This part of my blog is all about the things I collect or the things I make myself. I love so many things, I paint and draw and want to learn oils and pastels. I knit and crochet but want to learn tatting. I embroider and can turn my hand to most things given a chance. So much still to learn and do. I live in hope of some day reading all my books, learning all I want to learn and now I am learning to blog. You will often find my original poems, poor as they are I offer them here. I also appreciate other people art and will feature things I find that I have enjoyed. That includes pictures of fairies and fantasy or maybe just anything beautiful.
I try to use my own photo's as much as possible, sometimes I borrow from the web. If I inadvertently use your picture without giving credit, please do let me know and I will either credit or remove it, I hope you will do the same with mine.
If you wish to leave comments on my blog you can do that by joining google if you do not have a blog yourself, please comment if you can I appreciate that.


Sunday, January 6, 2013

Cottage Pie........

Today I did a post on Bluebell Woods about Marmite. I got into other English things like Bovril and OXO and ended with a picture of a "Shepherds Pie"..........A Shepherds pie is made of Sheep meat (lamb or mutton) and a cottage pie is made from beef. I make Cottage pie but call it Sherpherds pie just to confuse everyone.
So this was todays meal. After I wrote that I wanted some and it was a great opportunity to take pictures. So.....here we go. Please do read all the way through before you begin.


First of all you do not need measurements. While I use English products it is not at all necessary and I will go step by step with replacements for those who can not get what I use. Believe me its just as good.

You will need hamburgher meat........today I used about 2 pounds. (a lot of instructions say fry it.... don't) I cover the meat with beef stock and cook it in the stock that I made from 2 OXO cubes and one packet of Shepherds pie mix. If you do not have that then cook it in Beef stock that you buy, I use Swansons.
Bring to the boil and then simmer until the meat is cooked and simmer long enough for the meat to absorb the flavour and a lot of the liquid (but not all of it).

Step one
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You will see in the above picture that the meat breaks down but there is plenty of liquid to simmer in
These are the products I used.............But remember, you can use Swansons Broth.
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Step two
When the meat is cooked and some of the liquid is absorbed then strain the meat through a colander into a sause pan. This is the meat after straining (looks juicy not dry).
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Step three

This is a picture of the meat now transfered to a casserol dish.

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Step 4
Add your other ingredients....... Baked beans and Veg all is what I used today. This recipe is good to use up left over veggies.

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When the ingredients you choose are in the casserol with the meat, then mix it well

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Step five

Now, the best way and best results come from regular potatoes cooked and mashed. If you choose to do that then they need to be cooking while the meat is cooking. Otherwise instant potatoes work just as well.

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After mixing in your chosen vegetables then top with your yummy mashed potatoes. Lots of milk and butter and dont forget the salt. (you know I love potatoes right)Smoothe them out over the dish and then draw your fork through it to make the pattern.

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Place this in the oven at 350 or 400 for as long as it takes to give a nice crusty and browned top to the potatoes. Its worth doing it at 350 and cooking about 45 mins or sometimes longer. I love crunchy potatoes. You can raise the temp for a quicker result because everything has already been cooked. Do place your dish on a tray to catch the drips it may bubble over.

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There is the gravy that you strained left over........you probably wont need it today, but if you have leftovers you may need it tomorrow (smile) so set it aside an use it with the warmed up leftovers.


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This was our meal this evening


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want another look?

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Any questions feel free to email me....... Espirit46@chartermi.net

Also linking with I should be mopping the floor Mop it Up MOndays
linking with The Clever CHicks Blog Hop........with thanks

Sharing also with Materpiece Monday
Linking up with
Cherished Handmade Treasures

Creative corner hop.

Linking with Someday crafts Whatever goes Wednesday

Linking with Mandatory Mooch

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Quilts.........

I have not done any sewing in a long time. I plan on rectifying that soon. This is a crib quilt that I did for my Granddaughter. 031 It now serves as a wall hanging. 032 I made several quilts for the small kids, but they outgrow them so quickly. I made one for my granddaughter Danielle but I dont think I have a picture of that one. Just about all the quilts I made I gave away and didnt take pictures. I do know I have a few somewhere and will look for them. Meanwhile............this one I made and still use in our living room. quilt22 099 I am hooking up with Classy Clutter for their Saturday Spotlight with thanks to the hosts. Also linking with Too Much Time Saturday with much thanks to our host

Friday, January 4, 2013

30 Bidwell Hill, view from the window..............

020 This is a picture I did a long time ago. It is copied somewhat from a photo I took from my Mums bedroom window. I have done it a couple of times and I can not do it and be happy with it yet. I am showing it here at Paint Party Friday. If you have some suggestions I would be most happy. I see lots of room for improvement so you wont hurt my feelings. Sharing with Paint Party Friday. Thank you Eva and Kristin for hosting the party.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Journal...........

