Thursday, 31 March 2011

So Cute..

Spent yesterday browsing the shops at Merry Hill. Homesense has to be my favourite at the moment and I couldn't leave these two little cuties on the shelf. Luckily Jack is home form Uni so as son as I got home he knocked a few nails in and put them up for me. I also got a bird table and an arc to put over the step down to the lawn which he put together too. He's so different to his Dad, they would still be in the boxes waiting to be put up! 

Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Souper Day

Well it's not been the best of weeks so far. Monday not only started off damp and foggy but I got a phone call just after I had taken that photograph to say my Aunt had passed away. We knew it was going to happen, she had lung cancer, but never expected it to be quite so soon. At least she went peacefully and didn't have to suffer too much.


Yesterday and today I have been using up all the veg that is lying in my basket. We have a shelf full of soups in the freezer now. Above are the ingredients for parsnip and app,e soup and below curried sweet potato soup. This is one of my favourites, lovely and sweet and spicy.


I also took charge of my first delivery from Approved Foods. Some of the items are really cheap so hopefully we'll be able to save a few pennies. If you want inspiration for saving pennies have a read of this blog.http://ournewlifeinthecountry.blogspot.com/ I love to see what they are up to next.


I'm hoping that I can feed the four of us when the kids come home from uni for under £100 a week. Think we will be eating less meat and more veg. I'll keep you informed how we are getting on. Think the key to it is being organised and having a meal plan and sticking to it. You never know I may even loose that extra stone of weight that has crept on over the winter.

Sunday, 27 March 2011

More Makes....Things are looking Up!

Well what a week it's been in our household. It all started so well, we all decided that we were going to get ourselves fit and trim in time for the summer. Hubby and I had been walking each night after our tea had gone down but this week we only managed Monday and Tuesday has after that we have both been under the weather will a cold. I thought we had finished with colds for now but obviously not. I never went out the door until Friday. Hopefully next week we can get back in our routine cause I sure could do with loosing a stone in weight before I have to bare all in the summer!

Today I have been home alone as hubby and son have been karting. I decided to have a day sewing and how I enjoyed it. Made these travel wallets out of Sew Hip mag. Could of done with doing these yesterday as daughter flew to Malta early this morning for a field trip from Uni.

Made another large cosmetic bag but with interfacing this time instead of wadding. Think I prefer the wadding.

Also made two Aprons, sorry about the photos but no one was here to take them for me.

Look at the concentration on my face. Lol


Managed to make a curry for tea too. Can't believe how much I got done today, beats doing the housework but I suppose that's waiting for tomorrow!

Monday, 21 March 2011

Enjoying my sewing again at last

It's seemed like months since I have had the urge to sew anything, but now I'm back on form and really enjoying it.

I've made lots of bunting, large and small, to hang in the garden during the summer and also I may put some in my blog shop for sale. Trouble is I like them all and don't want to part with them.


It's my friend Jaynes' birthday this week so I made her this toilet bag. I showed it to my daughter and now I have to make her one too!

We had to go to a Christening yesterday so not much crafting took place but hopefully I will be able to make up for it today, after doing the washing, ironing, cleaning and spot of tidying the garden!

Monday, 14 March 2011

Sunny Weekend at Last!

I really enjoyed this weekend. We managed to get out and about and also do a spot of gardening too.


Hubby and I went for a walk to Himley Hall. It had been a while since we had been, we always used to take the kids when they were young.

Some one was getting married there.

This was once the home of the Earl of Dudley.
Sunday we spent tidying the garden. Sunday evening was spent snoozing on the sofa!

Monday, 28 February 2011

Where did that weekend go?

Well I can't believe it's Monday morning already! This was the first weekend for a while that Jacko hasn't come home form Uni. He went to visit his girlfriend at Leeds Uni instead. It was nice for change even though I missed him to be able to do just what we wanted. Here are a few pictures of what I got up to.

Saturday saw me doing a spot of cooking. I have been baking my own bread for a while now and I must say it's getting better. I find it cooks better in the Rayburn if I don't  put it in a loaf tin.
I needed to use up a lemon so made coconut and lemon cake.

Sunday I was a Karting widow (lovely).  had the day to myself so I got out the sewing machine and a way I went. It was great to be sewing again and I have lots of projects in mind, it's just the time I need to do them. This is a magazine bag made with the left over fabric from Sophie curtains. Think it need something other than the bow on the front.

Sorry about the quality of the photos but I was so excited about making something again and wanted to share it with you. I have lots of bunting cut out ready to sew so perhaps that will get finished this week sometime. Got to run, having my eyebrows waxed today, ouch! I always look like I've been n a fight when Mande's finished doing them. Do you wax or do you pluck?

Thursday, 24 February 2011

What a Beautiful Day!


I know it's been a while but I just had to share these pictures with you. Spent the day out in the garden trying to make it look a bit respectable. It seems like months since we were able to potter about outside without being froze to death. Looks like I wasn't the only one making the most of the warmer weather!

I love white crocus, looks like he does too.



Will be back soon, feel like my mojo for sewing is coming back at last!