First needle- felting efforts!

These are my first attempts at needle felting - I know the dog looks a bit dodgy -good thing that the photo is blurred!! I was quite pleased with a couple of the flowers but think that I need a lot more practice . I'm enjoying it though and will keep on having a go...
Tell me what you think of them - your little bear, Boris , was so good for a first go. I could do with a tutorial from you- put one on YouTube for me- ha ha !!

First needle- felting efforts!

Pistachio Macaroons

These are the macaroons that I made from Nigella's Domestic Goddess book using pistachios instead of ground almonds- the texture was good but think that they could have had more flavour - perhaps next time I would make a different flavour filling instead of pistachio-coffee or vanilla might be good. They look pretty on your Gran's old "summertime" plate- don't they...

Raymond Blanc's blackberry crumble

We spent a few happy hours collecting blackberries from our local fields and hedgerows this week - something very satisfying about picking blackberries - must be some sort of foraging instinct and it is good to have "free food"!!! I made a delicious blackberry and apple crumble using a Raymond Blanc recipe which is in the October issue of BBC Good Food Magazine.. here it is -as requested- and the topping is not at all soggy and the texture is much lighter than on a traditionally cooked crumble. Let me know if you like it?

crumble topping

120g plain flour

60g caster sugar

60g unsalted butter

Fruit Compote

300g Braeburn Apples cut into 2cm dice

30g unsalted butter

30g demerara ugar

115g blackberries

pinch cinnamon-

Heat oven to 190c fan/gas 5

Rub butter into flour and sugar until breadcrumb texture.Sprinkle mixture onto baking sheet and bake for 15mins until lightly coloured.

For compote- peel,core and dice apples. Put butter and sugar into medium saucepan and melt over medium heat. Cook for 3 mins then add apples and cook for further 3 mins. Add blackberries and cinnamon and cook for 3 mins then leave covered for 2/3 mins to continue cooking in warmth of pan.

Spoon warm fruit into ovenproof dish and top with crumble mix then reheat in the oven for 5/10 mins. Serve with ice cream or custard- ENJOY!!!!

My latest cake creations!

Had fun making the Pirate cake and Bob the Builder and was pleased with the bride and groom on the wedding cake.

Home Grown Salad!!

Colin was very proud that everything on this tasty looking salad came from his allotment and was picked just minutes before being on the plate!! The only thing missing were the tomatoes but hopefully they will be ready to crop this week- yum yum! We have so many courgettes this year and keep looking for fresh recipes- also the runner beans are amazing and the cucumbers seem to appear overnight ready to eat!!

Union Flag Cushions!

These are the cushions that I made for Adam and Cath - they were very pleased with them. They are similar to some that I saw in a designer homeware shop in Notting Hill in London.

For our English Rose!

I thought that you would like to see our garden in June especially as when you were here in January it was covered in snow !

Our beautiful climbing rose which is a David Austin rose called "Gertrude Jekyll"
is in full bloom and the best it has ever been. Do you recognise your cookery basket from about 18 years ago which I unearthed from the loft recently- it looks much better filled with flowers, doesn't it!

The goldfinch are still using the bird feeder and now I keep finding thistle seedlings
underneath it... and the pansies are the ones that I planted just before you arrived last November so the garden would have a bit of colour but we had the snow instead which was much more fun... and so far the slugs and snails haven't done too much damage to our hostas...

I made them myself!!

I bought these fabrics from one of the many wonderful fabric shops in the Montemartre district of Paris ...

The skirt was made from NewLook pattern 6565 and the dress from NewLook pattern 6778 ...

the dress was quite difficult to get a good fit around the neckline but the skirt was really easy and I might make another one ... Stella McCartney should be really worried!!!!!

The Magic of the English Lake District

Delicate wild violets...

pretty waterfalls...

The facade of Lowther castle ...

Little Salkeld Mill which is still a working flour mill - we always stock up on flour for bread making...it has a brilliant cafe serving home made organic lunches and delicious cake...

We had a wonderful week in the English Lake District and I always feel as though it is my spiritual home. My grandmother was born in Penrith and she always talked about it with much affection. The picture above is of my very favourite lake- Ullswater ...

there are always plenty of sheep..

and dry stone walls typify the beautiful scenery..

the loneliness of the fells especially Fusedale...

the tranquil Lake Derwentwater ...

Birthday fairy cake for Mabel !

Made this cake for my grandaughter's 4th Birthday tomorrow- hope that she likes it...

memories of Paris!

Enjoyed the busy Montmartre district...

and just had to see "Mona Lisa"at the Louvre and battle with the
crowds to get a photo...

drooled over the beautiful pastries in the Boulangeries!

srolled over the River Seine...

sometimes it is possible to escape the hustle and bustle...

enjoyed the atmosphere at the pavement cafes...

and the romance of the Sacre Coeur

Loved the majestic Notre Dame

and the pavement artists in Montmartre...

and had to go right to the top of the Eiffel Tower with the thousands of tourists...


Had a wonderful four day break in Paris and found it really beautiful and interesting ... we travelled on the metro , spent hours marvelling at the works of Art in the Louvre and Musee D'Orsay, enjoyed delicious meals at cosy French bistros, strolled along the banks of the Seine,
loved the French wine, pastries and baguettes,
Hope to return again some day...