At this time of year I love, love, love to have warm wintery cinnamon smells in the house.  I’m not overly keen on certain scented candles though as I find  they can be a little over powering, ‘chemically’ and fake smelling. This year I have had some simmer pots on the go. To make your own just add your desired ingredients to a pot with a little water and allow it to simmer away and fill the house with delightful aromas. You can use them again and again, each time just adding a little more water. In this simmer pot I put a cinnamon stick, apple peelings and cloves.

I have also been baking some savoury scones to go with all my homemade soups. Always a nice change from bread.

Finally this week I have started learning the clarsach (small Scottish harp). I am really enjoying playing it. My neighbour has let me borrow her cardboard clarsach that her son made for her. It has a lovely sound and is hand painted with beautiful Celtic designs.