Surprises and treats.

Well I have had a jolly week..I like that word and should use it more!  Monday I went to the beach. Tuesday I went to a weird abstract play in Little Miss's unit...weird because it was performed by a little elfin lady dressed all in white with weird blue eye shadow.  She played the violin and had this drugged glazed look on her face for the whole  hour..I named her "Bride of Dobby" as she shouted out random words that sounded rather like Dobby (Lord of the Rings fame) and was as I said dressed in white!  Her co stars were dressed in PJ's and said random words too whilst making chicken noises and throwing flannels and bed sheets about...weird!!!

Wednesday was WI.  This week we brought along favourite books and discussed why we chose them.  I chose "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier...I love the book and the old version of the film.   I did the book as part of my English O Level and have read it several times since.  Various ladies brought in cook books, one on the history of "our" local villages which I must buy because it apparently mentions my house!!!! I was offered a loan but just in case I loose it or  spill coffee on it I would like to get my own copy and read at my leisure.  One lady who I met for the first time wow she must be nearly 90 but oh even at that age what a beauty !  She wore a beautiful white coat and scarf that looked oriental. ..beautiful high cheek bones and just such a graceful , peaceful air about her.  She brought a book called something like " The history of composition " it transpired she had been given the book in the late forties whilst she was studying to be a concert pianist and had studies under    one of the great Welsh composers.  she relieved her "secret" life that none of the other members knew anything about, some of her travels...I bet she had a few naughty secrets too..she had a naughty glint in her eyes reliving bygone times!!I so enjoyed my afternoon.

Thursday my little girl amazed me.  When I visited the unit to see the play , one of the teaching assistants told me how wonderful our daughter is at Design and Technology and how she uses the
sewing machine so naturally.  Well at the beginning of this term my darling asked if she could spend
her saved pocket and birthday and Christmas money on a sewing machine.  I said I would think about it.  To be honest I was frightened.  I doubted if she had the co-ordination and ability to use a sewing machine safely.  I am a fool!  Starting Wednesday after school we have every night sat and I have watched her use my machine..under supervision of course..but she is a natural.  She knew how to select her chosen stitch, use the foot and thread cutter and regulate the speed.  She amazed me.  She enjoys it so much.  So I spent a couple of hours reading reviews and have ordered her , her very own machine.  DH is so proud too...he said he thought she deserved it...she never asks for anything but this I know is something she will just squeal with delight over.  I cannot wait to see her face.  I cannot wait until we sit side by side  on our machines together creating.

Friday I went into cardigan for a few swap bits and a birthday present and found these

All newly washed and in perfect condition 

I plan to use these on the dresser

display.

Cake for DH birthday...

I asked if he wanted candles but told him to think of the impact all those candles may have on the ozone!!!! "Very funny" was his curt rely!!!! Me and little man don't really like fresh cream but the others too certainly do!!!


Yesterday I wrote some cards and letters..long overdue, then did some scrap sewing as I want to make a few things that need a frayed, scrappy look.  Tomorrow I will have a play with some new cutting dies.

Today we nipped to my friend as it is her birthday and had a long overdue catch up.
afterwards whilst putting uniforms away all I could hear was the rain pelting against the Windows.  I am utterly fed up with rain and how outside everything looks muddy.  Some lanes I avoid now.  The farmers have been digging bigger and bigger ditches at the side of already thin lanes to accommodate water running off the fields., and some lanes  now I dread meeting any oncoming vehicles because there is no where to pull over and pass.  Reading other blogs I know this constant wet weather seems to be wearing thin with everyone.  Moles are causing havoc on our front lawn too or should I call it a bog!!! We have had various solutions suggested including, sticking marshmallows down the holes(what a waste I thought!) , sticking kiddies wind mills randomly on the lawn, sprinkling disinfectant , or going outside with a spade in hand about 5am as that is apparently their active time (??) and waiting until I hear action and then pouncing and dispatching said mole.  I must admit none sound likely to be effective especially me getting out of bed at some insane hour in the morning!!!


Well crumpets and hot chocolate have been ordered by little ones... The wind is howling so hot chocolate seems a great idea .

Hold on to your hats !

I gave up wearing mine (hat that is) and "Henry" hasn't even surfaced yet but oh !

