The Christmas Countdown Begins - 99 Days to go!!

Hand Made Gifting

 Despite the beautifully sunny autumnal day, it is a mere 99 days until Christmas, amazing how quickly the time has gone. Time to make a start on my hand made gifts for Christmas, each year I aim to create as many gifts for family and friends as possible.....with varying degrees of success! 
I have been inspired to get cracking by reading one of my favourite blogs - 
One Crafty Mumma - http://www.onecraftymumma.com/ or use the blog button on the left of this page.
Please take a look at the beautiful ideas and gift projects!

As the countdown has begun I am sharing a little bit of my Christmas crafting so far....

A bookmark with hand stitching and felted wool backing

Hand stitched picture using felt

A Little bit of Vintage craft

A few pictures of my table at the Vintage Inspired Fair yesterday:

Garden catch-up

Things are coming along in the garden, the hot sun and bowts of  heavy rain seem to be doing the trick and my little plastic greenhouse has done a brilliant job so far, of looking after the tomatoes and chilli peppers - so far so good :

Giant curly wurly chilli

So far so good with the pumpkins

Lovely Lavender

Radish and salads doing well

Catching up with Life

A few pictures of life as we know it, a few from our holiday and bits and bobs: 

Garden time

Gluten free cheese scones

Gorgeous book for all pie lovers - a great recipe for gluten free shortcrust at back of book!

Really good read, great holiday book!

Gluten free shortbread

Finally made Kale Chips - had to eat them all myself as my family would not entertain the idea!

Gorgeous home made jam made with Olive Patch Strawberries!

Daughter craft

Delish Blueberry Muffins

A few pics from a walk in Wales

A Day on the Beach

Brilliant Books!!

I have just finished reading this lovely book, full of twists and turn - a story that begins in the 60's and spans 40 years. It is beautifully written using lost love letters interwoven into the narrative, I love the way the past and present criss-cross each other. Captivated to the end. Perfect holiday escapism - unfortunately I finished it a little too quickly, another trip to the library this week I think!

What are you reading at the moment ?

Other Books by Jojo Moyes

One of my sisters gave me a copy of 'Me before you' last year and I finally read it a couple of weeks ago, another touching read, a little sad at times but completely compelling. Clever writing. A great long-weekend read!

A Little bit of Crafting, a little bit of baking

New Brooches

My Best Ever Gluten-free Baking

I am so pleased with this Apple Cake, beautifully moist with a sweet crust, perfect for a summer picnic, afternoon tea or served warm with home made ice cream.

Here is my recipe: 

4 oz Pure Soya Spread
5 oz Golden Caster sugar
2 Eggs
5 oz Doves Farm Self-raising White Flour
1/2 tsp Gluten-free Baking Powder
1 tsp Xanthan Gum
2 Bramley Apples - peeled and grated

Oven 180
Line a 2lb loaf tin 
Beat the spread and sugar together until soft and light.
Beat in the eggs.
Sieve flour, baking powder and xanthan gum into the mixture and mix well.
Carefully fold in the apple.
Pour into the tin and smooth the top of the mixture.
Bake for approximately 45 mins or until golden and just firm. Check with skewer to make sure centre of cake is cooked.
Serve cake warm as a pudding with home made ice cream or leave to cool before slicing. 

 

Today's Cakes

Another beautiful sunny day!
My local church held  a Fun Walk (Fundraiser) today, I made cakes and served refreshments for the walkers, here are a few pictures of the treats :

Sweet Little Cream Cakes

Grandma's Shortbread

Chocolate Malteser Cake