...and then there were two

Our poor chickens have been at the mercy of the local (and for that, read 'hungry') fox population.  Since Christmas we have sadly lost two of our four hens.  Gone in a puff of feathers... they had a happy time whilst they were here.  I only wish it could have been for longer.

But, we do have some more ladies on the way.  Our local representative of the Battery Hen Welfare Trust has got 3 more ladies looking for a new home- and Handsome husband will be picking them up on Saturday.  Electrical fencing is called for, or perhaps a dog?... woof woof

Catch me whilst you can...

Want to know how to boost your immunity, it's easy, have a baby.  They will bring home every single cold, bug and germ going.  Surely after a few years of parenthood, most mums and dads are pretty much germ-proof?  

Darling boy, in his effort to help boost mummy's long term health (?) passed on a bug to me which meant  sadly I had to miss the Valentines market.  It knocked me out for the critical days before the market.  The only problem with being a one-woman show means there is just the one of me.

But, this does mean that I will be at the market this weekend instead.  I'm now in possession of such a huge belly (bump is due in 4 weeks) that this market will be the last one for a while.  Im still going to be doing special orders, but just wont be able to knock up the 150-200 cupcakes each weekend, whilst toddler and bambino entertaining...not for the first few months at least!

Loving the love

Valentines day is this weekend, and being a sucker for romance, I thought it would be a good time to return to the market.  The worse of the chilly weather is hopefully over, and I'm also hoping the universal diet that most people seem to be on after christmas, is also hopefully over.

My plans for the Valentines market naturally include red glittery hearts and dark rich chocolate, but also hopefully some old school glamour and trips back to the playground kiss chases of our childhoods.  Watch this space.

No such thing as too many aunties

We recently has a visit from my Sensible K and the Lovely P.  They are two of my oldest friends- we went to school together (that sort of old, not 'I remember the 1960's and in my day all this was fields' old)

Neither had been down to visit since we had moved to Tivvy and we had a great time together, lots of laughs were shared over vino and homemade chocolate ice-cream over the course of their visit.

Being British we were naturally drawn to the great outdoors- and in particular, to have a picnic in traditionally cold weather.  We weren't expecting the fog to roll in over the sea as we drew nearer, but it simply added to the romance of it all.

Darling boy adored his aunties and was asking for them long after they left to go back to the big smoke.

The beauty that never was to be...

Before Christmas, one of my favourite customers had put in an order for a special giant cupcake to be delivered on Christmas eve.

It took ages and was a total beauty...chocolate sponge, with a rich chocolate butter icing. It was made, iced, decorated, packaged and ready to roll.  When unfortunately that was exactly what I did when I came out the door.  It had been so freezing our drive was an ice-rink and I'm neither Torvil or Dean...I slipped, and the cake bought it.

I am posting the photos here in tribute to a beauty that never got to shine.  I took it indoors and through a blur of tears I tried to save it in a variety of ways, but it was never going to work.

Instead I called and explained and insisted that I bring them a stand and 24 vanilla-cupcakes as a replacement.  It was the best I could do.

My lovely customers were totally charming and wonderful about it.  They were so understanding, I was just so sad they never got to eat and enjoy the original.

Christmas highlights

This year was our first year hosting christmas- and it was mostly on Nigella.

 Safe to say we had a really lovely time. I totally love Christmas.

Family, food and being together. Its all good.

Snowalicious

I will post about the Adventures in Cake christmas soon, but since we have been snowed in for 6 days now I thought I would share this photo.  Its taken from before it really started snowing a lot.