I've always thought that being creative, whether sewing, gardening, cookery, or anything else where there's something to see for the labour expended, is good for the soul...and now I'm proving it to myself. All this sewing (bags and more bags) is keeping me occupied while I recuperate, and now the sun is beckoning me outside to enjoy the garden as well.
At last the clocks have gone forward...good bye and good riddance to dark evenings and hello to weeding and lawn mowing - you should see the dandelions and creeping buttercups taking over! March IS going out like a lamb after all.

Here they are - just need a load of butter and whatever else I can find now!

I am marking, marking, marking at the moment and becoming heartily sick of it. As a complete contrast (and bashing the dough about is a stress-reliever), I made some bread yesterday. I warmed (not hot) 500ml milk, and mixed a little of it in a bowl with an ounce of fresh yeast (available from health food shops) I measured out 2lbs of strong flour. I rubbed in an ounce of butter, and added a couple of teaspoons of salt. I added and mixed in the yeast mixture and then the rest of the milk. I kneaded hard (that was the good bit) for 10 minutes. I let it rise for an hour in a warm place. Then I knocked it about again, and shaped into 3 cobs. I allowed them to rise for 30 minutes. I brushed a little milk on top and sprinkled on loads of poppy seeds. The 3 loaves had about 30 minutes in a moderate to hot oven. I'll show you the finished thing later.

I always think that pulmonaria is excellent value. After all, how many plants can you think of that have pink and blue flowers on the same stem? And what about those spotty leaves!

It's one of the old-fashioned perennials that seems as if it's been around for ever. Certainly my mum used to have some in the garden when we were children and she would ask us to pick some stems for the house. I used to find this a bit of a trial because of the rough hairy stalks and leaves...now I never handle it without wearing gloves.

New varieties are available. We've one in blue and also a pure white, but, despite the drawbacks (hairy stems and a tendency to mildew...well, nothing's perfect) I can't imagine spring without it.

'Mad as a March hare'...the weather this month has certainly been this! To quote another saying, I wonder whether it will 'go out like a lamb'...doubt it somehow. Today it's raining - ugh!

Anyway, this Tunnicliffe print, free in a Homes and Antiques magazine a few years ago, is one of my favourite pictures and hangs above the piano. Wonder whether Noreen and Brian have seen any March hares on their land recently...I know they have them there.

I love that expression...woe betide...it was a favourite expression of one of the nuns who taught me - probably usually directed at me, too.

Brian loves these cowslips which he bought from the market, divided, planted and has zealously guarded ever since. The trouble is the hens' ark is a bit too close to the garden for comfort. I predict a house move for the little perishers...

Every year I grow a few hyacinths in the house - I can't resist the scent, so evocative of late winter. Once they've finished flowering, in early spring, I plant the bulbs with their yellowing leaves in the garden and forget about them until now (apart from when I occasionally dig them up by accident). So it's always a pleasant surprise to see them coming out amongst the fresh green leaves of herbaceous perennials.

Writing this has just reminded me that there are three well past their best still in the kitchen window. Another little job to put on the list.
Wonder how Les is fixed!

This seemed more appropriate for Easter, considering the weather. If you do not like olives, subsitute some cubed bacon.
1lb rump steak
A little garlic
A little seasoned flour
5 large mushrooms, wiped clean and halved
A few bay leaves
A little torn or dried basil
12-20 pitted olive halved
1 beef buillon cube dissolved in a pint of warm water
1 large glass port or red wine
1 tin of plum tomatoes

Cube the meat and coat in seasoned flour. Brown in a little good oil, adding the garlic. Now brown the mushrooms in the oil. Put in a casserole dish with all the other ingredients. Cook in a moderate oven for about 2 hours. I served with mashed potato, swede and carrot. This would also be good with bread.

This was early Easter Sunday morning - though I'm sure you are all tired of looking at snow-filled Easter images by now...the papers are full of them. I had a re-think on the lamb for Easter. This was partly influenced by something I read in a Jamie Oliver book about May being the best time for spring lamb. The day was so cold I made a very tasty beef dish, instead - will post recipe tomorrow.

