Amie Soto Blossom's Christmas cake recipe

We all like to eat and drink.
Man, mouse or mog,
But no one likes it more than me........ an Amie Soto Blossom dog.

To every dog who likes to cook, and share the kitchen chores,
Remember not to overlook a pair of well-scrubbed paws



Now we will begin to bake a Christmas cake today.
I will give you the recipe and then your away.

200g/80z Raisins ......1. 1/3 cups
200g/80z Currants....1. 1/3 cups
200g/80z sultanas.....1. 1/3 cups white raisins
100g/40z mixed candied chopped peel...2/3 cups
50g/20z ground almonds ....1/2 cup
50g/20z glace cherries quartered, rinsed and dried. 1/3 cup
200g/80z butter....1 cup of butter
150g/60z soft brown sugar....1 cup
4 large eggs
200g/8oz plain flour....2 cups of all purpose flour
pinch of salt
I teaspoon mixed spice....1 teapsoon apple pie spice
1 tablespoon brandy
(you know the really good stuff you keep for when the vet visits).

We don't just do metric and imperial measures here, oh, no.
American measures to the right as shown.

Before you start, line up your tools.
Stand them in a row.
No hairs, please in the pot,
Fine, then off we go.



Line and grease a 20cm/8inch round deep cake tin with greased (waxed) proof paper.
Mix the dried fruits, peel almonds and cherries together.
Cream the butter until soft, then add the sugar and continue creaming until very light and fluffy and pale in colour.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, following each with a spoonful of flour. Sift the remaining flour with the salt and spice and fold into the creamed mixture, followed by the brandy and fruit mixture.
Turn into the prepared tin and level the top.

Bake in a cool oven (150. C/300F, gas mark 2) for 3 and 1/2 to 3 and 3/4 hours.
Store wrapped in foil.



I have teased you, I don't really eat Christmas cake.
I normally sleep right through Christmas and then only wake.
For anything Santa has brought, you never do know just what.
He could have brought me cookies or ice cream.
Whatever it is, I tend to scoff the lot.

From Amie Soto Blossom to Sue at Quilt Times for her Quilt-a-long Christmas.

singing seagulls in Dartmouth

Never stand on railway lines.
This is the railway line we cross to catch the ferry over to Dartmouth.



Although Soggibottom cottage is inland it's still not far from the sea.
Seagulls tend to fly over rather than land around the garden, we never have problems with them. A few miles down the road they are known as flying rats. Not their fault. People invading their space.



Mew really hates the sound of singing seagulls.
Every time I play this video she is up and alert, hard as it might seem to everyone to imagine an alert Mew Cat.




I'm not sure what the seagull is singing but what ever it is it must be about the sea.
Or maybe about my fish and chips I was munching as it watched me with rat like beady little eye's.

Ashes to Ashes

I'm pleased someone does heights........


The tree outside the cottage almost lost a branch in a storm over the weekend.
I say almost because it was hanging on by a splinter and really unsafe.


Not often someone is perched on the tree outside my bedroom window.


I had to make the most of it and watch......
I don't "do" heights, so this guy had my admiration.

Quilt bug

Finished the lap quilt I started a few weeks ago.



I'm not the greatest quilter, but I really enjoy making them once in a while.
You might have noticed the cottage looks very white inside.
Just because every thing is white..... doesn't mean that you can't add colour.
Now I'm off to do what I really do best and make another bear....

I warn everyone about climbing bears.
Perkins off.

Are you upset.....

Mew could have been upset........



When I looked at her and then looked at a rather scary penguin I had made.


See the resemblance ?

Oh.... shops

Time goes so quickly during the week and I know if I don't post the pics here now then something else will come up and they will be forgotten.


Welcome to Exeter Quay's. Our coffee shop is just across the water, you have to pay to cross on the ferry....
We don't cross here, we go and feed the ducks and swans by the footbridge.


It's always so colourful along the bank of the quay.


One of the things I love about Exeter... the old lives along side with the new.
Love that Roman wall on your right. NOTE THE BIN.............. it made me smile as I wonder who on earth cleans it and makes it shine so much.

More ruins..........


Have the giggles tonight... no posting when you have the giggles..........

This house used to lead a very productive life, it dates back to the Roman wall that surrounded Exeter. The mosaics were removed when it was rediscoverd.
During the 20th century it was a pub. Bombed during the 1940's.
Renewed... walking in history... lucky me.....

36 Hostels around Iceland Welcome you.

Soggibottom isn't in Iceland.


But because of the wonder of Skpye


We could have been.
We also know a couple who have been married for a whole week and two days who are there.


Even for a few moments, it's great to share.


Skype isn't being that kind to us. Our computer crashes after fifteen minutes. Probably long enough, to see how happy the happy couple look.


There are some amazing photo's being posted on Sparky Brand.... this isn't one of them. :-)
It was taken by me, via skype. To see the really good one's CLICK HERE
I know Mark and Rebbeca would love to hear from you via comments.
They are now half way around Iceland. Another week to go. Whale watching and Northern lights are on the agenda.....

Mum's eh !
Mum is sitting in the warm, by the fire, with a very warm and cuddly Cavalier spaniel at her feet. Where ever you are, have a really happy week.