OLYMPIC GAMES LONDON

DID YOU GET TICKETS?


My daughter got some not sure which yet, she ended up with about a third of of her bid, been looking at hotels apartments for the stay it is difficult when you don't know exact dates in my opinion what a shambles, I am sure when it happens everything will go to plan a few years ago we had the Commonwealth games in Manchester and it went without a hitch, my daughter was volunteering on the bowls not terribly exciting but hey great experience

WALK !

MILLIE

What was that did you say walk?


Yep I'm up for that

Wait coming !

Our lovely Millie is sadly not this sprightly any more as she 14 or maybe even 15 years old [ she is a rescue dog ] , deaf a little senile and very wobbly on her paws but she keeps going love you Millie xoxoxo

We have a stall at the Fusiliers Museum in Bury on the 28th May should be a fab weekend lots of 40's fun all over Bury / Ramsbottom and stops along the East lancs Railway come along should be lots of fun, music , food and most people really get into the 40's theme dressing up and tea dances





http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/whats-on/elr-events/1940s-wartime-weekend/

WHATS FOR DINNER

Thinking of what to have for dinner wish this bread shop was local

[ sorry I do not know origins of this picture had it filed for awhile ]

THE ZOO

THE ARK



This jolly little collection all living happily on the mantelpiece

CURRY NIGHT

DINNER

Tonight's dinner is my usual curry favourite but this week with a little mint leaves thrown in

RECIPE
I finely chopped onion
Teaspoon of gram Marsala
Teaspoon of ground cumin
Teaspoon of ground ginger
teaspoon of turmeric
1/2 teaspoon of hot chilli powder
4/5 cloves of garlic minced [ you can add less if you wish we like it Strong ]
sprinkling of parsley
handful of fresh mint roughly chopped at last minute
Bowl of cooked potatoes
Bowl of cooked cauliflower or any veg you have in the fridge
Can of chick peas [ or any other bean or pulse ]
Can of coconut milk
cup of soya milk
pint of veg stock/ bullion

Cook off spices in a good glug of vegatable oil and a tablespoon of sunflower/soya spread until nicely cooked
Add the onion and cook for a minute or so
Add the chick peas and veg and garlic cook for a minute
Add milk stock and coconut milk and simmer for 15 minutes
add fresh mint leaves just before cooking
serve with basmati rice

THE LONG WEEKEND IN APRIL

THE WEDDING & THE STREET PARTY


Well that's the bank holiday's over with for a while, Britain is so lovely in the sun what's not to love sunshine, endless days off and a wedding the world was invited to and what a wedding wonderful.
Did you go to a street party? we had a stall at a street party in Manchester's Northern Quarter [ the arty /hip part of Manchester ] it was a fantastic day with craft stalls, vintage stalls, music, food and dancing

http://markaddy.co.uk/

crownandcountryvintage.co.uk

it was a 40's theme and everyone got in to the theme

there was chance to be a royal twosome for a moment

There was romance
and the best ever ice cream van

http://www.gingerscomfortemporium.com/

GOOD LUCK WILLIAM AND KATE

All of us at Window shopping wish William and Kate the best of luck and well wishes for today

Today we will be at the Northern Quarter Street Party in Manchester's Northern Quarter looking forward to a wonderful day

ON LINE MAGAZINES - E MAGS

MAGAZINES I LOVE THEM

I love glossy magazines, yesterday I could not find last months unread Living etc magazine I was distraught I save particular favourites like the afor mentioned for a special time, peace and no distractions.
I really like a cosy coffee shop and a soya cappuccino and maybe some ginger biscuits [ the peace and quiet is in reality rarely achieved sadly] I love them. I also love on line mags although they can't replace that moment of brand new glossy pages to turn but some are lovely to look at

SWEET PAUL

recipes, design, beautiful photographs and you can order a paper copy

http://www.sweetpaulmag-digital.com/sweetpaulmag/spring2011/

LONNY

http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/16-march-april-2011-issue/pages/1#p1

EST FROM AUSTRALIA

http://www.estemag.com/

All of these are US or Australian don't know of any uk ones

WEDNESDAY WINDOWSHOPPING

A VINTAGE WEDDING

Having a quick window shop on folksy today, thinking weddings [ well it's in the air ] I am not planning to get married our wedding was 28 years ago it was all about the big dress then Charles and Diana's wedding was only 3 years before, I wanted something different but if was difficult to find anything don't forget this was in the dark ages before blogs and etsy and even the Internet. So I made my dress it was Edwardian style with an antique lace parasol and I was thinking how easy it would be now I would go vintage maybe a 50's style short dress

this dress goes with the 80' s theme

http://www.folksy.com/items/1429601

A VEIL

Not many brides choose a veil now I didn't even then but I had a hat with a small veil this one would look good with a 50's style dress

http://www.folksy.com/items/1066761

INVITATIONS

In our day your only choice was the local print shop and they didn't vary much nor were they very imaginative, but these days it is so easy to be creative and reflect your personal taste and of course support a small business, like these

http://www.folksy.com/items/1002641

MOTHERS DAY

Hope everyone had a nice Mothers day, either seeing or remembering your Mum, my Mum is in a lovely home she has dementia and although she could not grasp the idea of Mothers day she enjoyed the plant and chocolate's. I hope you got nice presents and thoughts from your little ones [ or big one's] we spent the day it A & E with our daughter but at least we were together, all is hopefully well or it will be after hourly antibiotic drops have finished

