Rain Changed Plans and a Woolly Question is asked.

I managed to get an hour in the garden yesterday, and then the sky darkened, the rain hammered down and the wind tried to blow the village away. I retired to the shed and spent another hour tidying and sweeping away cobwebs and dust. 
After a cup of tea the rain just about stopped so I whizzed Ben out for a fast trot, no time to walk, before the rain came back. A shower and change, cobwebs and dead spider legs are so not me, I decided on soup for dinner

2 sad leeks, 3 sticks of celery, 1 red and 1 green pepper, 1/2 a small swede, 4 carrots and a few cloves of garlic. I tin chickpeas, 1 tin chopped tomatoes and some tomato sauce from the freezer.

This was the star ingredient, a big bag of spinach for 40p, I bought 3 and the others are in the freezer, wilted and pressed to remove as much water as possible. I still have 1/2 bag in the fridge for tonight's dinner.
I just diced all the veg, crushed the garlic and sweated it in a little oil, when soft I added 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp allspice and some salt and pepper, gave that a couple of minutes then added the chickpeas, tomatoes and sauce with enough veg stock to just barely cover the veg. 5 minutes in the pressure cooker and then I stirred the spinach in just before I filled a bowl to eat. It was so good, I had a slice of wholemeal toast to soak up all the liquid and had to restrain myself from licking the bowl. I did take 2/3rd out and chilled it so I have 2 more dinners. The chickpeas and tomatoes were 25p a tin and the spinach was 20p, all the rest came from stores and I estimate a generous £1, so 3 dinners for £1.70. I am happy with that, if I wasn't so greedy hungry after working outside I could have got 4 servings.

A few days ago I had a little look round Sew and quilt, a fabric shop owned by one of the bloggers that I follow. I found some pretty Liberty fabric in the sale and I 'fess up that I did not resist. I had a email back to say that there was not enough stock to fill my order. CHING, a bell went off so I replied asking to have the order filled with any random fabric they liked. Just look at these pretties.

these are the prints that I ordered.

Here they are with my "surprise" selection. Don't they go well together? I know that I do not need any more fabric but I wanted this and sometimes it is good to have what you want, just because you can. 

That sounds selfish and self indulgent and I know that there are many thousands of folk in this country who do not get what they need. I am not about to wear a hair shirt over this, I contribute where I can, or stop buying the occasional treat. In fact if we all stopped buying anything other than the bare essentials think how many shops/factories/distribution companies would fold. Think how many more folk would be jobless.

 A friend once told me to take every leaflet and pamphlet that I was offered. It keeps paper mills open, it keeps ink makers, printers, transport firms and delivery people working, giving employment to lots of people and then goes to recycling and provides more employment there.

Oops that was my Soapbox coming into play and I did not plan it at all. 

I had an hour to fill before bed time last night so got some scrappy bits out and ran these up.

These little tissue holders make good fundraisers and cost pennies to make, if you use scraps. The tissues come from the poundshop and 3 packets do 4 holders. I have just noticed that there are only 7 in the picture and I made 8, I will round the missing one up later.

I chain sew and made these up as leaders and enders, on my next session they will become 9 patch blocks. I have a sneaky suspicion that there will soon be enough 9 patch blocks to sew together in blocks of four. That is a good cushion size with a border or a large quilt block.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. My little shed is now tidy and cobweb free.

2. I filled 3 rubble bags to go to recycling.

3. Some things for the CS to sell.

4. Good food at a good price.

5. A new to me book to read. A gift.

Ben has had a decent road walk and a run round the field and, weather permitting, will have a repeat of both later.

 I am in for a very late night tonight. Bonnie Hunter is having a Quilt Cam session and I haven't sewed with her live for ages. I have a bin of strips and squares to sew through and there is always those 9 patches to get done. I may have a nap and set my alarm.

I have a small table that is just big enough to take my smallest machine, I set it up in front of the TV and link the laptop in so I can watch on a big screen. My fabric goes on the coffee table to my left and I set my iron on my right. Every thing in easy reach, all I have to do is turn slightly in each direction. How lazy is that. Ben will manage to sprawl out over the sofa and snore gently till I pack it all away.

I have been through my seed tin and there are just a few things to buy, that will happen in the next 2 weeks. I am amazed how dry the land is getting after our down pour yesterday, I expected to be slithering around in the mud on the field with Ben , it was quite dry underfoot and the lakes that have been slowly increasing have gone.

