Froglet

If that's what your friend wants to do absolutely! Having said that it was glorious outside today and the cold is the best excuse for hot chocolate or hot spiced apple juice! Plus balaclavas absolutely essential!

I know those conversations Mousie! Christmas was at my sister's and New Year's was just quiet. Bitterly cold here too but so glorious with the sunshine and bright, clear skies. Went for a lovely walk at Calke yesterday with a friend and today was just errands around town. I've decided to try and keep a nature journal - the intent being to help keep me moving and getting outside regularly! Started a new pair of socks today. It's a textured pattern with patterned yarn which means it doesn't show up brilliantly but I am really trying to use up some of my stash of yarn! Having said that I did get yarn money/vouchers for Christmas so have a couple of bigger, new projects in mind!

Happy New Year to you all!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Only just remembered what day it is! Zigzag - I hope you feel properly better soon! I have spent the week doing some crafting and planning cooking for the various Christmas gifts I'm giving. I finished my 'Guess the weight cake' and it turned out pretty well so I was pleased. I don't have a tree yet. I don't put it up until Christmas Eve and usually buy it the weekend before Christmas but I discovered that the place I usually get it from has sold out so am mildly stressed about that. It will all work out though. It's my sister's 50th on New Year's Day. She isn't having any big celebrations but I thought I'd try and think up some nice things to do at 50 day intervals throughout the year. Take care of yourselves and Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to say it's so nice to speak to people who get what I mean by foggy! Slightly worried about my cake - it sunk a bit in the middle but I'm sure it's cooked. Marzipan and icing can cover a multitude of sins can't they?! I keep telling myself that it's highly unlikely that I'll know who wins it and even if I do, very unlikely that I'll see them soon and if it's a friend that wins then I won't mind if it's not great!

I had a message from someone at my old school yesterday asking if I knew a Father Christmas as theirs was unable to. If you were a little nearer I'd be volunteering your step grandson! I shall enjoy researching recipes - I'm pretty sure that you can get the BBC Good food veggie magazine online through my library which should be a good source.

Hope you feel better soon Zigzag. Sunnyday - enjoy the performance - I'm sure you will! I have had a 'foggy' sort of week and settled to very little although the last couple of days I have managed to focus on reading a book. I have been asked to bake a Christmas cake for a 'Guess the weight of the cake' competition - it will just be a rich, moist fruitcake so the fruit is currently soaking. I made cheese and onion pasties yesterday for the first time ever - they're a good alternative to soup as a warm lunch. Other than that I really must finalise Christmas presents and do some research for a vegetarian Christmas dinner option - we're going to my sister's for Christmas and her daughter has become vegetarian recently and I've been delegated to come up with something for her to have as a main. Have a good weekend all.

'Tis Friday (sorry - it just doesn't feel right if it doesn't get said!) Mousie - I sympathise, there's more than once that I have tried to explain the vagaries of funding to people and have given up. Mildly frustrating time this week trying to sort out a new bank account - I needed to add a mobile number but I could only do that via the app but couldn't set the app up without having a mobile number already registered! Many minutes on the phone to a lovely person who was confused at first and then understood the circularity of the problem and really went to trouble to help me solve it - I think it's done! Apart from that I have done much clearing of the spare room which is now causing messy chaos all over the house and wrote Christmas cards which have gone in the post - does anyone else still write them? I feel like an old fashioned dinosaur but I love getting and sending things through the post - I have been writing my regular 'Sunday notes' for a while now - just a gentle splurge of what I'm up to sent to a different person each week. I have also planted some cyclamen in pots just outside my kitchen window with a few bulbs layered underneath. They are looking very cheerful just now and I'm hoping they will look lovely in spring too! I haven't baked anything this week but have a feeling I'm about to be asked to do some themed festive baking for my old school's Winter fair which will be fun and I really need to sort Christmas presents for family.

Hello everyone! Internet has been a bit dodgy here which is frustrating. Other than that I am combatting the cold with a jacket potato in the oven and some colourwork knitting on my 'cow socks'. The chart was making my eyes go blurry though so I need to stop for a bit. Went to see a festive light trail at Calke Abbey yesterday which was lovely, more low key than some and I enjoyed the space and relative peace to enjoy the lights/music. Plus, it was another excuse for a National trust scone of the month! Have a good weekend all.

Oh it’s been a while since we had a shindig!

All are welcome - today I’m baking bread - a couple of loaves about to go in the oven.

😂 Anytime! I keep trying to decide what to do with myself in the longer term - I love feeding people and making things - maybe having your 'friend' as a lodger could be the way to go...

It's good - bit like a moist caramelly madeira cake topped with a caramel with almond flakes in. I think I should maybe have cooked it for about 5 minutes less - the caramel is verging on bitter but overall it's good!

I have no idea why that would make you think of any of us! 😉😂 I am about to cook - curried parsnip soup for lunch and a an honey and almond crunch loaf cake (new to me recipe) just because. Then I really must do some admin type jobs this afternoon!