Before you start to read this post, do put down your tea cup, as I don't want to cause anybody to sputter tea down their nose! Now, with my somewhat spasmodic posting last year, I never got to tell you what I did for Christmas Gifts...not properly! So here is a little roundup, from a crafting point of view.
I made all my Christmas cards again...several different designs. Funnily enough, the first design was very elaborate (baubles cut out and trimmed with ribbon and sequins, stuck on card embellished with more ribbon, sequins and beads!) and each design became slightly more simple! The next design was several tree shapes cut out green card in varying shades. Then each tree was folded in half, and glued to half of another tree, so they ended up almost like a fan of trees. Hard to explain, tricky to make, but pretty to look at! Then I got some teeny doillies, and folded them and snipped them into snowflakes, glued to cream card and embellished with some sparkles. My favourite cards were the easiest, and the last I made. I photocopied some vintage Christmas cards from my collection, and punched circles a bit smaller than a Jammy Dodger biscuit from them. I stuck these into the middle of my little doillies, then I decorated them with glitter, stick on bows, tiny stick on reindeer...all manner of sparkles!
For the girls at work, I made Rose Bath Melts. Where I went wrong, I think, was not labelling them as such...one poor lady bit into hers thinking it was some kind of truffle! I made them by melting cocoa butter, and then stirring in bicarbonate of soda for fizz, cream of tartar, baking powder, oatmeal, rose oil and dried rose petals. I rolled it into balls, then rolled these in rose petals, and tied them in little cellophane bags with pretty ribbons.
I made all manner of other little bits...a notebook cover for a special friend...rum and raising fudge...Black Forest Rum...it was all such fun. I wanted to make those Snuggle Blankets which have arms so you can be really warm and toasty, but alas, it turns out that the fabric cost much more than the ready made thing. Normally that would not stop me, but I was giving them to ten people, so it would have been unaffordable for me. I bundled up a snuggle blanket with extra goodies...for one person, an Agatha Christie novel and some shortbread in the shape of Scottie Dogs. For another, the Christmas issues of American Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens and Selvedge. Oh, and I gave sets of Marmalade, Strawberry Jam, and Chutney.
I was actually inspired by an issue of Selvedge magazine from a year or so ago. It had a section called 'The Handmade's Tale' and it featured women who make their Christmas Gifts, with some patterns, recipes and ideas. One made jam, another crocheted covered coathangers. One made covered notebooks, another little dolls. It made me really want to have a go at a handmade Christmas. I didn't give exclusively handmade things, but the majority of my gifts were...and I loved making them. Happily, most people seemed pleased to receive them. I always have a little bit of self doubt!
The key to enjoying the making was definitely starting early, and making things that were not obvioulsy Christmassy. Setting strawberries, cherries, redcurrants and blackberries to macerate in jars of rum in August didn't make me feel out of season! So, and this is the part I do not wish you to snort tea at, I plan to start early again this year. It is the Squirrel Approach to the festive season...to do a little bit every now and again, and hide it away, ready. One thing I am going to do is to put away £10 or so in a little jar each month on the 25th, so I have a lovely little nest-egg to spend when it comes to December (or should that be Robins-egg?!). Now, I don't intend on turning my blog into Christmas-All-Year-Round, and indeed, nobody complains more than me when the shops start to sell Mince Pies in September....but I might from time to time write a little post about my adventures in getting ready for Christmas this year. Perhaps a reminder to tuck away a little money...perhaps my recipe for Sloe Gin....nothing too Christmassy too soon, I promise!
Would you like to join me? To start December this year with a treasure chest of little lovelies tucked away, ready to enjoy? If so, just read the posts titled 'Mimi's Jingle Belles' and we can play along together. If you want nothing to do with the thought of Christmas in January, then please ignore such posts!
Before I go, I must tell you about the bargain that I found today, and some plans I have for gifts! Now my gift list is rather long, partly because I have 2 jobs in 2 different places, and partly because I have a great many colleagues and friends at one of those jobs! While it is lovely to have a long list of people I want to give gifts too, there is no getting away from it being an expensive business. So imagine how thrilled I was today, when I came across a shop selling tiny hot water bottles, (about the size of a sheet of A5 paper!) for £1 each! I can buy some lengths of thick wool felt in different colours, and make each person their own hot water bottle and cover! I designed a pattern for one a year or so ago, so will use that. I can decorate them with applique initials or button flowers....I don't plan to start those until the autumn, but they were much too good a bargain to pass up! Because they are so small, they shouldn't take much fabric to make the covers.
