Shoe Challenge #8 - Spring Showers

Keeping with the spring theme (and the florals) this was the outfit I wore to the office on Wednesday, and shoes number 8 in the shoe challenge. I'm doing well aren't I? I'd better slow down before I give myself a headache.

Brown Suede Shoes - M&S Via charity shop; Trench Coat - Vintage M&S Via charity shop
Skirt - Karen Millen; Blouse - Vintage via charity shop

Shoe Challenge #7 - Spring florals

Well folks, I finally bit the bullet and packed away my winter woollens and tweeds in favour of my summery frocks, so expect lots more colour, and lots more flowers now.  I wore this outfit to work on Tuesday, my first day back in the office, as I thought it'd brighten up my day. It did, and the sun shone to boot!

Nude Shoes - Primark; Dress - Jasmine Guiness;
Jacket - Next

Anniversary Weekend in the Lake District

Hello folks, I've only been gone for a few days but we managed to fit so much in that I feel like I've had a weeks holiday.

Friday was mine and hubby's wedding anniversary, and as such we'd booked a cottage in Matterdale End in the Lake District. Friday morning, having had Thursday off work to pack and prepare, we were up bright and very early to make our way North for our fun weekend. We packed up the car, put the dogs in the back and set off, driving along the surprisingly quiet M6 in the sunshine.

Shortly after lunchtime, we arrived at our rural cottage. When I say rural, I mean it, we were surrounded by nothing but fields and fells and the view from our window was of rolling hills and countryside. It was bliss.

The view from our cottage window

Me and Pru at the Cottage door

After dropping our bags off, and giving the dogs a stretch of their legs along the nearby bridle paths, we jumped back in the car and set off to nearby Penrith.

Me & Pru on the bridle paths behind our cottage

Hubby and the dogs

Penrith is a small and pretty little town with a myriad of charity shops and outdoor shops. I frequented all of the charity shops, where hubby stuck mostly to the outdoors shops. The whole time, Pru was getting tons of attention from shoppers who were all keen to give her a fuss.

Penrith

Once we'd finished perusing, we found our self a nice little pub with an outside seating area overlooking a sunny courtyard to enjoy our anniversary meal. Steak and scampi yum. I always say that when you go up North they are very generous with their food portions. My theory was proven when our dinners arrived, which were huge and surely filled us up for the rest of the trip.

Hubby at the pub waiting for STEAK. 

After a slow wander back to the car, we were on our way back to our country hideaway to watch TV and generally vegetate after what had been a busy old day.

Saturday morning we were up really early again. The night before we'd decided on a walk from my AA box of Lake District Walks, so we were going to head to Keswick and do the Walla Crag walk. After a hearty breakfast cooked by hubby we set off on the short drive to Keswick, parked the car up at Derwent Head and started our 5 mile walk. It was an interesting and challenging walk through woodland and uphill as well as down a steep crag.

A text break on our long walk to Walla Crag

The dogs loved it, although Pru did fret at a stile and hubby had to carry her over it which was pure comedy value... although I didn't have my camera ready which was a shame. The final stretch of the walk (which took us 4.5 hours in total) took us alongside the shoreline, which was just breathtaking, and allowed the dogs the chance for a sip of fresh lake water. When I stand by those lakes and see how vast they are, and how clear the water is I am filled with the urge to do 2 things. One is to swim in them, the other is to drink from them. I resisted the urge to do either, and instead whipped out my SLR to take some proper photographs of the reflections cast by landing stages and suchlike (a proper picture blog post will follow at a later date).

Hubby and Alfie on the shoreline of Derwent Water

Having finished the walk and it still being mid-afternoon, we made our way into the town centre, and to a pub called the dog and gun which a walker on the side of the crag had told us was very dog friendly. We found a nice little seat in the corner, and I enjoyed a well earned pint of ale and a dish of their famous Goulash. Hubby enjoyed a homemade lasagna whilst the dogs had a selection of treats from their doggy menu (yes folks, they have a doggy menu). We got talking to a few families at neighbouring tables about everything from dogs, to books to local sites of interest and left the pub buoyed by the food and friendliness for a mooch around the beautiful picturesque town, which resembles an alpine picture.

