tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82243903698001203742024-03-13T07:49:27.839+00:00Tales from the GiantswoodSuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-20313142112108483792015-03-08T20:00:00.002+00:002015-03-08T20:00:57.569+00:00Quercus Robur<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From tiny acorns do mighty oak trees grow. Quercus Robur is the English Oak, there is actually a huge number of varieties. It is incredible when you see some and think just how old they are, the centuries they have seen and changes in the world. I love the thick trunks, patterns in the bark, and gnarled old branches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Searching for acorns on the ground and the tiny cups they fall out of, just the right size for fairies in my imagination. The feel of the smoothness inside the cup and the lovely bobbly pattern outside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Oak is one of the easiest to identify and as a child I can remember gathering leaves, drawing around them and also putting them under paper and rubbing over the top with wax crayons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Oak takes a mighty long time to grow and so too did one of my sewing projects that was totally inspired by it. Once upon a time, well sixteen years ago to be precise, one of my sons was a Beaver Scout and took part in a special activity day in the County arranged as the Chief Scout was visiting. One of the activities was planting an acorn and he brought it home to grow. As it grew he kept re-potting it, and it is now taller than him. Actually I think the growth has been stunted as it is still in a pot, albeit rather a large one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps this inspired my son, certainly he has always loved trees, he was constantly climbing the giant eucalyptus tree we had in the garden, and he even went on to learn aboriculture at college. Anyway, I decided to make him a quilt using 'Shaded Oaks' flannel fabrics by Moda. There, even the name of these fabrics links to the Oak and it was the colours and more masculine designs of these fabrics that appealed to me as well as well as the brushed flannel itself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always keen to play, I used textile paints on real leaves from my son's oak and printed them on to some of the squares. I then embroidered around the edges and on some added veins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the leaves were smaller and disintegrated a little but I think that adds to the charm. Some leaves I just drew round and then embroidered, stem stitch, back stitch and chain stitch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I found some gorgeous variegated threads from 21st Century Yarns. The shading worked really well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mother appliqued an oak leaf using fabric that came from my grandmother's stash, a satin stitch edging embellishing the edge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My daughter stitched round an oak leaf too. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generations creating a
quilt, stitched with love, and hopefully will last for generations to
come, seeing history just like the oak trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year, for the first time, our oak produced it's own acorns, something to celebrate in the quilt. I used a detached button hole stitch to make the acorn cup and it seemed to work quite well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slowly the pieces went together and into strips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually all pieced and ready for a border. Another Moda brushed flannel was ideal, with trees, saws and boots, lumberjack inspired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole top was then hand quilted so it did take a long time and I managed to keep it hidden until the centre was complete, but I am very happy with the result, and far more importantly, so is my son.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking at the photos now and seeing the cat hairs reminds me that I had another two 'helpers' in making the quilt. Two little puss cats enjoyed sitting on the quilt whilst I was stitching and rolling around on top of it every time it was laid out on the floor!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Double trouble! Although cat hair is quite appropriate as although my son seems to have a magnetism for the cats, he is definitely Miss Mischief's favourite person.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-54903961020454375242014-05-23T11:39:00.002+01:002014-05-23T11:39:42.700+01:00More knitting!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I do like to have a knitting project on the go, preferably something straight forward that I don't need to concentrate on too much. After the last, rather<a href="http://talesfromthegiantswood.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/a-finished-project.html"> large project</a>, it was great to do a small one, although on smaller needles so it did take quite a while to do! This little baby blanket was fun to do as you see what pattern you get as it knits up! True to it's name the Sirdar Snuggly Crofter Baby Fair Isle Effect wool did indeed give a fair isle effect without the need to change colours. This mix of pinks, greens, blues, whites and lilac was ideal for a pram blanket especially not knowing what sex the baby would be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Anna Rosa arrived very promptly, before the knitting was finished, but this did ensure I sat and got on with finishing it very quickly!</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The border was knitted on smaller needles so the sides were worked after the main piece and it seemed to take forever to stitch them up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is my next knitting project? Well, having enjoyed knitting this I have started another one for a baby due at the end of July. Have to say though that a large sewing project has been taking up most of my time at the moment though - photos to follow!</span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-34170252505675857212014-05-17T17:43:00.000+01:002014-05-17T17:43:02.095+01:00Busy Days...<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where do all the days go to I wonder, each week seems to rush by and before you know it you are into a different season. Having got around to downloading images from my camera though I realise just how many things have been happening. Looking back through them it's rather like a photo diary and although I know not everything has been captured I am glad that there is a record of most.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back in April we spent a few days at the Norfolk coast, the weather was nowhere near as glorious as it is now but still nice and sunny and we made the most of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> So many shells on the beach it was hard to avoid stepping on them in places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Lots of birds to watch whilst out on our walks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And this mother duck did extremely well looking after her brood of 14 in the middle of Hunstanton. We saw them every day and she did not lose a single duckling whilst we were there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love these chimneys with their fantastic patterns and I am sure they would translate into an interesting embroidery if I ever have time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I have been doing lots of crafting activities as well and next time I will show you some of my projects. </span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-68208234092556520192014-03-23T19:17:00.001+00:002014-03-23T19:17:19.572+00:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been having fun with a pattern from <a href="http://www.cathieshuttleworth.co.uk/index2.php">Cathie Shuttleworth</a> recently. This owl pattern was intended to make bunting and as there do seem to be a lot of owls around at the moment it is rather on trend. Anyway, I haven't made that many yet and the owls have been making some jolly birthday cards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think putting the owls on at an angle makes them look as though they are flying off the card. The first one has a button beak and for the next one I cut a section from a paper flower. Usefully the wings fold in for posting so they fit in a standard envelope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Standing this card on the mantlepiece for photographing made me think of the 'Owl and the Pussycat' by Edward Lear. When I inked the background of the card, intending to make it look like the sky, I actually thought it was rather like waves. Thinking of the rhyme now and the 'beautiful pea green boat' the wallpaper is rather appropriate! These two little cats are from Japan though, a gift from a special friend who is working out there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do take a look at Cathie's work, she has some fun ideas and her<a href="http://www.cathieshuttleworth.co.uk/paperscraft-illustrations.php"> illustrations</a> are wonderful. Anyone who has been to the Hobbycrafts show at the N.E.C. this week may well have seen some more of her clever ideas, and I know several people who will like the owl cupcake holder!