So if you are joining me on my Jingle Belle Mission, then the task for today is just to think about what you could make, Christmassy or not, and tuck away for gifts. Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling! Using scraps of fabric to make bunting...gathering flowers for pot pourri...crocheting or knitting sprigs of holly and misteltoe...making candles in vintage tea cups...painting mugs...knitting scarves...crocheting snowflakes...cutting silhouettes...
Here is to a wonderful, creative year!
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Favourite Things For A Dark Wednesday Afternoon
A cup of rose scented tea in the floral Union Jack mug that I rarely get to use if Carl is at home...flickering pinpricks of candlelight from tealights dotted around the room...the pink polyanthus in a little cream tin bucket my lovely sister bought me...painting my nails...making minestrone soup for tomorrow, and chilli for tonight...comments from lovely bloggers...the purple throw on our sofa that makes me think of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate...my new slippers...discovering a 150 year old book at work which gives advice for every month of the year...a vanilla latte at starbucks on my way home...my hyacinths in my spring flower bouquet flowering at last...
Monday, 10 January 2011
Sunday Bliss
I love Sundays, I always have. When I was a little girl, I used to go to Sunday School with my big sister. We wore our best clothes, and a lovely old (to me then, probably not more than in her 50s really!) lady used to collect us and take us. We used to do lots of lovely colouring, then have a sweet from a jar for being good, before going into church just in time for the blessings. The air was scented with incense, which I love, and sometimes there was a Teddy Bears Picnic, or we would make an Easter Garden or Palm Crosses. When we got home, we would watch The Waltons while Mum cooked one of her amazing roast dinners...usually chicken, with a roasting pan of gravy bubbling on the hob.
Sundays now are different, we don't really go to church anymore unless it is Harvest Festival or a special service. It is the only day of the week I never have to work, and lately we have started going for a swim together, and then having breakfast in town, perhaps buying a newspaper, or taking a gentle wander through town. This Sunday, for a change, we went to Hylands House which is a short drive away. It has huge gardens and woods and although it was cold it was dazzlingly bright, and it was a joy to wander about. I am rather scared of dogs so ended up having to jump behind poor Carl once or twice, but other than that it was lovely. I took some photographs which I will download soon to share with you.
When we got home I was really chilled through, so I had a wonderfully long soak in the bath. Alas, Boots have discontinued it now, but they did a Clary Sage and Bergamot bubble bath for a while, and I had some of that, and a hot cup of tea. I love afternoon baths!
I put in the slow cooker a dish which turned out to be delicious, but when I make it again, I will put it in a slow oven instead. I cut up 300g of lamb into bite sized pieces, and threw it in with a chopped red onion, a tin of tomatoes, a diced red pepper, half a cubed aubergine, some cinnamon and oregano. We let it cook for ages, and threw in some fresh mint and diced feta at the end, and ate it on a bed of rice. I put it in the oven to bake for a bit, and it reduced down and went all thick and sludgy, just what I was hoping for...as now I can use the leftovers to fill pitta breads with! Carl says that if I make it again I should use a bit more lamb, and to be honest I probably agree....but it is nice to see how far you can stretch these things!
I was hoping to settle down to a nice long post, but a lovely friend has invited us to dinner tonight, and in an email she mentioned cinnamon and chocolate meringues, so I must away! Wherever you are tonight, I hope you have something delicious awaiting you...and a big thank you to everyone for your lovely kind comments!
Sundays now are different, we don't really go to church anymore unless it is Harvest Festival or a special service. It is the only day of the week I never have to work, and lately we have started going for a swim together, and then having breakfast in town, perhaps buying a newspaper, or taking a gentle wander through town. This Sunday, for a change, we went to Hylands House which is a short drive away. It has huge gardens and woods and although it was cold it was dazzlingly bright, and it was a joy to wander about. I am rather scared of dogs so ended up having to jump behind poor Carl once or twice, but other than that it was lovely. I took some photographs which I will download soon to share with you.
When we got home I was really chilled through, so I had a wonderfully long soak in the bath. Alas, Boots have discontinued it now, but they did a Clary Sage and Bergamot bubble bath for a while, and I had some of that, and a hot cup of tea. I love afternoon baths!
