Beating and Baking

Here's my new flexible K-beater. In the interests of good health, I decided to make the butter-free sponge from Rachel Allen's "Bake" book.She suggests filling the cake with whipped cream and sliced strawberries - but I omitted the cream and served a fresh fruit salad on the side.

 

Butter free sponge

3 eggs, separated

8oz caster sugar

3 fl oz water

5oz plain flour

1tsp baking powder

2 tsp icing sugar for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 180'C. Butter and flour an 8" springform tin, base-line with greaseproof
2. Beat egg yolks and sugar for 2 min. Pour in water, beat 10 min.
3. Sift in flour and baking powder, fold in gently
4. In separate bowl, beat egg whites till stiff. Fold in to flour mixture gently. Pour into tin. Cover with foil.
5. Bake 20 mins, then turn oven down to 170'C, bake further 12 mins.
6. Cool on rack, remove from tin, dust with icing sugar.

Thanks Steph- the beater is very successful!

A Post About Posters

Liz gave me this fabulous poster a few years ago.

It is displayed in the kitchen. But now I have come across another on the net which is equally wonderful.

According to the internet, it will be available from Howies as a teeshirt and is on sale as a poster. It's a great design - don't you just love the little spanner-crown?

 

Details from this site show the artist is Matt Jones - and the posters are a limited edition [and sadly, prohibitively expensive!]

Steph has given me an attachment for my Kenwood Chef as a birthday gift, so now I am going to go and get excited about that in the kitchen, and maybe even make something!!

Birthday Blessings

It's my birthday - so Bob went and got fresh croissants and I dug out the red French crockery and we celebrated with a leisurely breakfast. I have had some lovely cards and gifts and phonecalls, so it is a proving a good day [as well as being Good Friday]

I've managed to finish my notes for Sunday night's sermon [so will relax a bit now!]

I am not quite at my 400h post - but I have changed my Bible verse, and also updated the blog picture. I think I am a bit too old now to have a photo of myself as a toddler on Dad's motorbike! This new pic is the one taken by the school photographer last month.

Now it is lunchtime and then we are off to join the Anglicans for a Churches Together good Friday Service.

Guinea Pig, Anyone?

Our friend Scott Williamson, working as a missionary in Peru, has just blogged about the typical Maundy Thursday Feast there. To represent the 12 disciples they eat 12 dishes -
Prawn soup, polenta, salad, corn cake, peach compote, rice with milk, purple corn pudding, corn empanadas, meringue, yellow bread, cake and bread pudding.

I am always interested in the different foods which people eat at their religious holiday times - particularly when there is some sort of symbolism attached to the ingredients/recipes.

I decided to attempt to replicate this feast - then reconsidered- 12 dishes are a lot to prepare on a day which is already busy. As there are only two of us, I decided to just do six [6 x 2 = 12 after all!]

So we had polenta, salad and empanadas - followed by rice pudding, peach compote and meringues.

The empanadas had chicken inside [not Guinea Pig- although Peruvians are very fond of eating 'cuy'!] and I still haven't got the hang of making polenta.

Apparently after such a huge feast, devout Peruvians will often fast for the whole of Good Friday. I suggested to Bob that as I had only done half the feast, he only needed to fast for half the day. He has decided to fast for the hours in between meal-times!

Scott also posted a picture of the Last Supper which hangs in Cusco  Cathedral. Painted in 1753 by the Peruvian artist Marcos Zapata, it clearly shows that their Passover Lamb had been replaced by Roast Cuy! [but surely cuy isn't kosher?]

When it comes to my experiments in cooking, I am afraid that in one sense, Bob is the guinea pig!!

Lead Me To Calvary

King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shalt the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.

May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.

[Jennie Hussey 1921]

And thanks Jim for this link

Authenticity

A fascinating piece on the BBC news website this week from Ben Ando, their crime correspondent, all about the number of fake pound coins in circulation. In the clip, he explains how experts detect the counterfeit coinage.

"The first thing the experts look at is the edge of the coin, and the cross, because that is very hard to fake"

So for once, even the BBC agrees - the first place to look for authenticity is The Cross!

How appropriate for Holy Week.

Women of Great Taste!

Liz went to the Guardian Easter Egg Taste Test last week. And got herself photographed [she is second from the right]

She also got to meet her bread-making hero Dan Lepard and discuss bagels with him.

