Now I'm a Grandma

Off for the day.

2011-09-20T22:49:00.001+10:00

Last Thursday I had a little day out. An unexpected day out but never the less very enjoyable. A trip to a yarn shop to take part in a wooly workshop. Not very frugal I know but a girl can't live to knit dishcloths all the time. This is what we knitted, a fluffy cuff with beads and sequins. Only I didn't add the sequins, the beads were enough bling for me. The yarn is one of my favourite, Rowan Kid Silk Haze, so soft but so impractical. The photo is not good and doesn't show the colours at all well. They are two beautiful greens not grey as looks.
The yarn shop 'spin-a-yarn' is in Bovey Tracy, a small town just outside Exeter, in the beautiful Devon countryside. Small in size but crammed full of the most marvellous yarns and notions. I did spend some of my pocket money on a couple of pairs of new knitting needles, including a rather nice set of sock needles. A enough Rowan yarn to knit a pair of fingerless mittens and another pair of fluffy cuff, both as Christmas presents. Also two lots of sock yarn both in multi shades of blue, both destine for more Christmas presents.
Lunch was part of the package, quiche, salad and potato salad, all homemade and very tasty.

Not loopy just learning.

2011-09-20T21:04:00.001+10:00

I'm not going loopy I'm just learning how to blog using this iPad thing!

Bits and pieces.

2011-08-19T07:27:00.000+10:00

I've been enjoying a couple of weeks of gentle homemaking, staying within my home and garden with the daily trip to the lottie for watering and harvesting and other horticultural activities. There has been some baking, I was given this magazine, it's a BBC Good Food special edition called 'Baking', it was well worth the £3.50.

I made this for myself for my birthday, it doesn't look much but it was very good, cinnamon and chocolate. Since I have been on my diet I've lost my overly sweet tooth and a small slice was more than enough, but the boys polished it off no problems.

Rhonda over at D2E has been blogging about using loose tea in a tea pot instead of all those 'disposable' tea bags. Here's my little pot for my daytime cups of tea, only me in the daytime. I like English Breakfast for my morning tea and Earl Grey for later in the day.

I've been sorting out a few vintage pillowcases (bought in the Op shops of NSW) to make another quilt, this time for our bed. I've opted for smaller squares this time, 6inch. Well they are all cut and sorted into some sort of colour order, all I need to do now is start sewing.

Something new from the lottie, egg plant or aubergine. I've not grown these before, didn't I do well, these a little beauties. I turned them into a Moussaka, something else I haven't made before. It was good, I noticed Pampa had seconds.

Potting up a few more strawberry plants, I might actually get some berries next year if I can keep the mice off them.

Also been learning how to work this new piece of technology. I think this Ipad will be easy for me to carry on my travels. It's certainly easy to use and I can use it like a Kindle as well.

Last but not least there has been lots of this going on. My blankie is quite large now, it takes a while to complete a round and a whole ball of yarn.

There has been an awful lot of housework done as well, the house is sparkling. I might not feel like it next week so I'm getting as much done while I'm in the mood.

Shutting the door and barricading against the Zombie Hordes.

2011-07-30T03:09:00.000+10:00

I'm shutting the door for the next couple of weeks as my town is being turned into a film location set and all the teenagers and some of the not so teenagers are all of a dither.

As this young man is coming to Falmouth to shoot part of his next film, 'World War Z' and 500 of the local youngsters have become extras. I'm not complaining really as the revenue this will bring to the area is huge but I not sure I want to get caught up in it. Oh!! but he does have a very nice smile. :-)

What's on my table this morning?

2011-07-28T18:13:00.000+10:00

What's on my table this morning?

First at this time is a cup of tea, milk no sugar or sometimes lemon. This is my one of my new mugs, I like nice china to drink out of. It is part of the V&A fine bone china collection and was a buy one get one free deal.

A little reading, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, I haven't started yet but will this weekend. Underneath I have the BBC GoodFood magazine, past on to me by a friend and a recipe 'George's Minestrone with spaetzle' I downloaded from D2E forum.

Now this little book is important to me and I'm sure there are some of you that think I'm mad to write this information down BUT I need too. It is 'Mum's Book of Important Little Things. Passwords and the like!!!! As time passes so does the memory and like a lot of other 'older' people I have senior moments. Don't tell me off, I keep it safe.

A wooden bowl, Benjy brought this back from one of his trips, I think it might have been Dominican Republic. Inside are a set of coasters I made from scraps of fabric and quilt batting.

Nice smell, we are inundated with sweetpeas at the moment, I have jars of them everywhere. I just love to see flowers in jam jars, it reminds me of my school days. We had a large garden at school, filled with flowers, fruit and vegetables. We always had jars of flowers on the windowsills and cupboard tops.

Always a little craft work, here I have a green wrap I am knitting as a Christmas present, a dishcloth of course and my new project a crochet granny square blanket. I had rather a large bag of odd balls of yarn and I bought a bag from the charity shop, it all needed using up.

It's been very warm here for the last two or three days but today the sky is overcast and there has been a few spots of rain. I don't think it's going to be much as I can see the blue sky peeping through. Where I sit in my chair I can see out over the valley to the hills, I can see the windmills on the Lizard Peninsular and one of the satellite dishes of Goonhilly radio station. I'm not sure which one, they have such wonderful names from Arthurian Legend. I like to think it might be Arthur himself.

Have a good day/night everyone. x

A woodburner, casserole and preserving.

2011-07-25T06:13:00.000+10:00

I didn't go to the lottie yesterday as we were off looking for a wood burner for our lounge room, it took us all day. I was amazed at the vast selection on offer, all very confusing but I think we have made a choice. This one .......... we can put a kettle on the top and make our tea, the glass doesn't soot up and it gives out a goodly amount of heat. It burns wood and is exactly what I want. We will have to have the fireplace altered slightly to make it fit and the hearth needs extending so we don't burn lumps out of the carpet but all very doable.

Today when I went to water the tomatoes I found a whole heap of produce needed harvesting, how does it grow so fast? Beetroot, runner beans, cabbage, kale, purple sprouting, calabrase and a whole heap of herbs. Oh and yes the last load of gherkins and I do mean load. I also brought home some garlic, I'm going to make Jamie's pasta sauce (saw this on Facebook this morning) tomorrow.

I pickled the beetroot and gherkins and the rest is safely tucked away in the freezer. Oh apart from the herbs, I've hung those in the conservatory to dry.

Casserole in the slow cooker and stewed rhubarb for supper. Enough left overs for my lunch tomorrow.

The sun shone and I did get to sit in the garden and drink my tea. My £5 car boot sale table has been rubbed down and painted with a coat of preserver. I'm really pleased with it, just right for holding our afternoon tea.

More allotment work.

2011-07-18T06:16:00.000+10:00

Lots of work going on at the allotment this week. We dug the last of the early potatoes and pop in the leek seedlings. Poor things have been waiting a little too long and took some splitting up. More rain had been forecast for this weekend and I hope this will settle them in. Do you notice my nice straight rows? Benjy tells me off if I'm not neat and tidy when gardening. :-)

I had a little space at the end of the plot and as luck would have it, a few lettuce seedlings needing a spot of their own.

The marrows are doing really well this year. We ate this one at lunch today, it was yummy.

The 'hoop house' is bursting at the seals now. Chillies, these are Hungarian Hot Wax, are not ready yet, Benjy tried one this week and he was able to eat it raw.

Millions of tomatoes of all shapes and sizes, I love these little Tiny Toms

and these huge Giant Tree Tomatoes .

There are a few melons, I think this one is a sweetheart but can't see a watermelon, as yet.

The cucumbers.

Now what else have we producing, runner beans, broad beans, broccoli, beetroot, swede and cabbages. No it's not a bad photo, that's insect netting, the best thing we invested in this year.

The sweetcorn is doing much better than I expected. We have had such a dry start to the season but now it's started to rain everything is catching up,

including the onions, shallots and garlic.

These poor peas are the only ones I have been able grow. They were eaten by mice while still in the ground and the few that did manage to show a shoot or two were pulled apart by the pigeons.

Pampa's socks.

2011-07-13T03:10:00.000+10:00

I've been working hard today trying to finish up a lot of things. Pampa's socks were the first thing off the needles, I've only been working on these since February. Oh dear! They are a good fit and Pampa says they are lovely and soft.

Also out of the unfinished basket, two cushion covers, a tablecloth, a set of coasters, a pair of Benjy's chef trousers and a new bag for the bread. Didn't I do well.

An outing.

2011-07-12T08:52:00.000+10:00

Pampa and I have been out for the day, we have been to the local agricultural show. The weather was perfect and there were no long queues to get in even though there were 20,000 people there, it is very well organised. We started with the cattle all so beautifully turned out.

Look at this ram, he was enormous, think of all the socks I could knit with his fleece. They would keep Pampa's feet warm for a few years.

There were goats by the cart load both big ones and littles. People take the showing very seriously and are just so pleased when they win.

I loved this little fellow, he was only knee high to a grasshopper but so confident and he had a cute little bleat, if that is what you call a goats call.

I had a long talk with several ladies from the Spinners and Weaver group. I would really like to have a go at spinning my own yarn. Perhaps even the wool of something like these beautiful Llamas, they were for sale as well but Pampa put his foot down. "No we can't keep a Llama in the back garden."

The show jumping was pretty exciting, this gentleman did his round with no faults at all and his horse was so gorgeous. I haven't ridden since I was a child but I do enjoy watching.

The vintage vehicle enthusiasts were there in force, this lovely car was being admired by so many. Not only cars but tractors, lorries, motor bikes and steam engines.

Pampa was particularly taken with this Morris Pickup. His first car was a Morris Minor, he learnt to drive in her.

The steam engines were pretty impressive, I love the sound and the smell. When I was a child, a large steam engine and thresher would come to the farm to thresh the grain harvest. All the neighbours would come along to help and mother and I would carry the harvest tea out to the workers. My nephew and I would get to stand on the footplate. No Health and Safety in those days. We rode on the back of the tractor, played in the farm yard and climbed the haystack, no one told us not too.

I loved this little lad, he was so professional about it all and his smile when he received his rosette was as wide as the showground.

There were loads of other things to see, the fruit and veg show, all the preserves, craft displays, spinning and woodworking demos. How to keep bees, chickens, ducks, lots of rare breeds and of course stalls selling all manner of items to use on your farm or smallholding. I could have even bough a cement mixer if I had wanted one.

Lunch was eaten on the grass in front of the band stand while the local brass band played 'The Helston Floral Dance" or as we would call it 'The Furrey Dance.' After lunch we looked at some of the trade stalls, sat on the ride on mowers, coveted the water storage tanks, were amazed at the size of the tractors and how much they cost and generally had an enjoyable time.

I did speak to the ladies in the WI tent ( CWA for those of you in Australia) and was persuaded to join a new group that was being set up in my area. The list of super courses that are available for WI members was a big incentive but it is something I have though about for a while.

