Sewing is good for the soul

 I took myself by the scruff of the neck this morning, and made an appt. with the bank to renew my ISA, did some other necessary online paperwork and thus ticked a few admin items from my mental list.

This is what I am working on in the evening.  I bought this kit from the Spring Malvern Quilt Festival.  They give you a photo for guidance, but I am just using simple embroidery stitches and some of my large stash (all neatly wound on cards, and in numerical order) of DMC embroidery floss. Stitches used running stitch, backstitch, chain stitch, lazy daisy and satin stitch.

This lovely Devon Village x-stitch is so nearly finished  perhaps half an hour's sewing on it - tiny little stitches missed as there are only one or two of that colour.  The lovely cottages and church are a compilation of buildings across Dartmoor, various villages.  I found a frame in the charity shop today which should fit it.  

Also in the same Unfinished Dartmoor x-stitch folder - which I deliberately put on the kitchen table to get ACTION - is this Mary Hickmott x-stitch of Widecombe-in-the-moor - the beautiful church is known as the Cathedral of the Moor.  One of my g. (g.?) aunts was the schoolmistress there in Victorian times.   (There we go, just wasted 20 minutes trying to find her . . . back to that later.  The surname Smerdon springs to mind).

It will be a long business - just a couple of stitches in a particular colour, then change to a couple of stitches of another, and so on .  Certainly needs concentration.

Finally, I spent about 2 hours this morning doing the first "rough copy" of a pattern I had traced on greaseproof paper around  a little dress of Rosie's.  I pinned it and cut it out, and then went to sew it, only to find that the stretchy material (a 50p dress from a charity shop) didn't want to play ball and I had to ditch it totally.

This is where I got with tracing the right size (2 yrs) from a purchased pattern.  I watched two You Tube videos (how to cut out a pattern) and this said unless you were making the biggest size or not intending to re-use the pattern, then trace around the lines for the size you wanted.  This I did.  I can see from this photo I need to flatten the copies and repin flatter.  The fabric is some I got from the stash giveaway at my patchwork class last week.

We have a lovely new sewing shop in town.  It opened on Saturday.  I've not been in yet, but have looked through the window . . .

Their ethos is, I believe, recycling fabrics, sewing accoutrements, books etc, make-do-and-mend etc.  They offer dress making classes, but not at a price I can afford.  It's free on You Tube . . .

Right, back to my sewing - it has really cheered me up.

Oh how disappointing!

 On Friday afternoon I saw my GP and we discussed the best way forward for my A. Fib in the light of my ECG results.  He prescribed Dapaglifozin - a Diabetes treatment - as it was known to improve the blood flow in A. Fib patients.  The side effects . . . sugar in urine can cause UTI's and it also causes you to wee more.  Just what I needed to hear with a window seat on the outward flight . . .  I will definitely have to ask for a change of seat if poss . . .

This rainbow was SO intense that I stopped in a layby to take photos.  Ah well, you will just have to imagine the depth of colour, especially the pink.

The autumn colours were beautiful as I set off through the mountains to Tam's.  Lots of Silver Birch trees which had turned a lemon yellow and when these were set against the tawny bracken, they really stood out in the landscape.

This is Gilfach Nature Reserve.  Tam and I have done some lovely walks here.  There's one the other side of the road that I noticed yesterday and would like to do before I'm too decrepit.

I had a lovely day at Tam's.  They needed me to keep an eye on Rosie so they could get all the furniture and "stuff" away from a back wall so they could put up shelving.  The mission was a success.

Rosie is so funny - if anyone sneezes, she says "Bless you".  She had my phone at one point and I asked for it back: "No.  MINE!"  She has some more new expressions - Yep, Nope and Yepsie!!  Isn't she funny?  

Well, when she had her nap I set to and did five water-changes of washing up for Tam.  Although they have a dishwasher, it is only small and the big bowls, pans and things won't fit in, so those had been lingering for a while . . .  My halo nearly choked me after that!

I had the other half of a chicken fajita mix I'd made for a quick tea last night, and then sat down to watch the Horse of the Year Show coverage.  Whilst it was nice to see, there was too much back-stage chatting and I think anyone watching was disappointed to see just the last couple of competitors in the jumping classes, and some very glossed over showing classes too.  

This made me really laugh!

 

Tam has sent me masse of photos of Rosie - this one made me laugh SO much!!!  I needed that laugh too - am just SO low and down in the dumps again today and have achieved so little . . .

A church (St Peter's, Carmarthen) and a cake recipe

 CHOCOLATE APPLE CAKE

There you go, Anon in Wiltshire.  Enjoy!!

A few weeks back when I had a chiro appt. and didn't visit friends, I had a chance to visit St Teilo's church in Llandeilo, and St Peter's Church in Carmarthen - that was a no brainer as it's a the top of the car park where I'd parked up.  It's an interesting old church, inside what was once the Roman town and a Dodecahedron was once found 8 feet down in the churchyard, back in the early 1800s. No-one seems to know their purpose but they look like they could be for measuring portions of dry spaghetti!!!

