Homeward bound...

Wednesday lunchtime meant big aircraft flying over North America and then another aircraft from Hamserjam to Newcastle International. I hate saying goodbye to the gorgeous one at the airport but we have to do this. It's not quite practical yet for us to actually live on the same continent together yet alone in the same house; but one day, it will happen.

It was 4 weeks since I last saw my precious little boy and we have done nothing but cuddle and hold hands since he came running up to me in the school playground on Thursday. 4 weeks to a 6 year old is like an eternity and we're making up for not seeing each other for such a long time. It's a Bank Holiday weekend here in England, so no school on Monday, but a busy weekend of family visiting and catching up on jet lag sleep. And a bit of knitting in between I think.

Merino and possum bootees went down a storm with Baby Ollie, who is by the way, totally gorgeous, and I am starting on another pair for him in a slightly bigger size. Ethan was in awe of him and gave him kisses and hugs to the max.

12 weeks to go until the start of the summer holidays... and another trip to the US. Can't wait.

Recipe for Lemon Drizzle cake...

It's very lemony and very delish... Admittedly, it didn't "rise" as much I would have liked, but I find that all purpose flour doesn't give the results I get with self raising flour back in the UK.

150 g or 3/4 cup all purpose flour or self raising if you're a Brit (sieve it)
2 teaspoons baking powder, mixed into the flour
150g or 3/4 cup caster / extra fine sugar
150g or one and a half sticks butter
3 eggs, beaten
fine zest of two lemons and the juice of the lemons

and for the drizzle...

juice of 2 lemons
100g or 1/2 cup icing / confectioners sugar

Here's what you do:

1: Light the over Gas mark 5, 350 degrees F, 180 degrees C.
2: Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin, or a 7" x 7" square cake tin
3: Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy
4: Add the beaten egg, a little at a time with a little of the flour
5: Beat together until combined and then continue until all the egg and flour is combined
6: Fold in the lemon zest
7: Bake in the oven for between 35 - 45 minutes until golden brown and springy - TOP SHELF

WHILE THE CAKE IS COOKING...

8: Heat the icing / confectioners sugar and the lemon juice in a saucepan. Heat gently, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture turns syrupy. Should take around 5 minutes. Make sure the heat is gentle.
9: When the cake is cooked, removed from the oven and pierce all the way through it, at least 10 holes (Ironically, I use a knitting needle ... who knew!)
10: Gently spoon the syrup over the cake making sure the cake is well soaked.
11: Leave the cake in the tin until completely cold.
12: Do not cut until cold as it will crumble... but when it is cold, it's delicious!

Afternoon Tea in Seattle

We've invited friends over an English afternoon tea today so my late morning has been spent baking some delights whilst listening to four High School Students playing sax, drums, double bass and guitar. You know who your friends are when you need to record some of your talent for applications to Music School!

Needless to say, I baked up a batch of cheese scones and they were devoured quickly whilst the boys had a break from playing. It was fun to listen as I baked.... live music to entertain me certainly beats the radio!

So, what did we bake; well, Brian is lactose intolerant so I've had to consider that and finding margarine (yuk!) to replace the butter has been a bit of a nightmare. Everything, apart from one brand had buttermilk or whey in it. Still, I found some nucoa (which is apparently, brilliant for baking!)and we'll find out at about 4.30pm just how good it is. We have made:

Lemon drizzle cake
Victoria Sandwich Cake
Plain scones
Cheese scones

and we'll also be having egg sandwiches and ham sandwiches, with lots and lots of tea.

I delivered Zoey's shoes today; a little bit big as expected but she'll grow into them. Keegan was too involved in Mickey Mouse and Pluto to try his on. But, I'm sure they will be cute also.

Shoes for Zoey....

Zoey is a wonderful little girl. She "belongs" to my friend Rona whom I see on my trips to Seattle. I decided to make these shoes for Zoey following a recent visit to the clan. I made cupcakes and Zoey and Keegan and I decorated them before playing soccer in the garden.