Oh I forgot about the dog show and the chickens, I didn't know so much went into showing a chicken but they were beautiful.

Celebrations.

2011-07-06T01:30:00.000+10:00

These last two weeks have been filled with celebration in our family. When the children were young we always had just one big party and one big cake. Everyone would meet together on the middle Sunday and we would have a picnic bbq or cram into one of our houses if it was raining. Now a days the pace is more leisurely and some of us meet for afternoon tea and cake of course.

This is Pampa's older brother who is celebrating his 65th birthday today.

Happy Birthday Petie Weets.

Marmalade.

2011-07-04T07:47:00.000+10:00

Benjy and I have been making marmalade, not the Seville, bitter kind but a mandarin and lemon, this is mild and fruity. Benjy is so useful when I need a bit of shredding done. I was doing the peeling, cutting and getting rid of the pith.

Working together like this is one of my favourite times with my son. I am luck to have children that share some of my simple, frugal ideas.

Bubbling away on the hob but would the darn stuff reach setting point. This saucepan is one of my favourite, bought for me for mothers' day many years ago. I can still see those little faces as they watched me open the parcel that was so well wrapped.

Well! it did set and made four jars. I do hope it tasted as good as it looked.

2011-05-08T04:14:00.002+10:00

When I was sorting out the strawberries last autumn I potted up a dozen plants to put in the hoop house. I was hoping for a few early fruits when the weather would still be chilly outside. The flowers were very encouraging and we were getting quite excited.

We watched the fruits swelling and pinking up. Benjy even managed to taste one last weekend and they held promise of things to come. Thursday we thought we might collect some to put on top of a trifle. I even took a bowl to collect them in.

We had had a thief in the night and he or she had filled their larder with our beautiful strawberries. Ha, not one left for us.

On a more cheerful note, this is for Tony. Three leeks and six water melons.

See you later.

Sad day today.

2011-05-01T02:45:00.000+10:00

Last year I introduced you to Pedro my daughter's little dog.

http://nowimagrandma.blogspot.com/2010/01/pedro-wonder-dog.html

Pedro was a bit poorly last week, Bex took him to the vet and they found a lump. Unfortunately it was a cancerous growth and not operable. He had about six to nine weeks of good quality life left the vet said. So they took him home to love and cherish for those last weeks but it was not to be. I sorry to say our little fella died tonight

R.I.P Pedro the Wonder Dog.

2011-04-26T20:10:00.000+10:00

I have been out foraging with my mate Bill. We went to the woods to collect hazel poles for my beans and peas. It's all right that's what Bill does for a living and he looks after the wood as well. It was a gorgeous day with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. The wood was so quiet and peaceful, you would not believe we are only a mile or so from the middle of our only city.

Here's Bill with his trusty saw, choosing the best poles. Some where less than straight but the beans don't mind a bit. This is a very old way of managing the woodland, its call coppicing. The hazel ( in this case ) was cut back to the ground to stimulate growth and the wood was used for hurdle making, house building or firewood.

I also got the twiggy peas stick as an added bonus. These I use to keep the birds off my broad beans and for the shorter peas to grown up. I believe the twigs were used to make the besom brushes. Witches brooms.

Bill had this wonderful old truck to collect the wood in. We bounced along the woodland track, not good on the old bones but great fun.

Here we are loading up our spoils. 30 bean poles and a large arm full of pea sticks. Enough to keep me going for a few years and a few to swap with my allotment friends for other goodies.

Here are all the pea sticks in situ, keeping those pesky pigeons off my broad beans. The broad beans are doing very well considering we have had so little rain since I sowed them. I have about 800lts left in my big tank and a full barrel tank by the tunnel. I have been bringing water from home, to keep the small barrel full. As the tomatoes are going in this week I do hope it rains soon, as they drink such a lot.

The weather is still wonderful here, it is giving us a false sense of security. I don't think we will have a frost now but the wind can be a killer here in Cornwall. It dries up the ground so fast and the salt ladened air doesn't do any good either. We are a liitle sheltered from the west here, the way of the prevailing wind, so lets just keep our fingers crossed.

Lots going on outside.

2011-04-17T19:27:00.000+10:00

The weather in Cornwall has been just right for allotment work and let me tell you we have been doing a awful lot of that. It mostly been hard hard landscaping and general maintenance, stuff we hadn't been able to do over winter.

The raised beds have gone in, six down the lefthand side. The blue hoop you see will hold the insect net to stop those dratted caterpillars eating all my greens.

This arrived last week, on the only day it poured with rain. There was a lot more but I didn't remember to take a snap until the rain stopped. Benjy and I moved the lot, up the hill to our plot. It's green chippings, from the local tree surgeon, he charges £20 a load, bargain I say.

We have used it to cover the paths both outside and in the poly tunnel. Cleaner feet from now on, I hope. The smell is divine, all piney and fresh and not one splash of chemical cleaner in sight.

Pampa made another gate at the bottom of the plot, nothing is ever small but it is very impressive. All I need now is a name for the plot, any ideas?

I was also gifted, from freecycle, these slab. Benjy wanted to make a sitting area and we thought we could incorporate this into our cutting garden. We'll grow sweetpeas and other flowers for the house, plus anything to attract 'good' insects into the allotment.

Oh and don't worry about Pampa, I've haven't been making him work. I do take him with me and he 'oversees' our work. What you can't see behind those dark glasses is that he's fast asleep and snoring ever so gently.

Potatoes under the fleece, these are now though the soil and I've earthed them up. The fleece has been packed away for another year, I hope. The two bed to the right have shallots, garlic and onions, covered by netting to stop the pesky birds pulling them out.

On my mind....

2011-04-02T05:59:00.000+11:00

Friday on my mind!

These tomatoes are on my mind today, they need potting on before they become leggy and draw. I have eight varieties on the go this year. Big ones, small ones, bush and cordon, I have even got a Giant tree tomato. Can't wait to see what that is like!!!! Lots of lovely fruits to add to salads, grill for our breakfast or put in our sandwiches and loads to turn into tomato sauce.

Have a lovely weekend whether it's autumn or spring where you are.

Allotment diary. March.

2011-03-13T05:59:00.000+11:00

2nd week.

The whole allotment was ready for planting but I've now sourced a supply of scaffold planks and we hope to make six raised beds on one side. This is going to hold up sowing by a week or so but to bring things along I've started some things off in modular trays and popped them into the poly tunnel. So far the shallots are in and I've a tray of beetroot all tuck up. Tomorrow I'll do the onions and sow a tray of spinach, parsnips and broad beans.

I have five different named potatoes to plant this year, all first or second earlies plus a salad potato. Four are chitting nicely but the Lady Balfour is a bit slow. Popped on the conservatory windowsill to bring thing along.

All the seeds have arrived from the various suppliers but I think I need some more beetroot. I don't think the one packet I have ordered will give us the crop we will need.

One thing I do need is a marker pen that doesn't wash off in the rain, a Sharpie pen.

For those of you from the D2E forum here are Rhonda, Hanno and Alice inspecting my compost bin. Not much in it at the moment.

Gyllyngvase Beach - Falmouth - Photos of Cornwall

2011-03-10T20:57:00.001+11:00

Gyllyngvase Beach - Falmouth - Photos of Cornwall

Knit and Natter knitting club today. This is where I go on a wednesday morning, I sit and knit and chat and drink tea. It's lovely to met old friends and make new ones. We often have people joins us that are on holiday, regretting they don't have their knitting with them but never mind they can talk to likeminded friends.

This beach is near my home and I can walk there in a few minutes. This walk takes me down the hill to our nearest small beach, along the cliff path to the next cove, where the cafe' sits. I love being here at all times of the year. Winter when the seas are running high and fast, waves on the beach and white seahorses out on the horizon. Summer when the beach is busy with families enjoying themselves, the hardened swimmers and the hundreds of holidaymakers. The cafe' is busy then but we can sit outside under the canopy and 'take the air'.

I particularly like this club as the members are of different ages, we have young students from the local university, mums whose children have not long started school, old hands like me and seniors who are a mine of knowledge. Everyone is welcome, you don't have to attend every week or even every month, just when you feel like it. Knitting is not compulsory, we have one lady who attends every week but I've never seen her pick up a pair of needles while there.

See you later after my knitting fix. x

Rhubarb, chives and daffodils.

2011-03-06T03:12:00.000+11:00

It's been a busy week sorting the house, washing, ironing, shopping and baking. I've had no time to visit the allotment until today. There was very little growing, but the Rhubarb looked surprisingly good. I only hope it produces the promising yield. Rhubarb crumble, rhubarb and custard and I hope even some rhubarb champagne.

This pot of chives had been outside all through the harsh winter, I could not believe how fresh and green they were. I snipped a few to add to the potatoes we were having for supper.

On the way home I just had to take a quick peek at the bulb fields, I would forgive you for thinking you were in Holland. Windmills and bulbs, not tulips but daffodils.

Now a little present, this wooly wonder from Karen, thank you Karen :-)

Home again.

2011-02-28T14:55:00.000+11:00

Home again, home again jiggety jig. Well perhaps not quite like that, more like,

A taxi.

A train.

A plane.

A train.

A train .

and a car.

It's oh so good to be home, I was like a child as I walked from room to room checking everything out. Looking at the new things Pampa had done while I was away. He tiled the kitchen, fitted a new double glazed window in our bedroom, mended the bed that had wobbled precariously for a while. Stopped a leak in the porch and re-placed the roof lining. He enjoys doing these things while I'm away, no one to complain about the dust and mess. He does clean up beautiful before I arrive back, confessed he'd been washing the kitchen floor at 5am to get it nice and shiny for me. Bless him xxxx

The sun shone and these pot of daffs stood on the chest of draws by the window. Who could ask for a better welcome home.

A day off.

2011-01-15T18:17:00.000+11:00

Wednesday I gave myself a day off, a day to myself. I took the bus and tootled up to Spotlight and then to the Salvos. I bought some light mauve pure wool 8ply, a gadget for turning my bag handles right way round and a spiky wheel thing for transferring paper patterns on to the fabric. 3mts of 8mm black elastic, some extra long sewing needles to do sashico and some white thread. Two crochet hooks and a packet of snap fasteners, another bag notion. Not very exciting you say, well quite the opposite for me.

With the mauve 8ply I am going to knit myself a cardigan. I've never knitted myself anything as big as a cardigan before and I am looking forward to starting.

The gadget for turning bag handles will be very well used as will the snap fasteners. I have an obsession with making bags, tote bags, handbags, book bags, useful little bags and useful big bags, I'll have a go at any and all.

The spiky wheel thingy and the sashico needles will be used for, sashico ( a Japanese form of embroidery, using a stitch similar to a running stitch, to form patterns, often white thread on blue background). I've wanted to have a try at this after seeing some beautiful examples at the Knit and Stitch Show, in London, in October. The crochet hooks, well a girl can't have enough hooks, can she!

