A good day in Tydd, a sad one tomorrow.

Today has been a gloriously sunny day, no wind and real warmth from the sun. I did manage 3 walks with Ben and Greg joined us for 2 of them. The rest of the time I have been sorting out fabric, getting Francesca's room ready for her and cooking for tomorrow.
We are having chicken pie with carrots and swede mash and cauliflower, followed by Apple Crumble and custard, and I have managed to cook up 4 litres of chicken stock for the freezer.
 I am making and taking a selection of sausage rolls and mini quiches and will make some sandwiches when we arrive, the cakes were made earlier. Jeannie has both her son's with her and I offered to make the food so it is one less thing to worry her.

Last nights dinner was very quick and easy, I toasted some English Muffin Bread, the recipe came from The Iowa Housewife blog, and had baked beans, grated cheese and scrambled eggs. Yummy, the bread was very good toasted, so good that I made 2 more loaves today.

I emptied cupboards and rearranged lots of things to gain some smallish plastic storage boxes for my quilting projects. I like to cut all my fabric before I start to make blocks, this meand hundreds of different sized and coloured pieces floating around and piled on every flat surface. Not any more, I now have a dozen boxes so as I cut each colour it can go into a designated box, some of them have dividers so either 2 colours or 2 sizes can be stored together.

I have my little Indian Singer back from the work shop. She has had a full service and just needed 2 little parts that had been damaged in transit at some point. In the interest of smooth operations I have also bought new treadle belt, I ordered it yesterday lunch time and it was here this morning, how good is that.
 I can not see myself touching her until next week, Fran is here till Saturday and I am going to London with her for the day. Sunday I will put the cottage back to rights so Monday is probably the day.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. The garden is starting to dry out, soon, soon.

2. My spring bulbs are pushing through the ground at an alarming rate. Fingers crossed for no really hard frosts.

3. The village shop is having lots of works done and should reopen soon.

4. A very kind person has given me a DVD of the events of  Feb 3rd 1959. I have been a fan of Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper for as long as I can remember.

5. My fabric scrap chaos has been tamed. Still a bit of a mountain but under full control.

There are some delicious smells wafting through from the kitchen, time for an oven check. 

                         TTFN                                           Pam

Shiny Sunday Morning Quilts and other Tales.

I was mooching through my blog list, just popping in and out, and went to visit Melanie at A Patchwork Robin. If you haven't been to see her you ought, her work is varied and lovely. I stayed for 20 minutes and it was only my timer alert that took me away.
It was for the oven I had a late dinner, procrastination made it late, I could not make my mind up what I wanted. I settled on a pizza, not just any old one but a Chorizo and vegetable folded one. It was delicious served with a salad drizzled/drowned in Maple Balsamic Vinegar.

I was full before I had eaten it so I gave some of the crust to Ben, who woofled it up.

I did a stack of pressing, cutting and sewing after dinner. I was itching to start the boy,s quilt. I took Ben out at around 11.00 and there was a very sharp frost. When I got up this morning the sun was blazing and the sky was azure, but it was still white with frost.

Right in the center you can see a lonely apple clinging on against all odds.

BTW I wasn't being an idle lay abed I had showered, dressed and prepped a stack of veg for yet more soup. I have a pot of mixed veg in a tomato and chicken stock simmering away and will be having that for lunch, and probably dinner, with some toasted home made bread.

Here is a quick look at the boy quilt fabric so far and a little peek at the girl top.

I have made a start on the strip sets.

Some more strips of a different size waiting to go through the machine. This quilt is going to be a version of Candy Coated from  my book Sunday Morning Quilts.

The finished Candy Bar quilt top, I am still dithering between 2 backing fabrics, I want it to be girly but not just for a very young child, it is full single bed size.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. I have to say it again....Sunshine, glorious golden sunshine.

2. A pristine gleaming white frost, very easy on the eye, if not good for travel.

3. Ben enjoying a good run around the field and no mud.

4. The seed and plant books that plopped onto the door mat yesterday morning, my ordering is done but I will enjoy reading them.

5. My use it up campaign is going strong, total spend this week £1.50 and nothing to buy until next Friday. My budget week starts on Friday.

I am in the fortunate position of having some over ripe bananas so 2 Banana and Walnut cakes and 2 Apple and Sultana cakes will be going into the oven later. I will be baking bread as well and while the oven is on I will probably make some Buttermilk Biscuits for the freezer. The cakes will go to Derbyshire on Wednesday and James can take one of each back to Wales along with his surprise quilt. 

I stored away a huge amount of apples from the garden and they are keeping very well, I did freeze some ready cooked and bottled some as well. I do not intend to buy much fruit when I have this bounty growing free.

I can feel a cup of tea coming on so it is,

                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

A Dreary Dismal Sort of Day, but only outside.

