Have you ever noticed how much difference a smile makes? They're contagious. I often notice if I'm out for a walk and someone smiles and says hello, how much it lifts my spirits. It also works the other way, smiling at someone and seeing their face change into a smile is also a lovely feeling.
The reason for my babbling is because Mr Sinatra has just started singing the song on my iPod. It got me thinking about happiness and what makes us happy. I know that happiness runs a lot deeper than just smiling at a stranger but I think that when you take on a happy demeanour people can't help but get sucked in.
I love that little things like a song, can lift your spirits. I listened to Frank and I had a little spring in my step as I popped the kettle on. (Do you think I drink too much tea?!)
Along with the song, a cup of tea and 5 minutes of peace whilst Elle is asleep, I'm also being made to smile by the warmth of the sun coming through the window.
Signs of a good day?
I hope so.
It's the calm before the storm at the moment. I've got a lot to do today so I'm just having a few moments to myself before my day really starts. Technically my day started at 6:30am but so far I've been fuelled by caffeine so it's all a bit of a blur..!
What are you up to today?
A little update on my gardening projects... All my tulips have flowered and are now basking in the sunshine outside. They are the most wonderful colour, and have a real "Springtime" glow about them. My potatoes are still chitting. I think I'll have to leave them a slight bit longer before I pop them into the potato bags. My onions are growing wildly and I'm going to have to replant them into larger pots pretty soon. The other herbs that I was going to plant will be planted after our move.
Sad news on my grandad's cuttings that I took. They've all wilted and died. I've taken a few more so I'm hoping these will root. I'm going to buy some rooting powder today to help them along. Fingers crossed this will work!
I'll put some pictures up later when the sun makes it's way around to the back garden.
I'd like to invite you to take a few moments today, forget about any worries you may have even if it's just for a moment, and think of something that makes you smile. Something that makes your whole being lift. Close your eyes and enjoy that feeling for aslong as you can. I'd like to share my smile with you today.
My smile and my love.
I wish you a very happy Tuesday. Let's share our smiles today.
Thank you so very much for reading.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Love
Bex
x
Tuesday 22 March 2011
Take a stroll with me...
Good morning! A very happy Monday to you. How was your weekend?
Do you fancy a cuppa? I'm lacking sleep again so I'm probably going to have a few..!
Take a seat and tell me about your weekend.
Our weekend was lovely. We didn't rush around as much as we usually do. Most weekends we have so much to do that we barely come up for air. Elle is usually wisked away here there and everywhere as we go to visit family and friends, coffees at Trentham Estate, strolls around garden centres, walks in the countryside and trips to the supermarket. It's a busy life but one that we enjoy together.
So instead of all that, my mother in law came over on Saturday to take Elle out for a bit so I could make a start on the packing. It's funny how attached you become to a house. The mere thought of saying goodbye on Saturday is tearing me up inside. I thought the reason was because of my grandad and although this is still the biggest reason, it's also quite upsetting because this was our first proper home. It was where we lived before we got married, where we lived when we became husband and wife, where we brought Elle to when she first came out of hospital, the house where she first smiled, first rolled over, first sat up... you get my drift. I believe that all these moments in life are set into the brick work of a house. This house will forever hold those memories and never let them go. I love this house and shall be so very sad to leave.
Having said that, our new house will hold many more wonderful memories, first steps, first words and first day at school, so I shall keep a smile on my face and remind myself of how lucky I am.
I must admit that Saturday's packing only saw 1 box packed as I did indulge in putting my feet up and enjoyed a WHOLE cup of tea uninterrupted. On her return my mother in law was accompanied by no less than 8 cream cakes/ fresh fruit tartes and so I popped the kettle on. I must add that we didn't eat them all, well not all at once anyways!
We thought we'd take full advantage of Saturday's sunshine and so we ventured to Barlaston Downs for a walk. It's not exactly suitable for prams but we had a good attempt. In true Elle fashion, she fell asleep and missed the whole glorious walk. The trees had all lost their sad winter look and seemed to be smiling as the odd ones were bearing the start of their summer attire. The grass was looking greener and the odd daffodil was dotted here and there.
Sunday was nothing more than a lazy day. We continued to pack but I saw no point in Elle and I getting out of our pj's so we stayed cosy all day. In the afternoon Paul went food shopping and treated us to a wonderful Sunday roast. He's such a great cook, Elle loves his Sunday dinners, she wolfs down his food and almost always wants more!
And before we knew it, it was Sunday evening again.
I always have some time to myself on a Sunday evening. Paul sorts Elle out and puts her to bed whilst I pop on a face mask and jump in the bath to read my book by candlelight. Sounds cheesy but I look forward to it all week. I think it's important to take time if you can, it grounds you, calms you down and definitely de-stresses! After my bath I even managed to replace my horribly chipped nail varnish. I felt like a new woman.
I hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as we did and I hope your Monday isn't too gruelling.
Thank you for stopping by, it's been lovely to have you.
All my love,
Bex
x
Do you fancy a cuppa? I'm lacking sleep again so I'm probably going to have a few..!
Take a seat and tell me about your weekend.
Our weekend was lovely. We didn't rush around as much as we usually do. Most weekends we have so much to do that we barely come up for air. Elle is usually wisked away here there and everywhere as we go to visit family and friends, coffees at Trentham Estate, strolls around garden centres, walks in the countryside and trips to the supermarket. It's a busy life but one that we enjoy together.
So instead of all that, my mother in law came over on Saturday to take Elle out for a bit so I could make a start on the packing. It's funny how attached you become to a house. The mere thought of saying goodbye on Saturday is tearing me up inside. I thought the reason was because of my grandad and although this is still the biggest reason, it's also quite upsetting because this was our first proper home. It was where we lived before we got married, where we lived when we became husband and wife, where we brought Elle to when she first came out of hospital, the house where she first smiled, first rolled over, first sat up... you get my drift. I believe that all these moments in life are set into the brick work of a house. This house will forever hold those memories and never let them go. I love this house and shall be so very sad to leave.
Having said that, our new house will hold many more wonderful memories, first steps, first words and first day at school, so I shall keep a smile on my face and remind myself of how lucky I am.
I must admit that Saturday's packing only saw 1 box packed as I did indulge in putting my feet up and enjoyed a WHOLE cup of tea uninterrupted. On her return my mother in law was accompanied by no less than 8 cream cakes/ fresh fruit tartes and so I popped the kettle on. I must add that we didn't eat them all, well not all at once anyways!
Sunday was nothing more than a lazy day. We continued to pack but I saw no point in Elle and I getting out of our pj's so we stayed cosy all day. In the afternoon Paul went food shopping and treated us to a wonderful Sunday roast. He's such a great cook, Elle loves his Sunday dinners, she wolfs down his food and almost always wants more!
And before we knew it, it was Sunday evening again.
I always have some time to myself on a Sunday evening. Paul sorts Elle out and puts her to bed whilst I pop on a face mask and jump in the bath to read my book by candlelight. Sounds cheesy but I look forward to it all week. I think it's important to take time if you can, it grounds you, calms you down and definitely de-stresses! After my bath I even managed to replace my horribly chipped nail varnish. I felt like a new woman.
I hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as we did and I hope your Monday isn't too gruelling.
Thank you for stopping by, it's been lovely to have you.
All my love,
Bex
x
Friday 18 March 2011
Friday's Child is Loving and Giving...
A very happy Friday to you & a happy Red Nose Day!
I must apologise for my absent blog yesterday. Elena is having real difficulty sleeping at the moment, I'm hoping it's due to her teeth (and not because she just doesn't want to sleep!) fingers crossed it passes as soon as possible. Due to this, yesterday Paul and I were absolutely wiped out. I was also feeling a bit delicate so I tried to sleep when I could. Today, well I'm not too much better but I can't leave you another day, so I'm accompanied by some homemade carrot and corriander soup, a bottle of water and a couple of paracetamol. Such a brave soul..!