Black elastic and white thread, to finish my ironingboard cover. Bex got me an ironing board from freecycle, all it needed was a new cover. I love doing the ironing but it has to be on a board, can't iron on the table, so awkward. Now I have a board I am happy, nothing nicer than a pile of clean, fresh washing, newly ironed.

The ironing board minus cover. I have a couple of old beach towels as the padding and a lovely piece of red gingham for the cover. I'm going to machine this up when I go to see Rose, on Sunday, as I don't have my machine with me. Slightly heavy for carry on baggage.

No, not for me a day at the Mall but I do like shopping. Yarn shops, fabric shops and op shops are my idea of heaven. By the way I found two more pillowcases for my patchwork vintage cotton picnic quilt. I think I have enough to make a fair sized one, now. All ready to start when I go home. Only hope I don't get stopped at customs, " Why madam have you fifteen odd pillowcases in your suitcase."

Temptation.

2011-01-08T21:57:00.000+11:00

Now what's this all about? How is a body supposed to lose a few extra kgs with this sort of temptation. Benjy's honeycomb from Gary and George's 'Your place or mine'.

Benjy has been experimenting with various concoctions for this scrummy, crispy confectionary for the last few days. Of course as chief tester I've had my work cut out. The first attempt was unusual to say the least. Benjy didn't read the label on the honey jar and we had 'CHILLI' flavoured honeycomb. The next lot set like lead but not to be beaten he tried another recipe and hey presto honeycomb.

Corporate Report for 2010.

2011-01-03T20:04:00.000+11:00

2010 is gone and we are into 2011, now is the time to take stock, evaluate and plan for the year to come. Sounds like something from a big business end of year report. Thinking about it I suppose we are a business.

The Ibbotson Family Home.

CEO and domestic director, Grandma.

Financial and maintenance director, Pampa.

Culinary and horticultural support, Benjy.

Domestic grounds person and general fixer, Paddy.

All the team work well together and I can rely on my workforce 100%. Production has risen this year and I am happy to say costs have been driven down. From our Chyenhall plant (allotment) we have harvested an increased range including potatoes, carrots, cabbage, sprouts, broad, runner and french beans, onions, shallots, squash, marrow, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, chillies, lettuce, melon and strawberries. These have been processed into a vast range of home cooked meals, pickles, chutneys and jams in our Kitchen plant. This plant has worked overtime to produce all the bread, cake and biscuit requirements as well as adequate supplies of tea.

The textile plant has also produced an increased range of goods including knitwear and fabric items mostly in the our nursery range but also some Christmas goods.

The janitorial department has manufactured almost all of the laundry and cleaning products consumed this year.

Power usage has been cut and we hope to continue this in the new year.

In the next financial year we plan to increase production at our Chyenhall plant, expand with a new freezer unit and manufacture a greater range of preserved goods. The textile plant needs to up production on socks, sweaters and dishcloths.

Personal.

The workforce has increased this year with a new member of the International team, who excels at gooing and gurgling, but is inclined to demand a great deal of the CEO's attention.

All in all a very good year.

Friday Photo.

2010-12-10T12:48:00.000+11:00

I'm joining in with Rhonda's Friday photo of something on my mind. This is on my mind at the moment, I left it at home and I'm missing it quite a lot.

Finished and no more about allotments for a while.

2010-11-23T10:02:00.000+11:00

A sort of add on from the last post. I promise this will be the last look at bare earth for a while. Well, until next spring and the broad beans are sown.

Benjy finished the winter dig today, lots of empty space ready for next spring. Potatoes and beans on the right, corn, cabbage and carrots on the left. Many different things in between, squash, beetroot, lettuce, parsnips, tomatoes. I couldn't get on with raised beds, they were never the right size. I now lay down paths, where I need them, each season.

This is our friend George Hicks who lives in the bottom field of the allotments. He enjoys a carrot and a scratch behind the ear and even has his own page on Facebook. George and I play Farmville together sometimes, I've often wondered were he keeps his computer or maybe he is very modern and has an iPhone.

Getting stuck in.

2010-11-18T20:22:00.000+11:00

I have lots of help on the allotment from this chappy here. He's my digger, shifter and general dogs body. He likes the allotment to look neat and tidy. With all the rain we have been having lately he's been annoyed that he couldn't get on with the winter dig. Yesterday he got stuck in and finished one complete side. As you can see it was a little muddy but not cold as the sun shone all day.

Here we are all ready for next season. The other side has been started, with one area dug. I have leeks in another and the burning bin is in situ on the third area.

We don't burn lots of stuff but the straw and old tomato plants I like to dispose of this way. We also had some wooden pallets that had seen better days. Despite the wet Benjy got it smoking away and burnt some of the rubbish. I only burn in the winter, don't want to upset the bees or the other allotmenteers. Pampa made me this incinerator a couple of weeks ago, it has his own patented lockdown lid. No more going home with the bonfire still smouldering away. Something that used to wake me in the night wondering if I'd set the shed on fire yet.

"Mother, will you put that camera away". Well, I was only taking a snap of that lovely bag of leeks.

By this time I was a wee bit chilly and what better way to warm up than a spot of baking. Chocolate was the dish of the day, with chocolate buns and chocolate covered flapjack. I still have a few baking supplies to use up before I go away. Pampa cooks respectable meals but draws the line at baking. I'm afraid, when I'm away, all their bread is from the bakers.

And to end the day a chat with granddaughter no 2. Thats a yawn not a yell by the way. Can you tell what my favourite children's' book is.

Frost and sun.

2010-11-15T23:58:00.001+11:00

It's been quiet here, not that I'm complaining but I haven't had much to blog about. The weather it has been awful so nothing done outside and as I haven't been out I've done everything inside, in the way of housework, I want to do. I have been sewing, knitting, baking and reading. Nothing I can show you I'm afraid as the sewing and knitting are presents and the baking has been eaten. I'm actually conserving energy for the big trek, 14 days 9 hours till take off.

It was cold this morning, we had a clear night with a frost. Here is the valley this morning at 8 o'clock, frost on the putting green and mist rising from down in the dell. My poor boy is out there swishing the grass and raking the bunkers. Golfers are a hardy bunch and it takes far worse than this to keep them from the greens.

The day has turned out far better than I imagined and this is the lighthouse at midday. Sunshine and hardly a breeze, fine for a little stroll down the hill to the beach. No paddling today, even the hardy ones are keeping their shoes on.

Winter Beach.

2010-11-05T10:07:00.000+11:00

This is my local beach, just a short walk from our home. Crowded with people during the warmer months but not so much now and particularly after the easterly blow we had last night. The sea would have come all the way to the road, which is behind me, covering the beach with all this mess.

The bay is full of ships sheltering from the force of the wind, A sail training ship limped into port on Monday after loosing it's mast in a force 9 gale while on it's way to the Caribbean. A ship full of youngsters from eastern Europe on a sail training expedition. All safe and well I am thankful to say.

To the North, through the murk is St Anthony's light, known to us as Fraggle Rock. One of our favourite picnic spot is on the headland above the lighthouse.

Also to the North but on our side of the River Fal is Pendennis Castle. Built by Henry VIII to defend us from the marauding Spaniards. The mast you can see is from Falmouth Coast Guard station.

Even on a dull grey morning the beach is still very well used. These jackdaws are having a good old scavenge amongst the seaweed on the upper part of the shore. I don't know what they can find to eat but it didn't smell that nice.

Some one else likes the seaweed, how about this for re-cycling and being frugal, all there for the taking. I suspect it will go to his allotment a little way up the road from the beach. I've been meaning to bring a few bags down and collect some of my own.

People well wrapped up against the east wind are taking a stroll, along with a goodly collection of pooches. The beach can only be used for dog walking between October and March, after that they have to make do with the fields above the beach.

Not everyone is afraid of the cold. Here's mum having her daily swim but I'm not so sure I would have let those two below strip off and go in.

Mind you these youngster also seem to be enjoying a tumble in the surf. I wonder if it was shrimp they were after? What ever it was they were in the same spot all the time I was on the beach. Meanwhile this young herring gull is standing guard. Look at that vicious beak, just right for whipping your pastie from under your nose.

There was even a few surfers, well if you could actually see any surf. Just a gentle swell by this time but earlier I believe there had been a few good waves. If it's surf you want you need to go over to the north coast of Cornwall, Newquay or Perran where they have the competitions and championships. Big waves over there.

I enjoyed my half hour of fresh air and my nosey at the inhabitants of the beach. It cheered up in the afternoon and we have a dry but windy night. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

A new camera and some tidying.

2010-11-02T21:36:00.000+11:00

I have a new camera, it's a point and shoot type that I can keep in my bag or pocket ready for those quick pics. My old camera bit the dust a while back and I've been borrowing various ones from family. At last I saved enough pocket money and yesterday went and spent the lot on a camera and card. A snazzy blue one called a 'coolpics', makes me sound young and trendy. LOL. I've been sitting here for a while studying the instructions and charging the battery. Now clicking away to have a go and see whats what.

Here is my work area, where I sew and craft. Well what a mess and I hadn't really noticed until I looked at my photos. Time for a sort out and tidy up.

It only took about 30 mins but all is put away in the right place and ready for a little sewing this afternoon. I just need to keep it is way. While I was sorting I turned up some lovely fabric a friend sent from America. I am going to make a couple of tote bags, the kind that can be rolled and fastened together and then I can keep one in my handbag ready for the market.

I love my crafting space,everything is to hand, I even have a portable ironing board to press seams etc. Pampa build this for me last year while I was away visiting my daughters. He used several old desks and shelving units that we had in the workshop. The only thing he had to buy was the electric sockets on the back board behind the sewing machine. It was all a surprise for when I arrived home.

Sitting in front the fire.

2010-11-01T09:12:00.000+11:00

Today here in the UK it was Samhain, Halloween, All Souls Eve, different things to different people. I'm drawn to the celebration of Samhain, the turning of the wheel. It helps me understand how things are supposed to be. It was a typical late autumn, early winter day here in Cornwall. Rain and wind, the lanes littered with leaves and fallen twigs. Not a day for outside work, no digging today.

Instead I lit the fire early. It is one of the joys of my winter, the open fire. As a small child we moved into a large old farmhouse, untouched for many years. In the huge kitchen there was a Cornish range at one end and an open fire at the other. It was nothing more than a big black hole in the wall with a mantel over but Mother made that hearth a cosy place to sit.

A bit of sauce.

2010-10-30T08:04:00.000+11:00

Rhonda's been at it again, she started me on a challenge to re-organise and sort our storeroom. As it's name suggests we store things in there. My stockpile, produce, cleaning products, suitcases, shoes/boots and lots of other 'useful' things. It's also the family dumping ground. I've been at it all week, sifting and sorting. Stuff to the charity shop, stuff to freecycle, stuff to the dump. Stockpile and cleaning products re-organised and back in good order. Last I tackled the fruit and vegetables. Wiped down all the shelves and put it all back, except the apples and pears. Benjy was going to make fruit sauce.