I woke up to the sound of rain and an hour later it is still persisting down. hey ho it had to happen and we have had some very sunny days. I am stuck in all day waiting for phone calls so I don't mind too much. I will buckle down and get my quilt top made and decide whether or not it needs a border. 
I made bread yesterday using FM.s recipe, but of course i had to tweak it. First of all I doubled it and used 900g white bread flour and 100g organic wholemeal flour, some of the Polish flour from last year. My tins are longer and shallower than a standard tin so I get smaller slices, this suits me as I cut down on fillings and calories. However I gift some of my bread so I will have a look round for some standard tins. I have a recipe from The Iowa Housewife blog for English Muffin Bread, I have everything to make it so that will be my next batch. I really ought to think about making a new Sourdough starter, I miss the smell and taste and  the lovely chewy texture. I may wait until the weather warms up a bit, there should be more wild yeast in the air then.
I may or may not get a call from work today, following my last physio session I had a meeting with the Occupational Health Nurse. This had to be done as it is Standard Procedure, and has to be followed. The limitations on my return to work were put in place by Occ Health as per procedure ( the company loves that saying)
and HR spoke to me and said that a discussion would now take place to see if there is a job that will fit these restrictions and that I would/should get a call today. I have worked throughout the business and know that there is not, but I am happy to go through the paces. 
I found a recipe for a Chorizo and veg Stromboli and am going to make that tonight, instead of 1 large I will make 4 smaller and 3 will go in the freezer, they will be perfect for a picnic when I am out over lunch time, much better than buying  something out.
Frugal Queen posted a recipe for a Tagine last night and I see that in my future soon, very soon. She served it with Quinoa which I love for its nutty taste and chewy texture.
I will do my weekly shop tomorrow, milk £1 and a cabbage probably 50p, there is nothing else on my list. I will pop into the CS and check out the bed linen, I will have a rootle through for 100% cotton and vintage sheets, they are perfect for quilt backs as long as they are not faded.
I also check out the curtains, they often have brand new sets still in the original packaging for less than £5 a pair. Often I will use the lining for backing cushion covers, I quilt the tops, and aprons. The curtains become throws and pet beds, I wash them first in case they shrink.
My cold seems to be getting better but my ears are still blocked, if the drops do not clear them it will be a visit to my GP for a syringing session, deep and everlasting joy.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. A very low spend week in front of me.

2. The freezer level has scarcely dropped in 2 weeks.

3. I have 2 packs of cranberries, a gift, to make into jelly.

4. Ben is booked in for a trim with a local dog groomer, a 5 minute walk away so more saving.

5. I found a book in the library that I have been searching for.

All in all despite the rain it is really a sunshiney day for me, if I can keep my spending under £10 for long enough I can get several of the things done around the cottage this summer. All I need to do is draw up a list and prioritize , fixing my leaky front door is number 1 and I will be dealing with that issue today, hopefully it will mean a repair and not a replacement. I have a new garden gate on the way, my neighbour Nev has a "Handy Andy" sort of brother who noticed that it was getting a bit "iffy" and is making me one with wood left over from another project, as a swap for a cake and some preserves. You gotta love the barter system.

I think I better drag my BTM off the sofa and make another brew before I start this day up.
          TTFN                                                      Pam

Add caption

Now that's what I call Sunshiney.

A Rush about sort of day

A warm welcome to a new follower, Nanny Boo I hope you enjoy being aboard.
I had my last session with Miss Whiplash yesterday and it left me in no condition to think never mind write a post. I own up to the fact that, with every thing that has happened, I have not been as diligent in my exercises as I should have but whew, I suffered for my sins.
At long last we have a date for the Cremation, next Wednesday, so appropriate plans can be put in place.
My sewing is progressing I have 12 blocks assembled for the first quilt and will get them sewn together tomorrow.
I will have to be in all day as I am expecting a phone call or three.
I have been haring all over the place today, first off I took Ben out early and then went to look at Log Burners and booked a visit for a survey and quote, deep intake of breath. Then it was on to Tesco to pick up something for a neighbour, none on the shelf! Off to Dunelm to look at mats, I need to put one under the machine table my non slip one has vanished without trace, nothing small enough bar a hairy coconut fibre thing, yeuk.
A quick side trip into Asda for the neighbour and once again, not on the shelves. I did get ear drops for me and Ben, we both have Icky ears, must be something in the air. OOOHHH sorry. So the morning wasn't quite wasted. 
Back home, cup of tea and a speedy sandwich and then off with the dogs for a blow round the field and a bit of road walking. It has been another sunny day and quite warm really even when the wind started blowing.
I can not be bothered to cook tonight so will have a rummage in the fridge and freezer and if nothing appeals it will be beans on toast.
My front door has decided to start leaking like a sieve so part of tomorrow will be spent phoning round for someone to come out and look at it, Oh Emergency Fund how I love thee.
My spare bedroom will be cream and lilac when finished, I have a cream lampshade and rummaged through my ribbons and lace box to find some lilac and purple ribbons, these will trim it up nicely, a "designer" shade for nothing, well maybe a burnt fingertip from the glue gun.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. Sunshiney day, yet again washing dried outside.