This is the oldest building in Carmarthen, dating from the 14th C but probably with Norman roots.  It is halfway between the castle and the Priory - Llandeulyddog - which was a Celtic monastic settlement with its own small church.  This is where the Black Book of Carmarthen, an early Welsh language text, is believed to have been written.

Vicars and local squires often purloined antiquarian finds . . . this is where everyone can see it now.

St Peter's is claimed to be the biggest church in Wales, and measures 170 feet long by 50 feet wide. 

He was a favourite of Thomas Cromwell and Ann Boleyn . . . and although a Protestant, was condemned by 56 Protestant protestors, as he forbade the use of the Rosary and allowed candles at funerals and refused to convert to Catholocism.  Many of these protestors were rich merchants in the town, and had power and influence.  Besides, Bloody Mary was then on the throne . . .  St Peter's is the only church in Wales to have a Consistory Court. . . a place for administering the church's own legal system.  He was burnt at the stake in the Market Square (now Nott Square) on 30th March 1555.

This is really a rather splendid pulpit, with superb carvings.

Many of the great and good of the town are buried here . . .

Henry Lawrence, M.D. and some of his infant family (one died just a day old).  

Anne, the Lady Vaughan, who made a good age dieing at 84 years in 1672.

A side chapel.

An engraved font. 17th C?

The most famous memorial in the church is the tomb chest of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, famous for dealing the fatal blow to Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth.  The Church holds a Bosworth Day on 22nd August each year.

HERE is a link to a more thorough look into his history, which I blogged about in 2019.  We had a link to our old Carmarthenshire home, as the incumbent (Gwilym ap Sion) there went to Bosworth and was rewarded by being made Esquire to the Body of the new King, Henry VII.

I can feel your eyes glazing over now so I shall end, and get myself some breakfast.  I have a visit to the GP this afternoon to discuss my ECG results and medication . . .

Using up those apples - some toothsome recipes

 A repeat of a post from 2017, when there were more mouths about to eat what I baked!  I can recommend them all.

APPLE YEASTBREAD

1 lb (450g) ordinary plain flour

Pinch of salt

1 oz (25g) butter

4 oz (100g) caster sugar

1/2 oz (15g)fresh yeast (or 1 teaspoon of dried yeast)

1/4 pt (150ml) warm milk

1/4 pt (150 ml) warm water

12 oz (350g) cooking apples

1 level teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon golden syrup

Lightly grease and flour a deep 8 " (20cm) square cake tin.

Sift the f lour and salt into a mixing bowl.  Rub in the butter.  Stir in 1 oz (25g) sugar.  Blend the yeast with the warm milk then mix in the warm water and pour into the flour.  Mix to make a firm dough.  

Put the dough on a lightly-floured worktop and knead for 10 mins.  Cover and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size.  Knead risen dough again and roll out to an oblong 15 x 10 inches (38 x 25 cm).

Peel and roughly chop the apples and mix with remaining 3 oz (75g) sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle apple mixture over the dough.  Moisten edge and roll up, starting at a long edge.  Cut the roll into 9 slices.  Put the slices in the tin, cut sides up.  Cover and leave to rise to top of tin.

About 15 mins. before end of rising, turn on over, set at moderately hot, 425 deg. F. 220 deg. C, Gas Mark 7.  Bake in the centre of the preheated oven for 40 - 45 mins, or until golden brown.  Brush with the syrup and serve warm or cold.  With cream, it's a lovely dessert.

    SPICY DORSET APPLE CAKE

    4 oz butter or margarine
    4 oz caster or brown sugar
    8 oz flour, S-R or adjusted
    1 lb cooking apples
    1 1/2 teaspoons mixed spice or a mixture to your taste
    3 oz currants or sultanas (I use the mix with cranberries in)
    2 eggs

    Rub the margarine and the flour/spices together, add the sugar, peeled, cored and sliced apples,                currants and the beaten eggs.  Put the mixture in a large greased cake tin (10 inch round or 8"
    square)   and bake at gas mark 6 (425F, 220C) for 35 - 45 minutes.  The large amount of apple
    makes the cake a little fragile, so leave in the tin for 5 minutes or more before removing.
    If you do not have a large cake tin, use two smaller cake tins and reduce the cooking time
    a little.

    In the past I have arranged sliced apple around the top of the cake, but these can scorch so
    may need a covering of foil if this happens towards the end of the cooking time.  Good as
    a hot pudding too,      with cream or custard. . .

Here it is before it went in:

       And after it came out.   It is SCRUMMY!!!  

