Rattling On...

Paper cuts...

Of course I had to get a copy of Kirstie's book. Me being the sort of person who watches her on Tv and all. (And I created a Category for her just to spite the school counsellor) It's got some good projects in it and I decided to take the plunge with the papercut bauble.

Only first I had to get some equipment. Turns out the cutting mat was a mere £4 and a scalpel £1.20. Then there was the paper...

I'd seen some examples of woodblock printing at a recent craft fair, the paper was lovely and thick and sort of spongy. I wanted me some of that, so went to the local art shop and got some decent cartridge paper, not quite what I wanted, and some watercolour paper. Exactement.

Out with the mat and the scalpel, tracing paper at the ready. Image onto spongy paper, knife in hand and off I went.

A short time later and I wondered what the strange sensation in my fingers was. Pain. My hand had crept down the handle to get a better grip and more control, resulting in the blade making unwanted contact with skin.

Points to note: Watercolour paper is very thick and difficult to plough through, especially for the novice. Scalpels are very sharp and should be held at all times by the handle provided for that very purpose.

All that considered it wasn't a really shabby first go (don't anyone dare contradict that) and from a distance is presentable. It's hanging on the ivy whatsit I bought a bit ago. The one that was in the dining room, but the cat has mauled it so many times it's had to be put on the mantelpiece.

I had further attempts, all much better, with considerably thinner card. I will show those later as they are for the upcoming swap. The watercolour paper hasn't been discounted, I just have to order a heavy duty blade. I will conquer it.

This week's baking...

These are the marbled cookies from the book aptly titled Cookies!. They are crisp at the edges and chewy in the middle... very nice. As usual I made them on the large side and got 27 from the mixture, the book suggested 36- for those who like a dainty nibble with a cuppa.

I made cookies as cakes have a lot left over these days with only two of us available to eat them. I think I'll start taking half of every cake into work, which would mean I could still make my favourite kind of baking and there'd be no waste.

Last night, after finishing the ironing I started a new craft project. I bought the necessary equipment a bit ago and decided to go for it. I'll reveal the products at a later date but I will tell you that I haven't come off unscathed. I fear my technique must leave something to be desired as I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to shed blood while crafting. Possibly I don't have quite the right tools, but I didn't want to fork out loads then find I didn't like it or was rubbish at it.

Anyway, it was fun. Which is half the point in making things, for me at least.

Troublesome wind...

I am worn to a frazzle through lack of sleep. On top of the awful week, we have been having gale force winds here. The last two nights have been particularly bad and I didn't get more than a couple of hours' sleep over either.

Last night the chimney was blowing back and the living room was full of smoke. The garden was being demolished and rain was lashing down the whole time.

The wind in itself doesn't stop me sleeping, it's the worry about the damage. When I lived down south many moons ago the house was wrecked twice by storm damage. There was insurance... and HASSLE. It's the hassle bit that keeps me awake, though I know that logically nothing can be done.

But there you go, the power of the sub-conscious is incredible.

I went out this morning to put things back where they belong, to see some crazy birds just riding the wind and being blown all over the place. It looked like they were loving it! The gull in the picture was just coasting, wings out, rising and falling. 

The same conditions have been given for most of the next week. I have thought of an answer to my problem, if anyone knows of a little place such as this up for sale then I may be able to embrace the blustery weather in future...

Other people...

Did anyone else watch Living with the Amish last night? It was very good.

The lifestyle, for me, is very appealing. All the things the transplanted British teenagers found difficult are the things I particularly liked! The quietness, the act of being busy all day, cooking, making things and even cleaning.

I don't have a problem with not wearing make-up (I don't anyway) and women wear a bonnet so that's the hair issue out of the way. I love the idea of wearing plain clothes that are the same from day to day (it looked like people had signature colours though). I never minded school and I have worn corporate clothing for years in the past. I don't like clothes shopping at all and would be happy never to have to do it again. And take a look at their kitchen, those chairs...

I'm over-simplifying obviously, and there's a religious aspect that I would find it difficult not to debate. Having said that I love a good sermon, singing hymns and am happy to appreciate and celebrate nature and the world in general regardless of how it came into being.

