Spring from my Window...

Spring in my Kitchen... I am just loving the scent from these hyacinths, I am amazed how scented they are, the scent fills the kitchen and drifts into my living room! Please do not think for a moment that I am crazy for keeping the pumpkin out, it is my little nod towards fairy tales and love for Theatre........ the little frog and pumpkin remind me of ..........Cinderella.

And of course my long time blogging friends might remember I did play the 'frog prince' last year!!! ha,ha and the frog was a sweet gift from my mum.

Crocus - 'a touch of colour among the grey' I love to see these little flowers pop up in spring, the signs of things to come, these are just outside my front door.

'Chicken Run' - well almost! this is the view from my kitchen window,my neighbours to the right own horses, chickens, goats, a cat, and a cockerel ! and they are forever escaping their fences over the garden into my garden..... and so I grabbed the camera and took a photo!

Last week I looked out of the window to see the horse that should of been down on the bottom field right behind my fence! shame I didn't have time to get the camera, I didn't want it to get onto the road and dashed out to call the owner, no one was home but fortunately a neighbour to the left who visits the horse and family led it back to the field! Still I do think a photo would of been good, It was just looking at me through the window! h,ha

The Cat......
I hope you are all having a good start to the week, I am spending more time cross stitching. I hope to make my 'Spring Fairy' into a pillow soon, and my mum has almost finished the Thomas Kinkade stitch, I will share some photos soon.....

Bye for now

Priscilla x

Books...Reading pile

I don't know about you but I always have a book to read, usually I pick up two or three from the library and finish them before I get more. last week the library had books that I have wanted to read for a while and the order for titles that I placed around a month ago all came in at the library at once! So now I have this rather large pile of books to enjoy! I usually read cozy murder mysteries, but recently have started to read a few more chic lit type books, and I always enjoy a book with a bit of a magical theme . I am looking forward to reading this collection as they all fit that description....

I am currently reading The Witching Time - Jean Stubbs. Its good so far.......cozy village, a mix of characters, Crafting ladies who own their own hat and stitching shops, town gossips. And a group who are putting on a pantomime for a local festival! Obviously there is a lot more to the story than that but these are just some of the themes...
I think I may read Hubble Bubble- Christina Jones next, a few year ago I read Seeing Stars by the same author and loved it, again a small village, an amusing cast of characters, and a bit of magic, here is a synopsis from amazon...

'Mitzi is determined not to dwindle quietly into serene old age and sets about organising and revitalising Hazy Hassocks, the small rural community she has lived in all her life. However, with the discovery of her grandmother's cookery book in the attic,life for Mitzi and her friends and family starts to get very interesting. Full of old-fashioned recipes with enchanting names like Wishes Come True Pie, Mischief Night Cake, and Powers of Persuasion Pudding - Granny's dishes provide a nourishing meal, but they also seem to have some very surprising side effects indeed. '

My to read pile consists of ;

The Witching time -Jean Stubbs

Hubble Bubble - Christina Jones

The Chocolate Lovers Club - Carole Matthews

Death of a Witch - M.C Beaton

The Merrybegot - Julie Hearn (a young adult book)

Under my spell - Deborah Wright

What types of books do you all enjoy reading, I'd love to hear about them....... Thank you all for the best wishes with the Panto, it went well and lots of fun was had by all, we had two full houses one night! We all took lots of photos which I will share in a future post.....

Have a wonderful relaxing weekend, Bye for now

Priscilla x

Faux Cake, Panto and Thinking thin!!!

Panto Time again... I am in Panto from the 18th to the 21st Feb playing Princess Alice in Puss In Boots! We have been rehearsing for months and now the show is starting to come together, everyone is trying on costumes, having photos taken and finding props.

There is a scene in the Panto that calls for a 'Pie in the face' moment ! Or more precise a gateau..... They were going to use paper plate, with foam, but I thought hopefully I could put my cake skills to good use and create a fun looking Faux cake.........although I have to admit I have never made a faux cake before!!

So this last week I dug out some tile adhesive from my garage.....and got to work. It was quite an experience, it drys fast and I only had one spare piping nozzle, one piping bag and a whole lot of mess!!! ha,ha

I had a lot of fun! and I am quite pleased with the final outcome...so now at least we have a cake! I would love to do it again, here's hoping they need more cake theme props ha,ha
The shaving foam will be added to the top so the 'evil Sir Rodger' can squish his face good and proper!

