Little Apple Tree: Blogging

Monday, 9 June 2014

Spreading Some Blog Love

It's Monday, and it's a bit dreary outside, so I thought I'd try and spread a few rays of sunshine with some blog love...

Cooking, Cocktails and Captain America: Tales of a Tiny Kitchen and Other Capital Misadventures

Cocktails at the Discount Suit Company

My lovely friend Kate has finally given in to my nagging about starting a blog. (Yay peer pressure!) She always does wonderfully glam things up in London Town, and I always want more than just Instagram snaps or fleeting mentions of being in the same room as Clark Gregg or Chris Hemsworth! Details, details!! She's also a bit of a whiz in the kitchen these days, turning out some amazing Chinese dishes and there's always something inventive in her lunchbox!

Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/feed/blog/12249551

Whimsical Mrs W

I met Kim at the South West Blog Social on Saturday and she's just lovely! I'm not generally one for beauty blogs--I'm the sort of girl that remembers about lipstick after the party has started--but I am looking forward to her posting about all the lotions and potions we got from Yves Rocher in our goodie bags so that I know what to do with them! (I'm pretty clear on the shower gel though, just sayin'.) Kim also mixes in some lovely lifestyle posts which is what will keep me coming back again and again.

Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/11851881

Medicated Follower of Fashion

I met Alex on the train to Exeter for the South West Blog Social when she dropped her business cards and I took a stab in the dark and asked if she was going, too. Happily she was! Alex blogs about fashion, parenting, and lifestyle. All good stuff!

Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3763754

Escape to the Westcountry

When I met Sarah I embarrassed the heck out of myself by squealing like a teenager at a One Direction concert when she said that she had horses! HORSES! I grew up reading so many horsey books and desperately wanted to join the Pony Club. Alas, even though we lived in a rural area, I was a townie and you couldn't even put a Shetland pony in my back garden. I know that I'm going to love reading all about her horses, gorgeous dogs, and even the cats (I'm so a dog person), not to mention the sheep!

Devon is such a gorgeous part of the country and I already get lashings of seaside fun from Michelle, so it's lovely to get the lush, leafy and horsey perspective, too!

Bloglovin: https://www.bloglovin.com/feed/blog/12201173

* * *

So, there you have it: four new (or new to me) blogs. And would you look at that?! The sun's come out now...I guess it approves of my choices. Go and show them some sunny love, too!

(All images copyright their respective owners.)

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What I Wore: South West Blog Social

I don't pose for pics very often...you totally can't tell, right?

Okay, I'll be honest. This feels a bit weird... never in a million years did I think I'd be doing an outfit post, but I thought I looked pretty cute yesterday and the photos came out quite nicely, so here we are in foreign territory!

This is the outfit I wore to the South West Blog Social in Exeter yesterday, minus an emerald green cardigan as it turned into a scorcher of a day! The tea dress is from Sainsbury's and when I got to the till I discovered that it was in their 50% off sale, so a bargain £9! It's a gorgeous print, and very comfortable to wear. Joy of joys...it's a v-neck too!

The real star of the show is these fabulously bright footless tights that I ordered from We Love Colors on Kat's recommendation. Not only are they beautifully opaque (and thus able to hide a multitude of sins), but you can actually get them in plus sizes! This may not seem like a big deal, but plus size footless tights in the UK are only available in ubiquitous slimming black which leaves ladies blessed with substantial legs, like me, looking longingly at the pretty-pretty while morosely taking the boring and safe black tights to the till. I bought a bright and cheerful green as well as scarlet, so as soon as I find the perfect skirt I'm going to have loads of fun! (PS You'll have to pay Customs Duty on these tights, but I think they're worth it!)

I found these uber-comfy ballet shoes at ASDA. I didn't expect to get my super-wide trotters in them, but not only did they fit...there was actual comfort involved! They seem pretty good quality for £6, but for that price I've got no qualms about chucking them in the bin if they fall apart.

