Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

How does this Friday find you? 

Well I hope, and coping with this topsy turvy world we 

are currently living in.
It is also a special Friday with
VE Day, I plan to make scones and raise a glass.

Last Sunday's charity kit was a sell out - big thanks

and also heartfelt thanks to those who support me on Ko-fi.

I ensure every penny of that goes towards the envelopes,

cardstock, bags, postage - it is a huge help.

I do keep that page updated with gallery pics 

of the kits so far this year so if you fancy a nose, it's here.

As per every Friday I have some ramblings for you,

first, let me answer a question for Carolyn.

You asked where I get my little labels from.

The Hope and Chances ones are from Vistaprint.

If you've received an envelope with a little postbox

sticker, these are from Lisa Galley Designs -

she's the lady who did this card design based on Bella.

Her Etsy shop is here.

And Patricia you mentioned making my lemon and coconut cake recipe. 

You are definitely a long term blog visitor - 

I first shared this recipe on my blog in September 2012 here. 

That blog post actually features me in a bikini...!

It is a nice speedy recipe and works so well in a food processor,

Here's the recipe again.

Lemon and Coconut Cake 

This cake recipe started off as orange and coconut but I changed it to lemon - 

I prefer lemon. 

I started baking this cake over 20 years ago, it's an 'all in one' and so easy.

4oz soft margarine

6 oz caster sugar

4 oz self-raising flour

2 oz desiccated coconut

grated rind and juice of 1 lemon

2 eggs, beaten

3 tablespoons of milk

3 oz icing sugar

Preheat oven to 180 C, 350F or Gas Mark 4

Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin.

Place margarine, sugar, flour, coconut, lemon rind, eggs and milk 

into a food processor or bowl.

Whizz for 30 seconds or beat for 2 minutes with an electric whisk.

Spoon the mixture into the tin, spread evenly.

Bake for 1 hour until golden and risen. 

Leave the cake in the tin.

Blend the lemon juice with the icing sugar.

While the cake is still hot prick it all over with a skewer and spoon the lemon mixture over.

When the cake is cold remove it from the tin.

Eat and enjoy!

Out and about...well, as far as my pocket sized garden.

My garden seems to have sprung into life this week,

with a bit of rain and lots of sunshine everything has had a growth spurt.

This little pot of plants was from last year, bought at the end of the season 

for 99p because I actually wanted the pot, I just left it hanging 

on the fence and it has all regrown - I do love it when neglect works.

Clematis is blooming and growing daily, I'm there with my little

twisty things to guide it where I want it to go.

And these pretties that reach out to the sun and close up in the shade,

you clever gardeners will know the name.

And talking of flowers...

in an effort to use up my leftover yarn I've decided:

A flower a day is my mission for May.

The pattern is from Attic 24, Polyanthus flower.

I mentioned these flowers last Friday.

I did struggle a little at first, especially when the boys said

'oh look it's got green chubby legs'! 

I feel like I'm mastering them now.

I'm thinking I'll make them into a garland and pop it up in the cabin.

In between flowers I'm working on this Cupcake blanket with a little help.

I've finished my Hydrangea blanket, it's big - covers a single bed.

Photographed folded on my washing line dappled in sunshine.

My blanket fort collection is coming along nicely.

It's been just over a year since I learned to crochet,

come and dig me out from under a deluge of blankets in a few years please!

And now it must be telly time.

I'm still on Britbox and getting through those Midsomer Murders.

It's a little macabre when you think how many murders I've seen.

And not swaying from my chosen genre, I watched Van der Valk,

the new version with Marc Warren.

A completely British crime drama just dropped into 

scenic Amsterdam.

I was all but pleading with the screen to hear a Dutch accent.

Nonetheless, watchable and Mr Warren seems to be a 

Benjamin Button - looking fine for a man of 53!

So that wraps up my week - 

oh yes, here's a little sneak peek of something I'm revealing tomorrow.

The rainbow window project - had quite a few requests for this.

I've made a limited amount of kits with donations going to the NHS.

Please stop by tomorrow morning if you would like one.

Take care and stay safe friends, have a wonderful weekend,

keep those lighthouses manned.

Much love,

Charity Kit - May 2020

Hello friends.

Happy Sunday and Happy Charity Kit Day.

Hoping these will bring a smile during 'lighthouse'.

Please feel free to share details with everyone.

Each month a donation is made to a different charity,

and this month we are supporting Whizz-Kidz 

who are transforming the lives of disabled children.

To keep track of charities there's a tab at the top of my blog 

here with lots more kit info.

