Friday 30 July 2010

Final Quilt Block

Here, I think, is my last offering for Round 1 of the Quilting Bee that I have been working with for the past 14 months. The overall quilt still has another one or two people to see yet, but for me I think I am done. This block is mainly applique of which I am much more experienced in. It goes along with much of the previous work that has already been done. This is the second outing for my "Birdie" and it will not be the last either.
My quilt arrived at the same time as this quilt and I have been really good and not looked at it until I had completed my share of two other quilts. However, I am now free to work on my own quilt, but guess what? Yep, I am off to my sister-in-laws for a week instead. However I do have plenty of time to look for sashing fabric. So more on that another time. I am also up to date with my Christmas Bee work as well.
Sophie and I were very lucky to spend much of today on Bude beach while hubby went off and carried out a boat survey slightly further up the beach. In 3 years this is the first time that we have managed to co-ordinate like this. i am really waiting for the phone call asking for a boat survey in the Bahamas or the Med!! What do you reckon my chances are?
Great weather this week for the beginning of the Summer Holidays, lets hope it stays with us too.
xx

Tuesday 27 July 2010

Snack Bars

I will add the photo once I have tracked the file down which seems to have gone AWOL at the moment, typical. Anyway here is how to make these lovely snack bars very quick and easy.

Ingredients:
100g.4ozs Margarine
100g/4ozs Sugar
125g/5ozs Rolled Porridge Oats
Instructions
1. Melt the margarine and sugar in a saucepan over a low heat. Stir all the time with a wooden spoon.

2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and mix in the rolled oats. Stir until well mixed Add additional ingredients. (See end of instructions for suggestion).

3. Spoon into a greased sandwich tin. (Victoria sponge tine or perhaps a 6inch wide foil tray). Spread evenly.

4. Bake at 180 degrees c / Gas Mark 4 for 15-20 minutes until just turning brown.

5. Mark the mixture into wedges or rectangles. Leave to cool.

6. Lift the snack bars out of the tray carefully on to a cooling rack.

Additional Ingredients

*You could change the type of sugar that you use.
*Add some syrup.
May be add 25g of grated apple, raisins, chopped nuts etc.
Perhaps cinnamon, nutmeg, or mixed spice.

Select an additional ingredient but obviously not all of them!! Thought I should make that clear, could end up with something a bit odd otherwise.
Have fun with this, off to have a look for that photo.................

xx

Monday 26 July 2010

Welcome my new Followers

It always brings a smile to my face when I see another follower to my blog. Those of you who also have a blog or other social site must wonder if anyone actually likes what you write, or in the case of a craft blog whether anyone is interested in your ideas etc.
So to see new followers is always a boost. I am still finding it hard to leave any thank you comments and even today I tried to get to Crazy Mothering Chick and failed!!
So here is my thank you to those who have signed up to read my ramblings.
These are in the side bar along with many others, pop over and see what they are doing today.
Crazy Mothering Chick
Marina. L
Bece
Pootle Flump (I love this name!!)
Polana
Made with love by Mandy
Sarah
Louise
The Redhead Riter
Tracey
Jill
Andi
Sunny Binaz
Vaughndelee
Mrs Twins
Seeloinfein
Some great names here, don't you think! These are the most recent and I hope I have not missed anyone, and I shall persist in trying to leave comments.
Another recipe tomorrow, just need to photograph the item before it gets eaten up!
Take care
xx

Saturday 24 July 2010

Softies on Etsy


These felty friends are now listed in my Etsy shop.
More to follow over the summer.
xx

Friday 23 July 2010

Say it with flowers................................

I saw these lovely flowers in a supermarket on Tuesday........

............and thought that they would be perfect for............

colleagues at work who help me to do my job day to day......

..............so, to Kylie, Angela, Cora and Maureen a really

BIG THANK YOU

and enjoy the summer break!

Just add Gypsophelia and a smile!

xx

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Crochet Rainbow Blanket

I have been a regular visitor over at Attic 24 and recently and Lucy has been coming up with a Granny blanket idea which enables you to create rows rather than going round in a square!
I had a go at the sample that Lucy suggested should be tried first.
Guess what? I manged to get it to work first time.

I then got some wool from the local market and together with lots that I had left over from my "Never ending knitted Blanket" (remember that?) I made my 240 chain to have a go at the real thing.
Again the important first row went perfectly and I have not looked back so far.
The picture above shows about 45 rows, so I have a little way to go.

Sorry, this picture has rotated somehow, never mind. Anyway, here is a close up of the blanket so far. it has been really good fun having something to simply pick up and do in front of the TV. I bought a bit more wool today, only 55p a ball, to add to what I already have and I hope to have it finished by next weekend.


YIPEEE!!! It is summer time!

