Fungilicious Forest Fun

I've been off for a spot of forest camping this weekend, at Rendlesham Forest, a forestry commission site near Woodbridge in Suffolk. Though it's not far from home, you could be anywhere and it has a wonderful recuperative effect - it's just so relaxing being so close to nature. The weather was really kind to us.... as you can see from the sun glinting through the woodland. I just love the changing colours of Autumn

We took bikes and went on the UFO forest trail. The picture below is quite eerie I think, but still beautiful.
My bike screeched to a halt when I saw these magnificent funghi! Aren't they gorgeous? I thought of Jane, our Artist friend when I saw these.

We saw squirrels collecting for the winter and here's some bounty for them.

Even this moss growing on an old trunk looked really pretty in the autumn sunshine.

This one looks like it is dripping! How delicate.

And then there were these gorgeous frilly edged funghi below, all huddling together.

But, I couldn't go the weekend without some crafting. Nic had given me a ball of the gorgeous Knit Collage Kinari Bazaar to experiment with some time ago, but I was so nervous of doing it justice, being a novice knitter I almost didn't feel worthy! A weekend of beautiful natural inspiration spurred me on to try.

I've decided to have a go at a cowl using a pattern on Knit Collage "be inspired" section. It seemed straight forward enough......

Until....I got to row 12 and it said to cable stitches. Damn! I hadn't done this before. I called Nic and she talked me through it but I decided I would leave it until I got home, so this one is to be continued - watch this space!

And finally, I couldn't go without including a picture of my lovely veteran westie. He just loved his weekend away, even if he is a bit slow... here he is in his winter finery admiring the view!

A good weekend was had by all.

Hope yours was good too.

Jacqui x

Happy Halloween!

Get the pots out, it's dyeing time at Halfpenny Home!

This week we thought that we would try a something new and dye with brazilwood, we were not disappointed...you soak the brazil wood (tied up in a little stockinette bag) overnight in water and then simmer it for an hour.

When we added the mordanted items it went this berry red!

Lovely!

The colour result is affected by the acidity of the dyebath and to make it more purple than red we added some soda ash.

Gorgeous!

Look at this washing line of loveliness, all natural dyes!

Did a bit of dip - dyeing

And finally, you've all seen Barney, Jacqui's dog so here's my dog Bob - a miniature pinscher. He gets jealous when we have evening meetings and once ate the ends of all my knitting needles, I still love him though!

Have a good weekend, Nic x

Crunchy Chicken with Sesame Rice and Green Beans

Lately I've been disappointed with the recipes in Everyday with Rachael Ray (anyone else feel like she's run out of ideas and the new ones are just plain bizarre?), but this one for Crunchy Chicken with Sesame Rice and Green Beans was just a jazzed up version of chicken and rice so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Holy cow...it was just incredible.





I subbed panko for the breadcrumbs and they got gorgeously crispy after frying. Delicious. I think the mayo and soy sauce drizzle was what made the dish. Such a simple combination that packed a lot of flavor. And you can't go wrong with rice and green beans sprinkled with sesame seeds. I can't wait to make this one again.



Crunchy Chicken with Sesame Rice and Green Beans

Modified from Everyday with Rachael Ray



1 cup rice

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 cup panko

2 eggs

1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for frying

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips

1 pound green beans

Preheat the oven to 200°. In a small saucepan, bring 1 1/4 cups water, the rice and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer until the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sesame seeds.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, soy sauce and 1 tablespoon water. Put panko on a plate. In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs.

Fill a large skillet with enough olive oil to reach a depth of 1/4 inch and place over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper; dip into the eggs, then into the panko. Working in 2 batches, add the chicken to the pan and cook, turning once, until cooked through, about 5 minutes; drain on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Transfer to the oven to keep warm.

Wipe out the skillet and fill with enough water to reach a depth of 1/2 inch; add 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and bring to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Drain; season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame seeds. Serve with the rice and chicken. Drizzle the chicken with the sauce.

Short Trip to PA

When planning my trip to Pennsylvania it had such steam and then quickly the air seemed to go out of it.

Between the ride out and then standing all the next day (Monday ) for the Cash & Carry Show my body said STOP!!! So we spent Tuesday wrapping up loose ends and headed home.