A bit of simplification would benefit a lot of people these days.

Weather forecast...

We all know what a red sky in the morning means, don't we? Trouble, weather-wise, if we're to believe the old rhyme.

Do not fear. For I have bought a snow shovel.

I've never owned one before and last year (much snow) I used a shovel that Goliath would be proud of, last used for mixing concrete and weighing a ton by itself, never mind with a good load of snow on it as well. It nearly put my lights out.

But now I have a proper tool, designed for the job and lightweight to boot, well I imagine there won't be a sign of snow. Because that's usually how it goes isn't it?

In the summer (much rain) I was due to go to a county show. The weather had been appalling and I hadn't got any wellies, so I bought some, and a new waterproof coat to be on the safe side. The day was a scorcher. So hot in fact that I decided to stay at home and be in the garden.

However I do predict a lot of frost and ice this year. You see, I threw away my black leather boots a while ago, the ones I've worn to work for the last few winters. They were getting tatty and the temptation to still wear them was strong so they had to go in the bin. Anyway, I went on the lookout for new Sensible Boots. And bought insensible ones. The sort that I won't be able to stand up in if it's icy. They look good, though. And I have those wellies from the summer...

This week's baking...

This week at school is meeting-free week, we are supposed to do a series of team building and/or relaxing things all week. Only school is strapped for cash. We were asked for ideas that were fun and free and we could do ourselves...

M and I offered to host a staff quiz, and that was las night. As soon as I got home I made this cake, which is for a girl we work with who's 16 today. I put the jam and cream in this morning when it wasn't even light yet.

Work has been manic, I wish I could tell you all about it but it wouldn't be right. Everything has been manic really, in a not-nice way. My cousin died on Monday night. She found she had a brain tumour less than three months ago. When the phone rang yesterday morning I knew what the news was going to be. She was 50.

And then yesterday I found out an old friend has a terminal illness, he's 46. Life can be so shitty.

So today, we'll all enjoy the cake and celebrate being 16...

Added at lunchtime: Got to work to find out my line manager's Dad died in the night.

In which I discuss my piles...

A friend asked me the other day whether I was a Piler or a Filer. There's a third category of Tosser, fortunately he didn't mention that one. (This is also known as the Purger category... equally difficult to bring up [!!] in conversation)

I am a Piler. Most definitely, and so is he as it happens. My piles are not random and within themselves are quite organised. Pilers keep notebooks and lists as opposed to electronic diaries, they have drawers full of Stuff. They may or may not know exactly where everything is... these definitions form the sub categories.

I aspire to being a Filer. I am an occasional Tosser. However my piles do not define me as an individual, I am not a slave to my piles. I am their master, or at least I like to believe I am.

Please feel free to out yourself here. Do not be ashamed of your piles...

Hunter gatherer...

When I've said, in the past, there are no crab apple trees near me I've been lying. 

I just hadn't realised that these small yellow berries were actually apples and most probably edible. Shame on me for thinking all apples looked like, well, apples.

The tree is right nest to a large old yew tree

and you wouldn't want to go eating those berries!

It's all well and good doing a spot of foraging but you need to know what's what. Right under the yew tree was a good crop of fungus.

Shaggy parasols, yum yum. But there are a few too many dogs walked in this part of the park to even consider picking them...

Bad hair days...

My hair is driving me mad. Not literally, I hope. It will not lie down and is in a constant state of frizz, not helped by most days being misty and damp, the worst kind of atmosphere for anyone with frizz-prone locks. And don't believe all that spiel on the Products (shampoo/conditioner/serum/spray...) -we're being lied to. Unless of course I'm not applying them properly...

I mentioned this to my hairdresser who took a gander and pronounced it to be New Hair Growth causing the problem. That is to say my new hairs are growing back on the curly side and, horrors, on the less than colourful side. Grey. So, mostly straight and dark brown with a halo of wiry grey. An altogether awful look.

I don't want to go grey, but I'm not surprised it's happening with the year I've had. I don't really want to go curly either, but what can you do? Let's just hope it happens uniformly. Failing that I've always fancied wearing a headscarf when venturing out into less favourable weather (most days here) as my Mother's generation did.

