We helped out at the Blind National Sailing Championships yesterday at EAST. They had fabulous weather, great wind, and happy volunteers (and extremely happy sailors). 

Since Ms. Kanga still has many weeks of work before she goes in the water (mostly reattaching the assorted fittings that we took off to redo the deck), we thought we'd go down to EAST and at least help out. I ended up taking hundreds of pictures of the sailing (and the volunteers), which we'll bring over on a DVD shortly.

I've been a serial book-abandoner since I finished A Discovery Of Witches - I gave up on Alone In Berlin (too grim), One Day (characters were driving me crazy), The Tiger's Wife (generally meh), and Embers (I couldn't decide where the book was going so I gave up).

Oh dear. I have the newest 44 Scotland Street novel from Alexander McCall Smith, The Importance of Being Seven, which I know I'll love. I also have the third of the Black Magician trilogy, by Trudi Canavan, so I'll be fine. Canavan was at the Bury St Edmunds branch of Waterstones last week and I didn't find out about it until after the fact. FML. I've tried to get on a list for events in local bookshops and there isn't one. I forget to check their website and then miss awesome things like Authors I Love Who Live In Australia And Hardly Ever Go On Book Tours. Bah.

Roomie C sent me this video on Facebook. Not afraid to admit that it made me cry. In a good way through. I've gone on to iTunes to see which album I should buy and I can't seem to find an album's worth of songs that I love. Just this one, for the mo.



Had a funny moment at work today - I went into the canteen to make my coffee with my "chemistry set" (aka Aeropress) and our dinner-lady said, "Oh good, you're here. I have bananas for you."

"Um, what bananas?"

"Oh, I've been trying to give them away to other people all morning and they all said that I should give them to you. Something about banana bread?"

Oh, right. Banana bread. I'll get right on that.

I want to work at Liberty

Ok, have you guys seen these scarf-tying tutorials from Liberty of London? Where have they BEEN all my life?

I went looking for the new Mollie Makes and couldn't find it, even though it's supposed to be available from WH Smith and Sainsbury's and I tried both. Bah...Ipswich.

I did come across issue 1 of Handmade Living, which I liked - it wasn't the Best Magazine Ever but I'd probably buy it again.

I made rhubarb crumble again, with the Rhubarb Pear Crumble recipe from BBC good food (their website is having a grumpy), without the pears this time. We ate it, hot from the oven, with toffee crunch ice cream. BLISS.

And to answer JaneRowena's sneeterdoodle from the Paula Deen Banana Bread post, I kinda just eyeballed the cup of butter. My mom used to smoosh butter into a cup-measure, and then wrestle it out again. Weighing is much better. If I weren't so lazy, I would have converted for y'all.

Organised

My fabric stash was getting a little bit out of control. Embarrassing pictures, below:

Shudder. I couldn't find anything, and any time I wanted to pull fabric out for a project, it made a mess of the rest of the pile.

I asked Pinterest what to do, and found this tutorial from Smashed Peas and Carrots. Having a 13-year-old stepson who loves going to the comic book store has its advantages, apparently!

The newly organised stash includes a green seed-head printed linen from Karlsson Designs that's destined to be napkins and some teatowels, and a long-lost Japanese bicycle print that I'd forgotten I owned. It was still all folded up in the Purl Soho (where I haven't been in at LEAST 2 years) bag. Oops.

C'mon - don't you love that little red bicycle? With those clouds? Sigh. Thanks, Pinterest!

I've started reading Sherlock Holmes on my Kindle - I've found that I can only really read it in short bursts, as the stories seem to be a little repetitive and Sir A.C. Doyle is NOT giving his readers all of the information to solve the puzzle before Sherlock does. Bah. I think it may also be a case of Post-Discovery-Of-Witches trauma. It's tough to follow a star...

Use more butter, y'all!

There was a surplus of bananas at work (they feed us lunch, including a piece of fruit), so I took some home with the promise to make banana bread.

