Thanks to Barbara

Look what the postie brought me,

The packaging is nearly as good as the contents.

When I moaned about not finding bright yellow Aran yarn I had 2 suggestions. 1 from Rupert, I followed his link and found some wonderful yarn and have ordered some but for a different project.

The other was from Barbara and I scored gold on her link. I ordered all the above, the top photo is the yarn for the Minion hats, I do still have to find some red for the tongues because I forgot about it until it arrived, too late Ethel.

The 3 very bright colours in the second pic are for my granny squares, I just happened to click on DK, saw those and oops they were in my basket in the blink of an eye. They are even better in real life, loud doesn't begin to cover it and once I find the right shade of red for the sashing I may have to buy some sunnies.

I forgot to show you my card and choccies from Fran.

I know that I gave chocolate up for Lent but I had to open one bag and smell them, heavenly. I can not remember the last time I had some, once Lent is over I will eat this bag in as short a time as I can without being ill.

The kitchen is finished bar a little touch up of the paint on the tile trim, now I have to get every thing back into it's proper place.

Just the front bedroom to do and a little snag list, this will not take long and I am thinking middle of next week simply because of the enormous wardrobes that have to be dismantled. Why oh why did I buy them?

Reasons to be grateful.

1. Michael walked Ben for me today as I have done something to my left ankle.

2. Ben came back and has been snoring ever since, he makes such funny noises that make me smile.

3. I have all that lovely yarn to stroke.

4. I was given a large bundle of freshly lifted leeks today.

5. I have the offer of a trip to Sandringham and then on to the coast on Friday, with Ben of course.

I have no recollection of tripping or slipping but my ankle has been playing up for a few days and this morning is swollen and tender. It is strapped up and most of the time is propped up on a pile of cushions.

I have used the time to crochet and surf the net.

The pile of squares is growing, there are some middles there waiting for 2 more colours.

The little trimmings will be used as stuffing for something or other.

Newsflash

Do you remember me telling you that I heard a Woodpecker a while ago, I spotted the hole he pecked out while chatting to Marina yesterday afternoon, I am going to try to get close enough to take a photo.

It has been brought to my attention that I have not had tea for ages, Michael is putting the kettle on for a brew before he starts clearing the decks in the bedroom. It's good being fussed round for a little while.

               TTFN                                                      Pam

Yes I DID Help, and here is the proof.

Work is progressing well, Michael has been papering at the dining end of the kitchen whilst I finished stripping the paper at the other end. He sneakily took this as a record of the fact that I did help.

I did make the tea and coffee, most of the time, and I have been cleaning round the windows, the closing edges that you only see when you open the windows. My pet hate is seeing them dirty and cobwebby so they get done very regularly. I am also "mr shifter" and have moved several things from A to B back to A and then to C.

I took Ben out for an hour this afternoon and took a few pics.

This field is just on the edge of the village, the center section was hand picked a few days ago for the flower market, the remainder will not be gathered they were really grown for the bulbs. This is their 3rd year so they will be harvested in the autumn. 

There is a small area on the far left that is tulips, out of sight, these are still just leaves.

Now this is a wallflower, it is a perennial and has bloomed each of the 9 years that I have lived in the village. 

A patch of Honesty growing wild at the edge of a field, there are seedlings growing all around and in a few years it will fill the whole area.

I have walked past this barn end wall hundreds of times and never seen this shrub before. There was a scraggy hedge and a broken wall that have been removed. It is so pretty, there are 2 side by side and a paler one further down, I could not get closer as we had heavy rain yesterday evening and the land has been ploughed.

As usual for me the last photo was the first one that I took today. I woke early and put the breadmaker on with a fruit loaf recipe, as soon as it was cool enough I had a slice. Michael had the crust with buttery stuff but I had mine as it was, yummy yummy yummy. I bought this breadmaker after Froogs recommended it and have not regretted one moment of the time I have had it. I do not use it all the time I like to make a big batch in the Kenwood and fill the oven. For one off loaves it is excellent and this is like an enormous Hot Cross Bun. I have to make another without the fruit for Fran, I will do it last thing tomorrow for her to take back to London.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. The glory of nature all around us Free.

2. My point and shoot camera that was a gift several years ago.

3. Ben having the patience to wait for me while I decide what to photograph.

4. My kitchen will soon be finished and back together.

5.The pile of paint tins will be gone from the bathroom, the most convenient place to put them.