Keswick

Whilst looking in the many outdoors shops, I was lucky to stumble upon a reduced Berghaus fleece, which is pretty fab because it zips into my Gor-tex for maximum mountainside protection... sorry, I know I went all outdoors geeky there, but hubby and I love going out walking and both think it's important to have the right kit to keep warm and dry. I've been lucky in pulling together all my Berghaus kit, and the fleece was the last thing I needed... hence I was so happy to find it.

The shops in Keswick seemed to stay open fairly long, and we were able to look in all the little independent shops and gift shops before settling for a final cappuccino in a dog friendly pub before hitting the road and heading back to the cottage.

By the time we arrived back we were exhausted, and the long walk had really told on our aching muscles, so it was a nice warm bath and an early night for us both.

Sunday morning, hubby got up extra early to watch the Grand Prix, and then woke me with the smell of a full English Breakfast.

Once we'd packed everything back into the car, and said our goodbyes to the cottage owner Roy, we set off to head back to the Midlands. We thought though, rather than take the boring route back along the M6 we'd drive through the lakes as far as possible.

Ullswater was our first stop, and with the ethereal morning mist on the lake, and fishermen already set up on the shore it was a magical place full of beautiful colours and optical illusions. We pulled over and walked down to the banks where hubby took lots of photographs, and I spoke to the men fishing about what fish they would catch from the lake.

Beautiful Ullswater in the morning

Nice morning for fishing

Hubby admiring the view

After about an hour at lakeside, we got back into the car and made our way through Patterdale and along the 1500ft high Kirkstone Pass taking in the breathtaking views of mountains and waterfalls until we wound our way through Windemere, and on to Kendal.

Kendal was a sleepy little town, and we only stayed long enough for a baguette and a cappuccino and quick wander around before heading back towards the M6 and on to the sunny Midlands.

We were blessed all weekend with wonderful weather conditions, and just having so much time together with no distractions other than open mountainside, fells and lakes was pure bliss. Even though we arrived back in Coventry absolutely exhausted, we arrived happy and refreshed and can't wait to return to the beautiful lakes again.

Guitar Heroes

Over a year ago, I bought the most beautiful semi-acoustic guitar. I was adamant that I would learn how to play said guitar, and that within a year I'd be playing Voodoo Chile by Hendrix. Guess what I can play? A big fat NOTHING... that's what I can play! Now, I never learned an instrument as a child, and I feel disadvantaged by that... so in the hope of gaining some inspiration to pick up that beautiful music maker and get strumming I thought I'd list my own personal guitar heroes... these are the people I look up to, and who I want to emulate... now how do I play a G again?!?!?!

Jimi Hendrix.

The one and only ... This man was a guitar playing genius!

John Lee Hooker.

I love the sound of the blues guitar, and if I could just play this one song I'd die happy.

Slash.

I'm a big Guns N Roses fan, and think Slash really is a gifted musician... I also think he's a pretty cool dude.

Seasick Steve

So yeah, there's that whole blues vibe going on again, but I won't apologise for it, I love blues.

Chuck Berry

You gotta love him!

I do realise that emulating any of these guitarists is about 3000 years off for me... but a girls got to have targets!

Anyway, those are my top 5, what a yours?

Selling on eBay

Well, following recent clear outs I've listed some things that I no longer use on eBay. Pop along, and see if there's anything that tickles your fancy.

Things I'm selling. 

Just a taster of the things I'm selling on eBay

52 New Recipes Challenge - Week 10: Curried Parsnip Soup

Well, looks like you're at least getting a recipe this week.

Sunday, I woke up with an almighty sore throat and when we popped out for a walk with the dogs I was struggling to eat proper food. So, for Sunday dinner I made this gorgeous curried parsnip soup. It was rather sweet, but very delicious and we both really enjoyed it served with crusty bread and butter. Also, another veggie one, hoorah!