Boy, did I make banana bread!

I rifled through my recipe books, and decided that the Paula Deen "put some more butter in it, y'all" treatment would be appropriate.

It was definitely the best banana bread I've ever had (and I have the emails from my colleagues to prove it - they devoured it and asked for more)! The crust was a little bit chewy and vaguely caramelised, and the inside was moist and crumbly and very banana-y.

Recipe: Banana Bread (from Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics)


1/2 c butter (at room temp; or wrestle with cold butter like I did)
1 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c plain flour
1 tsp baking soda (I used bicarb)
1 tsp baking powder
3 ripe bananas, mashed (I doubled the recipe and used 7 bananas [and 2 loaf tins], but they were small ones)

Grease a loaf tin. Combine butter and sugar. Add the rest of the ingredients, mix well (it'll look dry before you put the bananas in). Bake in the loaf tin for 50 mins at 375F, until a skewer comes out clean and your house smells amazing.

Cookies & Scones

We couldn't watch Friday's wedding without some Real English Food. So I made Delia's scones (from my new book, naturally). The recipe I used doesn't seem to be on her website. 

Also, it was supposed to make rather more scones than it made. Never mind, they were delicious. We inhaled them as soon as they came out of the oven, so there's no "after" picture! The mat they're on was a present from my mom (thanks, Mom!) - it's one of those non-stick silicone jobbies. Nice.

Who's that, taking a picture of the tv (and assorted clutter around the tv)? Not me! Ok, maybe I did. But it's SO CUTE. That's our Easter tree on the right.

I felt a pressing need to make cookies on Saturday evening, so I grabbed my Paula Deen cookbook. Again with the recipe not on the internet...bah. James announced that oatmeal raisin cookies were YUCKY, so we added some dark chocolate chunks. He made a batch to take home with him and then forgot to bring them when he left. Too bad - more for me! Sorry for not posting the recipe - I'm upstairs and it's downstairs and I'm lazy. So there.

Review: A Fine Balance

One of my book group buddies registered for Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance for World Book Night this year.

It was quite long, but definitely had an immersive feel to it - I found myself surprised when I picked my head up that I wasn't in a slum in India. The interactions between the characters were very well drawn, and I found myself coming back to it to find out what would happen next. There were a few scenes that I wished I hadn't been eating breakfast while reading, so be warned. I'd recommend it, though - I read it nearly 2 months ago and the characters have stayed with me.

When we haven't been reading, we've been sanding and painting and varnishing. Kanga seems to be loving the attention (although she keeps calling attention to bits that need mending...)

We had some bourbon in the house, so I looked on the interwebs and found a recipe where you mix bourbon with ginger ale. John picked up some Fever Tree ginger ale (which I like to drink when I'm under the weather). YUM!

Gabi's birthday bag

This is a birthday present, but the recipient doesn't read the blog (yet - she's only 2) so I think I'm safe. Her mom & grandma both read the blog (hi E. and A!), but I think they'll keep a secret until Sunday.

I used the tutorial for Molly's Little Purses from the Purl Bee, with some modifications at the end from the Twenty Minute Tote.

Basically, I didn't have the super-cool handles from the MLP, and my liner fabric is directional so I didn't want to have upside-down bits of it on the outside.

Both prints are from Ikea, and the handles are red binding material that I had from some unknown previous project. I sewed them into the linings - I pinned them upside-down in between the lining and outer fabrics before I sewed them together. LOVE the pocket.

I really love the whole project, actually - I kept running in to the other room to show John. "Have you seen THIS part? How CUTE?!!" Teehee. I'm hoping she uses it to carry her books to and from the library, or to carry around those IMPORTANT things that you need to keep with you when you're two. You know the stuff...random bits of string, assorted teddy bears, the odd pinecone or acorn...

Grey, green & orange.