COUNTRY MINCEMEAT

Take sweet apples (though I have used windfall cookers in the past too) - even the ones which are getting a bit old and wrinkled from storage will do - peel, core and chop. Combine with dried fruit - I used an out-of-date packet which was fine, but may have been a tad drier than any I have recently bought.) Sprinkle on demerara sugar, ground cinnamon and ground cloves and add a little home-made wine if you like (I added a slosh of Crab Apple Wine). You may add some finely-chopped (and well washed) orange and/or lemon peel if you wish. I mixed mine in a bowl, but in the past I usually put straight into my earthenware jar as I am cutting the apples up, layering with the sugar, spices and dried fruit. I also usually add chopped dried apricots, but you may add whatever fruit you wish to the mix. Even without the wine, the mixture will become moist and winey and believe me it smells DIVINE. It will keep a year in the earthenware jar, which is best kept in a cool place, though having said that mine lives on the bottom shelf of a little table in the back hall. I have a recipe which calls for suet too, and is stored in jars, but this one is a lovely old-fashioned recipe and keeps very well. You will make it year after year, I promise.

BANANA APPLESAUCE CAKE

2 1/2 cups/8 oz plain flour

2 cups (I halve this to 4 oz) sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tblspn. pumpkin pie spice (ground cloves)

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup (200ml/7fl. oz.) water

1/2 cup (2 1/2 oz) vegetable shortening (I use Stork marg.)

1 cup applesauce (1/2 pint) - cooked up previously and cooled

1 cup mashed banana (2 medium bananas - a good way of using up very ripe ones)

2 eggs

1/2 cup chopped almonds (I leave these out)

3/4 cup (4 oz) raisins

Combine first 7 ingredients in a large bowl of an electric mixer and blend well.  Add water and next 3 ingredients, blend, then beat at medium speed until creamy.

Add eggs and beat 2 mins at medium speed.  Stir in nuts and raisins and pour batter into a wax paper lined 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan (or use a large loaf tin and cook for longer).

Bake at 350 deg.F for about 45 minutes.  Turn out onto a cake rack and peel off wax paper.  If wished, when you have turned right side up and whilst still warm, you can sift confectioner's (icing) sugar over the top.  I don't bother.

Patchwork - had better go and sit on the naughty step . . .

 . . . I seem to have come home with a lot more fabric than I went with!!  

I mean - free stash?  Who could complain?!  Several pieces are one or two metres in length, and children's prints too, so I can make more Rosie dresses - WHEN I finally get started.  I rather loved the Nasturtiums too.  A cushion cover or two perhaps?  One of the ladies brought along two huge bagfuls - left over from making clothes for her grandchildren.  Thank you Linda - I can always pass on what I don't use. All the ladies found something they could do something with.

I didn't get much done today, but it was good to be back amongst my friends.  I popped in to see my friend Pam first, and took along the cake, which was gratefully received, as they had guests, and also a pot of the Lemon Marmalade I made.  She had family visiting, and they had been to NZ so gave me some good tips for the flight.  I definitely want to avoid feet swollen to twice their size, and also being cold on the flight too.

I left my patchwork class early as I didn't want to be driving as it began to get dark, and I had 4 puss cats waiting to be fed - they were all sat outside, waiting, and giving me Dark Looks because I was late!!

This was waiting for me on my return.  Many, many thanks to D for giving me this subscription for the year - CL always cheers me up, especially the Christmas one.  

I saw this lovely design on Instagram.  I will need my patchwork teacher to tell me how the blocks are constructed.  I think I can see the ones down the middle, it's the ones on the angle, so to speak.  I need to draw it out on a chart.

This is the entire house, that has Macbeth's three witches.  Isn't it great?!   Someone with imagination lives there.

Right, having had a large tuna and onion and salad baguette for lunch, I don't need much tea, so it is runner beans with a single large Tesco fish finger.  Two make a big meal for me, so one should be fine for more fishy protein.  

Oh, and yesterday I was doing some Family History on my Somerset relatives (mum's side), who go back in the Glastonbury, and Mark area for ever.  These are the Puddy family.  My 5th x g. grandmother was Obey Puddy.  I was writing down her brothers and sisters again, and suddenly realized that she and two sisters didn't have names that were a hangover from Puritan times, as I had first thought, but were from their mother's wedding vows as they were called Love, Hono(u)r and Obey . . .

Thank You All . . .

 . . . for your kind words and support.  I have had a better day today, and made myself Get On With Things.  I baked a Spicy Dorset Apple Cake for friends, and took myself by the scruff of the neck and went outside and painted the kitchen window woodwork.  Got chilled though and it took 2 hours to thaw out with the aid of a hot drink,  curry for tea, a hotty bottie and then a double thickness of Welsh wool waffle blanket.  Off to bed now, and my patchwork class to look forward to tomorrow.

Just for a bit of fun, here is the Halloween display at a house in town.  More photos tomorrow, but these three witches are BRILL, and note, there is even "smoke" coming from their cauldron!

Grief isn't linear, and Keith DID buy those things to sell, so I've got my head around both those points.  Had an email from the auction, and my bits did well - in fact, one thing sold for more than I had on it at the last Fair!!