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About Me

Married to my soulmate with 2 beautiful girls,and our English Springer Spaniel, Suki. Living a country life in Cambridgeshire, whilst baking, gardening, and photographing our daily lifes, where they find a place on my scrapbook pages.

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My little place on the web

This blog is just that, my little place on the web.You will find my daily (or not so daily, hehe)life, my love for my new vegetable garden, baking, photography and my scrapbooking!

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My Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a way of life for me now.It has been for over 4 years. I love journaling, taking photos of my family and love colour and texture, these are all part of my everyday life and scrapbooking.

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Our Christmas in a nutshell

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/30/2008 08:17:00 PM 10 lovely comments
Well come on, I hav'nt blogged in a week!! you don't really need a day by day, hour by hour account of my past week, as it really all features, food, games, family, laughter and more food!
So what better way to capture our Christmas than with pictures!, and lets be honest, most of us will have taken pretty poor crimbo photos just like me!, and if not, then you cant live in the UK, LOL, our light is just pants here!

Anyways, enough of my whinging about the UK weather, lets get back to Christmas with the Bowkis's

Christmas Eve.........
Baking, dinner for 6 and Church.






Christmas Morning.......



Christmas PJ's and silly googly eyes from Santa!

Christmas Lunch......








lots of pressies, lots of food, and lots of family fun




Boxing day.......



bad blurry photo, but I still love it! There were 6 kids, 6 DS's and silence. In the dining roon, there were 6 adults, 1 game of pictionary and peels of laughter!!

the in between bit......





a lovely walk in the fresh air, more food and more family time, as well as Uncle Normans funeral, RIP xxx
OMG, this has taken me ages to do, LOL and I had loads more photos to add, but I think I have bored you all enough!


I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families. I know I promised some recipes but the week has just flown and I still have my Christmas journal to do, my 365 photos to update! and my Bad Girls kit to play with, December has not been good to me!!

And to all the 365'ers, I have an announcement for you all tomorrow on the 365 blog!
Tomorrow we have a fancy dress New years Eve party and I have lots to cook and prepare for, as well as my fancy dress costume to collect!!!! I cannot wait for tomorrow night and of course there will be lots and lots of photos!!!
Happy New Year to you all, have a great New Years Eve!! Do let me know what you are doing, and any guesses to who I am going as??? I am sure I can put a RAK together for the correct answer!!
Hugs

Anna xx

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Wishing you Peace, Love and Joy

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/24/2008 11:27:00 PM 7 lovely comments
this Christmas.
I am nearly all wrapped and ready to go for tomorrow. The girls have been glued to this site all night! as I have too, LOL. We have been to Church for the Christmas Eve service, which i so love. Its now time to fill the stockings and have a mince pie I think. Izzy has her camera all set to capture Santa!!!
I will post recipes and photos this week of our Christmas fayre!

Have a wonderful day with your loved ones tomorrow
All our love
The Bowkis Family
xxxx

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Cookie Monster

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/22/2008 10:10:00 PM 8 lovely comments
Its that time of year, and that means I am chained to the kitchen. Well not literally as I love cooking and baking, I feel at home in the kitchen, and the pleasure on faces when they bite into today's cookie is worth the pain in my side now, LOL. As I am not doing much else but bake at the moment, my blog posts will resemble more of Nigella at Christmas, than scrapping!

Without further ado, with the help of my little assistant, Lilly and I bake Cranberry and white chocolate cookies; dodgy photos as the light in my kitchen is horrid!


Ingredients:

150g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
75g rolled oats ( healthy eh!)
125g soft butter
75g dark brown sugar
100g caster sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
75g dried cranberries
150g White chocolate chips or buttons

To make
Preheat oven to 180c and line 2 baking sheets
measure flour, baking powder, salt and oats into a bowl




Put the butter and sugars in another bowl and beat until creamy, then beat in the egg and vanilla essence







Add the flour mixture and then fold in the cranberries and chocolate chips










take a small chunk of mixture, about the size of a walnut, in your hands and roll into a ball and squish flatish onto the baking sheet










Cook for 15 minutes in till golden brown
Leave to cool and harden for about 5 minute
Put the kettle on and enjoy with a nice cuppa!