</span> Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-39772781501431728582014-03-21T19:26:00.000+00:002014-03-21T19:26:20.819+00:00A finished Project!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well so much for all good resolutions to blog more frequently! Never mind, each new day brings a new canvas to fill, but the trouble is there always seems to be more than can be fitted in and so many things that I want to do. I always seem to have a lot of projects on the go, some large and some small, and rather a large number of 'works in progress', otherwise known as the UFOs (unfinished objects)! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> However, some projects do get finished and this one gave me a huge sense of satisfaction when I stitched in the last loose thread. It took 18 months to complete but it was a project that wasn't worked on all the time. I love having some knitting for long journeys in the car, as I mentioned in another post. This blanket was knitted in strips, rather like a scarf, and some strips are all one stitch and in others I changed the pattern two or three times at random. There was no pattern, I just knitted whatever took my fancy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miss Mischief never misses an opportunity to snuggle on a blanket, even when you are trying to knit, so as soon as I spread this one out up she jumped, quickly followed by Master Trouble!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think they knew to make the most of it as it would not be in the house for long. My daughter had been hoping to take it to University last Autumn and then once she went she kept telling me how much she needed a new cosy blanket, none of the other ones would do!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It looks smaller on a double bed but is actually plenty big enough to wrap around her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One happy daughter and one happy Mum! And now there is another knitting project started. Well I do need something for the car, although actually I have been doing a fair bit of the new one whilst watching television. Hopefully I will remember to take some photos soon!</span><br />
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-607416655901904042013-12-09T21:00:00.000+00:002013-12-09T21:00:08.303+00:00Birthday cards<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slightly behind but thought you would like to see two special birthday cards I made in November. This one was for my mother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Coffee and Walnut cake with one candle for each whole decade...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here is the birthday girl herself with her eldest grandson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this card was for my father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made the marbled paper a long time ago and it reminded me of the sea so I added real sand, tiny shells and seaweed. I really love tiny shells and can happily spend hours on the beach searching for them. The 'Happy Birthday' was a peel off sticker as I thought it could easily be removed if the card was going to stay out longer than usual and I had a feeling it might well do. Sure enough a month later it is still on the windowsill, minus the sticker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-20015131562946552912013-12-09T20:40:00.003+00:002013-12-09T20:40:50.311+00:00December Joys<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The start of December in our house means the Christmas mugs come out along with Christmas music and carols. Then begins the start of the mince pie baking. I make so many each year that it gets to be a bit of a joke and we keep count. This was the first dozen out of the oven and as I transferred them to the cooling rack I realised that these two tins of mine have baked every mince pie I have made since I got married 31 years ago. Actually I still have quite a lot of my original tins which is quite amazing considering the amount of use they get.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway this first tray was quickly joined by some more and the blackboard recorded that 30 were made. However as I went to photograph them... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> there was no longer 30 there!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week they were followed up by another batch taking the score to 60. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I made a batch of Frangipan mince pies yesterday, I really like the almond topping, it goes so well with the richness of the mincemeat, and with eggs and almonds in it sounds almost healthy! Well that's probably a good excuse to eat one or two (for me) and considerably more than that by my husband and eldest son! Good job I photographed them yesterday as there are none of these ones left now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mince pie tally is now 74! It will go up even quicker once the Universities break up and my two youngest return home for the holidays.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-82572130996045505082013-10-29T12:46:00.004+00:002013-10-29T12:46:47.323+00:00Little Hats<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am currently supposed to be knitting a blanket for my daughter, it is rather a long standing work in progress having been started well over a year ago. It is rather well travelled as I like to knit in the car especially on motorways, not when I am driving I would hasten to add! This blanket has done lots of travelling in England over the past year, especially with many University visits and also accompanied us on two trips to France so far. My daughter is constantly asking if it is finished yet as she really wants to take it to Uni and she has pointed out that the weather is getting colder hence an even greater need. However, I have to report that it is still a UFO, one of those many unfinished objects that I wish were completed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am pleased though that I managed to knit a dozen little hats for<a href="http://thebigknit.co.uk/"> Innocent Smoothies. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have an annual campaign requesting people to knit or crochet little hats which are put on botttles of Smoothie drinks and sold in shops. For each one sold the company give 25 pence to Help the Aged charity. Some people knit some amazing designs but they obviously have a lot more time than me. Do have a look at the website they are great fun. Although I hadn't intended to make any, I became aware that the deadline was extended, presumably because they needed more hats and these very simple ones were quick and easy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Twelve little hats decorating my halloween display. I made Esmeralda the Witch ten years ago so my daughter, who drew her face, must have been 8. I should have taken a close up photo to show you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here she is with all my hats. They look a bit Christmassy in red and white so maybe someone buying one will use it as a Christmas decoration. I happened to have some red wool around and then they needed something to brighten them and the white wool jumped out the cupboard first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can see Esmeralda's face a little better in this photo, and the hat she is holding is very special so needed to be shown on it's own. This little hat was knitted by my eldest son's girlfriend, a very talented artistic young lady but she hadn't done any knitting since she was 7 years old! Having mastered this so speedily there will be no stopping her - perhaps she will help finish the blanket!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a most unusual squash, Miss Pusscat thinks they all smell interesting! I cannot decide which way up I like it best.