Here is the recipe I used:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 large egg,beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Drop the dough onto a greased baking tray in little balls – mine were about the size of an egg. I dropped them about 2 inches apart and they expanded so much that they were just touching when they finished baking. If, like me, you are a novice baker, you might need to experiment a bit to see how much they grow. I was really surprised how much they did! Pop them in the oven for about 8-10 minutes, then wait until they cool and then use a fishslice/spatula to remove them from the tray.

And here they are! Not too crunchy, not too squishy – they came out perfectly, although the edge of the cookies that was all the way in the back got a little crispy. I think next time I’d use more chocolate chips though, the dough really spreads when it bakes and the ratio of chips to dough seems to look a lot more in dough form. I’m going round for dinner with some of my girlfriends tomorrow night and can’t wait to see the look on their face when I produce a box of homemade cookies! (They know me very well… cookies is the last thing they’ll expect. Bwaha!) How cute is this tin, by the way? I saw it in M&S the other day and had to buy it – although I’ll definitely be using it for cookies now that the crackers are finished!

I’ve also been busy with my peaches and creme – the need for more dishcloths has been outweighting the lure of the blanket this week. I know I could just buy some but when they knit up in an hour and look so pretty, and work so much better, I can’t resist just cracking on with them. So I’ve managed to get three cheery little wipes finished over the weekend and have started on the next one.

I also felt the need, now that I’ve got the basics of crochet sussed, to try following an actual pattern rather than a tutorial, and decided to have a go at a quick little project I wanted to make for my mum last christmas. I had no idea what I was doing and couldn’t even start it, so ended up knitting one for her. I’ve been holding a quiet grudge against this particular pattern ever since. I wasn’t going to let this little blighter that everyone was rating as “piece o’ cake” on Ravelry beat me! And I’m really pleased I decided to try it, here’s the result!

I added a little scallopy edge around the top for prettys. I love the way it’s pooled – or “puddled” as mum calls it! These are definitely puddles. The back kind of mirrors the front colours, I think it’s really cool. I’ve popped in a bar of my favourite soap and now it hangs there in the shower, waiting for me cheerfully in the morning!

Fuschias…

a Dahlia…

Geraniums…

a Hydrangea…

and Leucanthemum (Broadway Lights)

I have planted them up, (except for two which I’ll need to buy bigger pots for) and my yard is blooming with colour! So now I can sit up here at my laptop, look down and have a huge smile put on my face. Now let’s see how long I can keep them alive for!