The New year hasn't got off to a very healthy start here in our household. We've each had at least 2 colds to date and poor Toby has suffered the most with a nasty bout of flu this week. It's so worrying when he is really ill as it's very hard to gauge exactly what is wrong because he can't tell us anything about how he's feeling. His temperature peaked at 104 F during Monday night and I've been sleeping downstairs with him on the sofa bed since Sunday so I can keep an eye on him and keep him drinking. Happily he wanted to get up and dressed today rather than stay in bed and I have my fingers crossed that he'll be wanting baked potato and chocolate cake for his tea, as that will be proof that he's beginning to feel better again.
January hasn't been all bad though. We've had some beautifully frosty mornings and some amazing sunrises and sunsets. I've been knitting away as usual and have been baking lots too because cake really does help when the mood is a little low, especially if it's as good as these little treats made from Nigel Slater's marzipan berry cakes recipe. It's also good that they have blueberries in because we're clearly in need of their superfood powers – hopefully they'll help us avoid catching more colds this winter but even if they don't manage that they are wonderfully good to eat.
Hope you're keeping well where you are x
little cotton rabbits 
How yuk that you have all had colds, hope they stay away from now on. I LOVE that first photo Julie, I just sat and looked at it for ages – beautiful!
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Je vous souhaite une très belle journée. Vos photos sont magnifiques. J’espère que votre garçon ira mieux.
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It really done the rounds that cold and flu virus, ive been knocked out with it for almost four weeks! Glad you are all on the mend now, great to see you keep going and enjoying your yarny projects and baking, those buns look amazing! Hope the rest of the new year is good to you all x
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You’re right Julie, cake always helps! 🙂
Hope you are all on the mend now……and I agree January has been very beautiful!
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Hope you all get well soon. I’ve been blessed with no colds or flu for several years now. I do get a flu shot every year and think this helps a bit. I asked my doctor why the sudden healthy change after years of suffering with horrible colds every winter and beyond. He said that since I started taking public transportation over the past several years, I’ve been exposed to every possible germ which has amped up my immune system to super power level. This must be true since I have a horrible habit of having hands-in-mouth frequently. Either this, or I’ve finally had every cold virus known to man over my lifetime! It’s no fun being sick, but you are right – cake DOES help! Always love your photography. Gorgeous.
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I’m fighting a cold too. Hope you are all feeling better very soon. I love seeing all of your beautiful photos.
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My youngest has finally left the fug he has been under due to a dreadful cold, now, although well, he is pale and still ‘waffy’, my sympathies for all suffering the seasonal snotties ☺
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Cakes, tea, knitting and your gorgeous blanket sound like a good salve for being poorly x Your blog is such a delight (and I check in regularly). In the days of what seems like unending fear and anger in the media and a whole new computer system at work (grrrr!) plus physical challenges for my little boy (which always worry me), your words and pictures are just what the doctor ordered :o)! Thank you x X
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Hope poor Toby is feeling much better very soon and you all recover quickly from your colds and flu. Cake always makes me feel better too. Happy baking and knitting. Sue x
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Sending healthy thoughts your way . . . I have a teenager down sck on the couch as I type this.
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Seems like everyone on all sides of the big pond is succumbing to this nasty bug. After 3 1/2 weeks I am feeling like myself again. Hope you all recover soon. Take car.
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Hope all are now healthy and happy! Love your crochet blanket – would you be willing to share the source of this pattern??? I would love to make one of these.
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sorry you’ve all been unwell Julie x
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I hope you all, especially Toby are feeling better soon Julie. It must be so much harder for him and you when he is poorly. Xx
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Sorry you’ve all been ill, especially Toby, I do hope he’s fully recovered very soon. Gorgeous photos, the light has been amazing lately hasn’t it. CJ xx
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Beautiful pics as usual ~ hoping it’s baked potato and chocolate for tea 😊
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I send you full of vitamins from France, courage!
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Hallo, your knitting works are wonderful… Greatings from Vienna
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Here in Spain it’s the same Julie… it’s freezing cold and we are not used to it any more! Lots of flu an coughs everywhere… I hope Toby is better and that you all are in good health again! Meanwhile… keep baking those great looking muffins, I don’t know if they will be good for healing colds but i am sure that they cheer you up!
Lots of love!!!
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Hello Julie…so sorry to hear that the germ war in your home has touched you all. I feel your pain…and worry when it comes to Toby. Our Jack is the same. One does know that he isn’t “faking” it to get out of going to school. Jack is an open book that way. Our issue is that he will carry on even if he is sick. Then we find out he is running an outrageous fever or his ear ruptures…feel like the worst mom ever on those days.