I had a great time at the Blog Social; it was lovely to see Louisa again, finally meet Michelle, and to meet loads of lovely new people! Take a bow, Alex, Sarah and Kim!

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Blogtacular!

Last weekend I went to my first blog conference. I didn't go in small...I started off with Blogtacular--talk about starting with a bang!! Blogtacular was more than just an amazing blog conference. It was also incredibly motivational and inspirational on a very personal level.

I came to Blogtacular a bag of nerves, full of anxieties about meeting so many new people--would they like me, was I dressed okay, did I fit in, would they realise I was there and throw me out?--and left feeling totally empowered, determined, fierce and valued. That is probably the hippiest sentence I have ever written, but it's all true!

Seeking safety in numbers, I met up with Lucy from London Loafing for a drink before heading to Blogtacular. I've been chatting with Lucy for what seems like forever--in the good way, I should add--and it was lovely to meet her and her family!

The opening keynote from Joy Cho of Oh Joy! fame was spot-on. She was so inspirational and it was fascinating to hear about how her entrepreneurial spirit developed over the years from selling calligraphy services and banana bread as a teenager, to starting her own design businesses. Her talk left me eager for more!

Saturday was a whirlwind of amazing presentations. From the colourful passion of Will Taylor from Bright Bazaar, to Anne Ditmeyer's insistence that we get paid for our work, to Yvonne from Yvestown clear love of her blog and the community of friends that she draws upon to help her make it even more awesome. It was clear that it was and passion and hard work that had brought major success to our speakers.

One of the presentations I was particularly keen to attend was Tilly Walnes and Vicky Orchard's "From Blog to Book". I've wanted to write a book for years so took copious notes and I'm now toying with the idea of kicking things off with a little eBook... It's a bit scary, but one of the Big Lessons I took away from Blogtacular was to do things that scare you, because they'll reap the most rewards.

Tilly had so much great advice and it was wonderful to get advice directly from an editor. My head is buzzing with possibilities!! I had a very quick chat with Tilly later on and she's just as lovely as she seems. Lucas loved her on the Sewing Bee and was tremendously jealous when he heard.

I loved Ellie Tennant's hands-on styling workshop. It was fascinating to hear about location houses that the professionals use for shoots--I'm going to be paying close attention to interiors magazines from now on to pick them out--that get repainted to their original colours at the end of every day. At the end of the year they have to chip off over a centimetre of paint and re-plaster the walls! Aside from fun anecdotes like that, I also learned about colour triangles, layering the photograph, telling a story with it, and wabi sabi, the beauty in imperfection. Ellie bravely let us loose with the beautiful collection of props and flowers. This is what Rhiannon and I came up with.

Really need to track down a set of those enamel measuring cups!

During the breaks I wandered around the Marketplace, chatting with bloggers as I went. I managed to resist buying some books--I've spent hours trying to cull my collection--but the strawberry jam at The Hambledon practically had my name written on it. I was thrilled to discover one of their gorgeous pink honeycomb balls in my goodie bag when I got home. I may well be making a pilgrimage to their shop of delights in the near future...

The closing keynote speaker was Natalie Lue of Baggage Reclaim and Bambino Goodies. She had so many words of wisdom, not just for blogging but for life in general. I quite liked this: "Blogging challenges you to become the person you are meant to be." She talked a lot about how we spend too much time obsessing over failures and not about all the amazing things we've achieved in our lives. I am particularly guilty of this. Everything Natalie said was either a massive kick up the ass for me or tremendously inspiring. If you ever get a chance to hear her speak, take it. She's a dynamic and exciting speaker with a massive amount of presence.

I met so many lovely people, too many to mention them all, but a special mention for these ladies. A big hello to Lucy from London Loafing who is absolutely awesome, Rhiannon my workshop partner, Lauren from Natural Wedding blog, and my fellow Bristol blogger Gemma from Hello It's Gemma.

