Another win

It's been a little quiet on this blog over the past few days - I can only apologise, but I've been experiencing a few 'family troubles'.  I won't go into details, but hopefully everything will now get back to normal.

Someone, somewhere must have known that I was having a bit of a bad time of it recently though, as on the couple of occassions that I actually opened my email over the past few days, I discovered that I'd won, not one, but two, blog give-aways.  How wonderful is that?  It makes you smile doesn't it? I'd just like to say a very big thank you to both Tess and Beth for their beautiful blogs and for holding such great give-away competitions.

Since I started bloging, I've won three wonderful blog give-aways.  I'm really over the moon.  People in Blog-land are not only very talented and inspiring, they're also extremely generous. 

I didn't think I was a lucky person, but now I'm thinking that perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket this week :0)

When I make my 100th post, I'll do a give-away too.  It'll give me the opportunity to give something back to the blogging community and hopefully it'll make someone very happy.

With everything that's been going on around here, I have still managed to make a start on my Fairytale Swap - here's a sneaky peek:

(In Rolf Harris style) - Can you guess what it is yet?

I love children's books. Don't you?

I'm still feeling alittle ropey.  I hate having a cold - it zaps all your energy doesn't it?

Anyway, unto other things.  Remember me telling you that I was going to read 'My Dad's a Birdman' by David Almond, to Violet the other day?  Well, it was a fantastic children's story.  I can't recommend it highly enough.  It was short and funny, and the illustrations by Polly Dunbar just added to its charms.

And my fave picture in the book:

It was the sort of book your Primary School teacher would have read aloud to the entire class when you were little, and you'd have thoroughly enjoyed it and gone home smiling.

So, if you've got a young person in your family, or if you just love children's books yourself, get a copy and get reading.  I promise you'll love it.

You'll be pleased to know that I've been giving my Fairytale Swap some serious thought and think I've come up with some good ideas.  Obviously I'm not at liberty to disclose these on my blog at the moment, but I'll try and take some sneaky photos and post them on here.  See if you can guess what I'm upto.

Achooooooooo

Violet and I are both snuggled up under a duvet on the sofa today, because the dreaded cold lurgy has decided to bless us with its presence.

Because I haven't the energy to pop down to the shops to replenish vital foodstuffs, I've had to resort to baking my own bread.

It might not look fantastic, but who cares, as it tastes delicious. 

I'm now wondering why I don't make my own bread everyday. 

Right, I'm now gonna sign off and go and read this to Violet:

I picked it up for only £2. 

I love illustrated children's books, especially ones which have a Quentin Blake feel to them and also have such great titles.

Achooooooooooo

Wet, windy weekend.

What a wet, windy weekend that one was.

We took a trip over to Coventry and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum on Saturday afternoon.  Apparently it's this year's winner of the The Guardian Family-Friendly Museum Award. 

There were some great hands on activities for children (and big children).  I was particularly impressed with the Element exhibition, where there were plenty of multi-media, multi-sensory activities all relating to the 4 elements (Fire, Air, Water and Earth).

Have you seen this painting before?

Godiva by John Collier (picture courtesy of Hebert Art Gallery & Museum website)

Isn't it beautiful? 

You'll find the original in the Herbert.

The cafe was also a great place to sit and relax - very light, spacious and above all, clean.  I was served a very decent cup of coffee and all three of us fought over a slice of their tasty Victoria Sandwich.

The art gallery is free and right opposite Coventry Cathedral.

We didn't visit the Cathedral on this visit as I believe that it's quite expensive to go in. 

Here's what that window is supposed to look like from the inside :

(Photo courtesy of Coventry Cathedral website)

Looks lovely, doesn't it?

-----------------------------------------

I've been given the name of my Fairtale Swap person - apparently she'd like to receive items relating to the Brother's Grimm story of Rumpelstiltskin. 

