Norwich Tour by Bus or Charabanc ? A big decision

We were waiting for a Norwich Tour Bus when this old Charabanc arrived. 

The Driver persuaded us to go on his Tour which was utterly BRILLIANT !  He could get his small Charabanc down all of the narrow cobbled streets and he knew everything about the History of Norwich. If you are in Norwich this is a great way to see the City

A trip down Memory Lane with Zebras

My Sister has this lovely photo of our Dad.  Mum must have taken it at the Kruger National Park when we lived in South Africa bless her.  I remember we went there and didn't see any Giraffes or Lions or Tigers just lots of Zebras and Springboks.  Happy memories ...

TAST 2015 WEEK 2 Take a stitch Tuesday BUTTONHOLE / BLANKET Stitch Embroidery

My BUTTONHOLE / BLANKET STITCH Trying to catch up !

  About to start playing with week 3 Feather Stitch

Taking the TAST Take a stitch Tuesday Embroidery Challenge again

Sharon is re running the TAST ( Take a stitch Tuesday Challenge ) I started the last one in 2012 and got so behind I gave up. This time I hope to keep up !  

http://pintangle.com/2015/07/21/tuesday-take-a-stitch-challenge/

This is playing with FLY STITCH and a few beads.  I found the dear little penguins in a book called " Bead Embroidery Stitch Samples " The Tree trunk is a bugle bead and the Penguins have bead heads and bodies.  I don't have any yellow beads so used FRENCH KNOTS instead

May 2015 My life and crafting review

I have just taken this photo of some of my crafts before I pack them away in a box.

I have a milestone Birthday coming up with a Zero in it !  Now I have more years behind me than in front of me. I am wondering what I should be doing with the time that I have left and ask myself

Why do I make things ?

What should I do with them ?

Is it time to grow up and stop making things !

Whitehouse Farm What is in this tatty old Farm Building ?

We came across this tatty old Farm Building at Whitehouse Farm and look what we found inside 

I looked at this Painting lots of times before I noticed that there are two Dogs in it

I think I understand the message the Artist is passing on in the Pig Painting

Not sure what he or she had in mind here !

A Tree of Life ready for names to be added ?

 I wonder who painted them and why in this old Barn ?  The birds are my favourite. It's a mystery

Short break at Windermere Hotel in the Lake District

We have just returned from a short break at The Windermere Hotel in Cumbria

We walked to Bowness. It was very cold as you can see by the snow on the mountains but we wrapped up warm and enjoyed every minute

  This is the view of the Lake from the top of Orrest Head behind the Hotel

The Imperial Hotel in Tenby South Wales

We have been to Tenby in South Wales this week. 

This is Tenby Harbour

The stunning sea view from the Imperial Hotel window and.....

a Shop Window full of Mutant Dolls in Tenby....awesome !

They have Craft Fairs in the Hotel sometimes

Easy Recipe for Mum's Windfall Apple Pudding Cake

 This recipe is so easy.  We have lots of windfall Apples.  Delicious hot with Custard then eaten as a Cake the next day 

WINDFALL APPLE PUDDING CAKE  

Lightly grease an ovenproof dish with BUTTER or MARGARINE. Cover the base with big chunks of raw APPLE or PEAR and 1 oz of MIXED DRIED FRUIT

The next bit I was taught in Cookery Lessons at School

You can use any size EGGS just remember to weigh them IN THEIR SHELLS

The 2 EGGS I used weighed together came to 5ozs

This gives you the amount of the other ingredients you need

  5ozs SELF RAISING FLOUR

5ozs SUGAR

5ozs BUTTER or MARGARINE

I flat teaspoon BAKING POWDER

Whisk together all of the above ingredients until pale and airy 

Spoon gently over the APPLES without pressing down

BAKE for 40 minutes at 180%  FAN OVEN

DELICIOUS with Custard !   How easy was that ?

Windfall Chutney

A few jars of Windfall Chutney I have just made. Recipe below

One of many boxes of Apples from our four 70 year old Apple Trees. We don't spray them or thin them or pick them. They must be ready when they fall then it's eat, freeze or make into 

WINDFALL CHUTNEY

         3 lbs Apples              2 Large Onions,   

         1 cup White sugar     1 cup Demerara Sugar, 

         I cup Vinegar            1 cup dried Mixed Fruit, 

         Half teaspoon Salt    1 flat teaspoon Curry Powder

The measuring cup I use is 250ml.  Simply put the above in a big saucepan.  Simmer on low stirring occasionally until all the ingredients are soft and it looks and tastes like Chutney.  Please keep a lid on on the saucepan or the liquid will evaporate.  You would then be tempted to add more liquid like I did once and ruined it.  I always us this recipe because Hubby likes it. 

Hubby busy making Cider using this Apple Press that he made