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But let me start at the beginning….As we got closer to Lancaster, we got off I-76 and came into Lancaster from Gettysburg but first we stopped at the Dobbin House for late lunch/early dinner and went into a couple shops.

 

All the years going to PA we never have walked the streets of gorgeous Gettysburg. So this time we did – one shop was the Gallery of American Crafts full of Family Heirloom Weavers products (it’s their  retail store under a different name) this beautiful shop makes you want one of everything!
 

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Monday was the day of the Cash & Carry – we got a few things for the business and some things customers wanted us to look for.
We left there around 11:30 and stopped at a few shops on the way back to Lancaster and tied up loose ends on Tuesday.

Oh…for those of you who said the Candle Barn is full of wonderful products…RIGHT YOU ARE! Again, another shop we always avoided – guess we thought it was full of candles and touristy things.

Here’s just a few of the items we bought here and there in our meager 2 days in Lancaster.

Devine Cross & Papers Table Square (from Family Heirloom Weavers)

Anna’s Beauty Table Square (from Family Heirloom Weavers)
I have this same one with red in place of the black also

I think this tree pillow is going to be for a gift

These two items are made like the floor cloths
A mini tree skirt and checkerboard w/checkers in the box.
(The reds are darker than they show here)
Link to their site:
http://blackhorsefloorcloths.com/home.html

Got these 3 plates at CDM Wholesale.
Donna White the designer of these plates was there signing all purchases of her products.
This plate is about 15 inches long and hangs with a leather tie

Oval plate is about 13 inches tall

  

 This little plate is about 6 inches – thought it would make a nice holiday soap dish

4 fabric stockings

Wool felt hat from Homestead Furnishings
 

Got a few of these Holly bunches at Homestead too
 

ARE YOU STILL WITH ME???? Only a few more to go!

These bags are so cute – they are waxed fabric with the design printed on them and you put a cluster of mini lights in them or a stubby battery candle and it shines through.

This is possibly a gift as well – 8 inch tall candle in paper bag.
Cranberry scented and dusted with Cinnamon

Fire starter bunches for the Christmas Tree

8 Inch tall Paper Mache Santa – doesn’t he have a stern look on his face????

Christmas at Williamsburg Bowl filler – smells so like Christmas

Finally found the tall Battery Candles I have been looking for

And last – the bolster pillow covers for our bed – got them at Family Heirloom Weavers.
And I decided today that I wanted the red stripe spread in there instead of the brown stripe so I changed it out this morning…I bought a new lamp shade as well but it’s not showing. It’s the black and gold Lovers Knot pattern.
 

There are a few more items that I didn’t take pictures of – stubby battery candles, more Tobacco Cloth panels for the upstairs bedrooms, and a few other misc. things I can’t think of right now.

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On the way home we headed over to Littlestown to Lori’s (theblackcrow) to deliver something she ordered from me. Lori and I were supposed to spend all of Thursday shopping but I had to cancel on her (sorry Lori!).

On our way to her house we went to HOMESTEAD FURNISHINGS (right off the highway we were on)…Homestead used to be in Mt. Joy now they are in a refurbished and beautiful old barn and re-opened last Saturday the 23rd. What a magnificent place. You must go there if you can.

I took photos with the flash off so not to be rude so they aren’t very clear.


(CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW TO SEE ALL)

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On our way back home we had time to stop off at friends of ours in Ellwood City – Linda and Joe Moczan. I had an order to deliver there as well – we had a wonderful 2 hour visit during which time they treated us to a delicious meal of wonderful Italian Subs and homemade Apple Crisp!

So there you have our very quick trip out and back in 3 short days!

I’m now resting for several days – told to use the heating pad on my lower back to help the medicine so that shouldn’t be a problem being I had two orders come in while I was away so that will keep me planted!

I also have a new item I’m working on – Cookies for Santa – so be looking for them soon.

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A couple weeks ago a customer sent me a picture of the special order Piano Runner she had ordered. I loved how it turned out and it really looks nice on her piano.
This is the runner in full view before I shipped it to her.

She had e-mailed me a picture of the border paper in the room – she wanted something with these elements on it.

This is what I came up with - It measures 46 inches long x 24 inches wide
 

And here it is on her Piano
 

Hope you all had a wonderful week and now it’s Halloween already…enjoy your Trick or Treats – then it will be Thanksgiving…where has this past year gone? Way too fast for me!

Karen