Foxgloves

These are now past their best. Spot the white one? Funnily enough, Brian was on a train journey the other day and saw a lot of white foxgloves along the side of the rail track.

Flower festival

Margaret and I got the job of creating an arrangement to represent Advent. It's quite  a challenge thinking...warmth, cosiness and fireside - in July. Here's our effort.

Hello dude

Thought you might like to see on of my very cute new neighbours. Said "Hi" then, "Bye, seen enough of you, now."

Local Competition

 

 

In the book, Margaret and I talk about the simple pleasure of entering local competitions. Well, following our own advice I entered my fruit scones and a flower arrangement in a tea-cup in out summer fete yesterday. Didn't get anywhere with the scones but got 2nd for the flower arrangement. Considering my skills consist of plonking in a cup, I was well-pleased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lilac - sweet and heavy

Everywhere looks particularly beautiful at the moment and this lilac also smells sweet

Bluebells

Even if you don't have the perfect weather, there is still so much beauty - drawn by nature - at this time of year.

A visitor

This little fellow spent some time with us, a couple of days ago. This occasionally happens when a racing pigeon either gets tired and wants a rest or, I suppose, veers off course. Think he had a bit of a feed and rest and went on his way!

Banana Cake

8oz (225g) self-raising flour
2 ripe bananas, mashed
6oz Demerara (175g) sugar
6oz butter
1 large egg
50ml milk
teaspoon vanilla essence
I lb. loaf tin, greased and lined with greaseproof

Add the egg to the milk in a bowl.  Melt the butter, vanilla and sugar over a low heat. Add in the banana and the egg & milk mix. Fold in the flour and put into the tin. Bake in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes.

Nature's colours

We have Forsythia and Honesty (don't know the correct name) on the bottom of the drive. The colour combination is so beautiful and I am bringing some on for the house as of course the daffodils are rapidly going now.

First bite of grass

Oh, it's always a special day when the cows go out for the first time since November. They make a lot of noise and run and leap and get their heads down with relish for the first bite of grass.

Comfort puddings: lemon syrup pudding

Butter a litre pudding basin. Thinly slice a lemon and put on the bottom of the basin. Pour over about 2 tablespoons golden syrup.

Mix together: 4oz caster sugar, 6oz self-raising flour, 6oz butter and 2 large eggs. Pour this on top of the lemon & syrup. Put a circle of greaseproof paper and foil on top and tie a piece of string around it. Steam (you can stand on a saucer in a large saucepan) for at least 1 and a half hours. Allow to cool slightly and turn onto a plate. Delicious with cream or custard.

Comforting if you are laid up with one of these horrid colds that are doing the rounds.

 

Coconut drops

These were very simple to make and quite tasty. I rubbed 4oz butter into 8oz self-raising flour. I mixed in 2oz caster sugar and 4oz desiccated  coconut. In a bowl, I mixed an egg with some milk. I added this to the flour mixture. I formed into rounds and made a small indentation on the tops. I put some jam in the holes and baked the little cakes in a moderately hot oven for about 15 minutes.

A bit of up-cycling

A cheap and cheerful way to update your kitchen is to paint some old kitchen chairs and make  cushions.

A winter's morning in the countryside

I LOVE Margaret's tea-cosy. Thought you'd like to see a picture taken just before the snow went!

Tea so cosy

There are loads of ways to upcycle old felted wool jumpers (good job, as I seem to shrink them in the wash quite regularly!)  Tea cosies are pretty simple to sew from felt - no hemming needed. 

This is all done by hand using some embroidery threads on the leaves and flowers, and green wool for blanket stitch around the edge.  I used other bits of felted wool for flowers, some buttons and a loop on the top.  Anyone fancy a cuppa?

Hints of spring

I know it's winter..can hardly miss it as we still have snow on the ground, but some hyacinths in bloom give just a promise of longer days.  There's even sunshine.  Yeh...roll on spring!

Milly

Milly is such a scamp but adorable at the same time...it's been fun having her to stay with us for her holidays (her owners have been away too!).  As you can no doubt tell from her watchful gaze, she remains alert at all times for sightings of cats or squirrels.

Simple fruit soda bread

This is the perfect antidote to the rich food of Christmas.
It also reminds me of my childhood
1lb plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 tablespoon of sugar
Half pint to a pint of whole milk mixed with a small tub of plain yoghurt
A handful of dried fruit (e.g. raisins, currants, sultanas etc.)

Proportions in this are quite loose, as you can see.

Sieve the flour and bicarb into a large bowl. Add the sugar and fruit. Mix in the milk mixture and knead (prolonged kneading not necessary). Form into a round.

Bake in the middle of a moderate-hot oven for about 40 minutes. Knock  on the base  - it should sound hollow.

Allow to cool on a wire tray.
This must really be eaten while fresh (or toasted) with lashings of butter!