Lot of it. Some for the freezer and some canned to give to the lady who gave us the apples. The pears are from our own wee tree.

All I had to do was the washing up

and whip up this crumble for our supper.

Here a quick snap of the clean and tidy produce store. A few onions, butternut and queensland blue squash, leeks and cabbage left. I need to use this up so nothing goes to waste while I'm away.

2010-10-26T05:37:00.000+11:00

We had one or two things on our mind lately and blogging hasn't been one of them I'm afraid. Little Miss J has been a bit of a fuss pot with her feeding and sleeping. Poor mum has been at the end of her tether with it all. I have felt so useless being so far away. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and with a formula feed, gripe water and patience all is coming right. Feeds are settling down and sleeps are getting longer. Mum has been able to have some time off now that Dad can feed Little Miss. It's all about find the right level, finding what works for you.

The one good thing about worrying and not sleeping is the amount of knitting I have done. A pair of socks for Pampa's Christmas stocking, 3/4 of a felted bag, a few dish cloths and I've almost finished a hooded scarf. The house is clean, ultra organised and in order. The down side is I can't go and finish digging the allotment at two in the morning. Not that is really what I want to do at the moment as it's been a bit nippy at nights lately.

The Wait.

2010-10-01T18:36:00.002+10:00

My Girlie

We had the call from Bex at 9pm, that they were on their way to the hospital. As you can imagine I have not slept much. It's now 9am and she is still going, this baby is not like her mother. Bex was born 3weeks early and only 20mins after I reached the hospital. She has aways been impatient.

See you later.

Thats UK time.

Here she is, only 5 mins old.

My New Girlie.

Knitting, above and below the waves.

2010-09-26T21:35:00.000+10:00

In the week I went to a localish craft show with a couple of friends. I didn't intend spending anything at this show as I am going to The Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally, in two weeks time and saving my pocket money for that. I had lots of time to look at the stands run by the Guilds and groups. This one was particularly stunning. 'Above and Below the Waves'.

This is a project organised by Alison and Ann Murray, in aid of the RNLI and their "Train One Save Many" campaign.

As you can see it is a knitted seashore, above and below the waterline. Over 2000 knitter help create this master piece. It took 5 months to sew together and I moan about sewing up one jumper.

The Project will be on show at venues next year, including:

The Brighton Centre 11th - 13th Feb 2011.

SECC Glasgow 3rd - 6th March 2011

NEC Birmingham 24th - 27th March 2011

Anintree Racecourse Liverpool 20th - 22nd May

Well worth a look.

Weekend.

2010-09-20T19:37:00.000+10:00

Well I had a busy weekend, so much so I forgot to take any photos. We have cleared a large ornamental border at the front of the house. Over the last two years it has given a marvellous show of flowering shrubs and perennials but it had become over grown and desperately needed a tidy. Pampa is very willing in the garden but I would never let him out their on his own as I'd just have bare earth. Shrubs, roses, climbers and border perennials have all had a good hair cut, feed and mulch. I have a little room for a few new bulbs and a reasonable area cleared for the divided perennials. All good and it cost us nothing at all. Oh yes, a little petrol to go to the green re-cycling centre.

No work on the allotment but I am still picking. We have had sweetcorn, butternut squash and my pride and joy, a watermelon.

I grew this from a plant I was given by 'Old Pete' as a thank you for watering his greenhouse while he was away for a few days. I just love the way our allotmenteers share with each other. Passing the kindness around.

More Jam, this time plum. I did make so much mess making this, Pampa was very kind and cleaned the hob for me and the work top and the wall.

Last but not least this is the present my daughter was given at her work baby shower. She is a lecturer at a TAFE in Sydney. All her work colleagues made a square each and put them together into this beautiful quilt.

Noodlehead's clutch bag.

2010-09-16T23:32:00.000+10:00

A little clutch bag for Dee. It turned out much better than I expected as after I cut it out it sat on my craft table for two weeks while I worked out which end was which. The pattern is from http://noodleheads.blogspot.com/2010/04/gathered-clutch-tutorial.html I like Noodlehead's blog she has such good ideas.

It has three little pockets for cards and just enough room for mobile, keys and a little cash. I think I just may whip one up for myself.

2010-09-16T00:25:00.000+10:00

Being Grandma.

This cheery monkey is being me. Note the Grandma lap rug.

Wet and windy.

2010-08-20T15:23:00.000+10:00

It's wet and windy outside and I am tucked up here in bed. The nights are getting longer, where a little while ago it would have been bright and sunny by now it is still very dark. I am having trouble finding the motivation to get up as early as I would like. To do as much as I want to do each day. Is this a bad thing or is it's natures way?

The garden and the allotment are showing signs of winding down. These beautiful seed heads of the lantern clematis look like little old men with scruff haircuts. The wild form of clematis, in the UK, is called old man's beard.

The pears are ripening, it going to be a bumper crop this year, enough to make pear chutney. I'm really enjoying the preserving, always on the look out for something to bottle. Pampa is now getting paranoid about what to do with any jar or bottle as it is emptied. Should he put it in the re-cycling bin or do I want to fill it with something else.

The pears aren't the only autumn bounty the garden has to offer, these sweetcorn promise a good feed as do the butternut squash. We actually eat one of these in the week but I don't think it was as nice as a fully mature one. I did pick the first ever melon I have grown but we are ripening it off on the kitchen windowsill for a while yet.

There is still a fair bit of summer still around, like these beautiful calendula. I really must read up on making balm for sprains and bruises.

It's light at last and I must be up and away. The washing needs hang on the rack indoors today, we need bread and a cake for weekend tea. I have beetroot to bottle and a shopping list to make. I also have a parcel to post but no address as yet to send it. I might do a little sewing this afternoon as I don't think it is going to be allotment weather.

Using up the tomatoes.

2010-08-18T06:21:00.000+10:00

Today we started our preserving. Benjy was doing the cooking, I was his sou chef and KP. I love when we cook together, even when he tips a bottle of fish sauce over me. Pooh, I did smell for a while.

We started with good old Hugh and his Glutney Chutney. This is a recipe that can be changed to suit what you have to preserve. We had courgettes, onion, apples, marrow and loads of tomatoes. With sultanas, sugar, vinegar, a touch of chilli and a little bag of spices, you have a very yummy chutney.

When everything is added to the pan I always have a moment of thinking " Oh dear, there is far too much" but as it slowly cooks away done it goes.

Next on the list, chilli jam from this Marie Claire book, I love this name. Chillies, more tomatoes and long slow cooking produced a hhhhhot spicey relish. Much too hot for me but the boys love it. It's also ready to eat immediately. It does improve, apparently, with keeping but very nice fresh.

I'm afraid I'm in the bad books as I let it catch on the bottom of the pan but not enough to ruin it. Just transferred it to a clean pan and went on cooking.

This version of Glutney Chutney is quite pale but very tasty. It needs time to mature and I will be putting this in the store room for a few weeks.

Here is the Chilli jam, there was more but the boys and Pampa ate it with there burgers at supper.

I was out yesterday gleaning blackberries from the allotment hedge rows. Managed to pick about two pounds in twenty minutes. I've cooked them down with lemon juice and tomorrow they will be turned into bramble jelly. Pampa is not keen on blackberry pips and so I'm being nice to him.

Having the glums.

2010-08-06T16:29:00.002+10:00

I so needed to see this little face this morning. One or two things yesterday made me feel sad and I needed to lift the mood. The last straw was as I was coming home from the supermarket I was very close to a car accident. A poor man lost control of his car and crashed into large sign. The sign was between his car and mine, if it hadn't been there he would have hit my passenger side at speed. Although my car and I were both unscathed it was still a terrible shock. The poor man was injured and his lovely car was completely smashed up. I could not stop thinking about what might have been.

Pampa made me sit and he cooked our supper, not curry as I was going to do but lovely hot crispy chips with loads of salt and vinegar and a perfect fried egg. Sometimes you just need comfort food such as these.

Other things during the day had upset me to some degree, extended family who can't comprehend the way we wish to live.

I so thankful that I am who I am at this time. I'm thankful I can be who I am. I'm thankful for my good friends who understand me and I'm thankful for the ones who don't understand me but except me for who I am.

While I was sitting going over the events of the day a friend from the knit club phoned to ask if I would like her to pick up some toy stuffing, as she was going to the shop today and it would be no trouble. She'd remembered I had said I need some to finish a teddy. A kind thought so appreciated.

Beans and a casserole.

2010-08-05T04:35:00.002+10:00

When the beans start to come in I have to be ready because there is no let up. This is todays pickings, runners, borlotti, french and navy beans. They are now prepared, blanched and tucked up in the freezer, well some of them anyway. The borlotti went into a beef and bean casserole.

I have been buying my meat from a local butcher and the quality is superb. He knows so much and is so generous with his knowledge. It will a sad day when we can't ask the butcher for his advice and have a little bit of a chat.

I like my beef marbled through with fat. I think it has more flavour and cooks better but that is only my opinion.

I've never grown borlotti beans before and was a little nervous at cooking them fresh. The pods are so pretty with their pink and white stripes, the beans are supposed to be pink and white as well but mine all seemed pale green. I'm going to leave most on the vines to dry so I can store them for winter use. Another new experience, drying pulse.

Soft rolls with polenta topping, I did make a dozen but they didn't last very long. The dough made in the bread maker and then knocked back, shaped, left to rise for 1/2 hour and then popped in the oven for 10 minutes.

I missed taking a photo of the finished casserole, it didn't last long enough. I did manage to save enough for lunch tomorrow. The beans added a lovely nutty flavour, cooked until soft but not mushy. Much better than the dried variety.

Knitting, knitting and more knitting.

2010-07-31T18:09:00.003+10:00

I haven't written about my knitting recently. I knit all year round, it's never usually that hot that I can't. Lots for the new baby, cardies, blankets, a shawl and several soft toys. I have also finished the year long dishcloth swap, sent the last package out on tuesday. Socks, a cowl and a scarf for Christmas presents. I not good on taking photos so nothing to show of these.

Bex is not one for baby colours and picked out these for the next set of cardies. The pink is a baby bamboo and so so soft to knit with. I love this little one, it's knitted all in one from the top down. The sleeves are magic loop, a new technique for me but one I seem to have master with some success.

Once I'm on a roll with something I can't stop. Here's the pink bamboo nearly finished and I've started the coffee one also. No photo as yet.

Last but not least I have another pair of socks, these are for me as they don't match and I'm not fussy. Just using up a skein of this lushes self colouring yarn. I love purple and turquoise.

