Cupid

Sending you all lots of love for Valentine's week and a slice of Valentines Chocolate and Hazelnut cake (not one of my prettiest creations!)

Kisses xxx 

Another Place ...

I am hoping you have all had a wonderful week and weekend.  My blogging has sadly been absent these past five or so days. I have been in a 'worrying about work' mood and also on a leadership and speed networking course, so not been home until late and straight to bed. 

We were up bright and early this morning and in need of some fresh air, so headed to the coast; Crosby Beach home to Anthony Gormley's Another Pace exhibition.  

"These spectacular sculptures by Angel of the North artist Antony Gormley are on Crosby beach. Another Place consists of 100 cast-iron, life-size figures spread out along three kilometres of the foreshore, stretching almost one kilometre out to sea".

All look out to sea ... contemplating.  The weather has been just perfect for my photography - can you believe all of these photos were taken on the same day and just before lunch time!  Facing one direction we were overlooked and followed by heavy black clouds and mist, then suddenly the sun appeared in the opposite direction hugging the length of the coastline.

This is a little how I have felt this week - dark business clouds looming over and me desperately chasing the sun and seeking brighter times ahead ...

Wow that is a bit deep for me!  On a lighter note there is nothing like placing this exhibition in Liverpool!  If you look very closey, whilst you are strolling along, the odd statue has an Everton football scarf wrapped around his neck, we even spotted one in a bright yellow, painted bikini and armbands :-)

 

New Neighbours...

Ooh two posts for the price of one this evening! Totally irrelevant but highly amusing (to me anyway).  I am sitting giggling away watching our local news... apparently ...Pamela Anderson may be moving to Morcambe Bay (Sharon - Passport to Style if you are reading this we may have a new neighbour)!

To my lovely blog chums outside of the UK; Morcambe Bay is in North West Lancashire just below the Lake District and is cold cold cold.  I somehow can't see Pam strutting it along the Bay in her red bathing suit.  

Don't get me wrong I love the English seaside but I can't quite picture Pammy in a Kiss Me Quick hat.    

Mind you if she does move I wonder if she will get any Hasselh'off the locals ...? (sorry sorry!!)

:-)

Pls do not feel obliged to comment on this - it is for my own amusement only xxxxxxx  

Cherry and Almond Sponge Cake

Hope you have all had a good start to the week.

Wanted to share a slice of Cherry and Almond Cake with you this fine Monday.

Had a quick bake of cake and a quick craft of birthday label last night ... 

Recipe

180g caster sugar

200g unsalted butter or Stork

3 eggs

1 capful or teaspoon of Vanilla extract

 300g plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

75 g ground almonds 

1 tin of cherry pie filling

25g dessicated coconut

square cake tin (about 8 inch x 8 inch - 1 inch deep)

170 degree oven

This is a failproof ! Super easy and quick ...

Grease and lightly flour square cake tin

Cream butter and caster sugar with handheld electric whisk for 2-3 minutes, slowly whisk in 3 eggs... 1 at a time

Add vanilla extract and whisk

Sieve and add plain flour and baking powder, folding in until combined

Fold in ground almonds

***

Carefully spoon just over half of the mixture and spread evenly across base of cake tin

Next spoon cherry filling evenly across the mix

Spoon remaining cake mix on top - spead with a fork if you need to

Sprinkle coconut over the top (or flaked almonds)

***

Pop in the oven ... check it after 30 minutes... my oven isnt very hot and took about 50 mins

***

Remove when top of cake is firm to touch

***

Bobs your Uncle ... enjoy xxx

Ski Sunday!

Hope you are all having the perfect weekend.

We have woken up to snow again!  I have been putting lots and lots of food out for the birds and spotted our local pheasants in the field, behind the garden this morning.

They are SO quick to try to photograph. No sooner had I fitted my long lense and sneaked into the garden, not very quietly slipping and sliding down the garden path ... and they were off!

I have had my first Etsy enquiry from a lovely lady in Australia which is exciting.  Also just spotted Cute Mrs Matroyska in the Etsy Ravenhill shop whose colours would fit in very well with our wintery landscape at the moment. 

Valentines Jewellery Crush

We are having a little day out to browse and lunch this Saturday

***

Have you thought about gifts for your Valentine's yet?

New Jewellery Crush = Alex Monroe Lucky Clover Collection

The most beautiful and affordable jewellery ranging from baby bee necklaces to pomegranite flower studs earrings 

With collections entitled The Poet and the Nest & The Bird and the Woodbees

Perfect for Valentines ...

Dolliedaydream Designs Etsy Shop

Dolliedaydream Designs

Tada!  Dolliedaydream Designs on Etsy is officially open (well kind of ...).

I have been expereimenting with my new Adobe Photoshop all day.  I have just about managed to design an Etsy banner, which has pretty much taken me all day - your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Haven't quite worked out shipping costs for anywhere other than the UK as yet ... details to follow.

So for the time being have listed one lonely little poster, as a bit of an experiment, to see how things work.

Please do take a look at the shop and let me know what you think.

Thanks Kitty xxx