14th August photo - don't let me read this again!

A quiet day at home today gave me time to snuggle up and innocently read through this Lakeland catalogue. But is was not an innocent read, because each page I turned I found something else I wanted and by the end of the book I had a shopping list as long as my arm. How can that happen when I seem to already own practically everything they sell already?

I think this cover photo is going to be my POTD but I do like the pastel colours on this Tala icing set page.

Oh dear its rather sad to get so excited over oven mitts, greaseproof paper circles and baking tins!!

I think I need to get a life!

13th August 2009 - geocaching in Llangollen

I have spent a lovely day out geo-caching around the little Welsh town of Llangollen. The weather has been beautiful and sunny which has been a bonus. I found 8 geo-caches - some of which were in parts of Llangollen that I had not visited before which was also a bonus!

A lovely walk along the canal bought me to this little piece of history - a horse drawn canal boat

I think this will be my POTD though the gorgeous landscape view high up among the castle ruins is also in with a chance.

The town was busy with visitors - I think one of the biggest draws was the Thomas the Tank Engine steam train rides.

Complete with its own fat controller!

A took a precarious drive along a mountain pass high up above the town - but it bought me to a cache hidden around some old castle ruins. It was a steep climb up to the castle - but I was rewarded with fab views all around. It was a bit galling though, as I puffed my way slowly up to the top little children came running past me!



Whilst I was exploring the town - I found a scrapbook shop!!! I did not really want to buy anything - but some Bo Bunny papers & glossy accents fell into my basket!

This is a lovely looking pub overlooking the river and railway that looks worth a visit for a meal next time I am in Llangollen.

There were plenty of canal boats out today - but some of the drivers clearly had not passed their driving lessons and should have been displaying their 'L' plates - as they kept bumping into the sides!
On the way home I passed this world famous structure - the Pontcysyllte aqueduct.

All in all a fab day out.

12th August photo - cheery breakfast

I had a few raspberries left over from yesterdays cake baking to add to my already colourful & bright breakfast. My bowl is full of Jordans Superfoods Granola and I like to buy this when it is on special offer as it is quite tasty and a nice change from my usual All Bran. The raspberries added a really nice flavour - I think I need to plant some raspberry bushes in my garden - for an instant supply of this yummy fruit.

Sorry this is a rather boring photo - but I did have a whole day's walking planned for today and the chance for some interesting photos - but have woken up to rain, rain & more rain so have decided to stay at home and am keeping my fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow.

11th August photo - Raspberry & Almond cake.

I saw this cake on the front of this month's BBC Good Food magazine and thought it looked nice & easy to make so bought the magazine and all the ingredients and produced this - it is delicious.

I have never made a cake with fresh raspberries in before, but they really make all the difference and I am being pestered to make another one soon before they go out of season.

I used my new 8" square non-stick baking tin from Lakeland for this cake and it was just right for the job.

If you can still get hold of the magazine - I highly recommend this recipe.

10th August photo - butterfly

Today's photos show a typical rural Shropshire summer afternoon walk - with a bit of geocaching thrown in as well - I reached 700 finds today!

My photo of the day is this lovely butterfly shot - I am very pleased with it - mind you there were lots more that I was not happy with!

Steven & I are in the middle of a series of caches which are all set around railways lines that Dr Beeching axed in the 1960's - it is actually quite sad to see all these disused railway bridges and areas where the tracks used to run. Most of them are fenced off - but today we managed to get quite close to this bridge. There is a huge tree growing right in the middle of the track!

Most of the lines now lie covered by farmland and the farmers were out in force today harvesting their crops.

leaving fields looking very barren now.

But some Autumn crops are starting to show already - we found these lovely blackberries. I am going to try and get a better shot in September for a POTD.

And another butterfly photo which was a close contender for POTD.

9th August photo - bargain shoes

I popped into the QVC shop while I was in town today to see if they had any nice crafting stuff - they didn't! But I did spy these boots on sale for 99p yes 99p! The catch was, they only had size 9 or 10 - but as I am a clod hopping size 8 - the 9's fitted perfectly. I am not usually a bargain hunter, but even I could not turn down a pair of boots for under £1. In fact they are so comfy I may go back and get another pair.

8th August photo - cranberry & pecan tiffin

More delicious eatables!!

I made this yummy cranberry & pecan tiffin today - it was simple and quick to make and everyone loved it - so another success in the Taylor household.

The recipe came from here - Lucy's blog - who Jo introduced us to recently, with her recipe for millionaires shortbread.