2010-07-29T23:56:00.002+10:00

Last week, David the allotment field owner, gave me three wooden crates. They weigh a ton and I nearly did myself a mischief moving them on to the plot. Benjy was delighted, he's easily pleased and said he would turn them into a run of compost bins. Trouble was we had a ton of compost ready for use and it would have to be moved before we could put the new ones in situ.

Good job he's not afraid of hard work as we had two of these pallet bins with the old turf in and a smaller bin with composted weeds etc. All of it was well rotted and very usable.

Over halfway and still the rain was holding off. I was giving him a hand in between taking photos.

We are moving it down here where Benjy's building a raised herb bed and an area for hardening plants before they go out on the plot.

Well that's enough for the day. You can get some sort of idea how the bin will look when they are finally put together. The old Tee mat is going to be cut in half and used across the front of the bins as a path. The rain that had held off all morning then started to pour down and we were glad to set off for home.

ps Do you see my beautiful anniversary present from Pampa. I'll give you a clue, it's orange.

Yes it the wheelbarrow, I just love him. xxxx

2010-07-17T17:59:00.003+10:00

The Weather has been lovely and wet for the last few days and I have been able to work on my D2E Quilt along quilt. I've also had a few days on my own as Pampa has been away working. No tv how lovely that has been. I've made about half the block and will soon have to think about joining them together.

I heard a few sad tales this week, about illness and heartaches. Young people having cancer, marriage break ups and money troubles. I'm so grateful for what I have and my family and friends. I'm going to continue with my gratitude list and say thanks.

Gratitude list.

Pampa arrived back safe and well, from his trip.

The lovely rain that has been falling. Both for the garden and so I can quilt.

A home cooked, home grown meal with a group of friends.

My first tomato of the season.

These seem trivial to many but to me I am extremely grateful .

2010-07-17T00:08:00.002+10:00

I'm was so excited I couldn't wait to get home and show the family this. This is my first tomato out of the poly tunnel Benjy bought me for Christmas. It's small, I know, but it heralds things to come. I can't bring myself to eat it until Pampa has seen it and he won't be home for 15 mins. I will just have to wait.

At least it's ripe unlike these antipodean tomatoes. They are so laid back they won't hurry and redden up but they are considerably larger.

2010-07-11T02:57:00.002+10:00

A couple of weeks ago a set of flag bunting was requested for Granddaughter's 'pirate loft'. Here they are being stitched, red, white and blue, not for any particular reason, just because Trago had these fabrics at a reasonable price.

Here they are again in situ far far away on the other side of the world.

Allotment today.

2010-07-09T17:17:00.006+10:00

The view from the top looking down over the onions, leeks, sweetcorn, squash and the last of the potatoes. Then looking up towards the various beans and peas, with the brassicas in their cage beyond.

Some of the tomatoes I grew from the free seeds on the gardening mag I bought while in Australia. I don't know what variety they are as the pack contained four different kinds. Can't wait to try them. I'm growing them in my poly tunnel and they are all doing very well, at the moment. They do need lots of water as the temperatures in there can get pretty high.

Here is the drip watering system Pampa has fitted up for me. Unfortunately he has only done the one side of the tunnel as yet and I still have to go and water the tomatoes by hand. In this side I have melons, peppers (capsicums) cucumbers and physalis. (spelling) Below is my first melon, it's about 4" across a the moment. See the wheat sprouting in the straw, I have to pull it up every few days or it would take over the bed.

Oh dear! a bit late for this poor lettuce but it was the last of this batch. Pity I don't have any chickens to eat it up.

The next lot of broad beans in flower, these look like they are going to produce a good crop. Our first two rows are just about finished. I'm going to pick the last today.

I have lots of baby butternut squash, not grow these before I hope they keep well or I'm going to have to puree lots for soup.

My summer tote.

2010-07-08T07:00:00.004+10:00

This is the Lucy Bag from Lucy at Attic24, her craft is inspiring. I used Rico cotton from the Lucy pack, put together by one of my favourite yarn stores in Wales, First4yarns.

I was really surprised how quick it went together. I have never crochet anything as big as this bag before and I am pleased with the end result. The lining is 100% cotton, white with rainbow spots. I bought it for another project but it has sat there for months making me feel guilt when I looked at it.

It stopped drizzling, this morning, long enough for me to photograph my bag while on my walk to knit club.

No photos

2010-07-07T06:16:00.004+10:00

Over on Down to Earth forum there is a thread about what is causing me frustration in my aims for a simple life. I've been thinking about this quite a bit, trying to pin point just what was causing this frustration. Then it dawned on me NOTHING. Nothing is getting in my way, I am quite content with how it's going. It's not perfect, there is still a way to go and I probably will never get to perfect. My life feels right now, I feel right now.

So here is my grateful list of the moment.

A kind caring husband.

Being able to sleep through the night.

That I had a long chat with Mills this morning.

That I had time to sit in the sun.

Do we really need this stroller?

2010-05-13T02:53:00.005+10:00

Today was the 20 week scan and now we know the baby is a girl. I've been given permission to knit in pink and make a (1 only) frilly dress. I've been scouring the internet for cute little baby makes and have a list as long as my arm of things I am going to 'whip up'.

This little photo sequence made me smile this morning. It is my SIL in the nursery department looking for a suitable stroller for the new babe when she arrives.

How do these b...... things shut down?

No don't tell me, just let me figure it out.

Oh dear, instruction manual, Adrian doesn't usually do those.

Do we really need one of these?

Oh the joys of parenthood and they have 20 weeks to go yet.

2010-05-04T06:12:00.002+10:00

Not having had one of these for almost three weeks, equalled;

Lots of this over the weekend.

Caught up now, thank goodness. :-)

My first quilt.

2010-04-30T05:35:00.005+10:00

I have wanted to make a quilt for either our bed or as a throw for the sofa for some time. Here is the on going story of my first quilt, a quilt-as-you-go quilt. It's going to be a slow process as I don't really know what I am doing. I'm following instructions from a marvellous lady from New Zealand who is guiding me throw the process.

My batting, the stuff that makes the quilt padded. I've chosen a 100% cotton wadding that was bought by the metre from my local fabric shop. In this photo I have already cut it into 12in x 12in squares ready to start. I also chose a 100% cotton backing fabric in plain cream. Actually an Egyptian cotton flat bedsheet from Asda. (local supermarket) I cut this to match the batting.

I took one batting and one backing fabric, wrong sides together baste diagonally and then zig zag around the edges. This is taking the time as I have already bent two needles.

The colour way for the quilt is greens with reds and creams. I have had a great deal of help from the lady that runs the the local quilting shop, in choosing shades of greens and creams. This is a new shop and full of scrummy fabrics and sewing notions. Classes and sewing groups are also going to be held in the adjoining building but are a little expensive for me.

Now I have to cut up all that lovely fabric. It has taken me a while to pluck up courage to actually put blade to cloth. I am a big silly aren't I? To make this an easier task I have bought a long ruler thingy and have so far found it very useful. I already had the cutting board, as you can see from all the ink and paint stains on it. The rotary cut I bought years ago and totally forgot I had. It's so easy to use, I'd cut the wadding and backing in minutes.

No stitching of the fabric as yet but soon, very soon.

Sweetcorn, beans and other

2010-04-28T06:42:00.005+10:00

Sweetcorn, loads of it. Good job we all love it in all it's guises. I sowed 110 seeds and 109 have germinated. These were sown at home as the naughty little rodents at the allotment had eaten my first sowing. I've now put them out in my little greenhouse at home to harden off and in a few weeks they can go to the lottie.

Various beans and a few courgettes out in the greenhouse.

Again all the butternut squash germinated, where will I put them all? Never can bear to throw a plant away. Perhaps that is why last year I ended up with half a ton of various squash and pumpkin.

Trays of brassicas I potted on earlier in the week. Calabrese, PSB, Savoy cabbage and one or two hard white, for the coleslaw.

These were a few extra strawberry runners I didn't know what to do with. I potted them up and stashed them in the tunnel. Flowering already, I do hope we get a decent crop as I'd love to make jam from my own fruit.

First early potatoes planted about a month ago are already showing their heads above ground. I believe these are call Coleen. I also have a few rows of Maris Bard and a salad potato, Charlotte.

and last but not least these are my new friends, Rosemary and Thyme the piggie wigs. Our allotments are part of a small farm and these two have invaded the plot fields. Love a good scratch and a carrot or two.

2010-04-26T21:41:00.002+10:00

The poly tunnel is up and running at last. The wet and windy weather disappeared a couple of weeks ago and the 'boys' got to work. I didn't interfere as, apparently, this was man's work. There was a bit of head scratching and a few choice words but all in all it was an alright job.

Here we are all finished and I love it. Doesn't take much to make me happy. There is still lots of work to be done inside but I've started on that. The advantage is I can garden in the wet now and grow a lot more tender fruit and veg, with an extended growing season.

Quite some digging needed here but I've already started to enrich the soil with well rotted manure and some of my own compost. I have founds some old scaffold boards that will make good boarder edges. Just got to fix them up.

Here is my little potting area, I was just sowing a few yard long beans and a few sunflowers to attract the bees.

I have already started to fill it up. Newly sown PSB, calabrase, and summer cabbage at the back. A little yellow tomato next, not sure of it's name. The a couple of trays of leeks and a tray of runner beans I was gifted by one of the other plot holders. In the foreground are heritage tomatoes I received as a free gift on an Australian gardening mag.

There has been a lot more happening since I took these photos, in the week. More beans and sweetcorn have been sown and eaten by the mice. I've re-sowed at home and those seeds are up and growing. More pictures tomorrow.

Dentist and Daffodils.

2010-03-20T02:45:00.003+11:00

Mid week I had to pay my yearly visit to the dentist, nothing interesting about that. On the way I walked through our local park. I don't venture there very often as it's not really on my way anywhere, apart from the dentist of course. I was so surprised to see this magic carpet stretching out before me.

The grass needs a bit of tlc after the wear and tear of the cold, cold winter. In some areas it has gone altogether but with a little sunshine and a good feed it will be back to it's former glory in no time. I just love those tiny little narcissus, so delicate.

2010-03-19T05:33:00.005+11:00

It's raining and I'm glad for a change. For the last little while I have done very little but dig and rake and sow and shift manure. I need a little crafting time at home.

Yes, this lot.

The allotment is now ready for the spring and I think just in time. We have been having some Ok weather for the last week or so, before it was dry but very cold, not bad for the digging part.

We have been making a start on a fruit garden. A row of summer fruiting raspberries, you can just see them if you look hard enough.

A Couple of apple trees, a 'wall' of strawberries and even a rhubarb crown. I hope to add a gooseberry, black and red currants and a plum or damson tree but they will have to wait for next season.

