The View From Irton Flats

The last Knitting Group of the year was today, at Woodlands.  Remember a month ago, I said I wish I had taken my camera?  I remembered it today.  It was blowing rather strong, so I didn't take as many as I hoped.  They are nearly panoramic views, the first few taken about half to a mile before the second half.  I've looked on the map and Scafell Pike may be among them.  Scafell Pike is the highes point in England.  Great Gable may be in there somewhere, whether you can see it or not, I really can't tell you.

 I'm stood on Irton Flats.  At Irton Church is a ninth century cross.  I've not been yet.  I want to take HK with me, as I know he will be interested.

 This is definitely Muncaster Fell.

 Somewhere between and beyond the farmhouse and Muncaster Fell is the Eskdale Valley.

 Muncaster Fell, with running sheep

 One of the nearer fells may be Middle Fell.

 The valley just left of centre is Wasdale

Beyond Eskdale, I'm not sure if it's classed as the far end of Eskdale or not, (more things to find out!) is the delightful Wrynose and Hardnott Pass.  There is a Roman Fort in the middle.  This is a very hairy pass, and not to be driven by the faint hearted.  I have not been over it for many years.  I want to, perhaps in the new year.  Some parts of it are 1:2!!!! but in the main, 1:3 and 1:4.  I shall look into this further.  I can't remember at the moment how to turn it into percentages.  I'll just stick with hairy for now.  Very Hairy.  Did I mention, sheer drop on one side in places?

Going back to churches, another church I want to visit is Gosforth Church - St Mary's, which has a 14ft tall Viking Cross.  Another place I want to see, that's only a couple of miles from me.  I drovve past Gosforth to get where I was going today.  Time to get my finger out and get exploring all the wonders on my doorstep.

Christmas Spirit Starting To Lurk

The Christmas Spirit is starting to sneak up on me and play peek-a-boo with me.  I bought few decorations into our room today, with a mind to put them up at some point during the day.  HK (humbug) said it was far too early to out decorations up.  I think he was pulling my leg, but I naturally pouted at him anyway.  I was going to put them up this evening, once Mary-Jane was in bed.  This evening has come and I'm a wee bit tired and just want to put my feet up and do a bit of knitting.  I didn't sleep well last night.  Rather it took me a few hours to drop off to sleep, which is very unlike me.  I used to joke that as soon as I was horizontal I would be asleep.  Years of shift work has taught me to do that - or is that years of being shattered when I get into bed?!

Anyhow.  I have started writing my Christmas Cards, I'm about two thirds done (I hope!).

We - MJ, HK & I went for a run out this afternoon.  We only went to Asda in Workington and got MJ some tights for the winter.  Now she is walking, I want to get her more into dresses again.  Whilst she was crawling, dresses just weren't practical.  Today she sported a red Tshirt and knitted leggins, (she will have hand knitted ones next winter, even if I don't get to do any this winter!) with a dark blue denim dungeree dress with a red cotton petticoat frill on the hem.  It was so lovely to see her in a dress, something a little more feminine for a change.

I have finished my Rudolph cloth and my penguin cloth (have I already mentioned that?).  I've cast on the candy cane cloth.  I'm doing this is P&C Emerald Frost.  Tomorrow is my Woodlands Knit & Natter.  Indulgence, I can't wait.  I must ensure that I have the projects I have completed this month with me, especially my crochet hat.

Mary-Jane and Daddy Playing On The Floor

Mary-Jane loves it when Daddy plays on the floor with her.

 Mary-Jane loves it when Daddy 'throws' her in the air

 MJ will sometimes pull Daddy's t shirt up, stroke his tummy and say 'aaaah'!

 Playing with Daddy can be very tiring!

My Brack Recipe

As you know, I made some Brack yesterday, and it was very nice.  I tried a slice this evening with some cheese.  I highly recommend it!!  Below is a generic recipe.

150ml Hot Tea (without the milk)
455g mixed dried fruit
175g demerara sugar
1 egg, beaten
225g self raising flour

Soak the mixed fruit in the tea over night or for 24 hours if you want.  Cover it with a tea towel, or preferably cling film.

Preheat the oven - gas mark 2/160 degrees c

Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin

Once soaked, add the egg, flour and sugar and mix until all is combined

Place the mix in the tin.  Bake for approx 1 - 1hr 20 mins.  Test with a skewer.

Turn out of tin when cool.

I recommend buttering it and having it with a slice of cheese on top!

Enjoy xxxx

My Christmas Cake

My Christmas Cake is decorated!  I'm pleased with how it turned out.  I've never decorated a cake anything like this before, but certainly will again.  The finished cake is very heavy.  The cake itself weighed 4lb 4oz.  I've not weighed the finished thing, I'm sure it will be a few pounds more than that!

I started by making marzipan sausage shapes around the outside of the top of the cake.  This is to help give it a flat surface.  The marzipan is then rolled out and placed on the cake, then smoothed with a smoother/polisher.  Next the red icing goes on.  After that is the white band around the base.

