The Civil Wars

I first heard The Civil Wars being interviewed on the radio one Monday morning. I heard a few bars of this track and had to dash upstairs to the computer to find it on You Tube. I then discovered that they were performing on Jools Hollland that week. It has been on constant replay ever since. I've asked Father Christmas to put a copy of the cd into my stocking. He does sometimes read this blog....so here's hoping.

It's certainly not my usual taste in music, but I've been blown away by them and have been watching many videos on You Tube, including a fantastic version of Billie Jean that they performed on Later... with Jools. Let me know what you think.

By the way....if you don't feel tempted to watch the video....one of the duo is a dead ringer for Johnny Depp. I bet you'll watch it now! Roll on March when I'll be going to see them in Birmingham.

Going With the Flow

From February 2011

There's nothing for it this week but to go with the flow. I've got the week off work and things I'd like to do. I'd like to get these colourful polys planted up into their lovely wicker basket but as you can see it's very wet. I don't garden in the wet. In the cold yes, but wet, no. But they'll wait until another day.

From February 2011

Teenage Boy went out of the house early this morning to do his paper round. 'Is it o.k if my mate comes around early this morning?' he asks absently. 'Yeh o.k' is my reply, thinking that the friend in question is not known for being an early riser and would probably turn up at about ten o'clock. No, he arrives at 8.20am, before Teenage Boy is back home from delivering newspapers. Good job I didn't decide to have a lie in then.LOL. Luckily, Teenage Boy's friend is a nice young man and can make himself at home. When Teenage Boy is breakfasted I think maybe it would be a good idea to clean the bathroom, so I begin industriously cleaning the bath, the basin etc when Teenage Boy appears and says 'I need a shower now'. All my work undone, yet again. Perhaps I won't do any cleaning today then. Good decision - as other friends arrive leaving their muddy trainers in various locations in the house....as well as a trail of mud. I give up, find my lovely Nigel Slater book

From February 2011

and bake a coffee and walnut cake instead. It's not complete until Teenage Boy and teenage boys have left the house, so it will last longer than a couple of hours and I can hide it until Mr. F. gets home.

From February 2011

So, this afternoon, I'm not going to try and acheive anything. I'll finish that bar of posh chocolate I was given for Valentine's Day.

From February 2011

Enjoy a nice cup of tea.

From February 2011

Watch one of the dvds I was given at Christmas.

From February 2011

Or I just might listen to some lovely music.

From February 2011

Whilst I catch up on some reading

From February 2011

Not forgetting that chocolate.

I'd love to know how you cope with half term. Do you battle on as usual or give in and go with the flow?

A Special Request

At thirteen years old Josh doesn't avidly read every blog entry his Mom posts. However, this week he has made a very special request - that I put his new guitar on the blog for all my blogging ladies to see and admire. He began bass guitar lessons twelve months ago and has decided to learn guitar as well. This meant a trip into Birmingham last weekend to search for the perfect guitar. He had been told that he wouldn't find the right guitar - but that the right guitar would find him. And it did. He is now the extremely excited and proud owner of a Gretsch Corvette in burgundy.





It has a classic Bigsby whammy bar, (cool), and two pickups, (cool) and I am reliably informed that some great guitarists use or have used Gretsch guitars, including George Harrison, The Edge, Neil Young and Joe Perry from Aerosmith, (cool). This beautiful guitar now lives in Josh's room, picked up, caressed, stroked, played, marvelled at. 'Thanks Dad'. 'Thanks Mom' has been said over and over again in the past few days.



And please don't miss the studded leather guitar strap - this was by far the coolest strap in the shop!

Cheer

This morning seemed darker and wetter than ever. it has been confirmed, what we already knew, that we are in recession. We've been told at work, that there are no job losses for this year but next year...who knows. Well, I'm fed up with trying not to spend money, the darkness, rain and the bloody economy. So when I saw these little beauties I threw caution to the wind, spent some money and provided a little cheer for my home.



Aah! I already feel better for little hint of spring that these precious green shoots bring. Hopefully, in a few weeks time the heady scent of blue and lilac hyacinths will waft through the house and provide some much needed colour and cheerfulness. Something else that cheers me up no end are these little coffee and walnut cupcakes.



I found the recipe for these little cakes in this wonderful book by Kate Shirazi.



There was an article in last April's CL about this lady, who runs a cupcake making business from home. If you pop over to her website cakeadoodledo.co.uk you can see the wonderful creations that she sells.



Her gorgeousl little book has a range of cakes from 'low-faff' (my level) up to 'high-faff' cakes which look far too good to eat. Just take a look here(these two photos are from the book, not my creations sadly.)



and here

...........yum. Well they certainly add a little cheer don't they? (As well as a few inches, but we won't go there).

Listening to this wonderful man perform last night certainly lifted my spirits. Please let me introduce you to Mr. Martin Simpson, winner of the best album in the BBC Folk Awards last year with 'Prodigal Son'.


He was absolutely superb last night. I tried to upload a video for you but alas, Youtube and Blogger don't seem to be talking to each other at present. Martin's song about his father 'Never any Good' took the folk world by storm last year. As the video won't load I'll give you the link here Martin Simpson 'Never any Good'. It's an honest song, not sentimental, but it will give you goosebumps!

I'm off to listen to his album now - that will cheer me up even more!

Have a good weekend everyone.