We ventured down to Llangrannog and saw nature in all her rawness and beauty and the noise of crashing waves...fantastic,even magical if you like that sort of thing which I do.

As you know my little man calls that rock "Godzilla" and by goodness it was being hammered by all the sea could throw at it, obviously the tide was in but we have often walked over the other side of that rock, well days like today made that last walk seem a long time ago.

We sat on a bench in a shelter whilst pupster ran and woofed at the waves and it was simply , yes I know I said it before....beautiful...... The sky was light grey and it seemed very dark... I haven't seen a blue sky for ages.   We only saw two other people like us venturing out for a bit of fresh air.  The air was definitely fresh.


We stayed about 40 mins just watching, we didn't even grab a coffee, a bit chilled we decided to get pupster home to dry him properly (yes even if it was freezing he took a dip) . Five minutes later we were home , Dextie dried , fire on and oh so cosy again. I needed that break and we decided we should try to make more of an effort to go to this beach more often in the winter as it is so peaceful and in a chilly, wet sort of windy way recharges you.


Last night this was tea...DH makes the batter ...I did the rest..good old comfort food.

Toad in the hole, sausages wrapped 

in dry cured bacon

and lashings of onion gravy

This is "Daddy size portions"

Keep warm and safe

I hope Henry behaves himself.

Well as much as a storm can!

February approaches.

Hi everyone, don't know about you but I think January has rushed by.  Although nearly 8.30am here it is still very dark outside , the wind is howling but no rain though I doubt it won't be far behind.

DH's birthday is this week so yesterday we hopped over to New Quay for sit down fish and chips and had a nice couple of hours out.  I forgot to take any pictures but the sea was very choppy .  We have a fish man that calls every Thursday and he told DH the price of fish has increased a bit because of the weather and less and less boats venturing out.   I don't blame them.  The other day at the inner harbour at Aberaeron the sea was crashing and I mean crashing against the moored boats and reaching quite high on the harbour wall.  Gertrude may have left us but I believe Henry is on the way...this winter seems to be a troublesome one for many.

This week not much creating I'm afraid.  I have been out every day with one thing or another and have been so grateful upon my return each day to find a kettle full of piping hot water and a nice warm kitchen courtesy of our Rayburn.

Oh I do love my Rayburn.

We joke that Dextie has the best bed in the house.

His bed  is in front of the dresser 

which is alongside the Rayburn.....he is always cosy.

Another happy for me was finding a local shop (5 miles away..local for us!!) now sells these bad boys!

Bigger is definitely better when it comes 

to crumpets.

Oh I love crumpets! I only have one and smother it in black cherry jam! Bliss!  Simple pleasures.

The spare room is now ready for the new bed (due to be delivered week after next) .after my mad rush to empty it out , our decorator was delayed in starting as he injured his shoulder, but it is all done now .  I am looking forward to making it look nice and cosy.  Next week we hope to pop out and get some new sheets and pillowcases...everything else has been already bought.

During the week Little Miss has been really helping cooking at home, she gets such joy from it.  At
school she made this lovely. A pasta cheese with pancetta, mushrooms and sweet corn.

I had an appointment at her school this week and I asked her teacher just how much of the cooking
she actually does.  "Everything" was the reply  , apparently she gets quite annoyed if she can't do it
all.

As you know I love linen etc and going through a drawer this week I found these...

These were given to me on my wedding morning , handmade by a neighbour.  Rose was probably in her eighties then, I think she had special needs and had always lived with her sister and brother in law.  I always remember seeing her come to the door holding a crotchet hook and project in her hand .

Rose is obviously long gone now but finding these whizzed me back to my childhood home (like a scene in the Disney film "Ratatouille " when the food critic is transported back in time when he hurts his knee.   )I remember Rose holding my hand on my wedding morning and telling me these dollies (I have two sets, identical just in different shades) were dressing table sets.  Well when we moved here we bought the houses' original bedroom furniture and for the first time since being a little girl I had a dressing table again.  So I have washed them and they are now where I can see them everyday.  I haven't given London or Kent much thought since I moved here but I must admit for a little while I
did feel a bit homesick.

Who ate all the chews?

(Found a empty packet of five that must of

"fallen " out of my shopping bag!!

That face says it all....

