So…

…do you think the birthday cake was popular, then?

Banana Birthday Cake (adapted from this recipe):

Group A -

250g flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder
Group B -

100g butter

350g granulated sugar

Yolks of 4 medium eggs (keep whites separate)

Group C -

125ml single cream

3 medium bananas

Sift together A. Beat together B. Mash together C. Add A & C to B alternately. Beat egg whites until stiff, fold in. Divide between two lined sandwich tins, bake for 35 mins in preheated oven at 180 Centigrade. Use filling of your choice (I used a cream cheese filling.) I also did a dark chocolate ganache which I spread on the top, adding a strong topnote to the sweetness of the banana.

Best Beloved

This is the man I will share my life with. My heart fills with joy with just the very thought of him. My days are filled with laughter because of him. I am protected and ever loved by him. Today he is older in body, but never in spirit.

To my ever joyful, incredible Tim – a very happy birthday, best beloved.

Blog schizophrenia*

I appreciate that those of you who pop by here regular like might be feeling slightly dizzy with all the damn’d changes that keep happening to the layout, taglines, what have you. I don’t think I really gave much thought to the layout when I first started this thing. And I have the decision-making skills of a feeble goldfish, so chances are I will not be happy with the current layout in about five days’ time.

But, this is it folks, I promise. The only thing that will change from here on in is the header (oh, and I might actually, y’know, post, but I offer no guarantees).

*No disrespect to those with schizophrenia, or those who love them.

Two Tiny Things

I took part in the One Tiny Thing Swap (Round 11) on Craftster. The idea is that you craft one item that is smaller than 4 inches and 4 inches. And that’s it! Definitely my kind of swap in these time strapped, er, times!

Lisa sent me this beaded coin purse – the beading work is so well done, and the colours are beautifully varied and mottled.

In return I sent this bracelet. I love the beads, and the elephant charm was a chance find on eBay.

Knitting News

1. Eunny has some frackin’ amazing news

2. Spring Knitty is up! (I may be a little slow here, I always give up checking after a bit and forget when the new editions come out.) Here is my Yeah!, Meh and Nah list:

Yeah! (I really want to knit these):

• Clessidra (but shorter, I don’t have the legs for knee highs)
• Queen of Cups
• Dashing – I see Christmas presents for tough cousins
• Isabella – the only women’s top I like in this issue
• Briar Rose – perfect for Little Girl Cousin (LGC), but shorten the ribbing and all in one colour
• bmp – I know an 80s child who would love these

Meh (nice, but not nice enough to buy yarn for)

• Quill Lace
• Vestee
• Paperbag
• Bauble
• More Stripes
• Carolyn
• Tahoe – I actually like this, but I think I would be bored to tears with it

Nah (Not my style at all)

• Palette
• Hey Mickey
• Monica
• Ester
• Torque
• Ribena

3. The jumper for young’un is coming along (it is a jumper, I went ahead with the decardiganisation in the end). I plumped for a rather natty argyle pattern – no pics yet, I’ve only done one repeat.

4. The secret sock is not so secret anymore (me and my big mouth), so I have to think of something else before March 27.

I heard from my Upstream secret pal – hugely exciting. I must remember to email my Downstream pal tomorrow, I can’t believe it’s March 15 already!

A quickie…

Inspired by the inestimable mollychicken

Weekend WIPs

We had a rare half day off this weekend due to the soggy weather, and I actually managed to get some substantial knitting done. Not for me, of course, goodness knows when I will actually get time to knit myself something, but at least I am getting a jump start on my gift knitting commitments for the year (all of which are self-imposed, I might add).

A cardigan from Debbie Bliss’s Baby Cashmerino 1 for a young’un who will be 1 in April. I am debating whether to flag the cardiganisation in favour of a standard sweater, perhaps with some intarsia to justify the fact that I didn’t have the foresight to knit this in the round… any suggestions for something cool I could put on the front? His name starts with A, but I would rather steer clear of that if possible. Also, I have apple green and teal or some blue variagated sock yarn for the intarsia bit.

Secret sock…shhh!