Friday, August 31, 2012

New Family Member

I'm back from another few days with my daughter - was very privileged to accompany her to her first pregnancy scan and she is 13 weeks pregnant. She had a miscarriage at the end of last year so we have waited till her first scan before telling everyone the good news. It was amazing and moving to see the tiny baby waving its arms and legs and wriggling around.
Baby is due 7th March - out with the knitting needles !!!!

Carter is very excited about the new baby and kissed Hannah's stomach last night and said "Night night baby" 

Monday, August 27, 2012

Casual Wear for bank holiday weekend

casual
A virtual outfit of what I would wear when having a relaxing weekend.

Family

You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  ~Desmond Tutu

We have had a  quiet bank holiday weekend. On Saturday we spent a lovely day with Hannah, Rob and Carter. I feel so blessed to have such a special family, especially a daughter I am so very close to. I only wish we lived nearer so I can see them more often.
Carter is a star, though not when he is having  a "terrible twos tantrum" .




Thursday, August 23, 2012

Apple Chilli Jelly

We usually have a bumper crop of apples from our apple tree but we have a lot fewer this year - probably because of the extreme wet weather we have had . However there were still quite a lot of big, beautiful apples on the tree so I picked some yesterday and made a batch of apple chilli jelly. I used chillis that I had grown last year and frozen. 

This is a lovely sweet jelly which is delicious with meats, cheese and on salad.



RECIPE

·                                    2kg/4½lb eating apples
·                                 Cold water to cover
·                                 Approximately 2kg/3lb preserving sugar
·                                 4-5 chilli peppers (or more if you like a very hot jelly)



 

            Chop up the apples then place into a pan - pips, core,skin, everything  - the whole apple goes in. Chop up the chillis and mix in with the apples – seeds as well. Add enough cold water to cover. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the fruit is pulpy.
           Pour the fruit and liquid into a sterilised jelly bag and allow to drain through into a large container until it stops dripping. I usually leave over night..
              Measure the juice and allow 450g/1lb preserving sugar for every 500ml/17fl oz of juice. Place the juice and sugar into pan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat and carefully skim off any scum from the surface. Return to the boil and boil vigorously for 15-20 minutes or until setting point is               reached, skimming regularly. Using a sugar thermometer, the setting point will be reached at 105C/220F.
           Pour into sterilised jars.


Monday, August 20, 2012

Theatre Outing

Theatre Outing

Theatre Outing by lesleyanthony featuring a boat neck dress

We have a couple of theatre outings planned for when I'm in Edinburgh. Sadly no-one dresses up anymore when they go to the theatre - I can remember going to the theatre when I was a child - we always got dressed up very formally. It seemed to make it a special occasion .Now a days most people seem to wear jeans and casual wear. However if I could pick a new outfit it would be some thing like this (although I admit that I'm not sure I could wear shoes like that - high heels always kill my feet)


Edinburgh

Edinburgh


I am going to Edinburgh in September and this is my ideal outfit for one of our long
shopping trips with my mother.


Thursday, August 16, 2012

A Baking Day

What to do on a wet,dull morning. Bake a cake of course!!!




A lemon sponge which I took along for the church cafe to sell.