Five on Friday

A round up of my week using the ever so convenient Five on Friday format....

 

 

One

I made just one cake this week - a Dorset Apple cake using windfalls from my neighbours garden. It looks pretty squished and sunken in the middle but it tasted okay... honest!

 

Two

I finished the two bunnies, using Julie's pattern. It's the first time I've made the little boy bunny and I just loved knitting that tiny jumper!

 

They have now been delivered to their new owners.

 

Three

I read three books in August.I finished my year in books choice - The Death of Lucy Kyte by Nicola Upson and really enjoyed it. I'm not sure I like the writing style enough to read any more by this author but it was a gripping story and a good mix of fact with fiction. I also read How to Build Girl by Caitlin Moran. It wasn't exactly bad and was even amusing at times but overall a bit of a disappointment... actually quite a big bit of a disappointment. I like Moran's writing as a journalist but somehow it doesn't really translate into a full length novel for me. All a bit samey and a tad boring. But the final novel I read in August was Peter May's Extraordinary People which I thought was an excellent fast paced thriller... and which I couldn't put down, reading it in just three days!

 

My September choice for the Year in Books is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt which I am really enjoying... I'm already half way through!

Joining in with The Year in Books with  Laura at A Circle of Pine Trees

 

Four.

Another joining in thing... this time with Laura Kemshall for a daily drawing each day in September... and I have done another four drawings. I liked Laura's drawing of keys so much that I thought I would try a key on 2nd Sept...

 

Then Laura suggested going larger so I tried it with a different key on 3rd, but I was starting to get bored and could see me giving up...

 

Then on 4th as I was taking the bin to the bottom of the garden I noticed all the wonderful flowers on the Ivy and drew those and I was much happier. I also made a note that these were spotted when taking the bins out and it occured to me that making it almost like a diary of what is going on each day will be far more interesting to me than drawing random shiny objects

 

So this morning I made a quick sketch of a pretty little ceramic jam pot that I bought years ago. I'm not sure I have ever used it for jam but at least it is a record of all the jam making going on here this week. And I'm really enjoying the daily drawing again.

 

Five

Which brings me neatly on to number five...

 

Because whilst out walking yesterday I managed to pick another five pounds of various plums and damsons just from the hedgerows... which will mean an awful lot more jam. Guess what I'm doing this weekend!

Hoping you all have a lovely weekend.

Jamaretto!

I love the fact that where I live there are literally dozens of wild plum trees lining the roads and pathways and at this time of year they are dripping with fruit. It seems a crime not to fill baskets full every time I go out... I hate to see them falling on the ground going to waste.

 

 

Which of course means that I end up making endless jars of jam. It always makes me think about a brilliant childrens' book called "Jam" by Margaret Mahy that my boys used to love when they were little. We used to read it over and over again and it always made them laugh.

 

 It tells the story of the Castle family who have a stay at home Dad. When their plum tree starts to drop fruit he discovers he has a talent for making jam and ends up making so much he fills every container in the house. They end up eating jam with absolutely everything to use it all up and they put on so much weight over the year he puts them all on a strict exercise regime... and just as they are getting back to normal, playing a healthy game of cricket in the garden and looking forward to eating something other than jam, they hear the thud of the first plum falling on the roof again! Not quite the story in our house as I've still not used all jam left over from last year...

 

But it doesn't stop me making more... and this year I've been experimenting with different flavours. A little vanilla in with the golden yellow Mirabelles and a splash of Amaretto liqueur with the red plums.... which proved to be very popular.

 

So much so, I made another seven jars on Monday... which Stewart re-christened "Plumaretto Jam"

 

It's a very pretty colour.

 

And now there are Damsons to deal with too. I might have to make Damson Gin with those... only so much jamaretto I can eat!

Feeling Brighter!

Thank you once again for all the kind comments... and as you can see, all it took was a couple of nice days out at the weekend and I'm starting to feel a bit more like my old self... and here I am blogging again. I can't stay away!

 

 

Yesterday Laura Kemshall wrote about how she seems to collect empty sketchbooks and she challenged herself to make a drawing a day, starting today on 1st September. She also asked if anyone would like to join in. Well, I have a ridiculous amount of empty sketchbooks... these are a mere fraction. I cannot resist those lovely empty pages and I'm constantly buying new ones, convincing myself this will be the one to make me draw every day. And I'm not even going to tell you how many there are with just one or two pages filled. It's a disgrace!

 

So I've decided to join in... just a quick 10 - 15 minute sketch each day. And then maybe by the end of the month drawing every day will be such a regular habit, I won't be able to stop

 

Today I drew my lunch (well - part of my lunch). Nothing wonderful, especially when you see Laura's fabulous drawing today,  but I've done it.... and I'll keep you updated with my progress. If I'm sharing on here I might actually do it!

 

I've also done a little more painting in my Frida Sketchbook

 

They are meant to be drawings of Mexican tin art, but I'm beginning to think I could have a new career as a tattoo artist!

 

I've also remembered that over two weeks ago I said I had some buttons to give away. With so much going on at home I had totally forgotten, so today I picked out a name and the buttons will soon be on their way to Marian.

