Homecoming
Back together
Complete
At peace
The Gallery theme this week is 'At Peace'.... which is how I felt the moment before I took this.
5.4.12
Day 136 - One More Sleep!
GREAT excitement here....We've gone for an Easter choc/chick themed Welcome...
If he's late, we can always play with it or eat it.
 |
| A sweet Welcome Home |
18.3.12
16.3.12
Day 117 - Why wouldn't you crochet a shamrock?
Is it my imagination, or are there a lot of Irish bloggers out there? Maybe it's just because I'm thinking about it - a bit like when you're pregnant and suddenly start seeing other pregnant women everywhere...do you know what I mean? Anyway, happy St Patrick's Day! - and I've made some little crocheted shamrocks to celebrate. Hope you like them.
They are very quick and easy to make. I fiddled about with my granny square stitches until I had something that looked the right shape! So thought I'd have a go at posting my first crochet pattern.
I used a 3.5 hook and double knitting wool
First make four chains (ch) and join with a slip stitch (ss) to make a ring.
*3ch followed by two treble crochets (trc)
Then one ss half way down the last trc and another ss back into the ring* to form the first leaf.
Repeat ** two more times.
For the stalk - ch4, double crochet (dc) into first chain and ss into remaining two.
Fasten off and leave yourself enough wool to close the ring (think it looks better) and sew on a small safety pin. Weave in ends.
My sister's coming over from Ireland to stay for a few days - so guess what she's getting? Plus a large handful of wee woolly shamrocks to take home.
I used a 3.5 hook and double knitting wool
First make four chains (ch) and join with a slip stitch (ss) to make a ring.
*3ch followed by two treble crochets (trc)
Then one ss half way down the last trc and another ss back into the ring* to form the first leaf.
Repeat ** two more times.
For the stalk - ch4, double crochet (dc) into first chain and ss into remaining two.
Fasten off and leave yourself enough wool to close the ring (think it looks better) and sew on a small safety pin. Weave in ends.
My sister's coming over from Ireland to stay for a few days - so guess what she's getting? Plus a large handful of wee woolly shamrocks to take home.
14.3.12
Day 115 - 2 minute silence
We join a line at a bus stop
No ordinary queue.
A small gathering of strangers,
all here for the same reason;
to remember six young men
none of us knew,
killed in a place we can't imagine.
Their pictures pinned to the shelter wall;
smiling, confident, brave.
A quick snapshot
that every soldier knows
might be his last.
The one we see when they are gone.
Two minutes of silence,
Two minutes for them.
I steal a glance at my eldest,
head bowed, just nine;
Half the life
of the youngest soldier.
I think of the family's grief and pain,
the sadness that must weigh them down
and engulf everything.
I think of the hard road ahead;
the gaps that will never close.
And I pray in these darkest hours
there's some comfort in knowing
they died with friends,
doing a job they loved.
However hard to understand.
The church bell breaks the silence;
time moves on again.
The kids walk slowly to the car,
my thoughts caught in a distant place
my thoughts caught in a distant place
as they count the days till daddy's home.
12.3.12
Day 113 - Welsh cakes
Things went a bit downhill yesterday.
Writing about it helped I think - and my husband called when he read it. So I'm pushing up the other side.
Baking seems to give me a shove in the right direction. I've really noticed that recently. There is comfort to be found in my kitchen cupboard.
Also I've been on a bit of a muffin making mission since the charity challenge and think it's time for a change, before the kids go off them completely! It would appear you can have too much of a good thing.
I thought I'd try Welsh cakes because I had such a great afternoon helping out at the school when each class had a go at making them to raise money. They were quick and easy and the kids had a ball. Anyway St David's day wasn't all that long ago - and if I threw a stick from our front door it would almost land in Wales.
All you need is:
85g butter, plus extra for greasing
170g self-raising flour
55g sugar
55g currants
1 egg, beaten
A little milk to mix
Rub the butter into the flour - the finer you rub it in, the more melt-in-the-mouth they are.
Stir in the sugar and currants. Add the beaten egg and if you need it, a splash of milk, so you end up with a soft, but not too sticky dough. Roll it out to about 5mm thick and cut out the cakes.
Traditionally they're cooked on a bakestone or girdle - but a good heavy frying pan will do! Grease it lightly with butter and warm gently before adding the welsh cakes. Make sure it doesn't get too hot.
I love it when they start to rise in the pan, but you need to be patient and keep checking the bases. When they're golden, flip them over - and as soon as both sides are done, move them onto a wire rack.
They're good cold but you've GOT to try them hot - they are absolutely delicious. Quite a few didn't make it as far as the plate.
Welsh cakes mightn't be that blessed in the looks department, but I reckon they give muffins and cupcakes a run for their money.
There's a good reason why they're a national treasure.
Better stop now before I start belting out an old Tom Jones number.
Writing about it helped I think - and my husband called when he read it. So I'm pushing up the other side.
Baking seems to give me a shove in the right direction. I've really noticed that recently. There is comfort to be found in my kitchen cupboard.
Also I've been on a bit of a muffin making mission since the charity challenge and think it's time for a change, before the kids go off them completely! It would appear you can have too much of a good thing.
I thought I'd try Welsh cakes because I had such a great afternoon helping out at the school when each class had a go at making them to raise money. They were quick and easy and the kids had a ball. Anyway St David's day wasn't all that long ago - and if I threw a stick from our front door it would almost land in Wales.
All you need is:
85g butter, plus extra for greasing
170g self-raising flour
55g sugar
55g currants
1 egg, beaten
A little milk to mix
Rub the butter into the flour - the finer you rub it in, the more melt-in-the-mouth they are.
Stir in the sugar and currants. Add the beaten egg and if you need it, a splash of milk, so you end up with a soft, but not too sticky dough. Roll it out to about 5mm thick and cut out the cakes.
Traditionally they're cooked on a bakestone or girdle - but a good heavy frying pan will do! Grease it lightly with butter and warm gently before adding the welsh cakes. Make sure it doesn't get too hot.
I love it when they start to rise in the pan, but you need to be patient and keep checking the bases. When they're golden, flip them over - and as soon as both sides are done, move them onto a wire rack.
Welsh cakes mightn't be that blessed in the looks department, but I reckon they give muffins and cupcakes a run for their money.
There's a good reason why they're a national treasure.
Better stop now before I start belting out an old Tom Jones number.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)