Sounds like she had a great evening!

[I should mention Steph was there too - but I cannot find a picture of her on the website - although she is quoted on the survey results - having declared the most popular egg as having 'a delicious smoky taste']

Bootprints Part One

The Saltmine Group arrived this morning for our Easter Holiday Bible Club.

John, Anna, Craig and Bethan leapt about a lot and the 54 children who attended had a good time. The team performed the first poart of "The Hope Play" which is basically the life of Joseph and his experiences with his brothers. As there are only 4 in the team, the rest of the family were played by floormops!

Here is Reuben [aka Craig] explaining the beginning of the story.

Please note the other brothers lounging about in nearby dustbins!

 

Now we have Joseph [Bethan] up a ladder, whilst Potiphar's wife [John, in red, with beard] tries to seduce her.

I cannot remember who Craig was at this point, or what he was meant to be doing!

But the children loved it.

It was fun watching some of our church members who came as helpers playing 'Air Guitar'

 

 

 

 

 

here's John explaining something else...

 

 

 

...and here's Geoff watching the drama, whilst leaning against the screen bearing today's Memory Verse.[He is one of our Church Members, who always works very hard at Holiday Club!]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was good today and the Mums were all very cheerful as they dropped off the children. Having fewer children than the hordes we usually get in July meant there was more space in the Hall for some activities. Lots of kids from the school where I do a lot of supply came ["Hello Miss!"]

In the afternoon, I had a complete change of tempo, and led our ladies Fellowship. We watched a superb DVD from the charity "Practical Action" [formerly Intermediate Technology Development Group] which was founded by E F Schumacher, the "Small Is Beautiful" guy.

It was all really interesting and showed how simple use of modern technology can truly make a difference to the lives of people in Africa.  The website is really informative too.

A busy, productive day ... and it's left me utterly exhausted!

Psalm 139

 

When I preached at Desford on Sunday, they gave me this super thank you card. The fish design is a collage of fabrics made by workers in the third world. It is really beautiful. Thank you, friends!

Rabbiting On

Yesterday was a Really Busy Palm Sunday. In the morning I was taking the service at Desford, and Bob was at KMFC - and we both chose lots of trad Palm Sunday hymns. Then after lunch we delivered the Churches Together Easter Cards round a nearby estate- lots of folk from all the churches turned up, which lightened the load. Then in the evening we had a lovely service when Bob preached on Mary pouring the perfume on Jesus' feet.

Mostly lovely - but Bob did want an OT passage read in the service, and it was from the Song of Solomon. I think I got through it without blushing - but who would he have asked to read it if I had been absent ? The things I do for love!

For lunch - as I knew time would be limited, I'd prepared Jamie Oliver's Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder the day before. We had it hot on Saturday, and then cold on Sunday with Jacket Potatoes. It was fortuitous that I had done that, as we returned at 12.30pm to find an earlier power outage meant the oven was off, and I had to finish off the JPs in the microwave.

For dessert we had Jamies Hot Cross Pudding - also very tasty. The pictures are of Jamie's food - I was so concerned to eat my lunch I forgot to photograph it for the blog!

Today has been a Proper Day Off - so we went to IKEA, and Maplin and Aldi - and spent very little, but got the things we needed. Then because it is nearly Easter, on the way back, we went to...

...which is actually a pretty little Nottinghamshire village, which has a fun electrical warehouse that we wandered round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a glorious spring day, and I have just found a superb link on my friend Karin's blog which I must share. In 2007, Bob and I visited Antwerp, and went into the central railway station, which was being renovated. It is finished now, and last week, one of the Belgian TV stations used it to promote a new programme [their version of "In Search of Maria"] I think this would really brighten my day if I were a stressed commuter off to a boring office job.

 

I just love the Belgians [and one in particular!]

Lady Mondegreen

The writer Sylvia Wright coined the term 'mondegreen' in 1954.In the essay, Wright described how, as a young girl, she misheard the final line of the first stanza from the 17th century ballad 'The Bonnie Earl O' Murray' She wrote "When I was a child, my mother used to read aloud to me, and one of my favourite poems began, as I remember:

Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands, Oh, where hae ye been?       

They hae slain the Earl O'Murray, And Lady Mondegreen."