Curried Parsnip soup

Ingredients


2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 chopped onion
1 crushed garlic clove
1 small green chilli, seeded and chopped
1 tbsp grated fresh root ginger
5 large parsnips diced
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tspn ground tumeric
2 tbsp mango chutney
2 pints water
juice of one lime

Method


1. Heat the oil in a large pan and add the onion, garlic, chilli and ginger. Cook for 5 minutes until the onions have softened. Add the parsnips and cook for a further 2 -3 minutes. Sprinkle in the cumin seeds, coriander and tumeric and cook for one minute stirring constantly.

2. Add the chutney and water. Season well and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until the parsnips are soft.

3. Cool the soup slightly then process in a food processor or blender until smooth. Return it to the saucepan and stir in the lime juice.

Serve.

Taken from The New Soup Bible by Anne Sheasby

Like a pressure has been lifted.

Well, this week took an interesting turn of events which means that you guys got no recipe of the week again… I’m not very good at keeping to my challenges am I? Although, I am doing well with the giving up of crisps for lent… which strangely enough has coincided with the return of my frequent foot cramps so I’m kind of thinking I need crisps for medicinal reasons.

Never mind the crisps though, I’m sure you’re all waiting to hear what turn of events has left you with no recipe this week. Well, in the saga that is our Mini we actually have some good news. There was the whole issue about the damage that the mini sustained when hubby was driving to a meeting at the other side of the country, and how much insurance excess we were going to have to pay, in addition to the fact that the workshop were waiting on a bumper replacement and that was going to take us over the time frame in which we needed to hand the Mini back, and that would incur late return charges on a daily basis, and basically every day that we’ve had that car since buying Granville has seemed to lead to a further expense. It just so happens that hubby had a conversation with the lovely chaps at the Mini showroom earlier in the week, and they mooted the option of perhaps buying the Mini from us, as it is, and then they would complete all the work before they resold it, and of course paying off that damn balloon payment. We left the car with them yesterday, and returned after work to find that, indeed, that is what they would do. We would only have to sign the Mini over to them, and that would be the end of our woes, no work to arrange to fix the car, no insurance excesses to pay out, nada, nothing, cut our losses and walk away. The car has been such a bain of stress that I thought hubby was going to leap across the desk and bear hug the nice chap… who already had a broken arm, perhaps from an over-zealous customer he had relieved of their stress at some other point during the month. Within half an hour, we’d been home, got all the paperwork and the keys together, and were back at the showroom signing our troubles away. It was hard to believe that it could have been that easy, and actually it was harder to believe that we could have done this weeks ago before we’d endured an endless tirade of car related stress, but hey ho, we got there in the end and I’m still pinching myself that something that was causing such pain can be gone so easily.

With our new found freedom in mind, and the awareness that it was St. Patrick’s day, we decided to walk down to our local Irish pub (and winner of various awards for the Guinness they serve) the Hearsall, to celebrate both the day and our own good news. It was a quick change into jeans, and the new Fever blouse that I’d bought a couple of week’s back, before we were walking in the direction of the pub.

Boots - Duo; Jeans - Burberry; Blouse - Fever Designs

I was amazed when we got there to find that it was packed. You could barely move. Now, I’ve not been out on a St. Patrick’s night in about 7 years, the last time I was in an Irish pub in London and you can imagine the Craic there, but I have to say Thursday nights shenanigans rivalled it every bit. After about half an hour of standing, balancing my pint of the black stuff and trying to avoid being showered in everyone else’s hubby managed to bag us a seat as an older couple were leaving. We stayed there the rest of the night drinking pints and pints of Guinness, and before too late a young man came in with his accordion and began reeling off the good old Irish drinking songs… which I heartily joined in with. A young woman was circulating with a pot of green face paint offering to paint shamrocks on anyone who was willing… I was of course willing although it was evident that she’d had a few too many Guinness to be drawing anything. Hubby had one too… although his was most definitely more like a broccoli floret. The atmosphere was so good that you could have fooled yourself that you were sat in a pub in Ireland celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, with not an ounce of bad atmosphere or ill will in the room.