2. A sewing afternoon with no interruptions.

3. Ben had 2 runs and didn't go into a single mud patch.

4. My decorating is coming on well.

5. My garden has paths again instead of streams.

spell check is telling me that Sunshiney is not a word, well in my world it is.
Oh I nearly forgot, I jumped on the scales today and I have lost 3 lb
it would have been more but I had drunk 2 mugs of tea before I remembered, oops.
I am off to see if I can find something for dinner, I will be glad when this cold goes and I can taste what I am eating, it does help.

             TTFN                                                       Pam

I've been walking in Sunshine, Oh Yeah

It has been a glorious day, bright sunshine, clear blue sky and a brisk breeze that although not warm was not really cold. Ben and Greg had 2 gallops round the field and 2 road walks. 
To cap the day I had 2 loads of washing dried on the whirlythingamajig.

The sewing is going great guns, I have about 10 candy bars to finish and then there will be 30 to cut in half, that will make enough blocks for 2 quilts. I have pulled the wadding and backing from my stash.

I have been to the library this afternoon and have found 3 books, with all the sewing they will be plenty for a couple of weeks.

There is still no date for the cremation, it will be 3 weeks tomorrow and I find it baffling that every thing is waiting on 1 person to do their job.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. A pleasant day with lots of outside time.

2. Ben, fully exercised, is snoozing at my feet.

3. An easy dinner of home made KFC with a crunchy salad.

4. A fresh Pineapple for pudding.(50p)

5. A bunch of red grapes for 30p.

I popped into the co op before the library, just in case, and found the large pineapple and over 500g of grapes, at 80p they will give me loads of vitamins. I will prepare the pineapple  and freeze in portions and open freeze the grapes. I will keep some back for "afters".
This makes my spend for this week £1.80 and will need nothing else before the weekend.
I snapped this in the sun, they are crab apples

 but as I do not know if they are edible I have left them for the birds.



My cup of tea is calling me, 
                 TTFN                                    Pam

Dashing away with the smoothing iron, all on a rainy Saturday.

 Wow, I am up to my chin in fabric, big bits, charm squares, jelly strips and mountains of scraps all of needing pressing before I cut it.
I did manage to sew 3 more blocks though.

The background fabric on each block is a different colour pin dot from John Louden on a cream background. I intend to make each block with a different background but all neutral. 

This lot is cut into 2 1/2 by 5" strips ready to join, the shortbread tin is full of the finished candy bars. Now that I have 4 blocks done I want to get as many sets done as I can.When I run out of steam I will cut the background strips and start sewing blocks again.

These are just some of the fabrics that are pressed and waiting to be cut. They include some of my hoarded favourite Bonnie & Camille patterns. I want the quilts to be as pretty as they can. I do have some Boy prints and will drag them out as well, mixed with some browns, blues and greys I hope to make 2 quilts.

I will carry on cutting and sewing until my stash is at least halved.

One of my US readers emailed me and suggested that I make childrens quilts, she has had first hand experience of seeing families who have lost everything and says that most parents want their children to be comforted first. So my goal, for now, is 4 quilts around 50" by 68" that will be 48 blocks this size.

Our weather has been pants today, rain and wind and more of both. It had to happen I suppose.

I am having a lazy dinner tonight and quite naughty. A baked Camembert with chips and garlic bread to dip, I will make a salad as well. On the plus side I have been so busy today that all I have eaten is some cereals with skimmed milk, i didn't even stop to crunch on an apple.

I took time out to empty the veg drawer and make a big batch of Veg Hash, I had to shuffle the small freezer contents to make room for it. I still have a load of carrots so will be making soup tomorrow, I still have fresh coriander in the garden and with a good squeeze of orange juice it should be good.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. Rain started play, with fabric of course.

2. A yummy dinner tonight, definitely "a little of what I fancy" 

3. My new quilt blocks are really bright and cheerful ( and easy).

4. Elf was on TV last night, one of my favourite films.

5. A pot of chicken stock is simmering away, ready for soup making, and the house smells good enough to eat.

I read a blog comment this morning, while drinking my first brew of the day, about decluttering by 1 item a day. Frugal Queen has downsized and has to whittle her possessions down so it could have been on her blog. It rang a bell for me but as I am clearing a swathe through my fabric I will let it be for  a while, but is does sound an easy way to lose my grip on things that I really do not need or even use now. ie I have 6 baking sheets, tut tut.

That's all for now.

TTFN                                                 Pam