halloween

Halloween is my favourite festival by far. There's no great expectations, family politics, apparent inequalities or sense of propriety. It's all about fun, dressing up, playing games and reveling in the darker sides of our imagination in a safe and familiar way. And in honour of this celebration of all things dark and creepy here's a photo of my pumpkin from last year (this year's is yet to be carved...) and the interior of the home of my favourite fictional family - The Addams Family. If only to have a house like theirs...

music to bake to...

I'm quite particular about my baking conditions. I like to bake in the afternoon but not before 3. Baking in the morning is also ok but it then somehow seems like more of a necessity than an indulgence. And baking in the evening is wrong - I don't know why it just is. I'm also quite particular about the music I listen to whilst I bake. (perhaps this is connected to the indulgence part?) Mostly I listen to Peggy Lee but Dizzy Gillespie I find also works well. For me baking needs something that's upbeat but soothing and not too distracting. I am also most happy to bake when it's a bit grey and dreary outside and therefore feels most warm and cosy in.
I think I am particular about these things as someone who is gluten intolerant cake or biscuits are an indulgence. I only have them when I've had time to do some baking so therefore the conditions must be right. Although I am greatly appreciative of the supermarket's 'freefrom' ranges, and on the whole their products are good, few of the cakes and biscuits live up to expectations (except for sainsbury's doughnuts but these are also a treat at £1.99 for 2...) and as with 'glutenous' cakes I think home-made is always better.

perfect autumn dinner

Last week I made the perfect autumn dinner - lamb chops roasted in red wine, rosemary and garlic and plum crumble with custard - both were variations on recipes from Nigella Lawson's amazing book Feast. (I learnt a lot of what I know about cooking from Nigella and I love her wholly unapologetic attitude towards food). Having just completed an MA I have spent most of the last three months researching and writing my dissertation with little time for anything else, including cooking, so I am relishing having time to cook again and have insisted on making dinner nearly every night since then. I find something incredibly restorative and calming about making a good dinner and at this time of year there are few things better than pottering around in the kitchen knowing that something yummy is baking in the oven.

some blue...

Have started knitting a scarf using some wool oddments that are too small to do anything else with. It's progressing quite quickly (for me) - this is an evening's worth of knitting. I'm not particularity good I can only do flat straight things like scarves or blankets or... yep that's it. My knitting is a source of amusement for my mum and sister (my mum was an accomplished knitter by the time she was 10!) it's normally so tight that it doesn't move along the needles very easily. This attempt is much looser but this looseness is causing many other problems like dropped stitches and randoms loops and some strange looking stitches... but I'm quite liking these quirks I think they add some character to my funny little scarf.
I go through phases of liking colours. At the moment I'm really being drawn to blues and turquoises so was pleased that many of my wool oddments feel into this colour group. Although there is still a strong green bias but it's my favourite colour so that can't be helped...
On the subject of 'blue' I saw Roger Hiorn's amazing installation, Seizure, that earned him his Turner Prize nomination last week. He's covered the interior of a flat, that's due for demolition, with copper sulphate crystals and it's quite incredible. Photos just don't do it justice.

autumn

Autumn is my favourite season. I look forward to it the way people look forward to summer. Not that I don't like summer but it doesn't fill me with the same sense of excitement as when it begins to get a bit nippy, the shops start selling Halloween things, leaves turn yellow and go crispy, you want to start making soups and stews and crumbles and custard, you dig out your boots and jumpers and woolly tights and the nights draw in - encouraging you to stay in and cosy up with a pot of tea, some cake and a good book or film.

(Photos from a walk through Victoria Park along the River Lea to Hackney Marshes)

I (heart) Kim Deal

(Image from Rolling Stone)

Because she's cool. Because she still sounds like a girl even though she's nearly 50. Because her twin sister, Kelley, writes books on knitting. Because at the end of an amazing gig, with the Pixies at the Brixton Academy, she takes the time to stand at the edge of the stage and wave at everyone whilst looking so happy that we're all there.

Beginnings

After spending a while reading lots of other blogs I've decided to 'take the plunge' and start my own. It's not specifically going to be about one thing but cover lots of areas that I'm interested in including: art, vintage style, film, crafting, visual culture in general and a bit of cooking and gardening. I'm thinking of it as a work in progress, a notepad, a space for ideas so let's see where it goes....

Hello

Hello just testing!