tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69619244510521265632024-03-19T03:09:07.683+00:00the night owlthenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-6635375845008943642014-06-20T00:27:00.000+01:002014-06-20T00:27:39.376+01:00I had too much to dream last night...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm pleased to report I've been busy, busy again: printing, organising, posing. I'm thoroughly looking forward to seeing these artist's works come together. If you fancy puckering up for a <a href="http://www.pickeringsgin.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Pickering's Gin</span></a>, and eying-up the artwork, do join us this Sunday from 6pm.</div>
<br />thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-3406124396067863202013-10-23T00:10:00.000+01:002013-10-23T00:20:24.601+01:00behind the studio door...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I've been organising the Open Studios Weekend for our 'wing' of WASPS which has mostly involved laminating new door signs to my hearts content (fyi: my heart is most content when the laminator is green to go-go). I'm afraid to say the rest of my contribution will be to bravely dust off a few </span><a href="http://ellenmunro.co.uk/2006/self_prortrait_in_my_1.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">relics</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> in order to decorate my studio. Q: How old is new or how new is old?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I feel like I've been really busy in my studio over the past year and am definitely back in the swing of things (or should that be a cool sachet of the art hips) but apparently I don't yet have a lot to show for it within the physical realm. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">'Slowly, slowly catchy monkey' as they say (or should that be 'softly, softly'?) Anyway do come and see what I've not-done-yet. I'd honestly be highly delighted to see you there. And feel free to feign surprise at seeing something 'OLD' presented as something 'NEW' (rewards for which shall ensue: I'm thinking something between Haribos and Asti Spumante). It's called re-constructed-vintage and it's bang-on trend. </span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-69844443105702756552012-01-24T01:00:00.001+00:002012-01-24T01:00:43.039+00:00keep my skillet good and greasy...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsNXaw-U2PwThycIcoolSmCdxsR3RBNNL0qTlNauo1HyKL390ZA0QnaGBd_3oHAXWy7mEK4LT1lfIp1U-7aig_vZPPAhksXdPWI7Czmpo_-JV6Dgb0K5L5TVTE7Z9LHZriaR6dpfckDcD/s1600/skillet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsNXaw-U2PwThycIcoolSmCdxsR3RBNNL0qTlNauo1HyKL390ZA0QnaGBd_3oHAXWy7mEK4LT1lfIp1U-7aig_vZPPAhksXdPWI7Czmpo_-JV6Dgb0K5L5TVTE7Z9LHZriaR6dpfckDcD/s400/skillet.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">For Christmas I was lucky to receive the skillet (and I don't exaggerate as I write this) of my dreams. Over the past few years I've got'n right fed up of wobbly pan bottoms and flaky non-stick coatings (non-stick - yur telling me) and have had my mind set on something solidly indestructible. 'The Victor' was that very vision. It's a solid, cast iron, no shit talkin' bit of ironmongery. I could imagine </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-House-Woods-Ingalls-Wilder/dp/140523332X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327366439&sr=1-1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Ma Ingalls </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">or</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-Cookin-Country-Favorite-Memories/dp/1401601790/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327366368&sr=1-1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Loretta Lynn</span> </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">making a very happy co-habitation with it. The label said it was pre-seasoned and I went and daftly washed it in soapy water: "Hell no you don't!" (That was Loretta not Mrs Ingalls talking). Little rust spots soon appeared. Having read the label good and proper and a heap of somewhat contradictory internet advice, I bought myself some Trex and smoked </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">the house</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> out in the process. Next time I'll turn the pan upside down in the oven whilst seasoning and open the windows. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I inaugurated our skillet last weekend with Lorne sausage and fried eggs and boy did they turn out </span><i style="color: #999999;">just</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> fine. I can tell we are gonna be good friends. Cleaning is now done with a still warm pan,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> hot water only and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">a soft scourer before towel drying. There she is hanging-up with my new oven mitts (£2.95 each, in the Anthropologie sale) and</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fusion-Brands-Poachpod-Two-Pack-Silicone/dp/B000P6FD3I/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1327365739&sr=1-1"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Poachpods</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">. I'm a little wary of new fangled kitchen gadgetry but I'd been eyeing these up these silicone egg-poachers for hmm, a couple of years. They eventually made it onto my Santa list and were gratefully received. We now own four. </span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-1479979506436046922011-06-13T19:30:00.000+01:002011-06-13T19:30:35.814+01:00chocolate marshmallow rice crispie pizza cake, anyone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb5bwDDlJnXXEog6XCCN03YUTl6tGPvi-WbIjIPNx7Lpgj7vtNjmoQOlhPgXGKKvkDDzZmbTeQOSfiWdPZ7OleBQR5pqSh30c1If8qRN9d0qGASKdM3BSwSOPkY9yrEwlcgPYWty4SJmI/s1600/pizza+cake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb5bwDDlJnXXEog6XCCN03YUTl6tGPvi-WbIjIPNx7Lpgj7vtNjmoQOlhPgXGKKvkDDzZmbTeQOSfiWdPZ7OleBQR5pqSh30c1If8qRN9d0qGASKdM3BSwSOPkY9yrEwlcgPYWty4SJmI/s400/pizza+cake1.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><i>"So now I'm back, from outerspace! You just walked in to find me here with <b>chocolate-marshmallow-rice-crispie-pizza-cake </b>upon my face!! I should have changed that stupid lock I should have made you leave your key, if I had known for just one second..."</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Oh, well hello there! My apologies for the break in transmission, can it really have been </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">nearly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">two months? Yowzers. Well the excuse is I've been a busy bee, but instead of dancing to the beat of my own buzzy tune, I've have been hanging out in another hive of activity. Ok perhaps I should turn the disco music off, and stop speaking in riddles. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">So what the hell's that you say?! Well the above cake-ular monstrosity was made several weeks ago for a just-turned-four-year-old. As her Mum was telling me the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">menu the nearly-4-year-old had requested </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">for her bday tea ("Lollypops, jelly beans, marsh</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">mallows, candy floss..." Eh, nothing savoury Rosie? "Yeh, pizza and pom bears.") I had a little idea... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">The Sweetie Pizza, which I admit <i>sounds</i> disgusting but to my own surprise, was really rather nice. I used the<a href="http://www.ricekrispies.com/recipes/the-original-treats.aspx#/recipes/the-original-treats"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">favourite crispie treats recipe</span></a> for the base which I squished into my <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/230586307/Product.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Le Creuset clafoutis dish</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"> </span>(mine's teal and was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">a Christmas present) to form the pizza base, topped with Nutella (keeping it continental y'know), scattered with <a href="http://www.jellybelly-uk.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Jelly Belly beans</span></a> (accept no impostors people), yoghurt dipped banana chips (a mozzarella shaped substitute), glacé cherries (could've gone un-sulphured but compositionally, it required something terrifyingly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">lurid),</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> desiccated coconut (look, I can spell desiccated!) and for an extra bit of protein (although that's not yet been corroborated by medical evidence)<a href="http://www.whoismontybojangles.com/white_mice.html"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Monty Bojangles White Chocolate Mice</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"> </span>(if you have never tried them I can vouch for them as both marvellous and minxy).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Of course in order to maintain the illusion it had to come served in a pizza box, generously donated by the Comiston Fry, and was hidden until pudding time, in the oven of the Birthday Girl's brand new toy kitchen. I don't think she ate any pizza cake on the day but her Mum and I put a hefty dent in it and no, we weren't sick on our party frocks. </span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-12997494862020152662011-04-29T16:56:00.000+01:002011-04-29T16:56:08.671+01:00Grassmarket Festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0209-YF8jONrhVJnMapZ1wpocwRgW1tkAI2yNdQ_2laP1tTNDxSWWoAoc32G0d3BQz9tFkL6bRtK8ylVXEviECLwuatCSY_6oAbUu9RjC-zZ8SYEYtl4WJ6YktaUlVD8GkSYB2pJTgvK/s1600/Eflyer2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0209-YF8jONrhVJnMapZ1wpocwRgW1tkAI2yNdQ_2laP1tTNDxSWWoAoc32G0d3BQz9tFkL6bRtK8ylVXEviECLwuatCSY_6oAbUu9RjC-zZ8SYEYtl4WJ6YktaUlVD8GkSYB2pJTgvK/s640/Eflyer2b.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Hey folks don't forget <a href="http://www.grassmarkets.