Lifestyle – Page 4 – Stepping Into Sixty and Out Of The Comfort Zone

Advent Tidings

Firstly apologies for not posting last week!

As I explained on my Facebook page I had a migraine and life had been a little busy and complicated that week but I’m back and enjoying the build up to Christmas.

I have been posting a photo each day of advent on the FB page that captures the day. Here are the first three from December

The first is my rather decadent week day breakfast of maple brioche eggy bread with my apple butter and a spoonful of Greek yogurt.

The second is this year’s festive kitchen island decoration. I found these cute little tealight holders on Amazon that have a hole in the bottom which you can put things in. I have put some conifer and decorative string that looks like tree lights that I picked up at Hobbycraft.

The third is the front of my house which I decorated yesterday. The pots contain my blueberry bushes but as they are all cut back I added long branches and then put tinsel and baubles on them. I found the blow up baubles on Amazon and hung them where my hanging baskets normally are. I attached them with extra ribbon to secure them and avoid them blowing off and visiting my neighbours! I was also finally able to put my rag wreath on the door.

My Festive Sweet Chill Jam has been made this week and will be given as a present to a couple of my friends who especially love it.

8 Red Peppers

4 Red Chillis

5cm sized piece of Fresh Ginger

4 Garlic Cloves

200g (7 oz) Tinned Tomatoes

2.5 cups Golden Caster Sugar

3/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar

I place the first four ingredients in a blender with some of the vinegar and blitz into a chunky puree. Then pop into my jam pan along with a tin of chopped tomatoes and the sugar and bring to boil. Turn down and cook till you get a jammy consistency. Bottle whilst hot.

If anyone would like the labels I designed to add to their jars here is a pdf to download and I print on sticker paper to make it easy to put on.

Sweet Chilli Jam Labels Download

On Friday evening myself and a friend went to the Tavistock Dickensian Evening which was a lovely way to start getting into the festive mood. Below is a video of the amazing lights being turned on.

3, 2, 1,Ta Da!

I also made some mince pie ice cream for a yummy treat to serve over Christmas. It is so simple and a quick dessert to make as I use shop bought items such as a good quality vanilla ice cream, a box of really fruity mince pies. Break up the mince pies and I added some of my homemade plum brandy but you can add whatever festive tipple you prefer that will go with mincemeat. If you do not wish to add alcohol that’s fine.

I then just combine the mince pies into the ice cream that has softened slightly and then place all the mixture either back into the ice cream tub if there is room or another container and pop back into the freezer until needed.

I am on track with my Christmas Planning List and all presents are being wrapped as I get them to avoid that really long session I normally end up doing! I have found some fun ways to wrap awkward shaped items and will share those with you next week as I must head off now.

Enjoy your week.

Chris x

Eat, drink and be merry

Well I managed a lovely walk last Sunday and whilst not a new walk was one I have not done in a while. The sun was gloriously warm and the colour of the trees were amazing. I took this photo which brought a song bubbling to my brain.

I know I’ve mentioned my Kombucha before my latest batch is apple and cinnamon which is very seasonal and tastes like a really good cider. I am looking forward to cranberries being back in store to make a festive infusion.

I normally leave my tea in with the scobie for around two weeks I then drain off nearly all the liquid leaving enough to cover the scobie before adding a new batch of sugared tea. I then placed chopped apples and a whole cinnamon stick in another large jar and added the drained off kombucha, seal with screw top and place away for another week to 10 days before bottling.

I started my Christmas planning jobs this week and have made a number of cookie doughs and popped them in the freezer ready to get out, thaw, cut and bake during the festive season.

I have made 3 this week and have 3 more to make next week.