VINTAGE CLOTHES MAGAZINE

Got this great magazine at the weekend it is published by Yours magazine which I think is a magazine aimed at retired people or women, don't let this put you off it is crammed full of photos of fashion from across the decades

There are some wedding shots of course including the Royal weddings


http://www.yours.co.uk/

WHAT'S FOR DINNER

Tonight's dinner is yet to be decided but I did make a celery soup that may go as a sauce with what ever I end up making, this soup/sauce uses up any left over celery and bits of greens in the fridge

CELERY SOUP/ SAUCE

1 celery, stalks and leaves every thing chopped roughly
A handful of any other green veg [ today I used frozen garden peas ]
1 onion
4 garlic cloves [ as said before this is to taste] minced
Vegetable oil a good glug
Herbs and spices [ today I used rosemary and oregano ]
A Handful of chopped parsley [ dried is more than fine just use enough to taste]
1/2 a of pint vegetable stock
1/2 a of pint of soya milk

First heat oil , and add onions and cook until softened , then add garlic and cook for a few moments

Next add the celery and vegetables cook for a minute then add hot stock and all the herbs and spices that you are using and cook for 5 or 10 minutes more

When vegetables have softened add all contents to a liquidizer or food processor with the milk and whizz until smooth

spring cleaning

Time to think about spring cleaning the sun shows up those little dust bunnies and streaky windows need a little incentive nice new cloths and buckets and mops and a crisp new apron here's a little round up on whats on offer on folksy and etsy

How sweet is this duo

http://www.etsy.com/shop/tillyflopdesigns?ref=seller_info

Crisp and eco friendly

http://www.folksy.com/items/1399065-Cloths?shop=yes

And maybe this to whip up some cakes and a pot of tea after all that cleaning

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70023858/ladies-full-length-straight-apron

More lovley cloths

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67220448/hand-knitted-honeycomb-lace-dishcloths

To nice to wash dishes with would look nice framed in the kitchen

http://www.etsy.com/people/tillyflopdesigns

PICNIC BASKETS

It's sunny, there is washing on the line

and time to dust off all those summer items, clean and oil the garden furnitue

Is it warm enough for a picnic ?


Just need a blanket some sandwich's a flask of tea and off

crownandcountryvintage.co.uk

ROYAL WEDDING FEVER

Are you getting royal wedding fever yet ? not a lot said about the wedding up to now but suddenly it seems to of taken off this weekend even adverts on TV are sporting a bunting theme , are you going to a party ?or having a party

This is a new addition to our crown and country party hire

crownandcountryvintage.co.uk

A BUSY WEEKEND

Never too busy to hunt for vintage and retro bargains,

nice spoons to polish up all spic and span

a little kitch cruet set


a teapot and jug not old but very preety




SOME OTHER LOVELIES

other bits and pieces to sell or just to keep

a nice tray cloth maybe for crown and country maybe to make a cushion

a sweet little sewing basket




a china swan, a little chum for a bigger one currently residing in the bedroom

folk art nesting storage tins

three little vases, these would look nice on dinner table with a single bloom

NEW SHOP ON ETSY

Just open a new shop on etsy, just one item at the moment, but will be adding more end of week please come over and have a browse

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lillymakes

SPRING

Spring has sprung, delicate pretty flowers, a Christmas pressie hidden away in the dark, brought out into the sun a week or so ago and look at them now





AFTERNOON TEA

A nice cup of strong coffee, a ginger cake with Tofutti vanilla ice cream bliss!


DINNER

It's not to warm yet to enjoy a good hearty warm soup for supper tonight it's French Onion with cheese toasties [ vegan cheese ]


French Onion Soup [ vegan ]

5 /6 brown onions
4 garlic cloves [ I use more but we like it very strong]
Veg oil a good slug
A good dessert spoon of marg/butter etc [I use pure soya or sunflower ]
Tablespoon of flour
Litre or so of veg stock [I use vegan bullion ]
Good tablespoon of marmite [ again I use a little more but we like it strong]
Splattering of dried herbs [ fresh in summer ]i.e rosemary/sage or whatever you preference
Salt and Pepper

Warm oil and spread in heavy bottom frying pan [ cast iron is good for this]
roughly chop the onions and add to the pan

Mince garlic and add to pan

Cook for a good 10 minutes, let them brown but not burn add a splash of water if getting to dry,some colour on the pan only adds to the flavour, at the end of this you could add a spoonful of flour to dry off

Add the stock, marmite and seasoning and simmer for a good 20 minutes

Serve with grilled cheese toasties [ Pure vegan slices for me ] heaven