Trestle and Bunting

Marvellous May

I saw this photo on a Twitter feed earlier this week.

It gives you a taste of how beautiful the countryside is at the moment, especially in the last five days when we've had quite glorious weather.

The swifts have arrived, the verges are a froth of creamy white cow-parsley and hawthorn and at 6am this morning I was pondering how nice it would be to be able to fetch my duvet, wrap myself up in it and fall back to sleep in a hammock in the garden.

Last weekend wasn't quite so beautiful, but I had a lovely weekend nonetheless. I was visiting my parents in East Devon, and took an extra day off to go to the Devon County Show. We saw the Mounties, loads of lovely livestock and the garden exhibitions and just soaked up the atmosphere.

On Saturday my Mum and I had a gentle jaunt around Sidmouth, and gave our blood-sugar a boost with the most amazing ice-creams, from TasTes of Sidmouth.

Mine was Ferrero Rocher flavour, I think...the girl in the shop was certainly spoiling us with these portions!

Today I'm at home, trying to get my dozy, relaxed weekend brain to decide on doing anything in particular. It's a beautiful drying day, so there's a load of washing on the go but otherwise I'm feeling very pleasantly indecisive.

If I manage to do anything constructive, I'll let you know!

A change in the weather

I sat out in my garden properly for the first time yesterday afternoon.

Admittedly, I had both long sleeves and trousers on, was in full sun, and had my knitting over my knees, but it was goooooorgeous.

Dora enjoyed being out too...after I'd moved her off my chair, she rolled around in the flowerbed, chewing grass stems.

Anyway, it was just the kick I needed to post some pictures of the garden. I took them during a break in the showers about ten days ago. Things are growing so fast at the moment that the garden already looks more lush, but they give you an idea.

I have always loved forget-me-nots. In the first garden I remember there was a corner flowerbed full of blue hydrangeas with lots of forget-me-nots round the edges. I just think they are so pretty. I've got a couple of clumps in my garden now, dug up from the gardens of friends and family...I'm hoping they'll self-seed and spread.

My friend Sam moved into a wonderfully mature garden two January's ago. In digging a new vegetable patch, she and her husband had to relocate a lot of naturalised primroses. I was more than happy to take a couple of pots off their hands. 

As well as the primroses, some forget-me-not and aquilegias came too which was a lovely surprise bonus. They're just about flowering now...I'll try and get some pictures today if the weather stays good.

The white chaenomeles I bought for Lily has had lots of lovely white flowers, and this little acer, which my Mum gave me, is doing really well in one of the new beds I dug over the winter.

These pansies are a gorgeous shade of lilac-y blue. 

The hosta (in the beautiful terracotta pot which my parents gave me for my birthday last year) has gone from the encouraging looking spikes shown here to shining green leaves in the last week an a half. I hope the slugs an snails don't devour it. The flower spike of the bergenia (or Elephant's Ears) in the foreground is now showing proudly pink against the beautiful shiny new leaves.

Later...

It's cloudier today and, with the brisk wind, just a little to cold to sit outside this afternoon. I did pop out to take a couple of extra photos.

This is one of my bonus aquilegias...very elegant.

The alchemilla molis and tiarella I planted last year with the chaenomeles have come back beautifully. The alchemilla leaves look amazing just after the rain...but as it's dry today, so I concentrated on the beautiful flower spears on the tiarella.

I have three clematis in the garden, all going great guns, though this is my first flower of the year...on the Warwickshire Rose...

I'm afraid I can't remember what this shrub is called, but I love the foliage. I bought it from the reduced section of the garden centre last year looking a bit sad and tired, so it's very satisfying to see it looking so lovely.

I've sown morning glories instead of sweet peas this year...they germinated and sprouted in less than a week, so I'm hoping for a fantastic show. 

I shall keep you posted on how things progress!

Unconsidered trifles

I came rather late to the camera-phone party.

In fact, the staff were putting away the tables and mopping the floor at that particular soiree when I rolled in. Late last year I got myself an htc phone with camera and all mod cons.

I'm still in the honeymoon period at the moment. I'm thrilled that I'm able to summon up a map that shows me where I am when I'm lost, trying to find Oakwood tube station.

I am also loving the camera. I'm still getting used to the idea, and often forget that I can just whip out my phone and take a quick snap of those things that catch my eye when I'm out for a lunchtime walk.

But I'm getting there:

A Postman's Rose...

Can't quite decide if this is a bizarre device used for the torture of outlet centre customers who refuse to buy bargains simply because they don't need the items in question, or whether it's one of Shaun Tan's Lost Things.

Yo ho ho and...the joys of being an aunty

I spent much of yesterday in a series of death-defying battles against naughty pirates, monsters and monkeys...and the odd octopus.

Each battle was interspersed with either a brief voyage by ship, a bit of digging for treasure and rescuing various friendly passengers.

As Miranda's mother (Patricia Hodge) would say..."such fun!"

