Not such a Happy Friday!

Hello everyone. I'm hoping that you are all having a much better Friday than I currently am. The lurgy has struck with avengence and I am currently bed bound clutching my little hot water bottle. R kindly did the school run for me this morning, as I didn't dare to stray too far from the loo! All is calm at the moment though, so I thought I'd do my Friday Happy post for Planet Penny.

My favourite happy moment of the week has to be my camellia which is flowering its little heart out. Actually, I'm not entirely sure whether it is, in fact, a camellia or an azalea. I tend to get the 2 confused but, unless anyone would like to tell me otherwise, I'm going to run with camellia. After a mild spell, its buds were just starting to open and then we had the snow. I was worried that it would be too much and it would lose all its flowers before they had a chance to get going but, fortunately, it appears to be a hardy little thing. I couldn't resist nipping outside to take a picture against a rare bit of blue sky. The pink/blue combination always makes me happy.

We have another similar one, but it's further away from the house and much smaller - it's even smaller still now that Bambi et al have discovered it. They really are wreaking havoc on the plants at the moment.

Other happies this week include:

Making some rocky road for E. She has AS level mocks and her Grade 8 piano exam looming. The stress is starting to tell, so I thought a little chocolatey comfort might go a long way. I like to make them in little clusters, rather than slices, but I admit they do have certain 'presentation' issues! They have pecans, rich tea biscuits and veggie marshmallow in them and are really rather moreish.

This little find at one of the local charity shops has transformed my knitted block making. Whenever I get to the end of the row, I just whizz the dial round one and it keeps track of where I'm up to. For someone like me with a memory like a sieve, it's revolutionary! Who would have thought that a 50p pair of stitch counters (there is a smaller version too for if I eventually find time to knit that pair of socks!) could bring me such pleasure?

This little book came from the same shop and I'm looking forward to trying it out when I'm feeling a bit better. It was my first WI meeting as a fully paid up member this week, so it seemed appropriate! The fleecy blankie it's sitting on was also a thrifted find. I bought it to back my knitted block picnic blanket when it's finally finished.

My new mug from T K Maxx. The tulips in the garden aren't quite here yet, so while I'm waiting I'll have to be content enjoying this:

This little beauty is my new discovery - Village Fabrics, the patchwork and quilting shop, in Wallingford near Oxford. I was too embarrassed to take any photos inside (wimp that I am) but believe me, it's a little Aladdin's cave of treasure and well worth a nosy if you're ever in the vicinity. If not, next time I promise to be braver and get my camera out.

 I bought a few fat quarters to add to my stash. They're not my usual colours, I admit, but they're for a very specific project that I hope to be able to share with you next week. I've added a few scraps I already had to the pile in preparation.

Finally the loaf of the week - Pain de Campagne. It's a mixture of strong and rye flour with added oregano. It was supposed to be fresh oregano but Bambi had been at it again, so dry it had to be. 

That's all for this week. It's our Half Term holiday next week, but I imagine a lot of it will be spent watching E revise and listening to piano scales ........... wishing yours is more exciting.
Toodle Pip for now. x

Inklings

Hello! I've rather cheated on my Friday Happy picture this week, choosing instead to post a little collage. Wednesday saw me beetling off to Oxford to visit my darling L - always a happy moment. I was really lucky with the weather as it had snowed on Tuesday and I was worried about the roads. Fortunately, it mostly thawed overnight and it turned out to be pretty plain sailing. Anyway, here are a few of the pictures I snapped walking to her college:

Mostly they are views taken from Christchurch meadow. There is also a picture of the outside of 'Alice's Shop' and a photo of the lovely chap outside L's window - I think he may be a grotesque, rather than a gargoyle. 

We were very lucky with the weather - sunny but very cold. We spent a while wandering around Gloucester Green market, oohing over the size of the pomegranates for sale (sorry, I should have taken a photo!) and buying a ludicrous quantity of clementines for just a pound. Then we decided a spot of lunch might be in order and came here:

We tried coming here for lunch in the Summer, but couldn't fit through the door because it was so popular. As it turns out, there are considerably fewer tourists on a cold day in February, so we were in luck!

The sign on the wall explains its popularity:

I took a couple more snaps inside:

It was very atmospheric and lunch wasn't bad either; I can understand the usual crowds. We then went for a walk around Jericho, an area of Oxford I'd heard about (probably from Inspector Morse/ Lewis!) but never seen. It turned out to have some really quaint houses and was really rather lovely. Sorry about the lack of photos for this bit - I couldn't feel my fingers at this point! We finished off with a coffee and shared cake in the cafe at the Ashmolean. 

