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Monday 16 November 2015

Family Fun, Fairies and Low Carb Fruit Cake

I recently had the pleasure of spending a few days with family. One of my greatest joys is the imagination and pure joy of seeing things through the eyes of a child. The grandchildren love to be outdoors ... playing in the garden walking down a country lane , spending time on the beach ... giving them space and time to let their imaginations run free - I think it even gives adults an opportunity to escape the everyday pressures we all face from time to time!

Through the eye of a child many great games can be played and stories told. Take this simple task of clearing the Autumn leaves ... it was turned into the game, 'Lets help the fairy find her hidden door'. Yes, the garden fairy's door had got hidden! She may have preferred it that way ... but it was all hands on board until it was uncovered once more ...



Now as the Chief Fairy Princess gives her final instructions LOL ...
... if you look very carefully you will see the fairies door



both photo's taken using a mobile phone

Now have you time for a slice of cake, this one is nice

FRuit cake

a low carb fruit cake - you can see the recipe here


please don't forget the tea!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a good week

All the best Jan

40 comments:

Blogoratti said...

Looks like fun times, greetings to you and have a nice week!

Jo said...

It sounds like you've been having lots of fun with the grandchildren. Fruit cake is something we never eat here, none of us are fond of it. We're very strange when it comes to traditional Christmas fayre, we don't have Christmas cake, Christmas pudding or mince pies.

NCmountainwoman said...

Love the photographs of the little ones. Imagination is wonderful and outdoors is more fun than a laptop.

Martha said...

What a wonderful way to spend time! Children remind us to have fun :)

elaine said...

I used be a dinner lady (playground duty) and it was a wonderful time making up stories for them and making fairy gardens - isn't it a shame that they grow out of all these things.

Lowcarb team member said...

Blogoratti
It certainly was a fun time ...
Many thanks for your comment, and I hope you have a good week too!

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Jo
I love spending time with the grandchildren, they give so much love and special memories.
I do like a fruit cake at Christmas, and this low carb version does suit.
I also like to have plenty of fresh fruit available and some nice thick double cream ... this does make an alternative dessert.
Thanks as always for your comments, and have a good week ahead.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

'NC'
I do so agree with you. It is good to be outside and away from the computer / games consoles etc. Fresh air is wonderful, and to use ones imagination can also be wonderful.
Many thanks for your comment, and best wishes for the coming week.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Martha
Sometimes it is so good to be a big kid ...
I do enjoy spending time with the grandchildren, they provide so much love and fun.
Many thanks for your comment - hope the week ahead is a good one for you.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Elaine
My dear mum used to be a dinner lady, and she used to love telling stories to the children she looked after. It is so good to be around children and hearing their laughter and stories. I do enjoy my time with the grandchildren ... love, laughter, affection - such special times.
Many thanks for your comments - do hope this week will be a good one for you.

All the best Jan

The Happy Whisk said...

Looks like a great day.

Lowcarb team member said...

Ivy
It was FUN ...

Many thanks for your comment - have a great week.

All the best Jan

The Happy Whisk said...

You have a great and yummy week, too. Cheers.

Lowcarb team member said...

Ivy
...just been over and read about your salmon cakes, I love fish!
Sort of fish related - the grandchildren love to go crabbing - we always have so much fun, special times indeed.
Take Care my blogging friend ...

All the best Jan

Stephanie said...

Hi sweet Jan! It's such a joy to visit you after being away on my blogging break. Indeed, it's so nice and much needed to simply get away.

Thank you ever so much for the beautiful comments on my blog - it's a delight hearing from you. Hugs!

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Jan,

How wonderful the photos of your sweet grandchildren are, out enjoying the garden and helping with the leaves.
The fruit cake looks good and reminds me I need to bake the Christmas cake.
Enjoy the week
hugs
Carolyn

Gail said...

If we all could keep that innocence and awe...

TexWisGirl said...

aren't they sweet! glad you had family time. :)

Carla from The River said...

Sweet, I just love the photos of your family time!
I love fruit cake. My grandma made the best fruit cake, I miss it.
xx oo
Carla

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

Looks like a perfect day with the grandkids, topped with a perfect piece of cake! Glad you enjoyed your family time.

DeniseinVA said...