</span><br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-66283140483892101042013-10-18T17:54:00.001+01:002013-10-19T10:26:13.940+01:00A fun day out!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Guess where I went to last weekend?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's a big clue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well there is no mistaking this skyline, it has to be London, and of course there is one place where you get such a view and it is Alexandra Palace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why was I there? Well here's a little clue...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't know if you can read the sign behind the taxi, but it was the Knit and Stitch Show. This taxi was the first thing I saw and it was totally covered with knitting and crochet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love this 'field' on the bonnet, complete with picnic, toadstalls and all sorts of creatures, even snails!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This wing mirror had a bird perched amongst the flowers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you saw this driving around it would certainly brighten your day. Of course everything inside was great too, there is always more than you can really see in one day. It is great to watch all the demonstrations and speak to the artists. I think the furthest travelled has to be <a href="http://downunderdale.blogspot.co.uk/">Dale from Australia</a>, she certainly had some unusual things too - still not sure what I will do with sea urchin spines but couldn't resist buying some. I did manage to resist her porcupine quills even though they were painted brilliant colours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was very busy inside and I was too engrossed most of the time to take photos but this work did catch my eye. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All the work by this lady was equisite, such tiny stitches and attention to detail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These leaves are done with a button hole stitch, hundreds of stitches in each one. They are based on stumpwork which I have never tried. A magnifying glass must surely be a necessity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I didn't buy her book but if you are interested... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I did buy some things though and will show you some soon!</span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-81970907153425613502013-10-18T17:16:00.000+01:002013-10-18T17:16:46.230+01:00The times they are a changing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Look what I found on the ground today</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lots of them were scattered around. I love the glossy shine and the softness inside those prickly shells. Time to bring out my Autumn plate with the painted leaves to make a little display. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Little Miss Pusscat has managed to leave them alone so far but I bet she won't for long and I am sure they will soon be scattered all over the floor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have two very confused cats at the moment they cannot quite work out why two members of the household are hiding in the computer! They hear the voices and see moving images but just where are the bodies! I don't suppose they will ever understand Skype but it certainly works well for the rest of us to keep in touch with these two...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My two youngest have both
gone to University this Autumn, both to study History but one has gone
north and the other south. It would have been helpful if they could
have gone in the same direction! It really has been a big change in
this house but what an exciting time for them. I love this photo of them, it never fails to make me smile! They were 5 and 2 then and were so pleased with their Sticklebrick model although I cannot remember what it was supposed to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This photo was taken on holiday in France this summer so rather more up to date. As you can see my son still has that lovely smile and my daughter still has her beautiful blonde hair. Isn't she lucky to be naturally blonde. </span><br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-91782787149212908042013-09-30T22:30:00.000+01:002013-09-30T22:30:28.214+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Question: What do you get when you cross a Coffee and Walnut cake with a Battenburg cake?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Answer: An owl </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why would I think about doing such a thing? Well it was for a 21st birthday cake for my eldest son's girlfriend. So a few finishing touches and...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Made from a coffee sponge baked in a traybake tin then sliced through horizontally. I was a little worried that it might fall apart when I lifted the top off but actually it was fine. The filling was a coffee buttercream, chopped walnuts and... well you will never guess... it was Rhubarb jam! I made some in the summer using a recipe by Vanessa Kimbell in her book, 'Prepped'</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and being slightly sharper than most jams it balanced the sweetness of the buttercream perfectly. A thin coating of marzipan over the top, and then a little fondant icing used for eyes and beak. A quick paint job of bronze pearl lustre and food colouring with walnuts for his front and one owl ready for the celebrations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I don't know why he is sideways but having had several attempts at rotating him, despite the fact that he is the right way round on my stored images, I have had to give up. Anyway the unusual combination worked very well and was appreciated by the birthday girl who had not been able to decide whether she would prefer Coffee and Walnut cake or a Battenburg!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What would you have made?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday Jo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-85002812071327425802013-08-04T19:44:00.000+01:002013-08-04T19:44:18.438+01:00Summer time and the living is easy...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually it has been incredibly busy. Would you like to join me for a nice cup of tea and a catch up? There has been so much going on that I have neglected you and that won't do at all. The sun is shining and the table is set, outside of course as we must make the most of this lovely sunshine. The Winter and Spring seemed to be so long that it seems wrong to be inside at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The new tablecloth fits perfectly over the little table. I bought it from Brussels when hubby and I went to the Jazz Festival. It was so pretty and I just could not resist all that lovely embroidery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can I tempt you to a cake? Do try a Rose and Elderflower one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The rose petals are fresh picked and some from this rose bush helped to colour the <a href="http://writingacookerybook.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/early-release-recipe-from-prepped.html">Rose and Elderflower syrup</a>. I love this syrup, quick and easy to make and delicious to taste. The recipe, comes from 'Prepped' by Vanessa Kimbell. She tells us to use red scented rose petals but as my red roses are regretably not scented I used some red petals and some of my yellow scented ones. It looked so pretty stewing in the bowl but the smell was incredible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> How about a little Elderflower cake with fresh fruit? This <a href="http://www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe_directory/e/elderflower_cakes_with_whipped_mascarpone_icing.html">recipe</a> was from the Waitrose magazine a few years ago now and definitely rates amongst my favourite cakes and I make them all year round. I usually make them a smaller size than the recipe suggests as 8 would vanish in a trice in our house, and also I don't feel guilty eating a little cake, so fairy cakes or mini muffin size are perfect and daintier on a cake stand. As we are past the time for fresh elderflowers I picked a few blackcurrants and raspberries to go on top. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blackcurrant bush has done
very well for it's first year but it has become much larger than I
anticipated so some of the branches are now amongst the gooseberries!