I hope the sun is rising on healthier days. It makes everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Take care, breathe deeply & enjoy the little things…like knitting…and baking 🍰🍪🍮!
With much empathy & admiration,
Lori from Port Perry
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I hope everyone is feeling better soon. Thank you for the cake recipe! Blessings from Iowa!
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I hope you’re all feeling much better now and are able to avoid any further illness this winter. Your sunrise and sunset photos are beautiful and the blueberry cakes look delicious.
Karen
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I’m sorry to hear you all have been ill. Hoping you are all on the mend! We’ve all had the same kind of start here as well. I hadn’t tried cake, but think you’re on to something. I have a feeling I know what I will be making this afternoon. 😉
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Beautiful pictures thank you very much . I love the trimmed neat edges of the winter trees. So sorry you have all been ill and hope you are all on the mend . Yes good comfort food is a joy. All my best wishes to you and your family . Thank goodness we have our lovely crafts to enjoy . xxxx
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Poor Toby… I hope he is better now, and greedy and happy with the lovely food you prepare for your family!
It has been cold, very very cold here in Brittany, and it doesn’t seem to be getting warmer ever…. Impossible to dig the leeks out, I can’t cook our soup and we eat the preserved beans and ratatouille I sterilized in the Summer… we feel so lucky not to have to go out shopping! Take care, keep warm!x Anne
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Thank you for sharing with all of us. I always look forward to your posts. You are gifted in so many areas – fiber crafts, writing, photography and online hospitality. You make me feel a part of your life and the warmth comes right through. Here’s hoping for a healthy finish to winter for all of you.
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Cake makes a lot of things better, doesn’t it! I hope you and your family are feeling much better, that the blueberries gave you a boost:) Meg
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vos photos sont magnifiques !!!
Bonne journée
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Immagini bellissime, come sempre qui è sempre è sempre tutto interessante!
Spero tanto che Toby stia meglio, faccio tanti auguri, anche qui l’influenza non da’ tregua……Complimenti per i tuoi stupendi lavori, quando voglio rilassarmi passo qui da te per ammirare le tue tenere creazioni….
Un abbraccio dall’Italia a tutti voi ed uno speciale a Toby,
Laura
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Hi Julie, I hope that Toby is soon better. There are lots of viruses around at this time of year and so many people feeling unwell. Stay warm and keep enjoying those blueberries – great way of boosting your fruit intake :-). Marie x
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Your little cakes look wonderful Julie — I’d sure like one for my breakfast this morning ;-D. Hopefully Toby is feeling better after the weekend. ;-D
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So sorry for your plague. We’ve been quite ill since about Remembrance Day and I pulled a muscle in my Ches t wall coughing. Mew. But the days are getting longer, I am able to do a bit of yoga and walk. Hope that February brings the promise of light and energy. You blanket and treats are so comforting. I have almost all the yarn to make my own!
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This has been a hard winter for flus and stomach bugs, I’ve been hearing of so many people getting sick- not just colds, but the down-for-the-count stuff! I personally have had the misfortune of having the flu or some sort of stomach bug 3 times since November. Kids, they bring so much home. Poor Toby!! And poor you. You are such a wonderful mom, Julie. Your love for your kiddos shines though, like the sun in those beautiful photos.
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Thank you so much for the link and recipe, I have just taken the first batch of little cakes out of the oven and they are delicious! I say ‘they’ because obviously I need to test more than one! There’s a lovely smell of warm marzipan in the house too, so thanks again Julie X
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Sorry you’ve all been ill – my family have too and it just won’t go away!
Hope you’re all feeling better after those gorgeous cakes 🙂
I’m new to your blog (sorry it’s taken me ages!) and I love the crochet blanket you have on the picture with the cakes – which yarns did you use? They’d go perfect with my new bedroom!
H x
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Hi Hayley and thanks we’re all much better now. Here’s a link to the blanket on my Ravelry project page. I’ve actually made 2 versions of it but using the same yarns, mostly Cascade 220 as it’s such good value…
version 1…
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bunnyknitter/misty-morning-in-autumn-afghan
Version 2… http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bunnyknitter/misty-mark-2
Hope this helps, J x
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I hope you are all better and stay that way. Your sky pictures are beautiful; thanks for sharing.
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Wonderful pictures. Hope you are all on the way to being healthy again X
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Oh dear. Be well! Hopefully the worst is behind you. Those are some amazing skies you’ve been enjoying!
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I am also new on here and I hope you all get well soon 🙂
I am absolutely in awe seeing your works, that is really impressive!!!
Such a great help it is, whenever a smell of fresh baked cake is all around… Greetings from Warsaw.
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you live in a nice place, hope your all better soon x
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