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">The Grassmarket Festival</span></a> is here this weekend. Ok, so blogger has trimmed the poster squint but look there are my<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"> </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo?section_id=6864860"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">little egg cups</span></a>! Saturday and Sunday this little <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">NIGHT OWL</span></a> shall be in attendance, 12 o'clock to 8pm in the cities Grassmarket. It's my first out door do' with the full shebang - so I really hope no little raindrops come visiting!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">It would be lovely to see you there - rain, hail or shine!</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-75316721880416091352011-04-29T16:23:00.000+01:002011-04-29T16:26:55.249+01:00on the weekend...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk2He8Kvb0viZi4U5py2ArVFYPSGJI6ff_u9BTmn0KFzO3cXPKxeFKSk85O7OFX0TMMtumRphOeEa-q1-OJq7rWXlzxI9mHA4rm5-Jbuocu59VWZMOlw4Bul2Fn-XAc7BnzkfEpyNbVC2/s1600/market1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk2He8Kvb0viZi4U5py2ArVFYPSGJI6ff_u9BTmn0KFzO3cXPKxeFKSk85O7OFX0TMMtumRphOeEa-q1-OJq7rWXlzxI9mHA4rm5-Jbuocu59VWZMOlw4Bul2Fn-XAc7BnzkfEpyNbVC2/s400/market1.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I had a lovely time last weekend selling my stuff and generally blethering my head off to any passer by. I was at the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"> </span><a href="http://2outoftheblue.org.uk/index.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Out of the Blue Arts Market</span></a> last Saturday. The night before I grabbed a couple of stems of cherry blossom or 'sakura' to decorate my stall and ended up trailing a stream of blossom confetti all the way there.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I think the rain on the day may have put a few folk off but it certainly didn't deter the punters for the food stalls which started ahead of the arts market. Once the first rush had died down things were quite relaxed which meant that I had lots of time to get chatting and enjoy some interesting, informative and entertaining conversations:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">• A lady who works at the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"> </span><a href="http://2outoftheblue.org.uk/page5.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Drill Hall Café</span></a> came by to say that the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo?section_id=7376746"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">shower cap</span></a> she'd bought from me at Christmas went down very well with her friend. "She wears it all the time!" she said. "I mean - not just in the shower!!" Now that's what I like to hear.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">• A wee boy came past, asking how much of my merchandise I'd actually made myself: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">HIM: "Did you make that? And that?!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">ME: "Yes, yes I made it all!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">HIME: "And those? Did you make them?" (pointing at my jug a pheasant-eye lilies)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">ME: "Well no, you've got me there." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">HIM: "Hmm. Do you do anything without flowers on?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">ME: "Eh... well, um, not <i>really.</i>"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">HIM: "Could you make me one of them without flowers on?" (pointing at my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71250720/dotty-miss-daisy-gingham-picnic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Dotty Miss Daisy tablecloth</span></a>)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">ME: "Yeah, I could do that. What would you want on it instead?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">HIM: "H.F.C."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">ME: "Is that Hearts?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">HIM: (with steely glare) "No, HIBS!"</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7pZlGQxSCJ3ec3zHVpL_em1b-WFq1FJtwGi1nUXlQJCY4I5sk6kMok3ad7CQVCOT1y2uzVwQvETDqpvFONpIwCISLlT7Du9ZqPYe8pGgT5hz0gk3a4zOZVovmzIlGiH1pTcuP_60FSH4/s1600/primula1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7pZlGQxSCJ3ec3zHVpL_em1b-WFq1FJtwGi1nUXlQJCY4I5sk6kMok3ad7CQVCOT1y2uzVwQvETDqpvFONpIwCISLlT7Du9ZqPYe8pGgT5hz0gk3a4zOZVovmzIlGiH1pTcuP_60FSH4/s400/primula1a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">• A lady picked up one of my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo?section_id=6526633"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">wildwood flower brooches</span></a>. I told her I thought it was a primrose. "No it's a cowslip which is why I'm going to buy it!". Apparently, (I did not know this) a primrose is a cultivated cowslip so of course I have now re-titled<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/41486320/cowslip-wildwood-flower-oval-wooden"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">my brooch</span></a>. She went on to tell me a lovely story about her Grandmother, who used to post a biscuit tin of cowslips to her mother each spring. She said the place where her Grandmother picked them has no cowslip left in it anymore. I loved her story and told her my own similar one as my Aunty used to post a posy of snowdrops to my Mum in an empty Silk Cut packet. The snowdrops wrapped in damp tissue would come out a little bedraggled but would soon perk up after a wee drink and possibly some fresh air.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr8MEdkpvPqgrIsMa6nL-mtJt9K8MsickbQ1Dl0GiwWDBkfP5E_7xeWRjjK98Pc731ttujhlrlWS-g08aWYsODfqhKR0UBGgvX6gldea5CqSGoqaF74T-D0cz6PDhyf8B8NcI6QzMq_sU/s1600/market4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUr8MEdkpvPqgrIsMa6nL-mtJt9K8MsickbQ1Dl0GiwWDBkfP5E_7xeWRjjK98Pc731ttujhlrlWS-g08aWYsODfqhKR0UBGgvX6gldea5CqSGoqaF74T-D0cz6PDhyf8B8NcI6QzMq_sU/s400/market4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">On Sunday I was at the <a href="http://www.collectivegallery.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Collective</span></a> for the Craft Sunday Market with <a href="http://wooden-tree.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">A Wooden Tree</span></a> and <a href="http://annabelbartle.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Annabel Bartle</span></a>. I've known Kirsty since I've been doing craft fairs and Annabel and I worked together <a href="http://ellenmunro.co.uk/2007/freedom_is_1.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">on this project</span></a>, four years ago. It was great to see them both and have a right good natter. Although I did so much nattering I forgot to take more photos of their lovely wares!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">We were asked to give a poster to advertise our stalls in the lead up to the market. That's my effort at the back there. I couldn't get any pegboard so I drilled my own. Yes I'm mad.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">You can see I grabbed a couple of stray narcissi from the park on my way by too.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqcAdcTkNfb93F_6LZ5_ifpEbOlMHpa-J52-DwrGyQ9Z7Ief4rnU0Z7k2xaoHO6Qi4_RCIaCuw1YxUKTnL6rQL6uK-5pDxx3I3CvigAJ9CsQBx2X_YglZrI7QQioViqL9AsMTlrpo_X8H/s1600/market5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqcAdcTkNfb93F_6LZ5_ifpEbOlMHpa-J52-DwrGyQ9Z7Ief4rnU0Z7k2xaoHO6Qi4_RCIaCuw1YxUKTnL6rQL6uK-5pDxx3I3CvigAJ9CsQBx2X_YglZrI7QQioViqL9AsMTlrpo_X8H/s400/market5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I loved our tables which were assembled from plastic drinks crates on loan from Barrs. They were quite tall and just the perfect height for getting a good eyeball at everything! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Course I also got the chance to try out <a href="http://www.feraltrade.org/cgi-bin/courier/courier.pl"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">The Feral Trade Café</span></a>. Oh yeah! I'm gonna have to tell you abut that later but I'll be ticking off all the items on the menu over the next few weeks let me tell you!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">If you are interested in getting involved with the markets over the next few weeks contact: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b></b></span><br />
<b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="cgSelectable cgSelectable-over" cmd="msgaction_ext:senderSearch" style="vertical-align: top;" title="View all emails from this sender " widget=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">jennyrichards@collectivegallery.net<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div></b></span></div></b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="cgSelectable cgSelectable-over" cmd="msgaction_ext:senderSearch" style="vertical-align: top;" title="View all emails from this sender " widget=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></b></div><div><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="cgSelectable cgSelectable-over" cmd="msgaction_ext:senderSearch" style="vertical-align: top;" title="View all emails from this sender " widget=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">The dates are:</span></span></span></span></span></div></b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">S</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">unday 1 May - Artist's Multiples </span></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">S</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">unday 8 May - Illustration </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">S</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">unday 15 May - Publications </span></b></span></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">S</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">unday 22 May - Anything goes</span></span></div></b></span><b></b><b></b><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.collectivegallery.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">How to turn the world by hand</span></a> runs until 29th May at Collective, 22-28 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh.</span></span></span></div><b><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="cgSelectable cgSelectable-over" cmd="msgaction_ext:senderSearch" style="vertical-align: top;" title="View all emails from this sender " widget=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></div></b><br />