She, my Mother, used to walk us to school on occasion with her rollers in and headscarf atop, getting ready for a night out and starting early. It wasn't unusual I seem to remember. My Aunty M (over the road) had one of those hairdryers where you put a bag thing over your head, complete with rollers, and could walk around while warm air billowed softly from a tube screwed into the side of the bag thing (obviously this precluded one from leaving the house, unlike a scarf). Tres modern, but then Aunty M had all the latest gadgets, she had a microwave before anyone else and a deep fat fryer... She also used to get up at 5am every day to do the cleaning before going to work. 

The alarm on my phone has just reminded me that today is Dog Worming Day. I know how to live it up at the weekend...

Tree envy...

Ahhh, some people just don't know how lucky they are.

This rather splendid apple tree is just sitting there in a garden not far from here, the apples strewn on the ground and rolling down the road.

I am just contemplating whether I'm too old to go scrumping...

Dark satanic mills...

The sun put in an appearance yesterday and I went into the garden to see who was out and about. The mouse was in his spot at the end of the garden but too quick for me to get a photo of. But the robin, this is the friendly one, followed me around and kept his eye on me.

So, on Tuesday night I did it. I went along to the WI for a taster session. It's not the local one, it's a few miles away and held in a proper old village hut. I think they must have heard I was going as there was apparently the best turnout they've had for a long time. I have to say I really didn't think they did the singing thing any more, but the President asked 'Could you play Jerusalem, J' and we all arose...

There was a lady there who gave us a lesson in card making, with cunningly folded paper arranged in a spiral. She was a no-nonsense sort (bossy) who had about six pairs of scissors for forty odd women. But we all got it finished in the end. 

Net month is the Christmas party, we have to take a gift for under the tree and the competition is for a handmade card. Guess who'll be entering that one.

I shall give it a few goes and decide whether to join as a full member. To be very honest I had hoped there would be a few more younger members than there were, and of course they are all very traditional  members (not like Kirstie's Disparate HouseWIves from her show the other night). But there you go... it was fun, sometimes unintentionally so, and there were some genuinely friendly ladies there. 

I know it's possible to set up your own branch, and that's very appealing, but I think a working knowledge of the whole affair is desirable if not essential. So watch this space, for now I'm off to re-acquaint myself with the words to Jerusalem. As is JJ, the other new person (an Irish lady) who sat near me and asked afterwards 'What was that bloody song?' 

This week's baking...

I had a lovely comment on my Ravelry page recently asking about sharing recipes for the baking I put on the blog. So today's post is a quick roundup of a few.

Today's cake is a madeira with crunchy lemon topping. The madeira recipe is here and the topping is just caster sugar mixed with neat lemon juice, maybe half a teacupful. Poke a fork repeatedly into the top of the cake when it comes out of the oven and spoon the mixture over. Leave to go hard, eat.

The sachertorte was made with a lovely, rich chocolate recipe I often use for layered cakes. It's not specifically a sachertorte, just a lovely cake.

8oz margarine, 6oz self raising/rising flour, 2oz unsweetened cocoa powder, 8oz caster (superfine) sugar, 4 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Put all the ingredients into a bowl (yes all at once) and whisk for 5 minutes until it looks like a mousse. I used a 9 inch springform tin with a paper circle on the base, this gave a plenty deep enough cake. (If you split the mix into two you can use any filling and have a lovely sponge cake variation)

Make sure the mixture is good and level. Bake in a 180C/350F/Gas 4 oven for 20-30 minutes. Keep checking... mine (fan oven) never seem to take long to cook and you don't want it over done.

The ganache recipe is 150mls double cream, 150g dark chocolate (no need to buy precious stuff). Heat the cream and add the broken-up chocolate, combine and leave to cool for a while. I just put the cream in a pan and it was almost boiling when I added the chocolate, turned off the heat and stirred with a wooden spoon. You could use a microwave if you're careful. 

Now, put a thin coating of apricot jam over the cake, stand it on the plate you are going to display it on, then pour the ganache over and manoeuvre about until it has run down the sides and covered all the cake. Warning: this will be very messy and needs a palette knife and paper towels to clean up the plate in order to make it presentable. However if you try to change plates then it'll wrinkle the ganache and not look so good. The choice is yours... Be brave and go for it!

