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

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Dear All,

This is my last post now until the New Year, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Look forward to sharing some more makes and bakes with you all in 2016!

Mxx

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!

As like everyone else, it's going to busy over the coming days, I wanted to send seasons greetings to one all!.

I have a cold at the moment, which is not what you need at this time of year but Ho Ho Ho, onwards we go.

I have managed to finish all the projects I have been working on except the gingerbread house which Mittens knocked off the side and into a million pieces on the kitchen floor........

Here are 3 of my finished projects;

1.  Meet Mr Fox - for a certain little pickle.

2. For hubbie to keep him warm!

3. For all of us, my first granny square completed craft, and I am very happy with it, just the top trim to finish.

So with the all the festive activities to come, I will be taking a break until after Christmas, Take care everyone and see you again soon,

Thanks for popping by and hope you all have a great Christmas!

Mxx

Blogmas 2014 - Day 11 - Christmas Food what's on the menu?

Good Morning,

Ooh food again, it seems we like to do lots of feasting this time of year!

Due to my change in diet (Gluten Free) I have had to amend many of my recipes this year, but so far so good, even managed to master Puff Pastry (I Know!), If I didn't work I would spend most of my time in the kitchen baking.

So it's the usual but scrummy Christmas cake decorated by me and little pickle, we are going to square this year instead of round, and I think with snowmen, presents, and tree's on top, watch this space....

Mince pies, sausage rolls, cheese straws are all firm favourite's, however I may make a sausage plait this year, like my mum used to make when we were little.

Christmas Morning usually starts with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and bacon for hubbie, and of course bucks fizz.

Now the Festive Lunch/Dinner depending on when we fancy eating now set times in our house just go with the flow of the day, I never really panic about cooking Christmas dinner I think because the first time I cooked it was about 12 years old as my mum was poorly at the time.

Anyway sorry gone of course!!

So it has to be Roast Turkey, Stuffing, Roast Potatoes, Carrots, Roasted Parsnips, and greens (No Brussels sprouts), with homemade gravy and cranberry sauce.

For pudding - Very traditional Christmas Pudding with cream, brandy butter, or baileys cream.

Then later - Sandwiches, pickles, red cabbage and more sweets, mince pies etc

My word it makes me hungry just typing this out, so looking forward to it!

I also cook a ham flavoured with Honey and Cloves,which we eat boxing day with cold turkey and pickles.

Hope you enjoyed my post

Mxx

Blogmas 2014 - Day 8 - What is on your wish list this year?

Good Morning,

Well I can't believe it's Monday again, But it's Day 8 of Blogmas 2014.  I had a very busy weekend, as it was our Towns Christmas Event on Saturday and I was involved in the organising, the day was great, the sun was shining, and a good time had by all.

So back to subject in hand, What is on my Wish list this year?

Well to be really honest, for everyone to be well and healthy, I have had many a Christmas where one of us is poorly.  And as it's so busy this time of year, Little Pickle is doing Choir, School Play, Disco etc, it just goes crazy! The dreaded cold has already struck down two of her best friends.

On to subject in hand.....

Well if it was like pie in the sky, I would like a Bright Red Kitchen Aid mixer! (Or any colour really), I just love seeing them all lined up in the shops in a rainbow of colour and sparkles.

But in reality a extension table for the sewing machine, a new sewing bag, and a charm from little pickle for my Pandora bracelet.

I really just want a relaxing, happy and joyful Christmas

See you all again tomorrow, Enjoy your Monday

Mxx

Blogmas 2014 - Day 5 Favourite Christmas Food

Welcome back to Day 5 of Blogmas 2014,

Christmas Food, my word where do we start, I usually start baking in Mid November for Christmas, just because I am one of these crazy people who love to be organised, however each year I still manage to run out of time!

I think I need to separate this into Sweet and Savoury.

Savoury

Cheese Straws

Mince Pies

Sausage Rolls

Turkey with all the trimmings 

Homemade Gravy and Cranberry sauce

seasonal nibbles - Cheeselets, twiglets and nuts

Sweet

Christmas Cake

Christmas Pudding

Homemade Chocolate Truffles

Gingerbread biscuits and houses

Rocky Road

Cranberry and Choc cookies

Advent Chocolates

Like before I think the list would go on and on, I think most of the ones on the list comes from family tradition, handed down from my grandmother to my mum and to me and now hopefully to little pickle. I remember being 6 years old and watching my Mum and Sister mix the Christmas cake and cutting up the cherries, and ended up with very sticky fingers!