My Kindle case arrived. Charcoal grey wool with a green ultra-suede tab. I felt a little guilty ordering it, since I probably could have made myself one, but Husband pointed out that I'm supporting an Etsy-er and probably wouldn't have gotten around to making it. It's not reinforced or anything, so I need to not sit on it, but I really wasn't interested in one of the enormo-Kindle-shells, since the whole mission was to make my reading material smaller.

Still going through Mom-withdrawal, I thought this picture was really funny. Pretty much what each of us saw all week! And yes, that's an ill-fated Flip. If you were thinking about it (or thinking about any video camera, really, or have kids, or a dog, or anyone you want to video, BUY ONE NOW). They're super-easy to use, take great videos, and are otherwise awesome. Cisco, please resuscitate the Flip, or at least release the patents onto the open market so someone else can make them.

And in a quick tribute to Jane Brocket, whose tulips are amazing. These were pretty rockin' though. (Spotted at Osterley Park on Saturday.)

We Did A Delia

Well. My mom came for her annual Week In Suffolk. We had our usual fabulous time (of course)!

My mom's 'cousin' came up to visit from Bristol, and came to the Bach Choir's performance of Dream of Gerontius. It went exceptionally well (and has been stuck in my head ALL week). We had a picnic in the Abbey Gardens between the rehearsal and the concert, which the boys thoroughly enjoyed. I mean, c'mon, what's not to love!?

We spent Sunday at Ickworth House, since I have now recovered from my employee-induced snit with the National Trust and have (gasp) joined for a year. I think we made a good dent in the membership: two entrances to Ickworth, one to Anglesey Abbey (um, the guy was a SERIOUS magpie!), and two to Osterley Park (reason no.1 for visiting: 5 mins from Heathrow).


We also did our usual amount of gardening (welcome, new plants!), and general eating. But the highlight of the week was the cooking class that we went to in Norwich, at Delia's Canary Catering. We spent the morning watching Alex Mackay give a great cooking demo, had a very tasty lunch, and then WE MET DELIA!

(Americans, Delia Smith is the English Martha Stewart. Except just for cooking - not so much on the interior decorating front.)


My mom is now back on the other side of the Atlantic, which is rather sad. We did, however, have a super week, and we've left a trail of recipes / plants / books / pictures and Flip videos behind us!

Kate & Mom Week 2011

A small preview. We went to Ickworth yesterday. Fun!

This weekend: Bach Choir sings Elgar

Ok, English people. We are singing the very English (and very awesome) Dream of Gerontius, by the very English (and very awesome) Edward Elgar this weekend at the Bury St Edmunds cathedral. And my Mom is coming all the way from New York to see us. So you should come, too.

Details at the Bach Choir website. Short version: Saturday 9th April, 7:30pm, St Edmundsbury Cathedral. £23 / £18 / £12. BE THERE!

Look what I can do when I turn my camera to manual mode! ::Happy dance::

Pretty Things

Ribbons and a fat quarter.

 

Fuzzy.

The Downton Abbey box set for the M-i-L for Mothering Sunday, 

all wrapped up in ribbon and brown paper.

Rambles

Well. Spring has rather suddenly sprung - it was 20 degrees and sunny today. Glorious.

This is...ahem...my second Aeropress. The first one lives at work. And then our John Lewis coffee machine (with the nice insulated pot) decided that it was Finished. On strike. Not making coffee. Well. We can't have that.

If you really like coffee (and don't mind not being able to top your cup up with "a little hot" as my mom always calls it), go get one.

OK, I have a confession to make. I've gone over to the Dark Side. See? It's right there, in the picture. No, not the Aeropress one.

Fine, you win. I will shout it from the rooftops.

I HAVE A KINDLE! And I love it. It hasn't been properly Kindle-y and left the house yet, mostly because the super-snazzy wool felt case that I ordered on Etsy hasn't come yet. Don't worry, I'll blog about it when it arrives.

