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.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Welcome to Friday Chat Day.

If you are a regular visitor you'll know what you are in for,

if you are new here - thank you for visiting,

Each Friday it is a weekly little round up natter about cooking, 

craft, crochet, telly and a dog called Bella.

Recipe:

A new recipe - Banana Bread

Discovered and tried purely because I couldn't bear to put two 

overripe bananas in the bin!

140g soft butter/margarine, 140g caster sugar

140g self-raising flour, 1tsp baking powder,

2 eggs, beaten, 2 very ripe bananas – mashed

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

Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin.

Place butter/margarine and sugar in bowl,

cream together until light and fluffy.

Slowly add beaten eggs with a little of the flour.

Fold in the rest of the flour, baking powder and mashed bananas.

 Spoon the mixture into the tin, spread evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes until skewer comes out clean.

Cool in tin for ten minutes and then place on wire rack.

Eat and enjoy!

If you like bananas you'll definitely like this,

the flavour comes through well.

I think a couple of slices with custard would make a 

rather scrummy pudding too.

Click here for the Banana Bread printable.

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

at the top of the blog here.

Crochet:

A busy week of hooking!

The two Seaside Stashbusting Blankets at one point were neck and neck.

I have now finished the blue one.  Here it is before it was 

packaged and sent to my friend up in Bristol.

She opted for the fluffy border which represents the sea foam.

Bella doesn't understand why I take the photos! 

And for those who asked about how I crochet differently,

here's a few pictures.

Instead of having the yarn in my left hand, the traditional

way of crocheting, I keep it in my right and wrap over the hook,

a lot more like knitting.

Wrapping it over.

Pulling it through, keeping my left thumb on the stitches.

I was concerned at first that my tension would not be right,

patterns would come out differently but so far so good.

Bit cross with myself as I gave up numerous times trying to learn to

crochet the traditional way - imagine how many blankets I could have 

accumulated for my fort if I started years ago! 

So, if you have struggled with crochet perhaps this may work for you?

Let me know.

(Admission: still haven't made the crocheted flowers into a garland!)

Telly:

I've been rushing through as many episodes as possible of Elementary.

A modern take on Sherlock Holmes.

Amazon Prime sent a notification that it will no longer be 

inclusive of their package (you can purchase it ...of course!)

So not to be defeated, I'm attempting 25 episodes in 2 days -
that's a lot of crochet! 

And because I had to have a little break from all that 

deduction and murder I opted to watch ....

Killing Eve - a little more murder!



All episodes available on BBCiPlayer.
It's more of a spy thriller with some murder thrown in.
It also has moments of absolute comedy.
Not sure I've seen anything else like it on telly, very compelling.

Craft:

Just a little roundup of kits that are still available.
This month's charity kit supporting the hedgehogs,
just one kit left and available here.

And when rummaging in my cabin discovered there is still
two of the Mini Card Kits available - please click here. 

And big thanks to those who support me on Ko-fi,
(not a coffee but vital items for the kits).
I've been able to order the next batch of envelopes and bags for the July charity kits.
I update the gallery over on my Ko-fi page so it is a good place to 
keep track of kits if you wish to. 

Right, I think that wraps up this week again,
time is flying but also feels very Groundhog Day.
I do hope you are all keeping well and getting through this.
I am still limiting how much news I watch,
it is the best solution to avoid throwing a brick through the telly!

Take care friends, much love.

Charity Kit - June 2020

Hello friends

Happy Sunday and Happy Charity Kit Day.

Hoping these will bring a smile during these still very tricky times.

Please feel free to share details with everyone.

Each month a donation is made to a different charity,

and this month we are supporting the hedgehogs.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society 

Founded in 1982 they help sick, injured or orphaned hedgehogs.

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 white card with double mats, layered die cuts,

foliage, flowers and 'Thank You' sentiment.

What's included in your kit:

White card base with matching envelope

White card mats x 2 (one pre-stamped)

Die cuts - Decorative Flower Box - window, box and ivy
Classic Scallops - gingham blind
Polka dot flowers x 6 (Swallow and Heart die set)
Full instructions

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

It is possible to create this card without dimension should 
you wish to post it by cutting and using just the front 
section of the window box to lay flat.

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,
I don't actually buy coffee - never have, very pricey!
All donations enable me to purchase card, envelopes, the paper bags,
sticky 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, enjoy your Sunday,
continue to keep safe.