Crochet Sheep - 'Dare to be different'

Multi coloured sheep - dare to be different!

Detail of flowers in the meadow

Finished at last. My cunning sheep design can be revealed..........a draught excluder. Why? I really don't know because we don't have a draughty door in our little flat and I don't intend to have a draughty door in the future. I do like things to be useful and if  they make me smile, even better.  I've been a bit scuppered though, because I thought I was being really clever in making an early entry for the Bakewell Show 'Show us yer Sheep' competition. Winning a competition in the show last year really gave me the impetus to go for the double. There's been a bit of a hitch though, because the competition this year is for a miniature garden and not at all sheep related. Whoops. Oh well, never mind, I still have a lovely, quirky sheepy draught excluder. It even has a title - "Dare to be Different". I mean, who wants to be a sheep like every one else? I like to think that I'm the multi coloured sheep, at least in my own head.

Common or garden white sheep

Of course, it is a crochet creation. I'm still limiting myself largely to crochet as it is so self contained and transportable and well, small. Ideal for a small flat. My sheep are made from a Garn Studio pattern though the draught excluder design is all mine. I would have liked to have used Drops yarn but I had a need to use up some yarn that I already had, although that never seems to work because I always run out and have to buy more. I did use an excellent acrylic yarn - Hayfield Bonus DK, it's inexpensive but has a lovely soft feel and thickness. Loop stitch is a bit wearing on the fingers when you've made a few sheep and a flower meadow. It's a bit tricky to start with, but there is an excellent tutorial and youtube video made by June Gilbank of www.planetjune.com to help you out if you want to have a go.

Bolster shaped meadow filled with quilt wadding

Couch to 5k and baking

You wouldn't normally expect to have baking and jogging in the same post, but that is how I've been spending my spare time, although not baking and jogging simultaneously in an 'extreme jogging' sort of way. A more accurate description of my jogging would be 'shuffling', but everyone has to start somewhere and I've been persuaded to try the NHS 'couch to 5k' podcast program with my daughter and her friends (though she said it was the 'couch potato to 5k' scheme and I believed her).   I survived week one, and that is not an exaggeration as I only managed 2 out of the 3 runs for week, and I can categorically confirm that it is not a good idea to miss any. DO THEM ALL......or be VERY sorry. This week I'm determined to do them all which meant doing a run on my own today. I went up to the barns because it was so beautifully sunny and it is such a lovely area to shuffle in. I went down one of the footpaths and then around the big field to pick up another footpath, going round 3 times in total. I then went round another time with my camera so that you can see how lovely it is, but without any of the pain and panting. Oh, and I saw a helicopter landing at Ripley International Airfield (the grassy landing strip below the barns).

The starting point

View down the fields

Looking back to the stile and the barns

Helicopter coming in to land at Ripley International Airfield

Landing safely

Hilltop Mink Farm and Barns

Back up the hill to the barns

I love the way the clouds are lit up by the sun and are set in the backdrop of a beautiful blue sky

Cherry blossom with the hope of many cherries in the summer!!!

Onto the baking. Last week I  (possibly) somewhat foolishly suggested that the kids could choose the cake for family tea. The choice for last week was white chocolate brownies, otherwise known as 'blondies'. I found a great recipe from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, which can be found here. I didn't add the cardamon pods, but everything else went in and they were pretty delicious. I also made a few cheese scones for the week, which were eaten on an impromptu picnic at the barns one evening.

This weeks cake of choice was a chocolate cake, as it happens for my birthday....and it was not made by me, but my partner in crime! It was really delicious though, and this is all that is left......

