Tuesday 21 June 2011

Watching things grow

Sorry for the hiatus - I was poorly after moving house and am still playing catch up. I don't want to moan, but moving has been far more exhausting than I can ever have anticipated, partly because the house needs so much doing to it, and partly because I've never actually moved house before, except gradually out of my parent's former home into the flat where I lived after university. The feeling of displacement is unfamiliar and unpleasant.

But there are blessings. I am reunited with my book collection and have mainly been rereading things. We have not had time to spend in the garden, but I did plant two tomato plants in a gro bag, given to me by a colleague which are thriving. I also need to plant out this sunflower which is now bigger than Bernard - another present from a colleague.

I don't feel much like blogging about books at the moment, but I am starting to feel like blogging about baking, because cake does help to make things better and I have finally tested out my new oven - so here's a picture of a battenberg cake - my first attempt at the same - which I made. Surprisingly easy I have to say and I was rather proud of the result.

12 comments:

  1. Glad to hear the toms. are thriving & the Battenberg cake looks very nice, tho please don't offer me a slice cos you know how much I *loathe* marzipan - bleugh!!!

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  2. Mmm battenburg, the curer of all ills. I ahven't had that since I was small.

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  3. Verity - you have been missed - both on blog and twitter. Glad you have a little more head space for baking and hope you return to full health very soon. Take care of yourself (and Ken), xrachel

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  4. Oooh, look at your cake! That looks so pretty and despite knowing how it is done, I never fail to be amazed.

    You deserve some downtime after everything you've accomplished lately but it's lovely to hear from you again.

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  5. Cake looks lovely. I am partial to some cake!

    You will soon settle, but it does take a lot.

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  6. Take it easy and try not to worry. The cake is amazing. My one attempt at battenburg went wrong with the marzipan so I'm in total awe of your skills :)

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  7. Neat cake! So glad you are getting settled in. I know what you mean about the exhaustion of moving. Rest when you need to - boxes will sit still for at least 4 years waiting on you...don't ask me how I know that! :)

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  8. I'm glad you're feeling a little bit better; I hope the process of settling speeds up for you, as you begin to make everything new feel home-y once more.

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  9. I am so sorry it made you feel so poorly. I hope you feel better soon.

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  10. Settling in is as exhausting as the moving. I have found that once the essentials are located and put away, the kitchen is stocked, the books and photos are about, then a box a day is a lovely goal (of course, years later, I'm still opening boxes).

    Your cake looks delish!

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  11. It's good that you are settling into the new house and the cake looks delicious!

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  12. Utterly gorgeous, and you should be proud :)

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