Home Jules

Hello! It's been a while but I wanted to drop by to mark the end of 2015 and to wish you all a Happy New Year!

On the last day of the month I'd usually be sharing Scavenger Hunt photos. However, as I've not managed to collect them all this time, I thought I'd share some photos from a walk earlier this week instead.

We had a lovely, quiet Christmas with family and friends and, thankfully, survived all the gales and rain with only some minor flooding at the bottom of the garden. My heart goes out to all those who were so badly affected.


With blue skies forecast for once, I headed out to Lytham to meet up with an old friend. It's a pretty, genteel little town at the mouth of the river Ribble, only a few miles south of the bright, brash lights of Blackpool.


Streets of lovely (and pricey) houses.



Then, back to the shoreline, following the curve of the estuary to where it opens out into the Irish Sea.






There were lots of wading birds along the shoreline.


My identification of waders has always been a bit ropey but I think these are Turnstones. I could hear lots of piping out on the mud flats and will definitely be taking my binoculars next time.


This is looking across the mouth of the estuary towards the coast leading down to Southport.


On the other side, a glimpse of the White Church, otherwise known as the Fairhaven United Reform Church. It opened in 1912 and its Byzantine style was the result of a competition to design a 'distinctive architectural feature'.


Less striking but still interesting, is Station Cafe Bar which is in an old railway carriage. A coffee and mince pie to warm ourselves before the walk back to Lytham.


Journeys end. The light fades so quickly this time of year and the windmill was already lit up by the time we returned. There's a free museum in the windmill which is open during the summer months: Chickpea and I will definitely back to explore. Lytham is a lovely little town and made even better by the chance to catch up with an old friend.

Well, that's it for another year. I'll be back, probably at the weekend, with a crafting project.

A very, very happy New Year to you all. xxx

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments about my mug hugs: I'm so glad you liked them. One of you mentioned it would be a good project for children and I have something for you today that is quick and easy for all ages.

A few weeks ago whilst waiting for an appointment, I was passing time by browsing through magazines in a shop. As I leafed through Landscape (Jan/Feb 2015 issue), I came across this lovely idea: seeds, leaves, petals and fruit suspended in ice. So beautiful: a perfect snapshot of winter. Of course, I couldn't resist having a go.


To make them you put a thin layer of water in a shallow container - yogurt pots, paper bowls - anything which won't crack when frozen. Arrange your plant material: here I've used Gerbera petals. Put in the freezer. When it's frozen, add just enough water to cover the decoration. Or you can put in all the water at the beginning - either way works as well.

When that's frozen, you need to make a hole for the string. The instructions in the magazine suggest pouring a thin stream of hot water through the ice. I didn't fancy that as my ice catchers were quite small and I didn't want hot water anywhere near my hands! Instead, I heated up a metal skewer over a candle and used that to bore a hole. The ice catcher then went back in the freezer for a little while to firm up as they do melt quite quickly. There's probably a way to create a ready made hole. How about sticking a piece of blu tack on the base of the container and letting the water freeze around it? Worth a go.

Anyway, I made a few versions using what I had to hand.


The flower petal ice catcher was so pretty. The scalloped edge was a complete but lucky fluke. I used a paper bowl (Sainsburys Basics range) and the fluted sides made this lovely pattern.


And lastly, a couple with small flower buds.

I haven't left them outside to melt yet. I think I'll wait until we get a really frosty day so that they'll last a while before they disappear. So simple but so effective.


Magazines can vary so much in the quality of what they contain. This issue of Landscape was a particularly good one as there was lots I wanted to read and try. Here's the start of another project from the same issue using my new toy, a pom-pom maker! I've always used the cardboard ring method before but this is so much easier. Will reveal all when I've made a few more :-)


Then, on Sunday morning, we also tried one of the recipes: oatmeal pancakes. They're more substantial than the usual light and fluffy pancakes but leave you feeling full for longer. I thought they were yummy, particularly with some homemade plum compote.

Tonight we've been enjoying pancakes again for Pancake Day. I managed two: one with maple syrup and the other with traditional sugar and lemon - my favourite. Have you been eating pancakes too? What's your favourite topping?

It's been a glorious sunny day and I'm hoping it will continue for the rest of the week. Enjoy your week whatever the weather brings. x

Nature is really outdoing herself at the moment. After yesterday's clear blue skies, I woke this morning to another hard frost but also to mist. I know a lot of people don't like mist and fog but I find it quite beautiful, particularly when it's floaty and ethereal like today. I thought I might stand a chance of something interesting for the 'black and white' category for the scavenger hunt so headed down to the lake. I'm not sure I achieved that but this is what I did find...


  













So much beauty in monochrome colours and I love how the berries look like they've been dipped in sugar!

Hope you've had a good day. We've had quiet at home time. I've made progress on a winter embroidery, played around with another (unsatisfactory) idea for a mug cosy, and, thankfully, managed to hunt out the recipe for the roast lamb I want to make on New Year's Day. I'm now feeling slightly squiffy from the Naughty Naughty* cocktail I've been drinking whilst writing this post! I'm hoping I sober up soon as I have to make dinner shortly! xx

* white rum, lemon juice, orange juice, ginger beer

We woke to a hard frost this morning and beautiful clear skies: perfect for a walk in the woods. The low winter sun filtering through the trees and the mist was so atmospheric.












We saw several squirrels and, well, it doesn't look like finding food has been a problem! Either that or their coats are particularly thick at the moment! I can't tell you how great it was to be able to get outside into the fresh air - it was just what I needed.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We spent the day at my parents as always and went back the next day for the traditional Boxing Day buffet. Yesterday we braved the sales as we were in Manchester to see 'Little Shop of Horrors' at the theatre. We didn't buy much though and it was thankfully less busy than I expected. Tomorrow will be a quiet one before the build up to New Year. Chickpea is spending it with her boyfriend and I'm going to a party at some friends of my parents who only live a 10 minute walk away.

I'm hoping to be back to post the Scavenger Hunt on New Year's Eve but if not, Happy New Year! xx