It looks like the hedgehog on L's jumper is eyeing up the stem ginger cake! Then, all too soon, it was time to say goodbye and dash home for the school run.

Other happies this week include:

Doing some of the 'Graduation' Quilt.

 Snapping more shots of Hamish and E having a cuddle:

 Flowering tete-a-tetes.

Waking up to this:

 

So, deciding to light the stove and do a bit of this:

 In an attempt to bust some more of that stash, I've started knitting some blocks from this book:

 Here are some of the ones I've done so far:  

 I started off doing this with a view to making a picnic blanket and then discovered this on Planet Penny's Happy Friday Links. Linda had had the same idea - I love her colours (mine will be a bit more of a mish-mash owing to using up the scraps) and the fact that she cleverly backed hers with fleece. I think I may try doing the same when I eventually finish it. It may take me a while - I'm not a natural knitter and I find I have to concentrate REALLY hard, otherwise I lose where I'm up to. I also can't 'tink' yet, so any mistake and I have to start all over again! Not a project for doing in front of the TV then!

One final happy this week:

 'Loaf of the week': Farl

I haven't tried it yet as it's still cooling but it certainly smells yummy. That's all for this week's happies. I'm just off to see if I can add Planet Penny's linky button to my sidebar - I'm not the most technically minded, so it may take me a while! Wishing you a warm and fun-filled weekend.
Toodle pip for now. x

Snowdrops

Could this be a sign of Spring that I spotted in the back garden this week? Listening to the howling winds and rain at the moment, it's difficult to believe but the camera never lies! So, this little moment is my Friday Happy for Planet Penny's blog. There aren't many snowdrops at the moment but I found these few, hardy little specimens ever so cheering.

Other happies this week include:

Snapping E and Hamish enjoying a wildlife programme together. E's dressing gown seems to have come out a most peculiar colour  - it's not really that bright!

Starting a new yarny project to bust some more of that stash. I think I'll post some more of this next week when I've progressed a bit further - I just took this photo because the yarn matched my dress!

A cup of tea, a chocolate brownie and this month's edition of Country Living ..... Bliss!

Apologies for the blurriness of this photo but I didn't want to scare the little chap away by trying to get closer. I bought some nigella seeds and a new feeder last month to try to attract some more finches to the garden. For weeks there was nothing and then suddenly they have discovered them and they are going down at a fair old rate.

Even the pheasants were joining in when I dropped some of the seeds refilling the feeder.

One of the chucks coming inside for a quick hello. That's the sleeve of E's onesie just visible in the corner there - we don't have a resident giraffe!

Loaf of the week: Irish soda bread. It was delicious but a little crumbly. Definitely one to do again though.

It doesn't seem like a year since I last bought a little pot of tete-a-tetes.

Finally, I went to a friend's house for lunch this week and stopped in the middle of Burnham Beeches to snap a quick photo. It's not the best view but it was the best I could do from the road. I took it because it's sunny and 10 minutes earlier on the M4 I'd just struggled through the most horrendous downpour - spray from the lorries, poor visibility, winds pushing me sideways, the works ........ and then this! British weather, don't you just love it?!

Anyway, that's all for this week's happies. I'm just off to Planet Penny to see what everyone else has been up to. Wishing you all a very happy weekend. x

'Use up the stash' Garden Throw

Greetings! I'm joining in with Planet Penny's 'Happy Friday' again. I feel very lucky this week because I seem to have had so many happy moments, it's been difficult to choose a favourite. I think, however, that it has to go to my 'Use up the Stash' Garden Throw. Since learning to crochet last year, I've made 4 blankets and have managed to accumulate quite a bit of stash. It seemed a pity to let it go to waste, so a quick visit to attic24 for inspiration and ...........

Ta-Dah!

 It's not as big as a blanket - hence the term 'throw' - and it was intended to liven up a wicker chair in the bedroom. Looking at the photo below, I think the cushion could do with a bit of a revamp too!

Thanks to Lucy, once again, for her fantastic and easy to follow tutorials. There does seem to be quite a bit of stash left, so I'm thinking maybe a picnic blankie next!

Other happies this week include:

An Oxfam find. This book has lots of lovely recipes which 'Minnie' and I are itching to try out. 

