A Morning at Home.

Well it's all happening with Corona Virus and Covid 19.  I don't need to say much more about it at the moment - but I might later, just for something to look back on, to put it into historical perspective. 


I still not have sussed out a good way to get photo's on here easily, though I still have irons in the fire.  I have a new phone, so there will be new or other options.  Pictures are good!


As things stand at the moment, I was turned away from work yesterday as I have 'Underlying Health Conditions'.  Senior Management were unable to tell me yesterday if I was to stay off work on these grounds, however advised that I stay off today as well, to give them more room to decide and refer to newly written policies.

MJ was at school yesterday, which she thoroughly enjoyed.  She is at home today, because I am at home.  This is probably school's last day of being open as it is not feasible for school to stay open for three children.  Those needing to attend will be directed to a Central School Hub.  All this is up in the air for MJ and I whilst we await work telling me if my Underlying Health Conditions are chronic enough for me to be told to #Stay At Home. 

My mindset is gearing for staying at home - I'm thinking of all the crafting, gardening, house sorting and straightening I can do, as well as spend some quality time with MJ.  At work we have been told to only have essential contact.  Last week I had one conversation with a patient, the rest of the time I was sat at a desk.

Seeing In 2020

Mary-Jane and I stayed up to see the New Year In.  MJ set up the table with nibbles during the day.We had a cheeseboard in the evening, then settled down to watch Elf. We saw 2020 in watching Big Ben and the fireworks on the Thames, after this it was coats on and sparklers on the yard.

This was followed by a few glasses of (0.5%) Champagne, so we could raise our glasses and make a toast!  MJ got the taste for bubbly - one step up from Shandy!

MJ asked if she could sleep on the sofa - why not?  She was already cosy comfy on there, underneath her duvet.  She must have been comfy as she didn't wake up till 11, got a drink of milk and headed back under her duvet with her tablet.  Not for very much longer!

We have been thinking about about goals we would like to achieve this year, rather than NY Resolutions.  We may get a notebook and write them in and see how we go.

So, here is to a good 2020!

Crochet Bunting

I am still very much in a mindset to do simple projects that can be done easily, that can be picked up and put down and that enhance the home.  The night before last, following inspiration from J showing me crochet bunting on YouTube and in her new craft books, I took up my hook.

I've dug into my dwindling stash of Peaches and Creme and found the last five balls of Winterberry, which I bought around ten years ago (yes that scares me, ten years ago!)  I'd originally bought numerous balls to make a bathroom pedestal set, but only made a mat, which has been used every day since and has lived in my bedroom for many years.

I can get 4 triangles out of each ball on a 4mm hook.  However, I changed to 4.5mm hook as the central part was bubbling/raised and the outside was curling.  It's still happening, but not as much, so if you know a solution, let me know!

After seeing my Christmas pan mats, gifted to me by Paula, some years back, hanging in my kitchen, I'm again re-inspired to do more seasonal ones.  I say re-inspired as I've been wanting to do seasonal cloths/mats for eons.  

It's New Year's Eve today.  MJ has consigned me to my room until she has laid out party food in the kitchen, although I've not had breakfast yet!  She is excited about the new year.  I've said she can stay up, as opposed to her going to bed, me telling her to settle every half hour then getting her up just before midnight.  So we are going to have a party, with party food, sparklers and streamers.  And a trip to Tesco to get bog roll, milk and cat food - oh yes!  MJ and I have four cats now!

Dipping my toe in again

I'm reviving my blog.  I need to learn about it all over again - things have changed!

Baking and Cake Decorating In The New House

As you may know, last night I gave my KMix it's Maiden Voyage, and very pleased I was with it.  I made a batch of basic chocolate cupcakes, using a dark soft brown sugar for a toffee like flavour.  I still need to come to grips with the oven.  Tonights batch of cakes shows that I am heading in that direction, oven temp still needs a little tweak to allow for it being a fan oven.

Mary-Jane had spotted that there were cupcakes to be decorated when I got in from work.  Once bathed, I set Mary-Jane up to decorate said cakes.  She was happy and pleased with her results.  I let her have a gave her the sprinkles and let her have a free hand.

The frosting is also a First.  I used Sugar and Crumbs Jaffa Twist Icing sugar, with my very own soft yoghurt cheese!  I bought the yoghurt cheese maker from Lakeland in the January sale.  It is so easy to use it is silly.  Pour one tub of natural yoghurt into the container, close the lid, put in the fridge for 24 hours and hey presto!  I first discovered properly Sugar and Crumbs last year at the Cake Show in Manchester in March.  I might have been sceptical at first till I was encouraged to try samples of the lovely stuff, then I was smitten.  If you want to make your cake special then use some of their icing sugar, you will note be disappointed.

I tried not to put too frosting on each cake, however I ended up with just under half left.  So I just had to make another batch of cupcakes up, be rude not to -  and because I am now Queen of My Own Kitchen again!

View From The Front Door

This is the view from the front door, looking left, down into the village

Same View, with a zoom added.  Stunning.

New Home

I am starting to settle into the new house - our new home.  Since we have been here, I feel like all I have done in the main is have tea, sleep, go to work, repeat.  The only time I really saw the garden for the first three weeks was each Saturday morning, a novelty.  I am enjoying being here, and am finding myself relaxing a little.  This morning I had a lie in to 8 am, unheard of!  Mary-Jane had had a disturbed night, so in turn did I.  But 8 o'clock, get me!

Mary-Jane had a party to go to at lunchtime in Whitehaven, lots of fun had there.  As we had the regular weekly shop to do, HK agreed to stay at the party whilst I went to Tesco.  I fell off my perch, HK has never been to any party with Mary-Jane.  All was achieved and I started to have a strange sense of calmness creeping in to my personna.

When we got back, I left HK to put the shopping away whilst I whisked Mary-Jane off to Mawson's Ice Cream Parlour at Seascale.  It was their re-opening day after a well deserved three week break. Mary-Jane had Triple Chocolate and Kendal Mint Cake Ice Cream and I had Chocolate Orange and Reese Ice Cream.  Scrummy.

Another first this evening - my KMix has had it's maiden voyage!  Oh how excited I was getting watching the smooth batter.  I made a batch of chocolate toffee cupcakes, ready for decorating (and eating) tomorrow.

Work is very heavy going at the moment.  The less said in public the better.

I am starting to get enthused again about baking and cooking.  My thoughts have already started to turn to Show Season in the summer.  Lots of planning, preparation and practice between now and then will be the key.

Will try for photos next time!