 



Funny Old Friday

I seem to have lost my motivation to blog. I take photos and think this will be good to blog about... and then I can't be bothered. I'm finding it hard to believe that anyone else could possibly be interested in where I've been, what I've been doing or what I've got to say! I'm feeling a bit like that generally about everything, which I'm sure has a lot to do with my (nearly but not quite) empty nest this week. Struggling to be bothered...

 

 

On Tuesday we went into London and Jacob came in to meet us for lunch. It was a good compromise, with neither us going to Guildford to see him, nor him coming back home. And he's doing okay... settling in day by day. The reason for our trip was to go up the Shard. This had been my birthday present to Stewart, and after all the sunny days this summer we'd booked to go on Tuesday... a very drizzly, grey and misty day!

 

But despite the weather it was still brilliant and worth doing. The views were amazing and we could imagine how fabulous they would be on a clear day.

 

We then had a wander over Tower bridge to see the absolutely stunning installation of poppies at the Tower Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red. It was breathtaking and thought provoking. And I especially thought of my Dad, who served his national service with the Royal Fusiliers at the Tower of London. He would have celebrated his 81st birthday this week and yesterday it was two years since he died. Probably another reason I feel out of sorts.

 

So, I'm still distracting myself by working in my sketchbook and really enjoying the process. I'd forgetten the pleasure of losing oneself in a sketchbook. And maybe soon when I feel more enthusiastic about blogging and everything else I'll show you the results of this sketchbook work. Have a good weekend.

 

"Feet why do I need them when I have wings to fly" Frida Kahlo 1953

Distractions

Thank you for all your kind and considerate comments on my last post. Jacob appreciated them. Moving into digs on Friday went well, but Jake has had a rocky few days as he gets used to a new environment and all the changes that go with it. I resisted the urge to drive down on Saturday evening and bring him back home for the weekend and he has coped well really with his anxiety. There have been many phone calls and messages! His course doesn't start for another week so this is a settling in time for him... not easy.

 

 

Meanwhile, I've distracted myself with various activities. I've been sewing...  making body parts for my next piece of work for the Prism Coded: Decoded exhibition which has its second stage at the Knitting and Stitching Shows this autumn.

 

I've been knitting... finshing off some bunnies as presents for a new born and her big brother (who is only two)

 

I've been drawing... and enjoying working in a sketchbook for a new project.

 

No prizes for guessing what the new project might be!

 

And last of all, probably my favourite distraction of all, I've been baking.

 

A blackberry crumble cake, which although quite delicious would have benefited from a dollop of thick cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

 

You can find the recipe here. I just replaced the gooseberries with some blackberries. It would probably work with any tart fruit.

Moving On...

I have written about my youngest son, Jacob on previous occasions and long time readers will know he has Asperger's Syndrome, which doesn't always make for plain sailing, especially where education is concerned.  I'm not going to tell his story all over again but you can read about his early experiences of education here... RESULT.

 

 

After GCSEs Jake attended the local Regional College to study Music Performance... with the typical 16 year old dream of playing in a band. He did play in a band briefly but the course was not for him. Whilst he was serious about what he wanted to do, too many others in his year group saw it as a chance to mess about and disrupt classes and after nine months he left.

 

However he did move on to one of Cambridge's leading 6th form colleges where he took A levels. I won't claim he enjoyed this experience, but he did stick at it and came away with some qualifications, still with a dream of working in the music industry.

 

He returned to the Regional College, this time to study music production where his talent started to shine and he gained several distinctions for his work.

 

And on the strength of his work, he gained an unconditional place to study for a degree in Electronic Music Production at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. Today I'm taking him to move into his digs... my baby is moving out!

 

This is a massive step for him, given everything he has battled through and I am hugely proud that he has come so far. Go and enjoy the experience Jake and know that I'm your biggest fan! I'll miss you but I know you'll do well! x

Breakfast

I am one of those people who cannot miss breakfast. I would almost go as far as saying it is my favourite meal of the day. It is usually just cereal or fruit and yoghurt... sometimes I might have a slice of toast and marmalade, but I rarely if ever miss it. So when Nancy posted about her quick and easy Granola I was intrigued... it sounded delicious and simple!

 

 

And indeed it was simple... just four ingredients.

Melt together 25g unsalted butter, 60g runny honey, 60g smooth peanut butter in a medium pan.

When melted stir into 300g rolled oats until thoroughly mixed. Spread out onto a lightly greased baking tray and bake at 180 deg C for just 15 minutes and allow to cool on the tray. You can find the original recipe from Jack Munroe, which suggests variations here.

 

It crisps up as it cools. When cold I mix in a handful of raisins and then store in an air tight jar.

 

I cannot tell you how good this is... so good I could eat it by the handful, although I prefer it with a splash of cold milk and some soft fruit. Which makes me feel very virtuous!

 

Although as I left the house at 6.15 am this morning to go for a swim there was a decided chill in the air and I was thinking I'll soon be back on the porridge.

How about you, do you eat breakfast?