How blue is the sky where you are? It's glorious here, there are a few clouds about but having had a potter out in the garden earlier, I'm pleased to say that there is some warmth coming from the sun today. Beautiful. I've pushed the curtains as wide as they'll go in a greedy attempt to capture all of the warmth for Elena and I as we sit and have dinner. I think it's working.
I had promised you a "crafty" post for yesterday so instead here it is today.
I was made a very happy lady last week, when my wonderful husband surprised me with a huge bouquet of flowers and a very thoughtful little card. Every day I would walk downstairs and be greeted by the most welcoming and fresh smell coming from the lillies and the roses. They sat proudly on top of my piano and I wished that they'd look that beautiful forever. Obviously not possible. So I thought I'd try my hand at flower pressing and then I can frame them. A lovely little piece to hang in our new home.
So today I've cut the flowers from their stems, heart-breaking but it'll be worth it. I've cut some leaves too. Unfortunately some of the flowers had started to wilt so I had to discard them. If you're pressing flowers, the flowers have to be in full bloom or just about to bloom. I read somewhere that a flower will still open fully whilst being pressed, so I've taken a few buds off to test this theory.
The flowers now need to dry out for a day and then over the weekend I'll be popping them onto some tissue paper - you can also use newspaper - and entering them into my German dictionary to "press". I'll probably weight them down even more by placing another book or a brick on top.
I was cheered up greatly yesterday when to my amazement I found that my tulips had started to flower. They're stunning!
What plans do you have for the weekend? I think we're going to spend the weekend packing as this will be our last weekend in our house. I'm trying very hard not to think about it too much as it's too upsetting. Paul said the most touching thing to me the other week, he said "Let's make a pact, when we're older and the kids have left home, if this house is for sale, we'll buy it and grow old here..." it made me cry then and it has just had the same effect writing it. I miss my grandad so very much...
Anyways, I hope you''ll be joining us tonight in watching Comic Relief. It amazes me everytime and with Children In Need also, how the nation comes together to give so generously to chairty. People really do have such big hearts and it's really wonderful that by donating just a small amount that you know you're making a difference.
I wish you a very happy weekend. Enjoy every second!
Thank you for reading & I'll see you on Monday.
Love
Bex
x
I must apologise for my absent blog yesterday. Elena is having real difficulty sleeping at the moment, I'm hoping it's due to her teeth (and not because she just doesn't want to sleep!) fingers crossed it passes as soon as possible. Due to this, yesterday Paul and I were absolutely wiped out. I was also feeling a bit delicate so I tried to sleep when I could. Today, well I'm not too much better but I can't leave you another day, so I'm accompanied by some homemade carrot and corriander soup, a bottle of water and a couple of paracetamol. Such a brave soul..!
How blue is the sky where you are? It's glorious here, there are a few clouds about but having had a potter out in the garden earlier, I'm pleased to say that there is some warmth coming from the sun today. Beautiful. I've pushed the curtains as wide as they'll go in a greedy attempt to capture all of the warmth for Elena and I as we sit and have dinner. I think it's working.
I had promised you a "crafty" post for yesterday so instead here it is today.
I was made a very happy lady last week, when my wonderful husband surprised me with a huge bouquet of flowers and a very thoughtful little card. Every day I would walk downstairs and be greeted by the most welcoming and fresh smell coming from the lillies and the roses. They sat proudly on top of my piano and I wished that they'd look that beautiful forever. Obviously not possible. So I thought I'd try my hand at flower pressing and then I can frame them. A lovely little piece to hang in our new home.
So today I've cut the flowers from their stems, heart-breaking but it'll be worth it. I've cut some leaves too. Unfortunately some of the flowers had started to wilt so I had to discard them. If you're pressing flowers, the flowers have to be in full bloom or just about to bloom. I read somewhere that a flower will still open fully whilst being pressed, so I've taken a few buds off to test this theory.
The flowers now need to dry out for a day and then over the weekend I'll be popping them onto some tissue paper - you can also use newspaper - and entering them into my German dictionary to "press". I'll probably weight them down even more by placing another book or a brick on top.
I was cheered up greatly yesterday when to my amazement I found that my tulips had started to flower. They're stunning!
What plans do you have for the weekend? I think we're going to spend the weekend packing as this will be our last weekend in our house. I'm trying very hard not to think about it too much as it's too upsetting. Paul said the most touching thing to me the other week, he said "Let's make a pact, when we're older and the kids have left home, if this house is for sale, we'll buy it and grow old here..." it made me cry then and it has just had the same effect writing it. I miss my grandad so very much...
Anyways, I hope you''ll be joining us tonight in watching Comic Relief. It amazes me everytime and with Children In Need also, how the nation comes together to give so generously to chairty. People really do have such big hearts and it's really wonderful that by donating just a small amount that you know you're making a difference.
I wish you a very happy weekend. Enjoy every second!
Thank you for reading & I'll see you on Monday.
Love
Bex
x
Wednesday 16 March 2011
The Wonders of Life...
A very happy Wednesday to you. What are you up to today? I know a lot of you read this when you get home from work in the evening, so I hope you've had as good a day as you can at work..!
Today, Elena and I are pottering. Well I'm pottering and Elle is making a mess. To be honest my pottering is mainly cleaning up her mess & I really can't believe how much she makes! For example, she's just had apple for a mid-afternoon snack and it has ended up everywhere. It's stuck in her blanket, in her ear, down her top, on the television stand, under the sofa and embedded in the footstool. Actually, I'm not quite sure she's eaten any at all. The smile on her face as she crawls up to me, shows me how pleased she is with herself. She gives a little sqeal and as I pick her up she plants a big kiss on my cheek.
I love being a mum.
I don't think you can ever really understand until you have a child, how much love is involved. I have always wanted a family, from in my teens I knew I wanted to be a wife and a mum. I'm not a career person and although I got my degree (eventually) I struggled to really decide what I wanted to do. I spent the last 10 years working in Restaurants/Hotels etc and worked my way up to manager but I knew there was more to me than that. I know now that being a wife and mum is my calling in life and I strive to be the best I can be. I make sure that the house is always full of love and laughter, home cooking and clean underwear! I want what every parent wants, for their child to grow up well-rounded, happy and healthy. The gravity of love is imense. I can't even begin to describe it.
My life changed when I became Paul's wife. I can't explain my happiness. I love him with every ounce of my being and I wouldn't ever be without him. I think that when you are with that special someone, they become your best friend and Paul is definitely mine. I love being able to sit in the same room in silence but surrounded in that wonderful blanket of happiness and security. Knowing you don't have to say anything but knowing you can say anything. I believe I found my soulmate and I love him so very much.
Our time is not our own anymore but it’s richer and happier.The last four years has given us a great many stories to tell and an even greater number of nappies to change! But at the same time we’re rarely happier than when it’s us, Elena playing on the floor, banana bread on the table and two fresh cups of coffee sitting nearby.
Is that a big life?
Yes, I do believe it is.
I love our journey that we've started together and I'm so very excited to see where it takes us.
So in a nutshell that's me. Not a complicated being. I love the little things in life. I love that I can love & I love that I can be loved.
I hope that you have the same wonderful glow inside of you and whatever gives you that glow, keep hold of it. It's the most precious thing you'll ever have. It'll make you laugh, smile and pick you up when you're having a bad day. Put your arms around it and squeeze it tight.
As the world continues to crumble around us, death and destruction wherever we turn, we need to keep our faith and hope alive. Sometimes it's hard, but when you have love anything is possible.
I love you and thank you so much for reading today.
I'm off to change a dirty nappy... not one of my loves!
I'll see you tomorrow for a crafty post.