The pattern I used is from 'The most Sublime' accessories book. It has a wonderful array of socks and shoes, scarves, hats and arm warmers and Sublime yarn is gorgeous to knit with. However, I wanted to knit these little shoes in blue cotton for Zoey and that is what I used, finishing off with a wonderful La Conner red flower button on each.

I think they may well be a little too big for Zoey at the moment; but they should fit by Christmas!

Chocolate banana muffins

These made the kitchen smell utterly heavenly and they tasted great too...

1/2 cup or 100g all purpose flour or self raising flour if you're a Brit
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup or 100g caster / superfine sugar
1 stick or 100g butter
2 eggs
1 ripe banana
1/3 cup or 2 ounces cocoa powder - NOT HOT CHOCOLATE!!!

1: Light the oven to 190 degrees C, 375 degrees F, Gas mark 5
2: Sieve the flour, baking powder and cocoa together
3: Mash the banana until nice and runny
4: Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy - I cheated and used the KitchenAid
5: Add the eggs, one at a time, with a tablespoon of flour cocoa mix
6: Add the rest of the flour mix and mix until a smooth, creamy, thick batter
7: Spoon the mixture into 10 baking cases
8: Cook for around 15 minutes until risen and springy

When cold, I spread the tops with Nutella or your preferred chocolate frosting.

Enjoy!

Sponge and Sugar Cakes

I love all things creative and crafty. I love to experiment with new ideas and thoughts, whether it be knitting, sewing, baking, or my other love... cake decorating.

I have been a confectioner since I was 18 years old. I love to bake cakes and I love to make them look totally fabulous, whether it's for a wedding, birthday or whatever. Decorating cakes gives me such pleasure. It's hard work and very very time consuming, but it gives me so much satisfaction. So, I thought, after my friend Rona suggested it, that I should put some of my designs onto my blog.

Two pieces of good news to report...

1: I have a flight home on 28th April so I can see my boy again, at last. It's been a while
2: Jenny and Paul have had their baby boy at last. Baby Ollie came into this world today weighing in at 8lb 4oz. Congratulations to Jenny, Paul, Alex and Nat

Little purple shoes...

Couldn't really decide how to finish these HipKnitIzed inspired pull ons.
I've used the Victoria BC bought Silk and Alpaca yarn and it was heaven to knit with. Should have bought some more!!!
Chuck decided on the final embellishments; lime green yarn blanket stitches around the top and a cute button from the La Conner yarn store to finish off. I think they look absolutely gorgeous. Just need a little girl's feet to put in them!

Banana and marathon snickers cup cakes...

So, our friend Jan is gluten intolerant and tomorrow is her birthday. The oat flour came out and my inventive juices started to run, to invent a recipe for cup cakes she would enjoy. I love creating new baking recipes and this one is delish...You have GOT to try these... Makes about 10 cup cakes.

100g or 1/2 cup (caster) fine sugar
100g or 1 stick of butter
100g or 1/2 cup oat flour (or, if you don't have oat flour or you're a Brit, self raising)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 ripe banana
1 marathon or snickers almond bar, chopped into large chunks - keep some for the tops
2 eggs - separate the yolk from the white and beat the whites until fluffy
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Oven temp 190oC, 375oF Gas mark 5

Here goes:

1: Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. I used the Kitchen aid as I was feeling particularly lazy.
2. Beat up the egg yolks and add to the butter sugar mix and beat well. I started using the wooden spoon at this stage. I like to 'feel' the mixture; sounds lame I know, but it's just the way I am.
3 Mash up the banana until it's very runny. No lumps required!
4: Add the banana to the mixture and beat well. Add the vanilla extract.
5: Add the baking powder to the flour and sieve all into the creamed mixture. If you're using oat flour, stir it very gently to keep as much air in the mixture as possible. If ordinary flour, mix it in well. Stir in the marathon snickers bar.
6: GENTLY fold in the egg whites until incorporated. Please don't beat it. You need to keep air in the mix.
7. Spoon the mix into 10 cup cake cases in deep muffin tins and bake for around 15 minutes or until springy.

