NORMAL SERVICE HAS ALMOST RESUMED....

Well I have really enjoyed being a needed mum, doting nanny, head chef and laundrymaid, but it is quite exhausting and so kinda nice to return to something like normality.

It means I can get some sewing done, start on the house projects and catch up with all the lovely bloggers who bother to read this stuff and not only that send me some great (and often very witty) comments. I am sorry that I have not answered many individually of late, but I do read them all and hope that I will return to my good habits again very soon. (Only regarding replies you understand...I can't be good all the time!!)

I was intending to share some delicious recipes with you today, but on Saturday I received  my parcel in Lucey's Button Swap from Jenny at the Red House
I couldn't therefore let it pass without showing it to you, so the receipes will wait.

What a terrific haul, Thank you so much Jenny, I love it all and the buttons will come in very handy.  I can't believe that you also included a fridge magnet from Becky at Dots and Spots as well. I already have one which my daughter bought me and I do love her work.
Jenny has been struggling with her arm, having had surgery and it seems a great deal of pain, so I am doubly grateful that she went ahead and completed the swap.
Thank you again.

I will be back later in the week to share those receipes including a wicked cheesecake.....so be prepared to forget your diets......

TTFN

Jenny xx

PS I would like to introduce you all to a new blogger who I am sure will keep you in stitches, but no doubt show me up for the boring old wrinkly I am. She has not written her first post yet, so I am waiting with baited breath. Find her at www.giddygirlsworld.blogspot.com No words but some lovely pictures!!

FAN FARE TA RA TA RA!!!! ........Charlie has arrived.......

No not Prince Charlie....though I'm sure he is to his proud mum and dad,

no I wish to announce the safe arrival of our

Charlie 

(2nd Grandson)

Mum and baby doing fine.

Charlie weighed in at 9lb 1oz, has dark brown hair and blue green eyes, just like daddy. 

Big brother Alfie has been a star

He has been staying with us and he has been no trouble at all, even at bedtime! All down to his super mum and dad who have made a wonderful job of bringing him up.

We love them all to bits

Thanks for allowing me a bit of boasting!!

TTFN

Jenny xx

VERY EXCITED...but a little anxious!!

Tomorrow our 2nd grandson will be delivered and though we are thrilled and very excited as a mum you can understand why I am still a bit anxious.
I have therefore been keeping myself very busy..

There is a huge stew slow cooking in the oven as all the expectant family will be dining here this evening because grandson no.1 will be staying with us for a few days while mummy is in hospital and they can then put him to bed themselves as I'm sure leaving him will be a real wrench.

His little room is about ready, Victorian pine bed, bespoke mattress (as it's only 6 foot long, so we couldn't buy one ready made), new bedding and a few toys to make it more like home. Still a bit to do but I think he will like it. It was his bedroom when they lived with us, but his previous furniture has gone to his new home...

I have also been making leek and potato soup for my lunch from this recipe...

....believe me this is one of the best cookery books for simplicity, straight forward ingredients and tasty recipes I have used for a long time....

..now I love to cook but sometimes the whole preparation thing puts me off. I am not a chef and have never yet accomplished the rapid chopping that they seem to do while still leaving fingers in one piece. But I have my trusty gadget....had it years, can't remember when I bought it..the Braun multimix...

This amazing little machine saves getting out the food processor and chops raw carrot, peppers onion etc. in seconds. It also grinds granulated sugar to icing sugar and even grinds whole nutmegs....

Another gadget, bought on a whim I must admit at a Good Food Show many moons ago is my Daily hand blender. I was eyeing up the Bamix but at the time it was way out of my price bracket and they were demonstrating the Daily (at under half the price) and it really did seem to work just as well. Well I can tell you many years later it still blends my soups beautifully, minces up meat for pate and makes wonderful mousse from skimmed milk, so for once 'you only get what you pay for' appears to not be quite true.

So as I finally sit down to lunch on my soup and home made bread, I am racking my brain for something else to occupy me and my mind....perhaps I could start cutting out those new curtains......

(beautiful scented roses from the garden...)

Bon Appetit

I will be back to show off our newcomer soon...

TTFN

Jenny xx

PS Have you seen the film Julie and Julia...Meryl Streep...great if you like to cook and a really lovely feel good movie....