I put in the slow cooker a dish which turned out to be delicious, but when I make it again, I will put it in a slow oven instead. I cut up 300g of lamb into bite sized pieces, and threw it in with a chopped red onion, a tin of tomatoes, a diced red pepper, half a cubed aubergine, some cinnamon and oregano. We let it cook for ages, and threw in some fresh mint and diced feta at the end, and ate it on a bed of rice. I put it in the oven to bake for a bit, and it reduced down and went all thick and sludgy, just what I was hoping for...as now I can use the leftovers to fill pitta breads with! Carl says that if I make it again I should use a bit more lamb, and to be honest I probably agree....but it is nice to see how far you can stretch these things!
I was hoping to settle down to a nice long post, but a lovely friend has invited us to dinner tonight, and in an email she mentioned cinnamon and chocolate meringues, so I must away! Wherever you are tonight, I hope you have something delicious awaiting you...and a big thank you to everyone for your lovely kind comments!
Friday, 7 January 2011
A Library-ish Year
Something that I started doing last year, but stopped without meaning to, was to keep a list of things I have borrowed from the library, and how much they would have cost me should I have bought them full price, or on amazon. By the time I had lost track, it was April, and I was up to over £300! I really could not afford to keep myself in books if I had to buy them. One of my new year's resolutions is to resurrect the project...so here we go!
Moonraker, Ian Fleming
£7.99/£4.98
I was leaving work one evening and needed something to read for the bus. I had put another Bond novel on display, as it had been republished with a really feminine cover, and was not going to issue where it should live. Running out of time before the bus, I picked it up, and discovered that I love James Bond novels! So to take me over the new year, I chose another, and was pleased to discover that I enjoyed this one as well. I don't think I would want to buy them, unless I was going to collect vintage editions, so I am glad I borrowed rather than bought.
Goldfinger, Ian Fleming
£7.99/£5.99
Another instance of leaving to go home and wanting a book for my handbag (its funny, I think of a book as a handbag essential, along with a hairbrush, tissues, lipstick (or two!), keys, purse and phone! Oh, and a mirror!) This time I wanted something I knew I would enjoy, so picked up another in the Bond series. So far, I am only 10 pages in, but I am enjoying it.
Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Meals In Minutes
£9.99/£6.62
We are not vegetarian, but do eat vegetarian meals quite often. I don't think that we need to eat meat or fish at every meal to be healthy, and I like to eat seasonally, so books like this help give me new ideas. Plus, a book that offers meals in minutes is a definite advantage when you work and get in not long before a hungry husband on some days! This is one book that I am going to keep an eye out for in charity shops, and maybe even think about buying on amazon one day.
So, one week into 2011 and I have already saved £24.97/£17.59...not bad! What I need to do now is get into the habit of using the library like a normal person. That is, going to the library. There is a lot of serendipity about working in one...you get exposed to an awful lot of books you might not have known about. But it does mean that you tend to fill your library card in the manner of a magpie feathering its nest! Lots of books left on your desk by friends, recommended by readers, that you noticed while shelving...but there is something about purposefully browsing, going into the library with a list of books to find, or just to see what there is....so I am going to try and get out there on my lunch hour every now and again and browse properly. A whole year of reading...new authors to discover, old favourites to revisit... I can't wait!
Moonraker, Ian Fleming
£7.99/£4.98
I was leaving work one evening and needed something to read for the bus. I had put another Bond novel on display, as it had been republished with a really feminine cover, and was not going to issue where it should live. Running out of time before the bus, I picked it up, and discovered that I love James Bond novels! So to take me over the new year, I chose another, and was pleased to discover that I enjoyed this one as well. I don't think I would want to buy them, unless I was going to collect vintage editions, so I am glad I borrowed rather than bought.
Goldfinger, Ian Fleming
£7.99/£5.99
Another instance of leaving to go home and wanting a book for my handbag (its funny, I think of a book as a handbag essential, along with a hairbrush, tissues, lipstick (or two!), keys, purse and phone! Oh, and a mirror!) This time I wanted something I knew I would enjoy, so picked up another in the Bond series. So far, I am only 10 pages in, but I am enjoying it.
Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Meals In Minutes
£9.99/£6.62
We are not vegetarian, but do eat vegetarian meals quite often. I don't think that we need to eat meat or fish at every meal to be healthy, and I like to eat seasonally, so books like this help give me new ideas. Plus, a book that offers meals in minutes is a definite advantage when you work and get in not long before a hungry husband on some days! This is one book that I am going to keep an eye out for in charity shops, and maybe even think about buying on amazon one day.
So, one week into 2011 and I have already saved £24.97/£17.59...not bad! What I need to do now is get into the habit of using the library like a normal person. That is, going to the library. There is a lot of serendipity about working in one...you get exposed to an awful lot of books you might not have known about. But it does mean that you tend to fill your library card in the manner of a magpie feathering its nest! Lots of books left on your desk by friends, recommended by readers, that you noticed while shelving...but there is something about purposefully browsing, going into the library with a list of books to find, or just to see what there is....so I am going to try and get out there on my lunch hour every now and again and browse properly. A whole year of reading...new authors to discover, old favourites to revisit... I can't wait!
Afternoon Comforts
Today has been a stormy day for me. Things at work have got a lot worse and are going to get worse before they are better. I don't want to go into too much detail, but I am going to have to be strong for a lot of people. I was glad it was my half day today. I took my shopping list to town with me, and with my polka dot umbrella over my arm, I sallied forth to tick the things off of my list, and leave my cares behind me.
Firstly to the market to buy some 3ply baby wool. I chose a pale cream, as I am going to knit from a vintage pattern. The pattern is for a pretty lacy shrug...basically, a very cropped cardigan which is almost just back and sleeves that I can wear to keep warm when I am reading in bed.
Then on to the grocery stall. Oh how I love to see all the seasonal fruit and veg piled up. On my list today were courgettes, a red pepper, a red onion, an aubergine, and as an afterthought some avocados. All but the last are destined for a lamb, feta and vegetable bake to be stirred into pasta for dinner one evening, and the leftovers stuffed into pittas for lunch the next day.
Onwards to the shoe shop for a new pair of slippers. I loved my last pair so much that I wore a whole in the sole! My new slippers are fluffy and cozy, cream ballet slippers with a bow and a sparkle in the middle of the bow on each one.
After that, I purchased 2 packets of tights, and thought wistfully of bygone days when young ladies would have purchased silk stockings instead of tights! And lastly a quick whisk through Marks and Spencer, where I bought some mint and pine nuts, and because I could not resist them, a bunch of flowers. I had been hoping for some daffodils, but they did not have any yet. There were some bright yellow tulips which I adored, but at £10 a bunch, I could not quite justify it. Instead, some dusky purple-pink tulips with some hyacinths. I have put them in a simple glass vase on my dressing table so I can see them when I wake.
Now I am at home, and it is dark outside already, and raining again. I am not looking forward to having to go out again later, but I am off to babysit for my godchildren this evening, and dear Carl will be joining me when he has finished work. It is definitely going to be a raincoat, wellie and umbrella journey, and I suspect I will be dripping on the train. There is something about train travel in the evening that makes me think of the film Brief Encounter.
I had hoped to start knitting on my bed-jacket-shrug, but time seems to be slipping away. I am looking forward to making something just for me, and the soothing rhythmic pattern of row upon row of lace. It really is all about rhythm and ritual for me at the moment. When I have finished here, I am going to have a cup of tea in my new favourite cup and saucer, and a slice of carrot cake. I am toying with the idea of a bath, although I think once in I will not want to get out again, especially not to go out in the dark and the rain!
I hope wherever you are, if there is rain then you have a pretty umbrella, and if it is dark you have a scented candle. And of course, no matter where you are or what you are doing, that you have a lovely cup of tea!
Love
Mimi
xxx
Firstly to the market to buy some 3ply baby wool. I chose a pale cream, as I am going to knit from a vintage pattern. The pattern is for a pretty lacy shrug...basically, a very cropped cardigan which is almost just back and sleeves that I can wear to keep warm when I am reading in bed.
Then on to the grocery stall. Oh how I love to see all the seasonal fruit and veg piled up. On my list today were courgettes, a red pepper, a red onion, an aubergine, and as an afterthought some avocados. All but the last are destined for a lamb, feta and vegetable bake to be stirred into pasta for dinner one evening, and the leftovers stuffed into pittas for lunch the next day.
Onwards to the shoe shop for a new pair of slippers. I loved my last pair so much that I wore a whole in the sole! My new slippers are fluffy and cozy, cream ballet slippers with a bow and a sparkle in the middle of the bow on each one.
