Chocolate Muffins

This morning I wasn't feeling too well & was in need of cheering up. Allen made me chocolate muffins with liquid chocolate centres. Only 6 in a batch but they are so yummy. Had to take a picture of the 4 that are left before they disappeared.



England v Wales

Each year the expats from the 4 home nations play matches against each other at bowls. Allen is a selector for Wales & I am selector & captain for England.
The latest match between our 2 countries was played on the Vistabella green, with 8 teams of 4 representing each country.
Before the match the Welsh captain had a long team talk with his players - don't know what he said. My team talk was much shorter & consisted of just one word "KILL".  On we marched, photos were taken:-

The Welsh

The English

Play got underway & the English took my team talk to their hearts. They proceeded to win on all but 1 rink - unfortunately the skip on that rink hadn't listened to the team talk!! (pssst - it was me!).

So with 7 rinks to 1 & a good shot advantage England took the honours.

The highest winning rinks for each country were presented with their National mugs.

Wales - Alison Edwards, Alan Pugh, Brian Gardiner & Jeff Richards

England - Clive Scott, Val Hignett, Arthur Brown & Peter McEneany

Medieval Fair

About a month ago we decided to go to a medieval fair which was being held in nearby Orihuela. It was located in the narrow streets just off the town centre. The streets had been strewn with straw & all the stall holders were in medieval costumes.

I stupidly said to Allen - why are they all dressed in Moorish costumes then realised that in medieval times Spain was under the rule of the Moors, duh!

There were bakers making bread in wood ovens, huge cakes where you just bought portions & cheesemakers.

Food was being served from huge barbecues which had very large hunks of meat on. A bowman was shooting arrows from a long bow at a target at least 30 metres away & hitting it!

An assortment of the photos Allen took:-

Cowl Collar

Have just finished a new type of scarf. Got the pattern at Craftsuprint, who have just started selling knitting, crochet & cross stitch patterns as well as cardmaking & scrapbooking sheets. If you want to take a look click on the link above.
I used Sirdar Click for my cowl, in a pale lilac & a mottle mix with plum, lilac & cream. This is a lovely easy design to knit because its just a straight piece of garter stitch then frills are done at each colour change in a different colour - in my case a mottled grey. 2 large buttons finish the project & it should prove very warm.

Strawberry & Banana Pavlova

Yesterday I had a market stall to try to sell some cards & gifts. Unfortunately it was a disaster, the weather was freezing with a strong cold wind. The majority of the stall were of the flea market variety & most of the people walking round were North Africans - could have thought we were in Tunisia. Anyway, by 11 we had sold 2€ worth of stuff & were frozen so decided to give it up as a bad job. It was disappointing but it was obviously the wrong market.

Today I decided it was comfort food to cheer me up, so Chicken supreme, Cheesy mash & cauliflower cheese followed by a homemade strawberry & banana pavlova. Meringue is my favourite but until today I had never made a pavlova. Although the base cracked a bit when I put all the topping on it doesn't alter the taste & will certainly cheer me up.

Necessity is the mother of invention

This morning I was getting ready for my craft group & my printer decided it wasn't feeling well so was going to have a day off. No amount of cajoling would convince it to work, so I was left to organise 1 more card which wouldn't need any printing. A rummage through my sheets of card produced sheets with pink roses - now to design a card round that. The girls arrived & it was still swimming around in my head, so while they worked on the first cards, the ideas came to fruition & this is what emerged.

The flowers are ceramic & I was really happy with the finish design. As Marina said, my printer having a day off made me come up with the design - just glad I didn't have to do all 4 like that.

Knitting

I have started knitting since Christmas & have made 2 scarves so far. One is a simple knit Chenille scarf with tassel ends.

The other wasn't so simple to do. The wool looks like ribbon but is lace work - you knit into just one side of the strand allowing the rest to open out like lace. As the wool didn't come with any instructions I had 2 abortive attempts trying to work out the best way to make it. Eventually I casted on, 2 needle method using a full ball. I then knitted 10 rows & casted off. I like the finished effect.

Another monochrome card

Have been trying out my new embossing boards again with another monochrome card.

This one also features a backing sheet designed by Karen Adair of Craftsuprint - called Black Satin. It gives the central panel a nice effect, and the simple white butterfly just finishes it nicely.

Monochrome Card

This is the first card made with one of my new Keepsake boards which Allen got me for Christmas & a Marianne Silhouette die.  I love the monochrome cards & I am sure the new boards will be getting lots of use.

Happy New Year

Today is 1.1.11 - a magical day.
 o.O ❤♫❤♫❤.•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥ ¸.•*¨`*•.♫❤♫❤♫❤
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❤♫❤♫❤.•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥ ¸.•*¨`*•.♫❤♫❤♫❤
Love & Hugs to everyone. May 2011 bring everything you wish for plus good health.