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</span></div></div></div>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-22219695385666798152011-04-19T13:48:00.000+01:002011-04-19T13:48:05.472+01:00marketing mix...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM9B6sCqOO08CDXkI3baNStrLZD3cIpDbFiOfRnCT-bYFiO2kFWfvbxS1r6tBl-HmdQRWGUsAjs27FzwUc9uqdYXUxs73uA6IadhiyJ-MBBjaZQJ94w-Gi6fTpsVMPfsVsUEY31Zz-4US/s1600/securedownload.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM9B6sCqOO08CDXkI3baNStrLZD3cIpDbFiOfRnCT-bYFiO2kFWfvbxS1r6tBl-HmdQRWGUsAjs27FzwUc9uqdYXUxs73uA6IadhiyJ-MBBjaZQJ94w-Gi6fTpsVMPfsVsUEY31Zz-4US/s400/securedownload.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">It's good to get oot 'n' aboot in the springtime and a busy bunny I shall be!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">This Saturday I'll be taking my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo?ref=si_shop"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">NIGHT OWL</span></a> wares to <a href="http://2outoftheblue.org.uk/page36.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">The Out of The Blue Arts Market</span></a>. I'll have new <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo?section_id=6864860"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">egg cups</span></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo?section_id=7376746"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">shower caps</span></a>, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo?section_id=6535781"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">tablecloths</span> </a>and Easter bows to show off!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">On Sunday, I'll be at the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.collectivegallery.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Collective's</span></a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Sunday Market, from 11am - 4pm on Cockburn Street. Looking forward to catching up with Annabel and Kirsty '</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://wooden-tree.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Wooden Tree</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">' and trying out the <a href="http://www.feraltrade.org/cgi-bin/courier/courier.pl"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Feral Trade Café</span></a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">But if you are busy this week end coming fear not! I'm also taking a stall at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">on Saturday 30th and Sunday 1st May at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_95323970"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">T</span></a></span><a href="http://www.grassmarket.net//newsandevents.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">he Grassmarket Festival</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> This is a bit of an experiment - I've never taken my wares out of doors - eek! Let's hope the drip-drip-drop of April showers have left us by then tho' a few dew-drops might be nice!</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-76311571661813574732011-04-18T08:00:00.002+01:002011-04-18T08:00:08.957+01:00stay blue, blue sky<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBG20BimEH2zO9XY6fQTrbk-BALMYAJ0kep-NBdzVmXlW2E2kC5AXUeXnmPPyGNB7KTFrz3CUxeR-W0MT0gA7zh32PTGGOxxEWoTtd7p_nTg_m5NJv2j_yU9zgCabvP9NW5cxJIgqafZK7/s1600/1302541314858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBG20BimEH2zO9XY6fQTrbk-BALMYAJ0kep-NBdzVmXlW2E2kC5AXUeXnmPPyGNB7KTFrz3CUxeR-W0MT0gA7zh32PTGGOxxEWoTtd7p_nTg_m5NJv2j_yU9zgCabvP9NW5cxJIgqafZK7/s400/1302541314858.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I've learned another Japanese word: 'sakura' meaning cherry blossom.</span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">"I heart sakura in the springtime."</span></i>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-65168209902624164832011-04-15T11:52:00.000+01:002011-04-15T12:05:04.239+01:00how to turn the world by hand...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtEJkOPR93cvPlsGhxkpQiHJEpiIztu85pScIHoTPs8xpO-F7XlUSHo-2Ay1Pu3OGAygJKauubiT94hRgC4Oh-0eg6nHN1mliDkxJX1OTW7DEay2mRwOhUZvTDNibubzdxJf1vfYvhjkO/s1600/5596815141_48f733d2b7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtEJkOPR93cvPlsGhxkpQiHJEpiIztu85pScIHoTPs8xpO-F7XlUSHo-2Ay1Pu3OGAygJKauubiT94hRgC4Oh-0eg6nHN1mliDkxJX1OTW7DEay2mRwOhUZvTDNibubzdxJf1vfYvhjkO/s400/5596815141_48f733d2b7_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal;">There's an exciting opportunity coming up for you arty-crafty-maker-shaker's out there so keep reading...</span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">'New shop and café take over Collective </span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">- this hiatus is out of our control and will be in place for 6 weeks from April 16 - May 29. Apologies for the inconvenience.'</span></span></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.collectivegallery.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Collective's</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">next exhibition, an off-site DIY Fountain by<a href="http://www.dancingtoasters.com/"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Rania Ho</span></a> launches in The Scottish Book Trust Garden tonight.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Meanwhile, the gallery on Cockburn Street is being turned into a café and shop, (but not just any café and shop).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">On Sundays there will be a series of themed markets at Cockburn Street, which Collective are looking for makers to get involved with. The markets are FREE to take part in, all that you are asked to do is supply an A1 poster advertising your wares a week in advance. The dates are...</span><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">If you are interested in taking part contact:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="cgSelectable cgSelectable-over" cmd="msgaction_ext:senderSearch" style="vertical-align: top;" title="View all emails from this sender " widget=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">jennyrichards@collectivegallery.net </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="cgSelectable cgSelectable-over" cmd="msgaction_ext:senderSearch" style="vertical-align: top;" title="View all emails from this sender " widget=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="cgSelectable cgSelectable-over" cmd="msgaction_ext:senderSearch" style="vertical-align: top;" title="View all emails from this sender " widget=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">And maybe I'll see you on the 24th?</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #777777; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="cgSelectable cgSelectable-over" cmd="msgaction_ext:senderSearch" style="text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: top;" title="View all emails from this sender " widget=""><br />
</span></span></div></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #777777; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13px;"><a class="textLink msgHeaderLink fontT3 fontLink" cmd="msgaction_ext:viewContactDetails" contact="" details'="" href="" id="0_messageHeaderABText" s="" style="color: #0081c2; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 20px;" title="View Sender" widget=""></a></span><a class="textLink msgHeaderLink fontT3 fontLink" cmd="msgaction_ext:viewContactDetails" contact="" details'="" href="" id="0_messageHeaderABText" s="" style="color: #0081c2; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 20px;" title="View Sender" widget=""></a><a class="textLink msgHeaderLink fontT3 fontLink" cmd="msgaction_ext:viewContactDetails" contact="" details'="" href="" id="0_messageHeaderABText" s="" style="color: #0081c2; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 20px;" title="View Sender" widget=""></a>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-62609848627327075792011-04-14T08:00:00.000+01:002011-04-14T08:00:09.058+01:00fly little tsuru-san...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmMF-X5MSdnpkzPq3E47pr_O6IFZmaGLCN8cv7GgHVY9VY4oZo7CsHgRoZCsqn_hJ8Gk5X8l2Uauc3DoLW5AOLkS8DzCfIVVJdJdszdstnidA6FWAbgQJ207XFouCHRTY_L94LaHfVwfh/s1600/+tsuru-san2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmMF-X5MSdnpkzPq3E47pr_O6IFZmaGLCN8cv7GgHVY9VY4oZo7CsHgRoZCsqn_hJ8Gk5X8l2Uauc3DoLW5AOLkS8DzCfIVVJdJdszdstnidA6FWAbgQJ207XFouCHRTY_L94LaHfVwfh/s400/+tsuru-san2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;">I was wondering how the Cakes for Japan Edinburgh fundraiser went the other week. When I'd got there with my bakes I was in such a hot-and-bothered rush I hadn't anytime to snoop around or even say a proper hello before I legged it down the hill to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;">Well I got a quite a shock when I checked back on the event page. <b>The Edinburgh event raised £2330 for Japanese Red Cross</b> - in just a few hours! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;">These were a couple of leftovers from my baked offerings which I managed to snap on the day. At no loss to the fundraising I might add as this cupcake was distinctly smaller than the rest and the 'crispy flag' needed to be manhandled into a flag shape. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;">I made fatless fairy cakes, or rather 'gnome cakes' from my newest baking book <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/pam+corbin/cakes/7785827/"><span style="color: #81a457; text-decoration: none;">River Cottage Handbook No.8: Cakes by Pam Corbin</span></a>. The mix uses a hefty grating of pumpkin, carrot or courgette with a little zest, which I suppose cuts down on the sugar as well as adding moisture. I chose carrot and orange for mine and used the Philly cheese topping which Mrs Corbin makes with butter. As I mixed up the topping the night before, my too-tired eyes failed to spot that the topping was dotted with flecks of butter - but you couldn't taste it! The gnome cakes were good, a little chewy but hey, that's fat-less for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;">To decorate I topped them off with origami tsuru (crane) which <a href="http://www.origami-fun.com/support-files/origami-crane-print.