That's next doors poly tunnel but Benjy and I have prepared the plot for our tunnel. 10ft x 20ft, it sounded so big when I was ordering it but I'm sure we will fill it with lots of goodies. The windowsill in the conservatory is beginning to sag and I have now moved on to the sitting room. I have pots of chillies, peppers, cues, tomatoes and squashes balanced on the radiator, for bottom heat you understand.

Oh by the way a large lorry delivered the tunnel yesterday. Well it delivered a pile of metal tubes, wooden planks, plastic sheeting and loads of nuts and bolts. I think the males of the family will be in for a treat this weekend. I'm having nothing to do with it until I can go inside and plant things.

Apart from the digging we have been sowing a planting as well. Spinach in the first bit of bare ground, broad beans in the second and tucked up under that fleece are our first early potatoes. There was even a little sunshine while we were working this week. Can you see my shadow?

And the crafting, well I didn't get much of that done as I was wearing my chauffeurs hat most of the afternoon. There is always tomorrow!!

Baby Knitting.

2010-03-10T01:14:00.004+11:00

It's all official, I've seen the scan photo, I'm going to be a Grandma again. Not till October but I've already got the knitting needles out. Now October in New South Wales is spring time, is it hot, warm, cool or downright cold, I don't know. What to knit that will get used? Well I plumped for a blanket that can be used in different ways.

It's a pattern I found on Ravelry. Ravelry is just wonderful, so much information about every aspect of working with yarn. I can't say knitting because it is so much more than that. If you want to know it, it will be somewhere on Ravelry. If used a off white yarn, merino wool, cashmere, silk mix. So so soft but I think it's probably terrible to wash but who cares.

I've made a good start but I'm nearly out of yarn and I need to go out for some more. I don't like going out at the moment but what's a woman to do when she needs yarn.

I love the heart motifs, they are in reverse stocking stitch and look complicated, well to me they do but are a doddle. Just purl and plain, so as long as I can count straight I will be alright. I will keep you up to date with how it is going.

Neglect and signs of Spring.

2010-03-05T06:00:00.007+11:00

I've been having a really good look around the garden at home today. It's in a very sorry state indeed. The Autumn was so wet and windy I wasn't able to do all the tidying up I wanted to do. Pampa and Paddy tried to do a little at the end of January but it was so cold with ice and snow I told them not to bother. Quite a few plants died in the cold but not to worry as the front garden was getting a little crowded and needed a sort out. Even amongst the dead leaves, scruffy plants and the odd bit of rubbish blown in from the road I found signs that spring is on it's way.

Buds on the big white clematis, the one I have forgotten the name of and the one I am supposed to chop down to the ground around about now.

One lonely snowdrop, I quite excited about this as I didn't plant it, it's a volunteer plant. Yes it's volunteered to cheer me up.

Crocus, narcissus and tulips in this piece of bare ground.

and even the lesser spotted lost loppers are popping up.

Here is a very neglected herb garden, I can't see what is dead and what is still struggling along. They all need a good hair cut and then we will wait and see what happens. The whole garden is due for a make over but at the moment the Allotment wins and it will have to wait it's turn.

It's cold outside

2010-03-02T19:03:00.007+11:00

The sun is shining and the sky is blue but Oh is it cold outside. Not that I actually saw it but I heard Pampa scrapping the ice off his windscreen this morning.

I will have to look out some more sweaters as I need to make a trip to the market and the store, the stockpile is non-existent and the fridge is empty.

I spent some of the weekend sorting the storeroom and checking over the stockpile and now I'm ready for re-stocking.I haven't really wanted to leave the house since I've been home. It's so nice to be here and shut the world outside again. Oh I sound like some sort of recluse but do enjoy the peace and quiet of home.

The tins need filling and I have already had requests for flapjack and scones. A large cake is probably on the cards as well and of course bread and bread rolls.

As you can see from these photos I'm not the only one that likes to cook.

Have a good day.

2010-02-28T17:53:00.004+11:00

I back!!!!! After trying so hard to blog regularly I lost my old lappie, poor thing just couldn't take the strain and gave up the ghost. Thanks to no2 son I have a new MacBook Pro, a beast of a machine and it has taken me a few days to get my head around it but I think I'm up and running now.

I had a wonderful time in Australia and travelled back last Monday/Tuesday. Journey was uneventful, thank goodness but very long. Suffering from the old jet lag and the cold. Three jumpers and two pairs of socks, bit of shock to the system coming from 34c to 2c. It's a balmy 6c outside at the moment and pouring with rain and blowing a gale.

Had a quick peek at the lottie, not bad, not much weed and the cold has broken down the soil nicely. It's far too wet to get out there and prepare for sowing anything, far too cold anyway. I will be sowing leeks inside next week and then see how it goes.

This part of the allotment is where the poly tunnel is going. The black plastic is from last years squash and pumpkin crop. I left it down as a way of keeping down the weed. I'm looking forward to trying a few crops that require more heat than we can provide outside. It should also prolong the growing season, lettuce and such well into the autumn. Well you have got to dream haven't you. LOL.

Have a good day.

Pedro the wonder dog.

2010-01-17T17:38:00.002+11:00

I don't think I have introduced the smallest member of the immediate family. This is Pedro and he belongs to Becci & Adrian and lives 'up the coast'. For the first five years of his life he was passed from one person to the next and never really looked after. Three years ago when Becci and Adrian were setting up their first home an acquaintance gave them a bed and when it arrived Pedro was with it. If you want the bed you have to have the dog!!!!! Well my daughter has never been particularly interested in animals and I was worried when I heard they had acquired a dog but I need not. It was love at first sight. They dote on him and him them.

2010-01-16T07:54:00.002+11:00

This is my home town, not as it is at the moment, as it is raining and blowing a gale, or so I have been told. I love being here with my family but I'm missing my home and the quiet, steady rhythm of my day when I am there. It is anything but quiet here and the family have the idea that they must entertain us at all times. I am happy that I can just join in their daily lives for a little while each year.

Being creative.

2010-01-14T17:20:00.003+11:00

Today has been drizzly and chilly not the sort of day for the beach, the pool or even the park. Only one thing for it, a cardboard box and some paint. Is it a train? is it a plane? no Grandma it's 'Adrins' ute.

By the way this is the dining room table at Auntie Becci's house.

2010-01-13T18:57:00.002+11:00

Number one son, the chef, doesn't cook at home in the UK and I don't ask him. After the long hours he spends in the kitchen the last thing he wants to do is come home and cook. But while in Sydney he loves to prepare us yummy meals cooked from scratch with lovely fresh ingredients. Unfortunately he can't bring his whites with him for fear that the Australian immigration will think he has come to work. We found an apron that was big enough to go around his girth.

It was toad in the hole with carrots, green beans and onion gravy. Yum yum.

Old Haunts.

2010-01-12T21:50:00.003+11:00

My dear husband wanted to go to visit his old neighbourhood today. Where he grew up and went to school. A trip of perhaps an hour and a half, two buses, a train and another bus, not something I really wanted to do on such a warm day. Things don't always turn out as you expect though. The journey was fine and I saw parts of Sydney I hadn't since before, not all of them beautiful but interesting all the same. On the train journey Pampa had described to me how the street had looked forty years ago, including a milk bar and he was delighted to see the milk bar was still there only it now sold fizzy drinks and hot snacks. We walked along the road leading to his old house, church and school. At the church he wanted to go inside but the door was locked, as we were leaving we noticed a group of ladies sewing in the church hall. Well it's a long time since I have had such a warm greeting, a cup of tea and cake appeared before us and the promise of a call to the lady who held the key to the church. These ladies were part of a group who sewed for people in need in East Timour and several other places. Beautiful simple garments both practical and lovely to look at. A group of really nice, genuine people who gave up their time not to mention their cake, to help two complete strangers. Pampa was chuffed to go inside the church and show me where he used to sit. A day well spent even if I was very hot by the end of it. We did visit some of his other old haunts, his school, the shop where he used to buy his sweets, where he played tennis and of course the house where he grew up. He did remark that everything was a lot smaller then he remembered but then it always is isn't it?

So today's photo is of 'that bridge' as we were passing by on our way home. Ferry on this leg of the journey.

Rubbish at posting regularly.

2010-01-11T18:38:00.003+11:00

I'm rubbish at posting regularly, went up north for the weekend and forgot the camera card. We had a very good time at Becci & Adrian's, good company and good food. We went swimming in the morning, swimming in the ocean, not something I would do in summer at home as our ocean is far from warm. Our granddaughter is almost swimming on her own, she can do a few strokes before putting her feet down. She has not fear and will jump into any water, we have to watch her very carefully.

Arrived back last night very tired but a good tired. Today was spent re-cooperating with several loads of washing on the side and a quick trip to the market for supplies. Today photo sums up what I have been enjoying today with some knitting as well.

2010-01-07T19:18:00.004+11:00

7th January 2010.

We took a long walk this morning as the air was cooler and the sun behind low cloud. As we rounded the headland we came upon this deserted beach.

Well almost deserted apart from these guys and girls enjoying the peace. They were not best pleased to see us and we beat a haste retreat.

2010-01-07T19:06:00.003+11:00

6th January 2010.

I just adore the creamy richness of these Frangipani flower. As I am walking to the market on these warm balmy days there perfume fill the air and fills me with joy.

Trees.

2010-01-05T21:07:00.002+11:00

I've been out and about today looking at trees. A few particular trees set against a beautiful blue sky, so tall and straight.

Many many trees, so many there vastness was breathtaking. I love being up high, although it scares me and I love trees, so this view was just the best.

See you Steph.

2010-01-05T07:49:00.002+11:00

4th January.

Cheating here as it's still Monday in the Uk. Today our Fannie goes home to her island in the sun. We have had her company for the Christmas Holidays and very good it was too. Steph is our unofficial daughter who has spent Christmas with us for many years. Bye Fannie xxxxx.

Just what I wanted.

2010-01-03T22:10:00.004+11:00

I had some lovely presents from my family this Christmas. Amongst other I received cloth handkerchiefs, yarn and knitting needles. Also this great book about crafting with recycled goods. I will be busy with lots of the projects later in the year when I am at home.

This book from Benji will be a great help when I start my menu planning again as it gives so much information about larder management as well as what to cook. I haven't really had time to read much but what I have is very interesting.

The last thing I wanted to show you is this rather natty device to hold my knitting needles together and stop the stitches falling off while it is in my bag. Again given to me by Benji, he knows the way to his mother's heart, bless him.

I think my family have the measure of me at last, no more fancy stuff well apart from my plane ticket that is.

2010-01-02T21:59:00.003+11:00

2nd January 2010.

A very boring photo from a very boring day. Returning to Sydney from our Christmas visit to Brisbane, not sure how far but over 850k. Traffic diabolical with over thirteen hours in the car. Absolutely wonderful time with all the family, twelve of us in one house. Plenty of food well cooked by DD1 and DS1, plenty of good conversation and plenty of simple fun had by all.

