Sarah – Page 59

Sarah February 22, 2013

The National Trust @ Quarry Bank Mill #CountryKids

We had a lovely and much needed family trip out and we headed out in the cold sunshine to Quarry Bank Mill. It is a fabulous national trust property surrounded by gorgeous gardens and forest walks. It was beautiful strolling through the forest and the kids climbing on trees, jumping puddles and squealing as they ran. Perfect childhood freedom that is sometimes rarely available for our city kids. Of course, there was the odd squabble over sticks and who would hold the dog’s lead.

We went a little off track, having not picked up one of their info sheets on the way in, and ended up struggling across a field to get back onto the forest track. The field was up hill and had a sheer layer of mud all under the already wet grass. There were a couple of face plants in the mud! Good to be out and not have to worry about a bit of mud. Lots of hand cleaning later…

We got back to the mill and then paid the fee to get in. It was in the middle of being used in a film set so there were roped off areas in many place and lots of piles of fake cobbles everywhere presumably to cover the concrete. The mill is a listed building and a fully restored 18th century cotton mill. It has a fabulous massive waterwheel and lots of textile machines. We came here years ago when we just had one very lively two year old and i remember going through the mill being a little bit of a pointless activity. Chasing a chicken round a coop was a little bit what it felt like as my very active two year old was not interested in the slightest.

This time it was very different having school age kids who could read the exhibits, follow the stories and listen to the description of what life was like for workers in the mill. We still had the running toddler thing but even she stopped when we got to the fun water interact exhibits.

We finished the day off with tea and cake in the cafe, which had a small kid friendly area with pens, pencils and books. Then waving goodbye to a day well spent with the misty wintery sun setting over the mill. Pretty good all round. Next time we are going back to see the gardens as we ran out of time!

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Sarah February 22, 2013

#satcap

the cooking photos continue. How could i not put this up for a catpion. Do your worst ladies and gents! Dont forget to pop over to Mammasarus.

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Sarah February 20, 2013

Hotel Chocolat…and champagne! (a review)

It’s Saturday night and I could do with a little taste of indulgent luxury.

Conveniently, I have been asked to taste test truffles, and this is the perfect moment. Made by Hotel Chocolat, this 7oz box of little beauties are truly scrumptious.

The blurb on the box says Champagne, and oh my word my they’re not kidding. Feeling ever so slightly tipsy now, having downed a couple of them, or maybe more, when the kids weren’t looking.

Unfortunately for me, my husband spotted my moment of guilty pleasure and demanded a share. Now we’re bargaining over who gets the last one… which i will, of course, naturally win! 😉

It might be the fact that they are milk chocolate which makes them so alluring. I’ve tasted many a dark chocolate truffle and the lighter taste of these truffles is a welcome, Spring-is-coming, sort of change. The full flavour of the champagne, though, and the melt-in-the- mouth creamy recipe mean that when you crunch through the chocolate shell, the sudden hit of boozy luxury loses none of its potency.

The box is an attractive cream and black oval shape, would be a suitable gift for any chocolate lover male or female. There is no calorie information on the box, but that’s probably a good thing!

If dark chocolate is your thing, these might be too light on the taste buds. That said, I loved them.

So with our eyes fixed on the prize of that last, lonesome truffle, the husband and I are going to have to fight it out. but like i said…thats really a done deal 🙂

Classic Champagne Truffles, 200g/7oz from Hotel Chocolat. Yum.

shamefully i have had to include a stock photo here as we chomped through them so quick that i didn’t have a chance to grab a shot!!

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Sarah February 18, 2013

light at the end of the tunnel…

If you are like me then sometimes the winters seem really long and bleak and dreary. The thing with our winters here is that they are so…well…grey.

It is not often that we get the sunshine and blue skies with the low temperatures that frequent the alpine regions in Europe. Which is a real shame…

We get lots of long, grey d-r-i-z-z-l-e. I know that folk love the cuddling up under the blankets and watching a movie..but really there is only so long that, that is attractive and actually the longing for the sun..the warmth..gets to be a somewhat of a yearning.

Sometimes you only realise how much you need it when you feel the sun on your face, like your very soul is waking up and you suddenly feel like crying with relief. The light is coming back…its not so dark, not so cold and there is less of the huge struggle to get everyone dressed like a eskimo to actually step outside the door. I miss the sun. I love the sun.

I love snow, really i do….but i love it when combined with blue sky mountain days, ski lifts, big warm jacuzzis for apres ski and the sun. I love it with the sun. Which i guess is only possible when you are high up in the mountains. Here it is slush and the school run. Absolutely no fun!

So that light at the end of the tunnel. I think this week it got a bit closer 🙂

My giveaway this week is from one of my favourite shops..the shop you can smell from down the street! A gift box from the fabulous Lush handmade cosmetics. A little bit of sunshine in a box. Simple to enter just follow the rafflecopters!

Check back next week for the results.