Kitchen decorations making me smile.

(Decided to go red for Christmas typing.)

I love love love decorating the kitchen, more than anywhere else in the house I think becasue I spend a lot of my day in here. Being lucky enough to have the fab table and benches Jon made, I sit and type my blog, eat my breakfast and lunch, write letters etc. Plus I have a good window out to the world even on a dull day.

Today I have been putting up more decorations and here are some of the ones in the kitchen. I have incorporated my love of French linen where I can because I really like the red with the off white and is perfect for the season.

 

Can't have Christmas without Country Living!

Great to have a table decoration that can be moved quickly and easily if necessary.

Don't know what the HT stands for.

Simple way to dress up a plain candle.

I think I have about reached the limit for the kitchen, but the tree goes up at the weekend and then I have a couple of projects in mind including one for the front door but I need Hub's help with that.

Bye for now, Lou.x

 

Preparation for pies and other stuff.

Despite the terribly windy and wet weather we ventured out on Sunday to get the food shopping. I was desperate to get the last ingredients for the mincemeat and this I did.

Once all was unpacked and the boys had been fed I set to with the mincemeat. The boys helped a little which was great.

I made a huge amount with a base of 4lb of dried fruit so I don't think we'll run out!

Pastry will be next at the weekend with the lovely recipe from Mary Berry which includes icing sugar and orange zest. Mmmm. I will also need to get a few other things as I'm making Clementine curd, I have the clenetines but need a lemon or two as well.

Some poeple have been talking about their planning methods to make sure they get stuff done. Well, I always have a planner of some sort at Christmas and here it is for December. I have back sheets for shopping lists, things to bake and make, things to do for the boys etc.

The decorations began going up this morning, starting with the kitchen as usual! I have been dreaming about putting this paper globe up in the kitchen ever since I saw Jamie Oliver had one in his kitchen, and I saw one in a magazine. We bought it and a couple of small ones last year but so pleased I could get this one up here!

Well, better go as have one loaf proving and one baking just now.

Take care, Lou.xx

Not wishing to tempt fate but....

Oh we have just had some news. 

The financial arrangements I spoke of regarding us completing on our situation here in Wales has moved on a step. Paperwork has been signed which will be with solicitors by Tuesday at the latest and this means there is a distinct possibility that our house will be our home by the end of next week.

Anybody who has been with me regarding all this mess and stress will know just how much this will mean to myself and my family. Suffice to say my new blog will be up and running when we have the news.

Take care. Lou.xx

Proud As Punch, Proving and Pilates!

Morning!

Yesterday I went to Felinfach to see the presentation my boys were taking part in at Canolfen y Felin. This was for the parents to see just how well the children had come on in their Welsh course and we saw just how confident they all were - hence the proud mum!!!

The boys were given certificates to celebrate their achievements.

They had also been making decorations for Christmas so we came home with cards, wreaths and tags and the proceeds are going towards a little Christmas party. None of the children the boys met when they went to school at Bont that first week have stayed the length of the course, go boys, so it will be fun to have that last time with the ones they have made friends with.

So that was yesterday really, apart from making a quick loaf of bread in the Rayburn at the same time as the slow-cooked chicken and rice for tea.

Today I am popping over to the Community Centre as we have a Coffee, Cake and Book swap once a month and this is the last one before January. I picked up a great casserole recipe book the first time I went. It was first published in 1965!

Whilst I'm there I'll have two loaves proving ready to bake when I get back. I am so chuffed I have not bought a loaf of bread since November 9 and am completely resolved to make all the bread we need, apart from things like wraps, but who knows; I have made japatis and panadia in the past so they could be a possibility, too.

It is my Pilates class this evening. Again, this is held just across the road. The teacher is a bit fluffy, my hubs would laugh his socks off if he knew I was standing there being asked to breath out my negative energy - don't really have much to be honest - and not very clear with her instructions some times, which can be tricky for a beginner like me. We are not sure if the class will continue after Christmas as a few people have fallen off and mentioned about the teaching methods.

Well, I'm away to have another cup of coffee. Flour etc is measured out for the bread so will get on with that, then I have a bed to make and a bit of tidying up before I head out at about 11am. I'll let you know if I come across another gem of a book!

Bye for now.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
 

Finally photos!

At last, I am able to transfer photos from my phone to here. Hurrah! 

Here is my Christmas cake mix which my youngest said was smelling yummy. When decorated it will probably look something like the photo underneath. This was my cake last year and I like to go for the simple approach.

 

 

 

 

 

I was hoping to be making my mincemeat this week but not going into Aber for that kind of shopping until the weekend so it will have to wait. Not worth doing a 26 miles round trip for a bit of dried fruit etc. 

This is a bit of a strange picture but it is the foot off my ironing board and hubs now has a job welding it back on asap so the ironing pile does not get out of hand!

The boys were away with the Gramps at the weekend so hubs and I had a mooch round a shop in Aber called Craft. It is a bit of an Alladins cave and we went looking for a lamp for the living room and ended up with this fab side board. I'm going to be honest and say it was a super deal at less than £35.00 and I love it! I can't wait to get a drinks tray on it ready for the festivities and I'm already planning on moving the glasses from one of the kitchen cupboards into here. It will probably also house the chocs and nibbles.
 

Whilst in Craft I also found a fabulous jar for said mincemeat for the bargain price of £1.50. 

We have a rocking chair in our bedroom which we have always planned to paint pink as an accent colour and we bought a tin of Laura Ashley perfectly coloured paint for £1.50, and we were given one free, too. (No photo.)

Today is bread making day and I have quite a busy week in general. I am beginning to accept cleaning in this house is more than my other house with the age of this one plus the wooden and slate floors, a woodburner which is lit most days just now and a husband who works at a saw mill!

I am walking to a friend's house in the morning for coffee. Hubs has the car most days for work so I will get some exercise in the chilly weather as it will take me a good half hour to get there and the same back.

Wednesday I am going to a presentation the boys are taking part in at their Welsh learning centre. I can't wait but unfortunately hubs cannot come due to work but I understand they are making cd's to take away for a small price.

Thursday will be bread day again and Coffee, Cake and Book Swap at the Community Centre across the road; nice to have a cuppa and a chat for an hour or so.

So, now I have caught up and hope I can continue with my photo transfer thing working! Best get on with some jobs now, one more coffee though! xx

 

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