Thursday Already

My my how the week has flown I received my fabric win from Miss Ginger today.

This is destined to be a quilt for Kaitlyn at some point. 

Junior will adore these cars, as he has several quilts I aim to make a big floor cushion for him.

I have 2.5 meters of each print, lush.

here is the latest block from my swap partner, I love it. I am in the swap group for 3 more months and will decide what to make the blocks into when I have them all.

Dinner tonight is a fridge bottom bubble and squeak, I have lots of pots of cooked veg to use up and we all like B & S, I will spice up some mixed beans to have on the side. In this house the Bubble is the star.

I managed to stock up my coffee and tea supplies this afternoon, I had to go into Wisbech and dropped into Asda as Cottonreel gave me a tip off on the price of tea, and the coffee of preference was on offer as well.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. Last night at work tonight until Tuesday.

2. Francesca has decided on her quilt layout.

3. A trip to Button Up &Stitch, more about that tomorrow.

4. Ben in full puppy mode this morning.

5. A sunny and warm day, each one has to be cherished as they become scarcer.

A short post today, the 'puter is playing up and Pam has no patience.

Radio 2 has an Otter video on facebook worth looking at.

I missed Kevin McCloud's new tv show Sunday but watched on the 'puter this morning. That is what has upset it I bet, it is not used to that happening. well worth a look.

I have cooked and mashed the potato and just have to fry a sliced onion for the bubble before forming into cakes. I know that lots of people make big ones that fill the frying pan but we like small ones that are crispy on all sides, and they are easier to handle.

                     TTFN                                       Pam

It's Me, Pam, I'm Back

Two days lost, never to have again. One of my co workers has returned from nearly 4 WEEKS holiday, then phoned in sick with depression!!, that meant that we all worked an extra day and longer hours. Because he was due back another person went on holiday so we were 2 men down. The job we do is skilled and requires ongoing training, we have to keep up with new products and new legislation.
This means that there is nobody who can be transferred in to cover.

On top of this we had 2 big promotions running and a major visit from our "customer" to see all the new releases going live. We came out on top though and got a gold star and 2 merit points. Lol

I have not done much to shout about, oh do you remember that huge cauli that I bought last Friday, well I set to and did this.

Three nice tubs of Cauliflower Cheese, I put the tin of beans in for scale, these went into the freezer and another was enjoyed for dinner along with a tin of roasted veg. I do not put the grated cheese and breadcrumbs on until they go in the oven, then I leave one end naked as Francesca can not cope with crispy cheese? yet I have to fight her off pork crackling and crispy chicken skin.

Ages ago I picked up a sewing box for £2. it was full of needles, threads, snaps, hooks and eyes and so on. Over time I have used or binned the contents and as I planned to get rid of the box did not worry that it was held together with an odd mix of screws and good luck.

Look at that mess, some off them do not even go right in.

Michael set to with screwdriver and a new pack of brass screws and it looks lovely, now I will have to clean the wood and polish it. Of course I am keeping it and have already partly stocked it with quilting notions.

This side holds scissors, rotary cutter blades and my quilting binding clips, which are on a quilt waiting for my attention later.

This side has pins, tape measures and stitch ripper, then fabric glues and in the bottom I have put some embroidery hoops, a purse frame, a reel of masking tape for holding the layers flat for basting.

I still have to put a few more random things in there but it will make my life easier to have all these notions in one place.

I did my shopping this morning, £1.00 for milk and £6.78 for potatoes and veg on the market. I had to buy for 2 weeks as they are not there next week. I have to go into town next week and will buy another milk then bringing my spend up to £8.78 for the week.

We are having Chilli for dinner tonight, homemade pizza on Saturday and Shoulder of pork in the smoker on Sunday. There will be enough pork for another meal and Packed lunches during the week, Lasagne will feature and Fish Pie will make an appearance. Francesca has requested Scotch Eggs and I will probably pull a meatloaf from the freezer. Weeks food sorted. last night we had bacon chops cooked in cider with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and cauliflower. I will use the juices from the chops to marinade the pork shoulder in with some spices as well.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. A spruced up sewing box, helping me to keep tidy.

2. A lovely sunny day.

3. My little computerised sewing machine is up and running again. I researched it online and serviced it myself.

4. A stack of hardback books that we no longer want given to the library, pay it forward when you can.

5. A long service award of £100 worth of love to shop vouchers was given to me on Wednesday. 

It has been a thrifty week and we still have masses of food in stock, enough meat, poultry and fish for at least 4 more weeks. dry goods for about the same period and cleaning materials. I only have 6 weeks supply of our favourite tea and coffee so when they appear on promotion I will be bulk buying. That puts me well towards the end of  October before I will have to spend any amount of money. To keep my challenge alive I will record my spending and then buy back as I need it. I am enjoying this and will carry it on to the end of the year. Christmas is paid for and in the freezer and cupboards, we do not go overboard, we both will have to work some of the days.

