At last...and only 10 days late, he's finally arrived! Charlie Thomas...Emily and Jamie's new baby...and gorgeous he is too, of course.

After all the excitement, I had the urge to make something for him. I resorted to wading through the fabrics I'd got in the cupboard and found some blue fleece, and a piece of bright fabric to make the edging. This should help to keep him warm through the rest of the winter.

I have been without a computer for weeks, because of a fairly serious problem with it - now sorted. Apologies to friends. I have not been able to keep up. I have been dashing into the library on every possible occasion trying to check things, but it is not the same.

Thankfully, Margaret has been doing a great job keeping our blog going.

This is Beef in Guinness which is a good winter warmer. Coat the cubed steak in seasoned flour and seal in good oil & a little garlic. Roughly chop some carrots and large mushrooms and do the same with these. Add a pint of good stock (used a beef buillon cube) and a quarter pint of the stout. I also added a little tomato puree, mustard powder and Worcester sauce & a couple of bay leaves. Cook in a casserole dish in a low - moderate oven for a couple of hours. Serve with well-seasoned mashed potato. Nice to be back!

Don't these look colourful? And so seasonal! I couldn't resist buying some rhubarb as soon as I spotted it in our local greengrocers. Not sure exactly how I'll use it it yet. I normally make a rhubarb and ginger preserve...but maybe a rhubarb cake would be good, or just a pie. Why not all of them!

I've finally taken the time to photograph the pots of pansies on our front steps. These two terracotta planters are the public face, as they sit outside the front door.
There's nothing between us and the pavement at the front, apart from some blue engineering bricks that were there when we moved in. I did re-lay them though quite a few years ago as they were very uneven and there was a big lump of concrete at one end that needed to be removed. You can imagine the comments I had from neighbours and passers-by when I was doing this...like, 'you can come and do mine when you've finished'...I'm sure you can imagine! One of the best compliments I've ever had was from the old farmer who used to live down the road and would walk past everyday on his way to the village for his fags. He said I really knew how to handle a brush and shovel! Wow, thanks, praise indeed!

A good bowl of porridge sets me up for the day I find, especially in winter. Quaker Oats are my favourite, possibly because they were the ones we always had as a child. Never a breakfast went by without porridge. Well, maybe one. I got into tremendous trouble one morning when my mum found the box of oats was nearly empty because I'd been feeding them to my rabbit.

Anyway, we still carry on the habit now. I like to make them with water and eat them with cold milk. They're best stirred on a very low heat as they're less likely to burn, which they're prone to do if not watched. Believe me, many's the hour I've had the pan in soak. But with a bit of care, this heavy bottomed pot is great for porridge making.

At the weekend, I spent a bit of time in a cook shop fantasizing over what I would buy if I had loads of money, and finally succumbed to the purchase of a plastic spatula and a new vegetable peeler. I can now peel veg at the speed of light. Fancy getting excited over such a thing...how sad is that!

It was lovely today to see how the crocuses opened their petals in response to a bit of sun. These yellow ones are the first we have out in our garden.
I felt a bit guilty though when I realised that in my basket of gardening odds and ends - along with bits of twine, old plant labels, packets of seeds, odd gardening gloves and the like - I'd still got packs of crocus and tulip bulbs that I've not planted. But all is not lost I'm sure as if I get them in now, they'll soon grow and flower. And funnily enough, this was one of the tips on Gardeners' Question Time on Radio 4 this afternoon.
One of the joys of gardening...there's always something to do.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of the blackberries and apple that are the fruity base for an apple crumble I'm making. I know this is very ordinary food, but don't you think the two look really good together? Made for each other I reckon, with the way the deep purple juice from from the blackberries colours the apple.

All this deliciousness is possible now, of course, because of the way we can preserve autumn's bounty for the lean winter months. Bottling and making jams and preserves are the traditional way of saving local produce to use out of season and there seems to be an increasing interest in doing this. Freezing is such an easy method too. There's pleasure in finding a bag of blackberries in the freezer that I can dip into in January...and any crumble left over (although I don't suppose there'll be much) can go back in for another day.

