Monday 30 March 2009

The Train....................

now standing on platform 1 is.........................



The above photograh is courtesy of David & Jane Bates













for Dunster, Blue Anchor, Watchet,
Williton, Stogumber,
Crowcombe Heathfield, Bishops Lydeard

You see this view when you alight the train!

Sunday 29 March 2009

Rocky Road

This is my version...........





400grms Milk Chocolate ~ Melt in a basin over hot water


Do not allow the water to splash into the chocolate


and be careful of the hot water


(the only exact measurement - because it is pre-weighed!)





Add about a third of a packet of
broken very plain sweet biscuits

(I use Rich Tea) Add a few Marshmallow Sweets

Do not let them melt too much

(cut smaller if too large)

Few Cranberries and Blueberries
(Use any dried fruit - I find these just take the sweetness away)

Few Glace Cherries

(chop or leave whole)

Line a loaf tin with a cake liner or Cling Film

Tip the mixture into loaf tin and put into the

refridgerator until cooled

ROCKY ROAD!

Monday 23 March 2009

Quack Quack

Two little ducks



Body ~

Cast on 39 Stitches


Row 1 - Knit

Row 2 - Knit 1, increase in next stitch, Knit 13 , increase in next stitch, knit 7, increase in next stitch, knit 12, increase in next stitch, Knit 2. (43 Stitches)

Row 3 - Knit

Row 4 - Knit 1, increase in next stitch, Knit 15 , increase in next stitch, knit 7, increase in next stitch, knit 14, increase in next stitch, Knit 2. (47 Stitches)
Row 5 - Knit

Row 6 - Knit 1, increase in next stitch, Knit 17 , increase in next stitch, knit 7, increase in next stitch, knit 16, increase in next stitch, Knit 2. (51 Stitches)
Row 7- Knit

Row 8 - Knit 1, increase in next stitch, Knit 19 , increase in next stitch, knit 7, increase in next stitch, knit 18, increase in next stitch, Knit 2. (55 Stitches)
Knit 16 Rows

Next Row - Knit 10, cast off 11 stitches, Knit 12 stitches, cast off 11 stitches, Knit 9 stitches

Next Row - Knit 10 stitches, slip the centre 13 stitches onto a thread, Knit 10 (20 stitches)

Knit 4 rows on these 20 stitches

*Cast off 2 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows

Knit 2 rows*

Repeat from * to * till 8 stitches)

Cast off

Rejoin yarn and knit 13 stitches from the thread

Next row - increase in each stitch (26 stitches)

Knit 12 rows

Next Row Knit 2 together *Knit 1, Knit 2 together, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, Knit 3 (19 stitches)

Next Row - Knit

Next Row - (Knit 2 together) 9 times Knit 1 (10 stitches)

Break a long length of yarn and thread through the stitches and secure, and sew seam down back of head, along body and up the tail. Leave base open. Stuff. Thread yarn through neck and gather slightly.


Base

Cast on 10 stitches

Next row - increase in first stitch, knit to last two stitches, increase in next stitch K1 (12 stitches)

Next Row - Knit

Repeat these two rows till 16 stitches

Knit 5 rows

Next Row - Knit together, knit to last two stitches, knit 2 together

Next Row - Knit

Repeat these last two rows till 10 stitches

Cast off.

Sew into open base of body


Wings (make two)

Cast on 14 stitches

Knit 2 rows

Next Row - Increase in first stitch, knit to end (15 stitches)

Next Row - Knit

Next Row - Increase in first stitch, knit to end (16 stitches)

Next row - Knit 2 together, cast off 3stitches, knit to end (12 stitches)

Next row - Increase in first stitch, knit to end (13 stitches)

Next Row - Knit

Next Row - Increase in first stitch, Knit 10 stitches, Knit together

Next Row - Cast off three stitches, Knit to end (10 titches)

Knit 2 rows

Next Row - Knit1, Knit 2 together, Knit to end (9 stitches)

Next Row - Knit

Next Row - Knit 1, Knit 2 together, Knit 4, Knit together (7 stitches)

Cast off. Sew on sides of the body


Beak

Measure yarn at least 24" (60 cm) Cast on 4 stitches leaving the long tail

*Knit 2 rows

Next Row - Knit 2, Knit 2 together

Next Row - Knit 1 Knit 2 together (2 stitches)

Next Row - Knit

Next Row - Knit 2 together fast off*

With long piece of yarn pick up four stitches from cast on edge and repeat from * to *

Fold beak in half sew through centre to face

Embroider eyes

Monday 16 March 2009

Spring has Sprung!

My daffodils from Poundland!




Primroses grow wild in my garden

Rather large Bumble Bee taking a stroll in the garden!

Sunday 8 March 2009

Carrot Cake Cupcakes!

Got up early in hope of catching up on the washing and ironing and gardening! No such luck! I washed the washing, hung it on the line, then fetched the loppers from the shed, then the heavens opened. Rain, wind, you name it we had it in the matter of five minutes so that put paid the that! So to the kitchen to make cake! I thought I would try and make perfect cakes with perfect decorations.Being one of those sort of days, the icing bag took on a life of its own and split down the side! After cleaning my hands and rescuing the remainder of the icing, the results are in the picture! Marks out of 10?



RECIPE
6 oz carrots
1 oz chopped nuts
4oz Self Raising Flour
1 teaspoons of cinnamon
½teaspoon ground ginger
¼teaspoon nutmeg
4 fl oz vegetable oil
3 oz soft brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoons’ golden syrup
TOPPING
5 oz cream cheese
1 oz softened unsalted butter
2 oz sifted icing sugar
Orange essence
Orange Food colouring (optional)
*************************************
Grate the carrots. Put to one side.
Whisk together
vegetable oil, sugar, eggs and golden syrup.
(Heat the spoon first and the syrup will slide off easily.)
Till light beige and smooth
Sieve together Flour with
cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg.
Fold into mixture.
Stir in the carrots and nuts.
(Should look like a batter mix - quite runny)
Fill cake cases to ¾ way up
cook at 160 degreesC about 15 to 20 minutes until cooked.
(Keep an eye on them)

Allow the cakes to cool and then add the topping
For the topping,
mix cream cheese, softened unsalted butter,
sifted icing sugar
and essence colouring until smooth.
Pipe or just spread on top of the cakes
Added Decoration
In a saucepan put
2fl oz Water
3 dessertspoons Sugar
Bring to boil and add grated carrot
and simmer for about 2 minutes
allow to get quite cold drain well
and use on the cakes

Sunday 1 March 2009

I haven't done much!

I see I haven't posted for a fortnight.
I lead a very boring life!
I get up, breakfast, go to work, home by 12.30,
do housework then time to get dinner, then television!
My friend Jan sent me these old patterns, now I need
extra hours in my day....
Saturday went off to Taunton, we were wondering what was
established in 1775? It is now a disused pub!

Found these two items in a charity shop
both came to less than £5

Paid £1each for these in the local Poundland


..........and a £1 each for these in the same shop!

Sunday morning
spotted the Primroses arising from their winters rest

Chopped the tops of the Welsh Leek
which seems to have taken over the garden!

We'll dig the bulb bit up as we plant shrubs which will
smother the Welsh Leeks hopefully instead
of the other way round!
First of the many garden creatures
I wonder what this will grow into..........?

This afternoon I made these cards for shop display.
These three cards were made from one peel-off.