A cake, a candle and cosy comforts...

 Now, I'm not a fan of the month of November
it's cold, it's dark and it's dreary
but here are some of the things that I am enjoying this month
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Baking

Irish Tea Cake

I have been baking a lot more now that the weather has turned cooler

This is a great recipe and goes a long way-

Half pint of cold tea

1 lb dried mixed fruit

8oz demerara sugar

4oz chopped walnuts

4oz glacé cherries, rinced, dried and quartered

1 large egg beaten together with 2 tablespoons of milk

1 lb self raising flour

Prepare the fruit by soaking overnight with the sugar in the cold tea.

Next day, 

stir in all remaining ingredients

 spread into a well greased roasting tin approx 11" x 9"

Bake in the centre of a pre-heated oven (150 degrees fan)

for approx one hour 10 mins or until golden brown and springy to the touch

I usually cover the top with foil (but that is probably my oven)

Cool on a wire tray

cut, spread with butter and enjoy.

I ♥ fruit in my pretty pink bowl

having a little taste of the mixture before popping it into the oven

and best of all eating it with lots of "real butter"

and cups of hot comforting tea!

Y U M M Y

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥

 hydrangeas

the last of the flowering plants in the garden

any day now they will be hit by heavy frost and turn black

so

I have taken some into the house

so that I can continue to enjoy them for another while at least

♥♥♥♥♥♥

 berries, berries and even more berries

The garden is full of them and they are so pretty...

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥

Warm fires at night

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥

a glass of red 

or 2

or 3

or maybe even...

♥♥♥♥♥♥

 cosy clothes

I bought this snuggly snood

 to keep my neck warm during the cold weather

it goes perfectly with my cream coat...

♥♥♥♥♥♥

candlelight

I have been super duper organised this week and started a little bit of Christmas shopping 

I bought this Max Benjamin candle to put into Mum's Christmas stocking 

Max Benjamin Candle

but 

I was very very bold

because on Saturday night 

I removed it from the box just to have a 
tiny sniff you understand and before I knew it I had it lit and the smell was beautiful
oopsie

will have to buy her another one now!

♥♥♥♥♥♥

and it's getting a lot like Christmas here

with the shops starting their seasonal displays

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Another award

this time The Beautiful Blogger award

from my friend Jill

Jill has a great blog Chillin with Jill and is  a lovely blogging friend,

pop over to visit her and you won't be disappointed.

I have to pass this award on and so it goes to

 Marcia from A Little Shop around the Corner

Daphne from Ivy, Phyllis and Me

Karen from My Little Home and Garden

Val from Val's Alentejo

Ayu from White and Roses
Natasha from Made by Natalia

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Good News- the painting is finished at last...

Mr. Raindrops and his assistant

Mr(will help -if I really have to) Teenager Raindrops completed the lounge,

 went on to do the hall, stairs and landing

and thankfully it is all done now!

♥♥♥♥♥♥

{Green Day 21}

Well it's Friday and so it's Green Day

The usual rules apply...

Thank you to all who participate I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do

Raindrops and Daisies