After that, I purchased 2 packets of tights, and thought wistfully of bygone days when young ladies would have purchased silk stockings instead of tights! And lastly a quick whisk through Marks and Spencer, where I bought some mint and pine nuts, and because I could not resist them, a bunch of flowers. I had been hoping for some daffodils, but they did not have any yet. There were some bright yellow tulips which I adored, but at £10 a bunch, I could not quite justify it. Instead, some dusky purple-pink tulips with some hyacinths. I have put them in a simple glass vase on my dressing table so I can see them when I wake.
Now I am at home, and it is dark outside already, and raining again. I am not looking forward to having to go out again later, but I am off to babysit for my godchildren this evening, and dear Carl will be joining me when he has finished work. It is definitely going to be a raincoat, wellie and umbrella journey, and I suspect I will be dripping on the train. There is something about train travel in the evening that makes me think of the film Brief Encounter.
I had hoped to start knitting on my bed-jacket-shrug, but time seems to be slipping away. I am looking forward to making something just for me, and the soothing rhythmic pattern of row upon row of lace. It really is all about rhythm and ritual for me at the moment. When I have finished here, I am going to have a cup of tea in my new favourite cup and saucer, and a slice of carrot cake. I am toying with the idea of a bath, although I think once in I will not want to get out again, especially not to go out in the dark and the rain!
I hope wherever you are, if there is rain then you have a pretty umbrella, and if it is dark you have a scented candle. And of course, no matter where you are or what you are doing, that you have a lovely cup of tea!
Love
Mimi
xxx
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Daily Rhythm
I think I have mentioned before the habit I have of saving newspaper clippings, magazine articles and photocopies sandwiched in amongst the leaves of my books. Well when I opened my sunglasses case this morning, a scrap of paper fluttered to the ground. When I examined it, I realised it was my horoscope from last summer some time! I am not into astrology in a big way, but I do like Jonathan Cainer's stars, I think of them as a kind of personal weather forecast. Anyway, in this scrap that I had saved, he talked of new beginnings...how new years are new beginnings, but how nature offers us many more- every sunrise, every sunset, even every breath in and out we take can be a new beginning. I remember why I liked it so much at the time, and I am glad that I saved it. When I read it this morning, it set me thinking about new starts.
I am about to go through a big upheaval at one of my jobs which I know is going to mean a new start for me in one way or another. Of course I hope for the best, but you never know. Still, I am trying to look at it as a new start rather than a sad ending, and I don't know what the outcome will be yet. Also, it being a new year, I have got some new years targets and resolutions made. One of which is taken from a puttery treat over at brocante home, in which Alison suggests making a list of 12 books you would love to read this year, and buying them or ordering them from your library. Of course, me being me I will be borrowing them, and on my tea break at work this afternoon, I started to think about all the books I have heard of recently that I would like to read, and started to make my list. There really is no better place to spend a rainy afternoon than in a tiny village library, with the tip tap tapping of rain on the windowpane making you glad to be indoors. Knowing that there are thousands upon thousands of books just awaiting your command to flit to your side, ready for enjoyment. I definitely want to read the new Sarah Ban Breathnach title, Peace and Plenty, and I think I want to read another Dennis Mackail, although not sure what. I want to spend a bit more time choosing my titles...but if you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them!
Somehow the pitter patter of rain entered into my consciousness, and I found myself almost swaying along to it as I shelved shelf after shelf of books this afternoon! It made me smile, and got me thinking about the pattern my days have fallen into recently. Isn't it wonderful to have a pattern to your days again, after the delightful upheavals of Christmas and New Year?
Every morning, I wake to The Today Programme on Radio 4, and lay in the warmth and the dark for 20 minutes of so until my lovely husband brings me a cup of tea. Then I get up and make our packed lunches and breakfasts (today was pear porridge, delicious!) while he washes and dresses. We eat together, and I send him off to work with a kiss. Then it is my turn to ready myself for the day, and walk to work. While I am at work, I enjoy it, but also quietly look forward to our evening. I get in first, and put the kettle on, then get the dinner ready and have a little potter about. Unless it is snowing or raining, I will fling open every window for as long as I can, before shutting them and lighting some candles. When Carl comes home, I always always say 'welcome home!' and then we share our dinner. Afterwards, one of us washes up while the other has a bath, then the other one has a bath. While the baths are happening, our electric blanket is on warming the bed, and we go to bed with our books and snuggle in the warmth.
