Post-Lurgy

These past days that I have not blogged is because I have had a nasty virus/bug whatever you want to call it.  It was one of those where you don't know which end to hang over the toilet, but sometimes wish you could hang both ends at the same time..... nuff said about that!  I have passed it on to HK, and to poor Mary-Jane and Mum.  Mary-Jane doesn't seem to be as bad as me or HK, thankfully.  She has been off her food a bit, and not got quite as much energy.  Her nappies have been rather, well, rather bloomin awful to say the least!!!  We are much over the worst of it, and nearly back to normal.  The first 24 hours were the worst, then I got better quickly, but it seemed to linger.

I have finished Winter Apple Shawl and it looks lovely.  It does need to be blocked.  I shall however take it to Woodlands tomorrow and show it off.  I need to cast on a cloth for a swap, that shall be tomorrow night.  I haven't decided what pattern to use yet, I shall look through my files of patterns and be inspired.  This evening I have been working on Lydia Cresent Shawl and getting on well with it.  It is only garter stitch with two spines featuring a baby cable.  After that it may well be EZ time - the Pi Shawl and making a start on my Adult Surprise Jacket.

I have made another pie for tea, a veggie meat and tattie pie.  Scrumptious.  My pastry is improving.  HK could hardly move after he finished, just hope a big meal won't upset his insides.

My mind is a little blank, at the moment, tiredness and being post-lurgy is what I blame it on.  Until tomorrow!

Experimental Baking

I tried out a new recipe this afternoon, just a simple one.  The cakes tasted okay, but I'll not be rushing to make them again.  The recipe was 'Queen Cakes'.  It is the basic fairy cake recipe with raisisn or sultanas.  The picture in the book showed them bake in mini bundt tins.  The did look rather delicious.  I got our my silicone mini bundt tray and I was off and away.  All was well until I came to turn them out, then disaster stepped in, I couldn't turn them out properly.  Only one came to near how it should be.  I made six mini bundt, the rest of the batter was put in seven fairy/cup cake cases.  I have had such problem with silicone before.  I need to find out where I am going wrong.  I have a growing collection of silicone bakeware!

The second experiment was to bake Herman The German as a mini cake.  Keeping in with the theme of bundt, I used a larger bundt tin - a tin not silicone - and had a much better degree of success.  So much so that I wish I had some custard powder in so I could have some with the cake!  However it dawned on me just as I was putting them in the oven, that this was the wrong shape tin to do them in.  The cake would need to be turned upside down to present/serve.  The melted butter and sugar topping would then be on the bottom.  Nah, that was put down to experimental baking.  I'm sure they will taste good, just the wrong shape. 

If they had worked out, then I would have done them for the Market.  As I said to HK, I was so gald I had the chance to do the baking today rather than Wednesday - that would have sent me spiralling into orbit.  So that's two cakes I can cross off my list of suggestions! 

I was going to make some gingerbread today as well.  I went to the Co-op for bread and milk and picked up treacle and brown sugar.  I got back the the house and realised that I had picked up soft light brown sugar instead of dark brown.  It will get used for something else no doubt!

Mary-Jane has been much more herself today.  She had another nappy to say that she had had an upset tum.  She has eaten much better today, not drank as much as she usually does.  She has done her best to be on the go most of the day.  No easter eggs though.

Easter Egg Hunt Postponed

The Easter Egg Hunt didn't happen today.  It will tomorrow, fingers crossed.  At lunch time Mary-Jane started screaming and became well out of sorts.  We didn't quite know what the matter with her was.  She refused her lunch, which is very unlike her.  We only had to mention din-dins and she started screaming again.  She did have some milk a while after, and ate nearly all her tea (scrambled egg).  She was quite tired and seeing what was in her nappy, I think she had an upset tum.  I hate to see her so distressed.

She did settle as the afternoon went on, but she wasn't quite herself.  Once in bed, she seemed to fall straight asleep and there has only been a tiny peek out of her since.  She had one of her easter presents from us, one from AuntieAnnInAmerica - the Hello Kitty fleece blankie, and and egg and a marble run from Granma.  We gave her her Mickey Party Paino.  The distraction of this piano really pulled her round and she played with it on and off all of the afternoon.

I'm continuing on with Winter Apple.  I am happy to report that my next row will be the first of the stocking stitch rows. In between now and then I must type up WI Minutes.......

The Modern Easter Bucket Bonnet

I have been cracking on a pace with Winter Apple.  I have the drive of  'it's nearly on the home staright'.  It's not really.  I am now on row 40 of the lace and cable section.  Row 49 is the start of the stocking stitch section.  This section is has probably twice as many rows, but the rows get smaller - 6 stitch decrease over 2 rows. 

Mary-Jane has had one of her belated Christmas Presents.  At Christmas she was very overwhelmed by all the new toys she had.  We did give her them over a period of a few days, then held a few back, for when she was a bit older.  Today she had her Aquadoodle mat.  She loved it.  She loved sucking the pen even more.  The pen is completely non-toxic.  You fill it with water and the only thing it marks is the aquadoodle mat.  As an Easter present, we went out today and got her a portable Aquadoodle Travel Drawing Bag, so she can take it out with her.  We also got her a 'Mickey's Piano Party'.  It is a book of songs, with musical scores and a nine key keyboard.  Each key has a small light, that lights up for you to press it to learn to follow and play  one of nine or so songs.  I think she'll love it.

Here is the little lady herself

Having a roll round on the floor.  I think she looks so knowing here, beyond her years, but that's just me!