"Guilty as charged!"

Well I think that's all for now.  I have loads of photos to upload and hopefully soon will be getting into the swing of blogging more again.  This month has been a busy one and I am hoping a few days when I can disappear into the dining room (my temporary craft space in winter) and do some serious!!! making.  

flea market and charity shop finds

Last time when I showed the patchwork I forgot to show you the link.  Well there are a few as I mentioned on Pinterest under titles like postage stamp size quilts but the best one with super duper photos is this one, which is so easy to follow.

http://www.sewmamasew.com/2009/10/elizabeths-fabric-focus-quick-piece-tiny-squares/

I used (previously as I went along) one of my quilt die cutter to get all the squares the same size ....which helped a lot and I try to do this as I go along with fabric scraps . I now using the quilt dies to cut shapes and store them rather than having a baskets of scrap all over.  I throw very little away now too this way and it always means , well that's the plan anyway, I can do random patchwork when I fancy as I have squares and strips ready to go.

Well last weekend  a trip into town as the boys desperately needed haircuts...(finally that is when I told them they both looked like girls with long hair did  they agree to be very reluctantly be dragged from the warm cosy house!!) so did lots of other boys waiting patiently it seemed inside the barbers.. ,so with a "good luck " and a giggle we left them and headed off to have a look around town and knew we could take our time...bliss for girls  who like the occasional potter about in charity shops and the like.  Well we found these .....

and these (nearly washed and ironed) some need a slight repair and some will be cut up and given a new life somewhere.

these were "free" in a box and nearby a bucket for donations for the Lifeboats if you wanted, which of course I did...... Always a good cause especially living here where they patrol all the big beaches in the summer and give full day talks and safety advice to school children.  Anyway the linen has washed up and look lovely now they are pressed.  I have a lovely collection now and must use it.  I started collecting bits years ago when visiting flea markets in Greenwich after my mum said I could have lots of linen that had been my Nan's.  I know some bits are even my great Nan's as she was apparently a very accomplished needlework lady..sadly I never met her or even have a photo.  My mum always said I must of got my love of crafting from her as my mum and sisters go into a cold sweat at the sight of a sewing needle and thread !!

My new linen dollies and China need to find a  place on the dresser , that will be a big wash, dust and put away and re arrange project, maybe when I have a day with no other jobs to do.  Everything needs to be taken down and I always dread I will smash or chip something as I can be a bit clumsy  or "cack  handed" as my old mum used to say. 

I am not going to do a seasonal display on my dresser anymore , just display China and bits and bobs 

that I love.   I hope during the summer to do a little tea party for Little Miss and her friends and need to start to collect some China .....hence the bits above. The  bits ranged from 25p to £1 , no dearer and
a new stall opened recently which has mismatched China .... so we had a rummage and found something to add to our growing collection.  I say ours because Little Miss has even more
 enthusiasm than me and a keen eye when looking for chips and cracks.


I found this too, for £2 , oh I was a happy bunny, I have wanted one of these for donkeys years but they are always so expensive even in junk shops . I am keeping my sharpie pens in it but it too will end up on display on the dresser.

So all the above made me happy this week , also the fact we all had dental check ups and DH is the
only one requiring a small replacement filling.   A eye appointment at the hospital showed no further deterioration to little man's eyesight... just needed the surgeon to check him out this week and he  agreed  no surgery required at the moment, we can forget about that for another year...made me very happy..hate the thought of surgery on him.  He will need it one day but hopefully many years away.

 Lastly I have done as I planned and eased up a bit this week.  Over Christmas I noticed the house did not fail into chaos if the washing machine and tumble dryer were not constantly burrrrring in the background, floors were not washed on and off during the day as dirty paws usually seem to dictate.  Ironing is my pet hate , well it waited and we didn't disappear under a mountain of it and meals too were prepared and cooking shared including Little Miss who joined in (under supervision) more leisurely...and I liked it!  The Hoover still has a daily airing as a constantly moulting pupster with
black and white fur , well nothing downstairs seems to escape his fur as he moves from room to room and brushes against things...but I don't mind that.  Overall I am liking this more relaxed home...


