Watchtree - Winter

Watchtree is a local nature reserve, but one of those places that although I knew were it was I'd never actually been there.

It's always the way that you forget the beauty that's just on your doorstep.

During the Foot and Mouth crisis in 2001 Watchtree became the final resting place of many infected cattle, the site was chosen due to it's proximity to many infected farms, but also for its bedrock geology that would prevent further contamination from the buried cattle.

It's story could have just ended there, leaving the site a barren wasteland, however the ecological consultants assigned to the restoration of lands after the outbreak choose to turn the space into a community asset and a positive feature to local wildlife.

In 2003 Watchtree became a nature reserve, water areas were created with wildlife in mind, huge areas reseeded, 80,000 trees planted to enhance local woodland and create extra habitats.

They have educational programs for  school visits and run Watchtree Wheelers and cycle group for people with learning or physical disabilities. 
This amazing site is free to visit but has a donations box.

When we visited the site it was a cold frosty but clear Winters day, most of the ponds still had ice skimming the top of them. 

Maisie and Lucas enjoyed running around the wide open pathways of the site, trying to spot any wildlife which was unfortunately in hiding for us most the time. Maisie took to hiding in the wooded area while Lucas and I looked out for the Guffalo, of which we didn't see any.

We did however find this awesome wooden spider in the wooded area.

These insect holes are all over the site providing homes for little beasties, quite a lot had spiders in them when we were looking, and I think we may make some of these for our next garden project.

Maisie was map holder while we were there, she has her no one is listening to my command face on here, and took around the site to find the hides which look out onto various wetlands and feeding areas for birds. We saw a few sparrows, a finch and some ducks. The hides are very comfortable, with carpeted seating and one has a telescope too much to the children's delight. They all had posters inside to say which animals and birds were in that location.

The area is also the site for several wind turbines, I know that they get a lot of stick for being ugly and a blot on the landscape but I'll admit I find them hauntingly beautiful. Stood underneath one listening to it slow thrum thrum sound was a simple kind of peace and meditation.

I think will be regular visitors to this wonderful site, and hope to do another Spring time update. You can find out more about Watchtree Nature Reserve here.

Amanda.x.

Photographs courtesy of Stuart Ryan. 

Spiced Biscuits.

 My friend Sarah lives in Korea and on her last visit home, gave Lucas some cookie cutters, they come from Star Bakery and there's an English link here. There is a dog, cat, elephant, chick, pig and rabbit. 

I'm sure you can find ones like them where ever you live.

Below is my spiced biscuit recipe which is really easy to make.

You'll need: 

200g self-raising flour

2 tablespoons of mixed spices

1 table spoon of ginger (I know it's already in mixed spice but it's nicer with more)

100g of butter

75g soft brown sugar

splash of milk

 Put oven on Gas mark 6 (about 200c). Sieve flour and spices into bowl. Cut up butter into cubes and mix   into dry mixture until it turns to crumbs. 

If you have children helping you get them to do this bit, it's messy fun. Then add sugar. Mix it all in.

Add a splash of milk and work into a stiff dough. Roll out, then cut out.

Pop into oven until it starts to turn brown, leave to cool, job done.

 I thought we'd go through these biscuits quickly so we doubled up the recipe to make more, and as Maisie and Lucas made it clear that the animal biscuits would be theirs I made some heart ones for Stu and I. 

 I loved that the cutters made little faces on the animals, the rabbit looks very much like Miffy.

There you go lovely spiced biscuits to go with your cup of tea, or glass of milk in some cases.

It's great to have my biscuit tins filled with handmade goodness.

Let me know if you try any of my makes or bakes.

Love Amanda.x.

Wordless Wednesday - Phew!

Phew.
Love Amanda.x.

Way of the Warrior

During half term we got the chance to take Maisie to Way of the Warrior, a exhibition of epic movie arms and armoury, being held at Tullie House Museum which we're lucky enough to have on our doorstep.

The props came from films such as Centurion, King Arthur, The Last Samurai and Gladiator.

This is Maisie unimpressed at the weight of the gauntlet, the exhibition is great as not only do they have the costumes on display, but most of them you can try on and get a real feel for how they would have felt wearing them. 

 Maisie styling in her helmet, having tried on these props I was surprised at how heavy they were, even ones made from new materials weighed down. I imagine it's not comfortable being an actor having to do a full day in this stuff, let alone what it would have been like in it's true era.

Just one of the full suits of amour on display.

 Ha ha. this was her favourite helmet she thought it made her look like a chicken, and a course we had to dress Daddy up too. The shield his holding was extremely heavy, I couldn't have imaged holding it for any length of time.

The display boards told you about the history of each era that the costume came from, and the comparisons to the film, they also have a competition to win a helmet which looked awesome.  

