New Family Member

I'm back from another few days with my daughter - was very privileged to accompany her to her first pregnancy scan and she is 13 weeks pregnant. She had a miscarriage at the end of last year so we have waited till her first scan before telling everyone the good news. It was amazing and moving to see the tiny baby waving its arms and legs and wriggling around.

Baby is due 7th March - out with the knitting needles !!!!

Carter is very excited about the new baby and kissed Hannah's stomach last night and said "Night night baby" 

Casual Wear for bank holiday weekend

A virtual outfit of what I would wear when having a relaxing weekend.

Family

You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  ~Desmond Tutu

We have had a  quiet bank holiday weekend. On Saturday we spent a lovely day with Hannah, Rob and Carter. I feel so blessed to have such a special family, especially a daughter I am so very close to. I only wish we lived nearer so I can see them more often.
Carter is a star, though not when he is having  a "terrible twos tantrum" .

Apple Chilli Jelly

We usually have a bumper crop of apples from our apple tree but we have a lot fewer this year - probably because of the extreme wet weather we have had . However there were still quite a lot of big, beautiful apples on the tree so I picked some yesterday and made a batch of apple chilli jelly. I used chillis that I had grown last year and frozen. 

This is a lovely sweet jelly which is delicious with meats, cheese and on salad.

RECIPE

·                                    2kg/4½lb eating apples

·                                 Cold water to cover

·                                 Approximately 2kg/3lb preserving sugar

·                                 4-5 chilli peppers (or more if you like a very hot jelly)

 

            Chop up the apples then place into a pan - pips, core,skin, everything  - the whole apple goes in. Chop up the chillis and mix in with the apples – seeds as well. Add enough cold water to cover. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the fruit is pulpy.

           Pour the fruit and liquid into a sterilised jelly bag and allow to drain through into a large container until it stops dripping. I usually leave over night..

              Measure the juice and allow 450g/1lb preserving sugar for every 500ml/17fl oz of juice. Place the juice and sugar into pan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat and carefully skim off any scum from the surface. Return to the boil and boil vigorously for 15-20 minutes or until setting point is               reached, skimming regularly. Using a sugar thermometer, the setting point will be reached at 105C/220F.

           Pour into sterilised jars.

Theatre Outing

Theatre Outing by lesleyanthony featuring a boat neck dress

We have a couple of theatre outings planned for when I'm in Edinburgh. Sadly no-one dresses up anymore when they go to the theatre - I can remember going to the theatre when I was a child - we always got dressed up very formally. It seemed to make it a special occasion .Now a days most people seem to wear jeans and casual wear. However if I could pick a new outfit it would be some thing like this (although I admit that I'm not sure I could wear shoes like that - high heels always kill my feet)

Edinburgh

Edinburgh by lesleyanthony featuring a cashmere sweater

I am going to Edinburgh in September and this is my ideal outfit for one of our long
shopping trips with my mother.

A Baking Day

What to do on a wet,dull morning. Bake a cake of course!!!

A lemon sponge which I took along for the church cafe to sell.

A Changeable Day

Hot and humid this morning followed by thunder storms. Not one thing or another. I suspect we are moving from this 

To this

I love both but am not so keen on the in-between weather.
Definitely a stay in afternoon so have carried on with my new venture into sashiko embroidery

This pattern but I am doing it in red on white - so simple and quick to do.

A Summer Day

Sunny days have been few and far between this year but today was one of them. I love sitting on the bench in the garden, reading my book, with a cup of tea - so peaceful and calming.

Lunch in the garden is another rare treat - tuna salad, fresh air and bird song - lovely.

At the same its annoying to see Christmas stuff edging its way into the shops already - I've spotted Christmas cards and party food this week. 

Autumn clothing is starting to appear as well - I bought myself a lovely, beige Pringle cashmere v neck when I was in York last week - and next month it will be the winter boot hunt - I'm visiting family in Edinburgh next month so will look around for them then.

What size bra??

I've recently lost weight and need to buy some better fitting bras. What size do I need? I looked up several web sites that claimed to tell you how to measure yourself correctly and came up with several different sizes. Each web site used a different means of calculating size and they all came up with a different result. Nothing for it but to go to Debenhams or M&S to get professionally fitted I think. I love this set by Debenham's so will probably head there next time I am in The City.

Which leads me onto moisturising around your cleavage. I have never bothered - to be honest I've never even thought about moisturising around my cleavage and chest until last week I was watching Coronation Street with my Dour Scot. Deidre had on a low cut top and in horror my husband suddenly exclaimed "What's that on her chest? Its disgusting. Has she got a disease or something?"
It was just very wrinkled skin. You can guess - I've now started moisturising - its a good way to use up all the half used pots of cream I seem to have accumulated anyway.

A visit to Hannah's.

I'm back from a lovely few days with my daughter and grandson. The weather was beautiful for a change so we had an afternoon out at the Wolds Lavender Farm where Carter had great fun running around the nature walks
There were lots of sculptures mixed in with wild flowers.

 Carter loved his ride on the little train which went around the grounds.

A peaceful week - I decided to go into town and have a look at the new fashions coming out for autumn. I bought myself a new cream blouse and a lovely charcoal cashmere polo neck .

Blouse is from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill. I love my plain blouses because they go with absolutely anything - trousers, skirts, formal, informal wear.

I am still enjoying my routine tasks - this year I decided that instead of putting off chores I don't like such as washing dishes, ironing etc I would do them with enjoyment, slowly and carefully and I feel so much happier approaching things this way. After all looking after a home should not be regarded as something unimportant and boring -  home making is one of life's most important tasks.