Maple oat cookies

Ingredients
Cookies:
▢1½ cups quick oats
▢1 cup all purpose flour
▢¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢¼ teaspoon baking soda
▢¼ teaspoon salt
▢½ cup unsalted butter, softened but still cool
▢⅔ cup light brown sugar, packed
▢¼ cup granulated sugar
▢1 large egg
▢2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
▢½ teaspoon maple extract
Icing:
▢2 tablespoons unsalted butter
▢⅔ cup powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
▢1-2 tablsepoons pure maple syrup
▢1-2 tablespoons half and half, cream, or milk
▢2 drops maple extract

I got my maple extract from Amazon as I could not get it easily in a shop. I used Foodie Flavours it has a really good real flavour not artificial and you only need a small amount so it will last for sometime. (Not sponsored for this product)

Well I had to test them! I will add icing when I bake them at Christmas.

I also made the dough for chocolate dipped shortbread fingers. I found the dough rather dry and actually added some water to combine it.

The final one I made this week was Chai Spiced Cookies I will be making the other 3 from Butternut Bakery this week.

Make the dough and then you can just gently fold in the chai spice to create swirls of flavour or mix completely in to get an all over flavour. There again I added a small amount of water to combine the dough.

Also off my list for 6 weeks to Christmas I started my deep clean of my lounge by cleaning my carpets. I had to wait for a dry day in order to have a good through draft to make sure they dried by the evening. They look so much better. I also washed down the doors and panelling and cleaned the inside of the windows.

I finished crocheting my sweet little penguin decoration you can find the free pattern here

I am off to Plymouth today to see Mia and take the littlies and our house guest Sunny for a walk at Saltram Estate. This will be a nice few hours break for Mia who is busy with coursework and her dissertation.

Until next week

Chris x

The countdown has begun

Do you realise it is now 6 weeks till Christmas Day!

This is the time I like to start planning, yes I am one of those type of people 😂

This week I created my planning list, now this is a guide, I may not necessarily stick to it but it helps me set goals and remember things.

This week I made my cards. I like my cards to be special as I am now further away from a number of good longtime friends since moving to Devon. Therefore I have attached my crocheted stars to card blanks so they create not only the Christmas card but also a little present to hang on their tree. I have then written a special message inside.

I have also bought my wrapping paper and ribbon so that I can wrap any present I start getting as soon as I get them rather than leave them till the last minute. Now is the time to start saving those useful small boxes or pieces of card as they really help when trying to wrap either soft or strange shaped presents.

I will be making my freezable cookie dough this week. I will then be able to just defrost nearer the time and bake to produce my cookie gift boxes for my neighbours and have some to serve up to friends that drop around. I will let you have a list and recipes in the next blog. These are a great thing to have in your freezer all year round for those surprise guest!

I have attached my Christmas Planner that might help you organise your Christmas period

Adapt to your needs and traditions.

This week I finished another rag wreath that I will be giving to a friend as a present and with all the off cuts of material I am creating a patchwork pot holder. I will show you next week how it turns out.

I have not managed any new walks this week but as the weather is better today I may look at walking further afield with the dogs.

Until next week enjoy the little things.

Chris x

Let’s get comfortable

November has swept or should I say blown in this week with lots of wind, rain and colder weather, which is not much fun for my dog walks but I think I can now seriously start planning for Christmas and my Birthday.

Yes my Birthday, can you believe it is nearly a whole year since I started this blog!

My Sunday walk last week started with sunshine, then a rainbow, next came wind that rained down leaves and finally the heavens opened and torrential rain fell from the sky drenching the dogs and myself. When I got home I had to literally change out of all my clothes as I was wet to my skin. I made the decision to have a pj comfy cozy rest of the day.

I used the rest of my day to finish my Christmas rag wreath that I discussed last blog. Here is the finished item and I have started on another one for a friend.

I have also crocheted some stars using Bella Coco Crochet’s pattern linked below. These will adorn some of my Christmas cards this year along with my gnomes that I crocheted a few months ago.

With the weather turning colder my thoughts turn to comfort food and this week I made Chicken Gnocchi Soup which is not so much of a soup but a casserole as the gnocchi thickens the liquid into a sauce. It’s ideal made in the slow cooker.

