Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Photographic Scavenger Hunt - May 2011

Today started well, a lovely blue sky, washing in the machine and then hung out on the line, ironing done. I walked down the road to post some parcels. I had a smallish list of things I wanted to do today, but despite the good start, my batteries suddenly went flat and I found I was running on empty. It is hard to get round to doing my 30 Day Shred exercises with DS2 off school. I must make an effort to do it first thing tomorrow morning and then it will be out of the way as it is virtually impossible to do once he is up.

It's the last day in May so that means my Photo Scavenger Hunt photos are due...well I failed dismally this time only achieving 50% of the list. Lethargy and laziness prevented me from getting the bicycle out of the shed to photograph...and I forgot the street lamp, and later it will be too late. An emergency vehicle? Well I have seen some of these, but not when I've had my camera to hand. Texture? Now this should have been easy really, but again I failed, why? Just because that's the way today went. Anyway without further ado, my small contribution to this months photo scavenger hunt.


1. A butterfly. A pretty brooch I received fro Christmas from my Advent Swap partner Alex.
I didn't see any real ones this month, although have popped a monarch from my when I was in NZ at the top of this post.

2 & 3 - Pass

4. A cartoon character.

Mickey Mouse, given to me by my grandparents when I was a little girl.

5. Pass

6. Think vintage

A pretty vintage clock

7. Something Blue

My favourite garden seat.
8, 9, & 10 Pass

11. An interesting local building...

Not quite local but this old Corn Exchange Building in Hitchin I thought was interesting.

12. Something hideous

A self portrait in black and white.

Monday, 30 May 2011

Last Monday in May

My pink begonia has its first flower.

I'm not sure what this plant and flower are but I call it my orange blossom plant as it smells like an orange.

It is a lovely scent.

The vegetable garden is growing well

The peas are starting to flower

and so are the beans.

It has been a quiet day today, a little gardening, a little sewing and a little eating apple and rhubarb shortcake when MIL came round for afternoon tea.

Dinner is in the oven, roast beef and potatoes with vegetables.

30 Day Shred: Day 7! I missed Saturday and Sunday for one reason or another, but I found that I did so much better today...hey it might be starting to work!

Saturday, 28 May 2011

Roses

Walking up the road today I took my camera with me so I could take some photographs of some of the roses in other peoples gardens. They are all so lovely and inspirational.

Enjoy!









Friday, 27 May 2011

Last Friday in May

Friday already? Where does the week go? Half a term already finished at school so DS2 has another week's holiday.

Today's flowers:

The pretty pink lily has started flowering.




Birds in the garden:



A young blue tit.

Being fed by its parent.



This weeks CS find:

Three Stonehenge 'Midwinter' Spring Earthenware plates.
A butterfly and blue - perfect for £2.50

30 Day Shred: Day 7 completed.

Any plans for the long weekend?

Thursday, 26 May 2011

Apple Shortcake

Can the weather really make such a difference to the way you feel, or is it just coincidence? Today I feel tired and sluggish. I spent the morning sewing a couple of outfits but haven't felt like doing much the rest of the day. I would like to go to sleep, but won't. A bit of baking called instead.

The other day we were given a load of apples for the guinea pigs, but most are lovely and crisp and edible by us as well so we have been eating them. I thought I would make something with some of them today, an apple shortcake.

Out came my trusty mixer.

Ingredients needed:

1/4 lb butter
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
2 cups of self raising flower
1/2 cup of milk
4 apples.



Cream the butter and sugar and then add the egg and flour.

Mix until it the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Pour half of the mixture into the bottom of a cake tin. (I use a loose bottom tin)

Now you can either cook the apple, or just peel and slice it like I did and then add the apple to the top of the crumbed mixture in the tin.

Like so.

Next add about 1/2 cup of milk to the remaining mixture

Once a nice smooth mixture it is ready to be poured (or spooned) over the apples.

Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and sugar and bake in a moderate oven (gas mark 4 - 5) for about 40 minutes. Unless of course you have an oven like mine that seems to take twice as long to cook anything!

When cooked take out of the oven and leave to cool.

Or have a warm slice, in my case with DS2 when he arrived home from school.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

A Beautiful Day

I woke up this morning, pulled back the vertical blinds and this is what I saw.

A beautiful day with all the different and wonderful shades of green to be seen.

A quiet morning pottering round the garden and watering the plants.
A couple of loads of washing on the line.
Day 6 of 30 Day Shred.

I am just loving all our beautiful flowers and the range of magnificent colours.



Just stunning.

A pleasant afternoon was spent with a friend chatting and enjoying our fortnightly cup of tea, scone, jam and cream together. Next time we are going to crochet and knit together. I took my knitting this time, but we didn't get anything done.

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Smelling the Roses.

Sure was a lovely day today. I pottered around for most of the morning as I didn't feel the brightest, a slight headache just over the eyes. Fortunately after lunch it has all but disappeared so I felt like doing some sewing - pictures over here.


I watered the garden, and tied back some of the flowers, which of course meant my camera had to come out so I could shoot a few more pictures.




The colours really are so vibrant at the moment.

The wildlife have been very active in the garden today, offering lots of opportunites of some more photo taking. I leave my zoom lens on the camera so that if I spot something I am ready to take a photo.



Caught you in the act you naughty, but funny squirrel.


Lots of young birds with their parents.















Joanna, I didn't sit and wait for the photos of the Jay yesterday, it was just fortunate that I had prepared my camera in the event that if he visited again I would be ready. Although I have been known to sit for quite a long time 'hiding' waiting for the birds.


I didn't do any of the 30 Day Shred yesterday as Monday is yoga day, however I have completed Day 5 today. I think it is getting ever so slightly easier...and I don't hurt quite as much anymore.