Well done Tullie for putting on another fine exhibition.

Amanda.x.

Little wall of love

So far I've found it quite difficult living in a rented house to make any of it feel really mine, as we're not planning on staying in this house too long I don't want to get furniture that fits around it or make any feature too permanent. I do however love this wall in our dining room, the radiator has a cover on it making a mantlepiece which I've decorated with treasure and the wall above is filled with stuff I love.

I was inspired by Lucy at Attic24 to make these lovely letters, hers was done using coloured paper but I wanted mine a little more textured so used fine fabric glued over a template. My daughter wants one of these for her room too, and I think I'll make some for my shop during Easter.

The lovely swallow picture was made by fellow blogger Apryl(Meridian Ariel) and was sent with a great array of other gifts which I will blog about soon as they were fab. I need to finish her return gift soon but more about that later.

When ever we go for walks Maisie as developed my habit with collecting things as we go, this was a little collection we glued into a box frame from walks in 2011, she likes it as it looks like the boxes you get in natural history museums.

This huge piece of drift wood washed up at the side of the River Eden, Stu and I found it when we fist started going out together 18years ago, I love the shape of it and it makes a great focal point.

Either side of the driftwood I have out collection of stones picked up from various outings around the country, this also has my huge candle my boss gave me as a birthday present, it smells of oranges.

More collection stones as well as my crocheted tea light holder, this was the first one I made, the other candle holder will get it's covering soon enough.

 Bit of a strange sign but it came from the farm I grew up on as a child, I have memories of the electric fences as a child and did get zapped a few times tying to jump them, thinking of the buzzing noise they made makes me feel all tingly.

 The canvas is one I got Stu made up for Christmas last year, it's a great picture he took of Bitts Park on  a frosty morning, I find it such a peaceful image to look at.

 The plate was a lovely gift from my other boss and fellow blogger Sally ( I do have lovely bosses) its called Mystic Daisy and is from Celia Birtwell. It's wonderful and I think I may have to collect some more.

 I found this vintage butterfly collection in our local market charity shop for £4, she had loads more but they were much bigger and I didn't have the pennies that day. I'd love some more, maybe with beetles or spiders.

 My Home Sweet Home plaques was bought from a bargain shop for 99p ages ago, it's there to remind me that your home is as sweet as you make it.

So there you go a peek in to my home, what's your favourite part or your house? If you blog it leave me a link in the comments.

Love you.

Happy Valentines day.
Love Amanda.x.

Maisie's Bread and Butter Pudding

Maisie and I have had a few conversations of late on food my Mum used to make me when I was growing up, Maisie thought Bread and Butter Pudding sounded really funny and not real pudding at all, I was shocked that it was something we'd never made together so set to put that right.

You'll need:

85g of butter

6-8(depending on dish size) slices of thick bread, we used wholemeal which gives a nutty flavour. 

55g of sultanas 

3 large eggs

300ml of milk

150ml of Double cream

55g of Caster Sugar

Some mixed spice

Handful of soft brown sugar.

 Pre heat oven to gas mark 4(about 180c) and get your helper to grease a oven proof dish. 

Cut away crusts from bread and cut into triangles, butter both sides, then lay out the bread in the dish while hiding fruit in-between each layer.

In whisking jug, add eggs, milk, cream, heaped spoonful of mixed spice and caster sugar. Whisk well, and pour over the bread in dish, leave mixture for about 20minutes so the bread can soak up the mixture. 

Poke down any sultanas not hidden well so they don't burn in the oven.

The joys of having a kitchen helper like Maisie is how proud they look when they've made something and know they'll to eat it themselves late on.

Sprinkle over handful of soft brown sugar, and and a little more mixed spice.

Place on a baking tray and into oven for about half an hour, or until golden brown on top.

 Opps, ours got a little overdone on sticky out parts but tasted delicious. Maisie was very impressed and asked what it would taste like if we put Nutella on the bread. 

People I have a genius living with me, why have I never thought of that? 

We'll keep you updated on the Nutella pudding. 

Please enjoy, and if you try our recipe and enjoy it please let me know.

Love Amanda.x.

Wordless Wednesday - Luna Moona

A New Addition

Welcome to our household Buffy, no not the slaying kind (well maybe to small creatures) the feline one.

 My friends Mum has been ill recently, and Buffy is her cat. We've adopted her for now, and she's settled so well into our household. 

Although does not like her picture taken, does she not realise she's in a blogging household? 

The kids love her, learning not to chase, how to stroke a cat nicely and how brush her correctly. 

It's a great part of growing up having pets to care for and be gentle with.

 Buffy however in usual Cat ways has made everything around her, her domain.  As above it would seem a  cuddly Lima felt the wrath of her paw. 

Amanda.x.