Unusual quotes...

I saw this the other day and thought...how true it is. I won't elaborate any more but just show you the quote...

The best vitamin for making friends..... B1

Say what you mean and mean what you say...

People of integrity are true to their word. They don't need a legal contract to bind them to an agreement. They do what they say.

~Unknown...

Enough said.....

Just so neat...

Well I got this tin full of buttons from a friend at work which I wasn't expecting - the tin I mean. The buttons I'll do in another posting once I'm finished with my project but this one is about the tin. I just thought it was so cute and decided to share it with everyone else (whoever it is that reads this blog - if anyone other than me!).

A friend at work had a mum who was a seamstress and wanted her buttons to go to a good home where they would be used. Well in this house they will be (it's going to be my winter project - sewing!) but the tins that they came in - well what a bonus! This one is just so cute. The other tin was a WWII milk tin of which I have one but it was a later variety and in better condition. In any event, this one tine I got a few snaps for you to enjoy!

Feast of cake....

Well again it's been a long time since I last posted but as usual I'm a busy bee. I've been working like mad and when not at work just enjoying life and things like that. I look at other people's blogs and do wonder how they find the time - I'm busy with life and to post as well (sometimes every day!) would do me in.

In any event, it is J's birthday again and another Death by Chocolate cake was made. This time it was Deep Fudge Espresso Cake (to help me avoid the great big 'nut hunt' as I call it!). And boy is it full of espresso! It's a good thing I'm not sensitive to caffeine or else I would be in big trouble!

I had a bit of trouble with the icing - it somehow got bits of chocolate that either didn't incorporate well or hardened before I could mix it all in - I'm not sure which but in any event it sure was good! I'm a terrible piper but it isn't how it looks as J says - it is the thought and work that go into it that matter most....awwww...how sweet!

Enjoy your summer!

The evidence....

Well here is some of the evidence of my Polish Poppy Seed bread. I baked it early this morning but as you can see some bunny has been nibbling at it.

I've been off from work last week and this week - what a difference this time has made! I've cleaned the windows all 50 feet of them - yes that's just the outside - double that for what I do inside and out! I was quite lucky that while rain was predicted it didn't appear until Monday. Even so the rain was nothing on the windows and they are still lovely. And today is again sunny - at least that bit helps the dough rise.

I've also been able to clear out some stuff from the second bedroom which has become the junk room of the flat. I've gotten loads of stuff ready to go to the charity shop and tip. What an accomplishment in such a short space of time. What about you - do you spring clean?

Oh so pretty....

What the Easter Bunny Baked...and then left!

Well these are the double-chocolate hot cross buns I made for Easter. I have never been one for the traditional buns - all that fruit just isn't my thing. But figured this was different enough to give it a go and see if its any good.

I found the recipe in Country Living last year which I only happened upon a bit ago when trying to sort out all my recipe cuttings. I finally put them all in a notebook so that at least I could note which ones I tried and liked. I would then of course write it up in my other written book so that I had notes all together of what I did differently from the original recipe. As with just about anything in life tastes change and you alter slightly things (in this case recipes) to suit the time and place. Well at least I do...what do you do? So to end your anticipation here is a picture of all my current recipes - yes, way too many but what would you expect from moi? I always aim to please! =)

Off to enjoy those buns with a nice cuppa as they say...

Vintage purses and findings....

Well this is mostly a cookery blog but thought I'd share the latest find I got on eBay. I love these small pearl clutch purses. I cannot say what makes me gravitate towards them but they are just so cute! I used this small purse for my mobile. I have a little sock thing but I used this to organise my purse (yes, it is a bit disgusting that everything has a place in my purse!).

This one is brand new and came yes, in its own box! It also came with a bevelled double-sided mirror (not sure why as you can only look at one side but cute nonetheless, and a small change purse. When you feel the weight of these purses you'll know why I love them. They feel like something and they are so utilitarian. What do I do with them you ask? I use them as purses (as they are called on this end of the pond) or wallets as known in the US.

A long time ago I was pick-pocketed. Not the happiest of days but I swore then that I would no longer use a traditional wallet. So I began using these small purses to keep my change in. I then found a nice one that has a snap closure rather than a zipper for my credit cards. I find this generates a lot of conversation at the tills - as everyone is interested in what they are. My point...? Be different and adapt things to your use. Some people will only see these as too small to carry their lip stick and etc. in. That may be but they still have a life with me and I buy then whenever I can (translate into when they are cHeAp!).

Well I'll take a snap of the inside of my handbag some other time - you really will be sick as I'm a neat freak inside the bag! Till the next time!

The remains of dinner...

Oh my what a habit this is becoming in that I've made so many posts but I am trying to be better - if just a bit!

Dinner was cannelloni with ricotta and spinach. The pasta was of course home made but the ricotta was reduced and the rest was in the house. It is such an easy meal to prepare and also economical too!

I keep finding things at the stores bizarre to say the least. While out the other day we noticed all the stores pushing their own brands and how great their are - both in taste and on the pocket book. I recently went to this site which ranks the supermarkets own brand items against the 'real' brands. I found it interesting and will at some point try to have a better look but the few items I tried to look at were not things that we buy so it is pretty much useless for us. Perhaps someone else will find it useful.

In any event, I'm off to bed now that J and I both had a meal that cost us about £3.00 and we'll get another meal or two from it we feel quite swish with ourselves!

Time for a change...

Well two posts in such a short space of time you all will be spoilt! But I have been having some time off and thought I'd change the colours of the blog. I really should figure out how to change the whole thing to my liking but alas I'm just too busy to fuss around with it (perhaps a bit lazy too!).

Have been thinking about Easter and what to make J for the day. Well finally had a clear out of all those magazine cuttings one does and thinks - yeah, I'll make that but then they go into the cupboard or drawer and promptly are forgotten. Well finally put them into one of my notebooks and it is now full! But at least it is in some sort of order rather than the chaos I had before.

So flipping though that I found this recipe for double-chocolate hot cross buns. Well I don't do the normal hot cross buns as I don't do the dried fruit bit. I am very picky about what dried fruit I eat (mostly raisins and such but only in certain things) and more importantly what they are in! But I digress...in any event the recipe seems quite good in that you replace the fruit for chocolate. How bad can that be?

I'll post something on how they turn out but I expect they will disappear just like everything else in this house! Do you have a favourite thing you like to make on Easter? If so let me know.

Beauty of Spring....

Sometimes the best things in life are those you never expect. Like the following picture of a poinsettia plant that I got which wasn't bigger than 3 inches when I got it but now it is a towering plant and this is the second year it has turned red and the first year I got the actual flowers. What a joy - albeit later than Christmas but still a joy to view! My other poinsettia plant is much bigger than this one and when I got it - it was pitiful - just three leaves and looked so tired! But it too is now turning red on the very tips. When it's got something more to post I'll add a snap.

Now this is a picture of some freesias I got from a friend. One day the postie came and I thought 'Who could these be from?' as I wasn't expecting them and J was there with me so I knew they weren't from him. I had never heard of freesias before but what a lovely scent they give off! And they just keep on giving and opening their petals to exude more lovely scent.

Spring is in the air....I can smell it!