Photo Challenge and Cookies

This month I am joining in with the lovely Kate at I live, I love, I craft, I am me  blog for a scavenger photo hunt. A little late due to photo uploading issues.

'A photograph inspired by a word, words inspired by the photographs.'

My words are in a different order to the given list, you will see why.

Please join us on our walk.....

Walk.

The view from our destination.

Flowers.

Daffodils are everywhere around here at the moment. Here are a few in the woodland.

Favourite colour.

On this particular day it was blue.

Hat.

Half way up and it had to be removed. The chill of the fresh morning air soon replaced by the warmth of the sun.

Reading.

The stone seat at the summit.

Comfortable.

My six year old boots. Still going strong given how many miles they must have walked.

Baking or cooking.

A well earned rest for little legs and some home made cookies. Sat perilously close to an enticing muddy puddle.

Favourite mug or cup and saucer.

Not quite a mug, but a flask of  delicious hot chocolate does just fine.

My own choice.

Because I hope she always has a love of the outdoors.

Candles.

With a small person around they don't get lit as often as I would like, but always a pleasure when they are.

Recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies.

1 cup of butter

1 1/2  cups of caster sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

2 cups of plain flour

2/3 cup of cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda

1/4 teaspoon of salt

100g of chocolate chips.

Beat together the butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mix well.

Sieve flour, cocoa powder, Bicarbonate of Soda and salt. Add to butter mixture along with the chocolate chips.

Small teaspoonful's on a tray. 160 for approximately 10 minutes.

Enjoy.

J. X

It's Here!

Here we are, at last. Sunshine, blue skies and fresh air - Spring!

My whole being breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The only downside to this glorious weather is that the sunshine is showing up every last bit of dust in the house in high definition. With any luck it might just blow away now that I'm able to leave the windows open.

We've been out walking. It is still incredibly muddy, but with the warm breeze and clear skies I can overlook this one minor disgruntlement.

We got to rest a while, sit on a (dry) bench and take in the views. What a wonderful, albeit long overdue, way to feed the soul.

I have had some washing on the line. It smells so much fresher and I do so love to see it blowing in the breeze. The grass has had it's first, much needed, cut of the year and our tiny raised bed prepared for Lily's seed planting.

The blanket is coming along nicely. I'm really hoping to finish it before the warmer weather comes
along. I do think a blanket makes for more of a winter month project. There is something very cosy and comforting about sitting under it as I work. This week I laid it out on the carpet to see how it was progressing and a certain small person staked her claim to it. I think I'll take it as a compliment.

J. X

Hurry up Spring!

I have been feeling particularly meh! the last couple of weeks. I'm sure it is something to do with the weather. The damp, grey days have become so wearisome. I have appreciated the Winter months while they lasted, but enough now. My body is crying out for warmth, sunshine and blue skies.

I have been meaning to get into the garden to tidy up and dig over, but the cold and damp have put paid to my good intentions, preferring instead to stay indoors in a state of semi-hibernation.

To make the most of  my time I attempted to make a dent in the yarn stash at the bottom of my wardrobe by making another blanket - they always come in useful, right? What I didn't realise, however, is that for some reason my idea of stash busting involved me buying even more yarn! I'm not quite sure where I went wrong with this.

I am getting desperate now to get fresh air into my lungs without trudging through mud and my fingers and toes going numb with the cold. I have plans for our garden. The furniture needs a coat of paint.  Seeds and gardening gloves have been bought and what I lack in knowledge about what the heck I'm supposed to do with them, I will try and make up for in enthusiasm.

The house is ready for a good Spring clean. I'm looking forward to having the windows wide open, a good clear out, washing on the line and cups of tea in the garden.

Hurry up Spring!
J.X