Froglet

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!

We don't have snow although it's flippin freezing - gloriously bright, clear skies though! It's beautiful! Had a lovely surprise yesterday evening - a knock on my door and a woman I was at playgroup and then all through school with was on the doorstep. I last saw her around 30 years ago. We still exchange birthday and Christmas cards and I wrote her a letter a couple of weeks ago. She now lives in Ireland but was over here visiting her parents and took the off chance that I'd be in. It was so lovely, we had a great catch up. I'm on cushion making now and then I'm planning to have a go at making a new seasonal outfit for a rag doll I made when I was about 13. It's time she has a new dress I think! Have a lovely weekend, take care everyone.

That's lovely! There is something really comforting and satisfying about granny squares isn't there? I love how much memories of a person can become such a part of an item like a blanket.

It is! It's her Winter Season blanket. I love her designs and have lots more on my 'want to make' list.

Here you go - not the best photo but you should get the idea.

I will definitely share my blanket once it’s dry and lovely. I have been watching the Game of Wool. I know that reviews have been quite mixed but I’m enjoying it. I like looking to see what knit/crochet garments the contestants are wearing as well as their creations in the game. I do think it needs a little while to settle in and find its feet though - for all involved, the second episode was definitely better than the first.