We've been invaded!

But in the BEST possible way...

My sister, BiL and their three GORGEOUS children arrived on Monday evening - and have left today.

We didn't have the best weather - we had great plans for walks on the beach etc etc, however the FOG kept us in somewhat.  Tuesday was only a little grey - so Sis, I and the kids went to Tehidy Country Park

William FINALLY plucked up the courage not to drop the peanut and the squirrel played nice!

 This is a lovely country park - where the wildlife chase you round the lake for food.  If you are scared of birds then I wouldn't recommend it (think of the movie The Birds).  At the end of your walk - if you sneak a look behind you - there can be up to...well HUNDREDS of rooks, jackdaws, gulls and ducks following you down the path!!  

Millie kept waggling it a little too much!  She got there in the end though - it was just a bit too quick to catch on camera.

 The kids just love feeding the squirrels - as some will come and climb on you and take nuts from your hand!  

They even did a spot of tree climbing...

 It turned out to be a lovely morning - the sun came out so made for a beautiful walk.

This is actually a shot hubby took almost 1 year ago at Tehidy 

 I love that you can take bread, nuts and seed to feed the wildlife with the kids without fear.  Even the swans are VERY well behaved.  The don't come out of the water or fight (I guess cos they know they are well fed?)

Spot the bread competition - there were LOADS of these Black Headed Gulls (in their winter plumage)

Season's Greetings

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone who reads this a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

A little Christmas Baking...

Apart from getting up early in the morning to go pick up the Turkey from the butchers - I think we are just about set!  So this evening, some baking was in order - if nothing else to make the house smell even MORE festive!

 Mmmm mince pies - lovely sweet crust pastry... with a sprinkle of demerara sugar on the top!

...and of course some little jam tarts to use up the rest of the pastry (these have already been consumed you understand)

If I don't blog again before the big day - 

Merry★* 。 • ˚ ˚ •。★Christmas★ 。* 。*
 。 ° ˚* _Π_____*。*˚★ 。* 。*。 • ˚ ˚ •。★
˚ ˛ •˛•*/______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛★ 。* 。*★ 。* 。
˚ ˛ •˛• ｜ 田田｜門｜ ˚ ˛★ 。* 。*★ 。*•。★* 

Santa Claws

I love Simon's Cat.  This is his new video for Christmas 2010!

Walking on the beach

Unlike most of the country it seems, we are NOT covered in snow.  We have brilliant sunshine today so decided a bracing walk on the beach was required.   We packed our mugs of coffee and a couple of chocolate digestives and off we went...

Godrevey Lighthouse 

I am off to do a spot of tidying/cleaning and then a little baking I think!

Happy Weekend everyone - not long now!!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

 We put our Christmas Decorations up today... I think I might even have to crack open some mulled wine!

Excuse the poor quality of the photo's - the light was terrible... 

Twinkle light above the dining room table

Twinkle lights through to the Front Room

Don't twinkle lights just make you smile?

...and of course the TREE

Mittens & Tea

Don't hands just look alien when photographed?

My attempt at "proper" knitting - by which I mean actually knitting with a purpose!

Made up pattern - cast on 30 stitches, knitted with Chunky Wool

Love them!

There was a Christmas Local Crafters Sale in Newlyn on Sunday - so I popped along.  

Found this lovely little "Gadget Cosie" from the very talented Poppy Treffry

My new camera (Panasonic Lumix FP3) loves it!

Hope you are all staying warm in this cold snap!

Just a picture...

Sat on the wall at Marazion Beach...

POST EDIT: I have just finished my first pair of fingerless mittens!  More on that tomorrow when I have some light to take a photo!

Butterflies!

Back in this post- you will have seen that we have recently renovated parts of our house since we moved in!  To finish it off, I treated us to our first piece of "art!"  This was somewhat of a risk as I had never EVER seen the artist for "real" but seen her work in Ideal Home a couple of times, and also on the web and fallen in Love.  I plunged in and commissioned a piece I had fallen in love with...and have been waiting with baited breath ever since (some 5 weeks ago)

Well....today it arrived!!!  ...and I am SO SO SO PLEASED.

Colour is a little washed out - due to the snowy conditions! - this wall is actually quite green!

 

It is called "The one that got away"...see the little pink rascal top right?

All in situ above the new fireplace!

This is by an artist called Cissy Cook - and I am so happy!

Winter Wonderland

The snow from Monday had almost gone yesterday and my trip to Manchester was looking favourable.  However - this morning we awoke to this:

Our Front Steps...

 and this...

Our back garden...love all the little cat prints and bird prints in the snow

 We live on quite a steep hill that turns around a corner at the top... needless to say I thought it wise to stay at home today.  I probably could have got out - but there was no telling how I would have got on and I am just not willing to take that risk!  We probably didn't see more than about 25 cars coming and going all day - as it just hasn't really stopped snowing!  One of those vehicles was a SNOW PLOUGH!  The buses certainly decided the give it a miss

So I borrowed the neighbours kids and we built a little snowman (he was actually about 4ft high)

I leave you with a pic of Bilbo warming himself by the fire!

