Daisy Chains and Picnics

Scott and I received a gold class gift voucher from the kids for our anniversary before Covid set in so we never really got a chance to use it, and when things started to get back to normal there was nothing that peaked our interest in the cinema, so when we heard about this Elvis movie we knew that this was what we wanted to use our gift card on. We booked our seats online for 21st July for the 5pm showing, our seats were front row numbers 3 & 4. We sat at a table in the bar until we were shown to our seats. The movie was absolutely fantastic. Tom Hanks played colonel Tom Parker, Austin Butler played Elvis, he was a very good likeness and a superb actor. A great story about Elvis's life from growing up an only child in a poor family in Tupelo, Mississippi, where in 1938 his father Vernon was jailed for forging a check (he spent less than one year in prison), Elvis often had to work to help his family with finances. Elvis began his singing career in 1954 and by 1956 he was an i...

I prefer making my own burgers, I know what goes into them and I can get them to taste the way we like them, and my family prefer the taste and texture of homemade. I also prefer the rustic homemade look to the perfectly shaped manufactured ones, they have more character. Ingredients 500g chicken mince 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1/2 carrot, finely grated 1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/4 tsp chicken salt grind of pepper 1 tsp red currant jelly Method 1.  In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together, I like to test a small piece by cooking it for a little in the microwave to make sure I have the seasoning just right. Form into burger shapes. 2.  Heat 1-2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the burgers for 3-4 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Enjoy in a bun with salad.

I made this to spread over the 18th birthday cake I made recently, it can also be used as a spread for the middle of a cake. Ingredients  115g cream cheese, room temperature 1 1/2 cups thickened cream, very cold 40g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract  Method 1.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Add cold cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk on medium-high until stiff peaks form. Don't over beat.

On my way back to the car from the dentist last Wednesday (6th July) I popped in past Salvos and spotted this gorgeous retro style wall phone, I instantly took a photo and sent it to Scott. I bought it even though I wasn't sure where it was going to go!, then Scott suggested putting it on the wall at the bottom of the stairs, which worked out really well. He stripped it down in order to paint it. A couple of coats of white undercoat. We tried a paler pink but I wanted it more sugary pink. After the paint had dried he put it back together. And fitted it to the wall. I love it, goes beautifully at the bottom of the stairs.