I love playing about with fabric and find a challenge in the tiniest sraps of material...can't seem to help the waste not,want not mentality, especially where fabric's concerned! Having made some grown-up bags, I riffled through my store of remnants for anything that could be used for miniature sized bags and these are the result. Can't stop now - sure there's more I could sew.

At the weekend we made time for one of our favourite outings...to Bakewell in Derbyshire. It's a typical picturesque Peak District market town of old stone buildings with a range of small shops and plenty of good cafes. I know what I'm talking about here as naturally I've sampled most of them - obviously just for research purposes, you understand. A couple of footbridges across the river provide an opportunity to marvel at the huge trout or to feed all the water fowl that congregate at this spot. A good day out...I can recommend it.

6oz butter
4oz caster sugar
2 large or 3 medium eggs(beaten)
6oz self-raising flour
2 100g bars of chocolate (minimum cocoa solids 70%)
2oz ground almonds
A little cream
1 tablespoon cocoa
A little warm water

Cream the butter until soft. Add the sugar and continue to mix. Gradually add the eggs, beating well. Fold in the flour, the cocoa, the ground almonds and 1 of the melted bars of chocolate. If the mixture seems dry add a little warm water. Bake in a prepared tin in a moderate oven, for 50 minutes to an hour. When cool remove from tin. Melt the second bar of chocolate, slowly add in a little cream. Ice the cake with this. Serve with cream, (if you are really going to go for it, that is!!)

This is Mick, from next door, ready to set off from home to drive (very slowly!) to Beeston market where he is going on a 28-mile road run on his 1975 tractor. I think he is warmly dressed - he needs to be.

Chocolate recipe later - I can eat chocolate now. Yes!!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter. May your day be chocolatey!

I think we've had just about every type of weather today - typical for March...snow, hail, bright sunshine and blue skies. It was trying to snow when I took this photograph and the wind was so strong it was difficult to hold the camera still. You can be sure I wasn't out of the car for long.
This is one of my favourite local views, from one moorland ridge looking towards the Roaches (or Roches - there's some debate about the correct spelling). The Winking Man is part of this rocky outcrop. That is, a hole in one of the rocks appears to wink if you travel past at a reasonable speed, often difficult as it's at the top of a very steep hill. Even though I've seen it a million times, it still fascinates me.

This forsythia has been in bloom for a while now. Brian thinks though that the grass is not so early this year. Doesn't it seem strange such an early Easter? Not very seasonal. I was reading that it is the earliest Easter since 1913 - and it can only ever be about a day earlier. Nevertheless, we will try to keep up the seasonal theme - so look out for some lamb and chocolate recipes (not together!).

Well, actually, sewing is my antidote.
I'm pretty much confined at the moment, so an outing with Noreen was a magnificent treat. Unable to go anywhere under my own steam or seek out any bargains (what am I missing, I wonder) has made me appreciate my ordinary independence.
I have great plans though. A bit of sewing when I feel like it is keeping me occupied. As we've no doubt said ad nauseum, Noreen and I have tried to ditch the plastic in favour of homemade shopping bags, so a few more of these will not go amiss...especially in summery cottons. When this recuperation is over, I'll be ready to make up for lost time!

Well, after taking Margaret out yesterday, for an airing, in her bath chair, well-wrapped up in several woollen shawls (joking), I did a donkey-load of marking and them, for relaxation made this Dundee cake.

I creamed 6oz butter and 6oz sugar. I slowly added 3 beaten eggs. I sieved 8oz plain flour, half teaspoon ground nutmeg and same of ground cinnamon & 1 teaspoon baking powder. I folded this into the mixture. I then mixed in 1 oz ground almonds. I added 1 pound of mixed sultanas currants and raisins and (a little) peel. I added a tablespoon each of brandy and water. If the mixture is too wet at this point add a little more flour. Sprinkle some flaked almonds on top. Bake in a moderate oven for 2 - 2& half hours in a prepared tin.

I think it must be the relatively mild weather that has kept the pansies flowering all winter. They've certainly been worth the bit of effort required to plant them up in autumn. These purple ones look especially colourful in a blue glazed pot, placed on the steps in the back garden. At the moment at least, I've time to sit and enjoy them.

For anyone without the strength to knock the skin off a rice pudding, this veritable dish is ideal. Who could resist it?

