christmas treats!

Christmas is nearly upon us and I have decided to get a head start whilst i can on a few goodies for friends who I be seeing at some parties and get togethers! Since there are so many I would love to gift them something yet havent got the finances to...I decided to try a different creative and fina ncial approach...I shall bake them a goody!

...ok...hardly radical I know but I rather give someone something small and handmade than nothing and simply shrug and say "Sorry mate, no cash."

you can be economical with the coins and keep everyone happy I reckon!

Chocolate bark is my first port of call! Layers of different chocolates all swirled together, liberally sprinkled with peppermint candy bits for added chewy crunch...all melted together...

 then topped with chocolate and more candy bits and sprinkles!....mustn't forget the sprinkles...!

I also made some mince pies using some rather sweet heart and stars cases bought from my favourite local boutique a few months back with the idea of using them for christmas. Thats forward planning for you!

Made my own shortcrust pastry andlines each case and hand cut the excess pastry away with a knife and pricked the bottom with a fork. I find it helps the pastry keep its shape well and prevents it from bubbling and rising.
I then blind cooked them for a bit in the over to cook the cases

 Then I spooned each case full of mince meat and topped with marzipan I put through the garlic press for tiny little bits I can sprinkle on top, as otherwise too much marzipan might be too rich and overwhealming

They don't look too bad hey? these are now tightly packed in a tin, ready to be bagged up for when I see friends!
Peppermint chocolate bark and mince pies? All home made? I think they make a nice present to any of my friends!



of course I had to road-test a mince pie first to check the goods were well...good enough!
Mince pie with a helping of Ben and Jerry's Apple pie ice cream?

yummy!


Birdie Love
xxx

sunday

Its nice that everyone once in a while, a lazy sunday emerges that is a little different

 I caught a star (starfish) today so make your wish! :)

Happy sunday!

Birdie Love
xxx

a weekend away

Hi!
I'm back!
How are you all? Hope you are well!

I've been away and taking time out amongst other things which has been great to do!

I went away for a girly weekend to celebrate a hen-do! It wasn't your typical, drunken do, it was a very nice affair where we all used the local facilities and did zorbing, tree climbing, swimming and well as par-take in using the spa and treatments!

We had a ball staying in these wonderful little wooden lodges that made us all think of those alpine ski-lodges and pixies working away in santa's grotto so by the time we got in, we all felt so christmassy and cosy!

there's nothing like gathering around a cosy table in a warm room full of girlies in pjamas and sharing wine!

I had to show you the door handles in the place! they are branches!

The view is stunning in the morning, with the lodge and it's balcony so high up into the tree line, we could hear the birds singing and see squirrels rustling along branches overhead. The surrounding lands were ours to explore!

The place is so beautiful and peaceful! its really restorative to myself for being here. we all had a chance to rest and do what we wanted and come together in the evenings for food and enjoyment!

We all did some crazy sports like thee water zorbing! Great fun and its like being in a giant bubble...you cannot stand for the life of you though!

Food there was nice as well as the village we stayed in, so beautiful and so in tune with its natural surroundings!

me with my birdie covered wellies, carrying a bag from the local farm shop full of goodies including locally made sherbet UFO sweeties! Nommers!

yummy locally made cakes for desserts!

don't ask...i was this dude for one night...!

fooooood! I had a whole 12oz steak to myself! rubs belly*

sunday roast was huuuuge! The beef slices alone were massive enough before I even added the vegables and trimmings!

I had the nicest of times dressing to reflect the seasonal change and enjoying the brisk cool air on my walks. I do love autumn!

The farm shop stocked so much local goodies, all so yummy and such a nice treat to buy, take back to the lodge and curl up in the warmth!

The journey home though sucked!
It was nice to take time away and enjoy your own space and reflect, heal and grow.
I had a nice time getting pampered and massaged and came home with lovely painted tootsies and having  some lovely memories of the weekend away.
It was the first time I been away since the accident and it meant alot I could do this and be alright!
go me!


How are you all? Hope you are all well!


Birdie Love!
xxx

A Week

This week...

I saw and heard tales from my parents flying birds of prey on the moors and learnt that there's no such thing as a wise owl as owls are the stupidest of all birds and have very poor memory and awareness.

 

 flowers always look better after a little bit of rain.

 

That sprinkles always makes a girl giddy! Look at the bright sparkly colours...*stares hypnotically*

Local Wines truely does come in all the colours of the rainbow

Going back to your old school for a leaving/reunion party is just weird with all the memories of being a school girl

 

And everyone loves super tiny fairy cakes!

Just call me a spinster...

On sunday, we ventured into the deepest rural part of cornwall to this lovely house in some small, unknown area, down a country lane overgrown with summer weeds. It really is a property tucked away out of sight and with the sun brilliantly shining, the mood was great especially as I was joined by good friends, my even greater friend and my baby godson.

Out in the bright courtyard was a spinning wheel that originally came from new zealand, pulled out so us newbies get a chance later on to give it ...well...a spin!

By the front door were two buckets containing the dregs of whatever natural dying products we were dying with that day. One was a mystery wood chip that was a mystery colour and the other was onion skins that left fabrics golden yellow in colour.

They have been boiling outside in large boilers since the crack of dawn and emitted er..."wonderful" smells...!

We dyed fabrics, I taught a lesson in glossing as a transfer medium to fabrics and under the bright sun, we spun. I watched the smooth settling rhythm the experienced spinners settled into, feeding the wool into the spool and teasing and straightening  the wool as well. 

And then it was my go, sometimes I went too fast and sometimes too slow but eventually I settled into a tempo where I could just about feed the wool, teasing it out straight and controlling the pedal all at the same time and at one point all four of my limbs were doing their own thing!

I can see why people love doing it and the peacefulness people get from it but my inexperienced caused me to be rather tense and even as i write this now, my back hurts from sitting hunched over the wheel, scared to go wrong despite what the elders said reassuring me that its ok to make mistakes!

 

 

I might not be able to do spinning...but tea and cakes in the sun? That I can do!

Tea in a typically english countryside summer garden, surrounded by lovely flowers...perfeck!

 

The grounds of the place was massive and I will share more with you later on as well as my session teaching which was recieved and went down very well with the others!

it was a great day in the country on a rare sunny day in rainy England!

With my Godson Henry, watching his mummy in the garden messing around with Ice dyes! He was a great sparkling cherry on top of what was a great day!

What did you do this weekend just gone? Hope it was a good one for you!

Birdie Love!

xxx