Friday 7 February 2014

Blog inspiration

As I wander around blogland, I pick up all sorts of useful information, snippets of this and that, an idea here, a recipe there.  I noticed this week a few of the things that have made their way into my life via blogs.

Firstly, there are a couple of books on our current reading pile.


"The Reading Promise" by Alice Ozma.


I have to confess that I can't remember where I saw this book recommended, but I am so glad I did.  If it's you, please let me know, I'd love to give credit where it's due for this discovery.  It's written by a girl whose father made a promise to read to her for one hundred nights.  And when they'd read for one hundred nights, they just kept going, every single day, until the day she left for college.  As well as the educational benefits of having things read out loud, it also fostered a strong connection between them both.  They referred to it as their Reading Streak.  Me and the two littles are having a little streak of our own.  We'll see how many nights we manage - I have high hopes.

Towards the bottom of the pile is "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman.  Leanne was lucky enough to get this for Christmas, and it seemed like just the thing to inspire me to take better photos.  I feel I struggle with photography, although it's something I love.  I'm hoping that I pick up a few tips.  The low winter light that I love so much doesn't help my pictures.  Witness, the next photo.


By the time I took a picture of these fruit bars it was late afternoon and this was the best I could manage.  I promise they look more appetising in real life.  They're another blog find, this time from Hannapat at Cosmos and Cotton.  They're full of seeds and nuts and fruit and not too sweet.  And they're particularly delicious, although maybe a little too wholesome for the littlest boy who was particularly dramatic after he tried one.  I love them though, and I'll be making them again and again I'm sure.

I also had to try making some pineapple cookies.


These are from Kirsten's blog, Cozy Things and the recipe originally came from her grandmother.  I'm a sucker for old recipes, so I had to try them.  They're really nice and pineappley.

For the sake of completeness, I'll show you the swiss roll I made, although this wasn't from a blog.  I know it may seem as though I just spend my whole time baking cakes and cookies, but it's not entirely true.  Some of the time I am sat around eating them as well.  Call it defense against the creeping damp.


Back in December I saw this scrumptious yarn mentioned in a post on Vanessa's blog, Coco Rose Textiles.  I love the things she makes, and this yarn stuck in my mind until one day it magically turned up on my doorstep.  Hurray for internet wool shops.  It's pretty, although I'm not sure I'm really doing it justice.  As with most things, my knitting is quite basic.  But I'm learning, always learning.


Something else that turned up on my doorstep recently is this fantastic calendar.


I was lucky enough to win it, along with the two lovely ornaments in a giveaway by Rosa at A Life of Whimsey.  Rosa is a photographer and a gardener, amongst other things, and her garden calendar is full of stunning pictures.


It's something else I'm finding inspirational.

I'll leave you all with a glimpse of the things I look at when I'm washing up (from all that baking you know).


I love the acid colour of the candle, it's a nice fresh antidote to the gloom and the rain beyond the window.  Today was full of blue skies and sunshine, but now the rain is back.  I feel desperately sorry for those who are flooded.  The misery is hard to imagine.  Unfortunately more rain is going to fall over the weekend, and apparently for the next couple of weeks at least.  If anyone needs me I'll be in the kitchen.

25 comments:

  1. i love plants and have lots in my room...
    beautiful calendar...

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  2. So much inspiration to be had here friend! I will have to read that book and bookmark these delicious looking recipes! And you have such a pretty windowsill! I will be sending out prayers for the people who are flooded...I have been hearing a lot about that and after we were flooded last year I wish it on no one. A wonderful weekend to you and thanks for passing on the inspiration!!! Nicole xoxo

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  3. Your swiss roll looks amazing - you could definitely be on Great British Bake Off with that!! I hope that you are enjoying your knitting. xx

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  4. A fun filled inspiring post. I haven't made a jelly roll or swiss roll in long time. I wonder if I'm still capable. That looks like a swirl of good flavors! I love that we are always learning, especially when it's fun. I love the last photo.

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  5. I love that you say you pick up ideas from blog hopping.. that's the cool thing about blogs.. it inspires creativity in ourselves! The color of that candle is a favorite of mine.. it reminds me of the fresh new green of leaves in the Spring. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. It's amaing the things you pick up from a wander round blogland isn't it - I too have found books and recipes I like and a couple I don't but it's good to try new things as it prevents me becoming stale and stuck in my ways! Love the calendar and little ornaments and am off to check out some of those blogs you mention. Wet again here ad my heart goes out to all those just down the road as it were who ave had to leave their homes on the Somerset Levels and also to get their animals to higher ground which must have been awful for the poor creatures.