Gardening time

It's been glorious this weekend so far, if a little chilly in the wind, so it's easy to give into the temptation to do a bit of gardening. Mind you, 'gardening' might not be the right description; it was more like 'hacking and chopping'. We have managed to cut down 8 trees so far and have dug out 3 of the roots. It's been a bit of a challenge with an achey back and tennis elbow between us, but we are taking our time with it. In fact today I spent more time photographing and watching the birds and sitting in the sun than actually digging. One of the tasks I had set my self was to plant some herbs. I've really missed having fresh herbs so the obvious thing to do is to plant some pots that can be moved and transplanted at a later date.  When I say 'obvious' it was only after much deliberation about where to plant the herbs that I came to the 'obvious' conclusion. I'll pick the herbs and freeze them so at least there will always be some to use in the kitchen. The herb roll call so far is mint, oregano, parsley, thyme and rosemary.

  Just to give you a hint of the monumental task ahead of us to convert the barns and clear the garden, I've added a couple of very pretty photos of our wall garden, which is actually, slightly disturbingly, some of the barn walls. For more information about our barn project, click on the link above to view the barn conversion blog.

There is an abundance of bird life at the barns and it was completely absorbing watching them. It will be the last summer of nesting in the barns so I intend to make a full photographic journal in the next few months until the building starts. The swallows have returned to their nests and they are absolutely fascinating and so quick. I tried on several occasions to catch them on camera on only managed one blurred effort. The sparrows were quite amusingly spring like - see the photo to see what I mean!!!! 

I managed a little bit of crochet before I packed up with the gardening. I'm still working on my sheep concoction with a bit of grassy loop stitch meadow.

Sewing Day

At last a day of sewing. Having packed up most of my sewing stuff for the duration of the barn conversion I've been pretty much restricted to hand crafts, and crochet has been the craft of the moment. However, today I joined Nottingham Patchwork Group ladies for a day of sewing. The community hall at Wollaton had been booked for a day of sewing and everyone brought their current project(s). I took a quilt that had been layered with the quilt top, wadding and backing and was ready for the final quilting. Bearing in mind that this had all been prepared long before we moved house but it was packed up along with the rest. Actually, not quite with all the rest because I could at least find this and my sewing machine. The majority of the sewing gear is in storage as there just isn't the space to set up in our tiny flat. I was a bit worried that I had forgotten what to do, but with a bit of fiddling around setting up the machine and picking out some thread for quilting, I was on my way. It's a bit of a struggle manoeuvring the quilt through the neck on my machine as it is quite petite, but I had plenty of space around me so didn't get stressed out with the wrestling. It was really interesting seeing what the very talented ladies of the group were working; from applique to foundation piecing to quilting. A couple of ladies brought a few projects to work on - they really are very prolific compared to my quilting efforts. My quilt is an african themed quilt which will be a throw for a sofa when finished. I will reveal all when it is finished. I managed about a third of the quilting on the main body, then there will be the border and then the edging, so it won't be finished for a while yet. No rush though, because the sofa that it will go on is in storage as well!

Granny square baby blanket

Another baby on the way. Not mine I hasten to add, but my nephew and wife will become proud parents this summer. It's not like me to be ready with a home made gift in plenty of time, but this time I can declare that a blanket for the baby is ready.....nearly. I needed a diversion from loop stitch which is quite hard on the fingers so inspired by daughter E's beginner foray into crochet, I started some simple granny squares with some wool designated for sheep (I think I have vastly over catered for the sheep......unless I want to make a truly impressive flock). Then I went wild and ordered some wool, but what colours to choose? I didn't want baby pastels but some colours with a bit of pop. I'm not sure my choices worked quite as intended, but it's done now so will have to do. I know I over analyse and become super critical. Sometimes I agonise for ages and then just flipping well get on with it and be done with it. I need to cut down on the agonising bit. Well, here is the almost finished blanket - just a bit of edging to finish, and it could probably do with some blocking, but I doubt it will get the full treatment........

It was very quick to make as it has no colour changes except for the last row. The last row in white was for two reasons; it provides a uniform frame for the different colours which allows them to stand out, and then it makes it easy to join the squares together so that you can do it quickly without worrying that the stitches aren't even. In other words it hides a multitude of sins (hee hee). I crocheted them together because it makes a nice ridged row on the right side. The final row is just a bit of shell edging for speed.