I have been doing a little sewing for a swap but cannot share at the moment.  I have also started to
make some little labels for some gentlework/crazy quilting that I hope to begin with Little Miss. I have ordered some yo yo makers and charms and hopefully they will arrive soon to show you next time.  I do love vintage and hope to re cycle old damaged linen, lace and buttons into some sort of wall hanging/quilt...

Being busy and the end of year swaps.

First tulips of the year.

Thank you for your kindness re my last post... It seems many of us have had or still do have family issues.  Your comments really lifted me . Yes I'm still being called "Tiger" by the most handsome boy in the world..of course I am biased he is my boy after all!!!  Another little calf who looks so little has appeared..he's now called "Charlie" .  When they get nearer in the field to us (they are a bit far to get a decent picture due to electric fencing at the moment) I will introduce the herd properly .  We haven't
had any snow or fog, still more rain , maybe we have avoided snow being nearer the sea, I don't
 know.  One of the kid's taxi's got trapped last week in the dark in a flooded lane he didn't see the water until it was too late and needed a local farmer to drag him out, thankfully he hadn't picked any of the children up yet.

I have struggled for ages to find my sewing mojo, dear Jacquie from My Journey told me to have a look in the cupboard as it might be hiding there...oh that made me laugh...that's what is so great about you lovely people , highs and lows , we all pull together.  I have sort of got it back..I spent a few hours tidying in the annex and I enjoyed that and found inspiration again, it must of been hiding as Jacquie said in one of the cupboards!!!!

I found a little tub of tiny patchwork squares and I remembered a post on Pinterest where it was mentioned how to , like a jigsaw puzzle iron the squares onto fusible interfacing.  When that is done
you machine in straight lines on the reverse side and like magic the squares line up really quite
fabulously. Here is what I did

easy and a great way to use up those scraps 

A really clever idea that some someone kind  shared.  great for small projects , probably wouldn't work on quilt size projects , but these rectangles are probably destined for smaller projects like place mats , purses or similar.  A great way to use up little bits of fabric that otherwise might be time consuming to sew up the usual way...I know I will be using this method again.

At last, thank you for your patience , I can now post my Christmas swaps.  Well it took me a few days, a hour snatched here and there to "find" misfiled photo's and to do some photo grids otherwise this post would of been soooooo photo packed!!!


First was my swap with Diane (The Cheshire Quilter) , what a beautiful maker Diane is..I will
treasure the gifts she made for me...

Diane made me a wall hanging,

A tote with umbrella

Two purses filled with goodies

and also biscuits, pens, hand cream and balm, and a spotty dog tape measure.

I sent 

I so enjoyed making the little house coasters

I may have to make some more.

Then there was 

2 swaps from Melanie (The Patchwork Robin)

The first was the Creative Chaos Christmas swap

and then the secret Sewchat secret swap

From Melanie , the Creative Chaos swap 

The secret Sewchet swap 

What I sent to Melanie for the first swap

I also posted to Megan from Pigeonwishes the secret swap

I have searched but cannot find the photos 

but I sent fabric and sewing notions

and lastly the Twelve Days of Christmas swap

I was,paired with Cath from the blog Clicky Needles

First is what I sent 

And then what Cath sent to me 

A huge thank you to my partners and the 

Ladies who organised the swaps.

Right time for a cuppa

xxx

A week of things....

The last week or so , well it hasn't been my finest.   I've been told things and found things out regarding family and and a issue nearer home here that well left me angry but more upset than anything.  Not a ideal start to the year but I refused to let either sour my New Year and have sadly made my peace , dealt with them and both are now gone.  So that's where I have been for the last week or so.  I have never liked confrontation..I like to think I am a peacemaker .....but sometimes even I have to admit somethings are better completely out of your life than hovering in some limbo
that you know will never get better or ever be the same it was before.

Today I am expecting to get my photo's sorted so I can post the Christmas swaps, sorry for the delay
But they need organising as they are in a random mess at the moment.

Well lots of blog authors have started the New Year with inspiring aims, words or ideas....... As many I do not make resolutions but have resolved to do two things.  One is to slow down (a bit) and notice things and the other is to appreciate in whatever form it arrives in my life things that make me happy and bring me joy.

Well this last week I found joy when ....and noticed ...

My son for some reason has started to call me "Tiger", no one has ever called me that before and I
burst out laughing the first time and nearly squeezed the life out of him!!!!! He knows how to make his mummy happy.