Hopefully I can capture some photos of the cake in action! and share them soon.......

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Now on to Think Thin Thursday

I am starting to feel as though I am making progress, I know this post is late, but I still want to check in and let you know how I am doing.

Exercise is feeling more natural to me now. I walk more and if I can spare 15 or 20 Min's, or while I wait for the kettle to boil I dance or stretch or just shake my body!! lol I am noticing I am not getting out of breath as quickly, and need to do more to feel the heart beat faster,

At the start I weighed roughly 11 st which was around 158 lbs. Which for my height at just over 5'1 was not what I wanted......... I can now happily say I am slowly weighing less........ at 152.6

I know its not major weight loss, but its coming down and I am really, really happy!

Our task for this week is to list a low calorie dessert, I found some biscuits called 'Nice' from Morrison's, they are plain fingers with coconut. and are so much less in sugar and fat than some others, so I have been snacking on those this week.

1. My goals for this week is to keep doing what I am doing regarding exercise

2. Try the new chicken recipe

3. Stick to eating healthy evening meal options such as fish or chicken, no quick packaged meals!

****I also want to say such a warm thank you for your comments on the cake, It is lovely to hear all your comments and I am pleased you enjoy viewing them as much as I do making them!*****

See you again soon Have a great week xxx

Priscilla x

Cake Decorating and Think Thin Thurs

I spent my time this week making and decorating a cake for a friend at my Theatre group. It was his mums 70th Birthday and he asked if I could make her a cake. I asked him what his mum was interested in hobbies etc, so I could get an idea for the design. He said she loves cats! I asked him if his mum liked gardening......she did so I had the beginning of an idea!

I wanted something cute! Kittens playing, flowers, plant pots that type of thing, I browsed the web for inspiration and found this cute image, I painted him on the side of the cake using food colours. Butterfly's and flowers were the theme and repeated around the cake...
Run-Out Work The design on the cake top is a run out, this is icing piped around the design shape, then filled in with a runny consistency royal icing. The design is left around a week to set then I painted the design with food colours. I enjoy this technique, any design can be re-created this way!

The other side of the cake - Kitten with a butterfly on his nose!

I really loved painting the design on this cake, the day was sunny, I was in no rush, I put some good music in the cd player and I just enjoyed the time........ The painting was the last to be done on the cake as there is an order to decorating it goes like this...

1. Make the run-outs/decorations around a week in advance
2. Make the cake - To keep this fresh usually only two days before cake is due

3. Roughly two days before the due date, Butter cream and cover the cake in Fondant/Icing It need a whole day to set before any painting can be done (we don't want knuckle or finger marks)

4.Paint run-outs.let dry... Paint any designs on the cake...

5. Remove run outs and place on cake - Do any final piping !

6. Finished in good time,usually the evening before . Place in box and finished!

Depending of the decorations and design a cake takes around a week to complete, as so many things need to set, dry etc. It can take a lot longer if making figures they are more complex!

'In an English Country Garden' that is the song I thought of whilst painting the cake, around the back of the cake I painted, Hollyhocks, lavender and other flowers...
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Think Thin Thurs

I am updating early, late wed night. I am happy with this week I still managed to walk and do the exercise vid, but not walk as much with the cake taking most of my time! I walked twice at 20 mins each. But I did a lot more dancing around the house and stretches etc

I am sure I am losing weight as my pants feel a bit more loose! The snacking has not been so bad either, I took more notice of the clock and managed to eat the last thing before 9.00pm, but not always....

So my goals for next week are

1. To get back to walking 4 times a week

2. and No eating after 9.00pm !!!

Yes they are the same goals as last week, but this week was a bit out of whack! ha,ha

See you all again soon

Priscilla x

Think Thin Thursday Week 1 results...

Think Thin Thursday a day late! I have been having blogger issues, has anyone else? I wanted to check in anyway and let you all know how I got on with this weeks goals....I am happy to say I stuck to my exercise plan! to walk 4 times this week around 20 mins, and I did I walked 5 times!! and worked out to some music, and my exercise vid once.