When cold...

1: Mix together 100g or 1/2 cup of icing (confectioners) sugar with a couple of teaspoons of water. Mix to a smooth icing.
2: Smooth onto the tops of the cupcakes and then sprinkle on some chopped Marathon / Snickers bar.

Oh my Gosh, they are so good!

I've had to buy more yarn...

Not that I have run out of existing yarn... even I couldn't do that... but, due to the fact that I have no idea when I am going to be able to get a flight back to the UK, I thought I would buy some to keep me going. I have an idea for making some little black baby shoes, maybe t-bar Mary Jane types, with some cute embellishments on them. I'll have a think.

So, I'm still here. My sister Rie, suggested that I write a diary about my exploits while "Stuck in Seattle." Don't know if "stuck" is the right word really. My precious one is being cared for by his paternal grandparents and I am still able to spend time with the gorgeous one here in Seattle.

I have been holding onto the air France telephone line for over 45 minutes now which, is not a long time really considering there are probably around 10,000 other flyers trying to get through. I shall simply wait my turn. Do French people queue?? I don't think they do, but I am terrified to cancel the call. So, during the past 45 minutes, I have managed to complete a few tasks.... don't you just love wireless headphones. I have:
1. Washed today's breakfast dishes
2. Finished the second purple silk and alpaca bootee and sewn up the seams
3. Made some gluten free cup cakes for our friend Jan who is celebrating her
birthday tomorrow. They are oatflour based with mashed banana and chopped up Snickers bar (forever known to me as 'a Marathon.' If they taste good, I'll post the recipe - if they're awful, I won't!
4. Updated my Facebook status and sent messages to friends many miles away.

And I'm still on hold....

Last night, we had a wonderful BBQ and fire in the fire pit. I'm getting in to the habit of quaffing bubbly Champagne stuff, which, although utterly delicious, makes me jolly thirsty the next day. Kris and Jan came over, Duke frightened off potential burglars with his howling and we all had a great night. I might have a couple more before I have to head home again.

Dinner tonight is going to be toad in the hole, with not a toad in sight. Sausages and Yorkshire pudding... wonderful. I have to make more cupcakes first. Think I will make apple cakes next, maybe with some oaty crumble mix on top.

Still holding....

Still holding...

Stuck in Seattle.....

As though I am even remotely bothered!!!!!
Certain volcanic eruptions in Iceland have prevented me and many hundreds of thousands of others from getting to and from where they need to be.

I should be sitting on a plane right now, weeping into my book, but instead, I am enjoying a lazy lunch in the kitchen with the beloved and some bamboos. Chuck has decided on the finishing touches for the latest girlie shoes. I have been following a Hypknitized pattern (she's fabulous!, adapting it to make it bigger for the yarn that I'm using.

Alpaca and silk and looking gorgeous so far.

Whilst Chuck is out teaching trumpet....

.... I am mostly knitting. Holiday knitting is such a joy for me. I have so far completed two pairs of red fluffy shoes, a pair of cashmere and merino socks and a pair of cotton socks. Here are the smaller of the pair of red fluffy shoes; they are for baby Isobel Rose. The other pair I made today and they will be promptly shipped out a few blocks away to little Welly who is just too cute for words. I hope she likes them; they will definitely keep her little tootsies warm.

This is a really easy pattern I like to use. I've been dabbling with some pattern development over the past few months and this pattern can be adapted to make shoes for up to four years old. Poppy's shoes are based on this pattern too with a Mary Jane strap instead of an ankle strap. I prefer to make an ankle strap for younger children - I think it helps the shoes stay on their feet. Usually, I would knit a flower for the front, but the little flower button is so sweet, I don't think the shoe needs anything else.