I was helping to look after a very good friend's almost three-year-old for the day.

H, N and I go back to university, which was (gulp) seventeen years ago. H was having a day out with her family and her partner had to work so N and I stepped into the breach.

We managed to feed, entertain and generally keep our young Captain safe from harm till his dad came home and it was a joy. A trip to the park produced a nap and a few imaginary fish from the pond.

I can highly recommend being an aunty, whether honorary or actual. Thoroughly good for the soul, spirit and laughing muscles. 

Sharing music...slightly scary

I'm not talking Spotify playlists or file-sharing here.

I suppose I'm thinking more...musical recommendations. A potential minefield in my opinion, but one into which I'll be sallying forth in the coming weeks.

I have horrible, embarrassing memories from my teens....ohh, I just can't go there! Way too cringeworthy.

A couple of weks ago I was with some friends in the pub one evening...don't fall off your chairs!

It was sort of 'open mike' night but, it being the first Wednesday night of January, it was very, very quiet. My friends and I got talking about artists that we'd introduced each other to in the past.

I can't remember exactly how, but somehow we decided, from that germ of a thought, that it would be a great idea if we each took turns to pick ten songs to share with the others. Then we'd get together for food and a chat about them. Knitting or sewing might also occur.

I volunteered to go first, and for about two weeks after that whenever my mind was on 'ponder' setting, I'd start thinking about my ten songs...How should I pick them? Should they be random? Themed? By my favourite artists? Every morning I'd hear a song on the radio as I drove into work that made me think - 'I must include that one'.

In the end it was mostly random. I decided to pick a stand out track from each of the CDs in a particular section of my CD collection. My CDs are hopelessly disorganised so there's no rhyme or reason to what's next to what. I did add a few tracks that didn't quite fit, but I tried not to think too much about it...I just picked songs I thought would be good to listen to.

I suppose the reason I went for random-ish was that I didn't want to be trying to prove anything. This isn't about deciding who has the coolest taste in music. It's just about maybe introducing two friends to some artists or tracks they might not have heard of, and if they have...hopefully they'll just enjoy my mix.

Hmmm...but shall I share my ten tracks with with you peeps?

I'll let you know how it goes.

A different place

Earlier today I was walking back to my desk after a toilet stop, thinking about what to write in this blog post. I wouldn't say I had a flash of inspiration, but there was certainly a "mmm...yes...that's a good idea" moment.

Can I remember what my idea was? NOOOOO....

I can remember having the good idea, but not what the damn good idea was.

*sigh*

Anyway, I'm not going to moan, because the reason that my brain is a little tired, and that I've not had much time to write my blog over the last few months is that I'm being paid to do a really interesting and challenging job...which is surely a blessing when you hear headlines like this on the news.

The one thing that I do remember wanting to write about was the crafty successes and failures of Christmas 2012.

In my last post I was talking about a particularly busy weekend of making. Unfortunately the rest of December wasn't quite as productive and although I almost finished my sisters cardigan it turned out to be too small for her. The 'make' I was most proud of was my wreath.

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You see it here on my less-than-grand front door with a fake snow effect, but I hope you get the idea.

I was planning on making something simple and twiggy with scavenged twigs picked up from the parks and open spaces of my estate. I sallied forth one rather blustery Saturday afternoon not really knowing what I was after. I almost walked past the rather shaggy and unprepossessing evergreen but then thought it might be worth checking if it had any nice pine cones.

Not only did it have beautiful little cones, they were already attached to fantasticly pliable twigs. I'm slightly ashamed to say that I still don't know the name of the tree but with the help of lots of wire and quite a lot of patience its twigs helped me to make a Christmas wreath I was really rather proud of.

So I'm not going to stress about what I'm not doing or beat myself up about the posts I didn't write. I'm just going to be glad that I'm where I am now, enjoying all the possibilities that brings.

 

A busy weekend - Stir up Sunday

Christmas is coming. There, I've said it.

I'm trying to make more of my Christmas presents this year, and I'm at that stage where it still seems a long way away, but I'm running out of weekends. Thankfully, the weekend just gone was a very productive one.

I made:

• Two mug cosies;
• A sock rabbit;
• A Christmas cake; and
• Made good progress with a cardigan for my sister.

Unfortunately, I can't share any pictures with you as I don't want any recipients taking a sneaky peak!

I adapted a recipe from Marriage's Flour Millers...I had to change quite a few things, but hopefully it will turn out ok.

Christmas Cake

• 150g Plain Flour
• 100g rolled oats, whizzed up finely in a processor
• 650g luxury dried fruit mix
• 100ml alcoholic ginger beer
• 50ml bourbon
• 250g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 250g soft dark muscovado sugar
• 4 large free-range eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 50g ground hazelnuts
• 100g walnut pieces
• 21.5cm /81/2 in deep round cake tin or spring clip tin,greased and lined (base and sides)

Combine the dried fruit mixture and the alcoholic ginger beer & bourbon in a bowl, cover and leave to soak for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight, stirring occasionally.