Without further ado here's this month's kit:

A 5 x 7 ivory card with layered die cuts,

foliage, flowers and 'Hello' sentiment.

You can create this card landscape or portrait.

What's included in your kit:

Ivory card base with matching envelope

Ivory card mats x 2

Die cuts - Fabulous Fretwork x 2, Candlewick Square x 1,

Foliage x 1, Flowers x 5

Stamped and die cut 'Hello'

Full instructions

(Items you will need: adhesive, foam squares, 

pearls/gems, inks/pens.

The kits are packed in recyclable paper bags and sent in a 'do not bend' 

envelope  so they arrive in pristine condition. 
To make up the kits you just need a basic craft kit, everything is pre-cut.

The kit cost is £5.85, that is inclusive of postage and packing.

Payment is via the PayPal link below.

If you wish to purchase but would prefer not to use PayPal, 

please email me:

hope-chances@live.co.uk  

I'm happy to help with alternative payment arrangements.

Here's the link and it is possible to purchase multiple kits,

there's an option for that too.

 

If you would like to support the kits but do not need one right now,
there is a 'Ko-fi' button', at the top of the blog,
I don't actually buy coffee, 
all donations enable me to purchase card, envelopes, labels and more.

It remains for me to say many, many thanks for your support

and I hope you like this month's kit.


Take care friends, have a lovely Sunday.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Welcome to this week's Friday Chat Day.

It's the 1st of May - Happy May Day.

We’re (about) halfway between the spring equinox and 

the summer solstice.

But what week of lockdown is it?!

Considering the days are blending they do seem to be 

speeding by - this is good because lockdown weeks are being ticked off,

this is bad because I may regret the things I didn't do in lockdown,

when I've had all this extra time.  

Anyone else feeling this?

So what have we all been up to?

I've been continuing with my crochet - the Cupcake Blanket.

I'm calling this my 'upstairs crochet' for that reason,

I work on this when I'm upstairs.

Bella and I pile up all the pillows on the bed and

make a snuggle den.

Main reason is the light is wonderful in my bedroom

and if the sun is shining it's the warmest room.

I'm such a fan of Lucy over at Attic 24,

she's recently completed a Spring garland that I am so tempted to make.

(Can I risk another WIP!)

Sort of wished I had started it at the beginning of lockdown,

a flower a day.  The symmetry of this makes my heart sing.

Also one night when sleep was evading me I updated the

'Yarn' page on my blog.

It shows the current works in progress and completed projects.

Am I writing? Ummm, well... no.

I should be, I want to be but when I've attempted to sit down

and focus it's proved very difficult.

I'm telling myself if it doesn't flow naturally it will not read well,

so best I wait. 

My Mum is doing better at home, she got into her greenhouse

this week which I know pleased her no end and 

she's also picked up her crochet.

This week I dropped off a minced beef cobbler 

which apparently went down well, I'm digging out traditional recipes 

that travel well, all 1.5 miles!

This also means I get to visit my cabin and this 

little fella sat outside on the birdbath and watched

me for hours. We struck up a reasonable conversation for a time!

I

I've been busy putting together May's Charity Kit 

which will be announced on Sunday.

Here's a sneak peek.

There's just a few Mini Card Charity Kits No.2 left,

details here.

And I've been planning a rainbow window kit.

More news to follow.

'Hope and Chances'  - the name has never felt quite so apt.

Hair!

So I thought I would try out growing the grey but I struggled.

I felt like it was a different person looking back at 

me in the mirror.  So I buckled, managed to buy a hair colour

with my online food shop and asked Mitchell to put it on for me.

Wow - he's a hairdresser in the making. 

I'm really pleased with the result and also chopped my fringe,

I'm a new woman with nowhere to go! 

Telly:

Yes that vision box keeps me sane and here are this week's 

suggestions/reviews.

 Kirstie's Keep Crafting and Carry On - Channel 4

I caught this on C4 Catch Up and I love it.

Yes, some of the crafts are a bit fruitless and not all of us have

everything to hand but it's good harmless entertainment.

And I do like Kirstie and her dog completes the whole TV experience for me.

Also, I feel like I too want to put up fairy lights all over the house.

After Life - Netflix - Season 1 and 2

So Ricky Gervais isn't everyone's cup of tea,

I only like certain things he has done but After Life in my opinion,

is in a league of its own.

Definitely watch but only if (a) you are not offended by swearing,

and (b) you have a large box of tissues to hand.

It is funny too thankfully.

Midsomer Murders - I'm getting through them on Britbox,

I'm now on Season 7 - a murder a day keeps the virus away!