It may seem strange to keep paint in the bathroom, they were tucked in a corner right out of the way so are one of the few items that have not been shunted round for the last week or so.

 The spare bedroom/craft room is finished but the shelves need to be tidied once all the "relocated" items have been returned to their proper homes. B****r, I have just remembered that I forgot to get a new lightshade when I was out yesterday, tomorrow it will have to be.

I have a list of odd jobs to be done to finish each room off, I spent 20 minutes looking for a green glass dish to put in the bathroom before I remembered giving it away months ago.

I want to nip into the garden and pick some daffodils for my vases, I like a splash of colour here and there and the yellow is so happy.

Ben needs to be fed soon and I have to check that the box of meatballs, that I removed from the freezer last night, are thawing.

We are having  roast beef tomorrow, it is the enormous joint that I bought for Christmas and we didn't use.

 Once cold I will slice some of the left over meat up and freeze for Fran, the rest will become cottage pie, go into large Yorkshire puddings and so on until we have eaten it. I guess that Ben will help out, if I ask him nicely.

I ordered a couple of crochet books from up the Big River yesterday and a top up of Ben's vitamin pills and the supplement that he takes for his flaky skin. I am looking forward to getting the parcels, well 2 of them any way.

I have started to crochet a colourful Granny Square Blanket, I can not get my sewing out and knitting little clothes for Bramble is too fiddly when watching TV or a DVD. This will be for my new home, I know that it may be some time before I move, but it will also be a while before the blanket is finished. 

On the subject of finishing, I ought to get a wiggle on and finish my tasks.

TTFN                                                            Pam

There I was, watchin' this hole, hole in the wall, wide and sorta tall.

My apologies  to Mr Cribbins, But just have a gander at this.

It has now been plastered and when dry will be skimmed, but   I don't care!  I'm walking on sunshine and I'm doing a happy dance.

I took Ben out this afternoon and on the way back I stopped to talk to a couple who are emptying their garage so they can get the car in. They moved in just over 2 years ago, filled the garage, shut the doors and forgot about it all. He had just come out of the forces and was adjusting to life as a civi and she was polishing up her nursing with a refresher course (for want of a better name). Now they decided with a weeks holiday and family coming for Christmas that having a usable garage might be handy. I laughingly said, If you've got a vintage Singer in there I'll buy it.

He said " as a matter of fact we have a BRAND NEW TREADLE machine that we bought in India, the machine is a Singer and is still in the box, The frame and table were made locally so do not have the Singer badge. Would you like them" I nearly fell over, took a few deep breathes and managed to squeak, "can I have a look?"

Here she is, still dusty but connected up and running. I did not work her, she needs a good oiling and I will take her to the Singer shop for a once over. As you can see the table is a fairly disgusting orangey thing, if I can not find one on the internet I will sand it down and stain it a better colour.

I was only congratulating a fellow blogger on her treadle find a couple of days ago.  Now I have one, I have been searching for one for ages, all I found were either in need of a boatload of money spent on them or as dear as fire is hot.

I will be on the phone tomorrow to book her in and hopefully it can be done before Christmas.

I have some new followers to welcome, Kankerdoodle and Melanie.

Melanie blogs at The Patchwork Robin and I am green with envy at her beautiful makes.

Reasons to be grateful

1. My new machine, power cuts hold no fears for me now.

2. Lovely people and their generosity.

3. The good neighbour who collected and delivered it for me.

4. All the bloggers who are holding a giveaway day on their blogs today.

5. My car boot full of things for the charity shop and the wonderful space they have left me.

I had to struggle to get past number 1, such a small thing as which way I took Ben and what time I went influenced this. Had I turned left out of the door or gone sooner or later I would never had known. Chance or luck, call it what you will, it was there for me today. No I have not rushed out to buy a lottery ticket but the Dogs Trust will get an extra donation from me this Christmas.

I have to get my self into the kitchen, dinner time approaches and excitement has not diminished my appetite. I am making khichri from MFin3, Elaine posts some great recipes and this is the latest in a long line that I have made. It may be a breakfast dish but I am looking forward to my dinner. Oh and while I was nosing round the site I used her link to buy a pressure cooker, I had one years ago and I am not sure what happened to it. Mine should arrive this week.