 Then the blue icing and finally the white and the iceberg in the middle.  After that is the welcome sitting down and modelling the person and the penguin.  I wanted them to look like they were having a Christmas Kiss.   The brown thing is supposed to be a fishing rod, and if you can look closely, you may see a fish or two poking their heads up through the hole in the ice!!  The fluffy bits are put on with an icing bag, using royal icing.  This icing uses dried egg whites to make it fluffy - another new thing to me.  Once all the pieces are made, they are stuck together using edible glue.

 Lastly I sprinkled two lots of shiny dusts, one violet and one diamond.  I prefer the violet.

 Looking at it now, I feel more confident to carry on with my sugarcraft, learn and improve!  I am looking forward to my new books arriving and to the start of next term, in January.  I have plenty of paste left over, so I can practice some more modelling, perhaps with a Christmas Theme!

MJ's New Hat & Rhinog's New Christmas Stocking

After Mary-Jane had her breakfast this morning, I was eager to get her to try on her new Winter Beanie and take some photos of her.  She didn't mind wearing the hat at all and was even happier when she heard and saw the camera coming out.  Big grins all round!  The hat could have done with a couple more stitches, maybe only three or four and being an inch or so longer in the body - notes for next time.

Here is Mary-Jane looking very pleased and happy - and the hat doesn't look too bad either!

 She just loves to grin!

 Whilst Mommy is busy taking photos of me, I shall play with her camera case.  I shall put my brick in it.  I like to put my bricks into all sorts of things, mainly bags and Mommy's shoes.

Remember a week or two ago, I entered a competition on my friends blog and asked you to read it?  Well I won the competition!  Rhinog now has his very own Christmas stocking to put along side ours.  The stocking was full of goodie treats for Rhinog as well!  He has had one, I shall try and save the rest for Christmas time, but I don't think I can be that good!  I'll try and take some better pictures.  I now have it hanging on the cupboard door our Living Room.  Paula also included a Christmas Present for me and Mary-Jane.  A huge big Thank You to Paula for her kindness and crochet skills xxxxxx

Please go look and read Pauls's blog - you'll have fun!

I have spent most of the evening preparing for my Cake Decorating Workshop tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to it (I know I've said that tons of times, but hey!)  I have tried to take things out of my barrow that I think I won't remotely need and thoroughly gone through the list of things I do.  Even down to the Gin.  No it's not going to be that gruesome a day that you're recommended to to take Gin to have a slug to steady your nerves!  Apparantly gin helps remove food paint/dye from where it shouldn't be.  I think.  I have made up 400g or modelling paste from 2/3 flower sugarpaste and 1/3 normal sugarpaste.  I've not done that before.  I've also dyed 1kg of sugarpaste red.  That took some doing.  Still cheaper than buying red sugarpaste from the shop.

I made a Yorkshire Brack this afternoon as well.  I've had two slices.  It is recommended to have it with some cheese, but I just couldn't be diddled to cut into a new block of cheese tonight.  Brack is similar to Tea Loaf.  It's quite filling, I must admit - and very scrummy!

MJ's Winter Beanie Completed

Mary-Jane's Winter Beanie is completed!  Once I settled to it this evening, it didn't take too long.  HK was ribbing me saying that if this beanie is smaller than my Beanie Two Hour Hat, then why is it taking two evenings to do........  In truth, It was quicker to do than the two hour hat!  I used 10mm dpns and had only a yard or two of 60g of yarn left.  I cast on 36 stitches, knit for 5 inches - approx 16 rows then decreased for the crown.  If I'd got my wits about me, I should have written this down as a 'proper' pattern.  Nothing stopping me really!  But stick with me.  I decided to do the decreasing as - round 1 - K2, K2 tog; r2 & r4 - k; r3 - k1, k2tog; r5 - k2tog.  After this cut the yarn and thread it through and secure remaining stitches on needle. 

 This decrease gives a slight texture.  You can do any decrease you want.  This patterns is so simple and straightforward.  I shall have camera at the ready when Mary-Jane tries it on tomorrow.

I have started a cloth - 'Rudy' from Cloverlaine.  There are lots of free cloth patterns on here, all accessable via Ravelry.

I braved the winds today - gusts of up to 80mph, to go to Fobbles to get my magazine.  I had left its collection til today as today was Knit Project Day, but this was cancelled due to bad weather.  There is a lot of it about!  I had a good chat with Bev (who owns Fobbles).  I have been invited to the Fobbles Christmas Party on Saturday the 17th.  It's on 10 - 3pm.  It sounds like fun - a stitch/knit & natter, with a christmas tree ornament swap and a ?Jacobs Buffet.  I think this is what it's called, I've never heard of it by this name.  Everybody brings food and shares it, contributing it to the buffet.  I may just have to make some cupcakes........  I might bring something savoury as well, being veggie and all that. 

Mary-Jane has been enjoying her dancing today.  Her sleep, at the moment, is a little disturbed by the strong winds blowing round the house.  She lifted her empty cup to me this afternoon and said 'juice' and gave me her cup, for me to fill, then took it gently from me when I had filled it and drank from it.  I think this is the first time she has clearly and verbally asked me to do something for her.  My little girl is learning and learning.