All my love, always
Bex
x
Today, Elena and I are pottering. Well I'm pottering and Elle is making a mess. To be honest my pottering is mainly cleaning up her mess & I really can't believe how much she makes! For example, she's just had apple for a mid-afternoon snack and it has ended up everywhere. It's stuck in her blanket, in her ear, down her top, on the television stand, under the sofa and embedded in the footstool. Actually, I'm not quite sure she's eaten any at all. The smile on her face as she crawls up to me, shows me how pleased she is with herself. She gives a little sqeal and as I pick her up she plants a big kiss on my cheek.
I love being a mum.
I don't think you can ever really understand until you have a child, how much love is involved. I have always wanted a family, from in my teens I knew I wanted to be a wife and a mum. I'm not a career person and although I got my degree (eventually) I struggled to really decide what I wanted to do. I spent the last 10 years working in Restaurants/Hotels etc and worked my way up to manager but I knew there was more to me than that. I know now that being a wife and mum is my calling in life and I strive to be the best I can be. I make sure that the house is always full of love and laughter, home cooking and clean underwear! I want what every parent wants, for their child to grow up well-rounded, happy and healthy. The gravity of love is imense. I can't even begin to describe it.
My life changed when I became Paul's wife. I can't explain my happiness. I love him with every ounce of my being and I wouldn't ever be without him. I think that when you are with that special someone, they become your best friend and Paul is definitely mine. I love being able to sit in the same room in silence but surrounded in that wonderful blanket of happiness and security. Knowing you don't have to say anything but knowing you can say anything. I believe I found my soulmate and I love him so very much.
Our time is not our own anymore but it’s richer and happier.The last four years has given us a great many stories to tell and an even greater number of nappies to change! But at the same time we’re rarely happier than when it’s us, Elena playing on the floor, banana bread on the table and two fresh cups of coffee sitting nearby.
Is that a big life?
Yes, I do believe it is.
I love our journey that we've started together and I'm so very excited to see where it takes us.
So in a nutshell that's me. Not a complicated being. I love the little things in life. I love that I can love & I love that I can be loved.
I hope that you have the same wonderful glow inside of you and whatever gives you that glow, keep hold of it. It's the most precious thing you'll ever have. It'll make you laugh, smile and pick you up when you're having a bad day. Put your arms around it and squeeze it tight.
As the world continues to crumble around us, death and destruction wherever we turn, we need to keep our faith and hope alive. Sometimes it's hard, but when you have love anything is possible.
I love you and thank you so much for reading today.
I'm off to change a dirty nappy... not one of my loves!
I'll see you tomorrow for a crafty post.
All my love, always
Bex
x
Tuesday 15 March 2011
"Qu'ils mangent de la brioche" - Let Them Eat Cake...
I'm so very sorry that this post has taken me all day! And would you believe, I'm still not finished!
How are you today? I hope that you've had the sun today, as there has been none here. I even had to pop Elena's gloves and hat on today when we walked into town. The weather is as indecisive as me at the moment. Hence why it's taken me all day to make these cakes I promised you. I must have wondered around Sainsburys for at least an hour trying to make a decision on what I was going to share with you. You see I had a wonderful idea yesterday and then completely changed my mind and decided I wanted to do something a bit more seasonal. So, I went and sat in the cafe, had a cuppa and a big slice of chocolate fudge cake and thought about it.. and then it came to me.
I then realised that I wasn't quite sure what ingredients I had at home in the cupboard...
Typical... I'll have to get the lot then...
Pushing the pram with 1 hand and holding a basket with the other is not the easiest of tasks as it is, let alone when the basket is piled full of sugar, flour, royal icing, butter, chocolate and milk! So much to everyone's amazement, I decided it was easier to push the pram with 2 hands and kick the basket along the floor as I went. Not my proudest moment and I was very flustered by the end of the whole experience but needless to say, I got the ingredients I needed to make today's treat.
I also must admit that I have been making two loaves of banana bread as well so the cakes did take a slight bit longer than planned.
I shall be putting the finishing touches to the cakes in the next hour, so until then I thought I'd let you know that I hadn't forgotten about you.
See you in a bit...
****************************
Ok, finally - I've finished...
Easter Cupcakes
For this, I just used a basic vanilla sponge recipe. I found this makes approx. 30 cupcakes.
Ingredients:
200g/7oz - Margarine or softened butter
200g - Caster Sugar
200g - Self-raising flour
4 - Medium free range eggs
3/4 teaspoon - Vanilla extract.
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 160ºC(315ºF/Gas mark 2-3)
Beat the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy then add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
Sift in the flour and mix thoroughly. Add the vanilla extract.
Pop the mixture into the cases and pop in the oven for about 20 mins - keep an eye on them as for some reason mine always differ in time.
Once out of the oven let them cool for 15 minutes.
Whilst you're waiting for the cakes to cool you can make the buttercream and the chocolate nests.
Buttercream:
500g - Salted butter
1kg - Icing sugar
2 teaspoons - Vanilla extract
A drop of milk if needed.
Method:
Cream the butter until the colour goes a bit lighter
Sift the icing sugar in and mix thoroughly.
Add the vanilla extract.
If the mixture is a bit too stiff, you can add a drop of milk to make it smoother.
Chocolate nests are pretty straight foward, I just melted a block of chocolate (any chocolate you like, your own preference) and once melted I added some shredded wheat. I then arranged them on a plate and placed them in the fridge to harden.
Once your cakes are completely cooled add the buttercream, plonk a nest on top and place some mini eggs on the nest. I secured my mini eggs with Royal Icing waiting for the icing to go off a bit before I used it.
Love
Bex
x
How are you today? I hope that you've had the sun today, as there has been none here. I even had to pop Elena's gloves and hat on today when we walked into town. The weather is as indecisive as me at the moment. Hence why it's taken me all day to make these cakes I promised you. I must have wondered around Sainsburys for at least an hour trying to make a decision on what I was going to share with you. You see I had a wonderful idea yesterday and then completely changed my mind and decided I wanted to do something a bit more seasonal. So, I went and sat in the cafe, had a cuppa and a big slice of chocolate fudge cake and thought about it.. and then it came to me.
I then realised that I wasn't quite sure what ingredients I had at home in the cupboard...
Typical... I'll have to get the lot then...
Pushing the pram with 1 hand and holding a basket with the other is not the easiest of tasks as it is, let alone when the basket is piled full of sugar, flour, royal icing, butter, chocolate and milk! So much to everyone's amazement, I decided it was easier to push the pram with 2 hands and kick the basket along the floor as I went. Not my proudest moment and I was very flustered by the end of the whole experience but needless to say, I got the ingredients I needed to make today's treat.
I also must admit that I have been making two loaves of banana bread as well so the cakes did take a slight bit longer than planned.
I shall be putting the finishing touches to the cakes in the next hour, so until then I thought I'd let you know that I hadn't forgotten about you.
See you in a bit...
****************************
Ok, finally - I've finished...
Easter Cupcakes
For this, I just used a basic vanilla sponge recipe. I found this makes approx. 30 cupcakes.
Ingredients:
200g/7oz - Margarine or softened butter
200g - Caster Sugar
200g - Self-raising flour
4 - Medium free range eggs
3/4 teaspoon - Vanilla extract.
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 160ºC(315ºF/Gas mark 2-3)
Beat the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy then add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
Sift in the flour and mix thoroughly. Add the vanilla extract.
Pop the mixture into the cases and pop in the oven for about 20 mins - keep an eye on them as for some reason mine always differ in time.
Once out of the oven let them cool for 15 minutes.
(Yes, I confess that I cheated - I have a cupcake maker.. The only difference is, it cooks the cakes in about 5-8 minutes, so you can cook a lot more)
You may also notice that my pink cases are now yellow... something to do with too much mixture and too long in the cupcake maker..!
Whilst you're waiting for the cakes to cool you can make the buttercream and the chocolate nests.
Buttercream:
500g - Salted butter
1kg - Icing sugar
2 teaspoons - Vanilla extract
A drop of milk if needed.