And finally, it was a real honour to visit the Royal Institute. I've watched the Christmas Lectures for years and as a certified science geek--I've got the degree parchment to prove it--it was incredible to visit such an old and important scientific institution. Absolutely hallowed ground for me. I had a wonderful time wandering around during one of the coffee breaks and geeking out and soaking up all the history.

I'll be there next year--will you?

Some of the images in this post are the official Blogtacular photos, taken by Will Ireland and kindly provided by Mollie Makes.

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TARDIS-spotting in London (#BEDM 10)

The TARDIS outside Earl's Court Station was looking particularly fine today (before the rain started). I was momentarily baffled as I had remembered it as being one of the slim-line designs, which it quite clearly is not so I am now driving myself mildly crazy trying to remember where the slim one actually lives!

I still get a massive geeky thrill every time I walk past a police box, despite walking past a TARDIS almost every day when I was at university in Glasgow. I wonder if that one is still there?

In actual news, Blogtacular was totally awesome. Totes amaze, as the kids say!

My notebook is filled with scrawled notes from the talks (which I should try to decipher v.soon before my writing defeats me) and I have met so many amazing bloggers. A totally inspirational couple of days!!

I can't wait to get home and start putting everything I've learned into action! I also can't wait to open the glorious strawberry jam that I bought from The Hambledons and get some serious toast action going...

Blogtacular! (#BEDM 9)

Today is the first day of Blogtacular! I can't quite believe that it's here already...

So far everything has been wonderful if a little hectic. I met up with the fab Lucy from London Loafing for a drink (http://londonloafing.com) beforehand, which was a really good idea!!

Tonight we had opening words from Kat Molesworth followed by a seriously inspiring keynote speech from Joy Cho. (Apologies for the terrible photo!)

Tomorrow promises to be even more awesome! I'm looking forward to meeting even more fabulous bloggers!

But first...sleep. Zzzzz...

#BEDM Day 2: Five Favourite Posts

Today's #BEDM topic is to pick five favourite posts from your blog. I've been writing Little Apple Tree for almost a year now, so there's quite a few to choose from. Rummaging around in the archives has been like looking through one of those beautiful memory or keepsake boxes that you see in shops...so many good times.

So, without further ado...here are my five favourite posts!

Butter Making at Blaise Dairy is one of my top posts. I have such fond memories of this day, and my utter delight at finding such a beautiful building unexpectedly tucked away within the Blaise Castle estate. I thought that I knew the estate pretty well, having been there a few times, but no. There were still more delights to be had! Butter making is pretty fun, too!

I woke up this morning to friends wailing on my Facebook feed that there wouldn't be another series of Sherlock for two years. I'm waiting for a more erm... trustworthy news outlet than the Daily Mirror to pick up this story before getting all wobbly about it myself, but if so, I think I'll need to take my own advice from my Got the post-Sherlock Blues? post to cope.

Minions! I still love these little guys and this was my favourite cake creation last year. I don't think that I've ever made a cake with so much personality before; I felt really bad about slicing him up. I took away his eyes first so he wouldn't see the knife coming! I quite fancy making a cake with a group of three or five (smaller!) minions doing something crazy when the next film comes out!

One of my very first posts was all about our summer holiday at Chark Farm, near Bodmin in Cornwall. I am not the most outdoorsy person in the world. I am occasionally known to flail around like Melman from Madagascar and yell, "Nature! It's all over me! GET IT OFF" if a beetle starts crawling on me, but there is something about Chark that I absolutely love. Maybe it's that Lucas can roam practically free-range, or the quiet--punctuated by the occasional honk from the geese and moo from the cows--or the lovely owners Jenny and Clive. It might even be the pot of clotted cream nestled in the fridge, that I know will be awaiting me... It's all wonderfully relaxing.

If you haven't been on a farm holiday, you should totally take a look at Chark!