Hubby enjoying a pint of the black stuff

Shamrock or broccoli floret? Who cares, I'm drunk.

It was a late night getting home, and I was definitely feeling the worse for wear on Friday morning when I walked into work. Thankfully, I had a lovely lunchtime date with Roisin and Nic planned, and having just booked a holiday cottage in Kent for June, I was full of the joys of spring by the time I got to them. It was a lovely lunchtime, and we had a right old natter.

The rest of the weekend has been spent doing boring old chores that needed doing, cleaning up, doing lots of laundry and getting it out on the line to blow in the spring breeze (which of course makes the laundry smell a hell of a lot better than when you're forced to dry it all on a clothes horse in the spare bedroom), taking stuff to the tip, and to the charity shop and so forth. This morning though, I woke up with a bad throat, so I'm not feeling 100%. Despite that though, we took the dogs over to Coombe Abbey for a walk around the fields in the sunshine with the inlaws.

Sunday afternoon walk

I love Spring when you can just enjoy nature and get out and get the air in your lungs. Prudence re-enacted her trick of snaffling a whole ice-cream in one fell swoop, so on that note I will leave you a video of that to make you smile, while I head off to list some things on eBay.

Shoe Challenge #6 - Bloomin marvellous

I wore this outfit today to the office, and someone said I looked like a flower. I quite liked that, perhaps I'm bringing spring to the office even if actual spring does appear to have gone on strike.


Out with the dogs
Shoes - Deichmann; Tights - Peacocks; Dress - Fever (poppy dress);
Jacket - Gift; Dogs - Models own!

 These shoes were bought for very little a couple of years back and they are so comfortable that they are often a go to shoe for work purposes.

Could it be that spring has sprung?

Prepare yourself folks for what is going to be a pretty picture heavy post.

Wasn't this weekend just divine? It seems like such a long time since I've seen any sun, that even the chilly air didn't put me off and after what had been a particularly trying week at work last week I was glad to get out and about over the weekend.

Firstly Saturday I decided to go to Worcester on the train. The last time I went we drove, and I have to say I probably would drive if I went again as much of the day was spent on trains. Nonetheless, we still made the most of it when we got there, and we'd no sooner stepped off the train than we found this fab vintage shop called Second Hand Rose. It was in here that I made my only purchase of the day, a fabulous polyester scarf with a mega hunting scene across the middle of it (sorry, I've not photographed it). Truth be told, it's been such a financially draining month that I wasn't going to afford anything more, despite the array of beautiful vintage dresses on offer, some a giveaway at only £25.

Boots- Duo Boots; Skirt - Zara (swap); Top - Wallis (via Charity shop);
Bag - RI2K; Coat - Fever

Anyway, from here we went to the Cathedral, which I think is absolutely fantastic. Not least because its where king John is buried. Anyway, while we were there we were lucky enough to witness the rehearsals for what looked to be a classical music concert that evening, and that just added to the whole atmosphere. It's a beautiful Cathedral, but I'm not going to dwell too much on it because look, I took loads of photographs.

Beautiful ornate carving

The beautiful interior of the Cathedral

This beautiful marble carving was on a tomb

Look at the workmanship of the stained glass windows 

I'd just come up these stairs from the crypt, but thought it quite
picturesque

After a wander around the Cathedral we made our way back into the town to peruse the shops at leisure, and finished off with a lovely meal in a pub before getting the long, slow train home. 

Worcester town hall and shoppers

Sunday morning I spent the entire morning in bed. I wasn't feeling too well, but once I saw the sun beaming through my bedroom window, and had a lovely cuppa in bed courtesy of hubby, I thought I'd try my best to drag my carcass out into the sunlight. After a spot of grocery shopping, we went to Abbey Fields in nearby Kenilworth to walk our dogs in the lovely sunlight, and to catch up with my in-laws who were over there walking their dog too. It was a lovely sunny afternoon spent getting lots of fresh air, and lots of laughs courtesy of dogs and Pru in particular who we discovered can snaffle a whole ice cream in 5 seconds flat without even chewing.

