st. patrick's day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Go 40 Shades of Green!

Gorgeous landscape by Laura Jones 

Fabric swatch by Phoebe Wahl

Sea Form by Tracey Walker

Cute herb card from Rifle Paper Co.

Fabulous friendly lion silk screen print by Mina Braun

Green tumblers from Ben Pentreath

Lime Scarf from Anthropologie

The greenest salad from 101cookbooks

Little mouse in green dress from The Linen Cat

Lambswool socks from Donna Wilson

reading...

My love affair with Persephone Books continues. I am half way through Greenery Street and am relishing every second of it, trying my best not to gobble it down in one, but nibble slowly. 

I read Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey a couple of months ago, a story which focuses on the morning of a wedding when the bride, Dolly, knows she is about to make a mistake...

And tonight I won't care how many snowflakes fall as I will be tucked up beside the fire watching the film, admiring all those fabulous costumes. To give you a glimpse there's a lovely interview with the screen writer Mary Henely Magill here.

Mother's day

In a matter of hours it will be Mother's Day. Our mothers do so much for so little. So this Mother's Day be grateful for her and say 'merci', thank you Mum. For everything.

Cute card from here

recipe :: easy carrot cake

Oh my goodness time flies even when you're not having fun! The last few weeks have sped past and the work/life balance has been well, unbalanced. There has been a bit too much rushing around, working, cooking, cleaning, driving and endless shopping all with the predictable grande finale of crashing onto the sofa at nightfall wondering just where did the day go. And just not enough time left to do the things I want to do.

So today I took charge. I got up an hour earlier than normal and so had time to myself with plenty of time leftover to get the boys out the door without the usual screaming and flapping of arms. I have managed to beat the laundry monster (just for today) and right now the kitchen is cinnamon and nutmeg scented thanks to the carrot cake baking. Cake nearly always makes everything all right.

And later, when the house is quiet and children are slumbering, I will make time for this, which arrived today. So, that's two things to be grateful for: cake and a good book.

 

Afternoon in the kitchen by Phoebe Wahl

Dan Lepard's easy carrot cake

175g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
200g light soft brown sugar
150ml sunflower oil
3 medium eggs
150-200g grated carrot about 3 smallish ones
75g chopped walnuts or pecans (optional, I never use them as Will hates nuts in cakes)

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a tin with non stick paper/parchment. I use a square tin about 21cm. Sift the flour, spices and baking powder into a bowl. In another bowl mix the sugar and oil together until smooth, then beat in the eggs. Stir in the grated carrots (and nuts, if using) and then fold in the flour mixture. Pour into the baking tin and bake for about 25 minutes testing with a skewer which should come out clean. Allow to cool and then top with your favourite cream cheese/mascarpone icing or leave un-iced for a plainer but still delicious cake. I have also spooned the mixture into muffin cases and made carrot cake muffins instead. A hit at breakfast time. And if carrot cake isn't your thing I think this looks really good instead.

thankful

Today, after what seems like weeks tucked up inside with the flu, we sat outside and enjoyed lunch in the sun. We closed our eyes and tilting our faces to the rays we let the warmth in. At this time of year the garden is full of promise. It may not look like much is going on, but lots is happening underground...

...and given a little time, some more sun and rain we will have this again...All we have to do is wait and believe that it will happen.

with love

Wishing you a very happy St. Valentine's day tomorrow! I hope you spend it in the company of the ones you love...
Look here for more fabulous illustrations from The Red Cheeks Factory

playing

The last few days have been cold, wet and windy. Although the morning light in the kitchen is just lovely...

All thoughts of spring have been delayed and William is stuck at home with a sore throat and cough so after a morning of lying wrapped up on the sofa we decided that some drawing was required to pass the time.

Ironically the day before the three boys were playing hospitals with a dog in intensive care (?). I don't know if the photo shows it clearly enough but the dog, wrapped in a blanket and lying on pillows, surrounded by diagnostic equipment and with a breathing tube (in its ear) is being cared for by Nurse William. Nurse William has no formal training. Or uniform for that matter (a chefs outfit is close enough to fool most people) And at one point he joins the dog in its hospital bed. Note the plastic gloves. Health and Safety and all that.

Note: no animals were harmed in the playing of this game. And the dog went on to make a full recovery.