The Psychology of Colour.

I have always been interested in how colour makes us feel or react to just about anything in and around our own world. Why do certain colours  relax us? Why do we gravitate towards the same shades of colours in our own home? Why does this make us "tick"?
Whilst "pinning" the other day I came across this ( see pic below ) take a look and think about our choices.

From here I would like to see if I use some of this and choose according to how I want a room to feel. Being in a rental I am limited to wall colour ,of course, but I certainly give it a good crack at being added to my decor and when I paint furniture and so on. I am going to do a little more research and see what I can find. 

Here below are some of my all time favourites , so what does this say about me?

I love so many colours but this is usually my go to colours. Next I think of texture then I go on the hunt for fabric,paint and accessories. Isn`t decor so much fun. 

I also have some pinboards on Pinterest to help collect my thoughts together in one spot. I do try to be organized.

https://www.pinterest.com/Magpie63/

Sunday Scare

Life is full of moments of hilarity, one that will be remembered for a long, long time. Today was no exception. Imagine, kitchen, sister making tea for us and my nephew sat at the table,doodling. I quietly tip toed behind my sis and she caught sight and let out an amazing,epic scream.
Slightly deafened and slightly disturbed by her next reaction. She started to cry from fear and laugh cry.I expect a "you daft Sod" but no this was truly a fright of epic proportions. Amused Sunday event.

pics from stock photos

St.Annes Little Gem

I travelled back in time today walking through automatic doors and entered a beautiful early 1900 building that was erected to be the local library. 

From Wiki 

Councillor L S Scott, Chairman of St Anne's on the Sea Urban District Council had been in communication with the American Philanthropist and benefactor of public libraries, Andrew Carnegie and Council Minutes (General Purposes Committee) of 29 June 1903 report that he received "an intimation from Mr Carnegie's private secretary that he would give the sum of £3,500 for the erection of a library"

It had peeling walls, original stain glass windows. ( I must get photo`s to show you) It obviously needs updating but there is something to be said about original buildings holding hundreds of books and that earthy,musty book smell. Something you cant get off your Kindle. I love books, always have and the demise of our libraries is a tragedy. I signed up and got my library "card". At least this is modern in how we take the books out,this saves times but I almost expected to find the old library card catalogues. Would`nt that be a treat?

 I almost feel like the school girl when we had lessons in how to read those darn catalogues. (Amused)

 I have a feeling that are many other little treats to be found in this old seaside town. I can`t wait to find them but I must remember to take my camera.

This Year

This year is an important one for me in many ways, I have plans but  as we all know plans seldom come out like we expect So I will make this list part of my  "To Do" in 2015. No resolutions just pick an item on the list and run with it.

Break a Bad Habit is difficult because I am , as we all know, next to perfect. Asnd as we all know I tend to joke when I am feeling less than good about myself..
My top one is Take An Important Risk. I have already done that moving myself and two of my boys here to the UK.Starting from the beginning. With nothing. Nada.
I will as we go along revisit this post and tick off any or all that I achieve.
I want to work and save to visit South Korea with my son and I want to go on a ghost hunt and I want a holiday by myself. A weekend alone. No offence to anyone.

What`s for Dinner?