Every year I make Gingerbread houses to give to Friends and Family and one for us at home, all decked out with Sweets and Marshmallows.

The turkey is always the main event in our house, apart from one year, when our old cat, eat though the defrosting turkey in the garage (she managed to get to it on top of the microwave, on top of the tumble dryer, in the baking tin, with a tea towel over it, in carrier bag and the thick plastic wrapping) she eat 1/2 of the breast, as you could imagine on Christmas Eve this was not a happy sight!!! and Hubbie was not pleased at driving round trying to get a replacement!

Little pickle enjoys making and eating the Rocky Road, which I posted a picture of in a previous post.

So there you have it!

Enjoy your Friday

Mxx

Blogmas 2014 - Day 4 Favourite Christmas Music

On reading Amy from love made my home, post today I have decided to join the Blogmas 2014, as created by Sandra from http://familycorner.blogspot.co.uk.

So today's is - What's your Favourite Christmas music and as I already have been playing my Christmas Music since end of November, I thought this would be easy, MMMMMMMMMM maybe not.

Traditional Songs

God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen

Carol of Bells

O Come all Ye Faithful

Hark the Herald!

The Holly and the Ivy

Deck the Halls

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Good King Wenceslas

12 Days of Christmas

Modern Songs

Last Christmas

White Christmas

Rocking around the Christmas Tree

Do they know it Christmas (Band Aid Original)

Driving Home for Christmas

I believe in Father Christmas

The Christmas Song

Baby it's cold outside

All I want for Christmas

So there you have it, I am sure there are so many more I love but I would end up posting this blog at midnight!

Hope you all have a lovely day and please do join in and spread the Festive Joy!

Mx

Goodbye November!

Good evening.,

it's been a busy a weekend, I manage to wallpaper the dining room

In time for Christmas decorations.

Mittens has found a new home!!!

So the tree is up for how long?

that depends on mittens.

Had a nice meal out with mums, husbands and kids on saturday night.

back to work tomorrow.

thanks for dropping by

Mxx

Sunday makes and bakes

Hi,

So it's be another busy weekend, Saturday was a day for tidying, organising cupbiards ready for Christmas goodies.. after that I thought It was time to dust off the sewing machine and make these cute christmas cones, fab for sweeties and candy canes.

and another make up bag.

It was the xmas light switch on in our town which was great, it always makes christmas feel closeby.

Today we made gluten free mince pies and stollen

And yes the christmas cups, plates are out!

Mx

Christmas pudding

Here is my latest make...Christmas is coming..

I just cannot wait nowx

little pickle is singing Christmas songs for the big sing choir

so it feels festive in our house already.

Little pickle Christmas list is growing daily hmmm

Thanks for reading and catch up soon

Mx

Kitten Smitten!

Happy Tuesday!

Well I am very happy it's dry today, after being soaked though yesterday and having wet shoes from 8.30am - 6.30pm, not a happy bunny!

Now as you know we have had Mittens the kitten for about 4 months now, and I cannot believe how big she is and how cheeky..

Before we brought her home - 8 weeks old

Mittens being a little monkey!

And this is her now- she is getting bigger by the day.

She is often found spread out like this until she slides off, mid sleep and gets very cross, as if someone has pushed her off:))

I must admit I do fear for my Christmas decorations this year, me thinks a small real tree upstairs with the glass baubles on. (any excuse for another christmas tree)

So I started making these slippers for pickle before we even got Mittens, they have taken awhile to do, as it's been a project I keep stopping and starting but here they are----

I am very happy with them, I hope pickle will be come Christmas!

Thanks for reading my blog and catch up again soon

Mxx

Let the Christmas bake begin!

Good Afternoon...

I had a very busy weekend, so I posted my fruit soaking for my cake last week, on Saturday this made it into the oven, in a square tin this year as per pickles request.

Before that we made Rocky Road, the smell of chocolate filled the air..

It does look better when covered in snow (icing sugar)

After that we made Sticky Gingerbread - Gluten Free of course.

