Early February Thoughts

It has been a very snuggly sort of few weeks since the new year began, more so than usual anyway. The grotty weather we have been having here in the UK combined with that post Christmas lethargy has meant a lot of yarny projects by the fire whenever there has been a spare few minutes/hours.

Truth be told my days seem to blend into one, same chores and daily jobs, the never-ending job of polyfiller, sandpaper and paint which comes with renovating a property, settling in when john comes in from work to just flop in front of the fire to watch a DVD or something on the web (btw Sherlock was excellent in my opinion,and should be on every week).

I am starting to get new ideas for this year, new projects to start of the woolly kind, getting more rooms completed, and maybe finally having a real live kitchen (one can but dream).

Speaking of the cottage I am almost nearly there ready to say the bathroom is complete. One more week of DIY jobs, then just accessories and done ! It is our favorite room so far and has gone from freezing, to the warmest room in the house, I swear some days I'm tempted to take the kindle in there to read and thaw out.

Post Christmas Comeback

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas with plenty of yummy food, and a great new year, whether you spend it quietly like us or go all out partying.

I think this will be the week we finally get back into some sort of routine around here. Hubby had a couple of days off last week and this will be the first full week since the middle of December, it's been great but the routine goes well and truly out the window.

I hope you all got something nice from Santa. John was a star this year getting me a compound bow as he knows it is one of my childhood dreams to learn archery.
I love it, happy happy happy Christmas morning for sure.

Laura asked me for the recipe for the Layered Squash, Barley and Spinach pie I showed a photo of. I was making it ahead to freeze uncooked for New year, yummy it is too, second time I have made it.

The recipe is one I got from an old BBC good food mag years ago but there is link for it on the web here: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8639/layered-squash-barley-and-spinach-pie
the only changed I made are to use frozen spinach instead of fresh, and pine nuts instead of chestnuts.

Hope you all have a great start to the week xx

Christmas Moments

 (Chocolate peanut butter balls)

(John's decorated Christmas cake) 

(Wouldn't be Christmas without Auntie Delia)

Images of Everyday Life

(preparing raised watercrust veg pie for new year)

I have been struggling to get back to my blog lately, not really knowing where or how to start a blog post. So to ease me back into it I will post little glimpses of what is happening around these parts at present, and if I feel inspired to write even better :)

Is it too soon to use the C word?

I do realise there are still several weeks till the the big day, I'm also well aware that we are not even up to Halloween yet, but I can't get away from the fact that some preparations just can not wait.

One of the traditions in our house is the Christmas cakes being made in October, giving them plenty of time to mature before the end of December.
I used to hate Christmas cake, don't really like fruit cake generally actually, but since making my own the way I like it I love it, or rather I love my recipe :)

I now make two cakes one to be topped with marzipan and icing, the other to gave a glazed nut topping, mmmmm.
Good job I make two as last year I managed to drop one which proceed to roll along the ground grrr.

Also no need to make mincemeat this year as there is plenty left from last year, and I'm not bothering with Christmas pud.

Ahhhh the holiday season :)

(today's blogging soundtrack- rocky horror picture show) really festive, Ha.