Time to Catch Up.

It seems ages since I posted but it is only a few days, a few days of nonstop activity, and hit and miss  internet connection. There is no help to be had from BT, nobody that I speak to can hear me say " there was absolutely no problem until 2 weeks ago when it slowed down and then at the weekend it became so slow that it would not work"!
I am sure that somebody will notice that the direct debit has been stopped. perhaps they will listen then. For now I am either logging on at work or in the library.

I have been busy, the kitchen has had a "Hurricane Pam" hit it, every shelf, cupboard and flat surface has been emptied, cleaned and sorted out. All the paintwork has had a birthday clean and all the glass as well. Even the walls have had a once over.

The sitting room has suffered the same treatment and the bedrooms are on the agenda but they will have to wait as I am back full time at work for a while. We seem to have staff going down like flies with various ailments and a few peeps have moved on to pastures new. It will not be for too long as I have a life outside of work.

I have made the last of the Damsons into jelly, a batch of blackberry chutney is simmering away and I have the last of the elderberries waiting their turn, they will go in with rosehips and apples and be jelly for Christmas hampers, all the pulp will be pushed through a sieve and turned into a preserve.

I have a shopping list that seems to be a yard long, a cold and snowy winter has been forecast so I am stocking up. A visit to Mr S and Mr T is in my near future, and possibly an order to AF.

I cooked the Southern Fried Chicken and it was PDG.

Oven Ready.

Nice and crisp better than a takeaway, 2 trays like this from 1 chicken

Served with homemade oven chips and salad, yummy.

The last of the sweetcorn, naughty but nice, oh so nice.

I won some fabric fro Miss Townmouse and it arrived this morning, I loved the photo of it and it is twice as nice in the flesh.

I am going to make cushion covers with this, it is heavily textured and I will add some satin for contrast and see if I can get some velvet in there as well.

I joined a sewing class at Button up and Stitch on Saturday, making Cathedral Window blocks. It was great fun and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I am going back next month to a bag making class.

I have lots more to share but need to go and jar my chutney.

                                                              TTFN                   Pam

A Quilt Is On The Way,and other delights.

A wonderful start to the day.
The postie was early today and brought me some pretties.

The vintage sheet fat quarters that I won from Sharon. Beautifully soft and perfect for a Baby Quilt so if anyone is expecting a new addition and would like a bespoke quilt you know where to come.

I asked for scraps of fabric a while ago as mine were getting "samey" and Frugally Challenged answered my plea.

Some new colours and prints for me to have fun with, and check out the pile on the right.

A tidy stack of fussy cut Christmas fabric, I will be turning these into a present for me, a Tablecloth with these on a red background I think. I would love to use white but could not boil wash and so will go for red.

I have been thinking about someone for a little while who is going through  a period of worry, there is nothing that anyone can do to help really, it is just a matter of waiting for the situation to be dealt with accordingly.

Now all that can be given is hugs and good wishes, you may have gathered that my version of a hug is quilt shaped. I had a look through my stash and started like this.

20 blocks will make a nice sized quilt and I decided on a log cabin type block, for a few reasons, I like order and so does the recipient, also the fabric is the feature not a fancy pants design that is convoluted and "showy". This does have it's place but this quilt is about comfort and safety and that calls for simple and ordered, in my mind anyway.

I chain piece these to cut down on fabric and thread waste then cut and trim to size.

This is how it looks now, I have to "hands up" to more haste less speed and if you look at the front block you will see that I have to do a little unpicking! It will not take long and I will have another sewing session later. I want this quilt finished by Friday so that I can deliver it.

My only problem is that the recipient does not know about this and I am not sure what their reaction may be.

How would you feel if it were you, would you think it an imposition or be embarrassed, would you accept that from me it is a normal gesture as a bunch of flowers would be from a keen gardener. I would appreciate some feedback on this, the last thing I want to do is make somebody uncomfortable.

Reasons to be grateful

1. My new fabrics to drool over.

2. Early morning tea in bed.

3. The smell of bacon ( Michael s breakfast)

4. Another mug of tea mmmmmm

5. Slobbing on the sofa with Francesca watching the Big Bang valentines episode.' drinking............TEA.

That's it for now, please give me some feedback on my quilt conundrum. TTFN   Pam

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I checked my emails today to find that I have won 2 fat quarters of a beautiful print from Texas. I entered a giveaway in the " April Showers Mug Rug" blog hop and won this,

This is the Bluebonnet, the national flower of Texas, I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and intend to buy some yardage, I won this on the  More Stars in Comanche blog, I often follow these blog hops and when I am a bit more confident (and have the time) I will take part in one, perhaps there is a UK blogger who is in the know who would be able and willing to host one.

I have it in mind to make these into mug rugs in the spirit of the theme and then perhaps have a little giveaway competition.

I have been to Lynn and got the bulb for the Toyota and got the little Janome sorted so I am all set for sewing but it will be tomorrow.

Dinner tonight is a pack of the bacon chops, I have put them on a bed of diced onion and apple, spread them with some wholegrain mustard and drizzled Maple Syrup over. They will go into a moderate oven for an hour covered and then I will bang the heat up and cook them on for about 20 minutes uncovered, we will have baked sweet potatoes and cauliflower cheese with them.

While I was in Lynn I took the time to buy Michael his birthday gift, I know what he would like and I found it with no problem it is now in hiding, he reads the blog via email so I will just delete it from his in box before he sees it.

I hope that they spend many happy hours together in his "man cave" AKA the shed.

I have to make this a quickie as I have a hot date that will not wait

I will happily press every seam that I sew and every piece of fabric however small but I hate, loath and detest ironing, I have to iron just about everything and I have to do it properly, my granny again, I can feel her looking over my shoulder if I skimp on it. TTFN   Pam