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I still have to check out instructions for</span></a>, even though I once folded a thousand to make a sembazuru. That's another story but you would think I could remember - no? I chopped a cocktail stick in half and wiggled the pointy end into the little gap underneath the cranes - BINGO instant cake topper! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;">For the flags I used <a href="http://www.ricekrispies.com/recipes/the-original-treats.aspx#/recipes/the-original-treats"><span style="color: #477423; text-decoration: none;">this recipe for Crispy Treats</span></a>, substituting the marshmallows for a jar of <a href="http://www.marshmallowfluff.com/pages/homepage.html"><span style="color: #517228; text-decoration: none;">Marshmallow Fluff</span></a> (which I do believe is végétarien), scattered desiccated coconut over the top (to make them a little more white) and added halved glacé cherries. Whilst we are on the subject the Fluff website has <a href="http://www.marshmallowfluff.com/media/audio/fluff_jingle.mp3"><span style="color: #517228; text-decoration: none;">this very cute jingle from The Flufferettes</span></a> - ooh! I didn't get round to popping in cocktail sticks in them all (I forgot the darned box!) but the Fluff worked a treat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;">Here's a little photo of my cakes at the sale, taken by <span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://icookvegan.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Donna McGory </span></a></span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://icookvegan.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">of</span></a></span><span style="color: #477423; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://icookvegan.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I Cook Vegan Food</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> - have a looksee at her blog to check out some more beautiful photos of the sale</span></span>. </span></div></div></span><br />
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</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-524378228552896332011-04-13T16:45:00.000+01:002011-04-13T16:45:29.361+01:00you shall have a little fishy...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_0zXJG7907PTA0syXihI7O_uFwsF_ZLEunKzJJ4m_74qP7qoDjZj6BL0nTVduLzqNTa3sN9tfgZTzQxhEJSLye8xrpmqt5Of87BAU9ujnc0lmBTHZbp4ezwtDdJZEXIzGbpFAOQkzogc/s1600/fishy+on+a+dishy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_0zXJG7907PTA0syXihI7O_uFwsF_ZLEunKzJJ4m_74qP7qoDjZj6BL0nTVduLzqNTa3sN9tfgZTzQxhEJSLye8xrpmqt5Of87BAU9ujnc0lmBTHZbp4ezwtDdJZEXIzGbpFAOQkzogc/s400/fishy+on+a+dishy1.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">This little dishy, from the free Waitrose Weekend newspaper, was quick simple and so tasty. We had it with fresh whiting fillets. I even think I could whip up the whole thing in an advert break! Well, maybe don't hold me to that. But I did feel like a domestic diva for all of fifteen minutes. </span><br />
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</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-58717022407169770282011-04-11T23:29:00.000+01:002011-04-11T23:29:34.427+01:00lazy monday afternoon...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaupvaNYyAFDr2Up6LN0WEPrNJmZikJY1fwb4xpy_9DP9IJUQM51VAdfLnGtanupMbnyBzkWBJSzTzQGjZv-445ThlLs0N8BrhI9GW9iZZZ5z2umNQTA_16fVK852hSRZZlA1r6Elq2KbM/s1600/lazy+monday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaupvaNYyAFDr2Up6LN0WEPrNJmZikJY1fwb4xpy_9DP9IJUQM51VAdfLnGtanupMbnyBzkWBJSzTzQGjZv-445ThlLs0N8BrhI9GW9iZZZ5z2umNQTA_16fVK852hSRZZlA1r6Elq2KbM/s400/lazy+monday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">As I'm always working weekends, I try to give myself Mondays off. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't but s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">omehow, no Monday-off is ever quite like a Sunday-off; a lazy-day to do just as I please.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Today I was supposed to be catching up with the paperwork. We didn't. I'd forgotten to set my alarm and slept for a whole twelve hours. I assume I must have needed it. When I did wake up I had tea in bed and a read of: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/truman+capote/answered+prayers/5201452/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Answered Prayers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">.</span></span> It's rather rude (about everything and everyone) and makes me cackle. The only part I'm not looking forward to is finding out why it's 'unfinished'. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Eventually I made lunch. A bargain-basement composition from last night's swag-bag of Waitrose reductions (I got tender-stem broccoli, french beans, helda beans and British asparagus: all for 10p a pack. ha.) I lightly burned my reduced muffin, slathered it with butter and topped it with a slice of leftover Milano salami. Steamed some reduced asparagus over my perfectly poached eggs. Slathered the asparagus with more butter (I'm not that fussed by asparagus but being 10p improves it). Took a bite. Took a photo. <i>Le nom</i>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Then we watched the next instalment of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407362/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Battlestar Galactica</span></a> which is becoming a nightly obsession. Although last night I conked out before the opening credits were done. Then I got round to packing up a couple of orders and made a dash to the Post Office where I was greeted at the door with a smile and a hello. (They must have missed me).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">When I got back to the ranch the sun was splitting the sky and I had to stop and take a few photos. The camera on my <a href="http://www.htc.com/uk/product/wildfire/overview.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">new-ish phone</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"> </span>is no great shakes but the <a href="http://www.androidtapp.com/vignette/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Vignette app</span></a> has transformed it. I love the toy camera setting, particularly as I miss my old toy camera. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">And I love the pheasant-eye lilies which are nodding demurely at the end of our street. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">And I love lazy days off.</span><br />
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</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-33049533905081453732011-04-04T22:04:00.002+01:002011-04-11T23:31:06.184+01:00drip-drip-drop little april showers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrzObDJJwLf5m7VEJbCfoOaj5yk0iLaW7e91tuH_sEjiixT_iEHlfWmtzzBLRWpWEDVo5f8jrIJp1StVXfzVrLYz_KWkNn2PcbCUOszsj6Et_YkgMIFK-vVzlnyvK31RnfT5s00tJjj8l/s1600/tulips+and+showercaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrzObDJJwLf5m7VEJbCfoOaj5yk0iLaW7e91tuH_sEjiixT_iEHlfWmtzzBLRWpWEDVo5f8jrIJp1StVXfzVrLYz_KWkNn2PcbCUOszsj6Et_YkgMIFK-vVzlnyvK31RnfT5s00tJjj8l/s400/tulips+and+showercaps.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Ah - spring is here and how it has tickled my fancy and generally got me all staring-out-the-windae, smiling at the flowers and saying a cheery "hello" to every chirping birdie. How I love it so, almost as much as a 39p bunch of Waitrose tulips - bliss indeed!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Well, I'm no Heather-the-Weather (nor Seán Batty for that matter) but I do predict a little April shower or two to be heading your way. So why not have your heid stylishly prepared for the inevitable with a fetchingly fresh shower cap soon to be drip-drip-dropping into a little <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuwhittuwhoo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">tuwhittuwhoo</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"> </span></span>near you! Yes indeedy, the much <a href="http://tuwhittuwhoo-thenightowl.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-post.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">anticipated Japanese-y fabrics</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"> </span>are getting stitched-up and be-photographed and into the shop <i>toot suite.</i> And I have heard it said, they are too cute to keep to your <i>salle de bains</i>!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">In honour of the seasons scattered-showers, I thought I should leave you with one of my favourite little springtime ditties (after that is, the effusive Mr Blackbird and the knock-knock-knocking of my local woodpecker). But not for you just the run-o'-the-mill version of this dear chanson: no, no. I took it upon myself to conduct a gruelling research project and compile a best-version-of-<i>Little</i>-<i>April</i>-<i>Shower</i>-in-a-Foreign-Language chart. (That's more than what the Oscars would give you... but less than Eurovision, perhaps) So without further a-do:</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">in at number </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">THREE</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">: They won't let me embed-it but it's ICELANDIC:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">running-away towards number </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">TWO</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">: say "yay" for GERMAN:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">pipped-to-the post by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">NUMBER ONE</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">: it's SWEEDISH!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-42092154772239123592011-03-31T10:46:00.001+01:002011-03-31T10:48:19.338+01:00made to orders!