We broke up for the summer today and I am really looking forward to getting my sanity back. I have unloaded a boot full of work to do before September and I am going into work tomorrow to do jobs that simply can not be done during term time, such as displays and sorting out cupboards etc. I may go in on Friday as well, depending on how much I get done tomorrow. A lot of long standing staff retired today so going back in September will be very weird not to have them there. So a few tears were flying around.

Toffy Update:

Toffy is 4 weeks old in this picture ahhhh!

We went again to the Vet on Monday and Toffy has had a little more medicine. He is not getting any worse, his eye has cleared up and he is eating well, running around that a mad cat and annoying Tiger a little. But he will not stop sneezing!! If this continues it will damage his nose lining and then he is at risk for secondary infections, could damage his nose permanently and will always be a cat that sneezes! I had no idea that cats nose were so at risk like this. If he does not stop sneezing he will never be accepted at a cattery. My in-laws have offered to look after him so that we can go away and Tiger will go into the Cattery for his Hols. We have become very attached to Toffy and he is sneezing much much less but we are not sure how much longer this is going to go on for.

I am off for an early night knowing that do not have to stay up marking etc tonight!!

x

Monday 19 July 2010

Latest Christmas Quilt Block

I am secretly very pleased with this block. I have always loved applique and I was delighted to find out that this technique could also be used along with paper pieceing and other forms of quilt block creating. I did produce another bauble block in May but I wanted to have another go with a different approach.
I decided to use darkr coloured fabric, gold thread, ribbon, a few sequins and this time some holly with a button berry.
The background is a white cotton because that was the background colour theme of the previous blocks.
I really enjoyed making this block and I would like to try a much larger bauble with plenty of hand stitching, but it will depend on what comes through the post box as to whether it would work.
Hopefully all of our quilts (there is about 17 of us I think taking part in this Quilting bee) will be completed before Christmas so that we can make them up and have them on display! So please bear with me for having this topic on my blog in July!
xx

Sunday 18 July 2010

Lemon Meringue Pie


Been very hectic this week so I have been away from the blog for a bit. Here is a really easy lemon Meringue Pie which I made last weekend.
Ingredients

1 Ready made sweet shortcrust pastry base.

Filling
25g/ 10z Cornflour
25g/ 10z Margarine
1 Lemon
250ml/1/2 pint milk and lemon juice
3 egg yolks
50g/ 20zs Caster Sugar
Meringue
3 egg whites
150g/ 60zs Caster Sugar

Instructions
1).Blend the cornflour with the lemon juice add the rest of the liquid and boil.
2). Add the sugar. margarine and lemon juice.
3). Separate the egg. Add the egg yolks to the cornflour paste, bring to the boil stirring all the time until it thickens. (Or do what I do and chuck it all in at once).
4). Pour the filling into the flan case.
5). For the Meringue, whisk the egg whites until stiff and it stands in peaks. Whisk in the Caster Sugar.
6). Spoon the meringue onto the filling.
7). Cook for approx 10 mins at 180 degrees, Gas mark 4 or until the Meringue is very lightly brown.

I normally use free range eggs so that the filling is a brighter colour, but a slip up with the shopping meant that I had to use other eggs. So not such a good colour, delicious none the less!

Enjoy!!

x

Monday 12 July 2010

Simple Homemade "Chunky" Soup

I have made this soup twice now and Sophie and Hubby just LOVE it!! Sophie thinks it is the best and much better than shop bought. it is soooo easy to make and virtually fool proof......my kind of weekday cooking.
Serves 2-3 easily, stretch to 4
Ingredients
1 Potato
1 carrot
25g/1oz Oil
750ml/1 1/2 pints Water
Chopped parsley
2 sticks of celery or 1 Leek
1 Onion
1 Chicken Stock Cube
Salt & Pepper
Instructions
1. Peel all of the Vegetables, grate the carrot and chop the other vegetables into bite size pieces. Fry in the oil for 10 minutes.

2. Add the water, stock cube, salt and pepper. bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Liquidize the soup using a hand blender until smooth although we prefer to leave the soup chunky.

Additions
We also like to add some croutons and chunks of bacon from the butchers or Italian Panchetta.
This meal is quite filling and you could easily experiment with some of the vegetables. Would also make a good basis for a casserole.
We use this recipe at school but I have changed a few bits to suit our taste. It takes next to no time and Sophie can help with chopping some of the vegetables with help.