Yarn shopping on Vancouver Island

Bless him; Chuck is so tolerable of me. I travel 5000 miles to see him and drag him into not one but two yarn shops. We took a trip over to Vancouver Island and whilst slumming it in the fantastically lovely Coast Harbourside Marina Hotel in Victoria, I just happened to come across the "what to see in Victoria" book, provided by the hotel.

Let's just say that the Beehive Wool Shop at 1700 Douglas Street is one store that should be on every Victoria BC bound knitter's trip itinerary. An abundance of gorgeousness and as usual, Chuck liked the things I didn't like and vice versa (although there was one shawl which we both thought was gorgeous; I don't need another shawl, I have many, I didn't need to buy it!)

What we did find (and both liked) was a scarf which was made of the softest, fluffiest yarn; oh my God, it was heavenly. Couldn't find the yarn anywhere in the shop; looked everywhere and to no avail. Bring on the uber classic assistant; she obviously loves the 1950s and so do I; she led us to a supply of the most acrylicy looking yarn I had ever seen! It looked like beige string... was she sure this was the right stuff??? Oh, yes indeedy; magic yarn it is - 60% merino and 40% possum.... yes, you heard it, possum. Now, I don't know if you're up on the wildlife that is found in England, but let me assure you, we don't have possum (or is it possums???) We have alpacas, sheep (lots), cows (even more), foxes that raid your dust bin and badgers that come out at night, but definitely no possum. Possums are regarded as pests, a bit like rabbits in England... let's just say something has to be done with their fur.

Well, my fingers started to twitch and I just had to know how this ball of rough string could possibly be the same yarn that created the wonderfully soft scarf hanging on the rail.... apparently, possum yarn goes "fluffy" after you wash it. Wash it gently, let it dry naturally and there you have it; gorgeous fluffy items.

Needless to say, I have a fabulous pattern just waiting to be knitted up and washed; but it will have to wait until I get back to England.

I also bought a ball of Silk and Alpaca yarn by Drops Design at Garnstudio.com. It is unbelievably soft and the colour is gorgeous. Watch this space for something cute being made up. And the best is that the yarn only cost me $4.95CAD, that's about three of your English pounds... I love a bargain!

A trip in search of tulips and bamboo needles

Skagit County Tulip festival is definitely something to see. The colours of the tulips are so bright and clear and completely gorgeous; even if the sky above is grey and stormy.

On the way to the tulip fields, a quick diversionary trip to La Conner was required. And what did I find...? The most fabulous yarn and craft store, filled from floor to ceiling with yarns, tapestries and patterns. Totally delicious! Jennings Yarn and Needlecrafts at 106 South First is definitely worth a visit; wouldn't say the lady in the store was particularly wonderful, bu the array of goodies definitely made up for her quietness. Maybe she was just having a bad day.

I was almost tempted to buy the hand crafted knitting needles, but at $28 a pair, I thought it best to add them to my Christmas list... Chuck, are you listening??? However, I did find my circular bamboo needles (worth every cent of the $8.50 they cost me,) plus, I found some rather fantastic buttons to adorn a few more pairs of baby shoes. Cuter than cute, me thinks.

Knitting in Seattle

I'm over in Seattle to see my wonderful and strikingly handsome Chuck. Sneaked the knitting needles on board two flights with the intention of knitting something while Chuck is teaching and I'm snuggled up on the sofa.

My cousin gave birth to a beautiful little girl last week; Isobel Rose, so pink socks are on the needles currently. I also brought some wonderful cotton yarn with me with the sole intention of knitting something for me - what a refreshing change! Unfortunately, I find metal ended circular needles an utter chore to use when I am so used to bamboo. As we say in England, "I simply can't get away with them." So, 239 stitches have been removed from the needles and a quest for bamboo ended circular needles is on.

Seattle appears to have some amazing yarn shops so I intend to drag Chuck kicking and screaming to a couple or seven over the next week. Who knows, I might find bamboo ended circulars.... or at least some gorgeous yarn....!