Freeze tip: these freeze well. Allow to cool then place in sealable bags and defrost at room temperature


Tomorrow I will share the most delicious Chocolate Christmas cookies. Thankfully we made them today so did grab some photos as most of them have gone!
Are you all ready for the holidays? I am off food shopping tomorrow and preparing for a Christmas Eve dinner party, and continuing my traditional baking marathon!
Hugs and thanks for stopping by
Anna xx

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All is well

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/21/2008 08:37:00 PM 7 lovely comments
I am recovering nicely, just a tad sore. Feel like I have done 10 rounds with Tyson! Got home Thursday evening and slept, did much the same Friday, and Saturday headed out to find me a costume for New Years Eve party, that wore me out completely and today we went to Milton Keynes to see Santa!
Milton Keynes Christmas displays were very magical, and I couldn't resist taking a photo or two of the very pretty fairies.




And a few carosel and helter skelter photos,








a couple of the girls as well,







oh and Peter!




Starting to worry slightly that tomorrow is the 22nd December and I still have all my baking to do and my Army like precision of a count down to Christmas Lunch to sit down and prepare!
But it will happen, and a golden Turkey complete with all the trimmings will be served on Christmas Day, along with some Nigella favourites.
Tomorrow, the girls and I will bake the Mince Pies and some cookies, and I may make the Cranberry Sauce as well, we shall see how I feel.
I haven't done any scrapping for over a week, and still have a few gifts to finish! I am sure everything will get done in time, just doesn't feel much like it at this precise moment.
Thank you for all your lovely comments, and to Sandie and Sara for both of the blogger awards. I cannot think of only 7 favourite bloggers at the moment, give me some more time, LO


Hope everyone is well and thanks as always for stopping by
Hugs and hope to be back tomorrow with some scrummy baking pics!
Anna xx

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Birthday part 2

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/17/2008 10:17:00 PM 11 lovely comments
Lucky lucky me, had a second birthday party today, AND a cake, homemade may I add by Sue!! Our Monday was cancelled due to Izzy being ill so we postponed to today. I arrived at Sue's at 9.30 this morning to this




A homemade chocolate cake, complete with minstrels. My day started with a slice of scrummy cake and coffee. It is with great sadness that I can now report there is no cake left! The girls had some, I had another, and Peter had 2 enormous slices! Thankfully Sue took this picture just before I cut into it. I was then presented with lovely pressies; a gorgeous necklace, galaxy and hazelnut, and a galaxy hot chocolate sachet. And then the piece de resistance, was a white distressed word wall hanging "inspire". Photo to follow!
We then headed into town to do the last of our Christmas shopping. All spent out, we went for our Christmas/birthday lunch at Frankie and Benny's. We had a delicious lunch and was served by some rather delicious waiters! Of course the obligatory arm stretched photo. I am going to do a year in review of me and Sue before the year is out! There will be at least 12 photos, exactly the same , LOL



I then headed home, and have eaten like a horse this evening as I cannot eat from 7am tomorrow morning, so I am eating for 2 days today, hehehehe. Yes it is D Day tomorrow, and me and my lump will part company! I am meant to have a weeks rest, but reality says more like 1 day, hey I am not missing seeing Santa on Sunday, nor the Christingle service at our local church.

I am going to end this post with today's prompt over at 365. Love this quote.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
- Norman Vincent Peale

I didn't use a SP for today, but this photo of Christmas Tree Bokeh, just love how magical and twinkly it looks!




Should be back at the weekend.

Hugs and thanks for stopping by
Anna x

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Birthday Girl

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/15/2008 02:24:00 PM 12 lovely comments


Yes that was me yesterday. I have turned the ripe old age of 39!! Despite the sad news we received the previous night, the girls and Peter made my day special. It started with pressies in bed and a huge mug of coffee that Izzy made me. We then got dressed and visited family to give our condolences. At Nana's , the girls and Peter gave me a very pretty birthday cake. The first and I was overjoyed. Then we went to see some friends in concert.
Near the end of the concert , Peter had arranged for this 50 piece concert band to play me happy birthday, how sweet was that! i did take my camera and took some photos for their website, and also had a chat with the conductor to see of they needed any new flautists. Why you may ask, ah well I do play you know. Not for many years I have to admit. But he said yes, so i am going to get the old girl out, give her an MOT, as she desperately needs new pads, and have a little practise, especially those high notes! and pop on over for band concert on Tuesday nights!




