Charity Kit - July 2020

Hello friends

It's Charity Kit Day!
As always, big thanks for your support and please 
feel free to share kit details with everyone.

Each month a donation is made to a different charity,

and this month we are supporting My Shining Star,

a charity supporting families through the financial

trauma of childhood cancer.

https://www.myshiningstaruk.co.uk/

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

here with lots more kit info.

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

A 'Love' card featuring Anna Griffin paper, 
layered white and gold foil die cuts, foliage and flowers.

What's included in your kit:

White card base with matching envelope

Patterned mat - double sided - Anna Griffin design
Die cuts - Fancy Scallop Edge Circles x 4 (white and gold foil), 
Sew Sweet Sentiments – Hearts x 4 (white and gold foil), 
Love x 2 (white and gold foil) 
Flowers x 8, Leaves x 4
Full instructions

(Items you will need: adhesive, inks/pens, pearls/gems).

The lovely Anna Griffin patterned mat is double sided so you have a choice of design,
trellis green as I've used or the gold embossed little diamonds.

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's the total payment -

it 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,
All donations enable me to purchase card blanks, envelopes, the paper bags,
sticky labels and more - 
very grateful thanks to those of you who help through Ko-fi.

You are all stars for purchasing the charity kits,
every month we do our bit for helping others. 

Take care friends, enjoy your Sunday and
continue to keep safe.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends.

Pop the kettle on, it's a very chatty Friday Chat Day this week!

Starting off with crochet update.

Crochet:

The squares are done, all 126 of them.

A year ago I couldn't make Granny Squares, 

a year ago I didn't like Granny Squares, oh how things have changed.

It has been the perfect project for warm days, it's a bit much having 

a blanket over your lap, whereas these are very portable.

The joining has commenced, instead of sewing together,

it's 'Join As You Go' method, which creates a sixth round of crochet.

I had to have the room in complete silence to grasp it, well aside from 

snoring from this one.

I'm getting there, it's going to take a while but enjoying it.

I plan to do the same blanket in different colours,

a brighter version called Summer Harmony, all details on 

Lucy's Attic 24 blog here.

Recipe:

This week it is Blueberry Muffins. 

I am a huge fan of Blueberry Muffins, possibly because they are not

as sweet as chocolate ones.

When it comes to shop bought ones I recommend Asda as they use

whole blueberries whereas as other stores seem to blitz them into pieces.

But you cannot beat homemade and, as you can see, I'm rather

generous with the blueberries!  

And good news - you can use either fresh or frozen blueberries.

100g butter (softened), 100g sugar,

2 eggs (beaten), 1tsp vanilla essence,

300g self-raising flour, 140ml milk,

1tsp baking powder, 150g blueberries

(fresh or frozen, if frozen – no need to thaw,

coat in a little flour to prevent sinking).

Preheat oven to 180C, Gas Mark 4.

Line a muffin tray with paper cases.

Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.

Beat in egg gradually.

Add flour, baking powder to make a thick batter, stir in

vanilla essence and milk.

Add the blueberries and spoon the mixture into

The muffin cases.

Bake for 15-20  minutes, leave muffins in the baking tray

for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.

Quite possibly one of your 5 a day!

Click here for the Blueberry Muffins printable.

This recipe has also been added to the Recipes page/tab 

at the top of the blog here.

Out and About:

We are still being very cautious here in the Emberson household,

our 'out and about' extends to finding new local places to walk Bella

and that is just fine with us right now.

This week Elliott and I visited Windmill Hill in Gravesend,

it is only about a 20 minute walk from our home and I had forgotten

how lovely it is. (It is also up a steep hill, may have to cut back on those muffins!)

The view goes across the town and River Thames to Tilbury.

And that beacon, well that's pretty special - it commemorates the 

advance of the Spanish Armada.

So Gravesend, not the most beautiful town but it does have some fascinating 

features, I thought I would share a couple with you this week.

  Pocahontas died at Gravesend of unknown causes, aged 20 or 21.

She was en route to Virginia with John Smith (Rolfe).

She was buried in St George's Church, Gravesend and we have a statue to 

mark the possible spot.

Gravesend is also home to the biggest Sikh Temple in Europe,

the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.

It is not only a venue for weddings and events, right now it is massively appreciated

within the community.  Each day they prepare 850 meals 

which get delivered to our local hospitals, care homes and vulnerable individuals. 

The volunteers start chopping vegetables at 4am!

Under normal circumstances (outside of the pandemic) it is possible to visit the temple,

they are very happy to show you around and always the offer of food.

For now, here is a video tour, it's rather grand.

Telly:

If you have Netflix you may have seen a trailer for

Schitt's Creek?  You may have totally disregarded it, as I did for years,

until recently, I've now watched all 6 seasons!