I've decided that I will continue to be a mega-customer of the Stowmarket Library (at least until the Tories kill it), and the Kindle will be used for (1) books in the public domain and (2) books that I Have To Read Now And The List At The Library Is So Long That I Would Have Bought The Book Anyway. For the moment, that means I'm reading Pride And Prejudice.

One more thing to show you - remember when Viv came to stay? I know, it was a blast. Anyway, when she was here, I admired her snazzy knitting bag. And so she made me one. And sent it to me last week. And I LOVE it! Little mini pencil-case sized bag for scissors and those funny little poky things to twist the needles and stoppers on and off, and a big bag for the actual knitting. You can't see from this picture, but it has a really bright blue lining that looks fab against the linen and the red zipper. Also, Little Red Riding hood is accompanied by some very entertaining critters.

Small Cambridge Adventure

We went on An Adventure to Cambridge yesterday, and stumbled upon a really delicious lunch, at Jinling Noodle Bar.  We were walking past, on our way to Wagamama for lunch, when we noticed it. We peeked through the windows and saw lots of happy customers slurping on noodles. Wagamama would wait. This looked better.

I asked the waitress what she recommended, and she said the brisket noodle bowl. Somewhat unlikely, but there you go. It was delicious - the noodles were tasty and just the right consistency, the cabbage was crispy, the brisket was meltingly tender, and the broth was really savoury and not too salty.

Here's the before:

 And the after. Yes, I ate ALL of it.

We were also in John Lewis, where I thought this display of plates was really funny. I've been told by the Husband that we are NOT buying any commemorative Royal Wedding stuff (not even a teatowel!) but the It Should Have Been Me plate cracked me up. As did the Kate's Wedding List plate. She wants a toaster, a dinner set, throw pillows, a new tiara, and Oxfordshire, apparently. Tee hee!

Camera Tips

Ok, I read this. And then read it again. And then linked to it for y'all.

I think I'll read it again tomorrow.

Apertures & Shutter Speeds via NotMartha. If you have a camera, go read it. Promise.

This was a non-slr photo taken in completely automatic mode (and tinkered with in iPhoto).

Review: Downton Abbey

Well. We loved Downton Abbey. And may even have to brave the commercials on ITV to watch the second season when it comes out, rather than waiting for the DVD. People who live in Suffolk: they have the DVD at the library - it's £2 for a week and you can reserve it online. What are you waiting for!? Americans, it was on PBS. Watch it. Great cast, Dame Maggie Smith is AMAZING and steals every scene she comes within 30 feet of, and the "bad guys" are deliciously bad.

And a little baking yummyness: lemon & blueberry cake (minus blueberries) + raspberries + portrait lens = awesome.

Needs work

Saw this in Woodbridge last week. Teehee.

Nautical day (not on the water yet)

In a fit of excitement at NOT wanting to spend the whole day asleep under the duvet with a box of tissues and a cup of tea, we went bought bottom paint for Kanga (the boat). Ok, the two aren't really related, but I thought it sounded good. We're now ready for some Warm, Spring Days, please, so we can apply said paint to said bottom.

I am very glad we do not have to paint THIS boat's bottom. That's a lot of paint.

We headed over to Woodbridge after the boatyard, to grab some lunch and go for a walk. We wandered through town and up to the market square, where we found The Galley. The mezze on the menu looked interesting, so we went in.

The food was delicious, and really colorful. Yes, it really was THAT pink (turkish yogurt with garlic & beetroot). We split the mezze starter between us as lunch, and it was just right. Some of our fellow diners were eating full three-course meals, but I think we'd have to fast for 48 hours before taking that on. We'll definitely stop in to the Ipswich branch (owned by the same chef) next time we're at IFT.

We then had the best creme brulee I've ever had (and the second best John's ever had, after the now-closed Bertorelli's in London). It was perfect.

We chatted with the chef/patron about it, and apparently it takes 5 days to make. And minutes to devour.

I'm feeling a little conflicted about blogging with so much death and destruction around the world, but I think I'm going to go with Shutter Sisters' message today: show signs of hope.

