lots to catch up with ............

Since my last post I have been on holiday, celebrated four family birthdays, the birth of my friends new grandchild and lastly most special of all I have seen my eldest daughter get married - where should I start!

Life has been so hectic but full of fun and special moments, I have taken lots of photos but just haven't had the time to share them with you and unfortunately my blog has been very neglected.

I have missed my slow living monthly update, my weekly yarn along and so much more - it's been hard not to have the time to catch up with all of my favourite bloggers but I am back today.

My holiday was lovely and I took advantage of the wonderful sunshine and did lots of relaxing, reading, watching the windsurfers and sailors and of course a little bit of crochet ................

We arrived back from holiday late on the 1st October which gave me less than 3 weeks to find my wedding outfit, finalise the wedding cake and practice cloud cookies.

After a marathon shop with two of my daughters I managed to buy my outfit  - a simple shift dress with matching jacket in a lovely shade of aubergine. Shoes and bag were sourced and mother of the bride was all set for the big day - I even found a hat to set everything off perfectly. Photos to come - once I have vetted them of course!

Then came the wedding cake, which was to be a simple lemon layer cake, with lemon curd and butter cream fillings.The challenge for me was that the cake had to be tall and was made of six layers, I was worried that it would topple over

baking six sponges all the same thickness was challenge number one - only 2 to go!

my new turn table was given its first outing ......

all six layers, with first crumb coat of icing - chilling

second layer of icing added  - all going well so far .....

I was very pleased with my trial run, I have never made such a gigantic cake  - we had so much to give away, family, friends, work colleagues even my hairdresser had some to taste.

Next came the cloud cookies .............

they needed to be very thin .....

first batch baked ..........

clouds everywhere ..............

Next job was the icing ..........  all worked out well but I seem to have lost the photo of the finished iced  clouds - they did look nice.

I was now on track for the special day feeling comfortable with my outfit, the cake trial was a success and my clouds were light and buttery!

I am going to do a special post all about the wedding -  it was such a lovely occasion, I am just waiting for the photographs.
                              

It's so nice to be back - talk soon x

baking .....

Even though I am away from home nothing makes me happier than indulging myself in a spot of baking. On Sunday afternoon Kate, Seb and Jake went out for a stroll and I had the kitchen all to myself. I thought I would experiment with a recipe idea for Kate's wedding cake, Kate only wants a very simple cake. I've already had a few trial runs, do you remember the pink layered cake I made a couple of months ago.

                     

Today I am trying a lemon cake and plan to fill it with lemon buttercream and lemon curd. 

The wedding cake on the day will be quite tall - maybe 6 sponges sandwiched together, my practice one will be much smaller as we just want to sample the sponge and fillings.

                    

I didn't make quite enough butter cream to fully cover the top and sides - but it did taste yummy!

I also made little butter biscuits which Kate is going to serve with tea and coffee after the wedding breakfast. Ideally we need a small rectangular cutter and a stamper for the design. I had a fiddle with a cocktail stick and a little bit of fondant icing.

Not the required standard yet but the recipe worked well - its just the execution of the task that needs refining - also the right tools for the job.

can't resist making collages at the moment!

All together it was a fun and productive baking afternoon.

Talk soon x

what a beautiful wedding ....................

I can't believe its all over...............weddings can take an age to plan and then they are over in a blink of an eye - but we all had a wonderful time and my daughter looked beautiful. I can give you a peak but I don't have many photos yet.

Laura just before the wedding ...............

so happy ..............

           Laura with her three best friends ..........

                                                              on her way .............

The weather was perfect - the sun smiled upon us and the guests and children were all amazing . It was a lovely family occasion with bouncing castle, ice cream cart, magician, dancing and so much more..........

Laura smiled the entire day I have never seen her more radiant - I know that she will be very happy. 

On the night of the wedding we all stayed in a little farm house and then on Sunday morning we had a lovely family breakfast together, at lunch time Laura and Chris went away on a "mini -moon" until Wednesday - the main honeymoon is in June when then fly off to Italy for two weeks - which is where they got engaged  - so full of romantic memories.

I am off to catch up on all the chores that have been left untouched for far to long and also to get on with the two knitting commissions I received just before the wedding.

Talk soon 

Sue x

two more sleeps .........

Laura and I have been to the florist today and dropped off the containers for the flower arrangements - its an adorable little  shop and the staff have been so supportive - nothing has been too much trouble. We can't wait to see the bouquets and the venue all decorated with flowers.

                                                                       

After the florist it was a quick drive to Vale Royal Abbey - which looked as stunning as ever - the sun tried to shine ........... we dropped off all the things we need to dress the main hall - which we are going to do on Friday with the three bridesmaids.

