Pretty Things

I thought I'd show you some of my pretty finds today. I love a good wander around the charity shops, looking at the once loved pieces of china and bric a brac. I try to discipline myself and only allow myself to buy something if it makes my heart sing - otherwise we'd get overrun with bits and pieces and I'd be featuring in one of the hoarder programmes on TV! It's very hard sometimes when I'm holding something pretty to put it back and think, yes it's lovely, but I'm not going to buy it!

Here are some of my pretty, heart singing pieces. A beautiful plate found at a car boot and pretty, delicate cups and saucers.

This little dish is so pretty, I love the small flower design.

Pretty little jug, just right to fill with cream to pour over our Sunday afternoon deserts.

This glass dish needs to be filled with brightly coloured wrapped sweeties.

I haven't picked up any crochet since I finished Imogen's bobble blanket, but I have so many projects I want to do! I've made a start on a Granny Square throw to go over Andrew's chair in the conservatory. It's going to be quite narrow, just over the back and seat, not the sides. Here are the first few squares, still quite a few more to make yet.

Really enjoying making squares again, think I'll go and do some more now... anything rather than make a start on all those ends that need to be sewn in!

Take care
xxx

Comfort Food

This is definitely comfort food, and just right to warm hungry tums on cold autumnal days like today. Imogen is a bit of a fussy eater so I made her a simple cheese and potato pie in a separate dish. Ours wasn't much different, we had bacon and onion, cheesey potato pie. It's quick and ease to prepare, but tastes delicious.

Fried all the bacon bits within an inch of their life so I could drain away any fat or grease.

Chopped an onion, threw it in and fried them together (doesn't need any oil)

Peel, boil and mash lots of potatoes, season then add grated cheese, bacon and onions.

Pop it in a dish and garnish with some nice fresh tomatoes

And a wee one for Imogen

Serve nice and hot with a little bit of grated cheese on the top. Lovely on it's own or with some baked beans

Take care
xxx

Sunday Afternoon Cookies

It's been a lovely Sunday here. The weather is just about holding, so while I peeled and chopped for dinner, Andy was chopping and pulling (up weeds) in the garden. He cleared our old vegetable patch and I'm hoping to plant lots of bulbs in it ready for next Spring.... his hoping next weekend he may be at the allotment clearing and preparing it before all the weeds grow back!

Imogen and I made the most delicious cookies. We prepared the dough in the morning. This is one of my favourite cookie recipes though it feels a bit decadent...

We use 8oz of butter

6oz of caster sugar and 6oz  of soft brown sugar

This is creamed together with a teaspoon of vanilla extract

Added to this very high calorie, sweetness are 2 beaten eggs. Then the flour, 12oz of it and a teaspoon of bicarb and one of salt.

Then the really yummy part... lots of chocolate.

We used a couple of bars of cooking chocolate, about 12oz altogether, roughly chopped up with the odd taste check! Stir it into the gooey dough.

This makes a very sticky cookie dough. Separate into 2 and roll out into 2 fat sausages in clingfilm (otherwise it will stick to everything) and pop it in the fridge until you want to use it.

There may be spoons to lick at this point, depends whether a real sweet tooth or not!

When the dough is chilled it becomes nice and firm. Cut nice thick slices, about 2cm, and pop in an oven for about 10 minutes at Gas 5.

It should be just going golden on the edges when it comes out. leave on the baking tray to set and cool a bit, then transfer to a cooling rack, then to plate, then to tummy while still a bit warm... perfect!

Take care
xxx

Happy Afternoon

I haven't posted much recently, still getting back in the swing of the school routine and sorting out the new conservatory and tidying up from all the decorating - the house is almost unrecognisable inside from a few months ago!

We bought a 'new' record player last week. I won an auction on ebay, much to my excitement. Hubby and I couldn't wait to bring it home and dig out our old records - and explaining to our 10 year old what LPs and 45s are! It now lives proudly in our new conservatory, a few old water marks on the wood, but we love it none the less.

 I was in the kitchen making Toad in the Hole with mash and veggies, good winter warmers,

love fresh broccoli

and having a sing-a-long to good old Frankie.

Absolute bliss!

Even the dogs were enjoying it and had a little dance along with me...

What a lovely afternoon, cooking, singing with the dogs, a lovely hot meal for the family and even the chickens had a treat from all the veggie peelings.

Take care
xxx

Bramble and Apple Crumble

Yum, one of my favourite puddings.

Imogen has been bramble picking and we had 2 containers full of juicy brambles in the fridge. It's a bit hard to get to everything and move around at the moment with all the decorating etc that's going on, so a nice simple bramble and apple crumble was an easy thing to throw together nice and quickly without needing too much workspace either.

I like to soften my apples a little first.

Lots of oats added to make it a wee bit healthier :)
One to take round to Adam as well.

Delicious with some evaporated milk and a little ice cream.

Take care
xxx

New Arrival...

The school summer holidays are coming to an end, Andy went back to work yesterday and Imogen goes back to school tomorrow. Luckily I have a new friend to keep me company... So excited, she arrived this morning...

 I've yearned for a Blythe doll for a long time, but they are so expensive! My wonderful, thoughtful husband found another type of doll, a Tangkou, very similar to the Blythe dolls just much kinder to the purse :) He ordered me one straight away, and she arrived today, so excited, she's so beautiful!

 Her face is so pretty, little pointy ears, gorgeous big eyes (4 different colours) and the longest hair

Wow, her eyelids!

I think we're going to be the best of friends, I can't wait to start making clothes and hats for her. I'm thinking I may call her Cora.

It's been so hot today, I've been painting furniture in the new conservatory, but I was melting. When Andy came home from work this afternoon, we packed up and set off for the coast, a last afternoon at the seaside for Imogen before going back to school. It was gorgeous, the sky was blue and the beach quite empty.

What a beautiful view

A perfect sandcastle

Beach babe!

I knitted Imogen this cardigan last year.

 Imogen had a lovely time, I sat and crocheted some squares while I watched her play and Andy slept the sleep of the hard working... with a few snores :) She did have a little bump on her knee when she was in the sea, but took it like a trooper.

Take Care
xxx

Nearly Finished and Finished

Hello, it's been a week since I wrote anything, perhaps because not much is happening here except for soaking up the end of the summer holidays - last week next week... unfortunately :(

The conservatory is in it's end stages, though it's bank holiday on Monday so not much will happen this weekend... sigh, had hoped it would be finished by today, but should only be Tuesday until it's completed.

I finished Imogen's throw, sewed in the pesky ends (my least favourite part) and she snuggled up under it while having a nap. Bit of a lopsided picture I'm afraid!

I have to mention this because I was so surprised. We were in one of the supermarkets earlier on and as we left Imogen ran up to ... are you ready for this... a grotto for Father Christmas... it's August! Don't get me wrong, I understand preparations, gifts and cards being made, but not Father Christmas in the shops yet surely! Where's the anticipation... goodness me... OK, I've finished but would be interested to hear what others think about it... :)

Take care
xxx