Last, but by no means least, is the absolute highlight of last summer in Bristol. The Gromit trail. I'm sure I'm not the only one who misses seeing all the Gromits around Bristol. They made such a massive difference to the city; everyone was so cheerful and excited by them. Hopefully there'll be another trail next year--I haven't heard anything about one for this summer, so I'm guessing that the rumoured Shaun the Sheep one has been put off for a year?--as it was so much fun. I still feel very lucky that I managed to get into the final exhibition so easily!

Check out the #BEDM tag on twitter to find more amazing blogs!

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Today I am elsewhere...

Via Pinterest

Today I am tremendously excited to say that I am guest blogging over at MissMelvis's fantastic blog, Me, Bookshelf & I with a book review of a recent read! I'd love it if you popped over to have a read.

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Friday Favourites #15

Happy first Friday of 2014! I hope the New Year is treating you all well, so far. Right now, we're enjoying a break in the rain--the sun actually came out for a little while!

Favourite Photography Tips

Source

I love Lucy's photography on her blog. Her images are so dreamy, with imaginative and beautiful composition, so I was thrilled when I saw that she'd made a guest post on improving blog photography. I'm planning to take her suggestions on-board and looking forward to having even more fun with my new camera!

Favourite Cookbook

We rang in the new year with a curry from The Hairy Bikers Great Curries cookbook. This time round I made Chicken Makhani (also known as Butter Chicken) which was nothing short of sublime. This is the cookbook that has made me finally realise, after years of cooking curries, that there is a world of difference between making your own curry powder and just opening a tub. Their Chicken Korma is delicious, the Thai-ish Sticky Pork Curry was absolutely awesome and I love their recipe for Coconut Rice. My copy is bristling with post-it notes and slips of paper with notes jotted on them, and my spice collection is ever-expanding, but my tummy is very happy. Even better, lots of their recipes are low-carb friendly and the Coconut Rice recipe is easily adapted to use cauliflower "rice". Perfect for the inevitable January slim-down!!

Favourite Blogging Tips

If you haven't already discovered Bonjour, Blogger! then you're in for a treat. It is a fantastic treasure trove of information and resources for bloggers. Their recent post about keeping your (blogging) resolutions is brilliant, and jam-packed with information.

Favourite Foodie TV Programme

Okay, so it hasn't aired yet, but I am massively excited about The Taste (UK version)! Not only am I firmly in Team Nigella, but I have had a cheffy crush on Tony Bourdain for years. It's also nice to see a TV show which focuses on well, the taste of the food, rather than the personality of the chef. (Something which Masterchef Australia was very guilty of this year, much to my annoyance.)

Begins Tuesday 7th January, 2100, Channel4.

What was your favourite thing this week?

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Versatile Blogger Award

The very lovely Danni from Gingerbread Smiles recently nominated me for a Versatile Blogger Award. Thank-you so much, Danni, I really appreciate it!

I did a little bit of Googling and discovered that the Versatile Blogger award is to spread blog love and also to highlight some of your favourite blogs, especially those that others may not have heard of.

The rules of the Versatile Blogger Award are:

Display the Award Certificate on your blog
Announce your win with a post and thank the blogger who nominated you.
Present 15 deserving bloggers with the award.
Link your nominees in the post and let them know of their nomination with a comment.
Post 7 interesting things about yourself.

My Nominees for the Versatile Blogger award are:

Violet Posy
Lily Doughball

Duck in a Dress
Love In Modern Life
Prattle and Froth

Life Outside of London
Love, Tilly
Raspberry Kiss
Tamara (like) Camera
Me, Bookshelf and I
The Bravery Blog
Love, Hanan
Cider With Rosie
Love From Kelly
More About Cat

Seven Interesting (your mileage may vary) Facts About Me:

1. I used to dance a lot. I started with ballet when I was about five--there are some dire pictures of me in a purple leotard with a massive afro in my parents photo album--moved into Highland dancing. I did a sideways move into Scottish country dancing for a few years--there was always a ceilidh to go to at Uni--and had a brief flirtation with ballroom and salsa before settling on belly dancing.