Seeing for the first time a woodpecker eating from my bird feeding station.

Sitting quietly and showing the children on the internet all the birds that visit our garden. Then watching them, watching the birds with obvious interest and telling me who we have visiting today.

A new black calf arriving in the field next to us and my son naming him "Dave". Another funny for me!'  The children always notice the new calves and the names they chose always make me laugh.  Before we have had Digby (I still do not know where that came from as I don't remember them seeing the film about the dog) , Pansy Cake ???, Twinkle Moon and Trevor!!! to name a few, not yet a "Maria" but I expect that day will come !!!Quite a combination and always guaranteed to bring a smile to the farmer's face when Little Miss informs him!!

..............

Not so funny, husband telling me he has arranged for out spare room to be decorated...good I thought
..until he told me I had 3 days before the man was arriving to empty it!!! Oh and I needed to
dismantle the old bed and choose the paint!!!!! I did it though and did a clear out at the same time.
Nothing like a time scale to work to, if that doesn't motivate me, nothing will!

Going to my first WI.  Another funny I am the youngest by at least 20 years! Having said that everyone was friendly and inviting and we had a lady who gave us a talk on Istanbul, a bit about
Turkey in general and the carpet making there...two and a half hours flew by.  I will be back.

On the craft front  I am doing a bit of sewing , trying to finish a cross stitch and stitchery but am getting a bit distracted.  I blame Pinterest and having time to really explore it this Christmas and I have not been alone as my dear girl spotted things too.  The result,  me and her having lovely play times crafting, when really I should be sorting  out house things.

Our garden chap has chopped back our huge bushes at the front.....they really were a pain sprawling onto the drive and already buds are forming.  He tells me this year the blooms will be a wash out but
then next year it will all have been worth it.   It seems strange seeing the field over them.

So many bulbs waking up in the garden and daffs peaking out here and there...not sure they will like the forecasts of snow expected "soon" I"m told we need frost before the snowdrops and bluebells will appear,  that too is.  apparently on it's way.  Everyone says it is mild but here the last week the heating during the day has been on (much to my DH's disapproval...his body thermostats is obviously set quite a bit higher than mine! ) .  Our oil tank gauge seems to be a constant sign of interest for DH as the moment .. Working out how many litres etc are left...beyond me I'm afraid .must be a man thing!

and so in rolls a New Year..

Happy New Year everyone.  I confess we did stay up to see it in......I can't remember the last year we did to be honest and now I know why ..... Late nights do not suit me especially when pupster woke me at 4am howling like a puppy, I think the wind frightened him and there I was at 4am giving him a cuddle until he was ok to settle again.

Well it has been windy here ,quite scary so I don't blame anyone being afraid.  Little Man has been so frightened so he has been in with me but even then he hasn't slept well, so a nice duvet and pillow has been left on the settee so he can nod off if he wants during the day.

Before storm Frank arrived we did at last get a hour on the beach at Aberporth on Tuesday, by golly it was chilly..Dextie loved it and went into what must of been freezing water...made me shudder to watch.


This is my Christmas Cracker swap from Debi from Busy Little Chickens blog.  The swap was organised by Tracy from Mad about bags blog.  Debi and I chatted over the Internet and this is what she sent me...

I so love Angels 

Beautiful wrapped 

(Funnily I used a similar fabric)

Fabric and cross stitch

Decorations and bookmarks

Another angel and pegs 

Handmade keyring

chocolate and handmade earring

I do not know how Debi fitted all this in the cracker

and then a extra something

a hand covered notebook

With a big spring of Lavender 

Thank you Debi I love it all.xx

Now in my haste to see how many thinks I could fit 

in a kitchen roll I forgot to take pictures!!

So 

You will have to pop over to Debi's to see what 

I sent

Thanks to TRACY for arranging 

such a fun swap.

I am not sure if I mentioned  I was

hoping to join the very local WI 

in the next village.

This morning I received a call inviting me

to the first meeting of the year 

on Monday.

I am really looking forward to it

and will let you know

how it goes.

A really nice start to the New Year ..

Husband's  reply when I told him was

"Oh goody CAKE!!"

On that note

Wishing you all the best year ever.