 'Loaf of the Week' - Ciabatta:

This was rather fun to make as the dough is incredibly wet and you think that it's never going to work. Paul Hollywood does seem to know what he's talking about though!

Kale crisps - I've been meaning to try these for a while. We like Kale and Hamish, the rabbit, goes mad for it, so there's usually some in the fridge. I did like these and felt rather virtuous tucking into them, as opposed to a packet of Walkers, the only problem was the smell - the house stank for the rest of the day. It was too cold to open the windows and, despite the best efforts of the extractor fan and my spruce scented candle, it did linger rather!

This week's selection of library books. I'm currently enjoying the new series of 'Broadchurch' on Monday evenings, so the top book is to refresh my memory of the first series. Having been to see 'The Theory of Everything' at the cinema (very good - watch out for the Oscar for Eddie Redmayne), I was inspired to get a Stephen Hawking book out. I have a feeling that it might go completely over my head but I'll give it a go. Finally, the quilting book is to give me some inspiration for the new quilt I have planned. I want to make a 'graduation quilt' for L in time for this Summer.

I thought she might go for blue and white and , when I asked her, that was her knee jerk reaction. On giving it more thought, however, she decided that she had quite a bit of blue stuff  (blankets and the like), so decided on greens and yellow. 'Spring-like' was the term used. Do you think these fabrics fit the brief? If you don't like them Sweetie - speak now!

It's marmalade time of year again and it was made so much easier this year by a few jam-related Christmas presents. First was a Kilner preserving pan which means I'm not kept hovering anxiously, expecting it to boil over the cooker top at any moment.

Look at all the extra room I have!

Second was a jam funnel, which made the whole process of jarring it up a doddle. Then, Santa also brought me some cute labels and fabric tops.

Here is the final product, after I'd had fun playing:

The chickens, after much hint dropping, bought me a skein of grey yarn for Christmas (yes, sadly, the animals do buy us gifts!). I'd seen a scarf that I loved on a blog a while ago but for the life of me I couldn't remember which one. So this is the result of my winging it:

Of course, after I'd finished it Joules at Sew Sweet Violet posted pictures on her blog of her 2014 makes and, wouldn't you know it, there was the scarf! Joules' version can be seen here. Hers is so much neater, with a much snazzier edging and, if I'd done alternate rows, I could have used up more of that stash! Oh well.

Finally, the sun was spectacular on this morning's school run. These photos were taken in the school car park. E humoured her mother and, risking ridicule from her school friends, bravely jumped out of the car, camera in hand, and tried to capture the moment for me. Sadly, the photos don't do it justice. The colour was much more intense and the view better from the school drive, where you could see it through the trees throwing the silhouetted branches into sharp relief. It would have meant risking life and limb though, so I'm grateful for the ones she managed to get!

Anyway, that's all for the moment. Wishing you all a fun-filled and cosy weekend.
Toodle Pip for now. x

Bedside Posy

Good morning! This week's Friday Happy is my little bedside posy of flowers. I've seen a few people who do this on a regular basis and I always mean to but somehow have never got around to it. On Wednesday I went along to my first WI meeting. I had intended to go along as one of my '50 new things' last year, but school speech days, Christmas parties etc. got in the way, so this month was my first opportunity. Rather disappointingly, Helen Mirren and Julie Walters weren't there, but they were a lovely bunch of ladies, all very welcoming. It is apparently their practice to give a small posy to anyone with a birthday that month. Well, the January birthday lady couldn't make it, so they gave the posy to the newcomer - lucky, lucky me! As I'd just bought a spray of carnations for downstairs, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to try a bedside posy and ..... I love it. It makes me smile every time I enter the room and to wake up to the smell of freesias is just lovely. I must make a habit of this.

Other happies this week include:

Danish pastries : a special breakfast before L went back to uni  - not such a happy :(  

This week's 'Loaf of the Week' - a cottage loaf:

Working on the border of my 'use up the stash' garden throw:

Enjoying a brief interlude of sunlight between all the high winds and snow flurries:

One of this week's library books. L bought me 'Plenty' for my birthday and I have loved it. This one has some delicious looking recipes too, although I have to say that the 'cauliflower cake' (Yotam's alternative to cauliflower cheese) was not well received!

That's all for this week - I'm just off to mug up on the words to 'Jerusalem'! Hopefully, I'll be able to post a photo of my new throw next Friday. Wishing all of you a fun-filled and storm free weekend. x