New Stock arriving

Hi Everyone,

I know some of you wanted to know about my new stock before it actually arrived so that you could get to choose before I sell out:

Please let me know as soon as possible if you want an item and I will put it aside for you.

See you soon.

xx

Crocheting with Colour

I love to surround myself with colour!

When I was a teenager I made this blanket for myself and it kept me warm during long nights studying at university when we had power cuts - those were the days!

When I was clearing my parent’s house ready to sell it last year, I came across my blanket and brought it home with me. My eldest son had ‘flu and wrapped himself up in it and then wanted one of his own so I took up my crochet hook and made another one:

I tried to make it ‘boy’ colours but my colour palette is so varied I hated making the blanket dull - I hope it’s not too girlish - anyway my son seems to like it, he says it’s a work of the heart.

Then of course I had to make a blanket for my youngest son which is still not finished. I had to make it different but not too different.

What do you think?

See you soon.

xx

Hot Weather - Lemonade Recipe

We have hot weather at long last in the UK -  definitely lemonade weather. I came across a wonderfully easy recipe a few years back. You will need a blender.

Ingredients

1 Lemon

Sugar to taste

Water to taste

Lots of ice cubes.

Method

Cut up the lemon leaving the skin on and put in the blender.

Add about a tablespoon of sugar (to begin with)

Add three cupfuls of water (to begin with)

Add a large handful of ice cubes.

Blend and sieve the mixture and taste.

If the lemonade is not to your liking put the liquid back in the blender and add more sugar or water and blend.

You can adapt this recipe by removing the skin of the lemon if you wish.

Serve in tall glasses with slices of apple and sprigs of mint.

Enjoy

xx

Garden Pirate

I have a pirate in my garden - all she needs is an eye-patch. Without fail when I am sitting in my deckchair she will sit at my feet and when I get up she will take my place and then look at me disdainfully when I want my seat back.

When I open a can of tuna, no matter if she is nowhere to be seen, by the time the can is open she is at my feet.

Her latest requests involve me opening the door for her to go into the garden as she finds it too much trouble to use the cat-flap!

Pebbles is now 5 years old.

See you soon.

xx

Last Slam Door Trains

Many years ago I used to commute to work on these trains and gradually they were replaced by newer models and now there is only one place left in Britain where they run - on the Brockenhurst to Lymington Branch line. However progress has even overtaken them and on Saturday the last slam door trains will have their final run on the branch line.

So for nostalgia here are some photos of the trains:

See you soon.

Love Living Here

I visited the Shetland ponies in Brockenhurst yesterday. Usually Shetlands are vicious but this particular herd is quite amenable - I suppose they are used to people stroking them. I wouldn’t recommend stroking any ponies in the forest as they can bite and kick.

This Shetland pony herd has five foals this year and as usual they are gorgeous - the size of labrador dogs and smaller.

This little filly has a curly mane. She came up to me and was chewing my trousers. Her hooves measure about 3 inches wide and when she trod on my foot I could hardly feel it.

This is why I love living here.

xx

House Reflections

Sadly this is not the bathroom in my house. I came across this photo some time ago when I was surfing the web and I kept the image as I wanted to copy some of the details and apply it to my living space. Unfortunately I cannot remember where I got the original image (so I apologise if this is your image and I have used it on this site without permission).

Do you ever think…. ‘I would really like a room, window, trinket like that’…?

So what appeals to me about this particular bathroom ? I love the curtains and the towel rack; the mirror above the bath is such a wonderful piece and the whole ambience of the room gives a feeling of relaxation.

My bathroom meanwhile is about half the size, barely room to swing a cat - not Pebbles, but the view from from my window is lovely as it overlooks my back garden and I can see the birds in the trees when I’m in the bath.

One day when I get around to it I will redecorate and have a room like this.

See you soon.

xx

Garden Jewels

Daisies are such unimposing flowers. Their simplicity gives them a place amongst my favourite flowers. When did you last make a daisy chain?

This is the daisy pendant I have in stock at the moment. Isn’t it wonderful? The best representation of a daisy I have seen.

My Forget-me-Nots came originally from my grandmother’s garden in Yorkshire back in 1962. The seeds from the garden were sown in my mother’s garden and seeds from her plants were then sown in my garden several years ago. Some think they are weeds but I love the blue gemstone flowers’ ethereal beauty as they seem to float on delicate stems.

Not quite a Forget-Me-Not but as near as I can get. This delicate pendant is blue topaz.

I don’t know the name of this flower but I’ve always called it ‘Star of Bethlehem’. It is one of the first flowers to appear in clumps under my trees in Spring.

And finally the jewel-like quality of apple blossom not only attracts me but the delicate fragrance makes them a haven for honey bees.

The nearest I can get to the delicate blossom flowers is the Rainbow Mystic Topaz.

Enjoy xx

Family

I’ve been looking through old family photos recently and I came across this grainy photo of my great grandfather George. It seems odd now to think someone would visit the beach wearing his best suit and tie but this is what they did when this photo was taken probably in the late 1920’s.

George was a plumber and every year he would visit Bridlington for his family holiday - so presumably this is where the photo was taken. Not only was George a plumber but he was also a very good drummer. It’s funny how talent is passed from generation to generation, yet this talent seemed to miss some offspring. His daughter never had the talent but my father (his grandson) did. It missed me but has now reappeared in my sons.

I like the grainy quality of this photo as it is so reminiscent of the photo of my son’s great great grandfather George. This is my youngest son playing the drums in the Indie Rock Band:

La Heroine

The band used to be called ‘Rabbit of Fire’ which I have written about before, but they have now evolved and in doing so have developed a reputation for being ‘ Much better than good… Ballsy Indie at its best…”

Simatik Promotion

-  to quote another source (other than being a proud mother).

They launched their EP earlier this year and have become well known in the Cheltenham, Gloucester, Worcester area.

Brilliant music guys - well done!

And would George be pleased? Undoubtedly!

See you soon.

xx

Doing nothing

Those of you who know me will know how difficult it is for me to remain still for long - things need doing, places to go, people to see - so having had a major operation last week I have to do virtually nothing except sit or lie still.

I have worked on my computer for two full days and I then re-acquainted myself with my favourite film ‘You’ve Got Mail’. There’s something about the music and the mis-en-scene which gives this story a quaint feeling, that life will always turn out well no matter what.

Another favourite is the legendary ‘Pride and Prejudice’ - the BBC one. There’s nothing like a spoonful of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and a dollop of Mr Darcy to brighten the afternoon.

I came across ‘The Holiday’ amongst these DVD treasures. I think I have a love/hate relationship with this film as sometimes the characters are annoying but I skip to the ‘nice’ bits. You might like it.

Incidently and purely by chance I’m listening to the ‘You’ve Got Mail’ CD as I’m writing this - so I’m definitely in the zone.

See you soon I hope!

xx