My daughter Georgina and I had a trip into Exeter this week to go to Hobbycraft where I picked up some more Xmas patterned fat quarters and ribbon to make more wreaths. The rain was very heavy when we had finished so we decided to pop into Costa to grab some lunch and they had their Christmas coffee back, Gingerbread Latté so I had to have one of course!

Mia is home from Uni for a few days so hopefully the weather will be a little kinder so we can do a nice walk with the littlies later.

Until next week I hope you keep warm and dry.

Chris x

Happy Halloween 🎃

Well the clocks went back here in the UK this weekend and for a lot of people this means an extra hour in bed, unfortunately my dog’s didn’t get the message. I will have to claw back that hour over the week. Maybe I’ll get an extra 10 minutes a day over 6 days 🤣

You know I’ve mentioned the rectangle crochet piece I’ve been working on and whether it was going to be a pumpkin or a hat. Well I made the decision to make it into a hat as it is so cozy and warm and with the nice thick brim will keep my ears nice and toasty on those winter dog walks.

My baking project this week was some apple snickerdoodles using my apple butter. The recipe made loads and rather than cook them all in one batch. I kept the mixture in a container in the fridge and made small batches every few days. That way we had freshly baked cookies which always taste better.

Last weekend I visited Mia who is at University in Plymouth. We decided to go to the beach and went to one of the local ones, Bovisand. We had a really lovely time with the littlies and our house guest Dora the Explorer. The sun shone and it was really warm especially for late October.

After exploring the beach and the dog’s having a lovely time running around in and out of the sea and over all the rocks, we made our way to the cliff top cafe which was very welcoming. We had a very yummy lunch and my tea was served in a beautiful teapot .

In crafting news I returned to macrame this week to make some tree decorations. The first one was a shooting star and was a little bit tricky to do. The second star was much easier to accomplish. I will make a few more of these over the coming weeks, to either use myself or give as gifts. I followed the videos highlighted above.

I have also decided to make a Christmas rag wreath as I have a bundle of Christmas fat quarters sitting in my material stash. I ordered the wire wreath frame from Amazon and cut the material into 1.5 inch by 8 inch strips. Then all you do is tie them around the frame. I started on the middle two wires, then one on the inside two, then outside two and just keep repeating. I had to work yesterday so did not get it finished but will complete today and then will post a finished photo next week.

Living at the end of a cul de sac we do not get any trick or treaters so I do not bother doing much in the way of decorating the house but I do love wandering around the local houses seeing the creative skills of many people here in our little town.

Enjoy your Halloween 🎃 and try to avoid those tricks and enjoy the treats.

Chris x

Autumn Harvest

Last week I showed you my tomatoes going into the hydrator and after around 30 hours they were done enough to bottle them in olive oil and mixed herbs. I will look forward to eating them through the winter months.

I got to pick some cooking apples from a friends tree’s this week and have been able to make cinnamon apple loaves and donuts. This was the recipe I used from Sweet Spicy Kitchen.

Another preserving thing I did this week was to make slow cooker apple butter. This is so simple, just peel and core any type of cooking apples and chop them up and place them in a slow cooker, then add brown sugar and mixed spice. Turn the slow cooker on high for 5 hours. I did not add any liquid as the juice from the apples is sufficient. If the apples look like they are still quite wet just continue cooking but remove the lid to allow the moisture to evaporate. I then liquidised using a hand held blender and the popped half in a jar and the other half in a plastic container which once cool I put into my freezer and the jar will keep for around a month in my fridge.

I will be making some things with this apple butter in the coming weeks so watch this space.

In last week’s blog I showed you the little purse I made. I have now created the instructions on how to create this. I managed to make a small bag and purse from one fat quarter but you can make three purses out of the quarter too.

Here are the instructions I hope they make sense but please feel free to ask questions.

I am still working on three crochet projects and the rectangle is nearly large enough for me to make my decision on a hat or pumpkin. I am leaning towards a pumpkin at the moment. Hopefully I will be able to show you next time.

