Friday, 18 November 2022

Testing, testing......

Yet another laptop bites the dust so trying blogging out on my phone. Not ideal but needs must (and uploading facilities are much better than said laptop).
Autumn heralds the start of the hunkering down/hibernating process and the cooking of substantial stuff like ....
huge dishes of Mac'n Cheese. 

lovely hot steaming bowls of carrot and coriander soup (coriander was a successful harvest from seed this year).
Some warming and hearty Irish stews made in the newly unearthed slow cooker. It's a 'thing' again, mainly due to the current energy crisis and I'm all about money-saving frugality right now. Any/many tips gratefully received.
Lots of apple crumble and stewing of apples has also been happening (great bounty from my little £6.99 Aldi apple tree this year, despite the drought). There are loads of apples waiting in line to be turned into apple butter or jelly as part of my 'handmade Xmas'. My time management skills are zilch since I retired!Must be more disciplined!(I am more on par on Thursdays, when it's Granddaughter Day so not all downhill, yet!).
Then I've been making other stuff not food-related!
Found these delightful little Xmas Trees on Insta. Pattern here. Slow stitching is a 'thing' in this house too! Not my best stitchery but fun to while away a dreich Scottish day.





I also needed a new pincushion so I found a posh sample that I acquired a couple of years ago from my previous employment (did I mention how much I miss my 'freebies' from work?)and quickly set to. I actually wanted one of those little Chinese pincushions you used to get quite easily, you know the brightly coloured ones with the little men sitting around the circumference? I looked up that well-known auction site and apparently they're a 'thing' now too and command much more than I want to pay! A little handmade never hurt anyone (unless your name's June!lol).

Woolly makes include a few things for this year's Operation Christmas Stocking, run by the Salvation Army's Crisis UK. I started with this hat and proceeded to socks...
but I really don't enjoy knitting them and already, the infamous 'second sock syndrome' has happened. I think I need more time, like a year ahead, less pressure to complete! So hats and scarves it is, for now.
One of my Daughters-in-Law had a birthday recently so I made her some  fingerless mittens. She usually buys them from Anthropology.

Think that'll do for now. Hope everyone's surviving. Off to binge-watch 'The English'. After last night's episode, can't wait for a whole other week to find out what happens and can I just mention that 'Eli' sho' is a sight for weary old eyes!

Back soon.
xoxo
at
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16 comments:

  1. libby18 November 2022 at 08:34

    Hi .. so glad to see you back! That food looks gorgeous (as does Sgt Eli Whipp!) and yes I'm using my slow cooker these days. ps. my eyes are struggling a little with the tiny font on here...but you must be used to small sizes with all the wonderful neat 'crafting' you do xxx

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    Replies
    1. Between Me and You18 November 2022 at 10:22

      Thanks for alerting me to tiny text, Libs. I didn't think to check it and because I'm using my phone, not sure how to update it. I'll have a try. Thanks for calling in. Have you tried pinching your screen to maximise?Always great to hear from you ☺️ x

      Delete
    2. libby21 November 2022 at 01:51

      Bigger font! .....and now The English is over (I binge watch 2 episodes at a time) I shall have to find another programme to watch with a handsome man in it! x

      Delete
  2. Vix18 November 2022 at 10:09

    Oh yes, Eli Whipp is a sight for sore eyes! Currently binge watching Godless, another kick ass Western!
    Loving your fingerless mitts, I might have to have a bash at something similar.
    I think you and I have the same vintage Cordon Bleu slow cooker. I usually use mine for dhal, one of my friends says baked potatoes are brilliant in them (prick them and add a tiny bit of water) but I've not tried yet. We bought a microwave from the chazza yesterday, we've finally joined the 21st Century.
    Have a fab weekend, stay warm and dry! xxx

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    Replies
    1. Between Me and You18 November 2022 at 10:29

      Well you were right about Rafe Spall! What a **********er! Is Emily Blunt Stanley Tucci's sister-in-law? A far cry from Mary Poppins, that's for sure and not a chimney sweep in sight!Have a great weekend with your microwave ...and his lordship!x

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    2. Between Me and You18 November 2022 at 10:32

      Ps my slow cooker was a wedding present - would've been 43 years last week!

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    3. Vix19 November 2022 at 03:45

      That slow cooker was a brilliant present, still going strong 43 years on! Yes, Emily Blunt is the
      divine Stanley Tucci's sister-in-law, I wonder if he met his wife on the set of The Devil Wears Prada as they were both in it?
      Isn't Rafe Spall appalling? I'll never look at him in the same way again! xxx

      Delete
  3. Between Me and You18 November 2022 at 10:25

    Thanks Sam. Now, now, from what I've read at yours, you have many,many great skills.Have a great weekend.x ps you don't have a recipe for apple butter do you? A lovely blogging friend from USA gave me it last year but it's locked into my broken laptop!

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  4. Julie18 November 2022 at 13:07

    Your mac-n-cheese looks delicious dear Anne. I cook stews in my slow cooker all the time - I think the flavour develops better cooked slow. Your handwork is lovely - I saw those trees on Ig - I must go back & check them out properly. Take care Anne. xx

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    1. Between Me and You18 November 2022 at 14:46

      Hello Julie. So glad you're here. I don't think my stitchery is anywhere near your fabulous creations but I'll take the compliment gladly! The Mac' n cheese has bacon on top because it was for my son and that's the way he likes it!Thank you Julie.x

      Delete
    2. Between Me and You18 November 2022 at 14:47

      Ps I cooked Bolognese sauce in the slow cooker last week and i swear it tasted better!

      Delete
  5. Angela19 November 2022 at 00:28

    Great little trees - I've been musing about making some, yours look SO good!

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    Replies
    1. Between Me and You19 November 2022 at 02:35

      Thanks Ang. You're supposed to turn the trees inside out to get clean lines but I found that a bit fiddly so just left the raw edges, done with pinking shears!

      Delete
  6. Pom Pom22 November 2022 at 15:31

    Hi darling Annie! I'll have to watch The English! Your makes are lovey! I like the idea of using all of those apples. xo

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    Replies
    1. Between Me and You23 November 2022 at 10:39

      Thanks Precious Pom. I don't think you will like 'The English'!It's not your average western!x

      Delete
  7. Kezzie9 December 2022 at 16:22

    The mittens you made for your relative are gorgeous, as are the trees- so pretty!!! I love the designs!
    Your £6.99 apple tree sounds brilliant. My £59.99 tree was useless this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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