After the concert we went for dinner at Pizza Express, then home. All in all a wonderful day!
Just because it's Christmas , here are a couple of photos of my Angels. the first is the new addition to the family!






Pencil Lines went live last night with Brenda Hurd and a festive sketch by Michelle. We also have a great competition for our digital scrappers, so do get yourselves over and check out whats up for grabs!

I used MM Falala papers and embellies and Scenic Route embellies, as well as Elles Studio Vintage Christmas tags.

I was supposed to be over in Wellyn today with Sue. Unfortunately I have Izzy off sick with the rotten sickness bug and have had to cancel until Wednesday. We need to keep Izzy away form Lilly, LOL and keep me well for Thursday! Izzy and I have spent the afternoon curled up on the sofa watching Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride". Love the animation style of Tim Burton's films.

I am going to love you and leave you.
Thanks as always for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

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Felt Decorations

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/13/2008 04:45:00 PM 6 lovely comments
Firstly, thank you for all your lovely comments. We are just waiting. The news an hour ago was Uncle was deteriorating, Peter wants me to stay at home tonight and not make the visit. He is not responding and Peter says I will be too upset, I am best having good memories of how he looked, so hard isn't it.

Beware this will be a long post, I have lost to catch up on!
What should have been posted yesterday, was a quick tutorial for some felt Christmas tree decorations. These are so easy to make. Izzy even joined me in the fun!

So lets grab our supplies...



Felt in various colours
Co ordinating embroidery thread
buttons
sequins
ribbon
stuffing!
cookie cutters in Christmas shapes
paper
pencil
needle


Lets start making...







  • First trace your cookie shape into paper and add about 1/2" around the edge
  • Now using your paper pattern to cut out 2 felt shapes per decoration







  • I used a simple over stitch to sew my 2 pieces together. Before you sew the pieces together completely you need to stuff your shape and add your ribbon so that you can hang onto your tree







  • Now start to decorate your shape with buttons, sequins and ribbon.




  • Once you are finished go hang your decoration on your tree and sit back and enjoy!



And the black one is Izzys!

I saw a felt tree that had a piece of doweling sewn into the bottom and then this was put into a small pot. They did look awfully sweet! See my topiary tree instructions , but why not add a felt tree to your pot.

Thursday say the girls Nativity play. My favourite school production of the year, and one that leaves slightly teary eyed, this years was no exception. Izzy was Mary for her years production, and Lilly was in the band.



Yesterday we managed to decorate the house for Christmas. This did take our minds of the awful news we were having to deal with. The girls helped loads this year. Izzy did my Angel display and also the Santa display on the telephone table. Both the girls helped decorate the tree. And as is tradition, we listened to Nat and Dean crooning to us whilst we decorated.



Love this photo, although poor quality, due to a high ISO, you can see the girls decorating the tree!





caught on camera, Lilly kissing her reflection!


Today, I have been finishing of Christmas Cards, whilst the girls went shopping with Peter for what I do believe is my birthday pressies. Peter also came home with a new Reindeer for me, and she is so beautiful. i will take a photo tomorrow and share. Last year he bought me a leather Reindeer, which I actually have out all year
This afternoon we watched a favourite Christmas movie, The Muppet's Christmas Carol, which now moves me onto my Five Fav Friday Christmas Movies.

1. Its a Wonderful Life - has to be watched every Christmas Eve, and a bucket full of tears will be shed once again!
2. The Muppet's Christmas Carol - a classic!
3. Polar Express - if you need convincing that Santa still exists, this is the movie, I so love the Santa scene
4. Holiday - thanks to Sue who introduced me to this movie, a girlie classic
5. A Nightmare before Christmas - amazing animation
so thats it for me today, its my birthday tomorrow and I am off to a Princess party and watch a good friend of ours play in his Brass Band, Disney classics!!

Before I go you must check out Graphic 45's blog, as Bad Girls are the featured artisit this weekend, and I am first up *grins*

Until tomorrow
Hugs, especially to those that need it

Anna xx
RIP Uncle Norman, a very loved man who will be sorely missed xxxx

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