Happy Friday, readers! I'm sorry for the gap in blogging(if you noticed) but I have been away for a few days with no blogging time or accessibility. As it is half term week and my grandmother's 91st birthday we went up to Leicestershire to celebrate with the birthday girl at my parents house. She had a lovely afternoon tea party and really enjoyed herself (as did we).
My contribution to the tea party was Rocky Road - a great stand-by in this house as it is quick to make and is delicious! It is basically 200g dark chocolate, 75g butter and 2 tbsp golden syrup melted in a pan and then poured over crushed digestive biscuits and mini marshmallows (as much as you can coat in the chocolate mixture). I didn't have enough mini marshmallows so I used some flumps and cut them up. Pop in the fridge until cold and then cut into squares. Then try not to eat it all in one go! I'm sorry there is no picture of teh finished product - it was dark when I cut it up and it lasted less than 5 minutes on the table so I missed my window!
While we were away we visited some of our usual haunts - Melton Mowbray market (where you can buy cows, sheep, ferrets, vintage bits and bobs and the best rapeseed oil in the world), the Outwoods, which is great walking for us and the dogs, and Bradgate Park, which I think I have mentioned before but is one of my most favourite places in the world to visit. It brings on such nostalgia for me as we used to have picnics here on a weekly basis when I was a child. It hasn't changed at all - the trees are the same, it is filled with deer, birds and children on scooters, and they sell great ice cream in the village!
(Sorry for the hazy photo - this was the best I could do facing the sun!)
Andy and I came home on Wednesday, leaving the girls with their grandparents until the weekend, so we have had some unaccustomed time alone! It has been bliss, although I am missing the girls and will be glad to get them home. We went to see Reginald D Hunter last night, and I laughed so much I ached afterwards. Tonight we are going to my favourite restaurant ever - the Daffodil for their tasting menu. I'm drooling just thinking about it!
Andy went back to work this morning so I have taken the opportunity to list some more vintage treasures in my Etsy shop. Thank you so much to everyone who has already bought something - and if you haven't I'm sure there are things you'd love ;-)
These are just some of the things I've been photgraphing and listing, and some bits have been put aside for my stall next week.
Don't forget to come and say hello on Saturday 25th at the Bath Road Market where I am having a stall with my lovely sister. We will be there from 10-5 and will be trying to stay warm!
I'll be back in a day or two with some photos of the parcels the postman has just delivered - I actually squeaked when I opened them!!!