Our Park

The Easter holidays are coming to an end so we've been making the most of going out and the little bit of sunshine that we've had.

Saturday afternoon was spent in our beautiful local park. I'm always going on about how lucky we are to live so close to such a wonderful park. It has everything from wide open spaces, children's play areas, streams and ponds for ducks and sailing, a pavilion with a cafe, a water play area for the summer, stunning scenery and an animal centre.

We didn't take the dogs with us on Saturday so we could go and say hello to the animals. The majestic peacocks wandering freely.

We saw the small ponies being fed with bags of chopped carrots.

 Wallabies, 2 albino ones enjoying the warmth from the sun,

and 2 more, 1 with a joey popping in and out of it's cosy pouch.

Noisy goats, 3 adults and 2 kids.

 Emus watching us with beady eyes.

 Lots of beautiful, colourful birds.

Imogen went climbing trees,

and rocks in the Khyber Pass

Then a trip for Imogen in the play area. It has everything and new things are always being added. I think the latest additions are a couple of trampolines built into the ground, there's also a zip line, lots of different slides for different ages, swings, roundabouts, climbing areas and much more.

We are so lucky to live within walking distance of such a lovely park, and I'm looking forward to spending more time there as the weather improves.

Take care
xxx

Very Cold Seaside Day

It's the school Easter holidays, it's Spring... so I thought it was time to wrap up and venture outside. It was bitterly cold, but the sun was really doing it's best to shine for us.

We wrapped up, put Imogen's scooter and one of the dogs (wrapped up too) in the car and went to Bridlington for the afternoon. Honey was so excited to be out of the car and ran down the beach to play while Andy and Imo built dams, stepping stone paths and towers with the stones.

I sat in my chair with my blanket, hood and gloves, but my lips were stinging from the cold wind coming across the sea. How I would have loved to run down and build something to keep warm. I wasn't lonely though, not with so many people out and about enjoying the bracing sea air and walking their dogs. I often find that dog owners are so friendly, I stroked and petted lots of lovely dogs and chatted with their owners.

Eventually Honey ran back to me and jumped on my lap to get warm, time for chips mum! Andy and Imogen came back and we sat in the car and had fish and chips looking out over the sea.

After thawing out a bit, Imogen went back out and rode up and down the prom on her scooter.

Very cold, but still a lovely family time out... may take an extra blanket next time though!

Here's a quick snap of the puppies having a nosh...

Take care
xxx

An Easter Birthday Cake

Happy Easter everyone, we have had a marvelous time, made even more special by my son having his 25th birthday today (it was a beautiful sunny Good Friday when he was born).

He was so tiny, and I was so young!

We celebrated Easter yesterday with an egg hunt for Imogen. It's not quite the same as when she was small, but still good fun and she enjoyed the searching.

Everyone who bought her an egg bought a One Direction themed egg, yet everyone was different and had something different inside (Imogen loves One Direction). This chicken and her chicks were very cute, the chicken was chocolate and had another chocolate egg inside it with smarties in it, very cute.

I made Imogen and Izzy a little crochet Easter bunny each. I found the pattern on Friday night on The Green Dragonfly and wanted to make them without Imogen seeing me.

sweet little pom pom tails

There was a lot of cooking in preparation for our Easter tea yesterday, and as I knew Adam wouldn't be eating with us today (he did come round for cards, pressies and hugs and kisses though), I wanted it to be a little celebration for his birthday too.

Imogen wanted to make her big brother a birthday cake, and decided to have a go at a cheesecake. She made it Saturday so it could chill overnight. It tasted absolutely amazing, far better than anything that could be bought readymade.

First the base. You need:

125g (4 1/2oz) digestive biscuits

5 tablespoons caster sugar

75g (3oz) melted butter

5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

You will also need a 21cm (9in) springform cake tin.

1. Crush the biscuits inside a bag into fine crumbs.

2. Mix together with sugar, butter and cocoa powder.

This is your base, press it firmly into your cake tin making sure there are no gaps (or your filling will drip through!)

Next the Filling:

675g (1lb 5oz) cream cheese

397g (14oz) tin condensed milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 eggs

120g (4 1/2 oz) chocolate chips

1 teaspoon plain flour

3. Mash the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl, gradually add the condensed milk and beat well.

4. Add vanilla extract and the beaten eggs, then continue beating until you have a smooth mixture.

5. Add the chocolate chips and flour (the flour stops the chips from sinking in the mixture, this does      work). Mix in well and pour over the base.

6. Pop in a preheated oven at Gas 2 (150c 300f) for 1 hour.

7. After an hour switch it off, but leave to cool in the oven for another hour. 

8. Remove from oven and let it cool completely. When cool, pop it in the fridge.

9. Remove from the tin after refrigeration, decorate and enjoy :)

Imogen made Adam's cheesecake look fantastic. She very patiently sat and put chocolate chips all the way around the top rim and the cake stand, then a nice big A for Adam.

It was amazing!

What a busy time we've had. I made a big pasta salad, some scrummy home made potato salad and dips and a lovely roasted gammon joint. I found some Easter plates and crackers in the supermarket and decorated the table with tiny chocolate Easter bunnies.

The girls enjoyed having crackers to pull.

I think this photo of Adam and his girlfriend Holly is sweet, he was reading his cracker joke, while Holly was pulling a cracker with Izzy

We all ate, chatted and laughed until we could hardly move, then went into the living room to watch Brave and try to keep our eyes open while the girls cuddled their new bunnies and ate chocolate.

Time to relax with a lovely strong cup of tea.

Take care

xxx

The girls are laying again...

We were starting to think our girls weren't going to lay any more eggs for us, it's been ages since we had any fresh eggs from our hens.

Then... woo hoo... Andy went to feed and clean them out and came back with a bag full of lovely, big fresh eggs.

I think I'll use some to make a quiche or 2, and omelets are definitely on the menu - yum! We made a pizza for tea last night, it was delicious.

You can't beat a home made pizza, so much nicer than what the shops sell and you can top it with your favourite things. I keep meaning to get on top of my organisation skills (or lack of) and make a couple more to freeze as it's always handy to have something quick to grab.

The puppies are getting bigger and starting to venture out and about in their playpen. They are just so cute, 2 are very like their dad, and the other 2 more like mum. Prepare for puppy picture overload :)

And if that wasn't sweet enough for you, I'll leave you with a picture of the very tasty chocolate caramel slices we've made.

Take care
xxx

Finally Finished...

Yes, I finally went back to my very first piece of crochet (Granny Squares), the ends were sewn in and I made a back for it, crocheted it together and made a cushion cover.

I'm pleased with it, in fact I think the colours look so bright and pretty in a large square like this, that I've decided that I prefer this side as the front.

I used some pretty ribbons to do the opening up (in a house with pets, you need to be able to wash the covers).

I think someone may be feeling the need for some attention (must be something to do with all this puppy palaver). My crochet hook was lying next to me one minute... then it was STOLEN...

I ended up having to bribe with monkey nuts to get it back. Maybe she wants me to teach her... or maybe she just likes bright colours :)

Before I scoot off I must share my wonderful news. Imogen had braces fitted a few weeks ago. There was much unhappiness and a couple of return visits to have them tweaked and bits snipped off, tears as she told us how she would rather have crooked teeth than a brace, it was very sore at first. One of Imogen's front top teeth had grown through at a right angle... and is now perfectly straight already! She has such a beautiful smile crooked teeth or not, but I know she is thrilled. Braces will have to stay on for a while yet, but what quick results!

Take care
xxx