Goodbye November...

Well Hello,,,

It's been awhile again, so much going on at home right now...

Can't believe November is over, feel I like I blinked and missed it really.

It's been an eventful month to say the least.

Our office at work had a flood, which was a nightmare.

I have been living on coffee lately...both my lovely Gusto and I treated myself to Beanies Xmas selection...

Pickle took part in her first Gymnastic Comp on Saturday and got 3rd in the individual floor.

One very proud mum!

Mittens is getting more and more cheeky...

I am really trying to get into the festive spirit but with everything that's going on in my life right now I am not doing very well.  Which is most unlike me.

But I have managed to make Christmas Puddings and Mincemeat.

The slow cooker has returned!

So as we start the festive season..
Here is my first make of the season...

And it's been a year since losing my close friend, and so it makes this month even tougher.

Well bring on December and all that comes with it....come forth and know me better man.!

Love Mxx

Tuesday Thoughts

Good Afternoon,

Well it's been a Autumn day here today, the nights are drawing in, and by 7.30pm it's dark!
I don't actually mind as I really like Autumn, cosy nights and frosty mornings.

At the weekend we embraced the season and made my first Pumpkin Pie this year...

Pickle wanted to bake a Victoria Sandwich with a Autumn theme, so the top is cinnamon caramel and the bottom is Pumpkin Spice.

(Both are Gluten Free)


I have several projects on the go at the moment, I am still knitting my Hitchhiker Shawl which I started back in March.

I am also knitting 2 pairs of socks, which are coming along nicely.  Pumpkin spice yarn on the left and Buddy the Elf yarn on the right, both by Norah George.

And my poor sewing machine has had to be dusted off (been awhile since I last used it) so I can make some patchwork Autumn cushion covers.

Soon it will be my favourite month - October...Halloween, we always have so much fun and have games planned already.

Shh I brought my first Christmas magazine today...I know it's only September but I really don't have any self control when it comes to Christmas!!.

Well I hope you have  good day and thanks for stopping by!

Mxx

Well Hello there....September!

Good Afternoon,

Ok so it's been ages and I can only apologies, my life has been crazy over the last couple of months and this is why...Last October I got diagnosed with Diverticular Disease and have had good and bad times with it, however from March I was referred to a specialist clinic at Kings College Hospital in London, which is great and I had it under control.

After our holiday to Fuerteventura I suffered a really bad infection (July), and was in hospital and have since seen my consultant, I am about to have a CT scan to see the damage done to my bowel and I am looking at surgery sooner than I thought..which as you can guess came as a shock, however I have picked myself up and now feel positive as it's life changing not life threatening.

However as this has been going on I have sort relaxation by knitting, baking and crochet as well as spending time with my hubbie and pickle who have been a great strength to me.

So I have lots to catch up on with you all, and I hope you are still interested...

Here are some of my recent photos to fill the gap for the moment.

These are from holiday in Fuerteventura, which we love.

Mittens has got so big and is cheeky as ever!

We went to Firle Vintage Fair in August and it was amazing, old fair rides, vintage cars, vintage clothes and people dress in vintage clothes, it really was lovely day.

This covers summer hols.. fun in the sun and rainbow cake made by pickle.

These are my Rose City Roller socks

My 2nd Spice of Life blanket, now starting a cupcake pattern blanket...

When I was poorly I made these little square in bright colours, I am not sure what to make them into I have 24 of them...any ideas????

I hope all of you are keeping well and feel rested after the lovely weather have had in August, can't believe we are in September and my pickle is back to school, year 6 my godness time flies.

Won't leave it so long this time!

Mxx

Tuesday Thoughts

Good Afternoon,

It's so lovely and sunny here today, I hope it's the same where you are.

The weekend seems to go by way to quickly, I always feel like I need one extra day...Anyway Saturday was not so nice here in Sussex, grey and wet at times, and as I managed to kick the bedroom door Thursday night I was nursing a very purple baby toe!, so rest was in order Saturday and a nice takeaway Saturday night.

Sunday started much nicer, sunny but chilly so we decided to do some work on the garden, Hubbie wanted to cut down one of the conifer trees which was blocking light from the dining room, here is the mass of tree still to get rid of!

Our little Christmas tree will be planted in the garden at some point.

I managed to buy some pretty solar lights this year, I really want it to look nice this year..

Going to paint the fences soon, before it all grows to quickly...I have however uncovered a pretty yellow primrose.

It felt so nice to be outside again, after the winter, I love hearing the birds, watching the butterflies in the garden and seeing pickle play outside.

Other things this past week or so was I brought some skeins of wool, and thought that I could knit straight away....and this is mess I ended up with (pro knitters out there, please don't laugh too much at this school boy error), I have since wind it into a nice neat ball. - After a good few hours.

