Engagement Ring

When Adam and I first got engaged (over a year ago now!), I went outside to take a couple of photos of my engagement ring. I couldn't decide which one I liked best, so I'm posting all three photos:







On an unrelated note: I'm absolutely loving having an online diary, so many mini photo sessions that I want to post!

Beth's Birthday Rocky Road

Okay so it seems kind of silly to share a recipe for Rocky Road, as it's probably the most simple thing in the world to make. You don't even have to bake anything! Just melt the chocolate and stir in whatever you fancy.

That being said, I made Beth some Rocky Road for her 18th birthday (don't worry, I bought her a proper present too!) and documented it, so I thought it would be fun just to share. For the record, she said this was the best Rocky Road she had ever had! I think she knows flattery will get her everywhere with me...



My sisters extra special birthday Rocky Road included:

Shortbread biscuits

Bourbon biscuits

Mini oreos

Marhsmallows

White chocolate buttons

Twix

Maltesers

Please note: Normally she wouldn't get anything quite as fancy, but it was her 18th so I decided to spoil her!



Chopped bourbon biscuits. I chopped the bigger biscuits (twix, bourbons, shortbread) and the marshmallows and I bashed the maltesers up a bit but I left the mini oreos whole.



Melting chocolate



Waiting to be stirred. My mouth is watering so much looking at this photo. I could just dive in!



Cooling



The finished product



All packaged up in a cute tin with birthday card and ready to go!



The birthday girl and her gifts!

My first homemade blanket

I'd been wanting to learn how to crochet for ages, and in particular I'd been wanting to make my own blanket for ages. I'm so pleased that I managed to learn how to do it! I'd been trying to teach myself for ages but never quite grasped it, then last year I worked with a girl called Sarah who crocheted and she kindly taught me.



It's not massive, just a lap blanket and it was done up until a few days ago, when I decided to add a couple more rounds to it to make it slightly bigger. But I love it and I'm excited to snugglee up under it this winter.



I've already crocheted a couple more things too - a tiny bobble hat for an egg and one baby shoe!

It's best by bus

My Dad's funeral took place on the 23rd October at 3pm. It was actually the most beautiful service I've ever been to, and so many people turned up. Not sure of the exact number, but we guessed it to be about 145 as all but five of the order of services were handed out. It actually helped to see so many people that cared about my Dad.

Uncle Gary told me that one man who came from Coca Cola said that he didn't even work with Dad, he came because he used to get changed next to him.

I know nothing will bring my Dad back, and I'm absolutely devastated and heartbroken at the fact that he's no longer here. But it really helped me to see that my Dad was so loved, and that so many people knew how wonderful he was.


We got a vintage bus to take us to the crematorium instead of going in funeral cars. It was perfect; I loved the sign on the side which read "it's best by bus" - Dad would have loved it.

Dad's friend Gary read a poem out about Dad, and I might post it here because it was really lovely. Dad wore his suit that he wore to my wedding in his coffin.

I can't believe that I no longer have my Dad. I don't know what we're supposed to do now. It was very rare that I would do something with just Mum, or Dad, or one of my sisters - it was always all of us.

Dad I love you and miss you so much but I know I'll see you again xx

Dad

On Friday 12th October 2012, between 12:30-12:35pm, my wonderful and much loved father died tragically. Our entire family is absolutely devastated and heartbroken and still very much in a state of complete shock. Dad, I already miss you and I love you so so much.

Bye Bye Bertie

On Saturday, we heartbreakingly had to put our beautiful Boston Terrier to sleep. He had a fit, which caused massive brain damage. We're devastated. He was only about 18 months old.

This is the last video I took of him, a few days before. We loved him and will miss him so much.

A Little Recap

 I've just had the best couple of days. We've been having pretty nice and mild weather lately, so I've been out in the garden for a lot of it with my two furry helpers. Yesterday I did mostly clearing but on Tuesday I was planting up a storm, I planted rhubarb, strawberries, lettuce, wheatgrass, potatoes, sunflowers, rosemary, blackberries, blueberries, and a couple of different types of flowers. I've been thinking about doing a "how to grow" series for those of you that are interested in growing your own fruits and vegetables but don't have any experience in it. I don't claim to be an expert at all, and I'm always learning new things but growing your own food is a lot of fun, and great for the environment. I read this article a couple of days ago and thought it was really interesting, although not particularly suprising! Anything that gets kids outdoors, learning and having fun is a good thing in my book.



When we bought our house, there were a few rotten sheds in the garden that we had to take down, but as we were doing so we found the most beautiful old terracotta pots. Some big ones and some small ones. What a treasure! I absolutely love them and have planted some things in them. (Oh and you can see how desperately my garden needs sorting out in the above photo - look at all the weeds!)

Do you grow anything edible in your garden? Check back on Monday for the first "how to grow" post... lettuce!

PS: You might have noticed, but I've changed my blog name! I felt like I'd outgrown the name "ecoprincess" (I started this blog when I was a lot younger! Haha) and I want to post a bit more varied stuff than just recipes so from now on I shall be... Bake, Sew, Grow!