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8QRFm25xXm5mzNnOeqZJliSkqvgmI_WoQR7GAwWE59M-VZ5TxQ4YMh5M-YbPtBoQBjg5P198pm8AZM3AanPfpQd49RdszpWe_2Ph3Jrz59f92ceVeF9rTIGcDDJaktPvYafFqtsIAryC/s1600/custom+tcloth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8QRFm25xXm5mzNnOeqZJliSkqvgmI_WoQR7GAwWE59M-VZ5TxQ4YMh5M-YbPtBoQBjg5P198pm8AZM3AanPfpQd49RdszpWe_2Ph3Jrz59f92ceVeF9rTIGcDDJaktPvYafFqtsIAryC/s400/custom+tcloth1.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Oh yes we do!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I was so pleased</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">to be parcelling-up my first custom tablecloth order t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">he other week, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">for London Town! I'd been asked if I could make a tablecloth like my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48872072/blue-skies-and-grey-petals-gingham"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">blue skies and grey petals picnic tablecloth</span></a> that would fit a drop-leaf table when used either with one side up or when fully extended. "Sure thing!" I said and got scribbling out a plan...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">The gingham fabric I use comes in the narrow, 112 cm measurement so I figured out a nifty way to make it fit the table by neatly machining two deep borders (in a double thickness of fabric) to each long side and hand finishing the hem on the underside. I suggested placing the applique in groups of three on either side with a slightly larger flower in the middle. I didn't expect it but the result was you got to see how this big repeating pattern works with motifs appearing across the three patches. Oh, how I wish I'd bought more of this fabric!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyFn_f7slaAAMFdaHMLF2Nvbzt8njl_VIi3Qz6_D0lYpdyy7DG0QovmllM8XIkBvoDKbl1N-ealuFt8sW7FacB5A2D1nWZ0fpA85GDIhUTROSMFQAwttmL2fZYvhgagVtEnKw9aFAU7gt/s1600/custom+tcloth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyFn_f7slaAAMFdaHMLF2Nvbzt8njl_VIi3Qz6_D0lYpdyy7DG0QovmllM8XIkBvoDKbl1N-ealuFt8sW7FacB5A2D1nWZ0fpA85GDIhUTROSMFQAwttmL2fZYvhgagVtEnKw9aFAU7gt/s400/custom+tcloth2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">My customer was delighted with her tablecloth and I was so pleased that my long-held idea worked. Phew! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Now another thing to add to my ever lengthening list of personal </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">sewing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> projects is running up one of these babies for me. Perhaps with luck, I'll make it in time for Christmas?!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Another random discovery I made is the availability in some parts of my holy grail: 150 cm wide cotton gingham! Yipee!! The range of colours is somewhat limited but I'm looking forward to experimenting with a much larger square tablecloth in the range sometime soon. Well, almost as soon as the shop comes back from it's holidays... </span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-75832837972073013082011-03-23T00:34:00.000+00:002011-03-23T00:34:39.882+00:00cakes for japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbHDbwUxHHtFj7beE-oKN2XK4VmgxbycwNo6_fSYwPwOqrxwEzb2hEGc1gpCxd0dCb6AiPYE_ajaKeeSfazKABfrUX0dipxkXjP6UwKQSqNtXVvtxkGmSt20lEheGSWkNRX9MJnP9cjxv/s1600/188006_186263724750194_4945010_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbHDbwUxHHtFj7beE-oKN2XK4VmgxbycwNo6_fSYwPwOqrxwEzb2hEGc1gpCxd0dCb6AiPYE_ajaKeeSfazKABfrUX0dipxkXjP6UwKQSqNtXVvtxkGmSt20lEheGSWkNRX9MJnP9cjxv/s320/188006_186263724750194_4945010_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Cakes for Japan, Edinburgh - Tsunami Appeal Fundraiser </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #999999; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Saturday 26th March </span></span></span><span class="dtstart"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="value-title" title="2011-03-26T11:00:00"></span>11:00am</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> - </span></span></span><span class="dtend"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="value-title" title="2011-03-26T15:00:00"></span>3:00pm</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="profileName fn fsxl fwb"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="dtend"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: magenta; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;">Quaker Meeting House,</span></div><span class="profileName fn fsxl fwb"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="dtend"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="profileName fn fsxl fwb"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="dtend"><div class="adr"><div class="street-address" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL</span></span></span></div><div class="street-address"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">It shan't come as a surprise, that I require little persuading to don my pinny, go forth and bake, most especially when I've had such an important cause to get rattling my baking tins for. </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #999999; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 15px;">I have a few different Japan-inspired baking ideas I'm working on - just hope I've enough time to bake them all!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #999999; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Find <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186263724750194"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Cakes for Japan, Edinburgh</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"> </span>on Facebook: </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #999999; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_771996584"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">h</span></a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #999999; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="ttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186263724750194"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">ttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186263724750194</span></a></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;">For more information, or to get involved with the Edinburgh fundraiser, email:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">dee@itsy.org.uk</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read about the other Cakes for Japan events at <a href="http://cakesforjapan.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">cakesforjapan.wordpress.com</span></a> and see the sell-out <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldn_chancers/sets/72157626280779324/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Cakes for Japan, London </span></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldn_chancers/sets/72157626280779324/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">sale on</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldn_chancers/sets/72157626280779324/"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">flikr</span></a> </span>which raised over £2000 in three hours! </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;">Hope you can make it on Saturday!!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div></span></span></span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-3326612473570371252011-03-18T13:37:00.002+00:002011-03-18T13:43:22.873+00:00Baking Circle No.1: Aunty Jean's Shortbread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEmae8O7pDxN44YIBY1jHOPTPkSyQ3y1FNQOAEUyil2h77FTIfkRInvNYcRyKEhDvpK4DHCFHnpLe3lAhjhU2pl2y3V-N9w85oe26Hb1h4UO_CVTN0sJVsY02j3D5mv4LiGjID5KCn8kb/s1600/traybake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEmae8O7pDxN44YIBY1jHOPTPkSyQ3y1FNQOAEUyil2h77FTIfkRInvNYcRyKEhDvpK4DHCFHnpLe3lAhjhU2pl2y3V-N9w85oe26Hb1h4UO_CVTN0sJVsY02j3D5mv4LiGjID5KCn8kb/s400/traybake+1.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">We had a good ole natter at the inaugural <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Auntie-Ms-Cake-Lounge/103017039738048?sk=wall"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Auntie M's Baking Circle </span></a>meet-up last week. The idea behind the evening is that you bring along your baked wares with a fist-full of recipes for it, we taste discuss and swap recipes and then take a little bit of everything home. I am calling this RESEARCH, not an excuse to eat cake, absolutely not. This for me is a serious study of the Art of Bake. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The theme Michelle chose for our baked wares was 'bars' which I understood as 'tray-bakes' then further interpreted as shortbread, 'cause I bakes it in a tray see. The above photo shows the bakes that made it back to mine, having shared some of the others along the way. There was a <a href="http://www.yhmag.co.uk/food_article.php?id=325"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Rosemary and Salt Caramel Millionaire's</span></a> which <a href="http://www.blipfoto.com/floatingweeds"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Emily</span></a> was into (she got the rest) and having had Stacey's <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/mary+cadogan/good+food3a+101+cakes+26+bakes/4625333/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Banana Nut Brownie</span></a> for breakfast the following day (after the incredible discovery of rhubarb and custard on your porridge) I felt that 43 miles should be put between me and the rest. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, on the plate is Auntie M's Buttertart Bar which was deee-lish crisp biscuit base with sticky and ever-so-slightly chewy buttery topping, studded with raisins. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_tart"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">The Butter Tart</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>hails from Michelle's Canadian homeland and apparently there is quite a debate over there as to whether you walnut or raisin the filling. I may have to base a research project on this. Auntie M's young protege took along <a href="http://www.ricekrispies.com/recipes/the-original-treats.aspx#/recipes/the-original-treats"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Crispy Treats</span></a>, a no-bake blend of marshmallows, puffed rice and butter, the simplicity of which belied it's complex moreishness. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7Jjct3TzwoMZOpa9-hsw3I2JxysGgi6UQnEYhMdX5yVtxg_gxU0qjdsNPXZYd97c_xZzts2qci4xl9XUwDjRM3UnCndvL89FYvIQP0pAd7jaXPYlro4vo5122ZddHqNsLChCtBW1JeQx/s1600/traybake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7Jjct3TzwoMZOpa9-hsw3I2JxysGgi6UQnEYhMdX5yVtxg_gxU0qjdsNPXZYd97c_xZzts2qci4xl9XUwDjRM3UnCndvL89FYvIQP0pAd7jaXPYlro4vo5122ZddHqNsLChCtBW1JeQx/s400/traybake+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Aunty Jean's recipe is very special recipe to me. Passed on from her, it's one my Mum made a lot. I think it might be unusual in that you melt, rather than cream the fat but it's the cornflour that keeps it wonderfully crisp and light. Oh and did I mention it's a doddle to make? Here's the recipe, scanned out of my notebook. At the bottom I've added the reminders Ma left - just in case. The shortbread trimmings by the way, are one of the very best bits, especially if they are a little over done. Save them for ice cream or maybe even a bowl of rhubarb and custard?!<br />