Mittens has been enjoying the sunshine and has been out in the garden with us at weekend.. she has grown so much and is very cheeky.

On Sunday pickle wanted to make a cake, so here is her Lime and Coconut cake with fresh fruit on top, it's very yummy.

Can't believe our little pickle will be 10 next month, not sure where the time has gone...feels like 5 minutes ago, we walked in the front door back from hospital with her in the car seat.

Well that's it from me for the moment, enjoy your Tuesday!
Mxx

Weekend Make, Bake and Crochet

Good Afternoon All,

So still feeling unwell, but did manage to enjoy my weekend, even if it was mainly crocheting my Spice of Life Blanket, here is my wool basket ...

Here is my blanket to date, I have just done part 1 of part 5.

I am finding this very relaxing, and just what I need at the moment, I posted recently about being unwell and am waiting tests, my letter came and it's on Halloween, did not enjoy explaining to my pickle that I can't take part in Halloween this year, as I need to be sedated.  So to make up for it, we started decorating the house...

There is much more, but these photos will come soon..we love Halloween in our house, and this year won't be the same. sorry pips feeling sorry for myself today!

As always the weekend can't go by without some baking, here are some cupcakes..pumpkins spice, maple and choc chip and Cranberry and white choc

And a Blueberry roly poly for pudding on Sunday, which want down well in our house.

Friends of mine asked me a few weeks ago to make a headboard cover, I took my time and it's turned out well, just hope it fits!

It was nice to dust off the sewing machine again, I really must make my skirt with the lovely Liberty fabric I brought back in the summer.   

On Saturday night it was our towns annual Bonfire Night, pickle went with friends to see it, and the fireworks where really good.  Here she is melting marshmallows..after the parade.

I love Bonfire night, we will buy some fireworks for bonfire night at home in a couple of weeks, I love all the different celebrations in Autumn - Halloween, Bonfire and the best of all Christmas, I have already started planning for the big day.

So it was another restful weekend, trying to relax and enjoy Autumn.

Thanks for your lovely comments and catch up later in the week!

Mxx

Spooky things in the Kitchen!

Good Afternoon,

Well after a lovely Autumn sunshine last week this one has started wet, not as bad as over in the US, so I am thankful.

As I was under the weather again last week, I did manage to do some baking at the weekend, as this always makes me feel happy.

I baked a bread pudding for hubbie

I don't like it so can't really comment.

Pickle wanted to make some breakfast flavoured cupcakes cakes, so these are Lemon and Blueberry.

For me, a Apple and Blackberry Crumble - favourite!

And there is something spooky starting to happen in my kitchen!!!!

This is the beginning of my Halloween decorations, it really does take me ages as I have so much now, so be prepared for more updates.

Hope to catch up again soon
Mxx

Weekend Fun!

Good Afternoon,

I had a lovely weekend, it was busy yet relaxing if that makes sense. Which means I managed to get things done but at my own pace.

Friday night was the start of Strictly Come Dancing (you will discover I am a huge fan sorry!) so it was a easy dinner and than a glass of fizz to start the new series off.

Saturday dawned a lovely sunny Autumn day, hubbie and pickle popped up the town which give me a chance for a sneaky cup of tea in bed to start the day.
I managed to get loads of washing done and put pickles summer clothes away and got the winter/autumn clothes out.

I just want to mention something, I know over the last few months, I have posted about feeling poorly, I have been diagnosed with IBS, but am still in pain and am in the process of going for further tests, just wanted to let you know in case you thought goodness she is always poorly!

Anyway onto nicer topics and Saturday night we visited friends for the girls to catch up and the men to watch the Rugby, said friend was very happy with the wrist warmers I made, what was good news.

Sunday was another lovely sunny day, pickle enjoyed getting the garden, I managed to cut some of the last summer blooms

The tree is so full of berries, I love the brightness of the blue sky behind.

As always no weekend goes by without some baking, these are apple and cinnamon cupcakes and chocolate marble cakes, waiting to be iced.

I am so into Roast dinners at the moment, here is our lamb and tatties..

 I have joined the Spice of Life CAL, my first one and I am really enjoying it, here is part 2 finished. Can't wait for Tuesday go start the next part.

Will that's it from me for now, hope you all had a nice weekend! thanks so much for the comments and stopping by!

Mxx

Arts Festival and baking

Good Afternoon,

It's been a busy day today..for 2 weeks of September we have a Arts Festival in our town and we have a community radio which our close friends organise and run.
So this morning I was up at 7am getting ready and making bacon butty for said friend and at 8am dropped it off and collected children, I love helping out and we then came home and they all played and we baked cupcakes.

Also crab apple chutney

And bread pudding.

After that we all went back to town to make a mini village. here are some of the houses.

So now resting with cup of tea.

Mxx