Sorry for the lack of blogging of late. Things have been hectic around here as we celebrate Mr L turning 40 (much to his annoyance and I try not to rub it in too much that I am still in my 20's.) We have also been busy painting floors, decorating and organising the nursery (less than 10 weeks to D day) and just the general juggling of everyday life in grey January. Only a few days until February, we are nearly there people......

Anyway, normal blogging service should resume shortly but in the mean time I came across this lovely pattern for knitted dishcloths....

I suggest knitting a stash on one of those long winter evenings. Find the pattern here.

Friday morning baking...

We set out to bake a banana/brandy bread (its a new invention and comes from the fact I have left over brandy butter - if it works I will post about it). Anyway the chickens have stopped laying in protest of being made to stay in their run (we spotted the fox on the meadow earlier in the week) and I only had one precious egg left in the cupboard. So as not to disappoint my daughter we decided to make scones.

I've forgotten how good these are. Simple and delicious. We are supposed to be saving them for coffee with my parents tomorrow but I'm not confident they will last that long. Recipe below.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 stick/50g butter
• 2 cups /225g all-purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 oz/ 30g fine/caster sugar
• 1/4 cup/ 50g sultanas or chopped dates
• 1/4 pint / 150 ml milk
• 1 egg beaten with a little milk

Preparation:

• Heat the oven to 400F/205C/Gas 6
• Grease and flour a baking sheet.
• Sieve the flour into a roomy baking bowl then add the butter, baking powder and salt. Quickly rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and sultanas and stir.
• Make a well in the center and using a dinner knife, stir in enough milk to make a soft, pliable dough.
• Turn the mixture on to a floured board and knead very lightly until just smooth then lightly roll out to 2cm / 3/4" thick.
• Cut rounds with a 7.5cm /2" cutter or cut into triangles with a sharp knife.
• Place on the baking tray and brush with the beaten egg and milk mixture. Bake near the top of the hot oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and well risen.
• Cool on a wire rack before eating.

Serve with butter, or lashings of jam and cream.

Ok, so I have to admit buying yet more fabric from Saints & Pinners. This time, in their very tempting sale.

Here is another quilt in the making. My plan is to make this one a little bigger than the others.

New handmade patchwork cushion added to my Etsy shop. Find it here.

new hand knits in the shop....

Happy New Year! Hope you all had a great time. We had a wonderful couple of weeks and have only just emerged from all the turkey and of course the Quality Street tin.

I did get a chance to do some making over the festive period so lots of new hand knits in my Etsy shop. More soon....