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<span id="goog_1481798236"></span></div></span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-25343917989417395022011-03-14T18:49:00.000+00:002011-03-14T18:49:04.172+00:00Dearest Japan...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0anVF4-RZpl9f_Bd3mCa4iXx3VTzRk61TuuLdCnGKnUq-fWTqXZY4UCmTBAdfHvB_ttPYCAdSitY_Yk4Mh09IO4RvD7XU7fK1CXPislXb_NHEHJqeLNvO31coex2VzE3gr8i3Ehp0ucm/s1600/+japan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0anVF4-RZpl9f_Bd3mCa4iXx3VTzRk61TuuLdCnGKnUq-fWTqXZY4UCmTBAdfHvB_ttPYCAdSitY_Yk4Mh09IO4RvD7XU7fK1CXPislXb_NHEHJqeLNvO31coex2VzE3gr8i3Ehp0ucm/s400/+japan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I am thinking of you and send you all my love. </span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-18249524527476390852011-03-02T03:04:00.000+00:002011-03-02T03:04:26.847+00:00marmalady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheanTgBPImt-z6uo9pdaQsNn7ftdOPfpVgZ_NIgDm1k9dkX6bzC4SndBX_-sTjj44_2DLb6EIoTmaqjdB_vNF_KK2co20cA6hy0zPL0iwx8zLYWG_PtG5_lj5Ye9dDPOLUlmPwxC1ynIba/s1600/+marmalady1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheanTgBPImt-z6uo9pdaQsNn7ftdOPfpVgZ_NIgDm1k9dkX6bzC4SndBX_-sTjj44_2DLb6EIoTmaqjdB_vNF_KK2co20cA6hy0zPL0iwx8zLYWG_PtG5_lj5Ye9dDPOLUlmPwxC1ynIba/s400/+marmalady1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=993416&month=2&year=2011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">There seems to be a fad for writing about your breakfast round these parts.</span></a> Well, as one Julias' Daughter hopefully re-considers her own self-imposed ban, I feel the mantle falls to me to talk about that oh-so-most-important meal of the day. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">So - <i>what does a night owl eat for breakfast?</i> Well, that all kinda depends what day of the week we're talking about and whether I'm having to rise and shine and get my ass out the house to meet some type of rotational requirement. I hate to admit it but sometimes, just sometimes I have to leave the house <i>without</i> (duh, duh, DUH!). Like this Sunday morning, when I heated up the oats and milk I'd left soaking in the microwave overnight (how very organised of me) and then had no time to eat my too-hot porridge. For shame. Well, the only thing I can say is at least with porridge you can reheat it the next day (which I did) that is so long as you don't make it to the consistency of wet concrete (which I didn't). My top porridge toppers at the moment (incase you are not yet asleep) are raisins and a wee bit of sugar (golden granulated) or my <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/pam+corbin/preserves/6086835/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Winter Fruit Compote</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"> </span>- mmm PRUNES! I am, as yet, managing to resist double cream. No, don't mention it (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">double cream</span>) - I <i>said</i> DON'T MENTION IT!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Any hows - what I was <i>really</i> wanting to tell y'all about were the exciting results of my first venture into the land of marmalade. I come from a long line of Marmaladies (actually, that may be a short line) but anyways, I had never been schooled in the technical side. My Ma's preference was for the pre-sliced MAMADE tins (medium cut) whereas my Granny's speciality has a rather different consistency: very soft-set and rather lemony, I do believe she told me that my Granda used to pass all the fruit peel through a table-mounted hand-cranked mincer!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Well, I just followed <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/pam+corbin/preserves/6086835/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Mrs Corbin's instruction</span></a> to the letter: steeping my finely hand sliced peel in water overnight and boiling and reducing the next day. I had to take a break in my preservings (to hop of to a lecture, fancy!) and returned to my pan the next day, to no ill effect. The secret of Mrs Corbin's success, I reckon, is her use of demerara sugar. It adds a wonderful, golden syrupy richness which is quite extraordinarily unlike any other marmalade I have known.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">It took me a lot less time to find the setting point than it did for my plum jam (did I tell you about my plum jam?) and for once I actually had MORE preserve than I expected! Lucky old me. So much in fact that I had to grab my marmalade pot out of the cupboard to fill. It's a lovely <a href="http://www.tggreen.co.uk/?gclid=CObayu7xrqcCFYEc4Qodr1L4Bw"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">T.G. Green</span> </a>number which was part of a 'breakfast set' given as a wedding gift to my Ma and Pa. I love the colour. The plate is <a href="http://www.tggreen.co.uk/?gclid=CObayu7xrqcCFYEc4Qodr1L4Bw"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">T.G. Green</span></a> too, from a charity shop and probably a second - but you can't see the wee blip in the glaze once you've got a wholemeal seeded muffin on there! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Than reminds me, somewhere I have a recipe for marmalade cake... </span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-86771869654378151732011-02-24T01:52:00.001+00:002011-02-24T01:59:26.263+00:00gimme your wurst!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6uXqICAf_CIpJWhprVbz2GxOmeGJOqBsZWmN22PsKm1cyk8Cf9TCemgQhN8sv0eNDz9285MT01gTK5bbi4uqYgfhKyfocLRh9NEIfob6cXl2U3DV-LVql9_Fzza8XkJA1QLo0RczV5pq/s1600/+wurst2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6uXqICAf_CIpJWhprVbz2GxOmeGJOqBsZWmN22PsKm1cyk8Cf9TCemgQhN8sv0eNDz9285MT01gTK5bbi4uqYgfhKyfocLRh9NEIfob6cXl2U3DV-LVql9_Fzza8XkJA1QLo0RczV5pq/s400/+wurst2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">This was taken a few weeks back when we got some genuine German sausages from the German market and took the opportunity to relive one of the culinary highlights of our Düsseldorf - Berlin trip a few years ago.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">The chef insisted that we had to have proper currywurst ketchup to accompany our smoky sausages of goodness-knows-what and cooked up the <a href="http://www.sweetadditions.net/food-drinks/how-to-make-currywurst-sauce"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">first recipe in this post</span></a> - sch-lup! I love the silly spelling of 'catchup' on the second recipe (heheh!) but really - honey? A BAY LEAF? Don't tinker with the trashy food. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">If you are unfamiliar with the joy of a good <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currywurst"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">currywurst</span></a> it's basically cheap ketchup with curry powder slathered over a chopped up sausage. The German equivalent of chippy sauce. If you are unfamiliar with chippy sauce it's basically cheap brown sauce watered down with malt vinegar and peculiar to Edinburgh.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Anyway, back to the photo-story. I dished up the carbs in one of my favourite formats: I call them frenchy-style potatoes but they are officially known as Fried Potatoes with Garlic and Salt from <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/nigel+slater/real+fast+food/5510312/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Real Fast Food</span></a>. It's super easy: couple of big tatties cubed (I don't bother peeling) and a c</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">ouple of flattened garlic cloves,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> fried in a fingers depth of oil for 25 mins or so til golden. DON'T TAKE YOU EYES OFF THEM! Drain on paper and salt liberally. Voila. Mr Slater says to throw away the garlic afterwards, which I don't really understand. Fried garlic = le yum. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Course the whole meal was simply an excuse to air my sehr schön "I like beer" napkins, a gift from Munich and the current pride of my serviette collection. Danke Stacio!</span><br />