The actual fourth line is 'And laid him on the green.' As Wright explained the need for a new term, "The point about what I shall hereafter call mondegreens, since no one else has thought up a word for them, is that they are better than the original."

I have always been greatly amused by these "slip of the ear" moments - and they are often caused by poor diction [especially when singing] 

So Bob's latest post has had me chuckling all evening. You simply have to check it out. Just click HERE!

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

So I said "She's got a beautiful new mac" meaning this...

And he thought I meant this...

"Tomorrow Shall Be My Darning Day"

That was what I said to Bob last night - and among other tasks today I have actually mended 2 T-shirts, 3 jumpers, and 2 shirts [for Bob, myself and a friend] Having also dealt with The Great Ironing Mountain, I then enjoyed myself doing some cross stitch.

This weekend, my good friends Ron and Jenny celebrate 40 years of marriage, so I have made a Ruby Wedding Card for them. The design is adapted from the late Jo Verso's book "Cross Stitch Cards and Keepsakes" and I have embellished it with sequins and seed beads.

Having made the pun about Darning Day, I realised I knew nothing about the original carol "Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day" - so I looked it up.

 

 

It has quite a long history, first being published in 1833, although it is believed to be medieval in origin.

 

 

 

 

Here are the choristers of Wells Cathedral performing. What fascinated me is how many of the ideas in the verses seem to have been borrowed by Sydney Carter for "Lord of the Dance" [written 1963] which is probably much better known.

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love
This have I done for my true love.
                                                                                      Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man's nature
To call my true love to my dance.

In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.

Then afterwards baptized I was;
The Holy Ghost on me did glance,                                    My Father’s voice heard I from above,
To call my true love to my dance.

Into the desert I was led,
Where I fasted without substance;
The Devil bade me make stones my bread,
To have me break my true love's dance.

The Jews on me they made great suit,
And with me made great variance,
Because they loved darkness rather than light,
To call my true love to my dance.

For thirty pence Judas me sold,
His covetousness for to advance:
Mark whom I kiss, the same do hold!
The same is he shall lead the dance.

Before Pilate the Jews me brought,
Where Barabbas had deliverance;
They scourged me and set me at nought,
Judged me to die to lead the dance.

Then on the cross hanged I was,
Where a spear my heart did glance;
There issued forth both water and blood,
To call my true love to my dance.

Then down to hell I took my way
For my true love's deliverance,
And rose again on the third day,
Up to my true love and the dance.

Then up to heaven I did ascend,
Where now I dwell in sure substance
On the right hand of God, that man
May come unto the general dance.

So the idea of dancing in carols is not new! But I think a dozen verses, with chorus, makes it a bit long for general use. And I do like the Shaker Tune adapted for the newer carol.

Bob is off out at the Blokes' Night Scalextric Tournament at the Church - so I am going to the home of another Deserted Wife and we shall enjoy a Chinese Takeaway together!

Ready for a Wardrobe Makeover?

Well that was an interesting and informative evening.

If I understood the Colour Me Beautiful speaker correctly, I am a "deep, warm, petite, full-hourglass somewhere between classic and natural" [But none of her pictures actually showed a tiny supply teacher riding pillion]

Unfortunately I do not have the sort of bank account to support a proper CMB habit!

The key to stylish dressing is to dress appropriately, in current styles, and to make sure your underwear is of the correct sort for your figure. There are four types [she says] of feminine undergarments...

Civil Service - we make mountains out of molehills

Communist - we suppress the masses

Salvation Army - we uplift the fallen

Sheepdog - we round them up and push them out

[actually, I've always called the last sort 'cowboys']

I am afraid I failed a lot of her questions [are there things in your wardrobe you never wear? are there garments which still have price tag attached? do you have expensive impulse buys hanging in the wardrobe unworn?] I sat there thinking '"No to all of these" She never asked the question "Do you have two smart, but honest, daughters who regularly help you to determine what you should and shouldn't wear?" Thank you Liz and Steph, for saving me lots of money over the years, sorting out my wardrobe for me, and pointing out the right colours. You two should set yourselves up in business - you'd beat Trinny and Susannah any day!

Actually the real high spot of the evening for me was the superb Devotions Slot led by Barbara, who read to us from 1 Peter 3;4 &5 and reminded us that whilst a change of outward appearance can sometimes help us feel more confident, what really matters is that we are changed inwardly.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful

Of Hoods and Hoodies!