Simple days, but blissful. I like the routine, the regularity. Of course, we don't do this every single night...I go to a stitching club every month or so, and a book club every month, and a friend comes to tea each Monday....but this is the every day fabric of our lives.
Wherever you are this evening, I hope that life for you seems to be beautiful ribbon on a spool that you can't wait to unfurl. A big thank you to the lovely Dinah...your comments have made me feel so glad to be back here and posting again! And a warm good evening and best wishes to all of you.
love, Mimi xxx
I am about to go through a big upheaval at one of my jobs which I know is going to mean a new start for me in one way or another. Of course I hope for the best, but you never know. Still, I am trying to look at it as a new start rather than a sad ending, and I don't know what the outcome will be yet. Also, it being a new year, I have got some new years targets and resolutions made. One of which is taken from a puttery treat over at brocante home, in which Alison suggests making a list of 12 books you would love to read this year, and buying them or ordering them from your library. Of course, me being me I will be borrowing them, and on my tea break at work this afternoon, I started to think about all the books I have heard of recently that I would like to read, and started to make my list. There really is no better place to spend a rainy afternoon than in a tiny village library, with the tip tap tapping of rain on the windowpane making you glad to be indoors. Knowing that there are thousands upon thousands of books just awaiting your command to flit to your side, ready for enjoyment. I definitely want to read the new Sarah Ban Breathnach title, Peace and Plenty, and I think I want to read another Dennis Mackail, although not sure what. I want to spend a bit more time choosing my titles...but if you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them!
Somehow the pitter patter of rain entered into my consciousness, and I found myself almost swaying along to it as I shelved shelf after shelf of books this afternoon! It made me smile, and got me thinking about the pattern my days have fallen into recently. Isn't it wonderful to have a pattern to your days again, after the delightful upheavals of Christmas and New Year?
Every morning, I wake to The Today Programme on Radio 4, and lay in the warmth and the dark for 20 minutes of so until my lovely husband brings me a cup of tea. Then I get up and make our packed lunches and breakfasts (today was pear porridge, delicious!) while he washes and dresses. We eat together, and I send him off to work with a kiss. Then it is my turn to ready myself for the day, and walk to work. While I am at work, I enjoy it, but also quietly look forward to our evening. I get in first, and put the kettle on, then get the dinner ready and have a little potter about. Unless it is snowing or raining, I will fling open every window for as long as I can, before shutting them and lighting some candles. When Carl comes home, I always always say 'welcome home!' and then we share our dinner. Afterwards, one of us washes up while the other has a bath, then the other one has a bath. While the baths are happening, our electric blanket is on warming the bed, and we go to bed with our books and snuggle in the warmth.
Simple days, but blissful. I like the routine, the regularity. Of course, we don't do this every single night...I go to a stitching club every month or so, and a book club every month, and a friend comes to tea each Monday....but this is the every day fabric of our lives.
Wherever you are this evening, I hope that life for you seems to be beautiful ribbon on a spool that you can't wait to unfurl. A big thank you to the lovely Dinah...your comments have made me feel so glad to be back here and posting again! And a warm good evening and best wishes to all of you.
love, Mimi xxx
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Storecupboard Hero: Cocoa
Today has been a rather blissful day. I got up early in the dark to make dear Carl's breakfast and lunch to take to work, had a cup of tea, then put my electric blanket on and got back into bed in the dark, and listened to radio 4. I drifted off to sleep half listening to the radio, and eventually woke up at the unheard of hour of 10:00!
I will be working on Saturday, so I had today off, and for the first time I can actually remember, I have had a whole day to myself. Nobody to meet for lunch, nowhere to have to be, no appointments to keep. And so I resolved not to venture outside at all! Because it was bright and beautiful I flung open all the windows, and put the washign on, with the idea that I would hang it on the line to dry. Alas by lunch time it was cloudy and overcast, so it is now hanging up around me in our little sitting room, but it was lovely to air the flat and get the washing up done.
I had the most decadent treat this afternoon...I took a bath scattered with soap rose petals which dissolved into blissful bubbles. I had a candle alight, and the January edition of Country Living Magazine. I can't recommend a mid afternoon bath enough for lightening the spirit in January! Come to think of it, at any time really!