I jest but I do find them a form of escapism and I marvel at the 

various story lines, I often giggle at them too.

And that wraps up my lockdown week.

Hope you are all doing ok and keeping occupied.

Please stop by on Sunday for this month's Charity Kit.

Much love,

Kit Roundup!

Hello friends

Back with another blog post this week.

I wanted to do a little kit roundup to let you know what

kits are still available ahead of next Sunday's Charity Kit.

Here goes:

March Charity Kit in aid of British Heart Foundation

but others available below.

Mini Cards Charity Kit - Set 1 in aid of NHS -

now SOLD OUT.

Mini Cards Charity Kit - Set 2 in aid of NHS -

just 2 left - please click here.

And that's it for the moment.

As mentioned, a brand new charity kit will be launched next Sunday.

(The chosen charity for May is Whizz-Kidz).

I'm also tempted to make a window rainbow project kit to raise

further funds for NHS - what do we think? 

Take care friends - enjoy your Sunday at home,

keep safe, much love and tons of thanks.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Welcome to another Friday Chat Day,

hoping you are keeping well.

Big, very big thanks for the lovely response to the 

second mini card charity kit.

I've really enjoyed putting these together and knowing we are

all helping the NHS.

They are still available here in case you missed yesterday's post.

What has been happening in the Emberson household this week?

Well I am super proud of these, tulips from my garden.

First time I've ever planted tulip bulbs and admittedly only half a dozen

came up (thieving squirrels possibly?)

They were getting a bit battered by the wind so I decided to have them

indoors, I can enjoy looking at them more too.

At the outer edges of this photo is a not so clear dining table 

with kit sending etc - reality! 

Crochet is coming on well. It is like someone giving me

hours of free time on a plate so I am definitely utilising it every 

evening with crochet. 

This is my Hydrangea Blanket project from Attic 24,

only 14 more colour strips and the border to go.

It's big - single bed size and I love it.

Cooking: 

Loraine - last week you mentioned your recipe for a veggie sausage casserole, 

if you could send it through I would be grateful, 

email address: hope-chances@live.co.uk 

Question: what is the difference between stew and casserole?

I asked a friend and she thought it was casserole goes in the oven, 

stew is cooked on the hob.

I put a concoction in the slow cooker this week and called it Casserstew. 

Also in the oven this week is a really simple recipe for scones,

we've used this for years and I believe it used to be on the side

of a Stork margarine wrapper.

Ingredients:

2oz Stork Margarine or butter

8oz SR flour

1 level teaspoon of baking powder

2-3oz sultanas 

1oz sugar

7 tablespoons of milk

(you can leave out the fruit and sugar for plain scones or
substitute with cheese/herbs for savoury scones)

Method:

Place all ingredients into a bowl.

Mix with wooden spoon until it forms a soft dough.

Knead until smooth. Roll out to approx 1" thick.

Cut into rounds and glaze.

Cook: 12-15 minutes - 200 degrees.

Telly:

A couple of suggestions from ol' four eyes here.

Definitely binge watching certain shows, it is pure escapism.

I jump into reality once a day to watch the news and that's it.

Highly recommend Mum available on Britbox.

The bittersweet story of a woman rediscovering 

who she is and maybe finding love second time around.

It's both funny and thought provoking - up there with Detectorists,

another unique amazing comedy drama.

Also, and completely different and late to the table with this one, 

as there is already half a dozen or more seasons available -

Elementary.

Jonny Lee Miller plays Sherlock Holmes.

It is a contemporary twist on the original, not quite BBC's Sherlock

but very watchable.

And here's an actor Sherlock connection...

Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch are starring

in Frankenstein available to watch on YouTube -

National Theatre on 30 April and 1 May.

Good idea to catch both as they alternate their roles of

Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.

Don't have nightmares though! 

Over on Facebook there's a hashtag going around #MeAt20

you post a photo of yourself at age 20.

Spent a few hours going through old photos and found this one of

me taken at Knowle Park in Maidstone, Kent,

let's just say it was quite a few years ago.

My love of animals has never waned.

And talking of love for animals - Bella.

Lockdown has taken a toll on her curly locks!

We are hoping to do some trimming this week.

Again, that wraps up another week.

I'm planning May's Charity Kit over the weekend,

the original kits are still happening along with these

Mini Card NHS Charity Kits.

Let me wish you all a lovely weekend,

I hope the sun is shining for you and you can get out into your garden,

balcony or for a permitted walk.

Keep safe, keep well and much love.