A child's imagination is a wonderful thing. So important to have family time and to turn a chore into a fun game is a gift. Sweet children you have there Jan. Thank you for the recipe link.

Debbie said...

Sweet images of the grands, it's wonderful that they enjoy playing outdoors!! I recently had an outdoor scavenge hunt with my great nieces, pin cones, leaves, twigs, you would never believe how much fun they had!!

Lowcarb team member said...

Stephanie
Many thanks for visiting and leaving your comments.
Hope you enjoyed the family fun with the fairies and fruit cake!
Glad to hear you are feeling refreshed after your blogging break.

Take Care and ...

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Carolyn
I think we were visiting each others blogs at the same time LOL!
Many thanks for your kind comments, I love spending time with the grandchildren ... and yes Christmas gets nearer and nearer - and I still have quite a bit to do.
Hope your week goes well.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Gail
Yes to see things through the eyes of children is sometimes quite magical ...

Many thanks for your comments both here and on other posts - hope your week goes well.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

'Tex'
It is just great to take time out with the family ...
Many thanks for your comment

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Carla
Fruit cake always reminds me of my dear Gran and her wonderful fruit cakes, and my dear mum used to make delicious cakes too ... many happy memories.
I love spending time with family because today's fun is tomorrows precious memory.

Hope your week is proving to be a good one.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Amy
You've got that so right - it was perfect!

Many thanks for your comment

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Denise
Many thanks for your lovely comments.
I think it is so important for children to use their imaginations, and enjoy play and fun time away from the TV or games consoles etc.
These two love being in the garden and helping, and I think it is good to encourage an interest in nature and its many gifts it gives us.

Happy Tuesday Wishes ... well it is Tuesday as I type this!

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Debbie
Your scavenger hunt sounds like great fun ... yes, anything like this the children and those slightly older enjoy! It is so good to be outside...

Hope the week has started well for you,
Take Care

All the best Jan

chris c said...

I should send my neighbour's grandson round with his pedal John Deere tractor and trailer. Actually I might employ him myself, I suspect after tonight my back passage will be blocked with leaves.

Lowcarb team member said...

Chris
A pedal tractor may have come in handy ...
The wind is certainly howling at the moment - out this afternoon and it was blowing strongly, we also had quite a bit of rain. Storm Barney is letting us know he's here!!!
Hope you don't get any damage with the winds forecast.

All the best Jan

Kim said...

There's nothing like the magic of fairies in the garden, Jan! I still remember hunting for them in my own grandmother's garden. Magical!

Lowcarb team member said...

Kim
Many thanks for your comment.
Yes, it is magical ... and I too fondly remember doing the same in my Gran's garden and then my parents too - it was also a great introduction to flowers, their names etc because the garden fairy may be seen hiding behind them!
Hope this week is going well for you.

All the best Jan

Lisa said...

I bet the children had great fun and a job was probably done in double quick time which is certainly a bonus. Being outside can really blow the cobwebs away at this time of year.
Now tea and cake sound like a good combination at any time but they do taste better when they are a reward for a job well done.
Lisa x

Lowcarb team member said...

Lisa
Yes, the children did have fun ... and I think if we can make any job fun, it goes easier and quicker. It is good to be outside, although the past couple of days it has been very windy indeed and the cobwebs were truly blown away.
I just like to sit down and relax with a cup of tea after a job well done ... should I happen to have some low carb fruit cake handy then that is a bonus!

Many thanks for your comments.

All the best Jan

chris c said...

The wind blew my butt off. My water butt that is. No other damage, but a friend who is (mainly) a fencing contractor has been run off his feet repairing stuff. An ill wind blows some people good . . .

Lowcarb team member said...

Chris
It certainly has been very windy of late - glad you haven't had too much damage.

Thanks as always for your comment

All the best Jan

The Happy Whisk said...

We went crabbing all the time as kids. Then gramps would cook them and we'd pick the meat out and put some in the bowl and lots in our bellies. There's just nothing like it. I'll have to ask hubby where they crab around here. I would love that fresh stuff again.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Lowcarb team member said...

Ivy
Your crabbing as kids sounds great fun ... and you got to eat the crab meat when it was so fresh ... lovely!
Hope you can find a good place to go crabbing near you - please keep us posted!

I've had a very good weekend, thanks you ... but it has been a lot colder here Brrr !!!

All the best Jan