Hubby and blue skies

Alfie frolicking with Bertie

By the time we were heading home I was truly exhausted, I think it might have been the spring air. After what seems like an age stuck in cold dark days, it's a welcome sight to see the sunlight... I just wonder how long it will be now before I can start getting out the summer wardrobe.

Shoe Challenge #5 - That 50s Feeling

Yesterday I saved another pair of shoes. I bought these Van Dahl shoes because, aside from being unbelievably comfortable I think they look kinda vintagey. Here they are coupled with one of my favourite and most easily wearable vintage dresses for an ordinary day in the office.

Shoes - Van Dahl; Dress - Vintage; Cardigan - ?; Belt - Gift;
Scarf - vintage (Jacqmar)

When: Wednesday 09/03
Where: Work

52 New Recipes Challenge - Week 9: Spinach and Potato Frittata

Having a cupboard filled with potatoes, and having bought some of my favourite iron rich spinach at the supermarket the other day, I was keen to use some of them up in a tasty, healthy dinner. I cooked this tonight, and it was so filling that I coupled it with only a small side salad. It was delicious, and is actually vegetarian to boot... bonus. This is probably my most successful vegetarian recipe to date.

Ingredients:


6 eggs,
2 large potatoes,
1 small onion,
Handful of fresh thyme,
Handful of spinach,
1 fresh red chilli chopped,
salt and pepper

(Please note I had no thyme, or chilli... I think it would've been nice with chilli in it)


Method:


1. Dice and par boil the potatoes until they are firm to the bite. Whilst they are boiling, balance a colander above the pot and add the spinach until it is wilted.

2. Dry the spinach on kitchen roll, and drain the potatoes.

3. In a small frying pan heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and saute the potatoes for 3 - 4 minutes until they start to brown.

4. Add the onions and chilli and fry a little longer.

5. Beat the eggs in a jug, then poor over the contents of the pan, stir lightly to ensure well mixed and cook slowly over a low heat until the bottom starts to brown.

6. Next polace the pan under a preheated grill for another 4 minutes, ensure that the egg is thoroughly cooked right through.

7. Slice and serve.

Original recipe taken from www.thechilliking.com

Shopping, Cameras and Shoe Challenge # 4

Well folks, I've had a pretty excellent weekend this weekend. I knew it would be, it started so well with Friday evening's shenanigans, and as such I feel refreshed and ready to face the week.

Saturday, I popped long to nearby Leamington to have a mooch around the shops with Mum. First off the train, with it being a nice sunny, if sharp, day we decided to have a wander through picturesque Jephson Gardens, to the restaurant where we had soup and sandwiches and a nice relaxing start. I also seized the opportunity to take my 4th shoe challenge photo in the temperate house.

Shoe Challenge Number 4
Boots - Duo Boots; Dress - Vintage;
Bag - Vintage (Gift from the lovely Vix)

We spent the rest of the day mooching around the shops, and I was thrilled to find something I've been looking for for some time, a chiffon blouse. They're all the fashion at the moment, and I recently had to sell mine on eBay having grown out of it. I knew I'd find a cheap one in a charity shop eventually, and lowe and behold here it is... I'll give it a wash and then it's going to look fab with some of my outfits, and didn't barely make a dent in my purse at only £4.30. It seems it was a day for finding things I've been looking for since I also managed to bag a copy of the original Disney's Alice in Wonderland, the animation, not the Johnny Depp version (although I have that too). I couldn't believe it, and although that did actually make a dent in my purse, I don't care because now I have it.

New Blouse - £4.30

Mum and I were back in Coventry by about 6.30, and after dropping Mum off home, I spent the rest of the evening eating nachos and salsa and watching 'P.S I love you' with hubby and step daughter... I cried from beginning to end. It was a good film... in spite of Gerard Butlers dodgy Irish accent.