I have my Co op Divi points and Mr T,s points which will both be doubled up and will take care of January and some of February.

The points from Mr S will just sit there until I need them.

My vouchers from work will replace the clothes that I had to discard because they were beyond the pale.

My friends I am sorted, I am in a happy place and loving it, I can almost hear my Granny saying how proud she is of me.

TTFN     Pam

Tuesday Treats

Good morning all, I hope your day started as well as mine did, probably earlier though as I worked last night.

I have told you that I am playing with FMQ, what I have done I am reasonably happy with, early days and all that. After sewing Faith,s quilt I knew that I needed a few things to make it easier.

So Michael had a trawl through the 'net and came up with Machingers, quilters gloves with grippy pads on the finger tips that help to slide the quilt around. He also found crushed walnut shells on the same site. I have been wittering on about making a pincushion and thread catcher to sit next to the machine for ages and the shells are heavy enough to keep it in place, and they keep the pins sharp.

So I duly put the order in and paid for standard delivery, I am in no real rush.

The postie brought me 2 parcels this morning.

This was in a pretty pink envelope.

My quilting gloves, a perfect fit.

Walnut shell, now I just have to decide on a pattern and fabric.

But look at this, I placed the order at 1.14 yesterday and it was here at 11 30 today, less than 24 hours. I wonder if I had paid for the fast delivery if it would have arrived before I ordered it!!

Well, it makes you wonder.

I also got this little packet.

Boring little brown baggy.

Holding my new Open Toe FMQ  foot, clip on and will fit all my machines.

I am waiting for some clips to hold my quilt in a roll, they look a little like bicycle clips, I ordered these last Thursday.

I picked some more apples, they are quite big so I do not have to pick many at a time.

This one weighs 14 oz, almost a pie filling!, the tin is for scale, I have not made a bean and apple pie.............yet but with cubes pork or sausages it might be tasty, after all apple sauce goes with pork and beans go with sausage.............watch this space.

When Michael tidied the cupboard from hell he found a Chocolate Orange with toffee crunch pieces, that is destined to be whizzed in the processor and find its way into a cake, waste not want not. he just suggested putting some in my pork, bean and apple pie. Sounds like bonfire night food all in one dish.......dare I?

He wants to keep a close eye on his meals, after all as they say, Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it!

We are having a steamed beef and onion pudding tonight, it was so cold when we came home that My thoughts were for winter warmer dinners.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. The sun is shining and it is not raining.

2. Dinner is sorted so the afternoon is free.

3. I am tucked up in the corner of the sofa with a hot coffee and a warm dog.

4. I have 3 books to read, non fiction all set in  Norfolk, my home county.

5. I have pulled the fabric from my stash to make another quilt.

I have a 5 day weekend coming up, and if I do not sew i will bake and eat!

I saw the new tutorial for a fast baby quilt, that is sweeping blogland, yesterday.  Two quilts  from a jelly roll. I am going to cut the strips from yardage and turn it into a full sized quilt. Jelly rolls are very expensive and I would not use all the fabric in them. There are always some parts of a collection that do not appeal.

My cup is empty and I need to check the steamer, I would hate for it to boil dry.                      TTFN                 Pam

Woe on Wednesday

Woe is me for I have a cold, almost man flu, headache, cold sweats, tickley throat, sore joints and a nose that seems to be in training to run in the next Olympics. 
I have a Lamb Rogan Josh simmering for dinner and have loaded it with ginger and garlic as these are both good for colds, inflammation and the tummy!
Work last night was tedious but easy, tonight I hope will be much the same.I have to go in as there is no one to cover for me. Our shortsighted management do not allow for it.
This is going to be short and sweet and I am going to snuggle on the sofa, with a break to take Ben for another walk. Tomorrow he is booked in for a grooming session so I will have to be up and about in good time.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. The sound of children,s excited chatter as they go home from school.

2. The smell of wood smoke drifting from someones chimney, as sure sign that Autumn is upon us.

3. The smells drifting in from the kitchen. Yummy.

4.  Tea and lots of it, made for me by Michael.

5. Floyd on TV keeping me entertained.


I have swallowed some paracetamol and once it kicks in I hope to summon up some energy, I hate taking pills, it takes a mug of tea to wash them down and I still feel as if they are stuck in my throat.

I am off to have a little snuggle time.              TTFN      Pam