A question for all you crocheters out there, should I buy cheap wool to learn with or start as I mean to go on with good quality.

My hooks will be here soon and I want to be ready with a small stock of wool.

Toodle Pip, BTW it is still dry here but no sun to be seen, we should be in the middle of a monsoon according to the weathermen.

I rang Button Up & Stitch about that fabric, they were closed so I left a message, I need to ring today and make sure. I want those Dolls so I do.

                     TTFN                                                    Pam

A Bright Light to end the Day

Well, what a turn around the day became, from driving rain and gloom and doom clouds a glimmer of light appeared on the horizon. My Granny would have said " It's bright over Will,s mothers" a meaningless observation maybe but she meant that it would clear later and she was invariably right.
And boy oh boy did it clear, by mid day the sky was mostly blue and the sunshine was golden, it was still windy but pleasant enough to walk in. By 2 when I took Ben out for his run with Greg it was even better, no hat required.
I was pottering about a bit later and just had to take a few photo,s

As the sun started to set the colours were almost iridescent, my little point and click camera does not do them justice. 

Dinner was very good and very cheap, I found some braising steak in the freezer, RTC £1.58 from £4.58 and pulled an AF Madras Curry kit from the pantry, with a little oil, a small onion and half a red pepper I produced 3 meals like this. I am almost certain that the meal kit cost 20p each (snapped up 20) so 3 dinners for £2.00 or thereabouts. 

I finished off with some fresh pineapple, also RTC and it was sweet and juicy, I had 1/3 of a 50p fruit so my dinner was a bargain.

The other 2 are in the freezer ready for Tuesday, Francesca is coming home by train and will stay until Saturday.

As the sun set I had a quick trip with my camera, 

I have managed to load these in reverse, the bottom one was taken just moments before the top one and you can see how fast the sky was darkening.

I could buy in a better camera but do not have the time to invest in learning photography nor, if I am honest, the interest. Maybe later when I have scratched the quilting itch thoroughly.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. The day is dawning bright and clear.

2. My quilt top is finished and will be layered today.

3. I have a stack of "bonus blocks" that were sewn as leaders and enders.

4. I have had 4 days on my new exercise regime, from Miss Whiplash, and can feel the results already.

5. I have been given a ticket for a Country & Western night next Friday. 

The bonus blocks are a good start on the next quilt, I never leave my machine without fabric under the needle and I hate to waste thread, at over £5 for a reel, so as I sew I chain piece and only have 2 stitches between the fabric pieces.

I will take a photo of the finished quilt, hopefully before the weekend is out, I still have to find a home for it and I may have a word with the Red Cross.

There is a slight drawback to my C&W ticket, the driver has had to drop out so I will be picking up 3 peeps and taking them there and back, they are all friends though so I am assured of a good night out. 

My washing machine is burbling away and will be done by the time Ben has had his first walk of the day, then I will be off to the market to find a cabbage and in to the Co op for my milk, Last of The Big Spenders!

I have read several blogs where the writer has published a list of goals for the year ahead and set targets of so many blog posts, quilts, new recipes,books to read and so on. I sat with paper and pen and could only come up with what I have already said. I want to have as much fun for as little cost as possible and I aim to sew my way through my stash, making at least 4 quilts to donate.

I do not want to feel that I have to sit and finish a project when the sun is shining and I want to be in the garden.I do not want to feel pressured to write a blog post when I have nothing to say because I have had a heavy day hoeing, pruning, weeding or whatever.

I do not want to be regimented and, heaven forbid, boring. Hmm perhaps no probably there are many who have a quick read and think, My goodness what a boring woman, does she do nothing but sew, cook and eat! well not in the winter apart from reading and a bit of TV and lots of dog walking. I don't go Pubbing, Clubbing or Raving, perish the thought. I haven't been to a live music event for ages, I saw all the big names in the 60's and 70's before it cost a second mortgage for a ticket. I saw The Stones in The Park for free, I met the original line up of AC/DC when they were in my then village recording an album. I saw Meat Loaf when he still had a voice. 

Now I would rather listen to music at home, while I sew, cook and eat. Boom Boom.

That's all for now.                   TTFN                              Pam