Tuesday 10 November 2015

By The Light Of The Moon..........






.....Well.....my kitchen Mr Moon.







The dark and dreary days seem to have landed. Still incredibly mild for this time of year, but the darkness has come. It's REALLY hard to take decent pictures at this time of year....so I'm not really.







It's been so busy these past few weeks. I've been itching to get some crafting done in my spare time....but there doesn't seem to be any. Birthday week gifted me some books that have given me plenty of inspiration. More wanty makes to add to the list. So little time. Oh well.



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So.....Cake....more of it.







I'm trying to eat healthily now, ready for the christmas indulgence (says she, who is typing this with a huge latte at her side (skimmed milk and decaf, but brown sugar, 'cos I can't have coffee without brown sugar)). It's a start.













But cake, well it just keeps on coming. 

Coffee cake this time. 







Cake taken from inspiration here

Coffee cake with Coffee icing, and Cadbury's Flakes and crushed walnuts sprinkled on top.







Man........it was good. 

Oh so good.

The trouble is....I think every coffee cake made from now on might just have to be a woodland coffee cake. For no other reason than I like whimsical. 

Any excuse to get animals on top of a cake. The animal tea party cake I made for my birthday last year was almost made again this year, but I liked this one so it was made. No pics of that as it was made late in the day and tucked into straight away. Rather indulgent, but rather good too. Seriously, the scales are covered up in my house.









This cake was baked and decorated in the early evening, while christmas scents were simmering on the hob and Nat King Cole played in the background. It's my idea of heaven really.







I'm not sure why really , but I seem to be feeling quite christmassy. What's going on? That's not like me. Maybe it's all the little decorations that keep being put in the shopping basket and then taken out and hung (really because I am too lazy to put them away for a few weeks). And....oh....oh....oh.....as I'm typing this 'Winter Wonderland' sung by Michael Bublé has come on (I'm working my way down my iTunes playlist).







Talking of Christmassy stuff. I had tea with Mr Tumnus this week. It was incredibly delightful. I saw a coat a while back. It was utterly lovely. A thing of beauty, and reminded me of Narnia. Anyway, it was way out of my price league, but I did have a try on, and I really felt like I should be having tea with Mr Tumnus. Anyway, to cut a long story short, my lovely Folks bought it for me. So I put it on, closed my eyes, and walked through the wardrobe to the lampost. I was met there by Mr Tumnus who took me to his house for tea and cucumber sandwiches. We had a lovely chat about this and that and then I said my goodbyes, came back through the wardrobe and hung the coat back up. I do love going into stories. When Middle Bear was a really little boy, he came up to me one morning and told me that during the night he had gone into a story. He was so little that we hadn't really talked about dreams, but this must have been his first vivid dream and it was a big thing for him. I thought it was so lovely that he said he went into a story, so ever since, we talk about dreams as going into stories in our house. Anyway, tea with Mr Tumnus was rather nice, and I shall probably pop in and say hello every time I put on the coat. We can have a good old catch up.

Yes, yes. I'm a Brit. A bit of eccentricity is good for the soul.


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So, it's been soft lights in the evening and christmas scented candles. Nothing beats being snuggled up in the house all warm and cosy with the scent of christmas. I bought a figgy pudding candle the other day which was rather nice, although, nothing beats vanilla and cinnamon in my humble opinion. Anyone got any other recommendations for nicely scented candles? I'm always on the lookout. I have some lovely Yankee Candles in Cranberry which smell amazing, but I don't like Yankee Candles for the simple reason that they always burn with a soot flame. It doesn't matter how much I try to sort out the wicks, they do that, so I snuff them out and poo poo the candles for that very thing. Anyone know how to stop the soot flame from a wick? I'd love to burn the candles. They are the huge pots too, so it seems a waste. I just wonder if they coat the wicks in something and that's why they burn like that.

Anyway, No picks of my scarf just yet. I still haven't decided what to do with the ends, and the strands still have yet to be sewn in. Whenever I have a moment, the weather is grey and rubbish, which isn't really motivating me to get it finished. It would be nice to wear it though to brighten up the grey days now.

