Busy week

Well I certainly have been busy this week. I started off first making my mince meat it had to be left soaking for twelve hours and then cooked slowly in the simmering oven of the aga for 5 hours. The recipe it self is sugar free which is why it is cooked to help it preserving quality I will give you the recipe in case any one would like to try and make it if you don't have an aga then I would suggest cooking it in a warm oven for 5 hours it really is worth the effort, especially if you are a diabetic.

1 lb cooking apples peeled cored and coarsely grated
8 oz suet
12 oz raisins
12 oz sultanas
12 oz currants
grated rind and juice of 2 oranges
grated rind and juice of 2 lemons
2 oz slivered almonds ( I used ground almonds )
4 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp ground Cinnamon
1 tsp nut meg
6 tbsp of brandy ( I have used sherry before )
Mix together all ingredients except the brandy. Leave in a cool placed covered for 12 hours.Stir well and put the covered pan or bowl into the simmering oven with the shelf on the floor of the oven  for 5. Set aside to cool then mix in the brandy and fill up your sterilised jars.Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously I have had to make mince pies to test the results and all went well.
After that I made my Christmas cake that is cooked in the simmering oven for 12 hours I will be soaking that each week with a little drop of brandy from now until Christmas.
Just bought back some lovely apples from a friend of ours today. These apples are eating and cooking apples so I have cooked 4 and am going to make an apple pie for this afternoon. The breads already rising as I type so will make the pastry while the bread is cooking.
Will sign off now and go back into the kitchen I think my breaks over. If anyone does try the mince meat I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Sunday Challenge

For the Sunday challenge I have used MCS Lavendar Paper Lace the fairies section and also Flowers and Faux Finishes. Also mat and layered using graded colours and flat colour.

Hopefully if I get it right this card will be my Sunday challenge card, keeping my fingers crossed I may be here for a while.This is a link to the Sunday cd challenge.   http://cdsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another cold day today but the sun is shinning so brightly. I have just had my perfect petals MCS disc and am now waiting for the star of wonder MCS cd to turn up. It was a really good offer you get 50 cards and envelopes with inserts and the cd for £14.99 quite a bargain I would say and not to be missed. I will attempt to put a link on to the MCS site for any one not familiar with them.
http://www.crafting.co.uk/product.php?xProd=1099&xSec=86
Hope this link works, have a look around the site. It is very good .
If you go on to MCS site itself you can register and get some free MCS add ons.
http://www.mycraftstudio.com/
Stephanie really does come up with some smashing stuff!!!
Night-night everyone getting cold here time to light the fire....after I've fed my fish of course.

Cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it is so cold here today I think its coming up to winter woolies and polo neck time.Made a couple of cards, trying to thinkl of Christmas cards but can't get motivated.
Starting to store the wood for fire now, we will need plenty this winter I think it is going to be a cold one.
Made a few cards recently I will put them on now. The first one was for my neighbour, her friends have been married for 60 years.........phew!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then my daughters Birthday card and also my mother-in-laws.

Hope you are all keeping warm, I think it will be chicken stew and dumplings tonight and lovely fresh, hot, crusty bread. I can't wait!!!

Christmas cake

Ingredients ordered for the cake so its all systems go.
I know I'm a bit late coming on tonight but you know what they say better late than never.
Lovely warm day today and quite a warm evening. Fed the fish so I'm off to bed ta ta.

Evening all........

The weekend has begun the weather is not too bad, trying to get organised for Christmas. I must bake my Christmas cake in the next couple of weeks to give me plenty of time to soak it in brandy!!!
Its really hot here this evening even our dog Cass is feeling flushed.Only 76 days to Christmas....SORRY!!!! but it had to be said.
Hopefully see you tomorrow, night , night.
This is Cass our border collie, she is 3 years old.

Morning all..........

Had a go at my scrapbook page last night using my craft studio, quite pleased with it. All of our grand-children and our Great grand-daughter are in it.
Miserable morning here in Hereford but the weather man......Paul Damari says it will improve. He's usually very good so hopefully the day will improve.

Great grand daughter....Lacey

Apparently my great grand daughter has successfully learnt the art of being a little madam. we think its fun but her parents are not amused.....payback time I say it happens to the best of us. Oh what hectic times they have to come yet and she is only 17 months. photo here with " dad ".

helloooooooooo

had to come on to night to feed the fish and listen to a spot of music. hope all have had a good day and looking forward to the week end. Going to have a go at some scrap book pages soon so may have something to show you but please don't hold your breath lol.

New card

Phew that was quick....this is a card I have just made using My Craft Studio, my favourite graphics program at the moment. A simple case of turning an image into decoupage. The card is a RAK for someone

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Card crafting

Oh well back here again, keep forgetting to pop in. Must make more of an effort. The card making is going well and I am enjoying producing some little gems. I will put some examples on soon for you to see. For all those who bother to take a look thank you kindly and please feel free to leave a message even if it is to tell me to get off my backside and converse a little bit more. Would love to hear from any crafters out there. Even those out in the big wide world. Ta ta for now be seing you!!