Cuddles in an Envelope...

My daughters creative ingenuity never fails to impress me.

A parcel arrived from the UK... and can you guess what these are??

Well.. they are Hugs...

Each of the grandchildren lay on paper.. and my daughter and daughter in law drew around them...

and their outstretched arms...

Two of them were easy... Little Tufty proved to be a challenge...

The grandchildren then decorated them...

with lovely pictures and messages...

Now..as my granddaughter told me... when ever I feel lonely and miss them

I just have to wrap their arms around me and feel their cuddles...

Genuis!!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

In the Kitchen ~ Pineapple Upside Down Gingerbread

Over in the Uk..the grandchildren are enjoying the run up to Christmas

Little Mr had his school Nativity... where he was the Inn Keeper

and he said his one line perfectly

"No Room Here"

Meanwhile in Little Miss's School it was Christmas Sweater Day..

and Little Miss chose her own..

Little Tufty "happily" got in on the act too...

But behind the scenes...

Pineapple Upside Down Gingerbread

Baking is ongoing... and I needed a quick recipe to take to a coffee morning today. I chose a  recipe from my 1940s recipe collection. An easy and very moist Pineapple Upside Down Cake using a Gingerbread Sponge.

This recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, November 1940 turned out really nice... and went down a treat with the ladies.

I made no changes... but I couldnt quite get the pineapple pattern the same as the picture in the magazine.. plus... a few little cracks wont make the slightest difference

2 tablespoons butter 

1/2 cup sugar
6 slices canned pineapple
1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 beaten egg

1/2 cup light molasses

1 3/4 cups cake flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup sour milk or buttermilk

• Melt butter in 8-inch square pan
• Add brown sugar and return to oven until melted.
• Arrange pineapple. 
• Thoroly cream shortening and granulated sugar
• Add egg and molasses; mix well. 
• Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with sour milk. 
• Pour over pineapple slices. 
• Bake in moderate oven (350°) 50 minutes. 
• Serves 9

Oh Holy Night...

Good Morning from The Blue House

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Cozy..

Now everything is decorated for Christmas I can relax and enjoy the season

The weather is turning chilly but in our home we are warm and cozy

Across the pond.. the Christmas season continues 

with the first of the grand childrens school festivities

Little Miss had the biggest part in her school nativity.. as The Narrator.

She had 18 lines to learn...a lot for a six year old

and she did brilliantly!!

Well done my Little Love!!

And I made the first batch of Mince Pies.. 

which used my homemade Blackberry Mincemeat.

Not too many at a time as they are delicious straight from the oven..

Hang on a minute....

I'm sure I made twelve!!!

MR D!!!!!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Whats for Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

Good Morning from the Blue House..

And in my home.. THIS my dear friends.. 

is the room where the REAL magic happens.. lol

Well... MrDs Chewy Fudge Brownie Cookies anyway. I have suggested other Christmasy type treats... but he always wants these... Ok... one last time in December.. then you will HAVE to try something different my dear Hubby.

Have a great week... and here's this weeks dinner menu

 Weekly Plan - 9th December 2024

Monday              Chicken Cackle, Rice

Tuesday               Crispy Tacos

Wednesday         Beef Hot Pot, Cabbage

Thursday            Crockpot Four Cheese Ravioli Lasagne

Friday                 Spinach and Artichoke Pizza

Saturday             Hawaiian Chicken Burgers

Sunday                Leftovers

Early Morning,,,

Happy Saturday from The Blue House

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

The Front Porch..

A hot cup of coffee on a chilly front porch..

Good Morning from the Blue House x

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

In the Kitchen ~ Baileys Coffee Cake

We are all lovers of cake in this family... but there is one little lady who loves it a bit too much.. 

and mummy allows it in moderation..

but is she really thinking..."Cake is Life"??

So today I whipped up the first of our Christmas treats.. and its just for MrD who has has been working so hard. This very easy and moist cake has both Baileys and coffee in it.. two of his favourites... Seeing as I dont drink.. its down to hubby for a verdict... and he says its delicious

The recipe has a butter cream topping.. but I left it in a jug to spread when wanted...as he sometimes likes his cake hot with ice cream.. or simply spread with butter.

2 tbsp instant coffee
2 sticks/8oz soft butter
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup Baileys
2 cups self-raising flour

Icing

1/2  stick/2oz soft butter
2 cups icing sugar
1/4 cup Baileys

• Mix the soft butter and brown sugar in a bowl 
• Whisk until creamy.
• Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each.
• Stir in the coffee, Baileys, and self-raising flour. 
• Mix until smooth and lump-free.
• Pour the batter into a greased loaf tin.
• Bake at 180°C for 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. 
• Let it cool completely.
• For the icing: Combine the soft butter, icing sugar, and Baileys. 
• Mix until silky smooth.
• Spread generously over your cooled cake.

He's Back...

For the 26th Christmas.. tho a bit worse for wear… 

Sammy the Snowman is gracing the tree…

Alls right with the world….

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Twenty Years...

Its been exactly twenty years.. and today I'm thinking of this beautiful lady I was blessed to call Mum..

Twenty years since God suddenly called her home.. so quickly I didn’t get to say goodbye.

After twenty years there's nothing new I can say about this incredibly hard working, brutally honest, determined woman who found it hard to say ‘Love’.. yet showed it for her kids.. grandkids, family and friends with every fiber of her being…

She ruled with a rod of iron and a heart of gold... instilled in us our morals, self respect, work ethic and pride of family.. and wanted nothing more for us than to be happy..

And because on December 3rd 2004 a light went off in our lives…every December 3rd since.. 

we put on all the lights in memory of the woman who loved Christmas.. and made it so special for us..

Mum... I have always been proud to be your daughter and I am so grateful for the life you gave me.. the lessons you taught me and the love of family you showed me.

 

I will love and miss you always … until we meet again

Beautiful Day...

Good Morning from the Blue House

And what a glorious sky greeted us this first Sunday in December..

December.. my favorite month of the year.. and the start of the Festive Season. I have been so excited for this.. but I’m a bit cheesed off as.. while trying to step over our dog.. he stood up.. I staggered.. and I have a painful sprained ankle.. I will be hobbling for a while. So stupid!!!!

Kinda brought back memories of when I was a teenager.. I was vacuuming the living room for mum.. she stepped over the wire.. just as I pushed the Hoover forward.. the wire went up.. she tripped.. her whole body twisted except her ankle!! Well it was a Saturday.. and Mork and Mindy was sorta taking my attention..

At least I don’t have to have a plate and two pins in my foot.. and be in plaster up to my thigh for months… Sorry mum x

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Well.. Hello!

Tomorrow is December 1st and it is traditionally the day that many households get a little visitor who wreaks absolute havoc until Christmas. I have often thought about inviting a little elf to stay.. I mean we have plenty of room.. but they make so much mess.

So imagine my surprise when I looked out of the kitchen window and spied a little fella sitting on my lawn.. not an elf .. but a very jolly gnome.. And he had brought his pal with him.. who I did notice was a little underdressed for the occasion .. but seemed happy enough. I guess they can stay

Btw.. thank you to our next door neighbor who we caught on the security cameras siddling around the house.. darting behind pillars and trying her upmost not to be filmed while she placed the little men.

Tom Cruise eat your heart out

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

The Day After...

Thanksgiving was yesterday…

so you know what that means…

But before the festivities start... here's a little video I made of our day yesterday..

Im  no Steven Spielberg but I hope you enjoy

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Happy Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving from me and him...

I knew I should have worn heels...sigh...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x