...taking road trips around Dorset

The husband took a few days off this week so we had an extra long weekend. We decided to brave the freeeezing cold weather and head out for a drive around Dorset. As you may have already gathered, we are totally bias here at ohidoliketobe, and consider 'our' county to be the most beautiful. Days like this one make me even more certain of that fact.
We got the chain ferry over to Studland and had a little drive to Swanage.

A quick play in a park, and a womble around some charity shops, and we were off again-this time to Church Knowle where we passed this amazing view of Corfe Castle-

We stopped at the animal sanctuary where we were very tempted to adopt a little white cat. We resisted (just). Sorry-we didn't take any photos-but would totally recommend this charming place. It's free to get in and perfect for little ones as it is small and you can pet the horses and donkeys.  

For the last leg of our journey, we called in at Purbeck Larder-one of my favourite places to roam around and get inspiration for our home. The hot chocolate wasn't bad either.

Taken any road trips of in your local area recently?

Maria x

PS. We'd love to get our numbers up on Facebook and Twitter, so if you like to stop by our blog and see what we are up to, please like us here, and follow us here-you'd make us very happy! x

...Easter walk and mini egg hunt

Like Maria, we had a lovely day yesterday energised from the sun that seems to have been on holiday for the last 6 months. It's not often we are all home together so we jumped into the car and went for a walk around the ponds at Bath Spa uni, it is such a nice campus and your guaranteed to see at least one Heron. It was still bitterly cold though so we didn't hang around too long. There was also the knowledge that mums casserole was bubbling away in the oven. I got carried away in Lidl buying up lots of Easter treats and have been inspired by other blogger's to make an Easter Hunt. Mum got her clue straight away but my Dad and Brother and Sis took a little longer. Today I am definitely coming down from a sugar high, and vow to get outside and do some exercise. I think I have had to much of a good thing, come on summer!!

 Piggy (lily) Enjoying a little stroll

 Who is the baby of the family?

 Easter Egg hunt clues

The hunt begins! 

Getting Hotter

Haha (well done mum)

Look High! 

Chuffed dad 

My brother also found his after a few hints! 

Easter bounty on top shelf for another day! 

Choc filled good night! 

Gem x

...Easter egg hunting and egg bashing

Today has been lots of fun. Easter Sunday at my folks is a tradition that we all get ridiculously excited about, and today did not disappoint. At last the sun came out and for a couple of hours- it actually felt like Spring. For lunch we ate roast lamb, and rhubarb crumble with plenty of custard. Then the Easter bunnies (my dad and step-mum) came, and hid hundreds of chocolate treats all around the garden-and we were off, baskets in hands and eyes on stalks. The kiddos did very well this year, and we didn't do too badly either.

Next came egg bashing. This involves taking hard boiled eggs, painting them with bright and pretty colours and coating them in varnish. Then, you all stand in a circle and take it in turns to 'bash' each other's eggs. Once both ends of the egg are cracked, you are out. My dad won. Happy times.

  
I hope your day was also full of family fun and chocolate scoffing. Wishing you all a very happy Easter!

Maria x

.... Pre Good Friday Fun

Hooray for holidays!! Maria and I have fulfilled our wish for a light hearted lazy start to the hols, by going to the cinema to watch a chick flick (Identity Theif) We have eaten our body weight and yearly salt intake of popcorn. Here is a little something to get us into the Easter Spirit. More Easter ideas to follow!

Gem x

...making the perfect chocolate Easter nests

Well, to be truthful, eating the perfect chocolate nests-made by my mother-in-law. We went to stay with the grandparents at the weekend, and the boy and his Granny got baking these goodies. The husband and I insist on a batch of these every year, as they are without doubt, the best chocolate Easter nests ever. You must give this recipe a try!

Chocolate Easter Nests

85g Shredded Wheat

75g milk chocolate

75g plain chocolate

50g butter

2tbsp golden syrup

Mini-eggs

Method
1. Break the chocolate into pieces and put into a saucepan together with the butter and golden syrup and melt over a gentle heat until smooth.
2. Stir broken-up Shredded Wheat into chocolate mixture and spoon into cake cases. Shape a dip into the centre.
3. Chill in the fridge for a few hours. Fill with eggs.

Enjoy!

Maria x

..... taking in some amazing Spring Sunsets

OK the weather has been particularly unfair this month, but every now and then I am treated to the most spectacular sunset. On these evenings (if I am home early enough) I like to jump on my bike and cycle around the harbour and watch the sun go down. There is some hope that summer is on its way!

Gem x

...making (a sort of) minestrone soup

It would appear that Gem and I are all about food that makes us feel cosy at the moment. It is so freaking cold outside! So I decided that there was only one thing for it; make soup.
I had the pleasure of tasting my sister-in-law's delicious minestrone soup recently. She followed and adapted the recipe from this website. As the husband has given up meat (and chocolate-much tougher apparently  for lent, I left the sausages that sis-in-law added and just stuck to the veggies. The end result was delicious-and so simple to make. I followed the recipe pretty much, only I substituted the spaghetti for macaroni, and forgot to add the cabbage. Oh well, it was still pretty tasty, and it warmed us up a treat! Plus, I have leftovers that will sort us for lunch this week. Happytimes!

What are your favourite Winter-Warmers for March?!

Maria x