This was my week

I caught the mega-cold (worst one I've had in a while) that has been going around work. And missed the entire week. As one of my colleagues said, I "slept for England." And read Jilly Cooper's Jump for book group. Verdict? Meh. It should have been half the size. Half the number of characters, half the number of pages, and half the story arcs. At least it entertained me for several days on-bed. Even her author's acknowledgements at the end were 9 pages long. 9 PAGES! Someone, somewhere, please edit Jilly Cooper down to a manageable length, at which point I might consider reading another one.

Haven't actually started Downton Abbey yet - I'm looking forward to it.

Recipe: Non-Yucky Lemsip (because the medicated stuff is NASTY)

1 green-tea teabag

1/2 lemon

1 tbs honey

boiling water

-and-

1 paracetemol (taken separately)

Stir the lemon and honey around in the tea, then take the lemon out and squeeze as much juice and fruit as you can into the mug (it'll be easier after a minute in the boiling water). Works better than the medicated stuff, I think, to make you feel better and clear things up, at least temporarily. I wonder if I could fill an insulated camelbak with it and just take it around with me!

Other saviour of the week: Angry Birds. LOVE it. Even if playing for 2 hours drains my iPhone (3) battery from full to empty. Not that I've done that, in my pjs, while sipping Non-Yucky Lemsip, or anything. Nope.

Review: The Adjustment Bureau

We had to drop The Stepson in Colchester yesterday for a birthday party. 11am to 4pm. That would be a day-shredder, then. Lovely.

Since our one experience of Colchester was 5 years ago (and was overwhelmingly negative), I suggested we spend the day there and see the sights. Um, yeah. We saw the sights in about 10 minutes. And then we were done. And hungry. So we arbitrarily picked a cafe that looked good, and were treated to a lunch straight out of 1994. BEFORE England's foodie revolution. Bleurgh. No, 3 pieces of limp iceberg and a cold, sad, tasteless tomato do not a salad make. C'mon, guys! We should have gone to McD's.

Anyway, we bought tickets (most expensive movie tickets EVER at £9.50 each - for a matinee!) to see The Adjustment Bureau. After 30 minutes of previews and ads (again, WTF, Colchester), the movie started. It was really enjoyable (especially since I'm a sucker for a good New York City movie...cue the whispered "I've BEEN there!" every 4 minutes...sorry, husband). Lots of running around, intermittent kissing, and some good old fashioned omniscient beings. Not sure it was worth £19 for the two of us, but then again, I cant think of many movies that would have been.

Anyone with contrary opinions of Colchester, please feel free to weigh in.

To make up for the Epic Lunchtime Fail yesterday, I had this for lunch today. Stepson had a variation with pepperoni and cheese, but mine had cheddar (should've been mozzarella but it had gone rather gloopy and fermented), homemade pesto from the freezer, and sundried tomatoes. Melty, cheesy, garlicky goodness.

See? Yummy! And cheap! And not hard to make. Hear that, Evil Cafe in Colchester? (I did take pictures in hope that it would be tasty and I would be able to blog about it, but I'm not going to spread a web of hate on my blog. Nameless they shall remain.) But beware, visitors to Colchester! Stay home and have toasted cheese sandwiches instead. It'll be better.

Portrait lens and cake

I made lemon & blueberry cake (except with raspberries instead of blueberries) for my work peeps on Tuesday. I only had the portrait lens on the camera (and was too lazy to change it), but I like the way the picture came out. The cake was delish, btw. Great recipe.

I read The Magician's Guild, the first in Trudi Canavan's Black Magician trilogy. I liked it more than the prequel that I read last year. Not much in the way of wand-waving but I think there will be more magic (and learning about magic) in the next book in the trilogy. I'm still working on Jilly Cooper's Jump (ugh) for book group, and I have several other books to get moving on, mostly non-library ones. Woohoo!