Sunday, September 25

☼ brighton ☼


Brighton had obviously been missing us- we were greeted with blazing sunshine and blissful memories. It's back down to earth with a bump with Sunday evening melancholy, as I mourn the cavernous chunks of dear friends' lives I've missed whilst living so far away.

Friday, September 23

friday feeling

Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately, I've been on a huge health-kick trying to shift this lard once and for all, so any spare time is currently being spent sweating my arse off at the gym. Whilst I'm pleased with the changes happening with my body, it is sad that my creative time has to be sacrificed- no cosy Autumn knitting for me!

Anyway, the good news is it's Friday- practically the weekend and the sun is shining. I'm especially excited about this one, as we're heading off to spend a couple of nights meeting up with beloved friends and family in fabulous Brighton. I feel like I'm going home!


On a totally random Friday-feeling note, how awesome is this teapot? I want it!!


Wishing you all smashing weekends xx

Sunday, September 18

deadly day out

Today Flora and I have been treated to the most fantastic day, watching her biggest hero Steve Backshall and his crew at the CBBC Deadly Day Out. This year the events are ticketed only, with a random draw to decide which lucky children won the privilage of attending- I had been devastated for Flora when we recieved an email earlier in the week, telling us we weren't amongst the chosen few. However, the lovley Lou over at Little Green Shed came flying to the rescue and pursuaded her even lovelier parents to sacrifice their tickets so we could go along with Lou and her family- thankyou so much Mr & Mrs Shed snr !

 

Sadly I didn't managed to get any pictures of the main man Steve Backshall himself as I was too far back during the show, but I promise he was just as lovely in the flesh as he is on the telly. Flora's not stopped raving on about reticulated pythons, alligator snapping turtles and harris hawks since we got home. I think we'll all sleep well tonight! x

Tuesday, September 6

toffee apple cobbler

With harvest time upon us, cobblers are a tasty alternative to the umpteen fruit pies and crumbles we all find ourselves baking at this time of year. We used apples, but you can use up your glut of just about any other fruit in yours. 

Ingredients~
  • 4 tbsp of good quality, unrefined dark muscavado sugar
  • 5 tbsp porridge oats
  • 3 tbsp milk or single cream
  • 4 brambly apples
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tsp of demerara sugar


1) Preheat the oven to 200°C/ Gas 5. Put the oats, 1 tbsp of muscavado and the milk in a mixing bowl. Squidge it all together in your hands and then roll into 4 or 5 small balls.


2) Peel and slice up the apples and lay them out in your favourite Pyrex casserole dish.


3) Sprinkle on the rest of muscavado, cinnamon and pour on the orange juice. Give it a good stir, until all the apple slices are nicely coated. Pop the dumplings on top and sprinkle with the demerara sugar.

  
4) Bake for about 20 mins, until the apples are all gooey and caramelised.


5) Serve with a dollop of icecream, custard, or another suitable creamy accompaniment. 


One satisfied customer!


Sunday, September 4

goodbye summer

Haven't the school holidays flown by, I cannot quite believe it's time for winter uniforms and homework diaries again already. We've clung on to last days of Summer by heading off for a dreamy weekend filled with meadows, piglets, campfires, music, blackberries, the chirping of crickets and the hooting of owls.


I do hope you've all enjoyed the summer as much as we all have xx

Thursday, September 1

kew gardens

My lovely dad took us to Kew Gardens today as an end-of-summer treat. It was my first visit and I wasn't disappointed; I'm still trying to decide which bit I liked best- the palm house, the cacti, the giant lily pads or the aeriel walkway.

Excuse some of the fuzzy pictures, my lens kept steaming up with the humidity in the hot houses..