2. I was once the only black member of a gospel choir. That was weird to say the least!

3. I am a bit OCD about my keys. They always have to go into the same pocket and in the same place at home, and I triple check I've got them before I leave the house. This probably stems from that one time I broke off a key in our front door lock...

4. Dave, Lucas and I have been immortalised in comic form. We're in a crowd scene in an issue of The Uniques by our friends Comfort and Adam Withers.

5. I would love to have a cake decorating business.

6. Due to research I did in my last year at University, I am published in a couple of scientific journals.

7. I want to write a book someday. A murder mystery, something along the lines of Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy Schultz books with recipes included. I just need a plot!

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Pretty Nostalgic Vintage Gathering

On Saturday I travelled back in time. Well...almost. I attended the Pretty Nostalgic Gathering at Kings Weston House near Bristol and luxuriated in vintage splendour for the day.

I was introduced to Pretty Nostalgic Magazine by Louisa from Duck in a Dress a few months ago after she posted a review of an issue. I then spent a month searching for a copy in various branches of WHSmith until coming up trumps with a copy. I've been eagerly anticipating the next issue ever since--they come out every two months--and was thrilled when I heard about the Gathering event.

The first event of the day--once I'd slogged through the Saturday morning Bristol traffic--was the Blogger Q&A with Annabel Beeforth, owner of the stunningly successful wedding blog Love My Dress. It's been a long time since I got married, so I wasn't quite the target audience, but I found the whole talk fascinating and I'm thinking more about organising and scheduling my blog posts as well as how to build a community.

Annabel Beeforth from Love my Dress

After the talk was over I went for a wander around the house. The gorgeous scent of chocolate drew me into the Wedding Room where I was delighted to be reacquainted with Lizzie, the owner of Chocolate Delores. A long time ago (but not in a galaxy far, far away) Lizzie made my wedding cake, and just one bite of her beautifully moist and rich chocolate cake was enough to send me on a happy trip down memory lane. I would highly recommend her cakes--you don't need to be getting married, either. She can make cakes for any occasion, or just simply because you need cake. We all have days like that, yes?

All the exhibitors in the Wedding Room had beautifully styled, enticing displays, which drew me in. I'm thoroughly married, but it's never too early to think about a silver anniversary party... Perhaps my dress will be considered vintage by then?

At noon the bloggers gathered in the lovely little yurt--check out Wedding Yurts if you've got your heart set on a yurt for your special day--which was set up in the garden outside. It was so nice to meet some West Country and Welsh bloggers, and everyone was lovely! I came away with a lot of ideas and plenty of new blogs to read.

Blogger networking event in the yurt at the Pretty Nostalgic Gathering

Later on I tried my hand at spinning with Jane Bissett from Kennixton Sheep. In the past I've done a little bit of weaving on a table-top loom, dyed wool, carded wool, knitted, crocheted...everything to do with wool except spinning it into yarn. I couldn't wait to give it a go! I should have known that it wouldn't be as easy as it looked...

Spinning wheel and beautiful wool at the Pretty Nostalgic Gathering

Beautiful wool and spinning wheel

Jane was endlessly patient with me as I bumbled my way through spinning a short piece of gorgeously soft carded wool from Annabel the sheep. Spinning is not one of those skills that you pick up in an instant! Still, I'm proud of the small length of yarn I produced, despite its slubs.

Louisa and I spent a while wandering around the British Makers Room. I could easily have bankrupted myself here! I fell in love with the gorgeous mixed media pictures created by Julia Jowett which melded wire embroidery, the tiniest needle embroidery I've ever seen and tapestry stitches to make incredible pictures. We also stopped by Revolution Chocolates to pick up a chocolate ration bar, or two. I bought a "Home Front" for Dave, which was a dark milk chocolate. I wish I'd picked up a "Spitfire" for myself, with cinnamon and ginger, but I didn't want to look greedy!