Winter in the garden wouldn't be the same without a friendly robin...every time we go outside he's around, just waiting for us to turn over some soil so he can have a rummage about. They always remind me of the robin who showed the way in 'The Secret Garden' by Francies Hodgson Burnett, my favourite book when I was a child.
Although they're always so friendly, we've not yet managed to persuade one to eat out of our hands, but we're ever hopeful. I know they're very fierce in defence of their territory, but I reckon that's what makes them such chirpy characters. As some time clearing the garden is planned for the weekend, I'll try to befriend our little visitor...no doubt he (or she - perhaps it's Roberta!) will be good company.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this pretty little cyclamen peeping out from the leaf litter under some shrubs. Thinking back I do have a vague recollection of planting some that my sister gave me, but I'd forgotten all about it until now. It's growing amongst the variegated leaves of a vinca that also happens to have a flower on it, and the fallen berries from the cotoneaster overhead.
It's these pleasant surprises that make winter seem not quite so bad - just like the gorgeous blue sky we had today.

Need a chocolate hit? These mint chocolate squares work for us!

Mint chocolate squares

5oz/150g plain dark chocolate
12oz/350g self-raising flour
2oz/50g cocoa powder
4oz/110g soft light brown sugar
2 eggs
6 tbsp sunflower oil
13 fluid oz/375ml milk
approximately 10 after dinner mints

Melt the dark chocolate in a small bowl over hot water. Sift the flour and cocoa powder in a large bowl and add the chopped up chocolate mints. Put the eggs, oil and milk in another bowl. Add the melted chocolate and beat well.

Pour this into the dry ingredients and stir quickly.

Pour into a large square baking tin lined with baking parchment. Bake in a fairly hot oven, 180C, gas mark 4 for about 20 minutes. When cooled, cut into squares and dust lightly with a mixture of icing sugar and cocoa powder.

Are you worried about these massive hikes in energy prices? My first reaction was to turn down the thermostat on our central heating and I've finally realised that I should be more careful about switching lights off. (Note to self, buy more low energy bulbs as well). We still need to keep warm though so we're using the quilt...its a light extra layer.

There's a haberdashers not too far away that I can't resist, especially as it sells the most beautiful embroidered fabrics like this one. With gorgeous material like this, it's easy to make something that looks stunning...there's no particular sewing skills required fortunately. That's what I like...not too much time and effort but a big reward!

For many of us who live locally the Staffordshire oatcake has a special place in our hearts as well as our diets. So much so that when the offspring went away to university, copious supplies would need to be provided on every visit. The distinctive oatmeal discs are not to be confused with the Scottish oatcake, which is more like a savoury biscuit.

Although savoury in taste the oatcake can be given sweet or savoury fillings. Mature cheddar cheese and tomato, cooked under the grill is probably one of the most popular, and bacon is good too. We often have these as a lunchtime snack at the weekend, and most local cafes will serve oatcakes with a choice of fillings.

They can be eaten cold just buttered. For a sweet filling I love an oatcake rolled up with a thin scraping of butter and honey. In fact they can be used with just about anything. As they have very simple ingredients, including oatmeal, they're a good alternative to bread, but traditionally their beneficial nature was spoiled by the way they were grilled with the fat from the bacon... I think not so common now thankfully.

I must admit I've never made oatcakes as there are so many good local sources. There are recipes available though and some supermarkets and delicatessen sell them in other parts of the country, I think. If you're ever around this way, I can recommend them!

January isn't my least favourite month - that dubious honour goes to November - but it can be a pretty dismal time of year, especially when we have so much rain. I need cheering up! That's when I feel the urge to buy some spring flowers, the brighter the better.