Then it was time to try Gluten free Rough puff - mmmmmmm well I can't say we got on really, I think I need to do another 2 rounds of roll and fold to build up the layers, but the taste was better then before - Hubbie however did not agree and wants the original with gluten and more cheese!

The pastry was also used for Sausage rolls, however I ate them all before photos could be taken.

So that was just Saturday --- On Sunday,

It was Cranberry and White Choc chip cookies, some frozen for Christmas ( gluten Free again), these turned out every well and the kids have been eating them as quick as I could bake them.

Sorry but the light was so bad.

And Finally the Christmas Puddings - All 4 in total , the smell was lovely,can't wait for Christmas day!

I had such a great weekend, I love getting organised and knowing my freezer has goodies in it!

More to follow soon---

If anyone wants the gluten free recipes please message me

Mxx

Gingerbread Man

Happy Friday!

I am so glad it almost the weekend, I have got lots to get on with this weekend....

Looking to do some crafts with pickle, I have some festive fabric from a Sew magazine, which pickle wants to make into a tree decoration which you can put sweets in....as if there won't be any sweets around in the next couple weeks anyway:))

Last night I sat down with a glass of mulled wine, classic Christmas music on and made this sweet felt gingerbread man decoration, I have the second one to do, which pickle wants to help stuff and sew, so maybe tonight.

Here he is..

The plan for Saturday is to get the Christmas cake in the oven, and then the puddings on Sunday, I also need you all to keep your fingers crossed as I am about embark on making my own Gluten Free Rough Puff Pastry.. this could be a challenge as I never do to well with pastry, however the thought of having Christmas without cheese straws and sausage rolls is just not an option.

The lights are starting to go up in the town and the switch on is next Saturday, one of my most favourite times in the Christmas calender.

I am also a very proud mummy as pickle has been selected to sing in the Big Sing Choir at a local theatre next month, (big smile on my face as I type this).

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Mx

Bonfire night and Christmas treats

Good Afternoon...

It's been alittle while, this is due to Bonfire Night and having too many Christmas craft projects on the go at once!

I am already getting excited with pending Christmas Festivities, as they have already got the Christmas movie channel on the TV, the shops are now full to the brim with food, present ideas and decorations.

Bonfire night in our house was Saturday, it was good fun if a little wet at the end. The Fireworks where organised by hubbie, pickle enjoyed the giant sparklers and I prepared Hot Dogs for after... I did take some pictures but they are not really good enough to put on her, I am still learning the different functions on my camera, will get there in the end.

On Sunday I decided to start soaking the fruit for the cake, the smell is so lovely, can't wait to get baking it this weekend.

I have to declare having my first glass of mulled wine of the winter, hmmmmm oh and Gluten Free mince pie.

I have been getting some Christmas presents and pickles list is growing by the day..bless her ! Argos catalogues have alot to answer for!

However I have been getting on with my many making projects, hubbie snood is coming along me and the circular needles are starting to be friends :)))

Wrist warmers are a big thing in my house, here is mine and pickles that I made last year..

And here is another pair in the making for someone??? For who you just have to wait until 25th December - x

I am already having nightmares of the damage Mittens is going to do to our Christmas tree this year... 

As I was poorly on Saturday, pickle and hubbie went shopping and came back with this to cheer me up... I have to say it did the trick , (it plays music too)

Hope you all have a good week!

Mx

Granny Square Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday !

I know it's been a couple of days since I posted, but I have been working on several projects for Christmas!

As I explained in a earlier post I love Christmas and am filled with excitement the moment the magazines and gift guides hit the shops, yep Asda, John lewis, Ideal Home, Let's knit, Handmade Christmas I have them all..

It was while flicking though the Let's Knit Christmas edition that I came across a Crochet stocking, using Granny Squares, now being new to the whole knitting, crochet and sewing bug (September last year I couldn't even cast on, much to laugher of my mum and sister while watching me trying too!) but with the help of a friend and you tube I taught myself to do it and have been bitten by the bug now.

Sorry I have gone off track, Granny square stocking, I have never tried to crochet a granny square before as it always looked difficult, However....

Tah Dah....

I know it's not the best but for a first try I am pleased with it.. Just another 21 squares to go..

But I have seen so many lovely granny square blankets, cushions etc in blogland and now I know I can join the fun!

As my thoughts so out to a special friend this afternoon, I am thinking of what to make her..

Everyone take care.

Mx