Method:
Cream the butter until the colour goes a bit lighter
Sift the icing sugar in and mix thoroughly.
Add the vanilla extract.
If the mixture is a bit too stiff, you can add a drop of milk to make it smoother.
Chocolate nests are pretty straight foward, I just melted a block of chocolate (any chocolate you like, your own preference) and once melted I added some shredded wheat. I then arranged them on a plate and placed them in the fridge to harden.
Once your cakes are completely cooled add the buttercream, plonk a nest on top and place some mini eggs on the nest. I secured my mini eggs with Royal Icing waiting for the icing to go off a bit before I used it.
Et voilà ... Easter Cupcakes.
I hope today's post was worth the wait and would love it if you'd make some. I can pop round with mine and we can chat and eat cakes till the sun goes down.
Thank you for stopping by, see you tomorrow!
Love
Bex
x
Monday 14 March 2011
Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!
Good morning!
How was your weekend, what did you get up to?
I can't believe that there was a frost this morning! What is all that about? I thought Spring was in full swing, and was all ready to get the Bar-be-que out this week... Maybe I should wait a bit longer.
This weekend, here in Stoke, we were quite lucky to have a reasonably sunny weekend and not only was the sun out, but he was sharing his lovely warmth too. I was out shopping yesterday and as I came out of Sainsburys the warmth hit me and I smiled. The best part was when I got back to the car and I had to leave the doors open for a few minutes to let it cool down before I put Elena in her car seat. The sunglasses were officially out and so were a few nutters in their shorts.
We spent the majority of the weekend at my parents house, sharing stories of our week and enjoying family meals. My sister and her husband were there too which was lovely. Having had only 3 hours sleep on Friday night, I was in bed by 9pm on Saturday evening as I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. So I left Paul to sit with the family drink his beer and watch the boxing.
Yesterday was a great day for the Potteries as Stoke City beat West Ham in the quarter finals of the FA cup. I must admit that I am not a football fan, nor do I follow the sport in anyway, but my husband is a season ticket holder as is my dad and I knew how much a win meant to them (and the other thousands of supporters) so I was keeping my fingers crossed. We don't live too far from the Britannia so on a good day you can hear the cheers, and the boos, from the crowd if you're outside. Amazingly, yesterday, you could hear the winning cheer from inside the house! Such wonderful news for the city and pleased to say I had a very happy and cheerful, albeit slightly tipsy, husband for the rest of the evening.
In today's post I wanted to show you how my little gardening projects are coming along.
My potatoes are "chitting" quite well so I think I might plant them next weekend if the weather is nice. My onion seeds are starting to grow, which I wasn't expecting so soon! I was over the moon this morning when I saw them & my Tulip Toronto are growing so quickly I really can't believe it. I'm really looking forward to them flowering. I recommend getting some tulips if you want to grow some gorgeous flowers with minimal effort.
I've also taken a couple of pictures of a few of my house plants as they're coming into bloom and I couldn't resist but share with you a very beautiful little daffodil that has grown outside all on his own.
I love Spring, purely because it brings new life and new hope. When I sit and think about life, I find the whole concept quite daunting, for this reason I try not to question things too much and enjoy every single moment. As the troubles in Japan are continuing to get worse, I say thanks that I can look at a daffodil and see it's beauty for what it is. I say thanks that I am not stuck in the disaster zone, worrying if my family and friends are alive & I keep praying that those who are stuck there stay safe and I keep the hope that they'll see their loved ones again.
Enjoy life. Enjoy each other. Look at the little things and say thank you.
I'll be sharing another little cooking project with you tomorrow as I've not made cupcakes in a while and quite fancy eating a few with a cuppa in the coming week.
I want to thank you so very much for stopping by again today, I'll have cakes for you tomorrow, I promise...
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Love
Bex
x
How was your weekend, what did you get up to?
I can't believe that there was a frost this morning! What is all that about? I thought Spring was in full swing, and was all ready to get the Bar-be-que out this week... Maybe I should wait a bit longer.
This weekend, here in Stoke, we were quite lucky to have a reasonably sunny weekend and not only was the sun out, but he was sharing his lovely warmth too. I was out shopping yesterday and as I came out of Sainsburys the warmth hit me and I smiled. The best part was when I got back to the car and I had to leave the doors open for a few minutes to let it cool down before I put Elena in her car seat. The sunglasses were officially out and so were a few nutters in their shorts.
Talking of nutters..!
We spent the majority of the weekend at my parents house, sharing stories of our week and enjoying family meals. My sister and her husband were there too which was lovely. Having had only 3 hours sleep on Friday night, I was in bed by 9pm on Saturday evening as I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. So I left Paul to sit with the family drink his beer and watch the boxing.
Yesterday was a great day for the Potteries as Stoke City beat West Ham in the quarter finals of the FA cup. I must admit that I am not a football fan, nor do I follow the sport in anyway, but my husband is a season ticket holder as is my dad and I knew how much a win meant to them (and the other thousands of supporters) so I was keeping my fingers crossed. We don't live too far from the Britannia so on a good day you can hear the cheers, and the boos, from the crowd if you're outside. Amazingly, yesterday, you could hear the winning cheer from inside the house! Such wonderful news for the city and pleased to say I had a very happy and cheerful, albeit slightly tipsy, husband for the rest of the evening.
In today's post I wanted to show you how my little gardening projects are coming along.
My potatoes are "chitting" quite well so I think I might plant them next weekend if the weather is nice. My onion seeds are starting to grow, which I wasn't expecting so soon! I was over the moon this morning when I saw them & my Tulip Toronto are growing so quickly I really can't believe it. I'm really looking forward to them flowering. I recommend getting some tulips if you want to grow some gorgeous flowers with minimal effort.
I love Spring, purely because it brings new life and new hope. When I sit and think about life, I find the whole concept quite daunting, for this reason I try not to question things too much and enjoy every single moment. As the troubles in Japan are continuing to get worse, I say thanks that I can look at a daffodil and see it's beauty for what it is. I say thanks that I am not stuck in the disaster zone, worrying if my family and friends are alive & I keep praying that those who are stuck there stay safe and I keep the hope that they'll see their loved ones again.
Enjoy life. Enjoy each other. Look at the little things and say thank you.
I'll be sharing another little cooking project with you tomorrow as I've not made cupcakes in a while and quite fancy eating a few with a cuppa in the coming week.
I want to thank you so very much for stopping by again today, I'll have cakes for you tomorrow, I promise...
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Love
Bex
x
Friday 11 March 2011
Are you ready for the weekend?
Welcome to the weekend..!
It's a glorious morning here in Stoke and even though it's still a bit breezy, I'm warmed by the prospect of warmer days. My tulips have started to grow, quite rapidly really considering I only planted them last weekend. To me this is yet another sign that mother nature herself is ready to put Spring in motion.
Have you got any plans for the weekend?
Ours will be spent with family and friends. Elena loves seeing her grandparents, her aunties and uncles. They entertain her in ways that we, as parents, can't. In fact, when we are with relatives, "Mummy" & "Daddy" are quite boring in comparison. The different surroundings, the lack of stair guards, vases, plant pots and picture frames everywhere, she's in her own little utopia... And to be honest having other people chase her around is wonderful as it means Paul and I can sit down for 5 minutes and take a deep breath.
I know I promised a non-food related post but I cooked stew last night and although we are moving out of stew season, it's always nice to be able to shove a load of ingredients in a pan and forget about it for a few hours. I bought a slow cooker for that very reason. The best buy in the world. Having said that, last nights stew was made in a pot.