Despite a mass cut back of the raspberry canes last autumn they are now
as Triffid like as ever and now sending up new canes in the lawn!</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now what else has been happening... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Younger son turned 21 and had a chocolate orange birthday cake. I forgot to take a picture when it was cut so you will have to imagine the four layers of sponge soaked in orange liqueur, layered with orange liqueur butter cream made with a sugar syrup. The outside was coated in a chocolate ganache and hand made praline. It's a good job you are only 21 once as it took me a whole day to make but definitely worth it and as a good cook himself he appreciated the effort.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then our dear daughter redecorated the house in preparation for her A-level exams. Walls, doors, windows and even inside drawers - I think everyone's knowledge of History and English improved! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course the end of exams and the end of school was heralded by the Prom and that meant shopping, shopping, shopping, shopping, shopping (are you worn out yet? I definitely was) for the Prom dress. Who would have believed it could be so difficult. Eventually, the day before we went on holiday (I will tell you all about that another day) we found one that she liked, they had the right size and it fitted BUT she didn't like the skirt's half lining under the chiffon as it had a split up the front and she really wanted a full lining. This meant that on the day of the Prom I ended up relining the dress. In order not to add extra bulk at the waist I ended up cutting the top of the new lining with a soldering iron to stop it fraying. It was all worth it in the end though, she looked so beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well that is just a little of all that has kept me so busy, I shall tell you all about the holiday soon.</span> <br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-15541811271202656532013-04-02T11:40:00.002+01:002013-04-02T11:40:41.079+01:00Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One bunny</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two bunnies</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Three bunnies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Four</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If they are very lucky there may soon be two more! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just need to find where the stuffing has been 'tidied' away, it has to be somewhere! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I enjoyed knitting these little egg cosies, <a href="http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/my_weblog/patterns-to-buy.html">a nice pattern</a>, well written, means they knit up quickly, and as I still have some wool left it seemed a fun quick project to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If we are at home for Easter I do try to make a table decoration, but was surprised that I couldn't find any narcissi to put into this oasis ring. These little flowers did the job perfectly though. The little egg shell baskets just needed a finishing touch and gave me the opportunity to try making some paper flowers. Miniature beads in the centre gave a more realistic touch, and with mini eggs inside were popular.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I normally pick forsythia and flowering currant branches to decorate with eggs and chicks. Small sprigs also go into the oasis saving the necessity to buy flowers for it. Last year the flowers were almost over but this year they are so far behind they are not open yet. I cut some and brought them into the warm hoping to force them, and the forsythia obliged but the pretty pink of the currant has still not opened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took the bunnies and table decoration outside to photograph as we actually have some sunshine this morning, and a few little Spring flowers peeping through. We could have done with some sunshine yesterday when we went to <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyveden-new-bield/">Lyvedon New Bield</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Built over 400 years ago, there is no longer a roof or floors but you can go inside and listening to the audio guide can easily follow the story and picture all the rooms. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The frieze running around the outside of the building tells the story of the Passion, so although I didn't know this before we went it did seem appropriate to visit at this time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a very cold afternoon, much too cold to stand still long, but we enjoyed a brisk walk around the gardens. I think we will try to go again in the summer, I am sure it will look very different then.</span></div>
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-52955861899946452422013-03-11T22:55:00.000+00:002013-03-11T22:55:46.200+00:00Happy Mothers Day<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do hope all you mothers had a lovely day yesterday. I was very spoilt and as well as flowers had cards from all my three children, and all home made which really pleased me. Two of them were traditional cards...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the third was of the edible variety!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Church our vicar always told us that it should be Mothering Sunday as in the past it was traditionally the day when people went to their mother church. It was also the day when girls in service would visit their mothers and take them a simnel cake so perhaps this is the reason why it now is often known as Mothers Day. Those mothers must have been very happy to see their daughters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder how many people give their mother a simnel cake now? We always associate it with Easter. Perhaps we should make our simnel cakes now to let them mature? I have a feeling that in our house it would not last until Easter though, far too tempting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gave my mother a non-edible present, a slight adaptation of the 'gift card' I made. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filled with lavender and rose petals this time and lots of beads stitched on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used a heart button in the centre of the bows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only piece of ribbon I had in the right colour was unfortunately too short to attach it to a card, and stitching the beads on took somewhat longer than I estimated, so my dear daughter kindly stepped in to make a card for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Card embossed and butterfly die cut on our new toy - I will tell you about it another time - she painted it and added sparkle. The fine nozzle and glue from <a href="http://www.glittermagic.