This morning hubby and I set off to the NEC to visit the Focus on Imaging exhibition. I've not been before, hubby has, but it was really interesting. Basically the halls are filled with all the big names in photography, and you can try out the cameras, visit seminars on photography and on computer manipulation (which really doesn't float my boat) and buy accessories for your hobby or professional photography. First up we sat in on a seminar about lighting by a professional photographer who works in fashion, dance and editorial. It was such an eye opening seminar about lighting in sympathy with the natural lighting, and really made me want to grab the 30D and go straight out taking photographs with it. As we spent more and more time at the exhibition, I was handling more and more kit... and then trouble struck. I fell in love with a camera... not just any camera, a £449 Leica camera. I'm sure I don't need to explain Leica, but it's something I've dreamed of owning since I first started studying photography age 14! This one though, it was the Dom Perignon of the compact camera world. Perfect dimensions, perfect definition, perfect performance, oh my word it could not be any more perfect. Performing like a semi-DSLR, and yet with all of the portability of the smallest of digital compacts, handling it just made my mouth go dry and my heart beat faster. Here is the object of desire, and if you fancy buying one for me then you can get them on Amazon... a steal at a mere £459!

Hubby and I had finished at Focus by about 3pm, so took a leisurely drive home in the late afternoon sunlight. Once we were arriving home, we thought how nice it would be to bungle Alfie and Pru into Granville, and take them for a wander around Memorial Park. By the time we arrived, the sun was casting lovely long shadows and a golden light and it was just getting nippy. The dogs were excited to be seeing lots of other 4 legged friends, and to be getting all the unusual smells of squirrels and things that they pick up whilst over there. Hubby and I were just enjoying the sunlight and the fresh air. It was so nice, and perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Hubby and the dogs in the park... that shadow is me taking the photo

Prudence and Alfie begging for biscuits

Not only do I think this weekend has been wonderful, I can feel Spring in the air too... and that always makes everyone much happier. I'm looking forward to lots of walks in the early evening sun, being able to take outfit shots outside, and being able to wear some of my long forgotten summery clothes and shoes.

Shoe Challenge #3 - Red Velvet 'Highwayman' boots

I've had a lovely evening this evening. I am lucky to have some very lovely friends, and as coincidence would have it, they largely seem to have birthdays around this time of year. Tonight, we all went to our local Pizza Express, where I ate far too much... I really didn't expect that Tiramisu to be such a large portion. Anyway, it was fabulous to catch up with them all, some I hadn't seen in some time, and to enjoy everyones' company... and in addition I got to wear my new red boots for the first time. Bonus!!

Hopefully, it's the start of a fun filled and enjoyable weekend.

Boots - Office; Dress - Pearl Lowe for Peacocks;
Bag - Jobis (via charity shop)

52 New Recipes Challenge - Week 8: Cream of Broccoli, Leek and Fennel Soup

Every now and again hubby and I will decide that we need to be healthy to counterbalance all the junk and beer we've likely consumed, or we're likely to consume. Usually we do that by going for a period on soups, so I'm always on the look out for new and interesting soup recipes. Having bought broccoli, and leek, and a fennel at the supermarket yesterday, imagine my joy when I typed them into google and it threw this recipe back out at me from ifood. I made it this evening and served it up with some lovely crusty bread, it was absolutely delicious. 

In order to follow this recipe you might want to access a quantities conversion tool online, which is what I did as it's all in cups and I don't work in cups. 

Serve hot with crusty bread

Serves 4

Ingredients;

1 large broccoli

1 tablespoon butter

2 cups chopped leeks

1 cup minced fennel bulb (mine was just chopped very small)

1 tablespoon water

11/2 - 2 cups chicken stock

11/2 cups skimmed milk

1/4 tablespoon ground coriander

dash of nutmeg

Note: I had no coriander

Method

1. Cut the whole broccoli into smaller pieces, chop the leeks and fennel

2. Melt the butter in a large pot, add all of the chopped vegetables and a tablespoon of water and saute/steam over a low heat until the vegetables begin to soften, around 20 minutes

3. Add the stock, milk, coriander and nutmeg and gently bring to the boil

4. Reduce to a simmer and stir frequently simmering for about 15 minutes, or until all of the vegetables are tender

5. Process the soup in a blender until smooth, serve.