going ahead!

We are very excited as we are continue our search for just the right property. We really hope to find the right place which will give us the means to grow as much of our own food as possible, I can keep my chickens and the boys will be able to have a very special time for the rest of their childhoods. We have not made any decisions yet but myself and my other half are still very excited about the prospect of  living the life we have hoped for since we met, and creating a special environment for our boys; I will keep you posted on any developments.

Summer term at school is drawing to an end as I have mentioned previously and last Saturday was the summer fayre. I went to help out on the Tombola for an hour and I also took the hamper I was baking for to be a prize in the raffle. What do you think? 

 I even used some fat quarter fabric to sew a lining for the basket!

Of course I included an old faithful, lemon curd, but everything else I had made before but not included in any of my hampers. (If you check out my Pinterest account there are some I have made in Summer, for Christmas gifts and raffles etc.) However, this time I felt like making some more savoury things so I plumped for Sweetcorn and Cheddar scones, with a little kick thanks to a shake of paprika, Soda bread which I make a lot but this time with pistachio nuts and sundried tomatoes and then red onion and balsamic vinegar chutney - a kilo of onions gave me a lot of pain and just about two jars of chutney! The cake was a little departure for me as I am known for making loaf cakes but went for a round one this time. Described as a cut-and-enjoy fruit cake it's the ideal recipe to go with a brew or as part of a tea party occasion. I am hopefully going to put the recipes on my food page in the next couple of days. Please keep checking as I tend to take a while to do this - may just have to resort to taking a picture of my recipes if that works! #lazyblogger!

I have been gardening a little and planted some Hollyhocks called Creme de Casis and a Veronica called Shirley Blue and really got on with some proper weeding. It's looking really quite nice at the moment, and I want people to see it looks good WHEN they come to view our house, SOON I hope! Here is how it is looking just now.

Unfortunately the Hollyhocks are planted in the bottom right of the first  picture but I couldn't show them as they were in the shade. Not a good sign for the future, perhaps! The Veronica is hidden beyond the first chimney pot - really must work on my camera skills!

I love the Corduline in the above picture. It was just what I wanted and at £6 from Asda I thought it was a steal.






I hope some colour will be injected into this end of my patch soon when a couple more things, like the geraniums I have planted, come into flower.

Ok, I need to get changed from my painting clothes, yes, me, I have been painting the walls in the cellar. Not a job I normally undertake but all hands to the pump when you want to make your house look the best you can.

Hope you liked what you saw, let me know!

Catch ya later! xx

Creative Eclairs Blog Hop!

Hi, you may remember that recently I was lucky enough to interview Ruth Clemens, of The Great British Bake Off fame, here recently. 

Well, I am very pleased to have been asked to take part in a blog hop in connection with Ruth's wonderful new book called Creative Eclairs. This is something very new to me so I really am hoping you like my contribution. You will find all the members of the blog hop listed here on the host website of Stitch Craft Create. 

Check out just how gorgeous the cover is, how inviting does that look?

 

Here are some images from inside the book to inspire you!

  

I have been lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the book's yummy contents and have a yet to be released copy to give away to one lucky winner - VERY excited to have my first blog giveaway! To be in with a chance of winning, I ask that you simply comment at the end of this post. All entering posts must be made by midnight on March 31st to be included. I will notify the winner by email.

Good luck to everybody!x

So for the first time, with the help of Ruth, I've been baking choux pastry and I'm sharing my experience with you. I decided to go for a small batch of the mixture as it was my first bash, but I was confident that as long as I followed Ruth's instructions then all would be well.
 

Initially the mixture is a lot like a roux sauce base.

You add the eggs and beat even though it looks like it might be curdling!

I am going to be perfectly honest with you as honestly is always the best policy in my opinion. I had intended to make the allumettes but I do not have a plain nozzle so decided to go for a fluted one and see what happened. It didn't work so I figured the best idea was to go for a woopie-pie inspired creation (hope you don't mind Ruth). 

Not too impressed with my piping but hey ho!

Once out of the oven I was quite happy with them.

I decided to fill them with my home made lemon curd - going for extra Brownie points here as I always use Ruth's recipe, but I add an extra egg and it makes it even yummier. (Again, I hope that is ok with you, Ruth?) And here is the final result. 

  

I was pleasantly surprised with the result and I can safely say I will definitely be making choux again. Thanks Ruth for the very easy directions and tips along the way.


So, I hope you have enjoyed this special blog post and that you will enter my giveaway; the lucky winner will be sent their very own copy as soon as possible!

Don't forget to check the list of other bloggers taking part in the hop, too.

Take care and thanks for stopping by and hope you will visit again soon. x

Random ramblings - nothing new there then!

Good evening. 

Today's post is inspired by Pretty Nostalgic (PN) magazine again. Sorry, can't help it! Whilst reading the latest issue, subscriptions to this delicious magazine are available here, I scribbled down, there I go again, a few things which inspired me, reminded me of stuff or just gave me ideas.

I have recently purchased a good supply of soda crystals, commonly know as bicarbonate of soda.

 

I have been using it for cleaning various things around the kitchen as I am in the middle of a kitchen deep clean. This involves cleaning out every cupboard and drawer, vacuuming those hard to get at areas, dusting cupboard tops and having a general de-clutter. So, making a paste of the crystals and a drop of water I have cleaned out most cupboards and they have come up shiny like a new pin. I think I will use it next time with a drop of lemon juice; this can increase the cleaning power and, of course, it smells lovely. I've put aside items which other people may want, that which is beyond the pale plus items for the charity shop. I always have a look round when I drop things off hoping that I see something the shop will trade for what I am taking them instead of crossing their palm with silver. Still yet to manage it!

I don't have a lots of recipes of my mums and I was not that interested in baking when I was younger so don't have an old exercise book of recipes like I think my oldest sister probably does. However, since becoming a fully-fledged fan of baking and cooking I have acquired a few more books. I think my current favourite recipe is cheese and sweetcorn scones, just yummy - I plan to add this to the Foody Fun page of my blog. I am, however, an avid fan of collecting recipes for all food be it savoury or sweet; this means I am continually increasing the size of my recipe folder!

I am keen to sew more, for myself, the boys or the house but need to find a way to fit it in with the other things I like to do. It occurred to me the other day that I could re-purpose and make do and mend something which only sees the light of day for the month of December. That item is my Christmas draught excluder. I think I should find some fabric with which to create a sleeve so I can use it at other times of the year. I don't think this would be a difficult sewing project and I really should get myself organised and do it very soon!

So, there we have a few ramblings from your friendly non-blonde blonde. They were inspired by PN so maybe you could also get inspired by them or just let me know what inspires you? I would love to know.

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to hearing what inspires you.

Catch ya later! xx