'Knit and Cake'

Quite a long time ago now - probably about this time last year, I was lucky enough to win a give away from Mags Creative Meanderings. We discovered that we lived close to each other, so met up in January and Mags gave me a wonderful collection of goodies. It contained, amongst many other things, two balls of Noro Silk Garden wool, and I have just got around to using them. I've been wanting to make a wooly cushion for ages, and a couple of weeks ago I bought a pattern from 'Purl and Jane' for a chevron cushion - perfect!

So, I have started my Chevy the Chevron cushion, and it seems to be going ok. I bought another couple of balls of Noro wool in slightly different shades so I can do two rows alternating in each colour and get a more interesting effect. 

I think I am going to make my opening more in the centre of the cushion than at the top. I just love the randomness of the way it is growing, and the red wool is so festive.

I was also busy last Friday evening making our Christmas cake. I think I am a little bit, only a little bit, more organised this year as it was already December when I made it last year. The fruit had been soaked in brandy, and I knew I would be busy over the weekend - so it had to be made last Friday evening!  Again this year I phoned the girls to let them have a virtual wish whilst I was stiring the mix…..

…… then tipped the mix into the cake tin (square this year - J says its easier to cut!) and found the paper carrier bag that I saved from last year to tie around it to try and stop it burning.

It was quite a late night….probably about half past midnight when I first checked the cake and it needed just a little longer. My family are not that keen on icing, so I usually just add almonds on the top. I think I may just have left it a little too long as the edges look a little well done

- oh well, I'm sure it will be fine once I feed it with brandy!

Starting the Christmas countdown

Well I managed to get the Advent Calendar up on the right day, and to send the girls a little advent card for them to open each day at Uni.

I made this one when the girls were very small and it comes out every year and really starts the countdown to Christmas - concentrating the mind on all the things we need to get done. When the the girls were little they would find a little gift in the pockets each day, but now it just looks festive on the wall and makes me realise how much I still have to organise!

So, without really checking to see if I had everything in the store cupboard I mixed up the Christmas cake (a little late, but never mind) - a slightly modified recipe this year as we didn't have any oranges to zest, so used satsumas instead and had to use a variety of nuts instead of almonds. But it looks OK. I phoned the girls to let them have a virtual wish whilst I was stirring the mix and then tipped it into the tin

Hmm, no parcel paper to tie around the tin to stop the cake burning. A little improvisation - I cut up a paper carrier bag! So now the cake is safely in the oven cooking.

Now, what's next to do? Making cards I think....

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