Copper Petals - And the Olympic Opening Ceremony

My blog views yesterday rocketed - people were googling 'Olympic copper kettles' and finding my Olympic torch post - because of the name of the blog. We'll ignore the fact that they were copper PETALS not kettles. If you are finding my blog because that's what you've googled then HELLO! I might not have what you're looking for but have a look around anyway, I'm nice :D

I was already planning on posting about the Olympics. I like sport generally and I LOVE the Olympics. I love pretty much all of the sports that are shown so I expect to watch a lot of tv over the next 16 days.

Wasn't the opening ceremony amazing? I think it really encompassed the quirkiness of Great Britain and it was very cleverly done. I thought the transition from English countryside to the industrial revolution was clever. The Bond and the Queen scene was funny, as was the Mr. Bean skit. I loved the mention of the NHS and I loved the age of technology bit.

My favourite thing though? The copper petals. I had almost given up watching the countries march - 204 seems like so many when they are all individually introduced. The petals were intriguing. I guessed they'd be organised in some way to represent something and I guessed they'd be linked to the flame but I wasn't expecting anything quite so beautiful. I'm not sure if they were representative of a particular flower but to me they looked like a dandelion clock - whimsical, childish, make-a-wish dandelions (I'm having a dandelion tattoo next week because I love what they represent). The way they moved up together to make one flame was a beautiful touch.

To me the Olympics represents unity, countries coming together to compete but compete together and only in sports - ignoring the rest of the crap going on in the world and just having some fun. Last Tuesday I went to London for the day and went on a boat trip along the Thames where the Olympic rings were hanging on Tower Bridge. Impressive!

A Lack of Creativity

I am in a bit of a lull. I don't have an urge to cook, crochet, bake or craft. I don't feel the urge to complete anything or start anything new. I'm not sure what has caused the lull? The weather? The fact that the summer holidays have just started? Something in the air?

I still use pinterest daily and I still like LOOKING at lots of pretty possible projects but I've not got the oomph to do them.

New kitten (who is in face a GIRL, still known as Beau) has settled in well. She's slightly less crazy. She is currently asleep on my chest, dribbling and snoring. She fits into the family well.

Do you love the dress? I do. It landed on my doorstep yesterday and I ADORE it. I'm hoping to get a petticoat so that it is a puffy on as the photo shows.

Best bits about this un-creative week?

*My gorgeous friend finally had her baby boy

*I got cuddles with the above cute baby

*I got this pretty dress

*Tomorrow I get to see some family that I've not seen in a while

*The girls said goodbye to their old nursery - ready to start anew in September

*Kitty appears to be a lap (or chest) cat <3

Our New Addition

Meet Mr. Bojangles. Beau for short. He has deleted this post twice, closed this window a few times and added his own text to the post. Apparently me typing is incredibly entertaining and causes him to throw himself full pelt onto my keypad. 

He is 8 weeks old and came toghhb    ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;kkkkpoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Yeh that was him. He came to live with us yesterday.

He is crazy. Adorable but definitely crazy!

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to Meredith. Because poor old Meredith turned out to be a boy. And a very loud one. He has gone off to a new home now.

Easy Nectarine Jam

I love nectarines and so have been buying them fairly frequently while they are in season and relatively cheap. But I forgot to eat some and as a result I had 2 punnets of over-ripe nectarines. So I decided that I needed to make some jam. I've limited jam making experience and I had limited time but this method is SO easy that it didn't matter.

Nectarines naturally contain pectin (as do plums) and that is the stuff that helps give it the jammy texture - so that means that all you need for nectarine jam is sugar, nectarines and some lemon juice. And a saucepan!

Nectrarines - chopped, stones removed, no need to peel
Sugar - half the weight that you have of nectarines. I used caster sugar
Water - I used 1 cup of water - to about 8 nectarines
Lemon juice - I used the juice of half a lemon, something like that will be fine.

Put all the ingredients in a pan, stir and bring to a rolling boil, stir frequently and boil for about 30 minutes - or until thick and jammy. Then leave to cool. Pour into a jar, jug, whatever you fancy. My 8 nectarines made one average jam sized jar. In a sterilised jar (boil it for 5 minutes) the jam will keep in the fridge for 6 months!

The jam is thick and a beautiful colour. It's really tasty too!

YUM!

Chocolate Heaven Cake Tutorial/Recipe

Know someone who LOVES chocolate? Then this cake is perfect.

This recipe makes a 12 inch square cake - scale down the recipe for smaller tins!

Sponge


600g plain flour
120g cocoa powder
840g caster sugar
240g unsalted butter
3 tbsp baking powder
720ml milk
6 eggs
Pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Grease and flour your cake tin.
Mix the butter, cocoa, flour, sugar and baking powder together until the mix is like fine breadcrumbs.
In a separate jug mix the milk and eggs together.
Add the liquid mix to the breadcrumb mix and mix gently until smooth.
Pour into the tin and bake until cooked through - approximately 1 hour.
Leave the cake to cool before taking it out of the tin.

Frosting

800g icing sugar

200g cocoa powder

320g unsalted butter

150ml milk

Beat all the ingredients together until really light and fluffy.

To decorate, spread the frosting all over the cake. Use chocolate fingers around the outside (or flakes, biscuits, sweet treat of your choice) and then fill the top with whatever chocolates you fancy. This cake had a box of continental chocolates on it, 2 boxes of Malteasers and a bar of dark chocolate!

The Olympic Torch

The Olympic torch travelled though our town today and it started off at my Husband's work! So rather handily we were able to be right there and close and see the procession start and the torch lit.

Before we went I wasn't that bothered but it was really lovely to be there and I'm really glad that I go to go!

Torch bearer 31 having some photos taken.

Lighting the torch...

And it was lit!

And it was on its way!

CocaCola had a really cool van there and were handing out souvenir drums!

 

My own little piece of history!

I love watching the Olympics and I really really really wish I had tickets to see something :( i think instead I'll try and get to the Paralympics as I bet that is amazing too and there are still tickets left for that one!