Flag Counter Reports Visitor From Out of Space!

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know I have a bit of a thing for my 'Flag Counter'.  It is like State of the Art stamp collecting to me.  It tracks blog visitors by Country.  It also provides you with all sorts of information about those countries (some places I have never even heard of!)  I have now had visitors from 103 countries which is just awesome.  Now for the really weird stuff, yesterday my newest visitor was from 'An Unknown Satellite Provider'.  I have taken this to mean only one thing, we are not alone!  All are welcome and appreciated in my little corner of Blogland, so if you are from extra terrestrial origin here is a special little shout out especially for ya!  

Hi! 

Whilst I am more than happy to have alien invasions in Blogland, I just want to make it quite clear I am not up for an alien abduction in the real world.  I can not spare the Hookie time.  Ya get me?  How I cried at ET though, back in 1982.  I just love Master Yoda too.  

If you are an intergalactic visitor to my little corner of Blogland please leave a comment, that would be soooo cool!

Quick Crochet 'Remembrance Day' Poppy Brooch

 'Flower of The Eternal Sleep' by Josie Whitehead

I saw that The Smiling Robot had made herself a poppy for Remembrance Day.  I thought it was a lovely idea to crochet a brooch.  Off to trusty old Ravelry for a pattern and I chose this Free Pattern Here.  I altered it a little accidentally on purpose.

I sewed a safety pin to the back and Voila!  One Poppy Brooch.  I had more trouble photographing it than crocheting it.  The colour either turned out shocking cerise or this rusty red.  I chose to be kind on your eyes and select the rusty red pictures.  The poppy is actually 'Poppy' red in real life, but in Blogland it is this colour.  I love my little point and shoot camera, but I don't understand it fully, I haven't worked out how to access the menu or what all the functions are  -  you may have guessed I am not a read the manual kind of gal!

 I will be wearing my poppy with pride.

Quick and Easy Oat Cookies

I was lucky enough to grow up with lots of family within five minutes walking distance from my house, both sets of Grandparents, Aunties and Uncles, cousins and Great Aunties and Uncles.  These Oat Cookies remind me of my Great Auntie Marion.  She was affectionately known as Auntie Pauntie...I have no idea why!  I was rather spoiled by many of these relatives and saw many of them regularly, popping in for 'Egg and Chips' or a chocolate biscuit, home baked goodies, a chat to the budgie, a knitting lesson, a game of cards or a game of dominoes, a rummage through the button jar etc etc....I knew little treats would be waiting for me in the various houses.  I am sure I was a pest, but nobody ever let on.  Auntie Pauntie was a knitter.  She was also a smoker and she was partial to Whiskey and Brandy.  She was my Grandmother's Sister in law and I saw her multiple times a week.  My Grandparents were bombed out of their house in Birmingham in the Second World War and they moved in with Auntie Marion and Uncle Bill until they could get back on their feet.  They never bought their own home again, their next house they rented for the rest of their lives.  Auntie Marion was a very slim lady and knew how to budget...to fund her more pleasurable habits.  Her Oat Cookies were delicious.  They are very economical, very quick and easy to bake a batch and equally quick to disappear.  Euan has reserved a couple to take to school tomorrow.  I cook a batch in the oven when I am making the Sunday Roast.  (Chickens are rather partial to them too).
Here is the recipe for Auntie Paunties Oat Cookies:


Ingredients
100g Butter
100g Sugar
150g Self raising flour
50-75g Oats
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Essence

Method
Cream together the butter and sugar.  Add two beaten eggs and stir well.  Add the Vanilla essence, oats and flour.  Mix well.  Using your hands roll the mixture into walnut sized balls and roll them in oats.  Flatten them out and place them on a baking tin, spaced apart as they will spread.  Bake them in a medium oven for 15-20 minutes until they start to turn Golden.  If you have the patience allow them to cool...but they are delicious warm or even hot!  (They are a naughty breakfast occasionally in this house).
Pour whiskey, light cigarette and enjoy!

Still Rippling Away

I have still been working away at this ripple, I do not need the heating on when I am working on it and now it is keeping my feet warm.  The first photograph was the last time I shared it.  I am rippling whenever I can and it is highly addictive.  To the detriment of  housework and other projects!  Today I rippled in the car when I was waiting for the school bell to ring for Euan.  I am finding it quite tricky to photograph now.  I had to chase the dog off it just before I took this update:

Not a very good photograph, I know!  I think I like the colours...if I don't think too much about them.  The kids still like it and the dog loves it.   Today to my horror she was pawing it!  I don't usually have to tell her off but she refused to stop pawing it and treading on it while I was trying to work on it, so I had to do a cross 'No!'   If she ladders it or puts a whole in it I will be upset!   I made Euan a Granny Square blanket when he was five as he had some surgery on his foot and needed a wheelchair,  he was thrilled with it and had it on his lap as soon as I gave it to him.  Unfortunately he was cutting and sticking craft stuff at the table and promptly snipped a good size hole in it about five minutes after I gave it to him.   It got darned and it is still much loved and in regular use.

  Also you may remember this post These Granny Square Photographs May Cause Distress!  I hope to have more luck with the ripple and I can't wait to be using it on the sofa to watch movies at the weekend.  It is definitely a 'snuggle up with Mom blanket'.  The dog thinks so anyway.   

How to make 'Hot Port' - For Medicinal Purposes!

This Slice of  Lemon is waiting patiently in the bottom of a glass, it is looking very pretty with each segment stuck with a whole clove and delicious golden 'Local' Honey drizzled over it.  The Honey is from the Malvern Hills.

Poor Tickety Boo, was feeling unwell with the sniffles.  She was after some 'Hot Port' for medicinal purposes as she is celebrating something special at the weekend and needs to be well.  She mentioned her hubby had very kindly been out for supplies for her.  I have never heard of 'Hot Port' but as I had some Port within arms reach I thought I should 'Google' and see what it is all about.

I don't want anymore sniffles right now so I am consuming this as a medicinal preventative.  I came across several recipes, so I will make it my duty to undertake some research into the tastiest recipe.  The first recipe I tried was very simple.  A slice of lemon, stuck with whole cloves, a spoonful of honey, 25% port and 75% hot water.  I can also recommend a 50%-50% ratio of Port to hot water.  It worked very well indeed.  It went down a treat, as it says on the bottle it was an indulgence, perfect for this time of year.  I love the scent and flavour of cloves.   I am about to climb the 'Apples and pears' and I am sure it will not be long before I am in a deep slumber.  I have been making loads of typo's writing this but...I am not a thunk as dreople pink! I have got rosy cheeks and a very warm glow!  Night Night.

Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom plays 'Blog Tag'

'Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom'  Has made it really easy to join in with 'Blog Tag' pop over and take a look.  It is a fantastic blog with some excellent artwork.  This paper quilling is really impressive.

I found the post on 'Faux Metal Wall Art' fascinating.