Baker's Dozen!

Well, what else is a girl meant to do in the Summer when the weather is poor? I've been baking a lot lately :)

So, there was some flour (plain and self raising), caster sugar, margarine, egg, milk....and err, not much else, oh, and a hot oven....

...and some seiving

and some mixing with the hands...

...and more stirring

...and extra ingredients...

Shortbread!

Cupcakes (or buns as we call them)

Scones! perfect for adding cream and jam..very British :D

And obviously, a well deserved cup of tea :)

Alloment Time! part 2!

Thought I'd write part two :-) Although there's not that much to write, mainly just photos left to show you. I also forget to photograph to strawberries/rhubarb/cherries and the apple/pear tree and all the berry bushes (gooseberries etc).

Peas

Peas

Peas!!

Peppers

Pumpkins

Raspberries

Runner beans

Sweetcorn

Tomatoes

Parsnip

 

Sungold Tomatoes

Hope you enjoyed the tour of our allotment :)

Allotment Time! part 1 [picture heavy!]

Yeah, a lot of weeding needs to be done, we know.. but it's barely stopped raining for the last two weeks here, miserable!!

I've mentioned our allotment a little so I thought I'd take some photos whilst I was there the other day, just to show you guys around :) I've also just realised I took no overall photos, or photos of the chickens..ah well! We grow pretty much everything, in the middle of it all we barely have to buy any vegetables and little fruit. It's a nice little area, so quiet and peaceful and sometimes just so lovely to sit there and relax.

Cabbage

Carrots (amazing! We always struggle to grow carrots)

Cauliflower

Climbing bean (I think)

Courgettes

Courgette

Courgette flower

Cucumber

Garlic hanging to dry

Grapes

Leeks

Leeks (they have the tubes around the bottom to keep them white)

Onions hanging to dry

Mor eonions

French dwarf beans (I think)

There's more but I think that's plenty for one post.

Part 2 is here!

Knit, knit, knit - can't stop knitting!

I seem to have finished two knitted things today, plus one a couple of days ago.. all little, couple of hours, projects. I don't want to pick up my socks or mittens or even the sock monkey, but these little things are pleasing me right now :)

First I finished some baby booties - these are for my future neice/nephew (due in Februaryish, so unsure of sex yet - but I was incase incase I get busy..) Ravelry link

and I also finished this cute bracelet test knit. I like test knitting quick, small things. I'm not sure I'll ever wear it, but it took a tiny amount of yarn and time and it was fun. Ooh I could use it as a bookmark! :) Ravelry link

 

I also went to the library a couple of days ago (for the first time in about 8 years - literally!) and I got a couple of knitting books. I was in a bit of a hurry and couldn't decide which ones to take, and they both ended up being sock books.

The babies booties above are out of the 'baby knits for baby feet' book. I also knit socks incredibly slowly, so I doubt I'll actually knit any from the 'Sock innovation' book, but it's actually pretty good at helping you to design a sock and I would take it out in the future if I wanted a pretty sock pattern.

I actually want to write a post about me dying some yarn too, but I guess that deserves a post of it's own :)

The courgettes are ready! Yummy courgette pasta!

I'm always excited about this time of the year, I just love courgettes and they're so expensive to buy around here but once ours are grown we're always swamped under by them.
My favourite dish for them? Cheesy courgette pasta.
It's a recipe for 'The River Cottage Cookbook' by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.. well, less of a recipe, more of a guideline - but it is so delicious.

 

I figure it's probably not too unhealthy, it's so quick and simple to make and with our abundance of courgettes it's perfect for a weekday dinner :)

Hello!

Hi! I figure I have to write some stuff about myself here so you actually want to read my blog (maybe? okay! :-))

This is my face :)

 My name is Jane and I'm 17 years old and I live in Yorkshire, UK. I've recently became addicted to knitting and it's currently the summer so I get to knit even more! I also love cooking and I seem to take photos of everything I eat so if you don't want food pictures you might want to turn away now :) We also have an allotment where we grow lots of our own food which is pretty cool and I'll have to show you one day. I love reading but haven't read much for a while but I seem to be finally getting back into it now. I'm vegetarian. I wouldn't say I'm the most creative person ever but I'm definitely trying :-)

I'm really a fan of simpler things, I love walking and would happily spend all my time walking or running if I wouldn't get tired.. I love scenery and wildlife and pretty nature.

At periods of time there's probably going to be long times when I don't post anything.. that's really because I know college will end up taking over my life (again) in September and around exam times.

I really don't know what else to say, except I'm now off to discover lots of crafty, knitty and foody blogs!