2010-01-01T22:06:00.003+11:00

Happy New Year and a good and peaceful 2010. A new beginning or a continuation of how we were before. There will be some new beginnings, new ways of doing things but I will be continuing with many of my simple frugal ways. One new idea I gleaned from the forum this morning was about keeping a pictorial record of the whole year. The idea was to scrapbook a photo everyday but I'm going to blog a photo everyday for the year. Some days I will only post a photo or two and others a longer message. Lets see how long I can last, lol.

First photos, 1st January 2010.

Our water baby loved the pool at the house we stayed in for the holidays.

One of the small squares I am knitting for Milly's rainbow blanket.

One day down 364 to go.

2009-12-05T12:51:00.004+11:00

Sorry not many photos today, blogger doesn't like me very much and won't let me load any more.

An evening stroll along the oceans edge and a little rock pool dipping to finish our walk. Even big boys can resist a little dabble, at least the air and the water are warm. What would they find?

This little chap was hiding deep under a ledge and didn't like us bothering him at all. I don't think I would have wanted to poke my fingers under there without looking first.

I've been here for a week now and don't tell the family but much as I love being here I'm missing my routine and my DH. Only two weeks and Paddy and Pampa will be here for Christmas. The whole family together for the first time in three years. Oh the joy.

2009-12-03T06:12:00.003+11:00

I've had nothing simple or fugal to report for a while as I have been preparing for a trip. Quite a long trip actually and I have now arrived and settled in for the next ninety days. So I'm back to blogland and writing about a very different but strangely similar daily life.

Aeroplanes are a necessary evil to me, I hate to think of the CO2 they produce but without them I could not come visit my family. Also sitting for thirty six hours without my knitting is almost unbearable. I'm not a great tv lover and one movie is about all I can manage. Then a little reading but as it was a night flight I was annoying the other passengers with my light. It's a good job they feed us regularly just to break the monotony. I really hate to think what is in that plastic tray. Always reminds me of a comment in 'Crocodile Dundee' movie about lizards, "you can eat them but they taste like s***".

Flight over, back into the early morning sunshine of a beautiful Australian day. All the family to meet me and a big hug for and from my darling granddaughter. "My you have grow". A very busy drive to the Northern Beaches from a very busy Kingford Smith Airport.

I'm loving the sunshine and the warm air after the weeks of rain and howling gales we have had in my part of the UK. Although rain would be welcome in some parts of Australia I believe and I did bring a little with me but it's stopped now and we are back to the sun. I'm just about to make some breakfast and go sit on the balcony and enjoy. See you later.

ps Look who came and joined me for breakfast.

Lottie digging.

2009-11-12T02:54:00.005+11:00

I'm so pleased that after all the dank and dreary weather we have been having I was able to get on the lottie this morning. Glad I went as now it's dank, dreary and very wet outside. Harvested the last of the leeks, I would have left a few but I know Pampa won't use them when I go away. There were also loads of sprouts ready, so you know what we will be eating for the next few days.

Soup, stew and leeks in cheesy sauce?

Benny turned over at least half of one side and now that is already for spring sowing. My little bit was pathetic compared but my excuse was it was very weedy and I needed to get the creeping buttercup out. Also noticed the purple sprouting budding up, Benny and I will miss all of that I expect. Must remember to tell the new lady on the plot next to us she can pick if she want. Hate to see it go to waste.

Benny's bit.

My bit.

I hope to get up there once more before we go and finish the bit I was digging. Pampa promised to put up a brassica cage for me and I want the area ready. He is the worlds worst gardener but as builder and fixer he is first rate. I only have to describe what I want and he can and will make it.

The wire netting has come detached from the side of the this compost bin and caused a bit of a mess on the path. It will have to stay like this until I return from my travels.

2009-11-09T22:29:00.004+11:00

Not much in flower but I found these crinoline ladies.

Good Morning on this beautiful sunshiny day. It was very cold here last night, 2c when I went out with Ben at dawn. ( His turn for breakfasts )The sun gladdened my heart as it rose above the golf course and I wondered if Paddy was chilly around the knees while switching his grass. He is still in his summer uniform of shorts and polo shirt but I bet he put on his fleece this morning. I don't see him leave as he's away before 6am, in the summer it nearer 4am.

edited to say sorry that was yesterday but I got held up and didn't finish this post.

A sunny reminder of my darling granddaughter.

I have been busy sewing the last few days. The girls sewing kit wraps are well under way and are turning out much better than I had anticipated. I do hope they like them. I have used a fat quarter, a piece of lining left over from some curtains I made last year and for the wadding I used a couple of guest towels from the op shop. I did have to buy the binding, not into making my own I'm afraid.

I have also been making bags, found this http://whatsthatgonnabe.blogspot.com/2007/05/summery-dishtowel-totebag-tutorial.html

and had a go. I must say they are the easiest things to make and so lovely.

This was the first one, made from a set of Asda tea towels. I used the third tea towel to make a couple of knitting project bags. Then yesterday I nipped into our local discount store and they had lovely set of TT, 5 for £2.25. So what is a girl to do? I've now made three bigger bags and with the odd TT I made a diddy one for Mills.

2009-10-26T19:28:00.004+11:00

I've been a bit under the weather the last few days. Benny being so generous shared his cold with me. I just wish the little man with the mallet would stop his hammering inside my head. I haven't actually felt like doing anything but snuggling up with hot tea but I managed a few rows of knitting in between naps. One advantage of this simple life is one can do nothing once in a while without upsetting anything. True the washing is escaping from the basket this morning but not to worry we have other things to wear

I managed to bake on Saturday while Pampa did the grocery shopping, so the tins are full or were full.

Ginger biscuits, Benny has been asking for these for ages.

and while I was about it a Sticky Ginger cake.

The morning is grey with a little rain and hardly any wind. Not a good day for a Monday, not the sort of day to start the week off with.

The Pear tree with a few yellow leaves still clinging on.

I like Monday to be bright a cheerful with a little breeze. I like to be able to breath in the fresh air and lift my face to the sun. We can't have everything, now lets see whats good about today. It's not cold, around about 14c, not bad for the end of October. I don't have to go out anywhere as all the errands were done on Saturday. There isn't any ironing to do and I have supper all planned. I can start a new knitting project today as I've caught up with my dishcloth swap items for next month. All in all a day when I can gather my strengths again.

Cooking supper from this book, 5o Great Curries of India by Camellia Panjabi.

Love em or hate em.

2009-10-19T00:39:00.003+11:00

We still have a few beetroot on the allotment, although we have eaten lots this year we can never have too many. Pampa is the beetroot king in our home and growing, cooking and eating them is his speciality.

Here he is preparing a basket full for the cooking. The leaves are cut off not too close to the actual beetroot and the root is left on. This helps stop the beetroot 'bleeding' into the cooking water.

He gives them a quick rinse in cold water and puts them straight into a large pan of cold water.

Bring the pan slowly to the boil and then turn down till it is just simmering. Any more and the beetroot will be dry when cooked. Leave them for about an hour. He check every little while to make sure they are still covered with water and are still simmering.

A little prod with a sharp knife to see if they are ready, yes done to perfection. Drain, mind they will be hot.

Cut the stalk off with a small knife and the skins should just fall away on it's own.

What you have left is a bowl of delicious beetroot. We serve these either hot with a white sauce with our dinner or cold with salad or in our sandwiches.

12 Dancing Dishcloths well 11 actually.

2009-10-18T04:05:00.005+11:00

I have received all my dishcloths from the 12 Dancing Dishcloth swap over on Ravelry. They are all so beautiful I can't bring myself to actually use them just yet but I will, I will. This first photo is a set from a kind lady from over the ocean. I love this kitchen towel and I'm going to add this pattern to the list I am making for Christmas presents.

Look at all this lovely, lovely kitchen crafting. Every time I clean my kitchen I will think of all those ladies from all over the world busy with their needles. I've been busy as well but I'm not showing as my lovely swap partners must see them first.

Here are two pieces of very pretty fabric waiting in the wings to be turned into a couple of sewing kits for my girls. Underneath just peeking out is some fine cotton I picked up in a sale. Pampa is going to get plain hankies and if I have time I might use a little for an embroidered one for Mills.

Have a lovely weekend.

2009-10-13T20:53:00.003+11:00

Wondering around peeking at other peoples blogs I came across this and thought I might as well:

1. Where is your cell phone? Flat
2. Your hair? Grey
3. Your mother? Irish
4. Your father? Missed
5. Your favorite food? Bread
6. Your dream last night? Frightening
7. Your favorite drink? Tea
8. Your dream/goal? achieved
9. What room are you in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? Creating
11. Your fear? Restriction
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? Extrovert
15. Muffins? Chocolate
16. Wish list item? Polytunnel
17. Where did you grow up? Cornwall
18. Last thing you did? Baked
19. What are you wearing? Preloved.
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pets? Worms
22. Friends? Working
23. Your life? Content
24. Your mood? Happy
25. Missing someone? Mills
26. Vehicle? Dirty
27. Something you’re not wearing? Frown
28. Your favorite store? Closed
29. Your favorite color? Turquoise
30. When was the last time you laughed? This morning
31. Last time you cried? Yesterday
32. Your best friend? Loved
33. One place that I go to over and over? Allotment
34. One person who emails me regularly? B J.
35. Favorite place to eat? Home

One word answers are harder than you think but given honestly don't they give an insight into our lives.

A contented day.

2009-10-13T01:41:00.005+11:00

My life, to the outside world must seem dull and samey but it's the sameness of it that is it's joy. I like my routine, my home, my world. I am happy with my life.

Today I visited the lottie with my little helper, as it was his day off. We cleared the pumpkin patch, picked the last of the sweetcorn and cleared away the runner beans. We filled this compost bin and now I need Pampa to build another. Job for the weekend.

The last of the sweetcorn, a little tough now but fine for Pampa's favourite chicken and sweetcorn soup. There were also a few squash lurking under the leaves, very small but nice roasted whole.

But the best were the first of the Brussels sprouts, yummy one of my favourite.

There are also the other, some would say mundane, activities of my day. Washing and who could not be pleased to hang their washing out under this blue sky.

There is always bread making, a loaf hardly lasts a meal let alone a day in our home. This is bog standard granary and white flour. I fine this the best for the 'workers' packed lunch, quite firm and easy to slice.

The goody tin needed filling, flapjack here, so easy and quick, chocolate on this batch but another favourite is oats and apricot.

And there is always knitting, a pair of cosy socks for one of my girls for Christmas and this gorgeous autumn pair I am making for Pampa. A little joke in our family is Pampa's love of orange and how I hate it.

After I have finished writing I will prepare supper. Pork chops with leek and bacon sauce, those yummy sprouts and a few runner beans I found on the plants as I was pulling them up. Must not let them go to waste.

I will have had a contented day and hope for another one tomorrow.

Sewing and a Birthday.

