Snowflake

Hello friends

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas doing lots of fun thing with love ones. We did.

Earlier this month I joined in with a snowflake swap run by Kate at http://grannytaughtmetocrochet.bolgspot.co.uk.  Kate partnered us all up and my partner was Maggie from http://prettyflowersinthewindow.blogspot.co.uk. We had to introduce our selves to our partner and set a price of what we were to spend and how many gifts to send each other and it had to include a snowflake either knitted, crocheted or stitched. You can find out what I got busy with by Reading Maggie's post.

This is what I received. A beautifully wrapped gift in festive tissue paper.

Inside was some lovely items.


Some lovely festive jam pot covers with ribbons and rubber bands.
Just what I was after to create lovely tops for some marmalades or chutneys for next Christmas 
 
Next there was a selections of similar festive fabrics with a few buttons and ribbons and cords. I'm not quite how I'm going to use these yet. I've had a few thoughts but can't make up my mind
yet. Don't they look nice?


There was also a garland of stockings that took pride of place pinned to the table covering under the tree. Lovingly placed by L and a crochetwd snowflake garland which I draped on our sideboard. Will find a better place for it next year.
This photo of the garland was taken on a dark cushion to show how pretty it is and next is the snowflake I hung in our tree right at the front.

 Thank you Maggie for all the lovely gifts.



To crochet the snowflakes it's a bit fiddly but so worth the effort so I may make some more for next  Christmas.                                               I'm going to go away now and think about my new year resolutions and possibly some challenges.

Enjoy the rest of the holidays and have a good new year.            Carolx

 

A Simple Christmas Message

A Very

Merry Christmas

to all

 

 

Chicken Liver Pate

Hello friends

How are your Christmas preparation doing?

Yesterday I made some pate amongst other things and I thought I would share my pate recipe with you. I don't have proper measurements as I just through things in.
Sorry there are no pictures as the finished product was not very photogenic.

1 Pkt of Chicken livers (trimmed )
Garlic (as much or as little as you like)
Some onion finely chopped(I only use a little as I have a problem digesting them, but you can use a whole one)
4 Sundried tomates - optional
Butter (I have a problem with dairy so I used oil. Butter will give a better consistency when cold)
1 button mushroom (optional. I found one lurking in the fridge)
A slug of Port (optional can also use Brandy, Sherry, Orange Liquor - mmm orange liquor next time with some orange zest)

Melt the butter in a frying pan. you will need quite a bit if you are using a whole onion. Add the onion and garlic and gently fry until soft. If you have one place a lid on pan and turn the heat right down.
Add the chopped sundried tomatoes and chopped mushrooms then stir. Replace the lid and allow to cook for a few mins.
Next add the chicken livers and stir. Chefs on the TV say that the livers should still be pink inside but I prefer to cook them a little more.
Next I added the port and stirred then cooked a little longer, until gently bubbling.
Now you can either use a stick blender, a liquidiser or any other kind of blender you might have and blend until smooth,
Spoon into ramekins (I filled 4 small ones) or what ever dishes you like and cover with cling wrap. When cold keep in the fridge until ready to use or freeze.
Enjoy with crusty bread, savoury biscuits or even on toast,

I hope you can follow these instruction OK.

Does anyone else make pate?

Carolx

Decorations and wrapping

Hello friends

Welcome to new follower Penny Wise

We put up our tree at the week end. (I say we but in actual fact it was mostly M and L as  I was round at mum and dads washing mum's hair) They did a grand job. Last night L and I tied some thread onto some sweets and chocolates and hung them on the tree after I took the photo. Next week I will post about the recent gifts I received.

Stocking bunting was a recent gift
 



Crocheted snowflake was another recent gift

 

Tomorrow I will start some cooking for the freezer ready for our Boxing Day buffet.

 

Carolx

A Beautiful Find

Hello friends

Look what I found at the week end. I was mooching around a new charity shop that has opened near me and found this beautiful lace table cloth and it was only £1.

It's not vintage or cotton but I like it all the same and it will look lovely on the Christmas table over some dark material. I think  have some black somewhere.

Carolx

Tongue Tied

Hello Friends

The unveiling of the knitted Christmas tree went well on Monday with Radio Lancashire. Afterwards I had to rush off as I had an appointment at Leigh Infirmary have my tongue polyp removed.to

My appointment was for 12 noon so we set off at 10:30 just in case the weather was bad and any hold ups on the motorway. M was driving as I don't like driving outside of my comfort zone. I really don't like driving at all.

We got lost twice and was an hour late. we had to phone the hospital to say that we were on our way but was lost. The lovely lady on the other end of the phone gave us some directions once she established where we were, and as it turned out we weren't far away.

The operations didn't start until 2pm so was still ok. I got into a gown and because I didn't have a dressing gown they gave me another gown to use the opposite way round and I had to wear these lovely and sexy netty knickers.

The surgeon came round to do her check and said I was last on the list and could't say what time I would be called for. Ten minutes later I was called for - that's quick I thought, The surgeon had swapped her list around and I was first.

The operation was done under a local anaesthetic but I had my eyes closed so didn't see or feel anything and I have either 2 or 3 dissolving stitches, I can't tell but it's very neat.

My tongue was very sore and swollen and still is but not quite as bad.

I have been having lots look warm soups and fruit smoothies through a wide straw and I can just about manage some soft bread if a break it into small pieces and I put it to the opposite side of the wound.

Yesterday I sneezed and bit my tongue it was ouch ouch ouch aaahhh!!

Right I'm off to make a banana orange and mango smoothie for breakfast, Lunch will be yesterdays pea and mint soup and tonight I will make a tomato soup all homemade of course.

I hope you all have a nice day

Carolx

Knitted Christmas Tree

Hello Friends

We have had a few days of sunshine  and I've been out in it so I feel a little more cheerful.

For just over a year I have been going to a craft club, at the local library, and I take my mum along, (although she has dementia it's the highlight of her week) and throughout this year most of us have been knitting these......

What are they? I hear you ask.

They are knitted rectangles with their corners turned into the middle and tacked into position. In total we made about 1,200 of varying shades of green and these are the leaves for the Christmas tree.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           Next these leaves had to be tacked on to a backing cloth which took several weeks to do. The ladies started at the bottom and worked their way up to the top. Some of the ladies who don't knit were happy to do some sewing.

 

 

This afternoon, after the library closed, some of us helped to erect the tree. This is the frame to hang the leaves from, it was made by a very kind gentleman who lives next door to the lady who runs the craft club.





 

 

Next the leaves. Doesn't it look good with the different shades green?

 

Now it needs to be decorated. The decorations have also been knitted by some very talented members. Some pom poms have also been made ( these will be used on hats for next years community project for streetlife a local charity that helps the homeless).



 

 

The official unveiling will be Monday morning at 10.30am. Unfortunately I can't attend at that time. Also Radio Lancashire are doing their breakfast show from the library between 7.30 and 9 am.

 

 Here are some more pictures of some of the hand knitted ornaments

 



After Christmas the tree will be taken down and taken apart then the leaves will be stitched together to make blankets that will be donated to a charity. It has not yet been decided on as to which charity will benefit, this will be done in the new year.

Carolx