As usual I'm already planning the next thing, although I have some white (sheep coloured) squares which didn't make the final cut when trying out colour combinations. A white square with a white border just doesn't work at all. I did try a darker heather'y purple colour for a border and it looked really nice but it just didn't seem right for a baby blanket, so white it was. I also undid the last row of every square and replaced it with white row, the reason being that they seemed too big and out of proportion for a baby blanket. It would have been fine for an adult size throw or blanket, but all wrong for babies, at least in my eyes (yet more procrastination). This now means that I have lots of tiny balls of wool to use up. I made a trial square with two colours and might continue with this to make another little blanket or a cushion....argghhh, stop with the granny squares. I need to make sheep.........

Sourdough Cheese Scones

Instead of making a sourdough loaf this week I decided to make sourdough cheese scones. I have two sourdough starters on the go and I like to give them some attention, at least fortnightly, so that they don't die on me. This is based on a great recipe from the bakery bits blog. I've made the scones before and they always turn out light and moist, and they don't have the baking powder taste you get sometimes with bought scones, you know, where your teeth feel as if they are being coated with something nasty. I've adapted the recipe to make cheese scones because they are my favourite. Bakers preference applies in nearly all cases! I usually make double quantities in the hope that there will be some to freeze. Having a big family means that this rarely happens, but what is life without hope?  I used Shiptons Mill white bread flour (on this occasion, but it really depends on what is to hand or if I want to make wholesome wholemeal scones). Instead of buttermilk I used a mixture of homemade plain yoghurt made with raw (unpasteurised) full fat milk thinned down a bit with some more milk. I buy raw milk every week from a farm near to where I work. The milk is absolutely delicious, all creamy and tasty, although I know unpasteurised milk might seem a bit controversial. Normal pasteurised milk and yoghurt will also make delicious yoghurt (or scones). The sourdough starter works better if it is hungry (ie unrefresehd) as the remaining starter is a fed afterwards. I've stated 50g parmesan cheese, although I only used about 30g, because that is all that I had. It was a veeerrry ripe and strong parmesan anyway as it was a reduced price bargain due to short "use  by" date. I like to add a little mustard to my cheese scones as it adds an extra depth of flavour. I prefer to use Colemans English mustard powder as I think that "wet" mustards are a bit too vinegary. I think a good quality salt is also very important. I really like Cornish Sea Salt and found some garlic flavoured salt when we visited family in Cornwall and went to the Padstow farm shop. We bought a little pot for all the kids as a holiday present - makes a change from a stick of rock or box of sticky fudge!

Sourdough Cheese Scones Recipe

• 450g flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 150g butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 1/2 tsp Cornish Sea Salt (I used garlic sea salt)
• 250ml plain yoghurt and whole milk mixed (full fat milk or buttermilk would also be fine)
• 200ml unrefreshed sourdough starter
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 50g grated parmesan or other strong hard cheese
•  grated cheddar for the top of the scones

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4
    
2. Mix all the dry ingredients with the butter to a bread crumb consistency. I used my Kenwood Chef. 
    
3. Make a well in the centre of your bowl. In a large jug whisk the unrefreshed sourdough starter and the yoghurt and milk  and lemon juice then pour into the centre of your dry mix. Bring the mixture together to form a sticky dough. I used my hands for this so that the dough is not overworked which will make it tough. If the dough seems a bit too dry, add a drop more milk slowly just a few drops at a time. Likewise if the dough is too sticky then add a dusting of flour to handle it more easily.
    
4. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and use your hands to press the dough form a round about 2.5cm in depth, but try to avoid overworking. Cut out shapes from this using your cutter and put them on a baking tray. I used a medium sized cutter which made 15 scones.
    
5. Sprinkle grated cheese on the top of the scones. You can glaze them first with some milk, but I was too lazy and didn't bother. Bake for 18–20 minutes until lightly brown on top and firm to the touch. I needed an extra 5 minutes for mine because the temperature gauge on the oven is a bit temperaturemental.
    