I like to make it in the simplest way, just like my mother did...that is, a handful of pudding rice, a handful of sugar and a couple of pints of full cream milk. Place in a low oven for one and a half to two hours.

We had this yesterday, and what was left soon disappeared when Paul arrived. Don't you just love scraping the skin from the edge of the dish? Comfort food at its best.

Isn't this peach blossom just beautiful? Now this to look at - later peaches to eat from the tree, and maybe some to turn into wine, and even some to preserve in brandy to have at Christmas time, or cook in my special pudding. Isn't nature truly wonderful?

Not only have I thoroughly enjoyed helping out at the concert in the last week - and the months leading up to it, but it provided a much needed antidote to work. So, it was lovely to be presented with these last night.

Blimey, that Noreen's a slave driver. There's me thinking I can take it easy and she's already cracking the whip! So much for some r and r.

It's amazing how much has changed in the garden. The snowdrops have finished, but now we've daffodils in flower and the hyacinths that I grew inside last year are coming out. Les has mown the lawn for the first time this year (I got out of that job!) and it looks so much better for it. He's promised he'll help with clearing the greenhouse ready for seed sowing...I'm so itching to get started.

I don't know why men in women's clothes are just intrinsically funny - they just are. These are one of our acts, and everyone finds them hilarious. Anyway, last night of the concert tonight - between that and work I am just so busy. It's a good job Margaret has started posting again - otherwise I would just have had to go round there and drag her from her sick bed (sofa)!!!

At last! After incarceration at the NHS' pleasure (had to have an operation) I'm a free women again, and recuperating at home. Family and friends have been spoiling me with homemade cakes, flowers, chocolates and the like - but this card made by Matthew is my absolute favourite.
Les has gone to see the village hall production that is keeping Noreen so busy (amongst everything else, of course). I'm miffed about missing it but he's ordering a dvd for me.
I'll be able to catch up with all of you now...and I've loads of time to day-dream about projects for the coming months.

No...not me! The humble rhubarb has enjoyed something of a revival, recently. Weird how these things happen...goes from being deeply unfashionable to trendy. This plant (I believe it is classified as a vegetable) is very easy to grow, and is probably best enjoyed cooked simply in a little brown sugar (with a pinch of ginger)...or of course in a crumble. I will post my recipe for this soon.

On Sunday, Brian heard this absolute bellowing from one of the pens. A cow had calved and was going absolutely ballistic - trying to kill the calf. Brian had to drag it through the rail - he did not think it could possibly survive. The minute the calf was out of sight the cow was fine - calm. Luckily a quiet old cow has taken to the calf, and after its very tough start in life, it is now fine. It is the one at the back of the picture.

Margaret took me to one of her favourite fabric shops last week. It was so cheap. I got carried away and bought this - wonderful day-dream of the leisurely time I will have making curtains/throws/whatever. Do I think I live in the 19th Century? You know, having time to sew. For that matter do I think I have the flair - oh well, I can dream. Concert dress rehearsal tonight (with paying audience) Crikey - I'm in the background though. I keep thinking about James (Lindow) at Christmas & his panto. This spring concert seemed an age away then. Catch up with you all tomorrow. Village life, eh!

Yes - that's what I spent a part of yesterday doing - the concert, in case you might be wondering. So sorry for falling behind with friends at the moment - incredibly busy - especially with work deadlines.

As I made this cake yesterday (recipe courtesy of our newsletter, given by a woman in the village) I was thinking that baking to me, particularly in times of stress provides a slowing-down time - a time to relax a bit.

2 tablespoons marmalade
2 eggs
4oz soft butter
6oz self-raising flour
100g bio natural yoghurt
4oz golden caster sugar
zest of half an orange
half teaspoon baking powder
Heat the marmalde until melted. Beat in the yogurt - allow to cool. Put remaining ingredients in a bowl and beat well. Quickly beat in the marmalade & yoghurt. Pour into a lined 2lb tin. Bake in oven, 300F/150C/Gas Mark 2. Bake for 45minutes - an hour. Let cool then ice with icing sugar mixed with a little orange juice.

Something is blooming and budding wherever you look, at the moment. Just a reminder that a local Spring concert is being held next week in our village hall. I am involved...it is great fun but feels about a million miles away from being ready to be seen by the public (people who have actually paid!) Help.