Term ends tomorrow, and once it starts again, it will be full steam ahead to get ready for the end-of-year production. It is "Robin Hood" - and the easiest way to get a load of medieval-looking costumes is to dress the children in hoods [often called capuchons]

I made a load of these about 10 years ago, for another school [which was doing a play about 1000AD and 2000AD for the millennium]

Very simple. Cut a hood [28" x 13"] fold in half and seam down the back. Cut the cape - this can be circular- or tabard like. I opted for the latter] Tabards need a rectangle [33" x 18"]. You also need a saucer [5½" diameter]

Fold the tabard into four, and use the saucer to round off the corners. then use it again to draw a circle for the head-hole. This will fit most ten-year olds and adults whose heads are not too big!

I simply overlocked round the edge of the tabard, seamed the back of the hood and overlocked the front, then pinned the hood round the hole [right sides facing, matching centre back and front]and overlocked that seam.

The hoods can be worn up or down, and make the Sherriff's henchmen look Very Sinister!

This man is a saint, he even lets me interrupt his sermon writing in order to model for me.

The hoods are all made in this grey fabric because a local factory donated a whole bolt of it to the school a couple of years ago! Why spend money when you don't have to?

Here's two pictures of the hood down = one on Bob, the other on a hanger!

 

 

 

 

 

I do not have the full cast list yet - I may need to make some in more feminine fabrics for the girls - they will probably have circular capes. It took less than two hours to make this half dozen.

Sewing Club went well last night. The girls are enjoying making their pjs. The idea is that once the shorts are finished, they will applique a patch of the fabric onto the plain white vest, thus making a set. We had some good discussions about the film "Sister Act", why nuns are celibate - and "Who is this Maria that they keep singing about?"

Now I am off to hear a speaker talking about "Colour Me Beautiful" - more on that later...

Off the Cuff Remarks

There is something incredibly satisfying about taking 4 sweatshirts which have got extremely worn and chewed cuffs [why do children do that?] and using one of them to make new cuffs for the other three.

Ten minutes on the overlocker, and they look as good as new.

And it is all very biblical - after all, as Matthew 9 reminds us "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse." This was one old garment patching other old garments!

The Burden of Sin

Three days ago, my Sunday School class were continuing their study of Hebrews and the men and women of faith - and our need to 'lay aside every weight' and run the race set before etc. The book suggested getting the children to wear a heavy backpack and see the difference it made to their progress when they ran round the room.

At the After Church Coffee, people saw me with it and asked if I was going hiking - so I explained it was my Burden Of Sin.

I loaded a bag with the suggested items- labels for Jealousy, Hatred, Disobedience, and Selfishness, a TV mag and a catalogue [to represent things that pull us away from God] and two dumb-bells labelled "SIN"

The lesson went well, the discussion was good and the activity was fun. But Sunday was busy and I was tired. I got home at lunchtime and dropped the bag in the hallway, just inside the front door.

For three days I have ignored it, stepped round it, tripped on it, and stubbed my toe. I think it got in Bob's way too [not to mention our poor arthritic dog]

Finally, this morning I dealt with it, moved it, and took out the contents.

It was hindering my progress and yet I tried to pretend it wasn't there and avoided dealing with it. Excuses - I am in a hurry, I am too tired, I can do it tomorrow, it's a fairly small bag, I didn't hurt my toe that much, maybe Bob will sort it out when I am at school...

Well it is done now, and I feel much better [and can go off and do an afternoon's teaching knowing the dog won't trip over it in my absence]

What strikes me is this - we are all prone to treating our real Burden Of Sin in the same way. Avoiding dealing with it, making excuses [I'll do it tomorrow, it's only a small sin, I'll let the Pastor sort it out, it's his job...] Why don't we just run back to our loving Father and accept his grace and forgiveness? Everything feels so much better afterwards!

Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet;
Why do they roam?
Love only waits to forgive and forget;
Home, weary wanderers, home!
Wonderful love, wonderful love,
Dwells in the heart of the Father above

Blog Birthday Bonanza

One Jester Hat

Full of names.

My totally unbiased other half pulled one out ...

And the Winner is ...

