Mama said there would be days like this

Well maybe not my Mama!!

The morning had arrived, Husband and I are laying in bed sharing a cuddle with our smart phones, when I remembered that the nice man from Coach had not phoned me yesterday to let me know my bag was on it's way. I was a bit down in the mouth I can tell you. Oh yes I caved in and bought it!! Oops did I not say that? ;-) So after reluctantly leaving the arms of said smart phone I toddled downstairs to make a pot of tea and a grown-up breakfast of Rice Krispies when the door bell rang. I shuffled off thinking " what the heck has Husband ordered now" to be confronted by a very nice Postman with a VERY nice package in Coach stripes. I think they may have heard my scream from quite a way away. Oh I like a good bit of unwrapping, such nice packing, it's own box, ribbon, and bag to keep it in. My bag has a bag! Can you see my happy dance? So there it is, my beautiful, expensive purchase, just sitting there, on my bed coz I'm not going out today.......I did of course post the obligatory picture on Facebook, and was sitting there admiring it when aforementioned nice man from Coach phoned me to say he had dispatched my bag yesterday and it should be with me by Wednesday. What a nice man, quite surprised he was too when I said it was here and on Facebook!

I think the blood went to my head though, because not only did I decide to make pie for tea, and anyone who has cooked gluten and dairy free knows that that is not a task to be taken lightly, but cleaned most of the kitchen (can't have the new cleaners delaing with a dirty kitchen) and am trying to perfect the art of soft, white rolls. I will obviously keep this blog informed of the success of the rolls, the pastry I already know to be good.

I spoke to not Daughter daughter today, she of course tutted at me for being sooooo extravagant with my money, personally I think that the Pink Poppet granddaughter, who is showing alarmingly Chouet like behaviour, will appreciate them when I am dead and gone. She does seem to have "inherited" my shoe and fashion habit. Got to love the power of nurture over nature. Didn't work quite so well with the not Daughter daughter, she resolutely refuses to get excited about these things....tut tut, she could of course still grow into them, she is young still!

One more bag related thought, my bag has a serial number! It is of course a limited edition, I think I can safely say that I have never had a bag with a serial number.

Potato pastry.

75g white rice flour

50g cornflour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp xanthum gum

1 tsp baking powder

100g butter/marg chilled and cubed

200g cooled cooked mashed potato ( smash is a breeze for this)

Place the flours, salt, xanthum gum, baking powder and marg in a food processor and blitz until it resembles breadcrumbs, or rub in my hand.

Add the mashed potato and mix until combined

Cover in cling-film and put in the fridge for1/2 an hour, then knead for 2mins until smooth and put back, uncovered, in the fridge for another hour.

I usually roll it our between cling-film or baking parchment as although stronger than some GF pastries it can still crack and break up.

I use this for yummy chicken pies and it works so well. Husband is so impressed that I can feed him pie again. Not too much pie though, that would not be a good thing.

Bags, bags, bags

Sigh, I think I need to rob a bank, either that or get a handle on my bag addiction. I have fallen in love with yet another bag, do you want to know the details? It's a Coach bag it's beautiful and perfect for the summer, quite small for me too, but, yes there is always a but, it's £275..... For a bag, I know. I could tell myself of the quality of Coach bags, they are incredibly well made and good quality and I have one already so I do know, but still I come back to the slight, teeny tiny issue of cost. More to the point I am sitting here credit card at the ready willing myself to order it ( or not if you listen to the angel on the other shoulder) and I haven't even seen it in reality. Am I really going to go to Westfield or Bond Street just for a bag???? Don't answer that!

I know I will buy it, I will forgo many things to do this, more "essential" crafting equipment and supplies, clothes, shoes, yes even shoes would be foregone for this bag, it has taken on such a lustre in my soul. I could split it interest free over a couple of months and still have some play money. Let's face it I will have this bag! The last time I felt like this over a bag I didn't buy it and spent 3 years whimpering about it until Mother, dear Mother, bought it as a combined Christmas present and thank-you present. I outright cried on Christmas day at the sight of my Mulberry Bayswater, in oak, a classic. Now of course there is a little devil which sits there saying " ooooo get more in different colours", bad devil. Said Coach one is a bargain compared to the Mulberry habit!

This also raises another query in my mind, how can one who is Witch, wise to the ways of nature and the seasons, eco friendly and spiritual, be quite so materialistic when it comes to bags??????? Or Shoes???????

Luckily the very nice man in the Coach shop says they are out of stock. I'm not fretting, he has my details to let me know when they come back in stock.

http://uk.coach.com/flash.aspx#/collections/poppy

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Compulsions

Today as I merrily craft along I have had an epihany, I don't just like craft, it is a compulsion. I must craft. It is that simple, I need to do this, I must get dirty, inky, covered in glitter, frustrated when things don't go along with the vision in my head and elated when I produce something worthwhile. If i don't I suffer strange pangs and knawing sensations in my belly and my fingers tingle until I walk into the work-room sit down and.....begin! There is that moment when you see something that inspires you, whether it be another crafter's creation, a pattern or some other image that draws you to recreate that feeling as best you can in your chosen medium. Concentration, blinkered sight, and all the world is ignored until you sit back and look at what you have created. Then you can breathe and smile happily: and preferably show it to someone, anyone, who will be awed by your talent. There is nothing like it, well there are a few things but they might not be for public consumption.....
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