fragments...

This weekend has been all about just slowing down and enjoying my couple of days off..

Some good things...
* lovely mail on Friday kicked the weekend off; a book from Amazon, a Cath Kidson catalogue and a postcard from a friend
* chilling with a glass of something and some nibbles,(the nibbles are most important!) listening to this...
* i downloaded this app which works a treat to chill out to...
* a photoshoot in the park with a lovely couple and some sunshine
* chocolate croissants for a lazy Sunday breakfast - bliss!

Oh how I love weekends! I'm already counting the days to the next one...

yesterday's parcel...

Remember when I said there was a parcel waiting for me yesterday?... Well I got home sooo excited, so much so, that I never even bothered to take a photo of the parcel waiting to be opened because I just couldn't wait!!

So...please forgive my very hastily taken iphone photos but here is my reveal... A new lens, *swoon* ...my first ever L lens. Canon EF 70-200mmL USM
Now I know this probably doesn't mean much to those of you who aren't geeky about photography and camera accessories and it doesn't look especially pretty in the way of other parcels but... oh my heart skipped a beat when I opened the box...


*Advance warning*...Expect a whole load of photos once I finally get to give this lovely a workout this weekend!

things...

It's bit of a blah day today - possibly something to do with being at work when the sun is shining and I want to go outside! (I'm actually doing this in my lunch break lol!).

So here are some things that are cheering me up at the moment...
* I came across this first link earlier in the week and thought how fantastic this could be if only it had become reality...
* Truthfully, I've never been a technology geek but how much do I love my new iphone? A world of possibilities has opened up to me when I'm out and about - yay!

It also has the added benefit that I may actually be able to start catching up with you all... :)
* Which leads me onto the next thing... how brilliant are Apps? Though I'm having to reign myself in a little. My favourites are all the photography ones obviously!!

* The fact that although we're just into September we still have some lovely light in the evenings and can pretend to hold onto Summer for as long as possible...

* That I've had a text today telling me that a parcel has arrived at home yay! I'll reveal what it is tomorrow...

making...

I really don't know where the time has gone this past week, I've been meaning to post this for the last few days and just never managed the time...

As part of my 38 things post, one of the items on my list was to try out a new recipe each month, so for April with the thoughts of Easter not long past I thought I would indulge and try out the delicious sounding Chocolate and Hazelnut Torte. The recipe came from an old issue of Easy Living magazine and the best thing about it is there's no cooking involved! As you can see, my photos involve fruit in a bid to make it look less indulgent lol!

Chocolate and Hazelnut Torte
100g (3.5 oz) plain biscuits
150g (5oz) dark chocolate broken into pieces
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp castor sugar
100g (3.5 oz) unsalted butter
100g (3.5 oz) shelled hazelnuts toasted and coarsely chopped
cocoa powder for dusting

* Grease a 18cm (7inch) springform (i just used a normal tin) cake tin with butter and line base with baking paper
* Lightly crush biscuits into uneven pieces (use a bag and a rolling pin!)
* Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, you may need to stir
* Put egg, egg yolk, vanilla and sugar in a mixing bowl and using an electric mixer beat for 4-5minutes or until mix is pale and thick
* Melt butter then add it to the egg mixture in a steady stream while beating at high speed
* Beat in the melted chocolate
* Using a large metal spoon, gently fold in the chopped nuts and crushed biscuits until combined
* Pour mix into cake tin, spreading it evenly and gently
* Let chocolate cool
* Cover with clingfilm and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight until firm
* Dust with cocoa powder and eat - yum!

ordinary magic...

This weekend I've had a fascination with ordinary magic. Just the kind you get from seeing the ordinary things around you in a different light. I swear I could take photos all day long and nothing could make me happier...




I've also been playing this cd endlessly and it's got inside my head. Go check out the link and see what I mean. I also love the video that she has on her site with the sea and the birds - just perfect...

little bits of green...

I just noticed when I was uploading some photos that I seem to have a thing about green and white at the moment. There's something quite spring like about this colour combination and it's especially nice when it's paired with a little sunshine.



Oh and the apples were today's 365 photo on flickr, (see the side bar) after dinner tonight I'm going to do baked apples with brown sugar, butter, raisins and walnuts - delicious...

how do you like yours?...

Just a quick post; as I'm off to my in-laws for the weekend and there is no internet, (boo!) I just wanted to wish you all a lovely Easter and thank you for your kind comments on my previous post. When I get back I'm going to look at some of the things on my list and begin to make a start.

Oh and the answer to the question - is that I like mine to be chocolate!!

lights out...

So 8.30pm arrived last night and Earth hour was upon us. I used the time to play with my camera in the dark with only candles for light...

Check out this youtube link to watch famous landmarks all over the world switching off their lights...

Spring Zing...

I'm getting carried away with the fact that Spring is upon us. Just have a little more light is so lovely, even if the sun is not exactly shining but still...


Now is the time when I'm starting to think of sorting through my photos and organising them - when really, all I want to do is stick them on the wall with Japanese masking tape!

spring pretty...

Ok, I confess - the promise of Spring was all it took to indulge in this pretty vintage style dress from Topshop.Of course the fact that we hardly ever get any sun in the UK is no hurdle, I'm thinking if all else fails I can always rock it with a pair of leggings and a little cardigan!