I haven't lost any weight, but that's ok, I tried some new bread and yogurts this week.......but didn't eat the rest. I read the labels to find........with shock....the brown seed bread had 4g of fat a slice!! That's a lot for one slice! and a well known brand low fat yogurt has 10g Sugar!! So no wonder I didn't lose weight, I couldn't walk off a few slices of bread and 4 yoghurt's in a week, So I have taken them out of the diet (I only added them thinking they would be good for me).

It really shows you have to check the labels, so many foods are advertised as low fat /low sugar and they are NOT. So I am sticking to fresh snacks.... and checking everything! ha,ha

My goal for next week is very similar to this one..

1. Walk...4 0r 5 times a week, work out to music, move my body as much as I can
2. No eating after 9.00pm! I don't sleep till late so this tends to catch me out, So I hope to stick to it

See you all again soon!

Priscilla x

Think Thin Thurs... Week 1 !

Hi everyone, Here I am with my goals for week one of Think Thin Thurs.

Before I add the weeks goals I d like to talk about my overall goals....and here the list begins!

I would like to lose 2 st at the end of this journey, or near to that

To Exercise more! This is where I lack.... I hope to walk more or even dance around the house!and dust off all those old exercise vids!

Shake up my diet...... try new foods recipes etc,Eat more veg on a regular basis

To live a more healthy, Active lifestyle

So my goals for this week are manly exercise related...

1. To walk at least 4 times a week, around 20mins each

2. To work out to my Dance Exercise (Anita Harris) vid at least two times this week

I am Keeping it simple to begin with, then concentrate on the weight loss.

Have you noticed when you truly decide to do something, everything that you need to do it more efficiently tends to find you? here is my little story.....

I have no grill pan, when I moved house it was missing, which didn't really bother me until recently I started eating more bacon etc. I was thinking of buying one of the huge ones, but when there is only me what a waste! At the beginning of this week in a booklet I saw a ......George Foreman Grill, I thought what a good idea, no need for the huge oven. I visited my Grandma Yesterday, and what should she be considering getting rid off........A George Foreman Grill she bought years ago that she doesn't use!!!

So now I am the proud owner of this Ever so Cute Pink Grill !

I will be postng the healthy recipes I try with it!

I am pleased to say I have already cooked bacon in it, and its wonderful, I visited this website http://www.georgeforemangrills.co.uk/recipes.php and they have some great recipes for the grill . Bridgette's task for this week is to give a website or blog that helps you on your weight loss Journey, I hope you enjoy the George Foreman Recipe Link.

Good Luck to everyone who is following a healthy lifestyle and see you all next Thurs......

Priscilla x

I am taking part in Think Thin Thursdays!!

Changes, Changes!!! That is the plan... I just wanted to pop in tell you all how excited I am. I recently found this..... 'Think Thin Thursdays' over at 'The Not So-blog-Blog' It is a way for all bloggers who wish to lose a few lbs, or get fit, eat healthy etc, its been called weight watchers without the Fee! We are each others support and accountability. And I am joining them.

I need to lose weight and get healthier, I have gained 2 St over the last 3 year and really want to lose it again, I find I do really well for around a month, then stop exercising and the l bs pile back on! So I am hoping with support from you my fellow blogging friends I will be able to stick to a routine, and not fall off the wagon...ha,ha

Every Thursday I will be adding my goals for the week...walk more, or drink more, etc and I'll return the following Thurs with how I did! and I am going to weigh myself, which I can now do as I got new batteries for the scale today, and hopefully over time we can watch the scale go down! If you fancy joining in head over to http://www.thenotsoblog.blogspot.com/


I also received some wonderful awards recently.... This Fabulous Award from my dear friend Linda at 'Somewhere In Time', who I can say has a fabulous blog also! Thank you Linda x

Here is what you have to do ,I think I have to list five of my addictions so here goes:

Chocolate (hhmm) could be a problem see above!

Yankee Candles, Cake decorating, Watching Movies, Reading

I pass this blog along to a lovely lady called Marie at Dreaming of Wild roses, Who lives in Canada, and with all that snow makes me wish I did!

I also received this award from Marie Called friends here is the description of the award...

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers. When you pass the award along please include these guidelines. I am to choose eight friends to share this with.

I am sending this blog onto 4 of my blogging friends who have been with me from the start...

Victoria at Vintage Tea

Linda at Somewhere in Time

Robin at Bittersweet Pumpkin

and Alison at Vintage Amethyst

I hope you are all having a wonderful week, See you on Think Thin Thurs!

Priscilla x