love those cupcakes

This and that

• New recipe

I've seen pictures of blondies but have never tried them. So with the planned spot of gardening put on hold due to rain and general laziness, I opted to make these, adding chopped chocolate and walnuts.  I tried one as they were cooling and, whilst the texture was fine with the right amount of squidginess, I think they're missing something tastewise.  Maybe dark  chocolate (I used milk) would do the trick.

• New read

I don't read half as much as I used to (I'm still working my way through Winter's Tale which is taking so long I keep forgetting who some of the characters are) but probably still buy as many books.  This was a recommended read somewhere, and years ago I did enjoy the author's Hideous Kinky, so it's now in the to be read pile, along with the rest.   The blurb on the back promises sun-scorched hillsides in Tuscany and an intoxicating journey of self discovery.  Just don't expect a review anytime soon.

• New yarn

For a baby sized cardi and beret.  I can't make a start as the pattern hasn't arrived yet. 

• New rose

It isn't really a new rose, I think we've had it for two years, but I wanted to stick with the theme! There's very little colour in the garden at the moment, with all of the chopping and digging out that's been going on, so, even rain spattered, these blooms are a welcome sight from the kitchen window.

 

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Thanks for your comments on the previous post.  I'd have to say it's quite a scary step, this going down the voluntary severance route, and I worry wonder about the impact of giving up a (very comfortable) salary and how I'll adjust to not having a job which occupies so much of my time.  I have visions of not being able to join in the discussions when I meet up with my still employed friends because all I can offer is what happened on the latest episode of Deal Or No Deal and that I've knit the back of a sweater!  Maybe you can give a gentle nudge if it seems I'm losing the plot.

 

Open house

English Heritage are quite dog friendly (compared to the National Trust) so Boo was able to do a fair bit of stately home garden strolling and ancient site visiting on our recent jaunt (though he would have liked the opportunity to sample the tea shops).  Whilst he and Mister Cupcakes took refuge from the rain in the car when we were at Belsay Hall and Castle, I took the opportunity to get the most from the admission fee and have a nose round inside the house. 

Rather surprisingly, beyond the impressive columns at the entrance, there's nothing in it.   It's just a shell.  No furniture, art or other collections.  What I did come across, however, was a temporary exhibition of locally made quilts.  (Reading more about the place later, I was sorry to have missed an earlier exhibition though it seems it was not without its problems).

I'm not sure I could snuggle under this next one which depicts "the hanging of five men in Durham City in 1692 for the crime of being gypsy".

One which seems to have been made with Jenny in mind.

On the way out, I earwigged a woman answering her mobile phone.  "Oh hello.  We're in Northumberland.  It's our fifteenth holiday this year". 

Note to self:  Must. Travel. More.

So far this week

• Spring well and truly sprung in the front garden.

• One book at bedtime (American Deep South.  1930's.  Racial hatred.  Injustice.  A highly recommended read.) finished and another started.

• New project on the needles.  A manageable baby sized one.

• Estimates sought for re-fencing part of the back garden.  (Four figures?  Really?)

• A bi-monthly check up at the hospital which gave me hope.

 

Off again

On my jollies, that is.  A week or thereabouts in Spain this time.

As I was doing a spot of ironing and folding in readiness for packing tonight, I was reminded that I'd forgotten to mention here that I actually made (yes, really) a couple of skirts to wear in Vegas.  Nothing elaborate or complicated, you understand, but it did involve buying fabric (some embroidered linen and a piece from Denise) and a pattern and then cutting out and sewing on the machine. (I'd actually forgotten how to thread it).

I chose the green version - straight, calf length with a back split and elasticated waist (I'm not up to sewing in zips just yet).  There's even a little label inside.

They're far from perfect but I did wear them and they didn't fall apart.  So they're going in the suitcase again. 

I should probably ask you not to judge my pressing skills from the photographs. I blame Russell Hobbs.

Finished

One

New pattern, new yarn, new buttons. 

Off the needles.

Not yet in the bin.

Two

Tense.

Atmospheric.

Not about housework.

Three

A little bit spicy.

A little bit fruity.

Fortunately not to everyone's taste here.

All gone now.

So far this week I've..........

• Managed to finish another book, the story of an American blogger, her blog and an aspiration to cook, in a year, all 524 recipes from Julia Child's cookbook.

Funnily enough, reading it didn't have me wanting to cook but left me wondering if there would be any demand for a novel based on the disconnected ramblings and predilection for all things cake of a middle aged, supposedly academic blogger from a whatever-the-word-is-for-the-opposite-of-salubrious town in north east England.  It's OK.  I know the answer.

• Sewn up a cute baby jacket and matching hat knitted from eye wateringly expensive cashmere and silk yarn, which I only discovered was eye wateringly expensive when I got to the checkout in Hobbycraft, the only source of knitting parafernalia round these parts.  For what I paid, the expected recipient could have been togged out for his/her entire first year.   I then did as I was told in the pattern and experienced something called "blocking" for the first time.  When I used to knit in days of yore there was no such thing as "blocking", I just pressed the garment with a hot iron over a damp tea towel like Aunty M showed me.  It never failed to produce lovely flat results immediately.  

