Sunday, 3 May 2015

Cornwall

There is always something new to discover when you are just pootling about, taking your time. In Marazion this plaque on the wall told us a surprising bit of history. (Although I do note that it says, 'reputed'!)
The town has a mish-mash of architecture, from Victorian grand
to simple seaside cottage.
We left for Penzance where the sun was still shining, but, oh, what a biting wind! Lunch at the Honey Pot  sustained us - spinach lasagne for me but Himself was in need of meat!
The gardens are luxuriant in this part of the country.



A pooch came to check me out when I photographed his garden.
Rhododendron petals were covering the ground like confetti.

After lunch we crossed to the Atlantic coast to check into another hotel for a couple of nights.

It sits above a beautiful beach 
 but it was far too cold to contemplate even putting my toes in the water.
From Carbis Bay it's a pleasant walk into St Ives.






The tapas bar overlooking Porthmeor Beach is a great place to sit and watch the waves rolling in.
Especially so because the outside bays have wall heaters and blankets - and the tapas is delicious!
At Porthminster Beach Cafe I photographed this cupboard - everyone around this neck-of-the-woods is an artist - cafe owners,

farmers, you name it!
The whole area appears to have been renamed, 'Poldark Country' since the appearance of the dashing Mr Aidan Turner.
 Although he has strong competition for attention from the dramatic countryside.
The old houses and outbuildings are certainly built to withstand the elements.



Friday, 1 May 2015

St Michael's Mount

How many photos of St Michael's Mount are too many? The amount that I've taken is surely the answer. We've had a few days away in Cornwall and on our first night stayed in Marazion. We had a wonderful view of the mount from our bedroom balcony and every time I looked the light had changed and I had to take another photo!

As the sun went down it just got better and better.


My Skywatch Friday photo.
Until there was finally very little left to see.
In the morning after breakfast
we walked into town for a closer look.

The island has been in the ownership of the St Aubyn family since the mid sixteen hundreds but it is now managed by the National Trust. At low tide it is accessible along a winding granite causeway.
But the tide was coming in
and we had just enough time to scramble onto the rocks where boats tie up to ferry visitors back and forth before that pathway also was covered by the incoming tide.

Then we jumped back onto the shore to watch the boats fill up with passengers.








Monday, 6 April 2015

Fat-free chocolate cake

"Fat-free", doesn't it sound well-behaved? Not a bit of it, it's packed with sugar, and I'm not going to mention the topping! But it's simple to make and tastes good.
Separate four eggs and whisk the whites until stiff.
In another bowl whisk the yolks with 125g golden castor sugar until pale and fluffy.
Sift in three tablespoons of cocoa and a teaspoon of baking powder.
Fold in the egg whites and 225g of ground almonds. Add a generous teaspoon of vanilla essence.
Put in a loose-bottomed tin and bake for about 30 minutes at gas mark 6.
Keep in the tin until cold.
The ground almonds give a lovely texture. The cake didn't last long!
Family were home for Easter and brought some rather yummy chocolates. (They didn't last long either.)
The packaging was charming.
Talk about building excitement!
And what's better than several layers?!
I've had a really lovely Easter 
and I hope that you did too.