I had ganache left over and made some truffles. You could use it as an ice-cream topping, make frosting or just eat it.

I always use the Be-ro Christmas cake and Christmas pudding recipes (I have the little recipe book you can order on the site). However, I just use them as a guide and inevitably add loads more nuts (hazel, almonds, walnuts), glace cherries, and all sorts of dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, currants, apricots) so that one 'portion' turns out to make two Christmas cakes and a very large pudding. I don't change any of the other ingredients. I also use the very darkest sugar available to man, which gives a great colour. But I like them to look dark, that bit's up to you.

I always wrap the cake tin in newspaper and tie it with string to prevent burning, and the pudding has a layer of foil and greaseproof paper (with a pleat) on top, tied with string. I stand the pudding on an upturned jam jar lid when it's steaming. Very low-tech but effective.

What more can I tell you? If there's anything anyone wants to know or details of a recipe then please just ask.  I don't pretend to be an expert, just an enthusiast, but if nothing else I can pass on some How Not-tos learned through bitter experience! 

Alberta, I hope that was what you were after!

Calling all cat owners...

At last! Something useful to put on the Christmas list (and not priced over £400- always good). And you can get it from amazon, another plus point as you won't even have to leave the comfort of your chair.

Let's face it, if you were the energetic type then that cat hair would be history anyway. My Mother would have caught it before it hit the ground. When I take the dog/s round (and I only ever do if it's unavoidable) she has special thick sheet things she puts over all her carpets. Really.

Now you need not feel guilty for failing to wield the vacuum endlessly, no- just explain to friends and neighbours that it's your hobby. You need to have hairballs in the corners and felt behind the radiators.

Please note this is not a review, it's just for info. I found it whilst trawling for something completely different. But I know how you all love my fantasy Christmas present lists, and this fits on it nicely.

A bit more retail therapy...

On Saturday it didn't rain and the sun almost came out. Which was good because I had a day out in Manchester where I met up with Emily and Emma for a bit of retail therapy. Yarn therapy really as we were off to a newish yarn shop in the Northern Quarter, Purl City Yarns.

I got the direction to the cafe, where we were meeting, from the internet and it had given me quite a roundabout route, but it did mean I got to see this great mural on the side of a building. The next one along had been demolished so someone has cheered up the space with a bluetit!

I bought some special yarns to make things for myself, but also got loads of chunky for Christmas projects for the girls. They saw me making something for the upcoming Holiday Swap I'm in and said they'd like what I was making as well. I'll know the pattern in my sleep as I made one last year as well. All will be revealed when they're all finished.

On Sunday I went to The Dome to a Christmas shopping event (I went to one last year as well). There didn't seem to be quite as many stalls as last year but the ones there were all excellent and seemed to be doing good trade. I couldn't resist a few things but what I came away with most of was inspiration. A good part of the stuff on sale was handmade and really great quality, but the displays were the things that set them apart. Some people just have a way with presenting things, don't they?

As it was Remembrance Sunday there was a minute's silence when the chimes of Big Ben were played over the Tannoy. There were also some young opera singers there performing occasionally between the christmas music and after the silence one of the sang 'White Cliffs of Dover'. It was very moving. Especially considering what the building used to be in a former life.

All in all a fun weekend. Which is the very best kind...

Giveaway Winner...

The winner of the Autumn Giveaway ( Homemade gifts vintage style ) is.... Eithne!

She and her family are having a handmade and secondhand Christmas, such a great idea, and this book should give her loads of inspiration.

This reminds me of someone I once knew. He had his own business and suddenly became very successful. Christmases were getting out of hand in the Competitive Gift Buying stakes and so the whole family decided to have a £5 Christmas (kids included). £5 was the top amount anyone could spend on one person, but if you could get something free or secondhand or buy bits to make something that was fine. He said it was the best Christmas they had ever had.

And I once received a personalised wooden spoon, wrapped in newspaper, from a skint friend. It was lovely and I had it for years. It really is the thought that counts.

Eithne, please email me your details and then you can get cracking on the presents, the link is at the top of the page.