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</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-67959713141573224802011-02-23T02:17:00.002+00:002011-02-23T02:21:28.581+00:00shonky-tonk band<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F10703018&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=dcd40a"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F10703018&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=dcd40a" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <a href="http://soundcloud.com/julias-daughters/heart-like-a-wheel">Heart Like a Wheel</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/julias-daughters">Julias' Daughters</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">We're barely competent, forget the words, fluff the chords and suffer from the stage frights but never-the-less, me and <a href="http://www.blipfoto.com/floatingweeds"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Emily</span></a> are a band. We called ourselves <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julias-Daughters/146487522043042"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Julias' Daughters</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"> </span>as both our Ma's were named so.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">We did a little demo recording round my house with the vital assistance of the resident musician. One mic was perched a-top the ironing board (which rather pleased me), Emily brought round lovely<a href="http://www.falko.co.uk/"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Falko (Konditormeister)</span></a> bread for the rider, and I got told to "stand back" and "face the microphone, Ellen" many-a-time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">This song, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Enc8KEzdYY"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Heart Like A Wheel</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"> </span>by <a href="http://www.mcgarrigles.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Anna McGarrigle</span></a>,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> first appeared on the self-titled debut album, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=841580"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Kate and Anna McGarrigle</span></a>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">(1975).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-90294213371867039512011-02-22T01:37:00.000+00:002011-02-22T01:37:26.625+00:00time for a timex...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpbPb68WmAx55AwuAQiuswfpaDa0NRxDxxN0ydZ5dUNyU6SESSBPpR1tkArqYlAxvHw47gssF_o31b_EbjzRe7BSpMpARF6RKjvrfe6EM92lF3mXPFjDfyasyUObcXKUmeGd9DFcTM6pV/s1600/P1200548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpbPb68WmAx55AwuAQiuswfpaDa0NRxDxxN0ydZ5dUNyU6SESSBPpR1tkArqYlAxvHw47gssF_o31b_EbjzRe7BSpMpARF6RKjvrfe6EM92lF3mXPFjDfyasyUObcXKUmeGd9DFcTM6pV/s400/P1200548.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I'm so pleased. I finally got my new/old watch back! Well, it's really a replacement for my original first-ever-watch which I was still wearing until four years ago when I accidentally got into a swimming pool, on a hotel roof with it still on, shortly before walking into a plate glass door and bursting my nose. The excitement of the whole experience had clearly gone to my head.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Any way, my old watch ceased up and was ir-repairable as, apparently they were never made so's that they could be repaired. Which miffed me cause I'd just been and bought a lovely new red lizard strap for it and all. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Eventually, I found a replacement on Ebay which arrived the other week with the remains of it's original blue strap still attached. (In my imagination it was probably snipped off the wrist of a poor screaming child after some kind of arm-breaking Raleigh Blue Bird ride... but s'ok they got a digital watch that changed the telly channel after that.) And hey - it works! Plus the fella in Timpson's most obligingly swapped my old/new strap onto my new/old watch after I "put something in the charity-box, eh pal?". Thanks very much!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I can remember my Dad buying me the watch I was about five or six and if my memory serves me right, it was in Marks & Spencer's, Stirling (really? this would seem to predate them selling Mars bars by about 25 years). I was allergic to the plastic strap and didn't wear it much at first but my Mum got me a new one (white leather from Henderson's the Jewellers) after we moved to Dundee - Timex Town. And that's why I think I love my watch so much. Cause it reminds me little bit of home.*</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(albeit, aherm, assembled in the Philippines) </span></span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-31679880662941635472011-02-21T01:04:00.000+00:002011-02-21T01:04:48.769+00:00this week on ellen bakes cakes...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBWTwTxSWJ8rtSLpJXorodkrCoTADJB2FiMrR4vxsYjcWOu2iDeP0QPt8GIvBwWtBlzlf-5njHUklNDCOVm66VGH3u0GPVALCrtB-wlMmd36ZA3R2GSUD5LdwazOTxyuCpfOj9x2S7Ve5/s1600/ellen+bakes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBWTwTxSWJ8rtSLpJXorodkrCoTADJB2FiMrR4vxsYjcWOu2iDeP0QPt8GIvBwWtBlzlf-5njHUklNDCOVm66VGH3u0GPVALCrtB-wlMmd36ZA3R2GSUD5LdwazOTxyuCpfOj9x2S7Ve5/s400/ellen+bakes1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">My first excuse to rummage in my nightmare of a baking cupboard this week was for Valentine's Day afters. I'd had several ideas for what I'd like to make for pudding all involving calories, chocolate and copious leftovers but settled on <a href="http://www.nigelslater.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">dear Nigel's</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"> </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2004/mar/07/foodanddrink.shopping"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Chocolate Almond cake</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span>from The Kitchen Diaries which just happened to be the most 'substantial' of all. Oops. And oh my, down such a wickedly decadent path to ruination it led! It's one of those high-chocolate / low-flour cakes made with five eggs, whisked whites and more butter than is polite to mention. Still a little wobbly in the middle (aren't all the most interesting folks?) and slightly warm from the oven, with a dollop of creme fraiche and a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_977501967"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">more-slushy-than-expected-</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316356/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">western</span></a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">on the side: I was made up baby. Made up!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Even better, I got to off-load some of the calories on my co-workers and took the rest round to Emily's house for band practice (that's where I took the above photo). You can see more of Emily's lovely <a href="http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=981373&month=2&year=2011"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Japanese-style quilted place-mat</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span>on her beautiful new daily-Blipfoto-blog: <a href="http://www.blipfoto.com/floatingweeds"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Floating Weeds</span></a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">My next visit to the cupboard of doom was to knock-up something to take round to another friends house for tea. I'd planned on making <a href="http://thegoddesskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/02/cranberry-and-white-chocolate-cookies.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Nigella's Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookies</span> </a>in the festive season. I'd thought they maybe sounded a bit too Christmassy in January but as I had fruit, the pecans and just enough porridge oats (which were <i>just fine </i>but then I dunno what 'instant' looks like...) I went ahead. And they were good; sweet but on the right side of sickly. I think the dark sugar dissipated some of the sugar hit and also did something kinda funny with the pecans to convince me there was some maple syrup in there! See Nigella Chistmas is not just for eh, Christmas!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> I just hope they gulped-down as satisfactorily for Cookie Monster... </span><br />
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</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-32117483780231563412011-02-14T02:47:00.003+00:002011-02-20T23:09:13.946+00:00pinny pin pals!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsn51vlD92QqB7VX-K8JM_LftzAhmXMG92jPtw4m5pWeCWxHETLXnPu1j_Iey28FpSEErWnd8ryBYVuYYqw7ZPQOWIWPGu1_vBKeOThbT0cIAf7pI47Pjjou4rqNlLDkVpkgs1-UiCJnb/s1600/paddington+pinny1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsn51vlD92QqB7VX-K8JM_LftzAhmXMG92jPtw4m5pWeCWxHETLXnPu1j_Iey28FpSEErWnd8ryBYVuYYqw7ZPQOWIWPGu1_vBKeOThbT0cIAf7pI47Pjjou4rqNlLDkVpkgs1-UiCJnb/s400/paddington+pinny1.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">It has taken me an enormous age to get around to this but on Friday, I finally got about listing my new selection of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67876441/paddington-bear-pinny-pin-baking-badge"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Paddington Bear pinny pins</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>in the <a href="http://shop/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">shop</span></a>! The pattern on the fabric was made to celebrate Paddington's 50th and I fell in love with it on first sight. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's based upon packets of ingredients in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">the FILMFAIR Paddington animation where wiggly nosed bear attempts to bake Mr Curry a birthday cake…</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">The 'bicarb' button came from the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span><a href="http://www.barnardos.org.uk/who_we_are/in_your_region/scotland/scotland_shop_network/scotland_shops_vintage.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Barnardo's Vintage Shop</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh. I've had a few good badges from there (I take it they are made in-house?!) my favourite being a leopard face badge which I wore on my leopard-print shopper until alas, it went to the big badge-maker in the sky. My <a href="http://www.bigwowbadges.com/50pbadges/view_set.php?set_id=153&view_set=Country%20Grammar%202&order_ref=3541154&page_ref="><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Country Grammar</span></a> pin comes straight outta' the fabulous <a href="http://www.bigwowbadges.com/50pbadges/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">50p Badges</span></a>, a very excellent Glasgow-based on-line proprietor of proper pin-wears. They even let you send a cheque if ya fancy (now there's not a lotta folks'd do that!). I've been eyeing up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> </span><a href="http://www.bigwowbadges.com/50pbadges/view_set.php?set_id=452&view_set=Mmmm&page_ref=culture1&order_ref=3541156"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">a few new beauts</span> </a>in their new range...