All I could remember about Rumplestiltskin was that it had something to do with spinning straw into gold.  So I thought I'd check it out on the internet.  I'd forgotten just how dark this story is.

I do remember having this ladybird book as a child, does it bring back any memories for you?

(Picture courtesy of Google)

I'm going to have to really put my thinking cap on for this one.  If you have any brainwaves you will let me know won't you?

Our Friday trip out

I don't know what the weather's been like in your neck of the woods today, but it's been damp, windy and alittle on the cold side here.

Even so, it didn't stop Violet and I catching the train into Birmingham.  Violet loves going on the train, and seeing as the journey only takes about 16 minutes, she's easily entertainable for that amount of time. 

She waved at the train driver pulling into Solihull station - No response, not even a smile.

She said "hello Mr Ticket Man", to the conductor when he came to stamp my ticket - No response, not even a smile.

She even said "Bye Mr Ticket Man", to the same conductor when he came passed us again, just before he cocoon himself safely away in that secret place at the back of the train - No response, not even a smile.

Is everybody a miserable sod these days?  Doesn't anybody use those facial muscles of theirs to actually, you know, SMILE????

When we arrived at our destination, we headed off towards Birmingham's Art Gallery - because it's brilliant, and because it's FREE. 

As soon as we walked in we spotted a beautiful marble sculpture (I think it was entitled Acorn Bud),  it looked extremely tactile and I couldn't see a sign saying 'Do Not Touch', so we both started stroking it.  The next thing I know, there's a rather stern looking security-type person standing behind us.  She'd come over  to tell us that we weren't supposed to be fondling the precious things.  Embarrassed, and hanging my head in shame, I grabbed Violet's little hand and walked off in search of her favourite painting.

Can you guess what it is? 

Can you?

But of course, it's her beloved penguins. 

Birmingham Art Gallery is a really good place to visit for those of you who have never been.  Especially if you're really into Pre-Raphaelite paintings. You'll be blown away by some of the famous paintings that adorn the walls. 

Just remember - DO  NOT  TOUCH  A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G! 

Yesterday I received my second Postcrossing postcard:

It's from a lady in Switzerland.  All she wrote on the card was "warm greetings from the rainy Switzerland".  So I can't tell you anything about this statue of a dog (maybe a German Shepherd), or where it is located, which is a pity because I would have liked to have known.  When I registered the card on the Postcrossing sight I did actually leave a message for the sender asking for more details. I'm nosey, I don't like mystery.

Then today I received another postcard:

Received from Roland who lives in Dresden.  What is this place?  It appears to be some sort of ferry port or somesuch.  Any guesses?

Anyways, they both had great stamps on them:

I think I've taken up a new hobby - Philately.

HAPPY WEEKEND.

What a day

Violet and I were at the Polling Station by 8am this morning.  When I went upto the chap who was issuing the ballot papers, Violet stood infront of him and said "Violet voting".  What a proud moment  - she'd have made a great Suffragette, demanding her right to vote.  Well done daughter of mine.

It was supposed to be my Knitting Group today.  It's usually held in the Expresso Bar outside John Lewis between 9:30 and 11am on the first Thursday of every month.  It was a race to get ready this morning, after I'd made sure that I'd packed enough food (and snacks) and entertainment for Violet, I rushed out into the pouring rain and more or less sprinted the entire mile into Solihull.  I dashed into the Expresso Bar and searched around for a group of ladies with knitting needles clickety, clacketing away, but I could only spy couples casually chatting over a coffee.  Where was everybody? 

So I pootled off to the Haberdashery counter in John Lewis in search of an explanation, seeing as it's their Rowan representative who actually runs this Knitting Group.  I was told by a rather snooty woman that the Thursday Knitting Group was no longer running because the Rowan Rep had left.  They had a new Rep, but he was only going to run a Knitting Group on the first Saturday of each month.  She said she'd take my name and phone number and let me know if a new group would be set up in the future. So I left my details and left very disheartened.