It's a Canadian sitcom created by a Dad and Son team -

Dan and Eugene Levy.

The storyline - a rich video store magnate, Johnny Rose and his family

suddenly find themselves broke and they are forced to leave their

pampered lives to live in a small town called Schitt's Creek.

It stars Catherine O'Hara known to many of us the neglectful Mum

in the Home Alone movies.

It starts with the typical comedic adjustments of going from wealth to poverty

but builds to be a fascinating comedy with strong characters. 

And I discovered something else I've been missing... 

something huge, 

something wonderful...

Gardeners World!

Thanks to my Mum and Dad who mentioned it (mainly because

Monty Don has a Yorkie) that I've started to watch it. 

20+ episodes available on BBCiPlayer.

And isn't it a gem. I've learned lots and it has inspired me to 

got a little bit mad in my tiny garden.

Gardening:

Fueled by Monty our first extra gardening project has been herbs,

Mitchell and I planted these up from a little kit we bought online.

I noticed this morning that Rocket is already sprouting.

And then I went potty!

I put out a request on Freecycle for terracotta pots and struck gold.

If you are not aware, Freecyle is a website

where you can put items up as 'offers' or stipulate 'wanted'.

It is local to your area and, as in the name, it has to be free.

We've found it invaluable at this time to find new homes for 

some unwanted items too, this week we waved off an office chair and old TV.

A lady local to me messaged and said she had lots of herb cuttings 

so Bella and I walked to collect them.

The rhubarb was a nice bonus.

And then this lovely lot was made available from a huge

garden in Meopham (near Gravesend).

Turns out gardeners are super generous.

Thankfully I've got plenty of soil as Mum had a spare bag

and our milkman delivers garden items.

I admit to forgetting what all the plants are, I recognise the tomato plants,

but there is a distinct possibility that I could have veg growing in lavender!

I have also been in the cabin this week finishing off the 

July Charity Kit.  Here's a little sneak peek.

Please stop by on Sunday for details, this month we are donating to

My Shining Star - 

supporting families through childhood cancer.

Plans for this weekend - yes, more gardening, crochet

and thinking up some recipes to share with you.

How do we feel about savoury dishes or stick to sweet?

If you've made it to here, thank you for reading and

very grateful for your comments - it is always so nice to read your news.

Take care friends, please stop by on Sunday.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Welcome to another Friday Chat Day, a virus free zone!

Hope you are all keeping well - Littlelamb, so sorry to hear 

your crochet is on hold - hope you are pain free now.

Let's start this week's chatter with a recipe,

not so healthy this week!

Recipe:

Choc Chip Cookies

Originally from a Homepride Flour cookbook published in about 1991.

These cookies became a school lunchbox favourite with my boys.

They do take quite a lot of flour so if you are struggling to buy some

right now you may wish to save this recipe to make later.

150g/5oz butter (softened), 125g/4oz sugar,

1 egg (lightly beaten), vanilla essence – 2-3 drops,

225g/8oz self-raising flour, 75g/3oz plain flour,

100g/3½ oz chocolate drops

Preheat oven to 220C, 425F, Gas Mark 7

Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.

Beat in egg gradually with vanilla essence.

Sieve together the two flours and fold into the mixture.

Stir in chocolate drops, it should be a dough consistency.

If too dry you can add a drop of milk.

On a floured surface roll the dough into a sausage shape,

cut into 2cm/¾ inch slices, flatten a little on the baking tray.

Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

Cool on wire rack.

Eat and forget the calories!

Click here for the Choc Chip Cookies printable.

This recipe has also been added to the Recipes page/tab 

at the top of the blog here.

Crochet:

I'm getting through the squares for the Harmony Blanket.

I have a system and thankfully it is working, in fact I've absolutely

enjoyed the organisation of it and already thinking about doing another.

The end result should hopefully look something like this...

Details of this project with link has been added to the yarn tab at the top 

of the blog - trying to keep that up to date.

Telly:

I actually watched less telly this week as I ventured out -

news on that below.

I did watch Dancing on the Edge available on BritBox.

British drama written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff (I like everything he does).

It's about a black jazz band in London in the early 1930s.

It's slow paced, intriguing, eloquent and a full star cast.

If you subscribe to Netflix then Sinner - Season 3 has just been launched.

 

Starring an older but still very nice Bill Pullman, he plays 

a detective in a small New York town solving perplexing crimes -

gets a little creepy at times - I just press fast forward! 

This week we celebrated Bella's 9th birthday.

She received a new toy and a trip to the park and ...oh yes, a lot of ham and chicken.

How did our littlest member of the family become 9!