                                      

I've got to pack my overnight bag now ready for tomorrow  - Laura and I leave at lunchtime and then its all go until the wedding. We are staying at a guest house/farm house with the bridesmaids  - the plan is after we have finished at the venue we will go out for an early supper then back to the guest house for some chilling out time, face masks, nail and toenail painting and hopefully we will be sipping something fizzy! ( not lemonade) then an early night as we are all booked in at the hairdressers from 8am

please all keep your fingers crossed for a sunny Saturday - talk to you after the wedding x 

4 days to go ...................

We have just had a Bank Holiday Weekend - which has given me time to recover from my craft fair on Saturday and catch up on last minute wedding jobs.

Looking at my list I can now almost cross everything off except my hair which is being done tomorrow - and partner has promised that tonight is "write speech night" - watch this space. The only problem is that since writing the last list I now have several other lists as Laura and I have had a few more strategy meetings - and produced lots more lists!

I have been tending the pot plants we bought on Friday - have been so worried that they might die in the night - not sure what from .................

in flower but lots more buds opening ............

     can't wait to wrap in pretty paper and tie with  raffia .....

The wedding favours are finished and packed in boxes - the little glass vases for the tables are decorated with ribbon and  butterflies - all ready to take to the florist.

                                                             hope they manage the journey ......................

                                                                 all packed for the florist .................

                                                                wedding favours all ready ...................

                                                           jelly butterflies for the little ones .....................

The boxes and bags that need taking to the venue are multiplying and have now taken over two bedrooms  - I hope we have a magic expanding car that they will all fit into.

                                                                 bedroom one ....................

                               

                                                                 overflow into bedroom two ...........

 The table plan is complete and ready to hang ...................

                                        keeping with the butterfly theme ..... not a great photo but gives you an idea 

Enough of this lovely rambling and back to today's list ..............

Collect wedding dress - all alterations are complete and I have been trusted to go and collect " the dress"

Drive dress carefully home

Hang dress up carefully  - hope we have room in one of the already packed wedding bedrooms!

Collect my dress - hope it still fits ..............

Also mustn't forget my normal day job - collect Alex from school and make early supper for Alex, Finn and Daisy.

fingers crossed the day goes well ..................talk soon x 

                                                                 

I've crossed a few things off my list .....................

I've had a lovely day and very productive .............. I can cross quite a few things off my list.

Laura collected me this morning and we went to a small independent nursery to look for plants - we want to use lots of potted plants to decorate the wedding venue - to add bursts of natural colour.

We have already sourced some lovely papers and raffia for wrapping the pots. Today we had to choose plants that would have open flowers for next week -  this was quite tricky as its hard to know how long it takes for buds to fully open so we just had to make our best guess.

My dining table is full of plants at the moment and as we still have a risk of ground frost I am going to have to keep them indoors until the wedding. After the wedding we are going to plant up some of the flowers into a wooden crate which I bought for Laura as a pre-wedding gift -  the rest will go into her garden.

After doing a few chores this afternoon and sorting out dinner for this evening - I then had time to sit and crochet the edging of my granny square - its all finished .................

all ready to take to the craft fair ..................

I have just rewarded myself and spent the last half hour reading some of my favourite blogs - if you have time visit  Kates blog - it is wonderful I am so proud of her - she has just come back to it after concentrating on some special mummy time with her adorable new baby son (my adorable grandson).

ready for bed now  - wish me luck for the craft fair tomorrow

night night talk soon x

lists ................

I feel in need of a list ...............its the best way to unclutter your head!

Daughters wedding two weeks tomorrow :-






Jobs list


seamstress for final dress fitting
wear shoes in house - still a bit tight
buy tights
buy shrug ( not enough time to knit one)
book manicure
finish decorating vases
finish table plan
go to hobby craft for cardboard
visit nursery for plants - wrap plants in paper/fabric and raffia
finish decorating present bags
have hair done (roots prior to big day hair do)
drop 2 stone ( far to late)




buy shoes for husband - check suit and tie
chase husband re speech!
keep calm in front of daughter at all times ( do not allow daughter to read blog)
chase chair covers
talk to florist
check cake delivery
final run through of menu ...................................

Oh my goodness - this isn't working - head may be uncluttered but major panic setting in - no I will take a deep breathe and yes I am calm ( trying to be)



Good advice .....................




I don't seem to be forgetting to eat  - my advice should say - stay hydrated and stop eating!

Well I am going to have an early night as I will be busy with other things tomorrow  as its my youngest daughters birthday - so birthday tea party for 13................ but at least I have my list!

night night talk soon x