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Monthly Archives: December 2011

Mincepies, Mini Christmas and Silly Games.

Giving out the presents

1 I spent a busy and productive morning making mountains of mincepies of all sizes and many, many mini sausage rolls and cheesy whirls.

2 Our lovely eldest daughter has come home today to be with us just overnight so we’ve had a mini Christmas afternoon, exchanging presents. Jake made a splendid present deliverer. Dinner in Mikki’s honour was the wonderful Flemish Beef.

3 Just as we were finishing our meal, Daniel, our lovely son rang up from Barcelona. He’ll be in Senegal for Christmas with his fiancee, Ami. He must have heard the toast to him and Ami we had just made! We are about to sit around now with our mulled wine and play games, both grandchildren being safely tucked up.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 21, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: baking, Daniel, daughter, grandchildren, Mikki, Senegal

Singing with Three Choirs, Baby Gurgles, Choir Baby no 2.

20 Dec

: Inglehearts, Suitcases and Riversiders

: The Water Tower

1 Lovely evening at Trelissick with Inglehearts, Suitcases and Riversiders, singing near the fire and with mulled wine in our hands! Check out the Water Tower! Isn’t that delightful?!

2 When I went downstairs to make a cup of tea this morning, I could hear the lovely gurgling sounds of Tabitha amusing herself in her cot while she waited for the rest of us to wake up. Now, that was special.

3 Heard that Jo, our splendid and talented carpenter had her baby last night, a girl, and all is well. I’ve made a cardigan but will have to get going on the matching boots asap. That’s our 2nd choir baby!

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 20, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: Inglehearts, singing christmas carols, Suitcases

Christmas Tree, Casseroles and Cranberries

19 Dec

1 Our Tree of Lights in the back garden is gorgeous and can be seen all through the house from the front door. (You’ll need to click on the image to see it properly)

2 I’ve made two delicious casseroles today to save cooking too long when the family are here – Coq au Vin and Flemish Beef, both firm favourites.

3 L from yesterday evening’s party very kindly emailed me his recipe for Fresh Cranberry and Orange Relish which was delicious and needs no cooking! Mr S went out this afternoon to get the ingredients so that we can try it this year.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 19, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: cooking

Neighbourhood Party, Americana Apple Pie and a Little Streaker

18 Dec

1 Had a lovely time with lots of neighbours at a drinks and nibbles lunchtime party.

2 My sister, Daisy, emailed me for a recipe she had given me many years ago, Americana Apple Pie – a remarkable apple pie that contains a cream cheese custard as well as the apples.

3 We Skyped with KJ and the children this evening, just before going out to another party! Tabitha recognised us and beamed. Jake, just out of the bath, streaked past many times at a rate of knots telling us all sorts of information as he appeared briefly on the screen, the most important being that he’ll be with us in two more sleeps!

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 18, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: Americana Apple Pie, Daisy

The Suitcase Singers, Funky Baby Clothes and the Christmas Tree

17 Dec

1 Singing with The Suitcases at the Christmas Fair at Jubilee Wharf in Penryn this afternoon was fabulous! We did some Cornish carols outside by the river, some more in Miss Peapod’s and finished off in the craft fair in the Zed Shed, surrounded by beautiful things and lovely people.

The Suitcase Singers

2 At the craft fair there was a stall, Fenna, selling funky clothes made in Holland and I bought two brilliant outfits for Tabitha.

3 Lucy and Mr S put the tree up so we can get it decorated tomorrow.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 17, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: Lucy, singing

Piano Lesson, Baking and Friends

16 Dec

1 My piano lesson went well! Despite being away and not practising as much as usual I am beginning to find that I’m remembering pieces and finding them fun to play. I’ve started on my next Grade 1 piece today.

2 Lucy has baked a Banana Loaf using Katheryn’s recipe on her blog http://shelikesherfood.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/four-seed-banana-bread/ Lucy used half coconut oil and half vegetable oil and it is divine!

Four seed banana bread

3 Lovely evening with friends whom we’ve not seen for far too long.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 16, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: baking, friends, KJ, Lucy

Singing, Family Recipes and Singing again!

15 Dec

1 Singing with The Suitcases in Tremough this morning was wonderful! The acoustics were fabulous and I’m sorry I’ll miss the concert tomorrow evening.

2 Going through the old books I found all the family recipe books, going back to my Great Grandmothers’. It’s so lovely to read recipes in their own handwriting. I’d been thinking some time ago of a recipe of some lovely oaty biscuits called ‘Mocha Crispies’ and I found the recipe in my Mum’s handwriting so I’ll make them soon.

Mum's recipe for Mocha Crispies

3 Tonight The Inglehearts went for their Christmas meal and it was a fabulous evening. After eating a delicious meal we were entertained by various choir members and then we all sang lots of our repertoire and it was brilliant. Thanks Claire!

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 15, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: Claire, Inglehearts, Mum, recipes, singing

Consultation, Christmas Shopping and Kea Plum Jelly

14 Dec

1 Mr S had his consultation with the specialist and the date for his gallstones op has been set for 29th December. Brilliant news because there’s no need to miss Christmas and he will be well to travel to Senegal for Daniel’s wedding in April.

2 Had enough time in Penzance afterwards to do a bit of shopping and managed to solve a couple of Christmas presents.

3 Spent the evening, since I couldn’t go to sing in the Cathedral, making the Kea Plumbrillo which is now setting. Also made 5 little jars of Kea Plum Jelly so all in all a very productive day!

Kea Plum Jelly

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 14, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: christmas presents, Kea plums, penzance

Grandchildren, Hailstones and Kea Plums

13 Dec

1 Just had three days with family in London, so many delights, too many to mention but here are the little monkeys! They both loved ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’ and so did we! They are also modelling Granny’s knitting!

2 Tremendous hailstorm today with the blackest of clouds followed by sunshine and a glorious double rainbow over Penryn as I was driving home from Falmouth after a lovely meeting with fellow Humanists.

3 Clearing out the freezer ready for Christmas and decided to make more Kea Plumbrillo. The lovely little plums have been simmered and are now dripping through a jelly bag to be finished off tomorrow.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 13, 2011 in Uncategorized

Tags: grandchildren, Humanists, Kea plums, knitting

Train journey, Grandchildren and The Gruffalo’s Child,

09 Dec

Dear Readers,

We’re off to London for a few days to see the Grandchildren (and their parents!) I’ll try to blog using my iPad but am not sure if I can add photos. I’ll be back on Monday evening if there is a gap.