As we were leaving I spotted some dapper dressers gathering on the staircase and dashed around to take a picture...

WWII re-enactors at the Pretty Nostalgic Gathering

WWII re-enactors on the gorgeous staircase at Kings Weston House

I had a marvellous time and everyone I spoke to agreed that the Gathering had been a roaring success in a beautiful venue. Thanks so much for inviting me, Pretty Nostalgic, and I hope that you'll arrange another gathering soon!

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Friday Favourites

Happy Friday, everyone! It's an inset day here, so not only do I have the pleasure of Lucas's company all day, I got a lie in too! I just need to train him in the ancient art of the Dolce Gusto machine and I'd have the perfect morning...
Favourite geeky find:

It has to be this trailer for The Enemy of the World, a long-lost Doctor Who serial which has just been discovered in Nigeria. Until now only one episode of the serial was thought to have survived--available on the Lost In Time boxset--and all of a sudden we now have the entire story! Also found is most of the episodes of The Web of Fear, one of my favourite stories. I loved reading the Target novelisation when I was a kid!
You can buy the episodes from iTunes, but I think I'll hold off and wait for the DVDs to come on sale.
Favourite picture:

Surf's up!

What's a Friday without a cute animal (or bird) picture? I saw this picture on innocent drinks Facebook page and it brightened up my morning and set off a fit of the giggles. This is truly the world's coolest duck! Plus, I thought Duck In A Dress would love it :)
Favourite Infographic:

Do you remember all the furore about Delia Smith's How to Cook TV series & book a few years ago? People were shocked that she felt the nation needed to be instructed in how to boil an egg... Clearly Delia missed a trick by failing to instruct us all on how to cut toast properly, but this fantastic infographic (in which I detect a whiff of irony) should sort you out if you ever had any doubts!
Favourite blogger bling: Twitter Avatar Necklaces

Did I mention that I'm going to Blogtacular in May? I've been thinking of getting some blog business cards made up after hearing about bloggers exchanging them at little (and large) meet-ups. (Moo cards come highly recommended it seems.) Now there's Knitty Mummy's very clever invention of Twitter avatar necklaces to help bloggers who regularly chat on Twitter to recognise each other without any awkward moments of mistaken identity!
If my Twitter account is ever restored then I'll certainly be ordering one!
We're off to London later for a weekend of drunken debauchery. Oh wait, we have Lucas in tow... Family fun, it is, then! (I might sneak in a cocktail or two...) Have a good weekend, y'all.
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A Liebster Award! (Or three.)

On Thursday I was nominated for a Liebster Award by the lovely Annatha of Prattle and Froth--thanks Annatha! And then... on Friday I discovered that I'd also been nominated by Celia of Celia's Antics and Louisa of Duck in a Dress for two more! Thank-you ever so much, ladies!

So...what is a Liebster Award?

That's pretty much what Dave said when I told him I'd been nominated for one by Annatha. I flailed dramatically a little, and then lamely said, "It's when someone really likes your blog? And to...make friends?"

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Apparently “liebster” is German for “sweetheart”. This award is the “sweetheart blog award” then. I'm not sure I've ever been considered "up and coming" before--how fabulous!

Here are the rules:

1) Link back to the person who nominated you

2) List 11 facts about yourself (optional--I left this out as I had three sets of questions)

3) Answer the 11 questions given to you by the person who nominated you for an award

4) Nominate 11 blogs/bloggers who have 200 or fewer followers

5) Think up 11 different questions for the people you are nominating to answer

6) Notify your nominees so they can join in!

Annatha's questions:

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started Little Apple Tree because I missed blogging. In 2003 I started a food blog, A Spoonful of Sugar, which was quite successful for three years. Sadly it faded away after I had Lucas and I eventually let the hosting lapse as I just couldn't get my blogging mojo back at that point.

