Chestnut Cake

  Making a chestnut cake takes a lot of time and effort, but as I only make it once or twice a year I think it is well worth the effort. Some shops sell ready peeled and cook chestnuts, but they are very expensive, and there are plenty of chestnuts to be found at this time of year in the forests, parks and in friends gardens.  We have a few chestnut trees in the garden and there lots and lots in the forest nearby.  My favourite way to eat chestnuts is to roast them on the fire, they become warm and soft and have a lovely nutty taste. 

Here is a recipes for chestnut cake, the chestnuts are used instead of flour which makes this cake gluten free. 

Autumn Table

It really is autumn time now, all the leaves are turning and the mushrooms are starting to pot out of the ground.  I like to make little things for my girls that represent the season and put them on the table.  Every season they have different things to look at and play with.  Autumn is my favourite season to make things for, because there are so many possibilities. I also really enjoy going for walks with the girls to find things to put on our table.

iPhone Case

 I just got an iPhone and I am very scared of braking it. My last phone is completely broken from all the times I have dropped it on the floor.  So, I have made a little case for my new phone to live in. I have lined it with felt for a bit more protection, I hope new it will be safe. 

Lavender Pillows

Here are some lavender pillows, two of them I made for my girls and the other one(on top) I made for my daughters friends birthday. I have stuffed them with wool and dried lavender. 
My girls love them and they sleep with them every night.    The lavender has a calming and sleepy effect, just what is needed at bedtime.  The smell of lavender can also be a very good method for keeping lice away.  In the morning the girls always smell so lovely from their lavender pillows.  

Pumpkin and Coconut Soup

Autumn is here now after a last minute burst of summer and its that time of year when there is an over load of pumpkins.  One of the best things about pumpkins is that they are really easy to grow and can be stored  over the winter.  There are many different things to do with them, they can be made in to anything from cakes, pies, pancakes, breads, halloween decorations to yummy, winter warming soups.