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  7. it is definitely kitchen weather xxx enjoy

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  8. Hey CJ,

    I hope tht you find the book interesting. It's quite, erm, ernest..

    I like the look of those pineapple cookies. I have a tin of pineapple languihing in the back of the cupboard somewhere. And I love a slice of swiss roll. Yours looks great. I'm going to pop over and have a look at Rosa's blog. Gardening, life, photography. Perfect!
    Have a lovely weekend, CJ.

    Leanne xx

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  9. A lovely post - some good photos - and I always like links to other blogs. There are hundreds of blogs, but it's good to get pointers to interesting ones. Have a good weekend. Abby x

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  10. Hello lovely CJ I'm so pleased to see that you've tried the fruit and nut bar. Sorry the little man didn't like it. Does he like peanut butter?? If so maybe try and use a little more of it or else if you still want him to try it but want to make it a little sweeter add some honey or maple syrup instead. Thank you for sharing so many things here, I love the look of the reading promise and that gorgeous calendar, I'm sure it will put a great big smile on your face every day. Enjoy your weekend sweetie and thank you for all your lovely support over at mine xoxo

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  11. A lovely post, what are you knitting? I'm struggling through my first cardigan. I need to bake some cakes they are very much missed at the moment.

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  12. I love flapjacks so those fruit bars would go down a treat.

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  13. I am heading over for some tea, some yummy bars or cookies and to see that gorgeous gray yarn. Wouldn't that be fun?
    Hugs to you and have a wonderful day,
    Meredith

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  14. I'm with you on the baked goods and sweet! I know I've put on several pounds in the past several weeks. No running, cold icy weather, and telling myself that I have to bake something so that the oven helps to heat the house. However, I am quite enjoying it. I'll get back to the normal routine when it warms up a bit. Punxsutawney Phil gave me 6 more weeks right? Your Swiss roll looks amazing and the fruit bar sounds like a good quick breakfast for my little babe.

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  15. i love getting inspired by the blogs i read. so much to learn from people like yourself :)

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  16. There's so much inspiration to be found on blogs. I write down so many things I want to try or notes about this and that, that I need to investigate further. You've certainly got a wide range of reading topics there, you definitely won't get bored.

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  17. The perfect post for this time of year with the weather being as it is, and that Swiss roll looks rather delicious. Flighty xx

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  18. Blogland is full of so many things to inspire.
    I think I now know what I'm going to be doing with that can of pineapple in the cupboard!
    Lisa x

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  19. I love following blogs to connect with people and to be inspired. You are one of those inspiring blogs for me--a place I come to that raises my spirits. Glad you've found inspiring books and recipes and love that you and the boys are on a reading streak!

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  20. I love that so many of us are like one big blogging family ... the blogs you mention here are almost all on my reading list too. And like you I often find things to read/bake/knit with etc. on the blogs I read. For me the whole point of blogging is the exchange of ideas and the ongoing conversation :)

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  21. I look around my home now and see many ideas seen on blogs have inspired me over the years. The Reading post sounds lovely. As a child I had a book of 365 fairy tales and rhymes which I loved. Your cooking looks delicious, those old and recommended recipes are the best. Sarah x

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  22. I always find great inspiration on blogs. I've been reading them actively for a few years now and it's amazing to look around and see all the different things I have been inspired to do around my home, as well as to reflect on the personal growth I have achieved in part because of others' writing and sharing on blogs.

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  23. I love the way I've been inspired by other blogs, too - and sharing experiences and stories. I haven't made a swiss roll for ages, I think I must now - your one looks delicious. The candle looks very bright and cheerful - perfect for a day like today which is dull and wet here too(again!)

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  24. This is one of the thing I really love about the blogging world: exchange... You can find so much inspiration just reading what other are so generously sharing.

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  25. Blogs are an endless source of inspiration for me, I'm always drawn to some new kind of yarn or pattern or recipe. I don't know about you but I hardly buy any magazines these days. Lovely to see what you've been up to though. x

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