Hope you are all keeping warm in this cold snap!

Looking fairly festive!

View from our Spare Room on Monday morning!

Most of the snow has now disappeared... a little left on the grassy area's.  

Don't think we are in store for any more - I hope not as I am off up to Manchester on Thursday morning!   Fingers crossed

xx

Chilled Sunday...

Coffee just fills the kitchen with a comforting smell....Mmmm

On Friday night about 11pm, we had the biggest hail shower I have EVER experienced.  It lasted a good 20 - 30 mins!?! and ended with a very dramatic and very FINAL flash of lightening and loud clap of thunder!  When it was over - we were left with about 3cm's of small white balls EVERYWHERE.  Sometime in the middle of the night we had a light dusting of snow too - so we awoke on Saturday morning to a thin blanket of white - all be it mostly ICE and not actual snow!

Last night we walked to some friends - or should I say slid/skidded to some friends for dinner... it was quite an amusing journey!

So...today was definitely a Sunday to just brew some nice coffee, and spend a little time in the kitchen.

Home made muesli!

I made our Muesli for the week...

Baked a gooey gingerbread, and had a stew bubbling very slowly in the oven all by 3 o'clock!  Very satisfying .

The fire is now lit and I am not moving away from it (we are due more snow tonight)

Happy Sunday everyone - Stay safe in the snow if you have some!

In the garden...

Goldfinch on the teasles

Growing up, and even now I love visiting my Nan & Gramps house, as they live in a Bungalow on quite a large plot of land and get LOADS of wildlife (birds, squirrels, hedgehogs, foxes etc etc).  Now - we pretty much have the same - who knew I was such a lover of bird watching (man it is SUCH a time waster)

When we first started looking for houses in Cornwall - we looked mostly in town.  We (read I) fell in love with a lovely old 3 storey town house, but it wasn't to be.  All of these houses had one thing in common - NO GARDEN to speak of.  We initially didn't think much of this as you had a sea view.... I mean a sea view - what more could you want???

Cute little Bluetit.  I did have one of the Coal tit - but it is just a BLUR 

Well.... now we have moved into the house we are in (slightly aware from town and the seafront - but we do have what estate agents call "a sea glimpse")  WOW how important is the garden???  Er VERY!  We love our garden.  We are lucky enough to be only Semi-attached (end of terrace) and also on a corner of the road so our garden just happens to be one of the biggest! 

Spotted in the garden today:

• Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tail Tit (so so cute)
• Blackbirds (Mr & Mrs)
• Magpie, Jackdaws, Rooks
• Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch
• Black Cap
• House Sparrow (Mr & Mrs)
• Dunnock, Wren
• Robin
• Pied Wagtail
• Collared Doves
• Herring Gulls

Wow - that is quite a list!!!  Here are a few photo's (varying quality as they are quick little things) 

Female finch of some kind?

Paris - you have my heart...

...especially at this time of year.

My very good friend and I usually take a little girlie shopping trip to Paris this time of year - at least we have for the past 5 years of so.  This year I have not managed it, due to all the house demo and decoration.  Don't get me wrong - I love that we have done the house, but now it is getting close to Christmas I am beginning to miss our little trip.

I will miss our visits to Fauchon, Laduree and Le Bon Marche 

(all food related you might notice)

All the inviting and somewhat extravagant window displays, the sparkly Eiffel Tower and just the general feel of the city in Winter.  We have made several trips at other times of the year also... but it is not the same and we have now most definitely settled on Winter visits.

Oh and eating in our most favourite of restaurants La Terrasse

Ho Hum - I have just lit the fire, so that makes up for it!  

(I have change my background just so that I can get the feel)

It's not even Christmas yet...

I have very satisfyingly kicked my Christmas list's BUTT this weekend, all thanks to the world wide interweb!  I love virtual shopping - the crowds are so considerate and you don't have to queue for a coffee.  Don't get me wrong - I do like a spot of "real" Christmas shopping too - but I have seriously got Christmas more under control now after a little virtual retail therapy!  I am heading to Manchester to see Biffy Clyro in concert with a good buddy early December so I will definitely get my Christmas Shopping fix then (at the Shopping Gigantor that is the Trafford Centre).

This weekend we looked after our friend's little girl - she is SO adorable and was VERY VERY good - she should most certainly be on Santa's Nice list!  So when some of my hard earned Christmas loot arrived courtesy of Amazon on Saturday morning - the box was just too good (and BIG) to pass up...

Busy with the felt tips!

Peek-a-boo

Hubby had to take a rear shot to get his handy work in (The Chimney)

Aren't the boxes always the best part at that age... ok ok - any age - we have fun too!!

My first wrist warmers...

I am calling them wrist warmers as I would certainly be playing a little fast and loose with the words glove, mitten or even fingerless gloves - but I am giving them a go.  This all started with a trip to M&S with my mum where we saw these lovelies.  They were super soft, super snugly but also super expensive.  Now you can tell my brain has started to turn crafty when the next words out of my mouth were "that is crazy, they would be so easy to make!!"