So I've found a basket and filled it with some bulbs - these are tete-a-tete daffodils - and four primulas. I infill with compost and cover this with bits of moss out of the lawn (it's mostly moss at the moment!) I like to add some variegated ivy out of the garden, wrapped around the edge and a raffia bow. Now that does brighten the day a little.

At last today I've managed to make a bit more of an inroad into clearing the garden. More clumps of daffodils and crocus are emerging and the snowdrops are now showing pearly buds. I know it's bound to turn cold eventually and when it does it'll put a stop to all this spring-like growth but it's amazing just how much is going on at the moment. Buds are evident on the honeysuckle and clematis, and the flowering currant (ribes) in the photo.

I've removed the old leaves around the hellebores and can see the flower buds developing...can't wait for these to flower. There's a beautiful deep purple one that was planted a couple of years ago, but there are so many different ones to collect. I love visiting woodland gardens that are full of spring flowers...must try to make time for a snowdrop walk.

A winter's evening is improved so much by a glass of sloe gin enjoyed in front of a warm fire. The distinctive smell and taste of this rosy tipple reminds me of the sunny autumn afternoon spent in the hedgerow picking the sloes. And the glass candlestick is one of a pair that I bought just before Christmas. The combination of glass and candlelight is an irresistible one, don't you think? Ahhh!

Two delicious but healthy ingredients in these substantial biscuits mean you can justify having one (or two) with your cup of tea. They're easy to make too!
4oz/110g butter or sunflower margarine
2oz/50g soft light brown sugar
1 beaten egg
6 tbsp clear honey
4oz/110g self-raising flour
8oz/225g rolled oats

Cream together the butter, sugar and honey until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg with a little of the flour. Stir in the flour and rolled oats. Make balls of the mixture with your hands and place on a greased baking tray. Gently flatten each one a little. Bake in a moderate oven 160C, gas mark 3 for about 20 minutes, until golden.

As you can see, the normally shallow and rippling river that runs through our village was in full spate today. Even after the rain had stopped the level continued to rise. Just a few yards past the spot where this photo was taken, it had overflowed the banks and flooded across the road and over the recreation ground. Fortunately, the flood water hadn't reached any houses...it used to do this, but some work has been done to clear the river, so that it flows better. What does seem unbelieveable though is that some new houses are being built close to the river on what is a flood plain. One chap I spoke to said he thought it inevitable that they would flood.
Let's hope it stops raining soon!

Well, fat bells actually, not that the birds will be bothered about the shape.
Watching the birds coming to feed in the garden is always a pleasure. We've a flagpole cherry fairly close and have a good view from the kitchen window, so I hang feeders from its branches. I buy fat balls regularly as well as bags of seed...it's amazing how quickly the birds can empty a feeder!

Making fat bells is easy. I use suet (there was some left over from the Christmas mincemeat) and a wild bird seed mix. As well, you need a small plant pot with a central hole in the base, a length of string and a plastic bag.
Melt the fat in a pan and stir in some wild bird seed.
Make a small hole in the bottom of the plastic bag, just big enough to push the string through. Line the plant pot with the plastic bag, letting some of the string thread through the hole in the plant pot. Try to keep the plastic around the string to reduce any leakage of fat. Place the plant pot on a metal tray and pour in the seed mixture. Put in the fridge until the fat has solidified. Remove the plastic from the plant pot (you may need to stand it in hot water for a few seconds to release it). It's now ready to hang up.

Strawberries in winter are rather an indulgence...we're thinking airmiles here and unnecessarily wasting resources. These are rather different...locally grown...in our garden, in fact.

A while ago I showed a photo of the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) with its clusters of pink flowers, but hadn't noticed any fruits. They were there all along though, well hidden under the foliage. I've just heard it suggested on the radio that in Portugal they're used to make a highly alcoholic liqueur.

