Not a happy cake maker!

Today I made three more round cakes and the four tiny ones in the miniature loaf tins. The measurements were about right and they already looked cute before being cooked!

They did cook well and will be a nice little treat for people living on their own, I will feed them but won’t overdo the amount of brandy!

Yesterday I wasn’t sure that the square cake looked quite like it should but put it down to the fact that it has not dairy spread in the recipe rather than butter. I had used both ovens and that one had been in the small top oven. Today I had two round cakes in there and they have come out definitely overdone although I had both ovens on as low as they would go. So, they cannot be my gift cakes and sadly I now have to make three of them again. I will try removing some of the surface of the others and feed them a couple of times, if they appear salvageable they can go to other people, if they don’t seem to be that good then I will not bother to carry on feeding them.

This afternoon Tina gave me a lift up to Freeport. I forgot to mention that her friend came to visit this morning and I showed her round the garden. She wanted something to grow in a shady area so I told her the bruneras should be fine. They had spread so I potted three up for her to take home.

I had some lunch at Freeport and went to the card shop. Then as I walked down the hill I bought a pair of pillows. They were reduced to £18 and I am hoping the lavender may be conducive to better sleep!

I passed this gorgeous large hydrangea.

I was excited to see that a pottery painting shop has opened and they even had a little wren in the window. I will definitely be giving them a visit.

I caught the bus home and did a couple of errand in the town. Also watered the tubs and the bonsai trees. There was a dead female blackbird on the front lawn which took the edge off the day a bit, to add to the fact I have more cakes to make!

Will go out with Tina tomorrow when she goes to the dentist and then to PC World so will get back to the cakes on Friday.

The Christmas cake marathon has begun!

I was up reasonably early and got the cakes made. I made the non dairy one first, almost put butter in and remembered just in time. I make that one square so there is no confusion later! Had both ovens in and all three in by 9am which I was pleased with. I went down the road to The Factory shop as I thought I would try and buy another six inch cake tin so that I could make two at the same time. They only had a larger one so called in Boyes on the way home. They didn’t have any but they did have some tiny loaf tins which got me thinking! On the way back I saw that one of the dwarf sunflowers has a baby and there is another one forming!

I bought four of the little loaf tins as I thought they would make nice mini cakes for folk on their own. But working out quantities may be a problem! I filled the six inch time with dried fruit and then measured it out into the tins. I wouldn’t fill the six in tin to the top with mixture so I think that amount for the four mini cakes should be just about right.

Then I had to think of a way to line such little tins!

Tomorrow it will be a guessing game for the cooking time!

Before Lesley came to visit I did a little painting, I sat at the writing desk but no need to take the cover off.

Lesley sat with me in the dining room, we had tea and courgette loaf and spent some time looking things up on the internet. Lesley wanted to check things out so we used my iPad as she doesn’t have internet access.

The cakes were cooling all afternoon and are now wrapped. I will give them their first feed on Sunday before ai go away.

I have measured out the fruit etc and have it soaking and the tins are lined, so hopefully I will get a good start tomorrow for the next lot of cakes.

I am pleased to have got them started and ai have been quite organised this time, although I think ai have over estimated the ingredients. It is because ai still make them in pounds and ounces and have to order kilos and grams!! That’s my excuse and I am sticking to it!

Getting ready to make those cakes!

This morning a gentleman came to carry out the quinquennial inspection of the house, not on how we keep it but the structure and fittings and any things we bring to his attention. He started at the loft and the entry is in my loving room. We were all amazed when he removed the hatch at the light, there is a window in the roof! Tina and I were fascinated and even he said it was very unusual.

I am trying to be more methodical with my cake making this year, so spent over an hour lining some cake tins. Have also measured out the fruit for the cakes I am going to cook in the morning as well.

After lunch I took a walk to the post office as I had birthday presents to send off. There are still some motor cyclists in the town and this bike was parked near the shops as ai walked by.

After sending the parcels ai walked up to the sea front, I was feeling very weary and sat on a bench for a while. It was sunny but the wind was quite chilly. The sea was almost green in some places.

I walked back slowly and collected some plant markers at the pet shop. I will take a photo of them when they are in use..

I have been to see Sarah and David this evening, they are doing fine and getting involved with plenty of volunteering,

Welcome to the public sitting wall!

I will start with the picture of the was first, people waiting for the motor bikes to arrive as it was Hornsea Biker Festival day. Everyday people sit on the wall, not turning a hair when we walk in or out of the house. One persons today had there child running along the steps behind the wall, it is definitely seen as public property. I was looking out from the spare bedroom, the French door doors open now although we did break it when we opened it the first time! It was amusing watching today as a couple of people jumped up as they had disturbed an ants nest!

We went to the boot sale extra early today so that we were home before the traffic started arriving. I got another cat bed for the cats to ignore and a set of stamps.

I took 95 photos of the bikes going by, quite a few had no bike or only a wheel in them! I will add some now, you’re okay, nowhere near 95!

This afternoon I sorted out bulk bird food bags into containers and gave the bird baths a clean then made a couple of courgette loafs.

A yellow gladioli has opening in the front garden which is nice.

I decided to try the new stamps, the one a liked least was the first and the result was very disappointing three attempts and the best one wasn’t good. I thought it might be because I haven’t so much strength in my hands now. But, the other three printed fine and I am looking forward to painting them.

Back garden today

This morning when I was going to the shop for lunch and took a picture of the sky which I thought was unusual.

There were a couple of beds in the back garden in serious need of attention, not going to bore you with pictures! But I worked until lunch and was out there again for a while afterwards. Darren brought me out a cuppa this morning so I sat on the swing seat, was soon joined by my shadows, one each side of course to prevent a fight to spoil the peace.

I tried to support the hollyhocks by the dead tree as they were leaning over so that we couldn’t appreciate them.

There were cabbage white butterflies flitting about, they did land briefly and closed their wings. So I tried for a while to catch one in flight, but they are so quick!

I supported some gladioli, not so many this year, I think some of them must have rotted. I will lift them this autumn.

Tina and Darren received this rose on their silver wedding, it was in a container but I moved it into the garden and it seems happy.

Some produce from the garden. The apples are from a sapling tree that I planted a couple of years ago.

I walked along to the pet shop this afternoon as they are getting some plant markers for me. I spotted a lady that had been to my craft sessions in the Chocolate cafe so went and had a drink with her and a chat.

Got a feature length Casualty to watch tonight.

Quite a full day

I got some washing done this morning and a couple of chores before going to visit Bel for a chat and a cuppa. She showed me some photographs of her wedding day, when she was just twenty years old and also her card from the queen to congratulate her and her late husband on their diamond wedding anniversary. Very interesting to see the fashion, a lovely and simple dress from so long ago.

I was home for a while before catching the but into Hull and luckily my veggie box arrived before I went out. If anything it was even better, I really look forward to receiving them and seeing what I they will contain.

I caught the bus into Hull just before 12.20pm and got into the city just after 1.30pm. I went to a couple of stores in St Stephen’s and the went to a care called The Omelette and had an omelette for my lunch. After that I walked through the city to Princes Quay shopping centre stopping a some other shops on the way. Also took some photos.

The water near Princes Quay was mucky on the top but there were some large fishes in there.

Another unusual piece of street art and a shop window from inside the shopping  centre.

I made my way back to the station after stopping for a coffee and got home a little before six. After a cuppa I went out and watered the back garden and then Tina and I got the shopping order completed for delivery tomorrow. I had made a list of all the ingredients I needed for the Christmas cakes so it will be a bit delivery this time!

Relaxing now as it feels like it has been a busy day!