I am off to visit my daughter Mia who as some of you know is at University in Plymouth. I have not seen her in person since I dropped her off at the beginning of September so it will be lovely to give her a hug and spend time with her. We are taking the littlies and our house guest Dora the Dachshund to Bovisand Beach. I will try to get some photos to post next week.

Chris x

Butterfly Nature

The butterfly element of my nature was definitely in full flow this week, I flitted from one thing to another. Do you have days or weeks like that, where you cannot seem to do too much of one thing?

I had a craving for really chocolatey cookies this week and remembered I had pinned a recipe for sumac chocolate cookies.

Sumac is a wine-coloured ground spice and is one of the most useful but least known and most underappreciated. Made from dried berries, it has an appealing lemon-lime tartness, so is ideal in fish recipes. In Iran, they use it as a condiment, putting it onto the table with salt and pepper. Used in these cookies it enhances the chocolate flavour but cannot actually be tasted itself.

Whilst I did a little more of my spiral crochet, I also decided to use some of my yarn stash to make a ribbed rectangle, which depending on my mood when I finish it will either be a pumpkin or a hat! Watch this space 😂 Oh I am also making a cowl or scarf depending on whether I get bored. Like I said Butterfly nature!

My creative skills also turned to sewing this week and I have made a number of purses as Christmas gifts. I bought myself a press stud tool which is simple to use but is going to be very useful.

This coming week I will create a tutorial on how I made these and post on next week’s blog, if anyone would like to make some. They really do not use much material. I can make 3 out of a fat quarter.

As you know I have created some fun workshops for my dog training business and having attended the murder mystery evening last week I decided that for my Birthday in January I would like to have a party but with a fun element. Therefore I have created a Break In To Room. It is flipping the concept of an Escape Room, so rather than getting out, my guests will need to get into the dining room where all the party food will be.

As you know I picked all of the tomatoes off my plants and have had them on my kitchen window sill ripening. They have nearly all done so and as I will never get through them all before they start going past their best I have decided to dehydrate them and then pop them in a jar with olive oil and herbs. Just like sun dried tomatoes and then I can continue to enjoy them into the winter.

They are still in the dehydrator but will show you the finished product next week.

I am beginning to feel in the mood for decorating again so I think the hallway will be getting a makeover soon. This week I will hit Pinterest and get some inspiration. Until next week have fun.

Chris x

Let’s get Comfy

This week has been a mixture of weather, from cold and blustery to warm and balmy. I managed a few lovely walks with the dog’s. On Sunday I took the littlies to Abbeysford Woods nr Okehampton and enjoyed a nice long mystery walk just heading off on different pathways to see where I ended up. I seem to have quite a good internal compass which means I can nearly always find my way back to the car without any help.

I love all the changing colours you find at the moment. There is still plenty of green around but those rusty red browns are creeping in too.

The spiders webs look great with the morning dew on them and managed to capture a nice image of one on my walk with Faith the following day. By turning the image into black and white has created a glorious contrast.

With the Autumn months comes comfort food and this week I made my first soup of the season. It’s a take on the classic Cauliflower Cheese. This Cauliflower Cheese Soup has cheesy flavour and the added bacon bits add that little bit extra, making this a definite meal in a bowl. You can find the recipe here.

I have finally finished my granny square bag. After joining all the squares, I then added a lining to give extra support and make sure anything small does not fall through the larger holes. I decided to add a small handle rather than just have it as a clutch and found this great video for a strap which I then folded to make it more rounded.

I have a good stash of yarn left from making my ripple blanket so I decided to have a go at crocheting a spiral as I had seen a pretty coaster from Bella Coco and so followed her pattern but have just continued going around and around increasing 2 stitches every 10 stitches until I either get dizzy or run out of yarn. This is how far I have got.

I ran the first of my creative workshops for my dog training business, it was a treasure hunt this week and all the participants seemed to really enjoy it. Next week it will be an Escape Room experience. Last night I went to a murder mystery evening in one of the neighbouring villages with a couple of friends. It was great fun and based on Bake Off. We managed to work out the murderer but did not quite get the motive correct.

