WOYWW 361 Baking

Nothing in the studio this week, I’m afraid, because I’ve been too busy with other things to do any art. Apart from going out several times, I have been baking!

On Friday I am hosting an anniversary tea party for the Allerton Three. This is the three of us who met on Allerton Ward last year, all having our bowel cancer surgery. We became friends and have kept up ever since. We started laughing when we were in hospital, and we haven’t stopped since.

It was Kermit’s birthday on 27th March but the others were away over the Easter break and then other things were happening, and this Friday was the first day we could all get together. I decided to push the boat out and do lots of yummy baking for us all to pig out on.

In the above photo, top row, L-R: Cinnamon biscuits; small cheesy pastry thingies; lemon buns. Bottom row, L-R: more cheesy pastry thingies with ham in them; chocolate chip cookies; shortbread.

I also made some chocolatey energy bites – a recipe a lady from KnitterNatter (our church craft group) gave me but they are in the fridge and I forgot to get them out to photograph.

Still to come are some scones (plain and cheese) – we are going to have a Devon cream tea! – and if I get time, Scots pancakes (drop scones). I wanted to make a good choice of sweet, savoury and sugar free, because one of the members of the Allerton Three has diabetes and I didn’t want her to feel left out.

The lemon buns will serve as a sort of second birthday cake for Kermit (my stoma). I told him he couldn’t have another birthday cake (“awww…” he said). I am intending to put red icing stomas on top of each bun, however! The problem is that the icing isn’t setting and it’s still really sticky – I did them yesterday afternoon.

It’s been such a busy week, with a meeting on Saturday evening at which I sang – for the first time for quite a few years! We visited an art exhibition on Monday (one of the Allerton Three had several gorgeous paintings in it, and she was stewarding that day). Yesterday there was a stoma coffee morning at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay – we had the chance to wander around a bit and it was magnificent – so elegant, and with a stunning sea view. Who needs the Med when they’ve got Torquay lol!! The meeting was excellent and I met some new people and Kermit made some new little friends too!

Today I’ve been baking again, and unpacking the new chandelier for the sitting room which has finally arrived. I phoned the electrician and he hopes to come tomorrow to fit it. I have also changed Mum’s sitting room and it’s looking a lot more homely and welcoming now. I’ll take some photos when I’ve finished.

Tomorrow there will be more baking and getting the table ready and the room tidied. On Friday at lunch time there’s a relaxation session at the Lodge (the cancer support centre at the hospital) and I am meeting the other two there, and we’ll come back here together afterwards for our tea.

Phew. It’s all go chez Shosh.

Happy WOYWW everybody and my apologies if I take a while to do any desk hopping.