Very tasty and very economical to make, what I call a veg patch dinner.

xx

Sunday 11 July 2010

Funky Christmas Tree Block

This is my latest Christmas Block. The package arrived with a large piece of cloth to inspire and this tree is based on a section of that cloth. The photo does not really do it justice which is a pity, it is better in the flesh, so to speak.
I have the next one sitting in my little sewing room and I need to get it done by the end of the week.
We have had a lovely weekend, hubby is away nearly all of next week and of course just about every appointment, school open day for Sophie, a school trip for me, a leaving party etc has to fall in the same week!!
I have some more recipes for you this week with pictures as the sewing front has slowed down a little.
So pop back tomorrow to see what I have for you to try.
xx

Friday 9 July 2010

Seed Swap 2010


Last year I took part in a seed swap being organised by Marmaladekiss. I have decided to join up again this year as I am hoping that I may have more seeds to choose from this time. Pop over to Julia's blog and read the guidelines for taking part. Meet some new bloggers at the same time.
Toffy went to the vet today and his eye is much better. He is still sneezing so he had the rest of the anti-biotic dose and will go back in about 10 days time to see what the verdict is, but it is looking good. He was a great source of fun last evening pushing and chasing a ping pong ball around the kitchen floor. The ball and kitten can go really fast on a hardwood floor!
xx

Thursday 8 July 2010

Blog layout probs.

Many thanks for the supportive comments about Toffy. He is off to the Vet again tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed.
My blog layout supplied by Scrappin Blogs has been deleted by Photobucket which is why there is that silly text square in the middle of everything. (Now gone). I am now going to have to try and replace it. Nothing to do with me etc but Scrappin blogs have been told that they have to many hits etc and it is taking up too much space. A few things to do seem to not be going right this week. I shall now have to find another layout, bit annoying really as I loved that blue flowery thing I had going on. Any suggestions?
xxxxxxxxxx
Update:
I have managed to get rid of the photobucket text box but at the expense of having to delete the codes for the blue and flower background that I have had since February. So my job now is to find another layout that is just as nice. I think that I need to find another layout blog.
Even more of an update:
Found this background tonight and I am going to live with it for a couple of days. I found it here and there are manymore to look at. What do you think?

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Poor Toffy..............

We took both cats to the vet today. Tiger needed his annual booster and worming etc. I think the vet thought that a 16 year old cat was not going to put up much resistance. After a bit of a tussle and a bleeding finger (The vet's that is) he now thinks differently and was surprised at how quick Tiger was. When he took a hold of Tiger's scruff I said to Hubby that it would not be enough to keep Tiger still and it was not. The worm tablet really annoyed him so he got back into his cat box quite happily. The claw clipping will have to wait for another time. He is a big old cat and does not like being man-handled!
Moving onto Toffy............he has conjunctivitis (sorry if that is not spelt right, but I could not find a dictionary), worms , and more worrying Cat Flu. The eyes and worms are being sorted out. Some antibiotics given, some similar to one we would have as well! He is going back on Friday to see what happens next. He sat beautifully in his box on my lap in the car and was very good about it all, (except that worm tablet again!). Due to this, he has not been given his jabs and can not be until the flu has gone. So, as it stands at the moment we will not be going to my sister-in -laws as Toffy can not go in a Cattery.
We borrowed a cat box,so that had to be fully sterilised and wash all of the bedding for both cats.
The difficult bit was trying to explain to a 7 year old what Cat Flu is and the two possible outcomes that could happen. Her bottom lip trembled but she held onto to it and made a fuss of Toffy whilst waiting for dinner to be made! A tough Mummy moment.
The vet is hoping that Toffy will be able to fight the virus himself as he is young but we shall have to see what happens.
xx

Monday 5 July 2010

Family Addition.....Toffy

Noooooo! Not that kind of new addition! No not at all, I mean the small cute and very fluffy variety!
This is Toffy and he is 8 weeks old in the picture above.

A friend of mine has a lovely farm cat which had a set of very cute kittens which I featured about a month ago. He is very tiny and when he is curled up to sleep like he is above, he will fit easily on a side plate.
His food bowl look massive and he often has his feet in the bowl as well. We have since bought him even smaller ones so that he can manage easier.

He loves to play much to Sophie's delight!

He will soon grow into his bed, plenty of room to stretch out at the moment though.

The early even was fast approaching so the sun is a bit too much here but I did manage to catch Toffy sitting still. He is definitely a very pretty cat with lovely markings on his fur.

He has been making friends with Sophie. He is technically Sophie's cat and it is her responsibility to feed him etc and she has done so too. He is going for his injections on Wednesday along with Tiger who is due his booster jabs. Should be a fun trip for all that afternoon, eh?

He is also prone to falling asleep sitting upright and then wobbles which wakes him up again. he has been a high source of amusement this past week and very little of anything has been done as a result. As for Tiger, well he is adjusting and has generally taken no notice of Toffy at all.

Well, I think that is enough cuteness for one post, but he is a sweetie though, isn't he.

xx

Saturday 3 July 2010

Felty Flower friends

These two cheeky little friends are now in my Etsy shop. You can also make a special order to have a particular colour scheme. Just convo or send me an email to sort out what you would like.
If you prefer to use Folksy then let me know and I shall set up a special order button for you.
xx

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