Right, time to wrap it up. I think I've rambled on long enough and I have a ton to get done today.

Cheerio for now.....


xxx





29 comments:

  1. I actually bought 2 Christmas decorations last night a little white polar bear and a wooden soldier the wooden soldier my youngest son had a larger version when he was a little boy it took me back to that happy period. You cake looks and sounds lovely :-) And dreams well they really do come true at times in our loves. dee x

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    1. I love buying decorations that remind you of a lovely memory. I recently bought a Christmas decoration of a papier mache mouse holding some mistletoe. It looked just like something Vanessa Cabban would have made, and I bought it to remind me of her, as I still very much miss her here in Blogland. I'm really fond of the globe style hanging decorations, as for some reason unbeknown to me, I love snow globes. x

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  2. My favourites are Isle of Skye Candles - Winter Warmer - I'm addicted to the smell.

    Am loving your blog and the Woodland Cake is gorgeous.

    Keep warm and snuggly, I've decided the winter nights of cosiness are good for us

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    1. I shall have to seek these out. I have a candle in the house that was bought one Christmas from Laura Ashley, about 24 years ago. It was only half burnt and I could never bring myself to burn the rest as it was the most beautiful Christmas scent I have EVER smelt. It still smells wonderful and I love to just walk by and sniff it. It takes me back 24 years in an instant and it's amazing. x

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  3. How about Gingerbread scented candles, or Christmas Cookies. I think to stop the candles from making a sooty mess you have to trim the wick WAY back. I have a sooty mess to clean up right now on one of my candle holders. The woodland cake is adorable. I LOVE it! I would love to see a pic of your new coat. I have a coat that my parents bought me 21 years ago for Christmas. It transported me to the house of Little Women. I still have it, I still love it, and I still wear it. I always will. It's timeless!

    Cindy Bee

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    1. Oooooh gingerbread and Christmas cookies sound rather lovely. I lovely really homely kitchen scents so these might be perfect! I have tried cutting the wicks down as far as they can go, but it doesn't stop the problem. the flame burns high and turns sooty still. I just don't know what to do really and it's such a shame as the candle scent is lovely : (

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    2. Oh, and I love the story of your coat! The Little Women....I bet it's a beautiful coat. I love clothing that can transport you, and I hope I have my coat for as many years x

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  4. Your cake looks delicious and I'd say indulge away as long as you didn't eat the whole thing (I bet I could have!). One of the best things about this time of year is the lighting of candles and I'd recommend trying Mrs. Todd's (available from http://mrstoddcandles.com/) as they're just lovely.

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    1. Oooooh I'm off to check out the link! Thank you ! x

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  5. Yummy coffee cake, that takes me back to the 80's as my mum used to make it often :) Yours looks beautiful, loving the woodland scene. I too love fragrant candles, but have found them a disappointment as the smell just doesn't smell as nice once it's burning. So I just sniff them in the shops...I must look like a right nutter lol. Your coat sounds great, how cool to go into Narnia :) I have two new Christmas decs just waiting to be placed, I'm itching to get the tree up and start playing Nat King-Cole...is today too early?

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    1. I love coffee cake. Washed down with a hot cup of tea is just perfect for me and a lovely pick me up. It took me years (and lots of money down the drain) to realise that you have to spend money on scented candles to get them to smell the room when they are lit. Cheap, lovely scented ones, never did anything. I first realised this when I spent £18 on a candle, and a small one at that. It was an American candle that smelt of christmas, and when I lit it, it smelt out the whole house and lasted for ever and a day. Ever since then, I will try and find good quality candles that really do scent a room when they burn. The Anthropologie ones are lovely. I currently have 3 which I burn and they make the house smell gorgeous. It would be nice to find some more lovely ones though that are worth paying extra for. It's hard to justify a lot on a candle so they have to do an amazing job to be worth it.