I wasn't convinced they were edible so I've looked it up in the RHS encyclopedia where it states that they're 'edible but insipid'.
I'll give them a try then..............my advice, nah, don't bother! They're unlikely to catch on...stick with the real thing.

Knitted scarves are a great souce of material for recycling. This one came from a charity shop...best not to cut up Les' scarves as he would certainly object when the weather turns cold!
Once it was machined, I sewed around the edge in blanket stitch using contrasting wool and raided the
button tin for matching buttons. Its a bit funky, but cosy...just right at the moment.

The sun's been beckoning me outside today. I've shown you the tidy shelves so now I'd better own up to the untidy garden. It's a real bird's nest of dessicated and blackened stems, but I've finally managed to start clearing some of it away. It's a rewarding task I find, as long as I manage to keep my big clodhoppers off the emerging shoots! Great to spend time outside though, especially in the sunshine.

A quick foray into the charity shops yesterday was quite productive. I found the green painted lantern that will look good in the conservatory, and the wooden leter rack - I've been looking for one of these that I like at the right price for ages. Both were bargains, I thought...less than a fiver for the two.

At the moment they're on the shelves in the study (aka the spare bedroom) Look tidy, don't they? That's because I haven't shown you the other shelves...piles of books, files and papers everywhere. And they say the camera never lies! Maybe not, but it can be selective thankfully!

Oh, yes! Snowdrops on their way. I've been searching the garden for the tips of bulbs emerging and they're there...I guess the relatively mild weather is encouraging growth. It pays to be observant at this time of year...especially as I've just seen two pesky squirrels eating the fat balls I've put out. I chase them off, but they'll be back!

There's something very rewarding about using leftovers, (you could say it's food for free, I suppose) especially if it means putting together a family meal. Lurking in the back of our fridge I found some Stilton left from Christmas and I'd also got a cauliflower that needed to be used...hence cauliflower and Stilton soup. Well no, it was actually three cheese soup as I put some other bits of cheese in as well...or four if you count the shavings from some Parmesan that I added. It was tasty, anyway, whatever it's called.

No, not a real one unfortunately. I do have a soft spot for these old cars. My dad had one, Wedgwood blue, and it was my job in the summer holidays to varnish the woodwork. We used to think it was a good sized car, (he even made a wooden crate to fit in the back so that he could take pigs to market in it) but now when I look at them, I can see they were tiny.
As it's not practical to have a proper one, I'll just have to make do with the model...looks good on the mantlepiece though, in front of the Tunnicliffe print.

I don't know about you but in winter I want to feel warm and cosy (I'm very 'nesh', as we say around here).
Woolly items help, but kniting can take me ages, so as usual I've been looking for an easier way.
Then I had the bright idea that I'd already got lots of knitted things I could recycle...old wool jumpers, scarves and so on. Some of these I deliberately shrink to make the felted wool for decoration (some I shrank inadvertently, I admit!) Others, I cut up just as they are.
This cushion is made from sewing together three strips of a wool scarf, and the flowers I cut out from an old felted wool jumper. A few buttons and it was done. The next one is lined up...I'm on a roll now with this, I think.

And what a welcome present at this time of year! Recently a friend has given me this terracotta pot filled with a primula in a gorgeous deep salmon-pink, a pretty variegated ivy, a pink heather and a dwarf conifer. I've placed it on the wall where I can see it from the kitchen window...it cheers up the view considerably.

To make this, you should fry some good butcher's mince in a little garlic or garlic puree (use no oil or fat - there is enough in the meat). Sprinkle on a little flour; add a dash of Worcester sauce, a little tomato puree, a little thyme, a teaspoon of mustard powder and a good glass of red wine & about 100ml water. Simmer. Put into pie dish. Thinly slice some potatoes and put on top. Bake for 40 minutes. If you are vegetarian, chop some mushrooms, fry in butter or good oil until soft (with the garlic); in addition to the other ingredients above, add a small tin of chopped tomatoes and a tin of drained red kidney beans