Talida & David

I had the honour of taking photo's of my lovely friend's Talida and David who had been expecting their first baby back in March... since this shoot, Talida gave birth to an adorable baby boy called Daniel Evanson. Much love to you both! xx

James 1st Birthday

A few weekends ago was a momentous day, it was James (my nephews) birthday.
After an incredibly hard year for the family James has made it to his first birthday and what a day it was, bright sunshine and glorious weather all day. We had all the family together and every one loved being around the little chap and he loved showing off his new walking skills – show off!
Here is a few snaps I took of him on his birthday xx

Time Tellers

Many many years ago when we would go out walking with my Grandma, we would come across the time tellers. Grandma would tell us we had to stand facing the sun and blow the fluffy head and however many times we had to time teller then that was the time. I was out walking with Holly dog in a field full of these small friendly plants and I remembered what she told us and how they would help us tell the time if we didn’t have a watch…. Oh how I miss being an innocent child and listen to lovely grandma stories. And oh how I miss you Gran, love you xx

Zesty Chocolate Chip Flapjacks

Another one of my favourites is Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recipes for these yummy flapjacks again great for taking to a picnic!

Zesty Chocolate Chip Flapjacks

• 1 orange
• 100g golden syrup (about 4 tbsp)
• 200g unsalted butter
• 100g soft brown sugar
• Juice of ½ a lemon
• 250g jumbo oats
• 100g plain flour
• 100g chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 170°c/Gas Mark 3. Grease a 23cm square baking tin with a scrap of butter and line the base with baking parchment. Grate the zest from the orange into a large saucepan. Squeeze the juice from the orange and put this in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Remove the pan from the heat .Add the golden syrup to the large saucepan containing the orange zest. Add the butter, brown sugar and lemon juice. Heat very gently, stirring occasionally, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Mix the oats, flour and chocolate chips. Pour the oat mixture into the saucepan containing the melted butter mixture and add the raisins, along with any juice left in the pan. Mix everything very thoroughly.
Spread the mixture out in the lined tin. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until golden brown. Leave for a few minutes, then mark the flapjack into squares with a knife. Leave to cool and set.
Enjoy … xx

Blooming Brilliant Brownies

Last weekend we had a great opportunity to go to a free open air Proms in the Park style concert held in Darley Park. We had a great evening with Family and Friends and although it rained a little the music and the fireworks were first class and we all enjoyed them very much!

I did a spot of baking to take with us so her is a great recipe I have from the lovely Jamie Oliver Cook book …. Blooming Brilliant Brownies.

• 250g unsalted butter
• 200g dark Fairtrade chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken up
• optional: 75g dried sour cherries
• optional: 50g chopped nuts
• 80g cocoa powder, sifted
• 65g plain flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 360g caster sugar
• 4 large free-range or organic eggs

Preheat your oven to 180°C. Line a square baking tin with greaseproof paper. In a large bowl over some simmering water, melt the butter and the chocolate and mix until smooth. Add the cherries and nuts, if you’re using them, and stir together. In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and sugar, then add this to the chocolate, cherry and nut mixture. Stir together well. Beat the eggs and mix in until you have a silky consistency.

Pour your brownie mix into the baking tray, and place in the oven for around 25 minutes. You don’t want to overcook them so, unlike cakes, you don’t want a skewer to come out all clean. The brownies should be slightly springy on the outside but still gooey in the middle. Allow to cool in the tray, then carefully transfer to a large chopping board and cut into chunky squares. These make a fantastic dessert served with a dollop of crème fraîche mixed with some orange zest.

Enjoy .... xx

Wedding Shoe Dilema

Which shoes should i choose? I am in love with them both... My love for any shoes is so strong that having to decide between the two is just simply impossible! I want to wear the brown coloured ones as they are different and quirky but my husband to be wants me to be a traditional bride and wear the white ones. But i ask how does he know my dress is white? He assumes its white!
And the other half of me is thinking maybe if i wear my white shoes it wont be quite as crazy as wearing the yummy brown ones... decisions decisions xx

She Writes…No more

She writes every day at the very end of the day a full page of her thoughts and her recollections. She puts all her deepest thoughts and memories in her journal for safekeeping. 30 years and maybe more of the most incredible information of such a fulfilled happy life have been documented by the very own words of most amazing Great Auntie Ann. Until 1 week ago when the Lord came and took her tired ill health body but even though she was ill she wrote until two days before she passed away. What a relationship to have with these journals, it must have been her way of talking though her day with her ever forgiving writing. She had a special friendship with a lady who she had made an eternal promise with to burn all of the journals, to destroy her secrets to destroy history of this inspiring lady to destroy what may upset some. So that she can take all of these amazing moments when her pen touched the paper all these amazing secrets to her final resting place…in heaven and they stay with her alone forever.