      I used to think it was ridiculous to get decorations out so early, but, maybe with old age, I'm slowly changing my mind! Whatever brings you joy and cheer....and if it's a few decs and a few Christmas songs, then so be it!!!!!!!!! x

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  6. I'm not a cake eater as you probably know but can very much appreciate aesthetics and yours looks absolutely gorgeous. It's enchanting and the lighting makes it look just magical. You did make me chuckle about having tea with Mr Tumnus. My daughter and I have always paid visits to Mrs Dolphin and her enormous family under the sea. There are always fun things happening in her homely cave. If you say the magic words, you can breathe underwater. It's true, really it is.

    I've yet to find a Christmassy scented candle I like. I bought a set of three festive Yankee candles last week and they really weren't nice. In fact, they were so sickly they gave me a headache. In future, I'm sticking to the white and pale pinks ones!

    I loved what you said on my blog - I am EXACTLY the same!!! Seriously, I'm so worried about dropping a stitch that I find myself holding my breath while I'm knitting. Madness! However … I'm going to investigate this 'life line' business. I think you thread some yarn through a row so that, if the worst comes to the worst, you never lose the whole damned lot. Genius, huh?!

    Enjoy the rest of your week, petal. xxxxxx

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    1. Ooooooh, your Dolphin family sound intriguing! I was at a garden centre the other day and it was full of candles. They weren't cheap ones either, but the scents were so synthetic, I couldn't have imagined buying them to burn, let alone paying the price they were asking for. I think that's why I stick to the vanilla and cinnamon ones, as they smell the most authentic and homely.

      Man, I love that idea of threading through a row. I'm so picky that if I make a mistake I cannot live with it and carry on. I so need to conquer that fear, and spend a good few hours perusing you tube for decent tutorials. I've not yet got into pod casts, but maybe the knitting ones are a way to go to get me more geared into the knitting train of thought.

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  7. Your cake looks divine! My youngest makes a wonderful dark chocolate coffee cake (cake and icing made with coffee). That doesn't help my waist line one bit! I must show her how you've decorated yours! She tops it with shaved chocolate. Grey days here (Southern US) too, I think I've seen the sun twice in two weeks time. Love your Christmas bits, I've not started yet, still have fall décor out. Sorry, can't help with the scented candles (triggers migraines) but I love candle light this time of year. Enjoy the day (even if it's grey)! ; )

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    1. Oh I love the sound of dark chocolate coffee cake. And as for sun......constant grey really does affect my moods. The cosyness of glowing candles help a bit, but I love a bit of sun. It's such a mood lifter. I'll take a freezing day with bright sunshine over mild weather and greyness any day.

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  8. I know what you mean about this being an increasingly busy time of the year. I am marveling at those cakes you'be been baking! Fabulous. xo

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  9. Your cake looks so amazing... just wonderful.. love the animals and decoration...I love candles.. I just found two lovely golden candles holders at the Goodwill yesterday, and around the next bend a box of scented candles, I thought this funny most of them were blue and I love blues but in the box where two golden yellow ones.. Perfect for my new holders.. they were two dollars in all.. I love love cake so will go see the recipe.. thank you for sharing you lovely cake..Have a fabulous new week with love Janice

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  10. Oh my. Coffee cake with scrunches of Flake. And a snow globe Christmas dec with Father Christmas and a bristle tree. Gorgeous! I love Christmas candles, and may have started burning them these past few darker days. Surely not too early? I , too, have an aging Laura Ashely candle that needs no lighting in order to smell its deliciousness and have struggled to find anything to match it. Though I'm sure your're right that a good quality candle is the way to go... I now need cake after reading this - off to curl up with a slice of parkin

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  11. Wow, that cake is incredible!!!! Absolutely beautiful!!! That could be a Christmas cake or a wedding cake it is so wonderful!!! You are certainly getting into the Christmas spirit already which I think is wonderful! As for your candles, I burn yankee candles far more than is good for me and mostly don't have a soot problem, although I did just have one that I couldn't get to stop being sooty. Keep the wick well trimmed down, and I use either a shade or one of their special lid things and that seems to catch any sootiness. The trick I think though with all candles is to keep the wick short, seems to help. Hope that helps yours! xx