</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I feel a little sneaky order coming on! Well, I'm always needing to replace my <a href="http://www.bigwowbadges.com/50pbadges/view_set.php?set_id=131&view_set=Country%20Gals&order_ref=3541156&page_ref="><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Dolly Parton</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span>badge which I've had and lost several of before. This time I may buy in bulk!</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">✿ I made my first ever batch of marmalade the other week, according to the instructions of <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/pam+corbin/preserves/6086835/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Good Ole' Mrs Corbin</span></a> of course (lordy how I love that book!). For once I got WAY MORE jam than I'd expected (WOO HOO) so I'll be digging into a fresh pot at the breakfast table the 'morra! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">✿ If you are cakely-minded and in the Glasgow-area (or like me are DEAD KEEN and willing to commute) then<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Auntie-Ms-Cake-Lounge/103017039738048"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Auntie M's Cake Lounge</span></a> is starting up a BAKING CIRCLE once a month on Monday nights beginning on the 7th March! EEEEEEk! The idea is that everyone brings along a cake to sample and a copy of their recipe for everyone and well - you get to try lots of CAKE and TALK CAKE for TWO HOURS!! Get in touch with: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">auntiemscakelounge@yahoo.co.uk </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">for more cake-formation!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">POST SCRIPT: I should of course mention my partial title borrowings inspired by the fantastique <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepinpals?ga_search_query=the+pin+pals&ga_search_type=seller_usernames"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Pin Pals, of Etsy fame</span></a>. If you dunno them then, for many reasons - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67727913/anna-makes-a-trip-to-the-grocery-store"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">YOU SHOULD</span></a>!</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_Hkj9IWacKpvNO5LTVAPzf68NEmE_LcjDbb8MeFPgqxFr9rxZor74BX23fF5CIgd13CDIzlb98O_PPenmVGP7Qh4IC5TKE1ZDWPb0QH4vScERa0uGqNwiVMO4XUgaWP5TjSQaF4AZR7g/s1600/paddington+pinny4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_Hkj9IWacKpvNO5LTVAPzf68NEmE_LcjDbb8MeFPgqxFr9rxZor74BX23fF5CIgd13CDIzlb98O_PPenmVGP7Qh4IC5TKE1ZDWPb0QH4vScERa0uGqNwiVMO4XUgaWP5TjSQaF4AZR7g/s400/paddington+pinny4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-46401314102861342262011-02-11T11:45:00.000+00:002011-02-11T11:45:29.570+00:00library lover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPBNjzsnxf418ZGfjUouTVkTtK_I4Nmt2YnrACko30p-lZAGBW4Ozzd7JlKRcVCyMK9DHx3VXM63-tZVumeMn9hX4wvTF9bUSs_8PMqgsiJLEQNsxKQo0oG4WsyGh6iyDnutG0cq2-XoA/s1600/+library+lover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPBNjzsnxf418ZGfjUouTVkTtK_I4Nmt2YnrACko30p-lZAGBW4Ozzd7JlKRcVCyMK9DHx3VXM63-tZVumeMn9hX4wvTF9bUSs_8PMqgsiJLEQNsxKQo0oG4WsyGh6iyDnutG0cq2-XoA/s320/+library+lover3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">There's been a lot of talk about libraries of late. People are angry and I'm glad: I need my library too. Philip Pullman says it all: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/save-oxfordshire-libraries-speech-philip-pullman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Leave the libraries alone. You don't understand their value.</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> A brilliant, passionate and rousing speech.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I had a fancy for reading several children's books during the December snows, after recalling various bits of TV dramas of yore.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/john+masefield/quentin+blake/the+midnight+folk/6249372/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">The Midnight Folk</span> </a>is the preceding book to The Box of Delights, which I remember being very snowy and a bit scary on the telly. The plot is full of witches and wizards, mutineering pirates, highway men and of course The Midnight Folk: a troupe of talking animals. I found it a little hard to keep up with the twisting, turning plot and the lengthy cast of characters but it was worth it to meet Tom Otter (and his hilarious Bat side-kick) and see Kay put on an otter "skin" (complete with paws) to become otter-like too (I'm otterly obsessed). It's beautifully illustrated by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Rowland Hilder - I love the trees in the highwayman chase below, which</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> remind me of my great-granny's Dulton washbasin. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I had a magical few days re-reading </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Lucy M. Boston's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/l-m-+boston/the+children+of+green+knowe/4156687/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">The Children of Green Knowe</span></a>, which I think is one of my most favourite books ever. The fabulous decriptions of Tolly's room in the roof of his Great-Granny's house with all it's strangely comforting shadows and flitting visitors is so atmospheric it makes perfect winter bedtime reading. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">There's a plentiful cast of animal friends here too with Truepenny (a mole) and Hedge-prickles (the hedgehog, of course). There's also a netsuke mouse which Tolly takes to bed with him and sometimes catches squeaking in his pyjama pocket. But of course the central characters are the three children Toby, Alexander and Linnet who haunt the house, play games around the garden and become Tolly's friends.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Time to hitch my wagon up, I'm setting off for the banks of Plum Creek...</span><br />
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</span>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961924451052126563.post-33762872199945229862011-01-18T01:11:00.001+00:002011-01-18T01:30:01.998+00:00the pigeon and the pontack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV63fuZ4d1vw_RxK6Uv9cviSxMhyAkGxbtvTTN5OHFpVTtuYCHlUkKQaCh_Oer5VY3ruV6rEctkRUd15G3KcoBPXWOJoyTDEoCp9WlKyLkTsZ_9tYFGqRnWxwxIpsHG33npXMjlXhpdOP/s1600/pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV63fuZ4d1vw_RxK6Uv9cviSxMhyAkGxbtvTTN5OHFpVTtuYCHlUkKQaCh_Oer5VY3ruV6rEctkRUd15G3KcoBPXWOJoyTDEoCp9WlKyLkTsZ_9tYFGqRnWxwxIpsHG33npXMjlXhpdOP/s400/pigeon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">There is one bottle in this house which I have been keeping tightly sealed...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Pontack was the first thing I made from the <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/pam+corbin/preserves/6086835/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">River Cottage Handbook No.2: Preserves</span></a> by Pam Corbin. I'd never</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> tasted</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">or even </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">heard of it before but the concoction of elderberries, mace, allspice, cloves, shallots, ginger and vinegar appealed to me. I picked my berries long-ago in Perthshire in September 2009. I do recall the berries took an age to fork-off the stems and I bust a gut</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> rubbing the soused berries through a sieve for every last drop of precious liquor which made only two bottles instead of four. But it was worth it to see the intensely purple liquor even if I'd have to hold off for a 'proper' tasting as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Pam says "according to tradition" the sauce is best matured for seven years. Well I am a patient gal but I only managed 16 months. The sauce is ideal with game so when I spied a special offer on Wood Pigeon, I saw that the Pontack's time had come. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I'd never cooked such little birdies before but even the raw meat smelt wonderfully rich and sweet (which is not something I could say often). I went a little free-style on my cooking technique, something I've been getting braver about of late, and popped a slice of orange, a wee spring of rosemary and a few squashed juniper berries inside each bird with a sprinkle of pepper and salt. Then I slathered them in butter (there was very little fat on these guys but I soon corrected that) and popped them, breast side down, in a baking dish and in the oven, turning half way through. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">We had them with roasted roots: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">parsnip, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">carrot, and beetroot rolled in oil, seasoned and drizzled with honey (for the parsnips) and rosemary (on the rest). The roots were given a head start on the birds which </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I kept basting regularly but did over-do as there wasn't much tenderley-pink about them in the end. But boy-oh-boy did they not taste lip-smackingly good: sweet, rich and very livery. When it came to picking the bones, let's just say I had to be left to it (after being compared Wes Anderson's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v6-T52zLO0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Fantastic Mr. Fox</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">). </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">The Pontack made a delicious debut, it had definitely deepened in flavour since bottling but still had a fair kick to it. Hopefully, given time it shall mellow and I can work on my table-manners.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>thenightowlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08643652927859435208noreply@blogger.com2