Read-a-long - Five on Friday

Hello there, thank you so much for all your lovely birthday greetings to my eldest son. It's been a week of checking ingredients again! I hope we've got it sorted now... IBS is such a pain. I phoned Mum to let her know as my Dad suffers too... Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Carboxymethyl Cellulose & Gum Arabic. Some of these are in Aldi mint sauce, Gluten free cheese crackers, Co-op Bon Bons, Co-op Wraps. If you have IBS, the Doctor can help with a Dietitian checking for Coeliac, high fibre test and FODMAP testing. Then IF you still have symptoms - it's then a life of label checking on processed foods, as none of these are Fodmap or fibre issues. 

For this week's Five: some books or Read-a-longs that I've enjoyed recently. I was following the Agatha Christie book list this year but have abandoned it. I've joined in the last two years but sadly it felt like just another chore this time. I think that it's partly due to my (IBS) health and the need to get lots of things done. I also feel easily overwhelmed with too much information, so have taken a step back from some social media. I'm an admin on a Flylady group and have stepped back from that too, taking a Month's break for now.  

I'm just in from the WI craft evening (Bi-Monthly), lots of knitting/crochet of Helicopters, Poppies and Rainbow cardigans. Lots of chat, laughter, wine / tea and nibbles. Anyway onto some good books that I've enjoyed recently. 

1) Lessons in Chemistry by Garmus - Bookclub read for April. I've just finished this book and wow! What a book, I enjoyed the story, not so much the swearing but for women in 1960's life was tough in the work force. Unjust and no compromise, the 'Supper at Six' TV show at least spoke directly to women, to inspire them for change, ambition and confidence. I loved the dog 'Six Thirty' character, he was a very thoughtful dog with much responsibility. I definitely recommend it.

2) Sheltering Rain by JoJo Moyes - Bookclub read for March. I enjoyed last Month's book too, it started slow, with deep family issues lurking. I found myself wanting to pick it up and read more for days after finishing it. It is a true love story spanning three generations, unravelling family problems of not quite fitting in. 

3) Miss Read read-a-long - from the Facebook group. We started reading the Fairacre series April 2023. This year will conclude The Fairacre series, it will include two of the Caxley books, before finishing off with two Christmas titles. These books are so restful with some drama in each book. Overall they induce calm with beautiful descriptions of village life and the countryside. The 3 books above are for Jan - March this year. 
I first discovered Miss Read in my 20's, my Mother-in-law loved them... she loved the descriptions of the children's lives at school, their achievements and future plans. Sadly at the time, I found them a bit boring, preferring romance and mystery books. Several years later I discovered the Thrush Green series and fell in love with the village of Thrush Green. 
It has been nice reading through one book at a time, particularly as I've not read them all. 

4) Together Again by Milly Johnson - I read this last year. Milly Johnson often explores problems in families and this one doesn't disappoint. Family secrets and mistrust, deep painful issues that begin to unravel when the Sisters are Together Again. I was a little disappointed with the ending, family trauma... but maybe it was for the best. 

5) A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe - for the bookclub in 2023. This book was so good, it begins in the aftermath of the Abervan disaster, then goes back to trace the young protagonists life from his days at choir school to the present day. This book stayed with me for a very long time. We had a good dicussion about this one at the bookclub. 
Another good book from last year's bookclub list was One Enchanted Evening by Anton Du Becke. This is part of a 6 part series here  It reminded me of the 'signature dances' in Agatha Christie's 'Murder at the Vicarage' with Joan Hickson as Miss Marple.  

Have you read any of these books?
What are you reading now? 

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Craft Show & Tell - Five on Friday

Hello there, I hope you are well? If you've been following my blog for a while, I just wanted to thank you. I appreciate that it's been a bit of a stop start of regular blogging. Over the years I've struggled to feel well, I'm still trying to sort IBS issues. So with other commitments and feeling rubbish, sometimes things have slipped. I've recently found another thing that I'm intolerant too, or at least, one that I'd not thought to check on labels. In Aldi's hot chocolate there is a chemical ingredient that upsets my stomach. Google it if interested, it's called Carboxymethyl Cellulose. I knew about it in bread wraps from the Co-op, so only purchased wraps from Aldi. I was treating myself on bad days, to a nice hot chocolate. It makes me mad all this label scrutinizing.