It had taken me ages to find a little 'adult' social group that I could attend during the day and mid-week.  Saturday's would be no good for me.  Mainly because the other half is about and we like to spend time as a family.

I was really fed up.

So I hit the shops, spent loads of the other half's hard earned wages (I'll break it to him gently later) and came home.

What should I discover upon my arrival back at the flat?  Would you believe it,  it's an answering message from the new Rowan Rep telling me that he is running a Thursday Knitting Group and it was starting at 2pm that very afternoon.  Well, I have to be honest, I swore (several times). 

Here's to hoping that tomorrow is a better day.

Missing in action yesterday

I try to post on my blog every week day, but yesterday was just bonkers in this house.  Violet was doing a very good teenager impression, throwing strop after strop, flinging herself on the floor because things weren't going her way, and using any object she could find as a missile.  As you can imagine she was a joy to behold.  She's still suffering from this chest infection, though it is on it's way out now - thank goodness.  There have been quite a few extremely restless nights and very (VERY) early mornings to be had lately.

When madam did finally have a nap yesterday, though brief, I thought I'd start on a bit of Spring cleaning.  You can happen upon the best things when rummaging under the bed can't you?  Apart from all the dust that seems to collect underneath I discovered some forgotten treasures.

Some prints I brought back from Italy in 2007 - Yet to be framed (it's on the to do list).

Aren't they just fabulous?  I love Italy.

Lurking in a little dusty box I found these:

There were 2 brooches (only custume jewellery), but pretty.

A teeny tiny photo of my paternal granddad, taken whilst he was serving in Africa I think.

And, an Old Penny that's been made into a pendant of some description. 

Here are a couple of close-up pics so you can see it in more detail.

Can you make out the date?  It's 1901.

It's very intriguing.  I wonder why and for whom it was done.

Then I came across this:

An Ivor the Engine badge.  It's just the coolest thing. I should definitely attach it to a bag or something.

I've got so much stuff in boxes stacked up all over the place. I can't wait to open more up and see what I've squirred away.

I also made some yummy Buttermilk Scones - the recipe was featured in this months Good Food Magazine.  I can tell you, that they were really nice.  Not too sweet. 

BUTTERMILK SCONES

Ingredients

450g/1lb Self-raising flour

1/4 tsp salt

100g/4oz Cold butter, diced

85g/3oz Golden caster sugar

284ml Pot buttermilk

2 tsp Vanilla extract

Splash of milk

Heat oven to 220c/220 fan/Gas 7

Put the flour, salt and butter into a food processor and pulse until you can't feel any lumps of butter (or rub in butter with fingers).  Then pulse in the sugar.

Gently warm the buttermilk (don't throw away the empty pot) and vanilla.  Using a large bowl, quickly tip in some flour mix, followed by some of the buttermilk mix, repeat until everything is in the bowl. Using a knife to quickly mix together to form a dough - don't over-mix it.

Tip onto a floured surface and lightly bring together with your hands a couple of times. 

Press out gently to about 4cm thick and stamp out rounds with a 6cm/7cm cutter.

Spread out on a lightly floured baking sheet.

Add a splash of milk into the the empty buttermilk pot, then use to glaze the top of each scone.

Bake for 10-12 mins until golden and well risen.

Whilst on the subject of food, I'm sure you will all be pleased to know that my 'Veggie Luncheon' was a complete success.  Our friends loved all the food and luckily cheese wasn't a problem at all, so I shouldn't have worried.  They even went home with a bag full of leftovers.  It gives me a good feeling, knowing that people have enjoyed food that I've prepared. I think the Caramelised Onion & Goats Cheese Tartlets were the things everyone enjoyed the most.  They literally took about a minute to put together and were extremely tasty. I'll definitely be making these again.

My-o-my, today's blog post is long.  Think I'll stop there or you will all start to lose the will to live.

Hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods - happy Mid-week Wednesday to one and all.