Budget meals are always a bit of a chore some days so a good rule of thumb for me is to go cheap and cheerful (whilst still keeping some healthy option in the back of my mind) I am not a nutritionist,I am not a food Guru BUT I do like food and trying different kinds of cuisine.
Tonight`s menu is simple. Indian food. Plenty to go around and a whole lot easier to make than one thinks.
Onion Bhajis (because we have way too many onions in the veg cupboard)
Naan Bread ( yes home made it is super easy and costs so much less then supermarket price)
Butter Chicken ( You can buy store bought sauce)
Potato and cauli curry ( or my version of Aloo Gobi)
Rice
Recipes
Naan Bread
The only reason I put this first is because the dough needs to prove for a bout 1 1/2 hours. I also give 2 versions because some times I run out of dried yeast !
200g Plain Flour
150 ml warm water
1 Tsp Sugar
1 tsp Yeast ( dried or fresh)
1 Tsp salt
 1 Tbsp Ghee ( or oil or melted butter)
Mix yeast sugar and warm water and leave till it gets frothy. Add salt to flour
Add Ghee to dry ingredients and make a well adding the yeasted water. At this point you can add your own seasonings.I usually add cracked black pepper but you can add garlic,onion what ever you like)Mix and knead until it makes a smooth dough  on a smooth surface. Which is about 5 minutes.  Cover and place in a warm place for hour and half or risen to about double in size.
  Take the dough and knead again for a few more minutes. At this point you can divide in balls and place back in proving drawer or rest under a tea towel until you are ready to finish.
 (IF YOU HAVE RUN OUT OF YEAST JUST ADD WARM WATER TO SELF RAISING FLOUR AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AS USUAL THEY JUST TURN OUT A LITTLE MORE FLATTENED)
When ready preheat hot grill and I mean hot. Roll out each ball and butter each side ,place under grill until it is cooked through and browning. It takes about 7 minutes turning as often as needed.This is a own judgment thing so play about with how your grill behaves.(PIC BELOW)

ONION BHAJI

2 Onions sliced
100g flour
1tsp Baking Powder
1Tsp Chilli Powder
1Tsp tumeric
1 Tsp cumin
Salt and Pepper
oil
water
Mix dry ingredients. Add enough water to make a sticky batter. Add sliced onions and coat well
Fry in oil and drain on paper towel ( told you it was easy)  (stock pic)

BUTTER CHICKEN

225gms Butter ,divided
1 Onion Chopped
1 or 2  clove garlic, minced
425gms Passata ( fancy name for tomato Puréed )
1tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp cayenne paepper
2 Tbsp Tandoori Masala
OIL
4 chicken breasts cut and diced into bite sized pieces
Carton of full cream.
Cook over a medium heat chicken pieces and set aside.
Cook onion and garlic and then add spice for a few minutes. Add the tomato puree and soften it all for a few minutes together.  add cream and stir slowly and continuously, until incorporated. Simmer slowly.

ALOO GOBI (POTATO/CAULIFLOWER CURRY)

Small Cauliflower break into florets
4-5 medium potatoes, diced
(Parboil for 10 minutes )
1 Large Onion , diced
1 tsp Tumeric
1 Tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp red chilli flakes
thumb sized piece og Ginger, minced
2-3 cloves Garlic ,minced
1-2 Tbsp Tomato paste
1 litre stock ( I usually use chicken stock)
Fry onion and garlic until translucent. Then add all spices and heat through for a few minutes. Add paste and continue to heat through. add potatoes and cauliflower and stir in the stock. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until heated and cooked through.

 Enjoy with steamed rice. This may sound like a lot of food but it stretches into next day lunch or with a twist to a filling for a pie the next day under the a crust of puff pastry. Usually though with 3 children the size of adults there isn`t much left. Have a go,

Sojourn

By definition sojourn means roughly a short period in which a person stay in a particular place. Which sums up my last few years nicely. I have moved and been on the move whether due to changing address from one town to another and the one country to another or whether it was for work. Being on the road travelling and staying in hotels, visiting the salons  I supervised. It has been a year of change and I am weary.
So , to begin this possibly auspicious year of 2015  I am determined to get the nest made and put down roots,in family,life and work. A strong foundation.
I begin by making a Blog with intention to join the multitude and move toward reaching out and eventually,who knows, make money from it along with other things I have as a germ of a dream in my mind.
I live in a rental with next to nothing of my own so I am starting from scratch,again! I am not here to disclose in depth detail that leads to gossip fodder just a way of starting again. The way I see my new home is a clean slate in which to infuse my sense of style, making it homey and comfortable on a limited budget.
I have been told on many occasions to use my talents ,to follow my dream and basically as my sister puts it "get off my arse and do something about it" So here goes. Each weekday I will  publish a post of home,food and thought. Along with a item or place of interest.Each day will be thought out and prep`d and each post hopefully will interest those whole want to pop in and read what is going on in my world. May be just for family but may make a new Blog family ,either way all are welcome.