Quote for the week

Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.

Buddha

Weekend cooking - Christmas is coming!!!!

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads
She writes:
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend.

This week I've been thinking about Christmas Cooking.

I've bought all the ingredients for my Christmas Pudding and will be making it tomorrow. I can already smell the spices!!!
I'd share the recipe with you, but it's a family secret, so sorry! However, there are lots of yummy Christmas Pudding recipes available in books or on the web.

I'm also making lists of ingredients to buy for my Christmas Cake, marmalade and chutney. I always give family a few jars of marmalade and chutney (recipe here) for Christmas.

Although I have a few Christmas recipe books I have ordered a few others from the library, just to browse and perhaps get a few new ideas.

These are the one's I've ordered:

Delia's Happy Christmas by Delia Smith






Christmas treats : to make and give / Linda Collister






Nigella Christmas : food, family, friends, festivities / by Nigella Lawson





I'll be reviewing these over on my book blog, once they've arrived and I've read them!

Saturday knitting and craft finds

These caught my eye this week:

Knitted Goddess Pattern by Michelle Simkins
Worsted / 10 ply (9 wpi)
Needle size US 6 / 4.0 mm
This pattern is available for download for $5.00.

Just love this pattern - ideal for any woman!

Festivus Fingerless Mitts by Tracey Grzegorczyk
Chunky yarn
US 8 / 5.0 mm
Free pattern on Ravelry.

Nice Christmas / winter pattern!

Semi-Tropical Shawl
Lion Brand® Cotton-Ease® (new)
Pattern #: 90444AD
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
SIZE: One Size About 18 x 90 in. (45.5 x 228.5 cm)
Free pattern on Lion Brand here

Love the colours of this - ideal for a summers day at the beach or picnic

Thirteen things I love about Autumn

Join in Thursday Thirteen


Thirteen things I love about Autumn
1 - cooler weather

2 - the colours of the leaves on the trees
3 - thunder storms
4 - toffee apples
5 - the smell of bonfires
6 - walking through leaves in the woods
7 - dark nights
8 - warm fires
9 - snuggling up on the sofa with a good book and warm drink
10 - halloween
11 - Autumn equinox
12 - Hearty warming soups and stews
13 - knitting gloves and scarves

Spicy Hot Chocolate

Do you like to cook as much as you like to read?

Are cookbooks and recipes overflowing your shelves? Want to share them?

Visit Kristina's blog each Wednesday and use Mr. Linky to link to your post.


Maybe it's because it's cold, wet and windy here at the moment - but I needed something sweet and warming today, so I made this spicy hot chocolate drink which I'm sharing with you!

Spicy Hot Chocolate (serves 2)

Ingredients:
2 oz / 50 g unsweetened chocolate
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp instant coffee
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp ground Ginger (adjust to taste)
2 cups milk
1 cup water

Preparation:
1 - In a saucepan mix chocolate, sugar, cocoa, coffee, cinnamon and water.
2 - Heat gently until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir constantly.
3 - Simmer for about 4 minutes, while stirring.
4 - Add milk and heat through without boiling.
5 - Remove from heat and whisk until foamy.

(you can use chili chocolate for an extra kick!)

Quote for the week

Happiness belongs to the self-sufficient

Aristotle

Weekend cooking...

Just discovered this Weekend Cooking over at Beth Fish Reads, via my book blog

She writes:
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend.

This week she's been talking about cookies so I've posted my recipe for Raisin and Oatmeal cookies here

This weeks knitting and craft finds...

Things I've found that I like this week....

My Vampire Boyfriend socks by Kate Atherley

Really like the pattern on these....

PDF- Knit Christmas Ornament Pattern set
$6.00 on Etsy from Amy Gaines

I've bought this pdf to make these for decorations for my little Xmas tree in my craft room.

I don't normally like 'cute' things, but these are really nice.

Vampires Rock

A big thanks to my friend Sian for suggesting we go to see Vampires Rock at the theatre.


Three of us went to Venue Cymru last night and had a great time watching the show

What is Vampires Rock? -
'This musical comedy is set in the year 2030, the city is New York, the undead are among us and livelier than ever!
Steve Steinman, with his unique tongue in cheek humour, plays the charismatic and supremely evil, Baron Von Rockula, owner of the Live and Let Die Club.
In search of a bride, the Baron must convince his chosen one to agree to eternal immortality, to be his queen and live forever !
The spellbinding cast and musicians blast their way through the greatest rock anthems ever, including songs from Meat Loaf, Rainbow, AC/DC, Alice cooper, rolling stones, Bon Jovi, Queen, White Snake, Bonnie Tyler and Cher
A show like no other, with a twist of rock and a hint of musical theatre, and jam packed with the greatest anthems you know and love, you’re guaranteed to be on your feet!' - from show website

20 years since the wall came down ....

Many small people who in many small places do many small things
can alter the face of the world

Quote painted on the Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall 1961, shortly after its construction














Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate, 09 November, 1989


















Short section of the reamins of the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz, March 2009

Show and Tell sunday

Here are things I've made for myself or for swaps that have been received this week.

These are the two things I knitted for myself this week:

These basic fingerless gloves, in a variegated yarn, in blues, browns and greys

And this life Saver Headband to match

Here are the things I made for the Eastern Religion Swap (Craftster) which my partner received this week:
Lotus earrings, Om washcloth, chunky words of wisdom from Japan book, Fuji note cards, Green earrings, lotus incense holder, lotus tote bag.

Saturday knitting and craft finds

Today I've been looking for 4 ply / fingering yarn patterns to make myself a scarf with the yarn I received in the Shakespeare swap.

I've chosen this pattern:
February Lace Scarf by Laura Nixon-Corfield

I also like:

Foreign Correspondent's Scarf by Lexy Lu , but would like to knit a long one of these in grey.

Shakespeare Swap received

Received this lovely Shakespeare Swap package from today. (Ravelry Swap)

A beautiful pale blue lace scarf
Some yummy 4 ply yarn (socks for sure)
A book of Shakespeare quotes

A Shakespeare notebook from the Globe
A sugar skull keyring (Macbeth inspired)
A bat brooch from the Globe
And 2 bars of lovely chocolate

A great package and partner ;0)

Eddie Izzard

Saw Eddie Izzard at the Liverpool Echo Arena last night - he was fab!
Funny, political, very very funny ...and very very sexy!
My face still aches from laughing so much.

You can still catch him on tour in the UK, Europe and the US
Details on his site here: Eddie Izzard

Here is a clip of one of his previous tours:

Quote for the week

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of.
You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.

Albert Camus