Anyway onto nicer things. We went out for a meal on Wednesday evening to celebrate my son's 24th Birthday. Happy Birthday Nat, a favourite photo of him and Zola (his cat). To think that I once held this tall handsome young man, just like he's holding Zola - he's taller than me now and I'm 5'11". I'm proud of you teen1 Son, love you always x

This week's Five on Friday is a bit of a 'Show & Tell' 

1) A Christmas Bauble. A lady called Carole taught me to make these at the Village Craft Afternoon. It's simpler than it looks, starting at one end building up layers of folded 3" square pieces of material. Lots of pins are involved to secure each point. This one has a thin ribbon to hang it up as a decoration. 

2) Another Craft Afternoon, this time it was at a church ladies social. There were several craft options on offer to try out. Making Pom-Poms, with pattern ideas to make characters. Button necklaces, Macramé, knitting and making these Crochet Wind Spinners. There are some Youtube videos online if this interests you. They will stay in better shape if hung up and free to twirl. 

3) A simple restful portable knitting project. A washcloth, flannel or dishcloth knitted in Rico Aran 100% Cotton yarn. Front and Rear view, (not blocked). The pattern is called broken rib from this book: Knit Yourself Calm. I borrowed the book from the library. Lots of simple projects to inspire knitting to help calm.

4) A Dishcloth - For the Lent KAL (knit-a-long), following along on a Facebook Group. The official KAL was to make a shawl. I've knitted a shawl before and didn't want another, so I went for the alternative dishcloth - pattern on Ravelry. Each week is knitted in a different colour in Sirdar Happy Cotton yarn. The yarn had been donated at the church Craft Group. I will block it and probably use it as a table mat.  

5) A pair of socks for me. These caused me lots of unpicking... not surprising my husband would say. These are knitted in WYS 4 Ply, Blue Lagoon. The yarn started life being knit into a KAL shawl several years ago. It had beads along the edge, sadly I grew impatient with it, all the knots/bumpy edges you needed to add along the edge. So I unpicked it and continued my sock journey of  'improving each time.' These fit snug, though due to a difference in stitches picked up around the heel, one sock had a different finish point for decreasing. When I tried to match the row count for the feet length instead of  a measurement... it was completely too short! Cue another unpick session. Each time I knit socks, they are a better fit. I feel like I can get it right next time... I hope. Pattern on Winwick Mum's blog - Sockalong tutorial. 

I have a few projects on my needles at the moment, so I need to finish those first before I tackle another pair of socks. 

A) Knit a Helicopter - WI competition for May

B) Rainbow Cardigan - WI craft group - charity request

C) Vest - Fish & Chip jumper/vest

When I've finished these, then I can start another pair of socks, another washcloth and finish a Jacket/Cardigan. 

What are you making at the moment? 

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Cookery Challenge - 'Five on Friday'

Hello there, I'm just back from the WI (Women's Institute). I'm very pleased to have won 1st place with my Robin WYS Socks... photo on the side panel. The pattern is from Winwick Mum's tutorial on her blog here. Each month the WI have a competition, April was to knit a pair of socks. There's also a flower of the month too, you bring in a flower from the garden. The best are awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd. These two items each month gain you points that are totted up at the end of the year, for the March AGM. The competition for May is to knit a Helicopter in the Lincs & Notts air ambulance colours... watch this space ha ha. 

I've challenged myself to cook more the last few weeks. I've tried new things from 2 x cookery books, a youtube channel that I follow and a lady called Karen's blog. 

First: These are called 'Ears', I found these on a Youtube video by 'Bayley Made It' I subscribe to her channel, she used to do minimalism but now does a bit of that plus knitting, makes and buys etc. I took these for the shared supper at March's WI, this finishes off the evening whilst the raffle is called and you get chance to chat more over a cuppa or glass of wine. The competition is announced during the supper too. 