I used a bag of new potatoes, carrots (chopped into batons), cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and mushrooms. I'm never one to measure out ingredients as I'm too lazy, so I just throw everything in and hope for the best. I used 3 beef casserole steaks and cut them into large chunks, coated them in flour before browning them in a pan with onions, garlic and chilli. Once browned I popped into the pan with the other veggies, added some hot water, gravy, gravy browning, 2 beef stock cubes and a glass of port. I then popped it into the oven on gas mark 4 for about 3 hours. I thickened the sauce after about an hour with some cornflour.
Once Elena was bathed and asleep, we sat down and ate. The remnants of which were mopped up with warmed french bread. Not a bad attempt..! My best stew so far. There is still half the pot left this morning as I always make enough for the entire neighbourhood, so I'll be freezing it and using as and when we fancy it.
I've had a lot of people letting me know that my blog has inspired them to write one too. It's lovely that my babbling has inspired. I look forward to read these blogs, please share them on here.
*I have to ask you to pray for those poor poor souls in Japan who have been the victims of another awful natural disaster. I pray that faith and courage help everyone through this horrendous ordeal. My thoughts to those who have lost loved ones. I can't imagine the pain and pray that there is no more to come.*
Well, as always, it's time for a cuppa, you're more than welcome to stay. Shall we pop on our coats and sit in the garden?
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for spending the week with me. I have enjoyed having you here.
I hope that you have the best weekend you've ever had & I shall see you on Monday.
Love
Bex
x
It's a glorious morning here in Stoke and even though it's still a bit breezy, I'm warmed by the prospect of warmer days. My tulips have started to grow, quite rapidly really considering I only planted them last weekend. To me this is yet another sign that mother nature herself is ready to put Spring in motion.
Have you got any plans for the weekend?
Ours will be spent with family and friends. Elena loves seeing her grandparents, her aunties and uncles. They entertain her in ways that we, as parents, can't. In fact, when we are with relatives, "Mummy" & "Daddy" are quite boring in comparison. The different surroundings, the lack of stair guards, vases, plant pots and picture frames everywhere, she's in her own little utopia... And to be honest having other people chase her around is wonderful as it means Paul and I can sit down for 5 minutes and take a deep breath.
I know I promised a non-food related post but I cooked stew last night and although we are moving out of stew season, it's always nice to be able to shove a load of ingredients in a pan and forget about it for a few hours. I bought a slow cooker for that very reason. The best buy in the world. Having said that, last nights stew was made in a pot.
I used a bag of new potatoes, carrots (chopped into batons), cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and mushrooms. I'm never one to measure out ingredients as I'm too lazy, so I just throw everything in and hope for the best. I used 3 beef casserole steaks and cut them into large chunks, coated them in flour before browning them in a pan with onions, garlic and chilli. Once browned I popped into the pan with the other veggies, added some hot water, gravy, gravy browning, 2 beef stock cubes and a glass of port. I then popped it into the oven on gas mark 4 for about 3 hours. I thickened the sauce after about an hour with some cornflour.
Once Elena was bathed and asleep, we sat down and ate. The remnants of which were mopped up with warmed french bread. Not a bad attempt..! My best stew so far. There is still half the pot left this morning as I always make enough for the entire neighbourhood, so I'll be freezing it and using as and when we fancy it.
I've had a lot of people letting me know that my blog has inspired them to write one too. It's lovely that my babbling has inspired. I look forward to read these blogs, please share them on here.
*I have to ask you to pray for those poor poor souls in Japan who have been the victims of another awful natural disaster. I pray that faith and courage help everyone through this horrendous ordeal. My thoughts to those who have lost loved ones. I can't imagine the pain and pray that there is no more to come.*
Well, as always, it's time for a cuppa, you're more than welcome to stay. Shall we pop on our coats and sit in the garden?
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for spending the week with me. I have enjoyed having you here.
I hope that you have the best weekend you've ever had & I shall see you on Monday.
Love
Bex
x
Thursday 10 March 2011
The Greatest Love Of All...
Welcome to Thursday. I hope the day is treating you well wherever you are. I must admit that my blog will be a bit of a general chat today, so what do you fancy, tea or coffee? I have cookies - fresh out of the oven or some cherry bakewells if you prefer?
Last night as my husband and I sat chatting, Paul kindly pointed out that the majority of my blogs so far have involved food, either eating it or growing it. And he is right. I laughed and insisted it was what you wanted. Who doesn't love hearing about cake and seeing pictures..!
So today will just involve pulling up a chair and having a cuppa. Although I have just realised I offered you cake and biscuits a minute ago...
I find myself quite often thinking about life, in particular mine and my family's. I find myself wondering if I'm on the right track and if I'm being the best person I can be. I think having a child makes you think about these things more. You suddenly have to grow up overnight - in terms of responsibility. Now, I have a little being who is solely reliant upon Paul and I. Little things such as changing her nappy, giving her her food and her bottles and making her laugh herself into hysteria, all this would not be possible without us. The gravity of that is just incredible. I spend a lot of my day just watching her play. She is nearly 11 months old and she is into everything. The look of pure happiness on her face when she comes across a toy she hasn't seen in a few hours or the discovery of something new has me watching in awe. I wish things were still so beautifully innocent that I could look at Paul's work boots and squeal happily.
My family is the single most important thing to me. I love them. They make me who I am and love me in a way that no one else does. Not a day goes by that I don't say a little thank you for them and for being blessed with such a wonderful family. I'm also so grateful for my friends. You know who you are. Those who have known me from my tiny days and those that I have been blessed to meet in recent months and years. I want you to know how special you are to me and how much I love you. To my family and friends, thank you for being you.
Life wouldn't be complete without the daily calls to my mum, the texts off my sisters and the endless "funny" emails off my father. The brief yet thoughtful calls off my husband, checking to make sure Elena and I are ok. I love him for that. The texts, phone calls and random facebook messages off my dear dear friend in Canada and Boyzone concerts with Lauren. All this is what makes my life so happy, so fullfilled.
With the fantastic news that our offer on our new house has been accepted and we are now in midst of the legal process, I can't help but ponder about all the decisions I've made and continue to make. So, I have come to the conclusion that I am happy, so very happy and therefore I must be doing something right.
I'm assuming you would either like another cuppa, or you'd like to leave..!
I'd like you to stay.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for a non-food related blog!
Thank you for reading & enjoy your Thursday.
Love
Bex
x
Last night as my husband and I sat chatting, Paul kindly pointed out that the majority of my blogs so far have involved food, either eating it or growing it. And he is right. I laughed and insisted it was what you wanted. Who doesn't love hearing about cake and seeing pictures..!
So today will just involve pulling up a chair and having a cuppa. Although I have just realised I offered you cake and biscuits a minute ago...
I find myself quite often thinking about life, in particular mine and my family's. I find myself wondering if I'm on the right track and if I'm being the best person I can be. I think having a child makes you think about these things more. You suddenly have to grow up overnight - in terms of responsibility. Now, I have a little being who is solely reliant upon Paul and I. Little things such as changing her nappy, giving her her food and her bottles and making her laugh herself into hysteria, all this would not be possible without us. The gravity of that is just incredible. I spend a lot of my day just watching her play. She is nearly 11 months old and she is into everything. The look of pure happiness on her face when she comes across a toy she hasn't seen in a few hours or the discovery of something new has me watching in awe. I wish things were still so beautifully innocent that I could look at Paul's work boots and squeal happily.
My family is the single most important thing to me. I love them. They make me who I am and love me in a way that no one else does. Not a day goes by that I don't say a little thank you for them and for being blessed with such a wonderful family. I'm also so grateful for my friends. You know who you are. Those who have known me from my tiny days and those that I have been blessed to meet in recent months and years. I want you to know how special you are to me and how much I love you. To my family and friends, thank you for being you.
Life wouldn't be complete without the daily calls to my mum, the texts off my sisters and the endless "funny" emails off my father. The brief yet thoughtful calls off my husband, checking to make sure Elena and I are ok. I love him for that. The texts, phone calls and random facebook messages off my dear dear friend in Canada and Boyzone concerts with Lauren. All this is what makes my life so happy, so fullfilled.