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  12. I agree, the light is awful. I have lots I want to photograph but it's just impossible, especially when I'm out of the house most of each day. I think that cake is enchanting, quite perfect and whimsical. I did something similar for Bella's birthday last year (inspired by something on pinterest, and I saw it here too I think - a little tea party on top of a cake) but I think the woodland scene is even more lovely. x

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  13. I'd love to see your coat. It sounds wonderful. Your cake looks so cute. I like the sound of your baking. Christmas is stressful, but it's good when it gives us those dreamy feelings.

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  14. Wonderful photos! I just love how the things looks so beautiful. And the cake looks amazing. I love it. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. That cake looks amazing! Coffee cake is my absolute favourite so I would really love to have a piece. Tea with Mr. Tumnus sounds wonderful - can I join you next time? You can bring a coffee cake. Can we see your new coat?

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  16. Gorgeous post. I have just baked a carrot cake this morning and you've now inspired me to raid my daughters room for sweet little woodland characters to decorate it with! Such a lovely idea...thank you.
    Marianne x

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  17. Oh my goodness what a wonderful cake. However for me the tea with Mr Tumnus was just magical! I just sat down with my cup of tea to read your latest post & was transported to Narnia with you!! All you wonderful creative people in blog land make my day. Love to see the coat that inspired you to go through the wardrobe. xxx

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  18. Happy belated birthday - it was mine last week too! I've always loved bonfire night and although we had fireworks at home and went to the Winchester fireworks which has become something of a tradition, late on my birthday evening I had a sparkler all to myself in the garden! Just love your birthday cake - I didn't do so well with that and bought a reduced one in Waitrose!!!!! Happy Days - show us your coat .....

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  19. Dear Vanessa,

    I've decided to leave my comment in the form of a letter as it just feels more fitting for how I'm feeling tonight. I loved reading your magical post. I longed to visit Narnia with you. I have a cat named Mr. Tumnus (Tummy for short) who is actually sitting in my lap right now vying for my attention while I attempt to type. I do so hope you will soon share a photo of your magical coat with us. Isn't it such a treat to receive something as a gift that seems such an extravagance that we could not justify the purchase for ourselves? I often think those are the best kinds of gifts.

    I'm glad to hear that you are finding yourself in the strange position of getting in the Christmas spirit. I hope it continues in that direction. I too have been picking up the occasional Christmas pretty that I cannot stand to put away. My answer is to put it up in the studio where there are hints of the holidays up all year anyway. Most of my family will revolt if they see a decoration anywhere else before the end of November. I think to make myself happy I will pull out ALL of my studio decorations this week and and deck the halls til my hearts content in that room so that I can put up with waiting for the rest of the house to be draped in lights and glitter. My family already gives me a hard enough time about my constant rotation of Christmas music and Hallmark movies so I dare not spread the Christmas cheer all over quite yet!

    I also adore candles and while I love the Fresh Balsam candle from Bath and Body Works, my very favorite scents are from Anthropologie. I especially love the Fir and Firewood, Balsam and Cedar and Vanilla and Fig (which is an all year scent for me). I try to stay away from candles that smell like sweets as I already have a hard time staying away from them without the added challenge of a candle making me hungry. I am currently burning my fall candles as many hours as possible so that I can move on to the winter scents!

    I suppose I will close for now but please know that I enjoyed my visit this evening. It was one of the best parts of this day!

    Warmly,
    Jen

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  20. that is one beautiful cake, I love it so much!

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  21. For me the ultimate Christmas candle scent is Inspiritus by the St Eval Candle Company. We stock them at work and just one smell of them is enough to make me want to break out into a rendition of Silent Night...even in August. Hmm.

    http://www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=inspiritus

    Happy Sunday! xx

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