To make the Ears, you'll need a sheet of puff pastry. Sprinkle finely chopped onion, grated cheese and 2 slices of finely chopped bacon. Roll it tight on the long edge. Cut the rolled pastry in half, then each half cut in half... repeat until you have 16 ear shapes. Lay them on a baking sheet and cook as sausage rolls. These are perfect with soups or buffets.   

Second: Tonight's dinner was a Salmon loaf, very easy though I cooked 2 salmon fillets rather than tinned salmon. As the salmon was cooked, flaked and hot mixed with the hot mashed potatoes and all the other ingredients, I baked it for just 30 minutes. It was delicious, I'd definitely make it again. 

Third: Baked some bread with 750g bread flour, 2 x tsp salt, 25g marg or lard, 1 sachet fast action dried yeast, 3/4 pint water. 
Next time I'd only use 1 tsp salt as it was salty tasting. I used butter as I have low fat spread (not suitable for cooking). 
The method that I use is in the Kenwood big bowl mixer with the dough hook. Mix on slow for 2 mins, then 5 mins on a faster speed. Then flatten on a floured worktop, fold the ends in to make 3 layers. Place in greased or lined tin, cover and leave to rise - double in size. Conveniently the slow cooker had finished cooking our dinner of Spaghetti Bolognaise, so I took the crock pot out, put and small china dish inside and stood the covered loaf tin on the dish inside. The heat helped the rise without being too hot. It took an hour to rise and 35 mins to bake, 220*c approx.
Recipe from McDougalls Better Baking cook book. 

Fourth: I call this Strawberry Fluff, the recipe is here. It only has 2 ingredients, a red jelly packet and a small tin of evaporated milk. Nothing fancy as it's typically a wartime recipe (no I wasn't born then). 
Make up the jelly and chill, when nearly set, whisk the evaporated milk, then combine and whisk. Chill in the fridge and serve. 

Sorry we'd started this and the bread before I snapped the photo!

Fifth: Easter nests, or one big nest as bizarrely I didn't have any cup cases left. Since not eating eggs, I've cleared out lots from my cupboards, including the cup cases! So one big nest it is! Cadbury's chocolate bar 200g (a Easter present from a customer), cornflakes and a packet of mini eggs. Melt the chocolate and stir in cornflakes in batches, checking they are all coated in chocolate. Press down gently in the cake tin liner, adding the mini eggs. Place in the fridge until needed. 

So on a high note of winning first prize for my knitted socks, I wish you a lovely weekend. Let me know if you are inspired to try any of these recipes.
Cathy x

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March - ing (Five on Friday)

Hello there, I hope you are all well. Ready for another 'Five on Friday'? First of all, thank you so much to my lovely friend Jean - who joined me for the first Five on Friday last week. If possible please share with your followers, lots have missed these get-togethers in blogland. If you don't wish to join the blog party, that's all ok, please just leave a comment to let me know how you are. 
Thank you.

1) Waiting: for a walk. Angus after rolling around in the garden, he usually lays on his back with legs in the air whilst I peg the washing out. He's really waiting for a tummy tickle. He looks so funny and happy. Such a gorgeous happy boy, so soft and fluffy. He fills the hoover each day with all his fluffiness. 

Looking: up the hill: Nat took the next photo of Ellis (Ellis-Mae) his Fiancée and me from the top.  

Freezing: whilst waiting for Nat to re-appear!

2) Walking: at Rimac Nature Reserve last Saturday. It was a bleak chilly day but good to get out with Angus. Sadly he had to stay on the lead, there are birds nesting on the ground and lots of flooded areas... he'd be in the water if he could. 
The sea is a long way out in the distance, you should just sea the waves. The next photo was taken in 2018, when Nat & Johnny were teens 1 & 2. The vast stretch of sand seen below has disappeared under a covering of marsh grass.  

Remembering: back in February 2018, the sand and beach was more accessible. The marsh area is boggy and wet, so we can't walk out to the water.

3) Reading: Finished this book for the bookclub - Sheltering Rain by Jojo Moyes. It's funny, the term 'Sheltering Rain' was only mentioned once. Some of the ladies were discussing the book at Knit & Natter this week. It took a while to remember the story. The first half was slow but it picked up, then for days afterwards I kept wanting to read more.  

