Baby Showers and Spring Flowers...

Good Morning all you lovely people. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend and have all been well. Sorry for my disappearance lately...I could tell you why but then I would have to add a moaning tag to the post and this post is far too pretty for that!

It has been a bit crazy in these parts lately, there have been family visits, school holidays, baby showers and men in uniform...yum!

Lets start with flowers. Nowadays I buy fresh flowers ALL the time. In fact it is rare that I go shopping anywhere and not bring some home with me. I love them. But this wasn't always the case.
Each time I am in my little kitchen snipping, and pruning a new bouquet or two and gently and precisely adding them to jugs or vases my husband always like to remind me of when we first met and the opinions I had on bought flowers.
"A waste of money, all they are going to do is die! I would rather have something I can keep!"
Yes! That was my opinion back then, but like I say to him now,
"that was before my depression hit rock bottom and I realised that flowers are a beautiful way to brighten up your day, natures very own anti-depressant!"

This is exactly why flowers are now so important to me. To walk up my path and have a cheery colourful bouquet greeting me in the window is uplifting and immediately makes me smile, even if I have had the crappiest day. I am home and my home is lovely and filled with the simplest, lovely things.

Now on to something that has really brought a smile to my face. My best friends bump!

I always think when someone so close to you is expecting you travel with them on each step of their journey. You comfort them when they are going through dreaded morning sickness that makes them look like death.

You call them fatty as the bump grows larger and larger. Moan when said bump doesn't kick on demand, and gently try and persuade them to add your name to bumps when they arrive...no? just me then?!?

Obviously as a friend or sister you can't go through everything with them, it is their journey and it is happening to them, but we get all the fun bits and can make the journey a little more joyous and exciting.

That is why I love the idea of baby showers. A new concept to these shores but a fab gift from our friends over the pond.

And of course I jumped right in...no silly games though, we are all far too interested in cake to be bothered about games :)

This is the fat one...no this is Becky and she is positively blooming and nowhere near as fat as I was hoping thinking she would get ;)

We went with cute pink tea party and it was a big success. We had a fabulous time, cooing over baby clothes and little gifts, baby names and bump.

I love my friend and I was so happy that I could do this for her, and hopefully it will be something wonderful she can treasure. A very pretty and yummy step on this journey xxx

Happy Sunday xx

Hoppy Easter...

I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter and blessings have befallen you.

We have had a lovely time. Peaceful, loving and fun family time.

Flowers and cards x

Warm Carrot and Hazelnut cake x

Melting moments x

Little chef x

On the hunt...

Easter goodies x

Waiting for Easter feast x

Cakes x

Nom...

Nom, Nom...

And cute pup got his first(and much needed) bath with us.

Happy Easter everyone xxx

Bring on Spring...Part 1...

Why hello there my lovely friends.

WOW! It seems like forever and a day since I last paid my poor little blog a visit.

The truth is, with all this awesome sunshine I have been very pleasantly distracted. We have been filling every day with outdoor activities or simply hanging out washing, taking advantage of the chance to reduce the electricity bill AND get that wonderful line fresh smell on all the laundry.

When I last blogged I mentioned my arm. I am pleased to say it is on the mend. Still not fully functional, I find crocheting or typing for too long makes it tense and can lead to temporary pain. It has made blogging almost impossible, I have missed it, but I am so glad that each day has been filled with fun and laughter...also a LOT of arguments since the boys broke up for the Easter hols on Friday ARRRRRGH! It makes me want to bang their heads together!.

There have been changes. The man went to serve our Country...and then came back less than two weeks later for the 2 weeks Easter leave! 

It was nice to see him all spruced up in his uniform though....

A very happy, little bug.

All kitted out in his actual work gear...still a "chef" (Thankfully most of the guys and gals in the forces are use to second rate grub...shhhhhh!?)

Things have been very hectic here over the last few weeks.

We have had some visitors...

My siblings popped by from Brighton to say hi. This is Bobby and Alice with my little bug.

Alice decided to use the time wisely by making a cake.

And bloody yummy it was too :)

The Father and siblings were only here for the day. They were dropping off my eldest little Sister, Holly. She has come to stay for two weeks. 

Was lovely to see them all...but also nice to have some peace when they went on their way ;)

Having an extra 4 children in the house is always headache inducing no matter how much they are loved.

