December Reflections 12. White

At first I thought this could be tricky...I could only think of snow and white hair!!

Then I started looking through my photos and it all became clear......of course.....dear Harvey J....our beloved motorhome.....taking us on the most wonderful adventures throughout the year....getting a bit old and ragged round the edges but I wouldn't change him for the world!

Maggie xx

December Reflections: 11.Favourite Photo of 2014

This is difficult....I have so many photos that I love.....but this is definitely one of my favourites....Chris with Barney the puppy (Spencer's cousin)...

Yum yum!

Maggie xx

December Reflections 10. Reflection

This was an easy one....as soon as I saw the word reflection, I thought of this photo:

Last September, in France....Chris fixing the door, me capturing the moment...

Maggie xx

December Reflections 8.Sunset

8. Sunset

A beautiful Barbados sunset from back in February....can still feel the sand between my toes!

Maggie xx

December Reflections 7. Best Book of 2014

I have to admit I haven't read much in the way of novels this year. I've carried out lots of research into all sorts of things and this has involved a lot of reading. But The Best Book for 2014 for me has to be this one:

Given to us for our birthdays by Chris's daughter Katherine....a great choice as it's packed with all sorts of useful info for our French project! We're currently studying the electricity chapter!

Maggie xx

December Reflections 6. T is for.....Toile

6. T is for...Toile

It must be the French influence but I have recently become rather fond of Toile fabrics....

Gorgeous, aren't they?

Maggie xx

December Reflections 5. Leaves

5. Leaves

My December reflections.....two photos today as I couldn't choose between them....

The beautiful colour of the leaves of this Virginia Creeper climbing up my parent's house....

Ok....so the leaves in this next pic don't look that beautiful but it's what they represent to me....they're from a tree in our 'garden' in France and they rustle softly in the breeze...they represent the beautiful French countryside that we experienced this year....

Thanks for visiting!

Maggie xx

December Reflections 1,2,3 and 4

In my last post, which was nearly a week ago, I wrote about how I was feeling better. Unfortunately I've had a bit of a relapse....this has turned out to be a really nasty cough/cold virus. Consequently I haven't been out much and I haven't much to blog about so I've decided to join Susannah Conway's December Reflections. I found out about this through Heather's lovely blog, My Little Red Suitcase.

The idea is to take a photo each day in December with prompts for each day:

I thought this might help me focus on each day's post. I might take new photos some days but mostly I will find photos that I've taken during 2014 that fit the bill.

I'm a bit late as it's already the 4th so here goes:

1. Drink

My damson gin, made in September, still maturing in the kitchen cupboard.

2.Light(s)

The cosy glow from the woodburner on a cold winter's day.

3. The Best Day of 2014

August 19th 2014...the day we got the 'keys' to our farmhouse in France.

4. Red

The red and white lighthouse, Smeaton's Tower, at Plymouth Hoe, May 2014...reminds me of all the happy times spent in Plymouth with my son Will (he's now in Australia).

See you tomorrow!

Maggie xx

A Finish...My Crochet Scarf...

Today I'm feeling much better. I'm definitely on the mend from the nasty cold/cough I've had all week.

I've haven't enjoyed being poorly but one good thing is that I've had time to start (on Tuesday) and finish (today) my crochet scarf!

I've loved crocheting this lovely lacy pattern from Marie Anne St. John...it was so quick and easy.....

As the pattern suggested, I edged it with double crochet (UK triple).....

I didn't want tassles at the ends so I found this tutorial by Once Upon A Pink Moon for a pom pom edge. I adapted it slightly by making less chains (4 instead of 6) to make it slightly smaller for my scarf.

I've never made a pom pom edge before and I'm rather pleased!

I'll definitely be making more of these!

Thanks for popping by!

Maggie xx

Lacy Crochet Scarf....a New Project

Still recovering from my cold, I started a new project this afternoon....a crochet scarf....

I wanted something lacy and easy and I found the perfect pattern by Marie Anne St John here.

I can't believe how easy this pattern is and how quickly it grows....

Not too much else going on whilst I keep warm and cosy and hope to feel better soon.

I did manage to list this fabric which is new to my shops...

Paris by Timeless Treasures...so cute....

 The fabric may be found here in my Etsy shop and here in my ebay shop.

Thanks for visiting!

Maggie xx

Tick Tock Probably Not

We've been looking after our neighbour's little jackapoo, Ozzie, for the last week. We took him for a walk on Minchinhampton Common before his mum picked him up this afternoon.

Spencer and Ozzie get on really well.

 They love zooming around the common together.

We took the walk that led us past the alpacas....

one black.....

and one white.....

....also some sheep and a horse grazing peacefully....

When we got home, Chris lit the woodburner so it was cosy and warm at home as I'm still recovering from my cold.

This evening, I've pieced some more of my hexie quilt whilst watching Witness...one of my favourite films ever especially the barn raising scene...anything with Harrison Ford should make me feel better!

Later on this evening, I bid on ebay for these enamelled watch faces and won them.  Aren't they gorgeous?

I'm not going to start doing watch repairs...I'm going to display them...not sure how yet...can't wait for them to arrive...

Maggie xx

Roast Lamb, Marmalade Pudding and Hexie Quilt Update

We don't have a Sunday roast dinner very often but I had half a leg of lamb in the freezer so I decided to do this recipe from Jamie Oliver.

Jamie Oliver's Roast Lamb

I've never cooked a roast like this before. You put a tray in the bottom of the oven with the potatoes, parsnips and carrots in it.  You then put the marinaded lamb joint......

 ....straight onto the oven shelf so that the juices and fat drip onto the veg. It was delicious and very easy.

For pudd, I made an old favourite of mine, Marmalade Pudding.......

I served it with custard but it's really nice with ice cream too.

I've been keeping cosy today as I've got a bit of a cold. This afternoon I've been watching the film 'It's a Wonderful Life' whilst piecing my blue hexie quilt.

It's growing!

I started this back in June whilst on holiday in France.

I want it to be a double bed size when completed....

I'm using any scraps with blue in them but I'm also adding hexie flowers in different colours to create some interest and focus.

Thanks for popping by!

Maggie xx

Avocado Bacon and Egg Brunch

It's been a month since my last post!

Now I've completed writing up my diary on my other blog Brambling in Brittany, I will endeavour to post a bit more often here...I know...promises, promises...

As you may know, my son Will is in Sydney Australia at the moment. He's loving it and we keep in touch via FaceTime. Will and his girlfirend Anthea have found a lovely apartment in Sydney and he has found work at a beach front hotel. As he loves cooking, one of the things he is loving is all the fresh food you get there. He sent me photos of this avocado, bacon and egg brunch he was cooking so I thought I'd share it with you. 

I've tried it and it's delicious!

The photos are pretty self-explanatory but I've added a few words just in case....

Scooped out slightly

Add eggs, salt, pepper and olive oil.

Bake for about 20 minutes in a medium oven.

Add a sprinkle of paprika.

Chop bacon and put on top.

Serve and enjoy!

Maggie xx