Up to Mischief!!

I had to add this.....I think I may be in for a busy time this Christmas!

Christmas Girls!

Wow!

I just got emailed this photo from my brother, it's of my daughter a few days before she had the twins with my niece in law. How big is that lump?!

Christmas Mincemeat

This year I have used different recipe's for both the pastry and mince meat. I added orange juice in place of water in the pastry and used a cooked recipe for the mincemeat without the use of suet...and they are delicious

Ingredients

1.3kg(3lbs) cooking apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

Juice and zest of 1 orange & 1 lemon

600ml(1pint) of medium sweet cider or apple juice

450g(1lb) brown sugar

1 teaspoon each of cinnamon, cloves & nutmeg

450g(1lb) each of raisins & currants

225g(8oz) galce cherries, halved

Method

Put apples, juices, zest and cider in a large pan and bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 mins

Stir in sugar, spices and dreid fruit (not cherries). When sugar has dissolved, simmer for a further 15 mins

Remove from heat and stir in cherries, cool and pack into jars and cover

Preparing for Christmas

This is the little pram we have bought for the twins, I have made this little quilt to go in it.

Wedding Quilt has begun

My new sewing room

Birthday Girls!!

We had a great time down with Primrose & Maggie for their first birthday, they were full of fun and enjoyed riding on their new trikes. We went swimming on the day because it was raining and then enjoyed a busy party with lots of friends two days later

Getting a picture of them in their dresses that wasn't out of focus was easier said than done!

First Birthday

Birthday Dresses

This week we are travelling down to Devon for Primrose & Maggies first birthday on Thursday. They are having a party on Saturday. I have knitted them these little dresses to wear. I will hopefully have some photo's of them wearing them next time.

South Africa

Please check out my daughter's blogs... www.projectonews.blogspot.com and www.metrodurban.blogspot.com and see the amazing work that is happening in South Africa! Perhaps you could put them on your prayer list.

Chutney

I have been making my first batch of chutney for 2008. This is my new preserving pan that my friend Joy bought me when we moved house. I have made Cranberry & Pear Chutney and Hot Aubergine Chutney.

Hot Aubergine Chutney

2lbs Aubergines, 3tbl salt, 6oz dark brown sugar

12fl oz white wine vinegar, 30z sultanas,

1tbl tomato puree, 5 garlic cloves, 1lb onions,

1tbl cayenne pepper, 3 red chillies

1. Slice aubergines, sprinkle with salt and leave for 3 hrs, rinse and dry

2. Put sugar, vinegar, raisins, tomato puree in pan, mix.

3.Finely chop onions & chillies add to other ingredients.

4. Heat gently, stirring until sugar is dissolved, simmer until thickened.

5. Pour into jars. (about 3lbs)

Snow

We have had our first fall of snow, this is the view from the front of our house and our back garden

Cousins

I just had to add these photo's of my grandchildren....I will never stop being amazed at God's great blessings!

Hackney City Farm

While the family were still staying after the wedding we all went to Hackney City Farm in London. We had a great day out, Jesse, Primrose and Maggie loved the animals, Joseph slept through the farm but woke in plenty of time for the pizza!

Wedding

God blessed us with an amazing day for Dominic & Alice's wedding

We made a couple of trips to Bill's while on holiday in Sussex, once in Lewis and once in Brighton

Holiday in Devon with our Granddaughters

We had a great day out on Andy & Amy's wedding anniversary... beginning at Avon Mill near Kingsbridge, Primrose & Maggie paddled in puddles and the bird bath with Grandpa and played with the water features.

We then went swimming at Kingsbridge pool

Followed by paddling and tea on the beach at Bigbury on Sea