I was out of the bath and dressed again just in time for our groceries to be delivered. I really got out of the habit of having our shopping delivered last year (and a lot of other habits too, as my poorly neglected blog shows!) but I am glad I have resumed it. It is a happy mix of vintage housekeeping and modern housekeeping...sitting down to write out a menu plan for the week, and ordering the wherewithall to produce a week of seasonal, tasty meals. The method of ordering the goods has changed, but getting everything delivered takes us right back in time.
I have my lamp alight now, and a few candles, so the room looks warm and cozy. I have a sausage, tomato and bean casserole bubbling in the oven which smells divine. I like to think that it is a nice home to come home to, and when Carl is back in a few minutes, I hope he likes walking in to cooking dinner smells!
The other scent that you can just catch on the air is a rich chocolatey scent, for I have been baking. I have made chocolate squares...a very quick and easy recipe which has made me once again realise that Cocoa is a vertiable storecupboard hero. I love the connotations cocoa has....it makes me think of dressing gowns and hot water bottles, bluestocking girls studying english literature...and I also love how useful it is. From one little drum of powder, you can make a delicious drink, scrumptious truffles, chocolate cakes, and my new favourite chocolate mousse.
Imagine, if someone offered you half an ounce of chocolate. Even if it was the most lovely quality delicious chocolate, it wouldn't really go very far, and it wouldn't feel like much of a treat. However, should you melt 3 ounces of dark chocolate, then stir in 4 tsp of cocoa dissolved in 4 tbsp water, the yolks of 2 eggs and cool....then whip the egg whites until stiff, then whisk in 1 tbsp caster sugar, and fold these into the chocolate mixture....divide between 6 glasses and chill.....well, wouldn't you rather have that? These are rich and light and utterly divine...tie on your apron and work that magic for yourself!
I will be working on Saturday, so I had today off, and for the first time I can actually remember, I have had a whole day to myself. Nobody to meet for lunch, nowhere to have to be, no appointments to keep. And so I resolved not to venture outside at all! Because it was bright and beautiful I flung open all the windows, and put the washign on, with the idea that I would hang it on the line to dry. Alas by lunch time it was cloudy and overcast, so it is now hanging up around me in our little sitting room, but it was lovely to air the flat and get the washing up done.
I had the most decadent treat this afternoon...I took a bath scattered with soap rose petals which dissolved into blissful bubbles. I had a candle alight, and the January edition of Country Living Magazine. I can't recommend a mid afternoon bath enough for lightening the spirit in January! Come to think of it, at any time really!
I was out of the bath and dressed again just in time for our groceries to be delivered. I really got out of the habit of having our shopping delivered last year (and a lot of other habits too, as my poorly neglected blog shows!) but I am glad I have resumed it. It is a happy mix of vintage housekeeping and modern housekeeping...sitting down to write out a menu plan for the week, and ordering the wherewithall to produce a week of seasonal, tasty meals. The method of ordering the goods has changed, but getting everything delivered takes us right back in time.
I have my lamp alight now, and a few candles, so the room looks warm and cozy. I have a sausage, tomato and bean casserole bubbling in the oven which smells divine. I like to think that it is a nice home to come home to, and when Carl is back in a few minutes, I hope he likes walking in to cooking dinner smells!
The other scent that you can just catch on the air is a rich chocolatey scent, for I have been baking. I have made chocolate squares...a very quick and easy recipe which has made me once again realise that Cocoa is a vertiable storecupboard hero. I love the connotations cocoa has....it makes me think of dressing gowns and hot water bottles, bluestocking girls studying english literature...and I also love how useful it is. From one little drum of powder, you can make a delicious drink, scrumptious truffles, chocolate cakes, and my new favourite chocolate mousse.
Imagine, if someone offered you half an ounce of chocolate. Even if it was the most lovely quality delicious chocolate, it wouldn't really go very far, and it wouldn't feel like much of a treat. However, should you melt 3 ounces of dark chocolate, then stir in 4 tsp of cocoa dissolved in 4 tbsp water, the yolks of 2 eggs and cool....then whip the egg whites until stiff, then whisk in 1 tbsp caster sugar, and fold these into the chocolate mixture....divide between 6 glasses and chill.....well, wouldn't you rather have that? These are rich and light and utterly divine...tie on your apron and work that magic for yourself!
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