With the fantastic news that our offer on our new house has been accepted and we are now in midst of the legal process, I can't help but ponder about all the decisions I've made and continue to make. So, I have come to the conclusion that I am happy, so very happy and therefore I must be doing something right.
I'm assuming you would either like another cuppa, or you'd like to leave..!
I'd like you to stay.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for a non-food related blog!
Thank you for reading & enjoy your Thursday.
Love
Bex
x
Wednesday 9 March 2011
Today I will mostly be scoffing cake...
How are you?
I really hope that I'm not the only one that's been devouring cake today...
Today's post is a bit late for that very reason, I've been too busy eating cake.
Yesterday my cousin suggested I try out the cafe at the Emma Bridgewater Outlet nr Hanley, so never one to pass up on a cuppa I asked my mum and little sister to join me. Obviously they didn't refuse. To be honest, who would?
We had a lovely wander around the factory shop, tutting quietly at the prices and trying to keep Elena from knocking the china over. The craftsmanship is amazing (albeit a bit over priced). The nice thing about driving up to the outlet is that there is still some of the old buildings and remnants of the old pot banks which I find fascinating. The Potteries may not be everyone's cup of tea but my family have lived and worked here for centuries. Having used the ancestry website last year, I found out that one of my great great great grandad's was a very skilled and highly respected pottery sagger maker and as you walk around from the car park to the cafe at Emma Bridgewater, you get an insight into what it might have been like. Obviously a lot has changed since, but as you look through the windows, there are still men and women in their aprons casting and throwing. Such a wonderful skill to be known for all across the world.
Now on to the important part, the cake. My sister and I indulged in a slice of freshly made Victoria Sponge whilst my mum had a scone with clotted cream and jam.
Silence...
Oh I'm sorry Elena, I was a bit preoccupied...
Washed down, with what I must say was the nicest cup of tea I've had in a long while, we felt satisfied. I must add that the cafe is the most gorgeous setting. Old wooden farmhouse tables with a beautifully fitted Aga against one wall surrounded with tiles made on site, it's like being made welcome in someone's divine kitchen. The scent of homemade soup wafting in made it even cosier.
I feel another visit may not be too far away, who's joining me?
I hope you're having a fabulous day and if you're anywhere where cake is accessible then I suggest eating it quick, before I beat you to it!
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Thank you for reading.
Love
Bex
x
Please feel free to leave a comment below, I'd love to know what you think x
I really hope that I'm not the only one that's been devouring cake today...
Today's post is a bit late for that very reason, I've been too busy eating cake.
Yesterday my cousin suggested I try out the cafe at the Emma Bridgewater Outlet nr Hanley, so never one to pass up on a cuppa I asked my mum and little sister to join me. Obviously they didn't refuse. To be honest, who would?
We had a lovely wander around the factory shop, tutting quietly at the prices and trying to keep Elena from knocking the china over. The craftsmanship is amazing (albeit a bit over priced). The nice thing about driving up to the outlet is that there is still some of the old buildings and remnants of the old pot banks which I find fascinating. The Potteries may not be everyone's cup of tea but my family have lived and worked here for centuries. Having used the ancestry website last year, I found out that one of my great great great grandad's was a very skilled and highly respected pottery sagger maker and as you walk around from the car park to the cafe at Emma Bridgewater, you get an insight into what it might have been like. Obviously a lot has changed since, but as you look through the windows, there are still men and women in their aprons casting and throwing. Such a wonderful skill to be known for all across the world.
Now on to the important part, the cake. My sister and I indulged in a slice of freshly made Victoria Sponge whilst my mum had a scone with clotted cream and jam.
Silence...
Oh I'm sorry Elena, I was a bit preoccupied...
Washed down, with what I must say was the nicest cup of tea I've had in a long while, we felt satisfied. I must add that the cafe is the most gorgeous setting. Old wooden farmhouse tables with a beautifully fitted Aga against one wall surrounded with tiles made on site, it's like being made welcome in someone's divine kitchen. The scent of homemade soup wafting in made it even cosier.
I feel another visit may not be too far away, who's joining me?
I hope you're having a fabulous day and if you're anywhere where cake is accessible then I suggest eating it quick, before I beat you to it!
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Thank you for reading.
Love
Bex
x
Please feel free to leave a comment below, I'd love to know what you think x
Tuesday 8 March 2011
Let's make... Pancakes!
Happy Pancake Day!
I think that the timing of Pancake Day is perfect. It follows hard on the heels of Valentines Day and sets in motion another year of celebrations. It comes at a time when all remnants of Christmas are well and truly gone and the air smells and tastes just that bit sweeter. Is Spring on it’s way perhaps?
It's only 8am but the promise of pancakes is overwhelming! Do you think it's too early..?
Ok, ok, I'll try and make it to lunch time...
I've tried lots of pancake recipes over the years but I'm going to share with you the one I like best. Granted, all the recipes have the same ingredients but I think the key to this one is the method. It's a Delia Smith recipe.
The Pancake mixture:
Happy flipping!
I think that the timing of Pancake Day is perfect. It follows hard on the heels of Valentines Day and sets in motion another year of celebrations. It comes at a time when all remnants of Christmas are well and truly gone and the air smells and tastes just that bit sweeter. Is Spring on it’s way perhaps?
It's only 8am but the promise of pancakes is overwhelming! Do you think it's too early..?
Ok, ok, I'll try and make it to lunch time...
I've tried lots of pancake recipes over the years but I'm going to share with you the one I like best. Granted, all the recipes have the same ingredients but I think the key to this one is the method. It's a Delia Smith recipe.
The Pancake mixture:
pinch of salt
2 eggs
50g/2oz butter
The Method:
- Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl with a sieve held high above the bowl so the flour gets an airing. Now make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it. Then begin whisking the eggs - any sort of whisk or even a fork will do - incorporating any bits of flour from around the edge of the bowl as you do so.
- Next gradually add small quantities of the milk and water mixture, still whisking (don't worry about any lumps as they will eventually disappear as you whisk). When all the liquid has been added, use a rubber spatula to scrape any elusive bits of flour from around the edge into the centre, then whisk once more until the batter is smooth, with the consistency of thin cream. Now melt the 50g/2oz of butter in a pan. Spoon 2 tbsp of it into the batter and whisk it in, then pour the rest into a bowl and use it to lubricate the pan, using a wodge of kitchen paper to smear it round before you make each pancake.
- Now get the pan really hot, then turn the heat down to medium and, to start with, do a test pancake to see if you're using the correct amount of batter. I find 2 tbsp is about right for an 18cm/7in pan. It's also helpful if you spoon the batter into a ladle so it can be poured into the hot pan in one go. As soon as the batter hits the hot pan, tip it around from side to side to get the base evenly coated with batter. It should take only half a minute or so to cook; you can lift the edge with a palette knife to see if it's tinged gold as it should be. Flip the pancake over with a pan slice or palette knife - the other side will need a few seconds only - then simply slide it out of the pan onto a plate.
- Stack the pancakes as you make them between sheets of greaseproof paper on a plate fitted over simmering water, to keep them warm while you make the rest.
- To serve, sprinkle each pancake with freshly squeezed lemon juice and caster sugar, fold in half, then in half again to form triangles, or else simply roll them up. Serve sprinkled with a little more sugar and lemon juice and extra sections of lemon.
The nice thing about pancakes is that they can be sweet or savoury, depending what mood you're in. The traditional sugar and lemon always goes down a treat and if you're anything like me it isn't long before you can't move from the sofa.
I feel so blessed and so very lucky that I can sit here and share with you the things I love - and babble a bit too of course. I wanted to say a huge thank you for every single one one of you who has been reading, I've had an overwhelming amount of visitors to this blog from all over the world. You're very welcome and I hope that you continue to read.
