Sunday Music

So in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been at Greenbelt this week. Which had me thinking about last year and my two musical highlights. One was Foy Vance but the other was Ugly Duckling..

Eye on the Gold Chain

Turn it Up

Right Now

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Greenbelt 2011, from a campsite far, far away…

It’s rained quite a bit but I’ve finally had a night on site where I was warm enough to sleep! Hurrah. Also Kathy gave me some amazing earplugs so I couldn’t hear the rain, that was nice too.

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Inspiration

I came across this a while ago and I’ve been showing it to practically everyone.  It made an impact on me and I think that it’s wise. I love the description of courage as telling the story of you with your whole heart. Words to remember.

Brené Brown also has a blog.

All worth thinking about.

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Cookies..

Today I’m on my way to Cheltenham for Greenbelt. The weather forecast is not good and I’m going to be in a tent. My camping skills are not great (there’s no where to plug in a fridge for ice or a hairdryer!) and I’m relying on the loveliness of the people I’m camping with to help me with putting tent up so it stays up through the predicted thunderstorms on Friday night. So I’m going to bribe them with cookies! These cookies, chocolate cherry cookies…

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Pizza…

On Monday, I spent the day with Max and her daughter Murphy. I was there to see their new house and teach Max to make pizza dough.

Pizza dough is so easy to do and tastes so much better than the bought stuff. This is how I make it and how I taught Max.

What

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 teaspoons or 1 packet dry active yeast
4 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup olive oil*

How
1) Put the water in a jug and sprinkle on the yeast
2) In a separate bowl, combine the flour and the salt
3) Add the olive oil to the flour and combine
4) Stir the water and yeast mixture and add to the flour
5) Stir/mix by hand until it comes together to form a dough
6) Cover for 1 to 2 hours, until it’s doubled and use**

*All the olive oil in my house is extra virgin (Nigel Slater would not approve but that’s the way it is!) so I don’t know if it would be different if you used ordinary oliver oil or another oil completely. If you do let me know how it turned out!

**You can stick this in the fridge for a couple of days and it freezes really well. Just make sure that you give it enough time out of the fridge or freezer for it to be room temperature.

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Creme de Violette

This was another birthday present (thanks Michael!) bought so we could make an Aviation cocktail.

We did make an Aviation and it looked really, really pretty but I’m still not sure about them. I’m going to have to try again before I use it for Friday Night Cocktail.

This leaves me with a problem, how else do you use Creme de Violette?

Well like this…

A Violette Kir. Such a pretty colour and I like the taste, it subtle and flowery, if you come across Creme de Violette, try it!

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Monday Things

This week I am going to:

See Max and Murphy

(and she’s mostly cuter when she’s awake!!)

Pack for Greenbelt Grace are doing three things this festival and although I’ll be there for the Yearn service and will see the installation, I’m coming home on Saturday night (which means I’m going to miss Mark Thomas)….

….because Ma and I are having this young man for the day, while his parents celebrate their 4th wedding anniversary (congratulations Ben and Lu!)

(He’ll probably be that impressed when he finds out as well!)

Which means before I leave for Greenbelt, I need to tidy the flat because Ma is staying on Sunday night!

See Journey’s End

I also have to fit in a run every morning and do a heap of washing. I do want to remember to stop and smell the flowers though or maybe even look at the sunset, otherwise what’s the point?

 

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Sunday Music

Gin Blossoms…just ’cause.  Well actually because the shuffle function on the iPod has decided that I should listen to a lot of Gin Blossoms this week!

Hey Jealousy

Not Only Numb

Learning the Hard Way

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Pretty things

Jane, my friend who also cuts my hair, bought me a necklace for my birthday. I wouldn’t have picked it for myself but as is often the way, it suits me perfectly! Jane is a genius..

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Friday Night Cocktail

The Final Fling.

This was the last cocktail of my birthday weekend, hence the name. It’s a bit girly for me but the raspberry cut the sweetness of the elderflower, works for me!

2oz gin

1oz elderflower liqueur (St Germain)

2oz raspberry puree

1) Fill cocktail shaker with ice

2) Pour all the ingredients into shaker

3) Shake

4) Pour into chilled glass

5) Garnish with raspberries and drink

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