I got the blogging urge again this summer and since I didn't just want to blog about food exclusively any more--my food presentation skills seem to have left me--I settled on a lifestyle blog where I could write about my life and the things I love.

2. What is the best thing about the place that you live?

I love Bristol because it has all the hustle and bustle of a major city, while being moments away from the countryside. I can look out of the back window and occasionally see horses from a local stable clip-clopping across the common at the bottom of the hill, or I can nip into town and spend a happy hour at the Apple store. I like that you have the best of both worlds.

3. Who/what inspires you?

Lucas is a huge inspiration to me. His boundless enthusiasm and optimism is infectious, especially as I am a bit of a pessimist. He loves life, and in return life loves him back.

4. What is your favourite thing about yourself?

I like that I keep going no matter what. I might piss and moan a bit when things are hard, but the bottom line is that I knuckle down and get things done.

5. Do you have any unusual talents?

Unusual? I'm not sure what qualifies as unusual, but I can hold an entire conversation in my sleep and apparently make sense. I have to be told all about it in the morning, though, as I remember nothing.

I can also sleep standing up. I perfected that by standing in matriculation queues at university!

6. What is your favourite smell?

Cinnamon. Some people say that it's the smell of Christmas, but it smells of love to me. So many things that we love eating are spiced with liberal amounts of cinnamon. Love it so much.

7. What is your favourite book?

Oooh, tricky! There are so many awesome books out there! I've pondered this for a while, and I think I'm going to say The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It was the first book that I became utterly entranced by, losing myself in the story that Lewis wove. I still re-read it every so often,

8. What do you hope to achieve in the next ten years?

You're making me think! On a weekend!!

I would hope that in ten years I'll have a job, doing something that I love--not that I don't love being a full-time Mum--and that Little Apple Tree will keep growing. I'd quite like to write a book, too.

9. What is your favourite time of the year and why?

Autumn. Gorgeous colours, gorgeous lighting, gorgeous seasonal food.

10. Where is your favourite place in the world?

Where I am right now is pretty damn good. I love Bristol more and more as time passes. It's a fabulous place to live!

Celia's questions:

1. Post a photo of what your day has been like today.

Today I have been baking. We're going to a big family picnic tomorrow and I wanted to make something special to share around. Also, Dave and Lucas made omelettes for breakfast <3

2. What is your favourite season to dress for? Summer or Winter?

I fear I am going to be a bit of a disappointment with some of these questions...Sorry, Celia! I'm going to say Winter, as it's a lot easier to keep warm than keep cool in a heatwave!

3) What's your favourite post you've written on your blog so far and why?

I wrote about our holiday on Chark Farm in Cornwall. I felt that I really captured the spirit of our holiday in the post. The farm is such a lovely welcoming place, and I suspect we'll be heading there every summer for years to come. (We're bringing Nanny, Grandad, Auntie and the girls with us next summer. Woohoo!)

4. What was the last book you read? Did you enjoy it?

I read Killing Floor, the first Jack Reacher novel by Lee Childs. Dave and I watched the film recently and I instantly wanted to read the books as the film was so good. The writing isn't the most sophisticated--no Booker Prizes here--but it was a fast-paced story with a badass hero. I loved it! (I was disgusted with Lee Childs recent interview where he proudly boasted of writing stoned every day. I am hoping that enjoying the book doesn't mean that people think I condone his lifestyle!!)

5. Who is your favourite blogger at the moment and why?

I really enjoy reading The Londoner. Her life is really different to mine (and most other people's too, I should imagine), but I like losing myself in the glitz and glamour.

6. Describe your ideal night-in.

Me, Dave, the sofa and a creature feature B-film on the TV. Ideally with pizza and ice-cream to follow.