I wish you all a very lovely Shrove Tuesday may your tummy's be full and contented.
Happy flipping!
Love
Bex
x
Monday 7 March 2011
The Sun has got his hat on...
It's Monday again... Anyone else's weekend seemingly disappear in the blink of an eye? Well, I hope that you had a lovely couple of days whatever you got up to.
The sun is shining here in Stoke this morning & it's bathing our living room in a wonderful soft glow. Somehow everything looks better in the sunshine and as I look out the window at people going about their daily business, I feel I can see the corners of their mouths lifting just slightly as the prospect of better weather is entertained. The scarves and hats have disappeared and the builders across the road are typically wearing less clothing than is actually required!
My daughter and I are currently watching Peppa Pig and after another sleepless night I have resigned myself to the fact that we shall both be staying in our Pj's and cuddling for the main part of the morning. This afternoon we shall probably take a stroll in the sun and see what is going on in the world.
The weekend was not as hectic as I had expected, which was lovely. On Saturday we viewed a couple of prospective houses one of which, (I'm crossing everything) I hope, shall become our future family home. We then spent a few hours in the afternoon with my parents at Westport Lake. Elena loved the ducks and was even more excited about the playground. It's the most wonderful thing to watch her little face as she's made so happy by the smallest things and as I looked over, my husband, observing from the sidelines, was smiling too. The two of them sharing a moment of pure happiness is the most beautiful thing to see and I'm glad that they're my family.
Saturday night was spent in Manchester watching the most amazing boy band in the world - Boyzone! My oldest and most dearest friend, Lauren, and I have been fans since we were in our wee teens and we've never missed a tour. I won't bore you with the details but needless to say, we had a great time!
Sunday was a lazy day as with another bad night under our belts Paul and I decided we'd potter around the house and make a start on packing a few things ready for the big move. I also took time to exercise my green fingers and plant some of my seeds that had arrived. I placed my seed potatoes in trays and put them in the kitchen window so they could "Chit" - sunbathe without interuption. I have put a few pictures on my flickr page for you to see. I planted two lots of Tulip Toronto and have placed them in the warmth of our pantry next to my mini propagator in which I planted 4 rows of onion seeds.
As I've mentioned many times we are moving soon and although it's a really exciting time it will also be tinged with a bit of sadness on my part as this was my Grandad's house and it'll almost be like I'm leaving him behind as I've felt he's always been with me since his passing over a year ago. So I thought I'd take him with us in the only way I can and that is by taking cuttings of his favourite plants and planting them in our new garden. Paul took the cuttings yesterday and planted them in trays which are also residing in the pantry until the weather gets a few degrees warmer.
The last of my gardening yesterday involved planting garlic. I've no idea whether or not it'll work but I planted 3 whole garlics (split into cloves) in one of the large potato bags that I bought so we'll see if anything happens... I'll let you know how they get on!
The sky is so beautifully blue here with not a cloud in sight. It almost feels like I'm at the seaside.
I think it's time for a cuppa...
Enjoy your Monday & I'll see you tomorrow.
Thank you for reading.
Bex
x
You can view my photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/diaryofahousewife/ x
The sun is shining here in Stoke this morning & it's bathing our living room in a wonderful soft glow. Somehow everything looks better in the sunshine and as I look out the window at people going about their daily business, I feel I can see the corners of their mouths lifting just slightly as the prospect of better weather is entertained. The scarves and hats have disappeared and the builders across the road are typically wearing less clothing than is actually required!
My daughter and I are currently watching Peppa Pig and after another sleepless night I have resigned myself to the fact that we shall both be staying in our Pj's and cuddling for the main part of the morning. This afternoon we shall probably take a stroll in the sun and see what is going on in the world.
The weekend was not as hectic as I had expected, which was lovely. On Saturday we viewed a couple of prospective houses one of which, (I'm crossing everything) I hope, shall become our future family home. We then spent a few hours in the afternoon with my parents at Westport Lake. Elena loved the ducks and was even more excited about the playground. It's the most wonderful thing to watch her little face as she's made so happy by the smallest things and as I looked over, my husband, observing from the sidelines, was smiling too. The two of them sharing a moment of pure happiness is the most beautiful thing to see and I'm glad that they're my family.
Saturday night was spent in Manchester watching the most amazing boy band in the world - Boyzone! My oldest and most dearest friend, Lauren, and I have been fans since we were in our wee teens and we've never missed a tour. I won't bore you with the details but needless to say, we had a great time!
Sunday was a lazy day as with another bad night under our belts Paul and I decided we'd potter around the house and make a start on packing a few things ready for the big move. I also took time to exercise my green fingers and plant some of my seeds that had arrived. I placed my seed potatoes in trays and put them in the kitchen window so they could "Chit" - sunbathe without interuption. I have put a few pictures on my flickr page for you to see. I planted two lots of Tulip Toronto and have placed them in the warmth of our pantry next to my mini propagator in which I planted 4 rows of onion seeds.
As I've mentioned many times we are moving soon and although it's a really exciting time it will also be tinged with a bit of sadness on my part as this was my Grandad's house and it'll almost be like I'm leaving him behind as I've felt he's always been with me since his passing over a year ago. So I thought I'd take him with us in the only way I can and that is by taking cuttings of his favourite plants and planting them in our new garden. Paul took the cuttings yesterday and planted them in trays which are also residing in the pantry until the weather gets a few degrees warmer.
The last of my gardening yesterday involved planting garlic. I've no idea whether or not it'll work but I planted 3 whole garlics (split into cloves) in one of the large potato bags that I bought so we'll see if anything happens... I'll let you know how they get on!
The sky is so beautifully blue here with not a cloud in sight. It almost feels like I'm at the seaside.
I think it's time for a cuppa...
Enjoy your Monday & I'll see you tomorrow.
Thank you for reading.
Bex
x
You can view my photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/diaryofahousewife/ x
Friday 4 March 2011
Friday I'm in love...
Well it's Friday and I'm glad.
Don't get me wrong, this week has been lovely and I've been able to get busy and submerge myself in various little projects but I'm always happy when 4pm on Friday arrives. It marks the start of having my husband home for a whole two days! It's the little things like being able to share a conversation over breakfast without cutting it short as he dashes out to work or seeing the happiness on our daughter Elena's face as "daddy" gives her her breakfast. She knows this is different and enjoys making even more of a mess in an attempt to show off to her new found best friend. I often notice that by Sunday evening, Daddy is definitely the favourite as every crawl, every little whimper and every little leg pull leads to her Dad picking her up and showering her in kisses and a big hug. I'm sure sometimes as I catch her eye she's smiling... She knows what she's doing.
The weekend is family time and although it's usually jam packed with lots of things we need to do and places we need to be, it's time where we're all together and basking in each others company and idle chit chat. (Plus it almost always guarantees me a lie in at some point!)
There was a time when the arrival of Friday would mean making plans with the girls and getting all geared up for a good catch up and a few glasses of wine and although we still do this, the last minute arrangements and the late texts have changed to booking a night next month and even then, when little ones are involved, plans always change. So my Friday nights usually involve a cheeky glass of wine in front of the telly with my husband & to be honest after a busy week both of us haven't got the energy for anything else.
We have a couple of house viewings this weekend so I'm very excited. I'm excited for my daughter being able to play in a garden, to be able to throw dinner parties and not have everyone sat on each others laps, and I'm excited about filling that house with love, laughter and happiness. That's my dream.
As it's Friday I thought I'd share with you a little recipe that I tried out yesterday. I had never made banana bread before & I've been threatening to all week, so I finally grabbed a few minutes yesterday (amid my gardening) and made my first ever banana bread.
I've added a couple of pictures to my flickr page for you to check out. Not bad for a first attempt! My husband was suitably impressed and so was Elena as she munched it warm from the oven.