Holly also decided that cake making was the way forward(don't know where they get it from!).

We decided to have a little tea party for Fluffy the Monsters birthday, oh yes! We have actual monsters in this house don't you know?.

I must admit it is nice to see my very tom boy sister in florals hehe!

How cool is this? Holly really did do 80% of this. I think I have some competition...

 

I think Fluffy enjoyed his impromptu party.

It hasn't all been hectic and loud in these parts.

I have managed to sneak in a few quiet moments.

Ahhhh toasted tea cakes and a cuppa...

And before I leave let me introduce you to this handsome fella.

This is Reginald(Reggie)...we picked the name...I picked the name ;). 

He is the newest member to our little mad house. I AM IN LOVE!!!

Despite his old man features he is only a pup. 5 months exactly.

He belonged to a friend of mine but she has just had a baby and Reggie isn't as house trained as she was promised and she just doesn't have the time to do it.

He is wonderful. A handful I will admit, but that makes me love him all the more.

He is a Parson Russell Terrier according to his breeder. I had never heard of them until Reggie came along.

So that is part 1 of the start of Spring. There is lots to say and share still but that can wait.

I think this post is long enough.

I hope you are all well and I promise to get along and comment of gazillions of missed posts as soon as 5 min presents itself.

Happy Wednesday xxx

Taffy Pie...

As we head into the second half of the month of February my mind can't help wandering to, what is in this house, the start of Spring.

For us Spring begins on the 1st March. St. Davids day.

We enjoy celebrating the day. Wales has so many traditions that are wonderful to be a part of.

Being English integrating was difficult for a while, but after 17yrs I think I am now OK. 3 Welsh boys and a Welsh husband all help ;)

On this day I like to cook food that is either traditionally welsh or that reminds me of Wales. Sometimes food that incorporates welsh ingredients will do(which I try to do in most of my cooking)

Several years ago I created a pie for my husband. He LOVES pies and he loves chicken so I thought I would welsh up a chicken pie(I have made this pie and replaced the chicken and oregano for lamb and mint and it is just as delicious!)

I have called this pie Taffy pie as 

1. It contains leek (hehe!)

 2. It was created in Wales

 3. My taff loves pie...

This a pic of individual pies, the recipe is for a large pie. You can make either.

Pastry.

Either buy ready to roll short crust pastry, or here is my recipe.

Half fat to flour. I use around 1lb plain flour which is 8 oz butter/lard/marg. You will need 2tsp warm water for every oz of flour so roughly around 32 tsp water which you will add gradually so don't worry about measuring it first just get a cup of warm water.

Put flour and butter in a bowl and rub the ingredients between your fingers until it is well mixed and resembles breadcrumbs(you can just put in food mixer and then add water gradually until you have a firm dough). Add a few tsp of the water and using a dinner knife fold the water in(this was the way my Nan taught me. I don't know why we used a knife but we did and it works lol.) Continue to add water and fold until you have a firm dough(dont worry if you add a little too much water just add a little more flour).

Once ready grease a pie dish of approx 8in and wrap pastry in cling film, place in the fridge until needed.

Filling.

1lb diced chicken
2 Large carrots
1 large leek
1 large sweet potato
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Oregano
3 cloves garlic

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Fill a large pan/pot with water and add to it the chicken, turn on full heat.

Chop the carrots, leek and sweet potato into small/medium chunks and add to the water with the salt, pepper and oregano. Crush the garlic into the pot, stir and bring to the boil. Once boiled turn down to simmer place lid on top and leave until chicken is cooked completely through and the veg is soft enough to your palate.

Drain the veg but make sure you drain into another pan or bowl as you will use the stock to make a gravy of your choice...how you make your gravy is up to you and your diet but as long as you make just enough for your pie and use the stock it will be fine.

Preheat oven to gas mark 6/200c

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Roll out the pastry and line the pie dish(you might to blind bake the pastry. I never do, why? Because it always messes up!) you will need the remaining pastry for the lid of the pie.

Pour the veg onto the pastry then add enough gravy to cover. Roll out a lid for the pie, make 2 1 inch long cuts in the lid to let out steam and place in the oven. You can glaze the pastry with egg before baking, this will give it a lovely golden colour.

Bake until a lovely golden brown.

Happy Sunday x