Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Welcome to another FCD - my excuse for a little natter and diarising my week.

Blogger is now insisting I use the new template so if things look a bit wonky I apologise.

Hope you are all keeping well and adjusting to the cooler weather and the nights closing in. Mixed emotions with the approach of Autumn, I'm sad not to be doing jobs in my tiny garden but pleased to have the excuse to indulge in comfort foods and sit down and crochet more.

And talking of comfort foods - this week's recipe is Shortbread. I used to balk at the prospect of making shortbread fearing it would be tricky but this recipe is easy peasy, it uses semolina but you can use custard powder too.

Recipe:

200g plain flour, 200g butter,

100g sugar, 100g semolina

 Preheat oven to 180C.

Cream butter and sugar together,

I use an electric hand whisk.

Add the flour and semolina and mix with a

wooden spoon until it begins to form a dough.

Either press into a cake tin or roll and slice.

Bake for 15 minutes until very slightly golden.

(It looks uncooked as you take it out of the oven and

there is a temptation to cook it for longer – resist!)

Leave to cool in tin and it will firm. 

The printable is available here.

And if you wish to view any previous recipes they are all available on the Recipe tab here.

Garden:

This is a Bijou Clematis and I'm so thrilled it has flowered. 

Very different to traditional Clematis in that it mound-forming and perfect for containers, 

tiny leaves with these large purple flowers. 

Hoping it will establish and provide a lot more flowers next year.

Time to put in some winter colour, pansies and cyclamen.

I've also managed to take ivy cuttings so adding those to my tree containers.

Thought this would look festive, fingers crossed they stay like this. 

Photo taken on a rainy day with a full water butt, wishing I had room for more - 

something satisfying about collecting rainwater.

Crochet:

All week I've been working on the border of this blanket - Summer Harmony.

I'm nearly there, it's 17 rows and each round was taking nearly an hour. 

It has kept me nice and toasty whilst finishing it.

Today it should be complete and then I'm full steam ahead to get another

blanket done by Christmas.

This week at Elliott's flat a very important item arrived...a sofa! 

Up until now he's just had his office chair and visitors (me) sat on the floor.  

It was tricky finding one that would not only fit in the room but fit through the door.  

This one was ideal as it comes boxed and you build it (thank you Mitchell).  

Bella testing optional.

Telly:

Ghosts - all episodes available on BBC iPlayer. 

A young couple inherit a grand house with resident ghosts. 

Very light hearted and definitely raises a smile or two. 

Starring very familiar faces and co written by Matthew Baynton.

Travelers - Netflix

Hundreds of years in the future, the last surviving humans discover a way of sending consciousness back through time, directly into people in the 21st century -"travelers," who assume the lives of seemingly random people.  

Very different and intriguing, I like it.  Recommended by Mitchell and to be honest 

I would probably never find half this stuff to watch if the boys didn't mention them.

And finally...

this Sunday is Charity Kit Day, please stop by.

I've kept with the festive theme and it also complements last month's kit.

Here's a little sneak peek.

And that is another week - this weekend Mitchell and I are visiting Elliott 

and cooking a roast dinner, Elliott is learning how to cook and we thought best way 

was to use his cooker - all electric, I'm used to a gas hob but I'm sure it will be fine.

Lots of thanks for the Mum get well wishes, she has had 

 quite a few hospital appointments this week, relieved to be back home and 

hopefully now on the mend.  

Take care friends in this very surreal world we are living in now.

I admit to getting wobbly now and again when I watch the news so I limit that. 

I truly hope you are all coping ok.  

Take good care.