6. The scones can be frozen as soon as they are cool, which might be the only way I'll ever get some in the freezer, but will also taste nice the following day if they are wrapped in a cotton or linen cloth.

The final step is to feed the sourdough starter. This week I used my 'Derbyshire' starter which is mostly wholemeal, although it does tend to be fed with whatever is handy. This time it was white flour so I added equal quantities of flour and water (100g) to the remaining starter, stir it well and put it back in the fridge.

The freshly baked scones were perfectly timed for an impromptu family lunch at daughter J's house where some Dad DIY is underway.

My culinary efforts didn't end at the cheese scones, let me tell you. DIY Dad was going to need something tasty and preferably done by someone else after a hard day grafting so I put my thinking cap on and rustled up some store cupboard dinner (I couldn't be bothered to shop). So, based on only what was to hand I came up with a butternut squash and sweet potato risotto. I've got loads of brown risotto rice which takes an absolute age to cook so I set that cooking with some chicken stock. Not home made chicken stock because I checked and we didn't have any in the freezer, and not vegetarian because I had only had meaty stock pots thingies. I added some wild rice as well for a bit of variety and this also takes an age to cook. While this was bubbling away I fried some spices. I decided that cumin seeds and cardamom seeds were the way to go so I bashed them about a bit with the end of my rolling pin in a bowl (mortar and pestle is boxed up somewhere) and then added them to some heated oil in a frying pan. I added some paprika for a bit of heat and colour and let them toast for a little while. In the meantime I peeled and cubed some butternut squash and sweet pepper and stirred them about in the spice mix. When the rice had been bubbling for a while, I added the vegetables and spice. It did look like there was too much stock, but by the time it had simmered gently for about 50 minutes it had soaked in and reduced down. A little seasoning added and a tasty (and very easy) risotto was ready.

runny risotto

Mmmmmmm risotto 

Sourdough success....

Hoorah, success with the sourdough. We couldn't wait until teatime to try the bread so it made an appearance at lunch. The crumb was perfect; a little chewy, but light and tasty. Phee-ew!

 I'm just making a teatime cakey treat and just to prove that not all my culinary attempts are successful, I had a bit of a disaster.  I opted for 'Coconut, berry and walnut breakfast bars' a recipe found on 'don't feed after midnight' blog. I think the recipe is based on a Nigella recipe. Anyway, it has lots of oats, coconut, nuts, berry's and seeds and sounds so very healthy. It also has a less wholesome inclusion of a tin of condensed milk which has to be warmed gently in a saucepan until it is runny. The recipe says to be careful that the condensed milk doesn't burn. Well, guess what, I burned it. Bah. A multi-tasking failure for womankind. Fortunately, we have a Co-op shop in the parade of shops where we live and they came up trumps with emergency condensed milk. It's a bit like having a giant store cupboard next door. I'll report on the success (or otherwise) of the breakfast bars soon.

Meanwhile, I'll share a few of our holiday photo's. As reported on the  barn conversion blog we had a research holiday in a holiday cottage that was a converted Victorian stable near Beverley in Yorkshire. We had one damp day in Beverley with no photogenic opportunities in the rain and a day with beautiful sunshine which we spent at the seaside. More specifically, we visited Spurn Point, which is an unusually long spit of sand just above the Humber estuary. It is formed naturally by the sea pushing sand and debris down the coast and is a national nature reserve run by the Yorkshire wildlife trust. There are cottages and a lighthouse at the end which are serviced by a road, or at the moment only part of a road as bad storms and a high tidal surge in December 2013 washed part of the road away and is now only accessible by foot or land rover.

Our last morning was spent in Beverley, thankfully in sunshine this time. Unlike our first visit where we couldn't view the minster due to a wedding, this time it was open for business and very interesting too. 

And finally,  the coconut, berry and walnut breakfast bars were a complete success, despite their inauspicious start. Hoorah.