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=98">Glitter Magic</a> are perfect for those fine details, I had to order a new bottle of glue recently as we used the first one up. The original nozzle is still perfect thanks to the pot it comes in which you fill with water so it does not get blocked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-78583029170495352702013-02-19T10:22:00.000+00:002013-02-19T10:22:18.575+00:00A gift in a card<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A family friend turned 80 recently and had requested no presents. Whilst thinking about making her a card I came up with the idea of incorporating a small momento into it. This means she will have something lasting a little longer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I cut the numbers out of some silk fabric paper I had made, and blanket stitched them to a piece of silk. Then I stitched little flower sequins on, held in place with a tiny bead. I love the way these flower sequins are shaped rather than laying flat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then I made it into a lavender bag, filled with dried lavender from my garden, and put a running stitch around each number stitching through the whole sachet in order to keep it flatter. The final thing was a ribbon attached with bows and some of the little beads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ribbon slid tightly over the card, in order to do this I had to open the card flat and curve it a little, but being so tight meant it could not fall off. A few of the flower sequins and beads were glued around to decorate the card itself but it really didn't need anything else.</span><br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-43111458107618925352013-02-05T17:37:00.001+00:002013-02-05T17:37:33.676+00:00Signs of spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The snowmen in my garden were only just reduced to</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">small heaps</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of snow and a pile of branches when I spotted signs of Spring in a neighbours garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first snowdrops peeping through, and bright sunshiny aconites.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I spotted them whilst walking down the road and went back with the camera especially. It is lovely to see them and definitely bought a smile to my face.</span><br />
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-70598505600850748922013-01-24T23:19:00.002+00:002013-01-24T23:19:24.308+00:00Decorations everywhere!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well here it is, my beautiful Christmas present from my daughter. All hand stitched by her and far too lovely to pack away. It is in the dining room and looking across the room it has a real 3D look. A real treasure it makes me smile every time I see it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nature is giving us her own special winter decoration at the moment and I have been wearing wellies for a week now as there is still snow on the paths. I love looking at the snowflakes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking out across the snowy gardens I spotted rather an unusual snowman, unfortunately I can only see the back of it, but it is on the roof of a garage! I think it looks as though it is in a giant shoe but hubby thinks it is a plane. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have two snowmen in the garden and my sons have been doing lots of sledging and snowboarding! My daughter and her friend built an igloo. It took them quite a time but it's not often you get enough snow to make something like this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cats both love the fresh snow, rushing out to play in it, then back inside and laying as flat as possible on the heated kitchen floor until warm, then off outside again. Chasing snowballs is a favourite game and Marlee will even stay outside shivering if someone is throwing snowballs. I have never seen a cat shiver like her before, but she is quite small.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even though Samba is much larger the snow was still deep for him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-51611345399056947742013-01-15T22:36:00.002+00:002013-01-15T22:36:53.901+00:00Packing away Christmas<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you watch the Christmas special of 'Great British Bake Off Masterclass'? I thought it was lovely when Mary Berry was showing the silver bells her children had made when they were small and saying how much she enjoys them each year. Well, having just got around to sorting some photographs I remembered that I had taken some to share with you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Marlee thought tree decorating was a fun game to play. That is a guilty expression on her face as she tried to pretend she was being good. Actually she did manage to leave them alone after the initial excitement...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These three ornaments are polystyrene shapes decorated with sequins and pins and I sat making them with my mother many years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This one I cross-stitched from a free kit that came with a magazine, again a good number of years ago. My Grandad's name was Noel and it always reminds me of him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't make this one but bought it at a craft fair the first Christmas I was married, 30 years ago. There was a lot of work in it although I am sure I cannot have paid much for it. Wouldn't it be lovely if the maker knew it still went on my tree each Christmas? Interestingly I have never seen another like it. The outside is felt but it feels as though there is card inside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favourite hand made ones of all are the ones my children made. I didn't take pictures of them all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is always debate as to whose angel should be on the top of the tree. The one my younger son made at Sunday School...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or the one my daughter made at home, totally her own work, she just surprised me with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wish I had made a note of how old she was at the time, but regretfully didn't. Both of these angels go as close to the top of the tree as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> My mother knitted nine little Santa hats this year and each had a chocolate underneath, to go on the Christmas dinner table. My daughter decided that Samba should not miss out on Christmas fun! He didn't get the chocolate though!