And the blog-giveaway-bag contains - one of the aprons I made with the girls at Sewing Club, a bookmark, a handknit dishcloth, a little bottle of shower gel and Fiona Castle's "Anthology of Joy". I know Gwen is a great home-maker, and also she is often called upon to provide "devotions" at one or other of the various groups to which she belongs - so I hope she will find all these things useful.

Thank you everyone who entered - sorry you couldn't all win! And thank you for all the lovely comments. Just explain why, when the entries came from Canada, France, USA, India and all over the UK, the winner was the one person who entered from my own village ??!!

This has been great fun

I shall have to do it again sometime.

A Sabbath Well Spent

Despite losing an hour's sleep with the clocks going back, and still feeling tired after yesterday, we have had a great Sunday.

The morning service went well, and the Choir which formed recently to sing some selected pieces at the services today really enhanced our worship with their music. I meant to take a camera and photograph them but forgot.

Among other things, they sang the beautiful spring carol "Now the Green Blade Rises"

Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

In the grave they laid Him, Love Whom we had slain,
Thinking that He’d never wake to life again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

Up He sprang at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Up from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

When our hearts are saddened, grieving or in pain,
By Your touch You call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

We came home and watched the first Grand Prix of the season - well done Jenson Button, Brawn GP Team for coming 1st and 2nd - and then Lewis Hamilton unexpectedly 3rd. Great results there!

Then Oxford won the Boat Race.

I am not at all sporting - but these results today have made me Very Cheerful!

For dessert, I made Donna's Impossible Pie, which I stumbled across last week on her blog. It was another of those bizarre inverted jobs, where you cook it and then the top is firm with sauce underneath. We liked it [and shortly will eat the second half for supper!] but I think next time I make it, I shall reduce the sugar by about 30%

Impossible Pie
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plain flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

pinch of salt
2 tablespoons melted butter

2 eggs
1 cup milk 1 cup coconut
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix sugar with flour, baking powder & salt. Add melted butter. Add 2 well beaten eggs and milk. Mix in coconut & vanilla. Pour into greased pie plate and cook in moderate oven [170'C] for 30 - 35 mins.

It was truly very delicious! I had mixed it all before church and left it in the fridge. Then I popped it straight into the hot oven when I got home. Gwen's recent tip about soaking the coconut in the milk certainly added to the moistness [thanks Gwen!]

This evening's service included more choir pieces, and also communion. Bob preached on Psalm 51, and what it means to be truly sorry for our sin. He quoted Spurgeon "When we deal seriously with our sin, God deals graciously with us" and also John Newton "I know two things - I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Saviour"

We ended with Cowper's hymn

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

The title for today's post is from a poem my Gran used to quote

"A Sabbath well spent, brings a week of content
And strength for the toils of the morrow;
But a Sabbath profaned, whate’er may be gained
Is a certain forerunner of sorrow."

Meeting and Greeting

This morning went Very Well! Our church hosted the Annual Meeting of the East Midlands Baptist Association. Becky Nicholls, the EMBA Administrator had worked incredibly hard to get everything planned thoroughly and it all came together brilliantly.

Dianne Tidball, our Regional Minister, led the day, and about 250 people came from near and far, to worship, and do business, and to listen to a great sermon from the Baptist Union president. Dr John Weaver.

As usual, the team at KMFC were fantastic! People were there from the crack of dawn to help prepare refreshments, organise PA, do the music, organise the carparking, greet the visitors...and all the other jobs that need to be sorted for such a day. Some had been there earlier in the week to set up microphones, arrange flowers etc.

It was a good time of fellowship, and I am so pleased and proud to be part of a hard-working, loving church which can offer such gracious hospitality to visitors like this. We ended our meetings at 1.30pm, and quite a crowd stayed on to eat their sandwiches in the Church Hall, and continue chatting and renewing friendships. It was 2.30pm by the time Bob and I got away - and as I was a bit remiss in not preparing any sandwiches for him, I took Bob down to the local pub for lunch. That was fun too!

Then it was home to get all the stuff sorted out for tomorrow. We just remembered the clocks go forward tonight - so I will make a real effort to get to bed a little earlier. Here's a picture of Becky - looking a little less stressed than she did at 8.30 this morning!

And now I have just remembered it is Earth Hour so I shall have to go round the house and switch things off! But probably NOT Bob's PC or there will be no sermons tomorrow...