We got Mary-Jane an Easter Bucket a week or two ago.  She thinks it doubles up as a cool hat.  I have to agree!

It can also be worn at a tilt

The Modern Easter Bucket Bonnet can also be worn by Mommy!  Even though this picture is blurred, the more I look at it, the more I love it

Pie And More Cake

Today started off okay.  I got up after HK and got a cuppa in before Mary-Jane woke up.  I like my morning cuppa's and quiet time with HK.  After brekkie, we went shopping as usual for a Friday.  Well, we got as far as the car.  The back passenger side tyre had a puncture.  It had got a nail in it and it was about as flat as a pancake.  HK managed to pump it up with a gadget, enough for us to get to Kwik Fit in Whitehaven.  Forty minutes or so later, we had one fixed tyre for the princely sum of £22.50, and we were on our way.  We went on to Tesco and spent far more than what I planned to, so bare essentials next week.  Don't worry though, we picked up lots of bargains and offers - they will last us quite a while!

For tea tonight, I made a quorn and mushroom pie.  And I made the pastry from scratch.  I was very chuffed with myself for the finished result!  It's not very often at all that I venture into Pie Land, we're probably talking every few years.  It will be more often now. There is still half of it left for tomorrow.  I thought it would have done us just for tonight.  I found a tip about making pies as well.  It's common sense thing if you think about it.  When I read it, I thought, 'oh yeah.... that's a good idea....'  The tip is that fillings should be completely cold before using them otherwise the fat in the pastry will soften and the pastry will stretch.  Particularly important when using puff pastry.

Whilst that was cooking, I prepared another Herman Cake.  I used 200mls of the batter, then followed the given recipe.  I used Granny Smiths apples, the same as last time, and added a 100g pack of plain chocolate drops.  I cooked it on 160 in a convection/fan oven for 40 minutes and hey presto!  It came out well!  I have had a slice, I think either more apple of less chocolate, but not by much.  I'm going to try and keep the batter going.  I think I need to make notes of when I stir it, feed it and take batter out of it, or come next week I won't know whether I am coming or going with it!

My right heel has developed a huge deep crack, the likes I've not seen for a few years now.  It is painful to walk on.  My knees  and feet are complaining with me not totally weight bearing on my heel.  The top of my right foot and ankle are swelling too.

Keep your fingers crossed that we have good/dry/still weather on Sunday.  I want to take Mary-Jane on an Easter Egg Hunt around the garden.  I have the eggs and a felt bucket.  I think I will probably have as much fun as her.  HK rolls his eyes at me when I talk about it, but you can bet your ass that he will be out in the garden with us, of his own volition - he won't want to miss out!

Success At The Country Market

The Country Market for me today was a success.  I came home with nothing that I had taken.  I sold 30 scones and 36 eggs.  I also got two orders, one for wholemeal scones and one for mince pies.  I have a list of ideas and suggestions as what to make for next week.  Contenders on this list are - more scones (cheese, fruit and wholemeal), lemon drizzle cake - I might make these as cupcakes, gingerbread (I bought the most perfect sticky gingerbread home with me, I would have a real job bettering it), Herman cake - I'm hoping to do a bit of experimenting with this - apple and chocolate, maybe pineapple - Fondant Fancies, these will need a trial run, Queen Cakes, Madeleines , Fancies with pink Icing and white coconut and a cake similar to a Bakewell Slice but without the almond.  I am thinking all the more about starting a bread sourdough off.  I'm told that bread may sell well.  It may well be worth a try.

If my foot wasn't so cracked and painful to stand on, I might have been tempted to do some experimental baking this evening.  But if I did, that would also mean less knitting time, and I can't have that now can I?!

Talking of which, I have picked up Winter Apple.  The break from it seems to have done me good as I was more at one with it, and was flying through the pattern.  I'm now working on row 29 and it's looking good.  I am starting to get inkling to want to pick up the EZ Pi Shawl and do a bit on that.  I've not done any for quite a while.

Mary-Jane has taken to her Butterfly.  Her Butterfly has rocking chair rockers on.  It has been in her room since we bought it, in the days just before we moved here.  Lately she has beent taking interest in it and enjoying sitting on it.  A few days go, I bought it downstairs.  It is now getting well used!

Mary-Jane also likes to sit on top of Daddy's shoulders.  The photo is blurred as she was moving

We have had brilliant sunshine most of the day, with not a cloud in the sky.  Along with this there has been a bitterly cold wind.  It hasn't been that bad that Mary-Jane couldn't enjoy a short while out in the garden.  She is wearing my Toddler Surprise Jacket.  She was enjoying collecting small stones/shingle and putting them in the dogs waterbowl, now devoid of water.

Rhinog was out in the garden with us.  As Bandit stayed in the house, Rhinog had chance to chill in the sunshine instead of racing around the garden like a ten year old pup he thinks he is!

Mary-Jane having a good look at something!

March Itsy Bitsy Swap Revealed

My March Itsy Bitsy Swap has reached it's new home in the USA, so now I can reveal what I made.  The theme was Spring and pastel spring colours.  I chose both the patterns as they were flowers and because I had not printed the pictures with the pattern, so I wasn't sure what they should look like - a bit of a mystery!

The first it 'Tulip Bud in Garter Stitch' from the Lilly site.  The yarn is Peaches N Creme 'Spring Meadows'.

 This slightly blurred cloth is Carlsbad Flower Fields by Maile Mauch, knitted in Peaches N Creme 'Shades of Spring'.  I liked doing this one for the simple repititon and texture.