Photo - Progress on library number two...

Katharinne Lorelai, at almost eight weeks old,

is well on her way to having her own library.

One day it might look like mine. :) xx

Musings - Holding out for a hero...

When I was fifteen I caught my first glance of Mr Darcy, Colin Firth style, and fell in love with costume drama heroes. I don't know if it is the outfits, the pompousness or the (usually) healthy bank balance but there is just something about a brooding gentleman unbuttoning his collar that makes me... entertained.

So after some thought I decided to share my favourites...

Captain Frederick Wentworth

(Ciaran Hinds / Rupert Penry Jones)

Pro: He will love you across distance and time, swoon.

Con: Being a sailor he will always be working away, darn it.

Mr Edward Rochester

(Toby Stephens / Michael Fassbender)

Pro: Dark, brooding and very intense.

Con: Well... there is the problem of his mad wife in the attic.

Mr John Thornton

(Richard Armitage)

Pro: Northern bit of rough with his own business.

Con: His Mother is bit of an interfering old crone.

Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy

(Colin Firth / Matthew Macfadyen)

Pro: Erm... he's rich?

Con: Does "not have the talent of conversing easily with people I have never met before"... so a bit dull really.

After much consideration I have decided that Mr Rochester is my favourite for his intense demeanor and desperate need he has for the woman he loves. :)

That attic door is locked, right?

Photo - Communication...

Now that my little girl has become attached to her big girl cot it seems that our relationship will be developed through this delightful object. I must admit though it's lovely to hear her chortle through it.

:) xx

Photo - Oh no, a UFC fan...

A budding telly addict...

And addicted to the tattooed, bloodied men of the UFC. Tut. xx



Musings - And the award goes to... me?

When I came to do some writing and photo work for my blog today I came across a comment from Lindy Legends saying to pop by her blog.

Which I did!

And found that she had, being the complete star she is, honoured me with an award:

Lindy Legends is a self confessed writing addict with a blog that is always witty and entertaining, check her out.

Now there is a process to follow, here is what happens...

1. Thank the person who gave you the award by linking back to them in your post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered bloggers.
4. Contact those bloggers and let them in on the exciting news!

So, 7 things about myself, hmm...

1. I am a new Mum:
After nearly 4 years of trying to conceive, a failed IVF treatment and much heartache, I finally fell pregnant naturally in the summer of 2010. My beautiful, and I'm not biased she is a looker, daughter was born in April making our family unit complete. I never expected to be a natural Mother but each day I think of something new that I want to teach her or she inspires me to do better with a simple smile.

2. Book Addiction:
I have a book addiction. I don't necessarily want to read them but I must have full collections of my favourite authors. I must, I must, I must. I love how books look in my library (spare bedroom), how they smell, the sound of a turning page, but most of all how with very little effort I can disappear into another's created world.



3. Tattoo:

A couple of years ago I got annoyed, disheartened, plain old fed up with the lack of action and direction in my life. I felt stale and stagnant and all the things that I wanted in my head and heart felt so far out of my reach. Then one day I look myself to task, told myself I was pathetic and that I needed to be a little less Hamlet and a little more Henry V. I told myself that I needed to take from the inside and dream on the out. And so that I couldn't back out... I got it tattooed across my shoulder blades.  :)

4. Supernatural and the like:

I am a huge fan of all things other worldly. Werewolves, vampires, witches, Angels, magical powers, faeries, the lot of them I find absolutely fascinating. Books, plays, TV shows, movies, paintings, jewellery, ornaments, whatever I can get my eyes and hands on  I love. From old lore to modern adaptations I think the genre has such an appeal for everyone.

5. Yorkshire Lass:

I was born , raised and returned to my home town of Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. I love Yorkshire. I live minutes away from some of the most beautiful walks, 12 miles from where the Bronte's grew up and due to local filming I often see regular soap opera cast members in my local supermarket. I have an interesting accent (like Sean Bean), my ancestors had wars with another coloured rose and obviously the best thing about being from this region is our famous Yorkshire Pudding. :)

6. Photographs:

I love to take photographs. I am not picky either, I will snap at anything. I have an amazing camera which pretty much does everything for me but now I have my iPhone I tend to be capturing away with that. My favourite things tend to be my daughter, my dog and my daily comings and goings. As I was recently pregnant I wasn't able to go on the long walks with husband and pooch so I haven't had the opportunity for landscapes but watch this space as I am going to post past collections and dig out my walking boots for new.

7. Writer's Block:

I don't know if you can tell from the babble of 1-6 but as soon as I am asked to talk about myself my mind goes blank. There is so much I could tell you, I have had 30 years after all to make myself me, but the blank page entitled 'Who are you?' scares the words and wit right out of me. I have often been tempted to get a note book in which I right down any ideas that come to mind with a little witty anecdote for each. But then that note book will start with a blank page...   

And so... drum roll please...

Here are 15 bloggers (random order) I would like to give the Versatile Blogger Award to, chosen because I have been entertained by each and every one:
Gleaning Grace
Mommy's Nest
Rubber Chicken Madness
Right Where We Belong
My Over Stuffed Book Shelf
Thoughtful Pop
The Gypsy Mama
Happy Snappy
TheJackB
Brain's Flight
Come Dine With Rach
Mama Kat's Losin It
Fresh Eyes On London
Beat Of My Drum
Indy Nikon Gal

Photo - My beautiful furry baby...

Stunning. xx

Musings - Mama Kat's Workshop (2nd June 2010)

Comfort food at it’s finest. Share a family favorite recipe you loved as a child.

As a child I was an extremely fussy eater. I drove my Mother crazy. I refused to eat anything resembling a vegetable, I would only ever eat cheese sandwiches for lunch and nothing on my plate could be touching; I would even demand that my spaghetti be separate from my bolognese. I would mess with my food to such an extent that she found it impossible to watch me eat. I am better now, with older age, I even eat Goat's cheese for Peter's sake, but I can imagine I was horrid at the time.

Then one day while making a stew my Mother paused half way through her recipe, deciding to give something new a try, and from hence forth my favourite meal as a child was born. It was named...

Mince and Tatties (pronounced Tay-tees)

And pretty much was mince, potatoes and gravy. But I loved it. It comforted and it tasted amazing. So this is the recipe I am going to share. Hang on to your hats, there are five ingredients, it's going to test you. :)

Ingredients:

250g minced beef
5 medium sized potatoes
A pinch of salt
1 OXO (beef stock cube)
Water




Instructions:

1. Peel and chop the potatoes into bite sized pieces.
2. Brown the mince in a large stock pan until cooked.
3. Add the potatoes, salt, OXO cube and enough water to cover the contents of the pan.
4. Bring to the boil and simmer until the potatoes are cooked.
5. Serve in a large bowl with crusty bread.

Delicious!
Extremely basic but then my Mother was fighting to the death with an angsty seven year old. 

Enjoy. :)