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also had a new decoration for my tree and have realised that I don't have a photo to show you. I love it so much that I have kept it out and will make sure I show you very soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Packing away all the Christmas things is always sad but looking back at these photos has certainly made me smile. If we didn't pack them away there would not be the excitement and fun of getting them all out again though!</span><br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-22385371266784068022012-12-30T19:34:00.001+00:002012-12-30T19:34:41.041+00:00Still making them...<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello everyone, I do hope you have all had a happy and peaceful Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hmm, well posting shorter blogs has still not happened as often as I would like, but it does tend to get rather busy around December, and time seems to speed as it gets nearer and nearer to Christmas Day. Anyway, having just finished baking another 3 dozen mince pies I was reminded that I was going to let you know how the tally is going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you know I had opened the last jar of mincemeat so next job was to make some more. The Mincemeat with Port was very tasty but alas the recipe was proving rather elusive to find so I went back to an old favourite. This is from Nigella's 'Domestic Godess' book, and has no suet in so you could say that it is healthy! Slightly healthier anyway! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More mincemeat meant more baking could be done. I didn't get around to taking photos of all of them, and actually one batch of mince pies usually looks very much like the next. However, just before Christmas I did use up a packet of puff pastry in the fridge and thought we would try a variation on eccles cakes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Circles stamped out and a spoonful of mincemeat in the middle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gather the edges in, a little at a time, overlapping as you go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The very last turn in pulled across the rest of the pleats, and then turned over and a cross cut into the top. I normally would just score three slices across the top of eccles cakes having first rolled them again, but was a little concerned that the mincemeat was a little runnier and did not fancy scrubbing baking trays clean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I forgot to photograph these when cooked - I did tell you that they don't last long in my house! However, I did also use up half a packet of filo pastry, cut into small squares, each layer brushed with melted butter and 4 layers put together so they form a star shape then pushed into a tartlet tin before filling with mincemeat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, for the tally. We went from 4 and a half dozen, to 6 and a half dozen, then the puff pastry and filo pies took us up to 10 dozen. More pastry was made last Thursday, although I only baked 2 dozen that day, so the tally went to 12 dozen, and I have just used the rest of the pastry so the count is now 15 dozen! 170 mince pies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although I haven't actually had any assistants helping with mince pie making, my son did make gingerbread men, ladies and trees. He used the Baker Brothers gingerbread recipe from their television special and it is delicious. He did halve the quantities though as a kilo and a half of flour did sound rather an excessive amount. My daughter was extremely pleased about this as she sat and iced them until her hand was aching! She doesn't like her photo being taken but I managed to sneak one! They looked very professional when she had finished and quite a number have been given as presents.</span><br />
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-31543489210888233612012-12-09T22:47:00.001+00:002012-12-09T22:47:18.679+00:00It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are starting to see more and more decorations in the streets, and the odd little bits are creeping into the house. Two very cute snowmen candle holders came home with me today from the German Christmas Market in Birmingham. I didn't think to take a picture earlier but will definitely do so soon. It was the first time we had been to this Market and I would highly recommend it, so reminiscent of a fantastic trip to the one in Dortmund a few years ago.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We found some fun Christmas presents, listened to Street musicians, drank gluwein, ate frankfurters, and also potato cakes with apple sauce (very unusual). Then hot chocolate with whipped cream before catching the train home. A fun day out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before we went this morning I did manage to bake some more mince pies, although I did use a packet of pastry rather than making my own. There is a definite preference for home made pastry though as I still have mince pies left this evening! The count is now 4 and a half dozen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had to open the last jar of the 2011 Mincemeat today so will need to make some more fairly soon. This one was very tasty but I am not sure where I got the recipe from. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ4VSO5d0Wk-rAuKe_gs6nOG78FnAvvnY5rPjWBkhi62joFU8uKqUzOeKOmhyphenhyphen9GVZ2tcZtHDwU9gKgJzt8eo5Zjw-2rLo9RdwU8D7p6vS9m29x5nIFT_Ulf0U0rIaKkwGCZThz9SeE_s/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ4VSO5d0Wk-rAuKe_gs6nOG78FnAvvnY5rPjWBkhi62joFU8uKqUzOeKOmhyphenhyphen9GVZ2tcZtHDwU9gKgJzt8eo5Zjw-2rLo9RdwU8D7p6vS9m29x5nIFT_Ulf0U0rIaKkwGCZThz9SeE_s/s320/IMG_3523.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hubby was busy too before we went out and just look at this wonderful sour dough loaf. He went on a course a few months back and now we have a weekly treat. Needless to say it doesn't last long in this house! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-49774889194637983822012-12-02T19:06:00.000+00:002012-12-02T19:06:18.432+00:00Time Flies... and the Tale of Mince Pies<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well the phrase says that, 'time flies when you are having fun'. This year, for me, time seems to fly by for too many reasons and since the new academic year started back in September time seems to have speeded up even more! So having been very remiss at posting on the blog as whenever I think about it there is just so much to include, that procrastination sets in. It is often hard to start if you think there is not enough time to complete something, and then you don't actually start at all. So, having dilly dallyed far too long, short posts must be the answer in the meantime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The start of Advent heralds the start of the mince pies in our house and here is the very first tray out of the oven yesterday. Two and a half dozen mince pies came out the oven but my family don't eat just one at a time but rather a lot. Any time of day is mince pie time, especially for my husband and sons, one of whom was eating them for breakfast today! Actually it was probably only because he wasn't here yesterday when I baked that there were any left this morning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the last few years I have kept a tally on the kitchen blackboard of mince pies made and the record was 20 dozen (240 mince pies made and eaten). I only make them for the family and not to stock the local coffee shop, so it is a rather alarming amount and today came a suggestion that I really don't make enough!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I will let you know how the baking goes. Speaking of which I still haven't made the Christmas cake yet as I cannot decide which recipe to use! </span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-89859639692972273042012-08-19T20:21:00.000+01:002012-08-19T20:21:10.693+01:00Harry Pottering Cake Games<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My daughter is Harry Potter mad, along with several of her friends, and for a recent 2 day Harry Potterathon ( watching the films non stop) I became inspired the other day to join in with the fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First I made an ordinary fairy cake mix, split it into 6 bowls and added different flavours. Any guesses what they might be?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezrgjULhw9IOjpVTMxkjUder3H1ZR3Sm6qT4xGNn9ZvuNlQWD8i73SZfQy3o_iJhgdLXAA7MfquBfJXQB_Q4Fa3a9YtWxJFTpbxoBn36h0AkaNvp4lVH6t-XcoHHfaLvpXuK97cRuwnE/s1600/IMG_3098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezrgjULhw9IOjpVTMxkjUder3H1ZR3Sm6qT4xGNn9ZvuNlQWD8i73SZfQy3o_iJhgdLXAA7MfquBfJXQB_Q4Fa3a9YtWxJFTpbxoBn36h0AkaNvp4lVH6t-XcoHHfaLvpXuK97cRuwnE/s400/IMG_3098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baked as normal it becomes even harder to see what they might be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does a closer peek help?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hHdPYwe78tlaZz8Ey_jm8L_Fl0RtkNGOu8fQZFk5uecy40Jd51oIG7WXVVnsYdfHW8xcjFvZ2fR4n6W6V8sUBBUkfqyQeHljPsEEV7JC2iw6gtc9s3tJe9wEwl63GjJQUYXnyWVh0cg/s1600/IMG_3103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hHdPYwe78tlaZz8Ey_jm8L_Fl0RtkNGOu8fQZFk5uecy40Jd51oIG7WXVVnsYdfHW8xcjFvZ2fR4n6W6V8sUBBUkfqyQeHljPsEEV7JC2iw6gtc9s3tJe9wEwl63GjJQUYXnyWVh0cg/s400/IMG_3103.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next I made icing in six different bowls and added different flavours to each.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfva-6npnyn5xY6MTLCw1o2Moq1NnUS5i4gfaxrUADUBvA_L7KWaGzU3iaOVdEoP691aOGYiDAqL1lqNZGmrf2q3PJnyqzF59UnfNQxDKl6nsc_C05K1nMBv7RK-CMn7n9JPvwSNwLcI/s1600/IMG_3099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfva-6npnyn5xY6MTLCw1o2Moq1NnUS5i4gfaxrUADUBvA_L7KWaGzU3iaOVdEoP691aOGYiDAqL1lqNZGmrf2q3PJnyqzF59UnfNQxDKl6nsc_C05K1nMBv7RK-CMn7n9JPvwSNwLcI/s400/IMG_3099.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hard to tell the difference isn't it, so here's a little help.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rY9m29gbfjMHcPT2WbModAlqKcOMxi9uNdq6HhKc5KnWr1lqbgAIZW6JMOV7u947cAm_BvNKrH1fG1DPFFdLQryvlHw2mJU7Sx6d6eMkykKPeiRyrqEcCsEHNokQPD40Ns985yn4A8k/s1600/IMG_3101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rY9m29gbfjMHcPT2WbModAlqKcOMxi9uNdq6HhKc5KnWr1lqbgAIZW6JMOV7u947cAm_BvNKrH1fG1DPFFdLQryvlHw2mJU7Sx6d6eMkykKPeiRyrqEcCsEHNokQPD40Ns985yn4A8k/s400/IMG_3101.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now to add some colouring and then ice some little cakes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX17s3knNQCfzoDT7M4pRKnBHnC1y6jAKWu5W6dMN9pDfqyRdAWNKdVyKlsnz15hcCrz25wUgsJCP_ZXnfLHx05PnP_X8VDOPhgU5dTh0pxsDO5MiMmh_UCqBGOOpLDXiElSO3BNVlQs/s1600/IMG_3104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX17s3knNQCfzoDT7M4pRKnBHnC1y6jAKWu5W6dMN9pDfqyRdAWNKdVyKlsnz15hcCrz25wUgsJCP_ZXnfLHx05PnP_X8VDOPhgU5dTh0pxsDO5MiMmh_UCqBGOOpLDXiElSO3BNVlQs/s400/IMG_3104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sprinkle of glitter and there you have the finished article.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqxBpxc_CwbF_za-INDIsNYMPoy9a8vQPwzD8YDX2yrlXfQHOEscfR7-6JvBk2gBEuuxmEcMhoJmJxGl6Q-CuoSbTaKq0SdYRwrA1829FIP5pBqYJz29xm5VOo_3pWBr9-39sQI0B4RE/s1600/IMG_3109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqxBpxc_CwbF_za-INDIsNYMPoy9a8vQPwzD8YDX2yrlXfQHOEscfR7-6JvBk2gBEuuxmEcMhoJmJxGl6Q-CuoSbTaKq0SdYRwrA1829FIP5pBqYJz29xm5VOo_3pWBr9-39sQI0B4RE/s640/IMG_3109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well the cake and icings are different flavours and the colour of the icing does not match the flavour at all, so perhaps a little message is required.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZrt8uXgVMHnWAN4LFPb-RyFSRqXf9parckS1mz5s1H0ueJ7b6l35tBo5P3dVVrc33ePiIAg8V57kGfqRJ4hwK0nKClm-criP1EcvrCGCEyzGqnt1K-NP2zsWI5b8FgLd3Ty8VKylKD8/s1600/IMG_3105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZrt8uXgVMHnWAN4LFPb-RyFSRqXf9parckS1mz5s1H0ueJ7b6l35tBo5P3dVVrc33ePiIAg8V57kGfqRJ4hwK0nKClm-criP1EcvrCGCEyzGqnt1K-NP2zsWI5b8FgLd3Ty8VKylKD8/s400/IMG_3105.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh what fun! Will they guess? Perhaps I should give them the answers so a little message on an envelope.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihHDBDRssE6Ev2di-lJIdh7Na6oVVKm31I6iiKwBz9Rdq2RBdO3mTfNVTTa2Nk8_uRUtgnQHbwh50Gw3gHDzErB1hGpF5Ctdj07B4tCWs1P4yxsyp72URjHnOmfftLlyLz9GTOwjLgwo/s1600/IMG_3106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihHDBDRssE6Ev2di-lJIdh7Na6oVVKm31I6iiKwBz9Rdq2RBdO3mTfNVTTa2Nk8_uRUtgnQHbwh50Gw3gHDzErB1hGpF5Ctdj07B4tCWs1P4yxsyp72URjHnOmfftLlyLz9GTOwjLgwo/s400/IMG_3106.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Open the envelope and what is inside? Another envelope!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, I am a bit of a tease! Inside the second envelope I did give them the answers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder if you would have guessed? The taste of some was quite easy, such as mint and lemon. Cherry and ginger were not too tricky, but lavender cake and rose icing was likened to bubble bath! Not sure that I have ever tasted bubble bath! Not sure that I wish to either. