Fondant Flower

I had a little experiment with fondant icing last night.

Here is my very first rose in preperation for my first fully decorated cake...

The Vegetables Cometh

The Broccoli and Sprouts were happy this morning...

but weren't so happy about being split up to grow...

I'm sure when the sun shines on them tomorrow they will smile again.
I hope so as they have a nice new home to live in when they grow big and strong...

Step 1:

 Cut back bush, flatten soil and get man to build bed!

Step 2:

Drink coffee and take photos of lovely colours in garden while man builds bed...

Step 3:

Put bed in place with help from man and dog

Step 4:

Say hello to the nosey cat from next door 

Step 5:

Stand back and admire the new veg bed

In the words of Pop Larkin... 'Perfik!'

The Gentlemanly Cat

I've been busy on the sweing machine after work the last couple of nights and I have made a new friend...

He's a very gentlemanly cat because he holds my door open every time I want to go through!  What a nice guy!

This pattern and many other wonderful crafty projects can be found in the Book 'Meet Me At Mikes' given to me by my very good friend Kelly.

You can find Kelly's blog here...
http://www.liketoswingonastar.blogspot.com/

You can also find the Meet me at Mike's blog for more crafty ideas here... http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/

Bags for bags

Everyone has a supply of supermarket carrier bags somewhere in their house.  But where do we store them?  All in one carrier bag?  In a drawer?  Cupboard?

Me?  I store mine in a bag for bags made with love this afternoon from a tea towel!

Place your orders now :)

Summer (in winter) Sunflower Cupcakes

When I think back to the snow in February 2010, it's hard to believe that yesterday was such a beautiful day.
The sun was shining outside and the sun was shining in my kitchen when I made some Summer (in winter) Sunfower Cupcakes.

Growing Veg

This year I'm growing my own veg! 

Why should I go to the supermarket to buy my vegetables when I can grow them at home for free?! (Or just the cost of the seeds, soil etc)

We only have a small garden but I'm determined to make space to grow our favourite vegetables.

I made a start this week and have planted seeds for Broccoli and Brussel Sprouts in propagator I got from a garden centre and have Potatoes in place ready for chitting (or growing eyes).

These boots are made for walking - The Medieval Looters of Brimpsfield

We had a lovely walk in and around the village of Brimpsfield in the Cotswolds today.  Ith the 14th Centuary a the manor of Brimpsfield was given to the Giffard family by William the Conquerer, who went on to build 2 more castles here.  John Giffard was later hanged in Gloucester.

Now almost nothing remains of these castles, just an empty meadow before the church.

The walk was pretty easy for the most part with a few stiles, a few gentle ascents and one very steep but short hill along the way.

The view from the free parking at the Village Hall at the start of the walk

Through the meadow heading to the church



Come on mummy!

The surroundings are beautiful throughout and ever changing. One moment we found ourselves in a wide open meadow, the next enclosed woodland, then into a steep hilled valley, then into a small village. There was a lovely stream which we followed for many parts of the walk, which is the infant River Frome.

Good footwear was essential due to some unavoidable muddy patches but I'm sure in the summer months this would not be a problem.

We even met some friends along the way!

A pig the size of a horse?!

Oink!!

Distance: 4 Miles

Duration: 2 Hours 20

Dogs: On lead around the small village and off lead through the woods and fields

Landscape: Village paths, fields, valleys and woodland area with stream. Muddy patches after rain

Difficulty: Failry easy with the odd ascent

Rating: ***/**