• Thrown afore mentioned baby jacket and matching hat into the bin, swiftly followed by the knitting pattern.  The damp tea towels I'd used for blocking?  They turned the pins rusty. Then when I tried to wash the rust marks out, the red colour from the little clown buttons I'd bought in Harrogate ran into the lovely cream coloured and eye wateringly expensive cashmere and silk yarn.  If you're wondering, the rust marks stayed well and truly put.  I've resolved never to block again.  When the Mister found the pinned out jacket and hat under damp cloths on the ironing board (I couldn't think of anything else to use that would withstand all of the dampness), would you believe he asked if it was part of some sort of ritual?

• Knit myself a hat for the colder weather which, if my olfactory system (I told you I was academic) is still working, isn't that far away.  The hat is more a beret (remember this one that I loved?) but I doubt I'll wear it, partly because the 100% un-dyed virgin wool I used is .......what's the word?.........unwearable but mostly because it's somehow ended up with a pointy top.  I've tried it on and it's a definite no and I'm not aware that the pixie look is in for the autumn but correct me if I'm wrong.  So I'm well on the way to resolving never to knit again.

..............and it's only Wednesday.

Bits of Saturday

Baking:  a tomato and basil focaccia using this recipe.  To be eaten as part of an easy "indoor picnic" supper tonight with a selection of cheeses, salads, olives and maybe a tortilla.  The healthy eating regime I was meant to start this week?   Meh.

Dipping in and out of: 

Making:  gift tags using this method from Pebbledash.

Planning to watch:

Spotting:  a lime green corner in the garden.

It's the weekend

With nothing exciting planned, maybe I'll.......

• have a look at this new purchase

• manage a little house cleaning

• dig out the sewing machine

• find some new recipes for next week's meals

• indulge in the latest addiction

• prepare to return to work (albeit working from home for the first couple of weeks) after 3 months absence

• admire the Guardian of the Slippers (which, incidentally, are not mine)......

 

....sporting one bobby dazzler of an accessory.

Yes, Bea is wearing her first collar.

Under protest.

This week

Apart from a routine visit to my dentist, I've......

.....been taking part in the Seven Days of Specialness swap which is doing just what it was intended to do - brightening these grey, early February days with a special little something to open each day over a week.  My swap partner (who has chosen really really well) had the brilliant idea of sending my seven colourful packages (photograph of everything I received to follow) in a spotty cake tin which matches our spotty plates and dishes. 

......baked a rather delicious looking chocolate cake as a change from the usual cupcakes for the Husband's birthday. Unfortunately, it was "sampled" by the new little tabby resident who was accidentally locked in the dining room with it.   For half an hour.  Who knew cats like buttercream?

......viewed the latest exhibition at MIMA*, a fantastic facility right in the centre of town. We're regular visitors  - admission is free and the coffee bar is excellent.

.......added some charity shop purchases to the book pile.  Although I read Hideous Kinky some time ago, I couldn't resist this pristine copy and the opportunity for a re-read.

......made no progress with the dressmaking plans since the previous post, apart from the purchase of a couple of reels of thread, though work has resumed on my autumn project (which could well become a project for spring and beyond).  I think my new mantra should be "I've started so I'll finish".

* Photograph from the MIMA website

Catch up

I've been camera-less for most of the past week but the fault has now been rectified and I can click away to my heart's content once again.  So here's a quick catch up of what's been happening at Cupcake Towers.

Buzz and Bea (see what we did there?) are getting along better than we'd anticipated and, whilst there's been the occasional "handbags at ten paces" situation, they're becoming friends.  In the seven days that she's been here, Bea has become the other cat's shadow and loves to instigate "come and chase me" games which at times can become a bit much for poor Buzz.  Still, there's always her favourite toy as a fall-back when he takes refuge in the garden.

Don't be fooled by that innocent looking little face as she settles down with the Boy.  This is one fearless and adventurous kitten who won't be left out of anything.  No, not even the washing machine.  Or fridge.

At least she likes to nip things in the bud!

I've been inspired by the recent posts (with useful links) by Laura at Busywork to have yet another go at making clothes (for those of you who are wondering, the Clothkits skirt is still waiting to be tackled) and this is the fabric I ordered online which just might be transformed into skirts and a dress.  Well, that's the plan.

On Friday we visited nearby Stokesley for a final special something to finish a parcel for this swap.  It was perishingly cold, hinting strongly at the snow that was on its way.  I bought myself a little treat of these tulips, my favourite flowers,  which are brightening up a corner in the hall.

But what really made my week was receiving a surprise package of goodies (lots of Japanese cupcake cases, handmade lavender sachets, chocolates, notebook) from Laura of Busywork. 

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