Here's what to do;
Don't get me wrong, this week has been lovely and I've been able to get busy and submerge myself in various little projects but I'm always happy when 4pm on Friday arrives. It marks the start of having my husband home for a whole two days! It's the little things like being able to share a conversation over breakfast without cutting it short as he dashes out to work or seeing the happiness on our daughter Elena's face as "daddy" gives her her breakfast. She knows this is different and enjoys making even more of a mess in an attempt to show off to her new found best friend. I often notice that by Sunday evening, Daddy is definitely the favourite as every crawl, every little whimper and every little leg pull leads to her Dad picking her up and showering her in kisses and a big hug. I'm sure sometimes as I catch her eye she's smiling... She knows what she's doing.
The weekend is family time and although it's usually jam packed with lots of things we need to do and places we need to be, it's time where we're all together and basking in each others company and idle chit chat. (Plus it almost always guarantees me a lie in at some point!)
There was a time when the arrival of Friday would mean making plans with the girls and getting all geared up for a good catch up and a few glasses of wine and although we still do this, the last minute arrangements and the late texts have changed to booking a night next month and even then, when little ones are involved, plans always change. So my Friday nights usually involve a cheeky glass of wine in front of the telly with my husband & to be honest after a busy week both of us haven't got the energy for anything else.
We have a couple of house viewings this weekend so I'm very excited. I'm excited for my daughter being able to play in a garden, to be able to throw dinner parties and not have everyone sat on each others laps, and I'm excited about filling that house with love, laughter and happiness. That's my dream.
As it's Friday I thought I'd share with you a little recipe that I tried out yesterday. I had never made banana bread before & I've been threatening to all week, so I finally grabbed a few minutes yesterday (amid my gardening) and made my first ever banana bread.
I've added a couple of pictures to my flickr page for you to check out. Not bad for a first attempt! My husband was suitably impressed and so was Elena as she munched it warm from the oven.
Here's what to do;
Ingredients
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 225g/8oz caster sugar
- 2 free-range eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Preparation method
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
- Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well. Fold in the flour mixture.
Grease a 20cm x 12.5cm/8in x 5in loaf tin and pour the cake mixture into the tin. - Transfer to the oven and bake for about an hour, or until well-risen and golden-brown.
- Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
It really is the most delicious thing to have with a cup of tea. Plus it's perfect if you've got guests this weekend, they'll love it.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend may it be filled with many happy memories.
Thank you for reading. See you on Monday!
Love
Bex
Thursday 3 March 2011
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Good morning and welcome to my Blog. I've wanted to put a blog together for some time now, but for those of you with a little one, you'll know that you are forever up and about changing nappies, feeding, cleaning up and of course playing so having 5 minutes peace is usually time to grab a cuppa and take a few deep breaths before starting all over again! Well I've indulged in enough tea this morning already (after my first decent nights sleep in nearly 2 weeks) so I feel refreshed and ready to tackle something new.
It's a pretty chilly morning here in Stoke but I can see that the sun is trying to make an appearence so I shall keep my fingers crossed.
The general idea of the blog came from following a few myself and reading about my friends' day to day exploits and accomplishments. I found that I really enjoyed sitting down with a nice cup of tea and reading for a few minutes every day. I enjoyed sharing in their happiness and felt like we were actually sat across the kitchen table sharing a few stories before getting back to changing nappies, feeding etc... So here I am.
I have found myself, the last couple of weeks, reading up and taking a lot of interest in gardening. Which came as a huge surprise to me as the most green my fingers have ever been is when they were painted with an over confident "emerald" nail varnish. Now, whether it's my new founded motherhood or just a sign of getting old, I'm going to go with the flow and seize the moment.
I always wanted to have my own herb garden and vegetable patch. Nothing that takes too much effort and time, as let's face it, I don't have it! My dad always kept a veg patch and made sure that my 2 sisters and I always knew the different plants and even gave us little sections to tend to ourselves.
So here goes...
I will be growing, onions, garlic, potatoes and herbs such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, lemon balm, basil and sage. My husband, daughter and I have recently sold our house and will be moving soon, so I wanted to be able to take my crops with me. I will be growing my herbs from seeds so I have invested in a mini propagator set from Amazon along with some potato bags to grow, you guessed it, my potatoes in. I am hoping I might be able to grow my onions and garlic in the potato bags too... I'm using potato bags as it means I can take them to our new house with ease, but they're also perfect it you don't have a garden or very little space.
"It is always a good idea to buy your seed potatoes from a reputable supplier or garden centre as they will usually be grown in conditions necessary to ensure that the seed is healthy and free from pests and diseases. Giving you the best possible results, which should be lots and lots of wonderful & tasty potatoes.
OK, first things first. When you have your seed potatoes in front of you it is best to ‘Chit’ them before they go in to the bag or the ground. To chit basically means that you are allowing the sprouts to grow a bit more before plunging them in the darkness of the soil. You’re giving them a head start and although it’s not essential to do this it does help a great deal." - Taken from Cherry Menlove's website.
So this is my plan for today is to start the process of "Chitting" my potatoes. I shall let you know how I get on. I am also going to plant my herbs in my propagator and I'll upload some pictures for you tomorrow.
I hope the sun is shining wherever you are and that you have a wonderful day whatever you're up to.
Thank you for reading
Bex
x
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diaryofahousewife/ I've uploaded a few photos here x
Don't forget you can follow my daily posts by clicking follow on the right side of the blog. Thank you x
It's a pretty chilly morning here in Stoke but I can see that the sun is trying to make an appearence so I shall keep my fingers crossed.
The general idea of the blog came from following a few myself and reading about my friends' day to day exploits and accomplishments. I found that I really enjoyed sitting down with a nice cup of tea and reading for a few minutes every day. I enjoyed sharing in their happiness and felt like we were actually sat across the kitchen table sharing a few stories before getting back to changing nappies, feeding etc... So here I am.
I have found myself, the last couple of weeks, reading up and taking a lot of interest in gardening. Which came as a huge surprise to me as the most green my fingers have ever been is when they were painted with an over confident "emerald" nail varnish. Now, whether it's my new founded motherhood or just a sign of getting old, I'm going to go with the flow and seize the moment.
I always wanted to have my own herb garden and vegetable patch. Nothing that takes too much effort and time, as let's face it, I don't have it! My dad always kept a veg patch and made sure that my 2 sisters and I always knew the different plants and even gave us little sections to tend to ourselves.
So here goes...
I will be growing, onions, garlic, potatoes and herbs such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, lemon balm, basil and sage. My husband, daughter and I have recently sold our house and will be moving soon, so I wanted to be able to take my crops with me. I will be growing my herbs from seeds so I have invested in a mini propagator set from Amazon along with some potato bags to grow, you guessed it, my potatoes in. I am hoping I might be able to grow my onions and garlic in the potato bags too... I'm using potato bags as it means I can take them to our new house with ease, but they're also perfect it you don't have a garden or very little space.
"It is always a good idea to buy your seed potatoes from a reputable supplier or garden centre as they will usually be grown in conditions necessary to ensure that the seed is healthy and free from pests and diseases. Giving you the best possible results, which should be lots and lots of wonderful & tasty potatoes.
OK, first things first. When you have your seed potatoes in front of you it is best to ‘Chit’ them before they go in to the bag or the ground. To chit basically means that you are allowing the sprouts to grow a bit more before plunging them in the darkness of the soil. You’re giving them a head start and although it’s not essential to do this it does help a great deal." - Taken from Cherry Menlove's website.
So this is my plan for today is to start the process of "Chitting" my potatoes. I shall let you know how I get on. I am also going to plant my herbs in my propagator and I'll upload some pictures for you tomorrow.
I hope the sun is shining wherever you are and that you have a wonderful day whatever you're up to.
Thank you for reading
Bex
x
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diaryofahousewife/ I've uploaded a few photos here x
Don't forget you can follow my daily posts by clicking follow on the right side of the blog. Thank you x
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