4) Listening: to The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie, on the library app. It was narrated by Hugh Fraser making it more interesting. 

I'm doing 3 read-a-longs this year. The list for the bookclub, Agatha Christie and Miss Read's Fairacre series. I often see if the AC books are on audio, simply because I want to read other books. I usually listen to these whilst doing housework or cooking.

5) Knitting: Nearly finished, Just on the last part of the golden yellow at the top of the Lent dishcloth. It will match the bottom and sides, then I'll have all the ends to sew in. I discovered a helpful YouTube video by Very Pink Knits, she demonstrates weaving the ends in following 'umbrellas and smiles'
The socks are nearly finished too, I unpicked the toes on the last pair. I picked up less stitches on the second sock after the heel, so knitting the foot length to match the first... was too short!
I've knitted 4 pairs now and abandoned 1 pair, repurposing the yarn. Each time I'm learning and ending with a better fit than the previous pair. These are Winwick Mum's Super Socks if you fancy knitting a pair. The link is to the sock-a-long, with lots of help available. 

Until next Friday, have a lovely weekend. 
Thanks for visiting. 
Happy Easter 
Cathy x

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Five on Friday - Memory Lane

Do you remember Five on Friday? Tricky from Fastblog ran it last and before him it was Amy at Love Made My Home. I've no idea who Amy took over from? A few of us in Blogland have missed seeing the Five on Friday posts, so I thought I'd host it and see if people want to join in. 

What is Five on Friday? 

It's a party inviting you to share a link from your 'Five on Friday Post' to mine, helping bloggers connect with friends through regular blogging. 

What could you post?

Anything that you share on your blog, eg craft, cooking, reading, trips, events etc. It could be 5 separate subjects or one subject with 5 steps eg cooking recipe steps, or craft steps made of your progress - to put together in a post. I wrote a post years ago about a walk and posted 5 different parts of the walk. It's really up to you.  

On my Kitchen windowsill I won the mauve plant in the pot at the WI raffle, any ideas what the plant is called please? There is a table of raffle prizes each month, my number was called first so I got to choose. The Primula or Primrose plants were a Mother's Day gift from Nat my son. Mark planted some form Johnny my youngest son, in the back garden. I love the cheerful colours of the plants and will enjoy seeing them flower each year.

On a dog walk Alpacas and Hyacinth, I love seeing flowers in people's gardens. The alpacas were a surprise. Our old house didn't have a front garden, so it's still a novelty seeing what people grow. We have a few bulbs growing wild to the side of our front garden. We planted them straight into the grass, when they die down, the grass is cut as normal. 

A spot of de-cluttering.  All the books have been bagged up ready to go. Every now and again, it's good to have a clear out of the excess stuff. Despite downsizing and getting rid of furniture and many, many items in cupboards, on shelves, in the shed and in all the rooms, there are still too many things. Now we are in a smaller property, our things need scaling back again. It's not as if I love shopping, but at some point, more things have come into the bungalow! Angus is hoping we've not de-cluttered the biscuits.

At the beach.  From 2 different beach walks, the first 3 photos are from Donna Nook. The sea is the other side of the sea defence (second photo), though even then, it's still a long way out. Donna Nook is an RAF bombing range, so you have to stick to the path when the red flags are out. You shouldn't wander off anyway, as there could be unexploded materials on the ground. The area is flooded with tourists each Autumn as the seals beach to have their pups along the coast line. It can be tricky with high tides as the fencing protects the seals from inquisitive tourists and their dogs, but it can stop the seals finding sanctuary in the dunes. 
The last photo is at Saltfleet, with no bombing range, instead there are several static holiday homes. This was inland, close to one of the holiday parks. I guess some may sit there and go no further, the sea is still a very long way out, so not one for paddling. Mablethorpe or Cleethorpes are better for paddling and spending the day at the beach.   

Hellebore my MIL favourite a lovely memory plant of her. They are beautiful plants, even if their blooms point down. Angus was her dog and he's been with us nearly 3 years now. We visited her grave last September, a long way to go back in Hampshire, so not a frequent trip. 

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