Spring is in the air ((smiles))

Well I cannot believe that I have been so long in getting back to my blog and friends around the world. One day leads into another so quickly at the moment and each day is filled with so much to do.

I thank from the bottom of my heart all the advise on the painting and Alice I have been buying sample pots and putting bits here and there to see how they go, We are getting close but not painting yet. Rob has had some "real work" as he calls it and so until that has slowed a bit or a weekend arrives things around here have slowed down.............I am trying to be very positive and patient ((smiles))

It is so lovely just knowing spring is almost here but we still wake to find heavy frost but knowing it is a sun filled day is cheering to me.

Just want to now share some photos of our life and family events over the past two weeks

Frost on the side lawn this morning "yes! that is me sending you a big wave of Hello to my friends"

I can see a touch of spring in the garden before I know it all the daffodils will be smiling at me from every spot in this simple country garden.

Crisp white frost no wonder my toes are cold!! ((smiles))

This is our oldest grandson S, it was his birthday and he was a very big 7 years old.

We are very proud of you darling and we know you are going to have a very special year at school, Just last Friday Poppi and I got a special email from his class on computers and it read "I have a wobbly tooth" well that is wonderful that he can now send emails and write them himself and that he has a wiggly tooth ((smiles))

Nanni & Poppi love you SO! Much.

Birthday boy with poppi and nanni This precious grandson has asbergers and so each happy moment of his life is very special - we are proud to have this gentle soul as our very own grandson, doing so well in a lovely school and with many friends who adore him as his family do.

Do you ever have those days when you want to make everything from scratch ~ well yes I did and so I looked up several of my very old cook books, started up the gas stove, popped on an apron and set to work making first a Chocolate raisin tart with egg white topping.

We found it to be very delish! ((smiles))

If you would like the recipe here it is.

CHOCOLATE RAISIN TART

1 tablespoon cornflour

2 tablespoons sugar

vanilla

2 cups milk

1 dessertspoon Cocoa

2 eggs

1 cup seeded raisins

short crust pastry.

Mix cornflour, sugar & cocoa together. Pour a little milk on cornflour to blend, and bring the remainder to boiling point. Stir in the cornflour mixture and cook 2-3 minutes. Cool, add beaten egg yolks, raisins & vanilla. Line a tart plate with short crust pastry, pour in filling and bake 20 minutes in a moderate oven. Beat egg whites till stiff, fold in a tablespoon of sugar. Pile on top of tart and brown in oven.

This came from a very old 1930's cook book brought out by Bushells who used to also make cocoa.

Then I made mini cream puffs with fresh whipped cream now they were nice too and not one was left on the plate at the function I took them to.

Well dear friends I am off to make a visit to your blog so get the kettle on I will have a black tea thanks with a good chat at your ktichen table.

This is my Monday - yippee! Almost spring!