Royal wedding

 

What a great day

We decorated…….

No opportunity was missed for patriotism.

We had a feast and watched on tv.

The things in paper were asparagus frittata cooked in prosciutto ham cases. Mum made them from this recipe in good food magazine. Highly recommended to accompany fizz. We also had coronation chicken in lettuce cups, pork pie, quiche and sausage rolls. I stopped short of sandwiches but we were after traditional British party

Here is the fridge “ before”. Its nothing like that now.

A great family day in which we made memories and celebrated being together and Britishness

Easter

Some family traditions

Some time off to enjoy the sculpture park.

 

Highly recommended by the way. It was all free apart from £4 parking all day. Take a picnic. We were there all  morning and barely scratched the surface.

Tomorrow, how we celebrated the royal wedding.

For the love of pie

 

 

For a change from the usual roast Sunday dinner I decided to make pie. Primarily because my meat and tatties son will eat AND enjoy it. But its cheap and delish too. I (of course) learned to make it from my Mum as a child.

Careful caramelisation of the meat is essential for a rich brown colour.

Then onions are browned in the meaty pan.

Naturally I can do nothing kitchenwise without my constant friend. On hand in case anything gets loose.

Old speckled hen ale to scrape up the meaty bottom of the pan. I used half a can and topped up with homemade chicken stock. My husband uses all ale. The meat was dusted in flour before I started which acts as a thickening agent.

At this stage it went into the oven for 3 hours at 130 degrees. After that a shop bought puffed pastry lid went on and It cooked for maybe half an hour. I don’t remember exactly. I egg washed the top for a lovely golden colour. We had this with  Swede and carrot mash, roasty taties and Towering Yorkshire puddings, made by a genuine Yorkshire man. Mmmmm bliss. The Yorkshire man washed up too

The things you do for your children.

T was supposed to be going to a party last night at school, games and such. All dressed up in Halloween garb. At the last minute it was cancelled. I realise that it could be down to a bad choice of day but it was mentioned that a lot of the kids thought that the party was “lame” and “for kids”. Well pardon me, at 12, THEY ARE KIDS!!!

So, T was gutted and I felt sad so………

Severed fingers and eyeball cakes.

 

Out of the garden pumpkin.

He dressed up as the Terminator and I think the evening was saved.

Back to the ferrero project, here is this weeks offering. By the way feel free to make these to sell. If anyone asks Tell them where the pattern can be found. Also, I feel that I should mention that the suggested hook size is just that, a suggestion. I crochet loose but with these things am a bit tighter so play around.

Also I would love to see what you make so show a picture here http://www.flickr.com/groups/crochet-ferrero/pool/

Pattern is here

UK terms

US terms

And they said multitasking was impossible

Or so it was said by an eminent (female) scientist who I almost believed for a short while. But as I stood (sweating) head down in my green house, planting the tomatoes whilst playing ball with a fussy dog, having organised a play/homework schedule for my son and I thought “who was she kidding?”The weekend continued in that vein but isn’t it nice to accomplish so much. Nah it was fun, I love to potter and the sun was out…..bliss.

Saturday we dropped son off AT SCHOOL!!!!! I know what mean parents. He took part in an activity day so DH and I soaked up cafe culture Harrogate style, very grown up. After all that we just chilled and I finished a crochet project Ta dah moment to come mid week.
Here's what I managed on Sunday

 

Corn under planted with leeks

pumpkin and cauli

             sunset

     bubblegum clematis

                                                                                  Visitors    

Homework!!! Notice the training chocolate!!

PS I made the foccacia suggested by Sue at the quince tree and it was delish. Thanks Sue, I had the leftovers today at lunch with pea soup mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

April montage

It is a scary thought to think that we are almost in May for goodness sake!!!! Where has the year gone? What do I have to show for the past 4 months? Well The blog for one. I am very encouraged by my new friends to continue. Thank you all I love to se that you have visited and some of you even leave me a comment or two. I have changed the layout a bit and now there are several pages to look at so do check them out if you are passing. The idea came from Sue and she kindly let me to show my sincere flattery in allowing me to copy her ideas. Cheers Sue!!


I think that they are shaping up nicely as a calendar. My crafty friend Sara bought me a blank calendar for crimbo and I am so full of ideas but short on time but I think that this is an excellent start.
I have a new project on the hook at the moment which brings my grand total of ufos to umptymillion. Yes I know I am bad and that I should finish something but its not my fault, I may have a syndrome or something. I think we may need to have a benefit concert for me……… Ahem meltdown averted. A sneaky peak of said new project can be seen in the April mosaic. See if you can spot it.
Anyway am off to bring cake to a poorly neighbour. Cake is a universal cure for whatever so I prescribe it whenever I can. Take care friends, we are on a bank holiday here in the UK which means Monday is a play day. Yeeeehaaarr. Enjoy your weekend whatever you do.xx

Birthdays

We are having a mad time of it this week and there seems to be no let up. I have been full on at my return to teaching course in Leeds and at my placement school. Today has been my first at home day. So what have I been up to? Well a dear friend is unwell and celebrating her birthday tomorrow so I made a few of these
       
All pink and girly. Hope she likes them. I have also made this small token to house a lip balm. As always from ravelry and for free no less. I urge my hooky chums to have a go as they make in seconds and are useful as they can be made to attach to a key ring. Here is the link

The DH is also birthdaying on Saturday and I have been promised a closed kitchen with lots of eating out. Can’t wait. I will let you know how it goes. Thomas is off tomorrow on a training day (I know he only got back on Monday) so we are off getting secret things.
I may well join you briefly tomorrow as its St Georges day and we like to get flaggy here in Lou land. Can I leave you with this? Not a summer but the hope of one.

Edited to say:
BTW I am always on the look out for crochet gift ideas for the men in my life. What ides do you have? Please share them you clever bunch. xxLLL