The End.

It's been a fun, if somewhat sporadic adventure dudes. But I've really struggled to find the motivation to post here. Once you hit a break it seems almost impossible to start up again in the same place. I won't be taking this blog down so you can still get the peanut free peanut butter cookie recipe and the most popular version of my Christmas cake so far .

You can find my new adventures and recipes here. (I've got interesting plans for this years Christmas cake.) A fresh slate is far less daunting on the whole.

Minnie xox

We moved!

New house, new village, new year-ish. Gosh it's been crazy. Getting the internet up and running seems to have taken an age in and of itself. But we got there in then end.

dreamy stock photo of jetty for interest. Also home sick.

Adjusting to a smaller kitchen hasn't been as hard as I'd feared. But I'm doing slightly mad things to make the most of my worktop space. Like switching from tea bags to tea leaves (thus swapping out the large jar on the top for a little tin in the cupboard.) And having a dishwasher? Bliss. Utterly amazing. And I cannot put words to the excitement I feel at having a workable usable garden space again.

So onto things I've been enjoying/falling in love with/aspiring to: 

• These sandals that are at least 50% embroidered blue bird. Love. I wanted them last year and I'm saving up for them this year. I'm currently sewing a dress they'd be perfect with. 
• I'm doing the popsugar reading challenge for 2016, but I think any sort of "list it then read it" would work. I'm so bad at just falling back to old favourites and terrible romances. And it's always nice to aspire to something achievable. March is a nice time to have another look at your goals for 2016 too.
• The pool. It's become my go to reading at the gym. Distracts from the monotony beautifully. Smart, articulate reads on a massive wide range of things. 
• This No. 7 lip crayon is amazing. It's my go to for work staple (where my standard mac Ruby Woo just wouldn't be appropriate.) I cannot for the life of me remember what colour I have. It doesn't last terribly long but it's comfortable and not drab.

(I was not paid to advertise any of these things I just really like them, and I think you might too?)

Minnie xoxo

Summer Never Came To Scotland

I think we got maybe ten days of proper sunshine? Which isn't too surprising as we had snow at the end of April. Still I feel like I've wasted the lion's share of my free time. So here's to making plans and doing a full on Pollyanna and just getting on with the business of making the most of it.

This is going to mean some serious embracing of my wellies and keeping on top of my vitamin c intake to stave off the sniffles. I live in a gorgeous part of the world and I really need to make more of an effort to get out and about. And knitting like a demon. I suck at being a selfish knitter, I hardly ever make anything for myself. That's a balance that needs a bit of work. And I've frankly negleted my sewing.

Hiatus

So if you ever come across any blogging advice ever it's always along the line of "don't mention a gap in posting!" Well I'm just a crazy rule breaker or something. Anyway I've been sick. So I've stepped away from my half arsed posting while I work on getting better and we're on the home stretch, hurrah!

Gallbladders might be dicks but they can be removed, hurrah for modern medicine and keyhole surgery.

Oh God She's Talking About Christmas Already

Yes I am, I'm sorry. No I'm not. Or maybe I'm not sure. Still the last few days of September is the time to start really thinking about it.

More regular readers will be familiar with my Christmas cake. It's part obsession part tradition and for me it really marks the run to the festive season. I suspect it's the weekly feeding (rum, so much rum) and inevitable naming of at least one of the cakes. I also sort of feel like the making of Christmas cake legitimises the rest of the Christmas prep. Though as I type a few of my friends have already bought all their gifts. I am in awe of them. Seriously way to over achieve folks. I was feeling really smug about last year's tree being in a pot out in the garden looking even greener and lusher than it did last year. Oh well....


So it's time to break out a note book, spread sheet or the back of an envelope and write down what needs to be done, what you want to make, what needs to be bought etc. Then have a cup of tea and a breather. Now cull the list, while mittens for all the children you know is a lovely idea I suspect the reality would be pulling a Yarn Harlot (sorry Steph you are magic but I am not so dedicated) and knitting like a mad bastard on Christmas eve when you could be doing something with everyone you love like going out on a traipse to looks at all the Christmas lights or midnight mass or you know just curling up on the sofa and drinking your body weight in hot chocolate. The whole point of this planning exercise is to minimise last minute madness so you can actually enjoy the holiday rather than implode from stress. There's also a money saving aspect to this which is also rather handy.

So I figure out:

1. Who I'm knitting/sewing for
2. Who I'm baking for
3. Who gets bought gifts (pretty much just the kids on my list)
4. If Christmas cards are being sent this year (a first class stamp will be 62p by Christmas. Yikes!)
5. What sort of state are the Christmas decorations in. Does anything need updated, repaired or replaced? Do I want to add anything?
6. Will we be entertaining? what needs doing there? Recipe testing, spare room in need of a bit of tlc?

And then I cull the excess, prioritize and work my way through my list.

So what does your list look like? Spotted any cute patterns or tutorials you'll be using? What's your favourite Christmas tradition? Yes I tottally am prodding you all for ideas. So please spill!

Minnie xoxo


p.s. Christmas cards- are you doing them?

Indy Ref Count Down

Well folks tomorrow is the day we all go to the polls. (If you live in Scotland anyway.) What ever the result I think most people will agree it'll change the UK as we know it regardless.

Are you outside of Scotland? What do you think? Do you even know that Scotland is going to the polls? Will you be paying much attention to the count?

SCOTS! Are you staying up to mark the count? Planning to go to any street parties if your preferred result is the one that comes? Or are you one of the few people who is planning on not voting?

I am voting, I am going to a count party tomorrow night and I'm making a selection of themed edible goodies. Including jelly (jello), because really is there a better excuse for layered jelly?

Progress, Thought and Things.

So my posting has been pretty sparse, 2014 has been a pretty rough year here between one thing and another the blog has had to take a massive step back in my priorities. Rather unfortunate but there you go. Can't be helped.

Anyway I'm now in a place where I can dedicate time and post interesting things. Oh how very exciting. We're zooming right into autumn, hell it's nearly time to start thinking about Christmas cake again. I know right? Feels like this year has zoomed past. The independence referendum is very nearly upon us. I'm voting yes, in case you're wondering, but you know if you are in Scotland and your decision is an informed educated on I'm just glad you are choosing to vote.

Whee! So changes a coming!

Minnie xoxo