Baby Quilt

We have a couple of babies due in church soon as well as a new grandchild due this week. I have just made this baby quilt for a baby shower tomorrow. I have had the fabric a few years waiting for the right project. Its a Kaffe Fassett piece, I decided that as it is so nice I wouldnt cut it up but just quilt every three rows of design. I like to put odd pieces and unusual colours together to see how they turn out, I used a striped Laura Ashley piece to back the quilt and cotton wadding.

Gingerbread Cup Cakes

My daughter emailed me this recipe and added at the bottom

"Make them...they are off the hook!!!!"

So today I made them and yes they are 'off the hook!'

Ingredients

8 tbsp butter

1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup boiling water

1 tsp bicarb

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp salt

Method

Cream butter & sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, molasses & vanilla

Stir bicarb with boiling water and then stir into butter mixture

Sift flour, spices and salt. Add to other mixture and mix well

Spoon into cases and bake at 190 deg for 20 mins

Frosting

10oz cream cheese

4 tbsp butter

1/4 cup molasses 1/8 tsp cinnamon

3-4 cups icing sugar



Cream the cheese and butter until fluffy, mix in molasses and spices. Gradually add sugar until right consistency

New Beginnings

I haven't posted for a few days, the new term began last Wednesday so back to work for me after a pretty hectic holiday time. Preston (the puppy we were caring for) became very poorly again after Christmas. We decided he had a condition that beagle pups are prone to, a form of meningitis. We took him back to the vet and told her our thoughts, she didnt really agree with us but with speaking to other vets we were pretty sure and asked her to treat him for it (Steroid Reactive Meningitis) the only treatment being a high dose of steroids, being weaned down as he improves. Well after 2 jabs and a day of tablets he was back to normal, albeit a little quiet/tired because of the steroids (we werent complaining about that!) Anyway we kept him with us until his check up today and now he has gone to be with his new owners (our youth pastor and his wife) They are going to change vets, there is another one in town who apparently knows about SRM. We were sad to see him go as we had grown quite attached but we knew it was the right thing and he will be coming to stay on occasion.

Preston with his new owners

The twins began pre school this week, just one morning a week to begin with. my daughter didnt really want them to go but on their visit to the Montessori nursery they loved it so much and I am sure she will appreciate the freedom, at least until the new baby arrives

Maggie & Primrose off to pre school

Awesome God

Our God is an awesome God

He reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power and love

Our God is an awesome God

The Gate

 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

"Open for me the gates of the righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter."

 Psalm 118:19-20

You may have noticed on my blog that I often mention a place called Ashridge, this is a park area that belongs to the National Trust. When I was young I grew up in a town not far from Ashridge, each of my birthday parties was spent  at Ashridge, my parents would pack up a picnic and we would fill the car with my brother and friends. (This was before the time of rear seatbelts and child seats!) When I was 16  my parents moved to Cornwall.  Two years ago my husband and I moved back to the area for him to take up the post of pastor at a local church. We now live the other side of Ashridge. We love to go there for walks, take our family and for the moment, Preston. Where we walk is a lovely gate, there is something special about gates, children love to climb them, it is lovely to visit them through the seasons and the spiritual aspect is great. I have added some photos of the gate that I have taken over the time we have been here.