Chop, chop, chopping

Tidying up the garden continues apace but there are still some plants that are not for the chop and flowers that are blooming away in the late summer sun.

The pak choi and fennel are producing now and I thin out or snip little bits to add to stir fries, concocctions and casseroles.

Now I don't know what this is as the label was blown away and it came from one of those packets of seeds that had been hanging around for years and it was about time the seeds were planted or thrown away. I am presuming that it's edible as the seeds were from the vegetable seed box. Anyway I've been chopping leaves off and eating them and I'm still here!

This lot of sweet peas from my 99p pot are still flowering away but the plant is for the chop next week.

The poppies seem to flower all year round.

I'm slowly chopping my way through the front garden borders and hope fully the beds will be put to bed before severe weather sets in.

Favourite Teddy Day tomorrow. 

xx

Just thought

… I'd do a mini series of posts on the topic of 

My Favourite at the Moment.

They will go in this order. Do join in if you wish.

1. teddy

2. mug and/or cup

3. drinking glass

4. pen, pencil or writing or drawing implement

5. plate for meals

6. shoes

7. hobby

The inspiration has come from Mac and Janet's posts about her teddies, which reminded me of my first ted which came to bed with me for many years. I then began thinking of other favourites of mine and why they are my favourite. I know my favourites change every so often as in the case of the mug I choose for drinks and the hobby I'm into at the moment and I wondered if others have the same feelings about a certain plate they want to eat off all the time or certain shoes that they want to wear all the time.

So I shall start a Friday Favourite (at the moment) post on …

Friday, of course!

I wonder if you have a favourite day. Mine's Saturday …

at the moment!

xx

PS - any other ideas for favourites?
PPS - A very warm welcome to my new followers.

Car Booty

Only one more week left of the big CB sale this year. Here's today's booty.

12 rather large Christmas bows. I think each bow must be made of a full roll of ribbon. One bow has the price tag of £4.99. I paid £2 for all of them.

Next were some knitting needles, straight and circular plus 3 crochet hooks and a ball of wool. The wool was 50p and the needles and hooks were £2.

Following the Christmas theme I spotted a Country Living mag for 20p, Christmas cards for 20p and more ribbon - all 5 for a pound.

It looks like I'm getting prepared for next year too as I couldn't resist these Easter cutters for 50p.

It was all smiles this morning and the sun shone.

I've also managed to weed and cut down in the front garden, clean the brass and wash down the front door and outside downstairs window sills along with the front step.

It says in my diary

'Day of Rest' so I'm off to sit in the sun room and read my mag. Hope you've had a good weekend.

xx

Sorry

I'm sorry but in the Dorset Apple Cake recipe I printed 280g Golden Syrup instead of 280 g Golden Caster Sugar. Thanks, Julie, for pointing that out. I have corrected the mistake. I hope no-one's had a spoilt cake because of it.

xx

:(

Shadows

The sun is lower down in the sky now but there are still shadows to be seen when there are not too many clouds.

No heating on yet but it's getting cooler. The back garden has been tidied some more with the sweet peas pulled out. There are not many more runner beans to be seen so they'll will be on their way soon. I'll just save a few seed. The courgettes have slowed down thank goodness and the fennel (had the seed, so had to plant) is looking beautiful.

I'm still in my flip flops and short sleeves in the house but I've a heavier duvet on the bed.

Happy Autumn!

xx

All is safely gathered in

Well the corn and the potatoes are anyway. We've eaten quite a bit of corn in the last few weeks but because the weather is a little cooler we harvested the remnants and I've put them in the freezer.

The one's that have not reached maturity are sill going in the freezer as 'baby corn' to eek out casseroles and concoctions.

I did keep 3 out, 2 for DH and me and one for a friend for his tea today.

The seed potatoes for this little lot came from another friend. Aren't we lucky!

Look at this giant and that's DH's hand.

Baked potato for tea.

xx

Mum's Apple Cake

For Julie who commented on the previous post.

Mum's Apple Cake

12 oz Self Raising flour

6 oz butter (soften in the microwave)

6 oz sugar (I used brown)

3 eggs

a little glug of milk

2 baking apples cut into chunks

Whizz up the above and spoon out into 2 lined small loaf tins. Bake in a moderate oven until done - approx. 30 - 35 mins

Here are 2 other variations from my here, there and everywhere recipe book. Enlarge the picture for this one which was cut out from somewhere.

Easy Apple Cake

This one must have been cadged from a friend. I'll type it out 'neatly' under the picture.

Dorset Apple Cake

450g apples

the juice of 1/2 a lemon for the apples

225g butter

280g Golden Caster Sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

350g SR flour

2 tsp baking powder

Demerara sugar to sprinkle

Turn on the oven to 180 degrees.

Line a 27cm x 20cm baking tin.

Put butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour and baking powder in a bowl and mix. 

Put half in the tin.

Put in apples and then the rest.

Sprinkle sugar over the top.

I presume it's baked until it's done!

xx