7. What is your go-to beauty product?

Err...I'm not much of a beauty person, to be honest. I look at the aisles and aisles of products in Boots and just get intimidated. It doesn't help that my skin's a bit sensitive--I itch walking past Lush--so I try not to buy anything highly fragranced. I'm going to say Soap & Glory's Flake Away as it keeps my legs and elbows lovely and smooth.

8. Are you a cat or dog person?

Dogs rule!

9. What is your Chinese zodiac sign and does it describe you well?

I'm a Dragon. I've never felt that it describes me particularly well, but I am at the cusp of the sign. I do have a quick temper, though, and if you really annoy me then prepare to be yelled at. A lot.

10. If you could only buy your clothes from one shop, which would it be and why?

Principles, but they have gone the way of the dodo. I guess Next is the next-best-thing (sorry!). I liked Principles because everything was effortlessly glamorous. I used to browse in there for ages despite not being able to fit more than a toe into the trousers and dream. Next has more or less the same effect. (I am so not a fashionista, so a very boring answer!)

11. What is your least favourite item of clothing to shop for?

Underwear. Bra shopping is hell on earth.

Louisa's questions:

1. What's the story behind your blog's name?

I have a little apple tree in the garden. It seems to thrive on my inept gardening which consists of a yearly weed around it, and simply ignoring it for the rest of the time. This year it is dripping with apples and I'm so proud of it. It's the little apple tree who could! (Despite having a dreadful gardener as an owner!)

2. If you could choose any career in the world, what would you do?

A Food Historian. If I'd known there was such a career when I was in high school, I'd have gone all out for that. I love discovering the history behind dishes or cakes, finding out how our Kings and Queens of days gone by ate and trying to recreate old dishes. My favourite part of stately home tours is always the kitchen!

3. What special super power would you like?

Oh, this is a tricky one! I'm a huge comic book geek, so I can see all the downsides to every power as well as the cool stuff. I think I'd like super-strength, like She-Hulk. I'm quite partial to green, too.

4. Are you a tea or coffee person? Or neither?

I'm a definite coffee person. I rarely drink tea, but I do have the occasional flirtation with camomile and peppermint tea.

5. Printed paper books or ebooks?

Until a few years ago, I would have said printed all the way, but my eyesight isn't great these days, so eBooks are my friend. I can bump the text size all the way up when I'm stuck at the Eye Hospital with blurred vision from the dilating drops they use. I still love my book collection, but there's something nice about being able to carry hundreds of books around with you in a little gadget!

6. What would be your specialist subject on BBC's Mastermind?

After much thought, I think it would be the Chalet School books by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer.

7. Is there anywhere in the World you've never visited and would really like to?

Iceland. I want to see spectacular waterfalls, geysers, bathe in a natural hot spring--hopefully without boiling and featuring in my own disaster film--and eat all manner of disgusting local specialities. Plus I'd get a really, really good view of the Northern Lights.

8. Which Harry Potter house do you belong to? (apologies if you have no idea what I'm on about)

As much as I'd love to be a brave Gryffindor, I suspect I'm more of a swotty Ravenclaw.

9. Which crafty skill do you wish you were good at?

Machine sewing. I cannot machine a straight line to save my life. I see so many awesome patterns and fabrics and wish that I was better at controlling the sewing machine.

10. What's your favourite season of the year and why?

Autumn. I love the crisp, cool air; watching the trees slowly change from green to gold; blackberries in hedgerows; warm bowls of soup; and the promise of winter whilst you say goodbye to summer. Then there's the harvest, with huge pumpkins appearing in the shops which make me think of soup and pie and apple-picking days in orchards with gnarled old apple trees.

11. If you could bring back one children's TV programme from your childhood, what would it be?

The Worst Witch! I loved that programme so much. I've bought the first book on kindle to share with Lucas and he thinks it's pretty cool, too, despite being written about a girl.

Here are my nominations!

Hannah's Homespun Life