We haven't driven out to the park in months and I admit I felt a little nervous,

my car trips have just been home to my parents house.

Thankfully we parked up easily, found a path and didn't bump into anyone.

She was a bit of a hot dog, once home cooled her down and 

she snored for the entire evening.

And this isn't the park, this glorious garden belongs to my sister.

Fueled by my successful park trip I went to visit. 

Still being cautious, I took my fold up chair, picnic and sat in the shade of 

those trees doing my crochet - it was absolute bliss.

A good week all in all and this weekend full steam ahead 

for July's Charity Kit and yes, a bit of crochet and planning to 

make some cheese scones.

Take care friends, enjoy the sunshine from safe shady spots.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Here we are again, thank you for stopping by.

Kicking off this week's chatter with my latest project 

on my crochet journey.

Crochet:

It's squares. 

When I first discovered crochet just over a year ago I admit to: 

(a) not liking squares very much and (b) finding them very tricky.

The wonderful Lucy at Attic 24 has now converted me.

This is the beginnings of the Hamony Blanket - 126 squares in total,

good job I'm liking them now!

So I began, completed two lots of squares for the pattern but I kept making mistakes

and realised I had to find a system where I do the rounds continuously on all of them.

I came  up with this.  Doing round 1 for all of them, round 2 and so on.

It is satisfying but I think I may need bigger plastic envelopes.

It might not look perfect but it is working and I have this little one

overseeing things.

Don't be fooled by that face, she's evil - brings in mice nearly every night!

(We still love her really).

And many thanks to Hazel who sent me details of this yorkie crochet pattern.

It is now on my list to do. The pattern can be found here.

Recipe:

Going a bit healthy this week. 

Overnight Oats.

I recently discovered these and it has made me view breakfast very differently.

It's filling and stops me grabbing a biscuit around 11am.

A great way to use up fruit - fresh, dried or frozen.

I buy the supermarket's cheapest porridge oats so works out economical too.

Adding honey or yoghurt makes this even more delicious.

This was yesterday's topped with frozen raspberries and grated apple.

50g rolled porridge oats,

¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)

Pinch of salt

100ml milk (or water)

The night before pop the oats into a jar (any jar with a sealed lid).

Mix in the cinnamon, salt and milk.

(The salt balances the flavour for when you add toppings).

Place in fridge.

In the morning loosen with a little more milk if needed.

Eat cold but if you prefer warm, pop in microwave

for 30-60 seconds.

Add your favourite toppings: berries, bananas,

tinned/frozen fruit, honey, natural yoghurt, dried fruit –

whatever you have to hand.

Eat and feel righteous!

Click here for the Overnight Oats printable.

This recipe has also been added to the Recipes page/tab 

at the top of the blog here.

Garden:

Everything is growing thanks to lots of rain this week.

I adore Hostas, this beauty is over 20 years old. It was in the garden

when I bought the house and I transferred it to a pot a few years ago.

I'm not the only one that likes Hostas - pesky snails!

I've got a few snail traps - filled with beer and salt as I prefer not to use chemicals

but nothing truly seems to stop them. 

I've read about copper tape around plant pots to ward them off - 

anyone tried the tape?

Telly:

I'm pleased to report I managed to watch all episodes of

Elementary before Amazon Prime switched it to purchase only,

I'm certain you were all worried about that :) 

It's actually an admission that I sat on my bum crocheting for hours!

I also managed to watch a few more things this week:

The Salisbury Poisonings on BBC iPlayer

I remember seeing this unfold on the news in 2018 but viewing it 

dramatised truly impacts upon you the severity of the situation.

Also a bit of a 'bonnet viewing':

Cranford on BritBox.

It was lovely to revisit this series based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novels.

A stellar cast and I had forgotten how funny it is (along with some very sad scenes too).

Bits and bobs:

I follow 1bike1world on social media, a man and his cat cycling the world.

The pandemic has thwarted his plans somewhat, he was grounded in Hungary for months.

I'm happy to report that he is back on his bike and 

Dean and Nala now have a website - you can visit it here.

And if you are surfing the net I definitely recommend A Chick Called Albert,

all YouTube videos can be found here.

Alwyn Wils from the Netherlands and his expertise at rescuing animals 

and bird hatching adventures. It started with Albert, 

a quail that hatched from an egg bought in the supermarket.

This weekend with it being Father's Day we are planning a socially distanced

picnic in Mum and Dad's garden.

Still a bit tricky with Mum shielding but we couldn't let Father's Day

go by without celebrating.

With each of us on our designated chairs and blankets it should work out well.

As long as it doesn't rain that is.

And how could I forget...this blog post was brought to you under

typing supervision of Bella!

Wishing you a lovely weekend whatever you may be up to,

take good care.

Much love.