Enjoy whatever you are up to this week and join me next week.

Chris x

Time to Indulge

Well where did September go?

October is the month that Autumn really kicks in and the colder mornings and evenings really begin to show up. For me that means snuggling under a blanket in the evening when watching television and talking of blankets I finally finished one of my projects that has been on the go for at least four years. I bought the Attic 24 ripple blanket kit and it started really well but obviously my butterfly nature took over and other projects took precedence! The problem was I found it difficult to do if it did not have my full attention so it was not a project I could do if watching TV.

It was planned for a beach themed room and my office is just the spot and it looks lovely over my old reclining chair.

Yesterday I decided after looking at my tomatoes to pick them all as slugs were beginning to nibble them. I have popped them in a bowl on my kitchen window sill to ripen and if they struggle to do so, green tomato chutney will be made.

I have finished all my granny squares for my clutch bag and I am in the process of sewing them all together and as normal another project took over. I decided to make granny square fingerless gloves, as when I am teaching my evening hoopers agility session my hands get really cold but I still need to be able to pick things up and use my hands in general. I thought these might help. I am using the yarn leftover from my ripple blanket so they may be odd colours but as long as they keep my hands warm. I will post a photo next week when they are finished ( hopefully)😂

On the cooking front, the success of my Biscoff Bronuts got me thinking of other flavoured brownies I could convert into bronuts. Now who doesn’t love a lemon drizzle cake and I found a yummy brownie version so rather than do the conventional tray bake I piped the mixture into my donut moulds. When they came out of the oven I poked holes in them and drizzled extra lemon over before taking them out of the moulds. Then once cold popped them out of the moulds and coated them with an icing sugar and lemon topping. You can find the brownie recipe here.

It’s definitely getting into comfort meal cooking time so will definitely be getting my slow cooker out for more casseroles. I will keep you posted.

Well heading off now to do a wet walk with the dogs and this afternoon I am going to settle down to watch both Hocus Pocus films and indulge myself in a good Sunday afternoon chill out session.

Chris x

Another String to my Bow

How many of you watched at least part of the royal funeral? Whilst a very sad affair it was lovely to watch all those services men and women work in perfect unison to honour our departed Queen.

I crocheted more of my granny squares for my purse and now am on the last one. Hopefully I can sew them altogether and sew in a lining this week.

I had a lovely Sunday morning walk last week with Faith my GSD and Sunny who had been staying for a few days whilst his mum was on a course. It was definitely one of those early autumn days as the beginning of the walk was a little chilly and as the morning progressed it definitely got warmer. Whilst there is still quite a lot of greenery around, those autumn tones are definitely creeping in. With various berries and hips and grasses and leaves becoming more muted.

Have you heard of Bronuts? They are a combination of brownie and donut and extremely delicious 😋

I decided I would make some and ordered some silicon donut moulds from Amazon. I love Biscoff and so I decided to make a chocolate and Biscoff bronut. I used a recipe from https://aspoonfulofvanilla.co.uk/2022/04/29/biscoff-bronuts-brownie-doughnuts/

They were really good, slightly crispy on the outside and gooey inside, just as a good brownie should be.

With my printables I am finishing off my 2023 calendar and getting it ready to put up on my Etsy store. I may also get some printed up to sell the finished item too, especially if I finally get around to doing some Christmas craft fairs this year.

This week I launched my new workshops for my dog training school and am super excited about doing them. They are Dogtective Workshops, so a combination of dog training and treasure hunt, who dunnit’s, escape room based sessions. I am having good fun creating them and hope they will be something different for people to have fun with their dog.

I have been asked to help create a social media package for my local pub in order that they can promote new events and special evening entertainment. Whilst obviously I have done it for myself, but have never done it for anyone else and I’m even going to be paid to do it. This will definitely test my comfort zone. Not bad for a 60 year old to add another string to her bow 🤣

I’m signing off for another week which looks like it’s going to be pretty busy!