Next day heat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas2. Using a large electric mixer or electric hand whisk, beat the soft butter with the sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, beating well after each addition and adding atablespoon of flour with the final additions to prevent the mixture curdling. Sift the rest of the flour, the whizzed oats and the mixed spice into the bowl, tipping the bran left in the sieve into the bowl. Gently fold in with a large metal spoon. Add the ground hazelnuts, walnuts and the soaked fruit mixture (plus any liquid) and fold in carefully.

When thoroughly combined, spoon into the prepared tin andspread evenly. Bake in the heated oven for about 3 hours until a golden brown and a skewer inserted in to the centre of the cake comes out clean. Leave until completely cold then remove the tin and lining paper. Prick the base and top of the cake with a cocktail stick and trickle a little bourbon into the holes. Leave to soak in, then wrap in fresh greaseproof paper and foil and leave until ready to finish.

Baking...the new rock 'n' roll/stand up/science/interior decor/gardening etc, etc

I suppose I'm a year or two out of date with this post.

Maybe the fact that we're in the early stages of series two of The Great British Bake Off means that baking long ago reached its cultural peak and is on its way back down the other side. Never mind fat...apparently, baking is a feminist issue now...surely a sign that cup cakes, macaroons and whoopie pies are terribly last season.

But I'm with Sianyland on this one. Baking is something I enjoy doing. I like to try new recipes. I like to taste new recipes. I prefer to share my baking because eating a whole chocolate cake is not good for a person. For me, it is an interest, a hobby. Like running, fishing or rock-climbing, baking is no longer strictly necessary, but runners, fishermen, climbers and bakers all get something necessary to them from their activity of choice.

And anybody who is brave enough to try and make a career out of their hobby should be applauded.

There...rant over. I really just wanted to tell you about a couple of cakes I made over the last couple of weeks. As each day brings another hint of autumn, they are both quite seasonal...remarkably organised of me!

A friend gave me a bag full of lovely red plums a couple of weeks ago, and to help use them up I made this delicious Fresh Plum Kuchen. I am sorry there's no picture, but although the recipe is a little odd, I promise it comes out beautifully. The recipe came from one of my favourite books, a wonderfully illustrated 1960's American cookbook called "The Spice Cookbook".

• Fresh Plum Kuchen

The second cake I made for my lodger's birthday. While I was making the Earl Grey Teacake, she'd noticed another recipe on the ripped out magazine page the recipe came from. As I am, as already mentioned, always keen to try new recipes, I promised that I'd make it for her birthday. So last Sunday evening saw me up to my elbows in egg shells, creating this little beauty.

• Pecan and Maple Syrup Cake

Thankfully, it worked out ok, and was as good as the picture in the magazine suggested!

Lovely things

The last week has been quite full on, what with one thing and another. There's been lots of good things, but an awful lot of less positive goings on too.

Thankfully, today has been quiet, restful and productive...perfect blogging conditions, I reckon. My Big Stitched Postcard Swap card arrived, all the way from Canada, beautifully wrapped and crafted by Laura from My Little Sewing Room:

The theme this time was 'bloom'...there are some more incredible pieces of work in the Flickr pool to have a peruse through.

I'm ashamed to say I'm still working on my card...It will get sent, promise!

Have you seen Flipback books yet? I'd vaguely heard about them over the last month or so, but when I stumbled across them in a bookshop last weekend it was lovely to see them in the flesh. I treated myself to 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" by John le Carré...

...and am thoroughly enjoying the story, the writing and the format.

I've been told that the tv series made in the 1970s is fantastic, but I'm also quite excited by the new film that's coming out. I loved the BBC radio adaptation with Simon Russell Beale. In fact, I'm rapidly becoming a thorough John Le Carré fan. Better late than never, I guess.

Which author, film or piece of music did you discover late?

It's my birthday and I'll cook if I want to

I'm not entirely sure why, but I always love using my birthday as an excuse to cook to excess.

It might mean baking quantities of cakes for the office or throwing a shindig* of some description, but I love having a reason to get my cookbooks and recipes out and starting to make a plan.

When am I going to go shopping? What ingredients do I need? Have I got enough dishes/tins/containers?..and, best of all, what is going to be on the menu.

This year, I'm not having a 'do' but will try and make a cake for my colleagues at work. I am also planning a trip to London with some friends. I am bringing lunch, so my cooking head is a-whirl with picnic, lunch-on-the-go type recipes that are delicious but still fairly easy to eat and carry.

Ideas are more than welcome!

Unfortunately all my home-grown pink fir apple potatoes are gone. They were so delicious...I'm certainly going to have a go at growing them again next year.

* shindig - an altercation, a violent quarrel, a tremendous fuss; late C.19-20. from...
shindy - a spree or noisy merrymaking. (A Dictionary of Historical Slang, Eric Partridge)