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grew up with the delights of Enid Blyton and the Famous Five but although all my children enjoyed those books Harry Potter had a firm place in their childhood. I well remember a 6 hour journey back from Cornwall in the car with a 4 year old, 7 year old and 9 year old, all totally enthralled by Harry Potter as an audio book. We only stopped once the whole journey and that was very briefly as they were missing the story and could not wait to get back in the car!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to say that making the cakes did take up rather more time than a normal batch of fairy cakes and if I do this again I would probably start the day before, but as it is the summer holidays it was rather fun to 'play' with the cake making. </span><br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-46158407923064293372012-07-05T15:59:00.000+01:002012-07-05T15:59:11.894+01:00The easy way to go on holiday!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Now the weather has been truly un-summer like here in jolly old England. It rained for the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations, cakes made by my daughter and her friend were eaten inside watching festivities, rather than at the local big Picnic in the park event.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It poured with rain on our wedding anniversary (but didn't dampen our happiness)!</span> <br />
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It poured with rain on Monday when the Olympic torch came to town. We were quite soggy by the time we got home.</div>
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Now I still have to arrange our summer holiday, and shall we go abroad or stay home? Decisions are not yet made but if we do want to fly perhaps British Airways new service would be ideal. Have you seen the advert for it yet? Do have a look, and remember to put in your postcode or address. Door to door service especially for you!</div>
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http://taxi.ba.com/</div>
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Actually a neighbour told me about the BA advert, Olympic themed and courtesy of CGI and Google Maps, you see a B777 taxiing up your own road. I am not sure whether it only works in the U.K. and I am sure some of you will let me know, but it is rather fun. The neighbour who told me has lived in the road for 58 years and said she also put in the address she lived at as a child and what a delight it was to see that house just as she remembered it.</div>
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-10589075416316850792012-07-02T15:22:00.000+01:002012-07-02T15:22:45.783+01:00It's getting close!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The olympic torch was in town today, there were huge crowds lining the route so although I got a few photographs there are a lot of heads in them! It was a great atmosphere, lots of cheering and waving, and even police motorbike riders were waving back. It reminded me of the carnival.</div>
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<tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of the vehicles leading the way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The side of the Samsung lorry was like a giant television screen, great fun</span>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These specialised lorries must have cost rather a lot</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The flame is here - just about visible over the top of the flag!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's it! Another 2 seconds and it had gone on its way but I am glad we went to see it.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224390369800120374.post-89947706350926587982012-06-25T16:15:00.000+01:002012-06-25T16:15:40.935+01:00A new addition to the household<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well as if life isn't busy enough through the main exam period when I work more hours than normal invigilating and acting as a scribe for students, and add to that a very stressy daughter taking her exams, so of course this is the ideal time for a new member of the household to arrive!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It has not only been us humans <a href="http://talesfromthegiantswood.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/missing.html">missing Suki</a> our much loved Bengal, but Samba her litter mate was unhappy for months and not his normal playful happy self. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Samba had just settled down when we went away at Easter and although my eldest son did not come with us, he works long hours, and came home to an extremely vocal unhappy cat every evening. That made us decide that he needed a playmate and the advice seemed to be that a kitten would be the easiest to settle in. However, the first time I looked on the internet for Bengal kittens, one of the first advertisements to appear was for a female Bengal who had lost her brother and needed rehoming. She had been without her brother for 5 months and had become very vocal. Her owners had been advised to get her a companion but their circumstances meant that they were unable to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">God's hand works in mysterious ways and I truly believe she was being sent to us. We thought about it for a couple of days, as the intention had been to get a kitten, but then phoned the owners, had a long conversation, and two days after that we took a 5 hour round trip bringing home with us 'Marlee'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Marlee is just 6 months younger than Samba, and very tiny, just half his size. Was Samba impressed? Not exactly! We introduced them very slowly over a couple of weeks, and even then there was lots of hissing and grumbling from both of them, although never physical contact. Now they will play together in the garden, and chase each other around the house, some of the time. Marlee eats from Samba's dishes without him objecting but he's trying hard to be the boss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Marlee is very entertaining, water is flung out of the water bowls with her paw and she adores playing with the many toys she came with, alongside anything else she thinks should be a toy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The cat flap in the back door is a new experience and she has struggled to grasp the idea that 'staff' refuse to open the door for her. She pats the door with her paw, but doesn't like it touching her head! We have persevered and at long last, with the help of 2 extra paving slabs outside and LOTS of treats she has finally mastered it! Hooray! It does make life easier and far more enjoyable for her to be able to go in and out as she likes. </span><br />
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14813706744376163204noreply@blogger.com2