Here we are on day two of the new year. I have thought about doing a journal. Not a written one but an art journal. Well, maybe with some poems too but with illustrations. I have looked at, and bought books about journaling but.........ahhhh, not exactly me. So this will be an experiment. I have done two pages so far. I am not sure where it will go. 106_0046a_zps5401e344 I want to experiment with things, go into different directions. I tend to do things I like and feel comfortable with. Flowers, birds and animals. I actually have not done too many things that I can honestly say I love. A few I like .....but that's not the point. People tell me my pictures are good, then say "I sure couldn't do it I cant do a stick figure".........not exactly the rule to judge me by. I only see whats wrong with the things I do. So, this is to relax me. I will start with simple things. 106_0059a_zps6416ac48 Looks OK from a distance but............. 106_0057a_zps5274cdfe Close up, not so much. These are all done with water soluable crayons. 106_0058a_zpsa7251f59 So that is the start......not sure where it will go but I will try to show what I am able to accomplish. They wont be great art and I will try to do some weird stuff. I am linking up with It's Overflowing

Friday, December 28, 2012

A Pink Post.......

Just a pretty fluff post for today. Some eye candy.....some sweet nothingness. Afternoon tea........... 424815_260756734049855_1619755219_n What would a lady have for tea......well who cares? I want this cake. cakeandroses Maybe a cookie or two cookieicing1-1 A lovely cup for your tea, and sugar to put in it. Or just nibble on instead. frosting Lots of pretty sweet things.........my teeth ache just thinking about it but its eye candy, not just to eat. To do a tea right it must be as pleasing to the eye as to the palate. IMG_8638 lifebetter-2 I am linking up with Keeping it Simple.....probably not the best place for this post but its the end of the year and it is a pretty post.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Tristens Christmas Day................

I would normally post this on Bluebell Woods but I already did a post today. Do not have much to show in the way of crafts. Hope to remedy that soon. For now here is a pictorial show of Tristens gift opening.......He spent Christmas eve with his Auntie Laura so they could attend the Commins family Christmas party. So.......he was home by 10am to open his presents here. He had said he wanted a "dog" stuffy. 105_0157 He wanted a cape so we improvised. He actually ended up with a couple. An Angry bird one and a Spider man one, he and Reina has a great time dressing up and playing. 105_0187 Super Grover....or who ever he is was a hit 105_0177 He enjoyed figuring out how to open his carry case for his cars. 105_0172 Then apart from all the other things he got the ultimate gift was a drum set. Now he thinks he's a drummer Photobucket This year we made sure that he didnt rip and tear into his gifts and throw papers and boxes all over. I gave him one at a time. He then threw away the paper before opening the next...........trouble was he had so many he was tired of opening them haha............Auntie Carrie really enjoyed shopping for him. We were ever so grateful to her and Justin for being so generous. All in all I think he had a great day. Next year he will be just turned 4 and will understand a bit better. We will expect more and put the emphasis onto Jesus. He did have a couple of books that he liked about Jesus birth but at his age its hard to grasp the concept. We are working on that. When we were sitting for dinner I asked who could say grace for us............Tristen said "I can" so we all looked at him and I said "OK go ahead".....he folded his hands and closed his eyes and said "Grace" .....it was just so cute and we thought it was probably the best prayer ever.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Marshmallow Treat......

I am not sure where I saw this idea. It seemed like a quick and easy tasty treat. I found it fiddly and messy. Tristen seemed to enjoy it though. So here goes....... You will need large marshmallows. A bar of chocolate to melt. Candy canes. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or a small sausepan in a pan of water. 105_0129 Snap the handles off of the candycanes and take the wrapper off (that was the worst bit) Crush the handle part of the candy cane 105_0130 Spear the large Marshmallow with the straight part of the candy cane and dip it into the melted chocolate. 105_0131 Dip the chocolate into the crushed candy cane pieces and put in a glass or something to set.............. 105_0134 Three of mine were gone before they set. Still warm............I am about to try one.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A few more paintings...................

This is a picture I did a long time ago. Its Trillium and Violets paintings2 A simple watercolour of poppies that I did for Laura's bathroom Photobucket This one goes with it Photobucket Another 024 This is one I did a long time ago and have done a couple of them. One Laura has and one her ex sister in law has. paintings1 I have loads more but I am lazy and dont want to take them out of the frame and glass so I dont have good pictures of them. One day I will do that so I can have copies. Linking with Paint Party Friday..........thank you for hosting it. Linking up with Flamingo Toes, and think pink Sunday.........thank you Kristen and Eva. Linking up with TweleveOeights link party Pretty Things.

Monday, December 17, 2012

If it were not for the darkness, your light could not shine ©JKS2012 CandleAtTheWindow_MistedByGini_11_1 8x8b-Paper-Black
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