                          TTFN                                           Pam

Two Step Forewards, One Step Back!

Oh my  we have been busy, after the skirting board discovery, much scratching of heads and ifs and ands talking a decision was made to crack on with the decorating.
The coving could be done, the cupboard doors, the 2 doors out of the room and most of the skirting could all be glossed, leaving a stand alone wall that joins the rotten bit to be done once replacement has happened.
So a start was made, Saturday all went well, I even gave the windows a thorough clean inside and out, nets down and washed,shiny shiny.
Today all started well, then it went belly up, while scraping down some loose paint on 1 wall a little plaster fell away. On investigating a bit more fell and then some more. I now have a semi circular cavity right down to the brickwork 2' long by 18" wide where, I think, the plaster was too dry. It is all in hand and should be made good next week. The joys of living in such an old house.

On the other hand I have sorted through the CD,s and the DVD,s and have a large bag of each to dispose of. I haven't summoned up the will to go through my cookbooks, it will be painful.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. 2 jobs knocked off my list.

2. Sparkling windows, inside and out.

3. Two sunny days side by side to walk Ben.

4. An offer of some well berried Holly for my mantelpiece.

5. A long chat on the phone with Fran later.

I changed my bed and vacuumed as usual and I am amazed that Ben has any hair left, that was all that was picked up. 
I have linen on the bed that has been buried at the back of the cupboard for months if not years.
I have a delicious dinner cooking and the smell is driving me mad, add to that the fact that I spent an hour watching the sublime Nigel cooking yet more Festive food, and it is no wonder that I have "the Rumblies in The Tumblies" and quite a bit of mouth watering going on.


               TTFN                            Pam

The Race is ON.

I have decided to jump the gun on my £1500 in 2014 challenge and start today. My Co op Divi has been added to my balance, although it is less than last year, my total stands at £46.74. That sum will be rounded up to £50 and used as the first deposit into the challenge account. I am no financial wizard so I will be trawling around to find the best place to open this. All suggestions gratefully received.
 On the topic of receiving, the mince pies met with a very warm welcome, as did the sausage rolls.

My spend today was £2.35 on the greengrocer market stall, I will buy milk during the week which will take my purchases up to £3.35 for the week. Do a little happy dance....... 

If I could I would add one of those slidey things to the side to show my savings, instead I will just put it in the post every time I make a deposit.
 This is a short post as when I had the room cleared ready to go I  discovered a patch of skirting board with about as much substance as a warm marshmallow. 
At the beginning of last winter the down pipe came away from the wall, there was some water ingress but the pipe was put back and plaster dried out and was painted. I now realise that the Bodger/Idle Bugger who did the work skimped on it. The skirting has been slowly rotting away and needs to be replaced, I know a man who can BUT not till after The New Year. My paint and brushes have been returned to the Glory Hole cupboard under the stairs for a month or so. RATS RATS and RATS again.
And there's more.
I have intended all along to start in Fran's room but there is too much of her stuff in there so I started in the lounge.  I wanted to move the furniture around, to make more use of the natural light, and the sofa is too big for where I want it, more rats. However it is there where I want it and it is staying put until I source a replacement on Lobay or somewhere similar. I will not be rushing off to "Pile it High sell it NOW" furniture shop to get a new sofa for Christmas in the permanent sale. My room is nearly in order, my recently emptied built in cupboards have been stocked with all the sewing clutter essentials and I have my machine table set up under the window, lots of natural light. My cutting table, drop leaf, is on the opposite wall and there is room for my ironing board as well.


Reasons to be grateful.

1. The Challenge is on with a good start.

2. I found so many "lost" things as I cleared the room to decorate.

3. I found my thimble, it was my Grannies so I am VERY grateful.

4. My house suddenly appears bigger.

5. I now have a few weeks to play with my sewing.

In a way this has been a blessing, there are several sewing finishes that can happen next week, they were going to be put on hold till January, my 3 quilts can be basted and quilted and my aprons can be cut and made. I also would like to make some more cushion covers. I am gonna be busy busy busy, while my hands are guiding fabric through Little Gem they can not be guiding chocolate into my mouth so it is win win.

Tea then walking Ben with Greg, his new BFF, Greg is a black and white Border Collie and Ben runs like a steam train to keep up with him, good for both of them.

                          TTFN                                    Pam