So - next stop is my local knitting shop!  ... 45 mins later (quite what we were doing I don't know) - I purchased some King Cole Mirage 872!

The gloves didn't have thumb holes, or fingers.  Basically just a knitted square sewn up one side with a hole left where the thumb sticks out!  So here I go....I have started! 


I love how subtle these colours are...

I have done a few rows of rib at the bottom (my first RIB STITCH ever!)  and then plain stocking stitch.... I will finish off with a final few rows of RIB I think.... watch this space, it may take me a while

Learning to Crochet...?

A bit of a question here really...I would like to learn to crochet, can anyone recommend a beginners book?  Not sure if it makes a difference but I am left handed.  All suggestions GRATEFULLY received...can you tell I have been watching the BELOW??

Kirstie's Homemade Home

This has just started on Channel 4 - so that is me set for a little while...

Is this a food blog?

...I think it might be?  Recently my posts all seem to be about food - and I am not sure I am sorry about that!?  Not sure if I have told you that I trained at college as a Chef and worked as a Chef for a good few years.  Ever since I gave it up as a career I find I enjoy cooking, entertaining and baking far more than I did when I did it all day!  Funny that!?

All last week I was away at my sisters looking after my 6 year old nephew and twin 4 year old nieces!  I came back suitably tired but also full of warmth!  They are so adorable especially first thing in the morning when they come and snuggle in bed!

Anyways, today we had friends around for Sunday lunch - Roast Pork and all the trimmings (it was a little like an early Christmas dinner).  We also BOTH made puddings on account of my friend wanting to try the Nigella Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake recipe and her hubby not liking peanuts! - so I made my no cook lemon pie (easy peasy)

Here is the Nigella Cheesecake - made by my Friend Linzi

I have to say it was LOVELY.  Not too sickly sweet and a lovely texture (I do like a baked cheesecake).  I would definitely serve this again!

And here is my no cook Lemon Pie (can you spot the bit of crust missing!)

I can't really call the Lemon Pie a recipe - it is too easy, but here it is (yummy if you like fresh sharp lemony flavours).  My sister kindly gave me this recipe and I believe it was originally from Betty Crocker?

Ingredients:
200g Digestive or ginger biscuits (I have used either)
60g of melted butter

1 tin of condensed milk (497g tin)
150 mls of double cream
2 lemons (grated zest of 1 and juice of 2)

Whizz or bash up the biscuits and add the melted butter to make the base.  Press into a dish and chill.
Combine the condensed milk, lemon zest, lemon juice and double cream in a large bowl and stir until well mixed.
Pour over the crumb base - and refrigerate.
Serve Chilled!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

POST EDIT:  My sister informs me this isn't from Betty Crocker at all... still yummy though (might have to go have another slice)

My new favourite utensil

Am I that far behind the times?  Do you all use these?  

I saw this suggestion on the Barefoot Contessa

My new Ice Cream Scoop
(that goop is destined to be Raspberry & White Chocolate Muffins)

It scoopes the PERFECT amount into each muffin case with NO MESS!

SEE!  No mess and all the same size ready to go in the oven

Fresh out of the oven - all nice, plump and round!

And all the same size and shape - OK now I just sound a little anal?

I have posted the recipe on my recipe's page

Talking of Autumn...

Couldn't resist...

Loving our new fire

My fav Season...

I love Autumn... especially on days like today.  It has been SUNNY with Blue Skies all day today.  A little windy at times - especially as we were eating out picnic lunch down by the sea - but had remembered my bobble hat so I was fine :) 

It also signals changes in the kitchen... like Breakfast:

Mmmm Porridge with sultana's and a little dash of Golden Syrup

We have just moved to our "winter menu" so soups, stews, pies and other yummies are all to look forward to.

Drinks are different too... swap the summer fruity wines for this:

Stones Ginger Wine - Straight up with lots of Ice

Admittedly a rather large glass (but there is lots of ice honest).  YUM

...and just a little anticipation building for Christmas (but we won't shout about that)

It was supposed to be raining...

We have had forecasts of high winds and lots of rain for the weekend.  Today has indeed been raining a lot of the day.  However, at about 4pm - the clouds cleared and the sun came out.

Ever the opportunists - we decided pack a coffee and head to Sennen Cove for the evening. 

 See - GORGEOUS!  

We did some rock hopping till the sun went down - then headed home. 

YIPPEEEE

This is how I am feeling RIGHT NOW.

Dad had his operation today

He is out, in recovery and all went well!

Fingers crossed he gets to come out tomorrow

Now my fingers are crossed for my friend Clare - who has her 4th Chemo session tomorrow. Only 2 more to go after that!

SHE IS AMAZING

Happy National Cupcake Week!

I found out about National Cupcake Week from Ali over at With Love, Cupcakes & Biscuits. She posted an invite to take part - so here I am.

Cappuccino Cupcakes

In cute little brown spotty cases

...and a little chocolate coffee bean on top!

Mmmmmm!