2009-09-25T17:43:00.004+10:00

At last I have managed to do some sewing, I have been trying all week to fine the time and motivation. But looking at my thread box I think someone else must have been doing some. I put this away tidy, I think the elves must use it at night to make themselves clothes.

Ben has been looking for some comfy shorts for ages, last week he asked if I could turn a pair of too baggy jeans into some. I hate cutting trousers as I'm always afraid they are going to end up at half mast but shorts that another matter, can't make much of a mistake with the length, can I? Well here goes.

I am very pleased with the result and more to the point so is Mr Ben, a very hard man to please. I even managed a little lined bag for my sock knitting and a clutch bag to store bits and bobs in my travel bag. Not quite finished this need some sort of closing, not sure what yet. need to give this a bit of thought.

Once I was on the roll I ran up a cleaning apron, an all over cover for when I am doing messy jobs. Not very pretty I must admit but very useful. Took up a pair of trousers for me, a very good charity shop find. I also found a skirt and some large knitting needles that I have been looking out for for some time.

Well off to workout a closing for my clutch bag.

Pippa

Ps Just one last thing.

Happy Birthday Guinness.

More dishcloths and socks.

2009-09-11T19:45:00.003+10:00

I received my second parcel from the 12 Dancing Dishcloth swap this morning from Linda in Portland, Oregon, aka Scribe. A whole matching set wow I am spoilt. I haven't used any of my swaps yet I'm going to photo them all together first. I love the idea of sending postcards of hometowns in with the swaps. As well as getting all these lovely things we are learning about where our swap group lives.

Here is the cowl I finished last week, I am going to knit a hat and mittens to make it into a set. Another Christmas present in the making. As the nights are drawing in here in Cornwall, dark by eight thirty now, I have moved up a notch on my crafting. It is one of the things about winter I look forward to. Drawing the curtains against the dark night and cosying up on the sofa with OH and my knitting or stitching.

Yarn Harlots basin sock pattern from her book 'Knitting Rules'. I used Brown Sheep Nature Spun fingering in Hurricane Seas. Sounds just the thing to knit a pair of cosy winter socks. I seem to be in bluey green mood with my knitting as the moment. I wonder why I do that with colours? Before that it was greys and browns but I've gone off those now. I have knitted these for myself as I wanted a memento of my trip to Dublin with Pat, last month. I bought the yarn in 'This is Knit' in the Powerhouse centre. Oh so much yummy yarn and so helpful, well worth a visit if you are in Dublin.

Today is one of those beautiful autumn days, full sun still with some warmth, a light breeze and a beautiful fresh smell. The line is full of washing and I have another load ready to go out when I have finished this. I've had a good look around the garden this morning, had a chat to the worms and given them a feed, picked a few cucumbers. They are still producing well, even the vines that have escaped from the greenhouse. I am not going to my allotment today but yesterday I picked French beans, runners, beetroot, a marrow a cabbage, sprouting broccoli and some squash. The corn is still not ripe but with this sunny week we are having I expect we will start picking at the weekend.

I want to bake a cake and make a few scones for the weekend and the washing has finished it's cycle and needs hanging out so I had better go and get on with it.

Knitting, swapping and weeds.

2009-09-08T06:51:00.004+10:00

Last month I joined a new swap group on Ravelry '12 Dancing Dishcloths'. My group is international and we have members in USA, Australia, UK, New Zealand and India. I am the lucky recipient this month and I received my first parcel this morning. A beautiful lavender dishcloth with soap and some choccies and mints for my sweet tooth. I love the idea of all those lovely people in far flung corners of the world knitting dishcloths just for me. Learning about were they live and their lives is so interesting.

Although I didn't have to send off a parcel myself this month I have still been busy with next months. I won't be showing you just yet as I want it to be a surprise for Glenice in New Zealand.

I have also started my Christmas presents and have knitted several dishcloths, a kitchen towel, a pair of socks and a cowl. I still have a long way to go before the big day but at least most of my gifts will be handmade.

The outdoors has kept me pretty busy recently. I have prepared and frozen a variety of different beans and we have had a constant supply of cabbage, broccoli, beetroot, squash, spinach, cucumbers and onions. Leeks, sweetcorn and pumpkins will be ready soon. Carrots and peas were a real disaster as were the tomatoes but there is always next year.

One thing that has grown well are the weeds and I have been taking them in hand over the last couple of weeks. Oh my aching knees!

Sunflowers and Pumpkins,

2009-08-31T01:05:00.004+10:00

I'm very glad I managed to take this photo of the Sunflowers on the allotment. I have never been able to grow such beauties before. Alias they are now bald and almost flat on the ground after the tail end of Hurricane Bill swept through at the beginning of the week. I'll collect up the heads and hang them up for the birds. I love to see them feeding on flower heads.

The poor Lottie is getting very weedy, I haven't been able to do much apart from collect the produce because of the awful weather we are having. Produce has been good though. Bit of a glut on the squash front, my fault, I can never discard plants once they have grown. I'm now waiting for the Queensland blue pumpkins to ripen.

They are still green as yet BUT!!!!!! time will tell.

Here is the tallest sunflower, I didn't have anything to measure it with but I guess about eight feet.

2009-08-28T06:20:00.002+10:00

Time!!! Time is something that is never there when I need it. I wish I could order up an extra few hours for me time. But it is not to be at the moment so I will just have to get on with it.

I did get a trip away at the end of July, with my little lad Paddy. He took me to Dublin for a birthday treat. We share similar interests of history, architecture, museums, art galleries and the such. We walked are socks off, ate far far to much and slept very well each night.

I don't fly very often and the flight from our local airport to Dublin was an experience in it self. Thank goodness it only took forty five minutes.

The rest of this month has been taken up with life and an accident to Benny's hand. He fell at work and smashed his finger, resulting in a late night trip to A & E. An operation to reconstruct the bone, wires, screws and metal plates and physio everyday until he can fold his hand into a fist. I can report now that the hand is responding well.

There has been lots of waiting in this little episode, lots of knitting time. I have finished one pair of socks, started another and made good progress with a set of dishcloths for a swap. I haven't made much headway in the stash busting as all the yarn I've used for these projects was acquired in Dublin. lol.

The start of the Simple Life Audit.

2009-07-05T23:10:00.006+10:00

We have been busy with the audit over the last few day and am sorry to say I realised how much we have slipped from our simple life path. Thanks to Rhonda we are hauling ourselves back.

Living deliberately.

Our goals have changed beyond recognition over the last year or so, thanks to our children and their families. When our eldest went to Australia three years ago to study little did we know this would change our life so much.

Our long term goal is now to retire to Australia to be with all our children who will be living there by that time.

Money.

Pampa is over viewing the budget and producing a simpler format that we can both read at a glance.

We are also implementing a virtual 'envelope system'. I'll let you know how we are doing this later as not sure myself yet.

Food.

The other areas we have been looking at seriously are our stockpile and kitchen storage. The 'pantry' is untidy and order has been lost recently. I haven't been very careful when putting away stock. My storage space needs a makeover, I would like some racking instead of the hotch potch of shelves and boxes I use now.

I had a turn around in the kitchen a couple of months ago but although somethings are working well others are not and need re-thinking.

I'm going to re-arrange the baking/breadmaking area so all ingredients and equipment is in one place.

The breakfast area, china, tea, cereals and toast making supplies also need moving together by the toaster.

We will see if these changes make for a smoother work area.

Growing.

Although we were late planting up the veg garden this spring everything is growing well. It's the first full year on the allotment site and we fully expect that changes will need to be made to the list of produce.

Changes for next year.

Start earlier.
Order seed potatoes before all are sold out.
More beans and a greater variety.
Protect the peas from bird damage.
Establish a fruit garden with raspberries, blackcurrants, rhubarb and more strawberries.
Larger water storage tank and a watering system to carry the water to other areas of the allotment.
Establish a potting, planting up area at the allotment.
Build cold frames for raising seedlings.

I am enjoying this at the moment, by taking each area and examining the way we work is so satisfying, even when fault is found. Knowing that through careful thought new simpler ways can be found to do just about anything.

Tomorrow Rhonda is look at disposable items. That is going to be tricky for me as I do like kitchen roll, try not to buy it but often fall down.

More Special Days

2009-07-02T17:33:00.004+10:00

We are having even more celebrations this week. Pampa has reached the big 60, he is not the partying kind and preferred a nice dinner instead. Today is Benny Boy's 26th and last week Bex and Dee both grew one year older. They found it strange to celebrate their birthdays in winter. The last mile stone and for me at least, celebration, today Pampa and I have been married for thirty two years. Time for quiet contemplation and reminisce. !!!

A few more calories I'm afraid. All my own work, as you can see I am not a sugar artist but it tasted good.

I think everyone agreed with me.

A pair of homemade socks, sorry I was not able to take a photo before he had tried them on.

and a satisfied customer, I hope.

While I have been writing this post we have had thunder, lightning and torrential rain, good for the allotment but it can stop now thank you.

After all the excesses of the last couple of weeks it is very timely that Rhonda Jean over on 'down-to-earth' is having an audit of her simple life and has invited all her blogger friends to join in. I really need to put us back on the path to simplicity and what better company could I have than Rhonda and Hanno.

2009-06-26T08:07:00.003+10:00

The weather has been pretty darn nice this week (so far) and I've been to the Gylly Cafe twice. Once to have lunch with two very dear friends and once to my knit & natter group. If the weather permits I like to walk, I am a bit of a fair weather walker and if a wet easterly is blowing I would rather be in the car. Sorry!!!

Walking, my route takes me to two wonderful beaches and along the coastal path. If I continued to follow it I could walk all the way to Dorset.

At Swanpool the little boats, sorry I don't know what they are called but they are waiting for their crews for the day.

On a sunny day this path is heaven, so peaceful, with flora and fauna by the bucket full. There are seats at stages all along and it can take me several hours to get all the way home if I am not careful.

At the end of the path is this delightful view of the bay, the castle and fraggle rock ( the lighthouse ). I could almost imagine that a swim would be nice. I enjoyed my lunch and catch up with my friends, we were still sitting at our table at three thirty. It was tea time before I had wound my way all the way home, I had hungry mouths to feed and thirsty plants to water before bed time.

Birthdays have been a big distraction also this week. We have lots and I mean LOTS. Starting on the 18th June and going through until the 12th July. Around 15 in the family alone. Including this little face below, my darling granddaughter .

Here she is a 'BIG GIRL' of four now. Happy Birthday Amelia Rose xxxxx.

2009-06-19T16:41:00.006+10:00

This week has just gotten away from me, I don't know where it has gone, it is Friday already. When Benny has a few days off I feel I have to pamper him with my time and energy. We went to Penzance on Monday, just for a look see and some lunch, nothing special but very nice all the same. I forgot my camera so no photos but some very nice British yarn from Knitpics.

I want to make another felted market bag like this one. This is Jo Sharp 100% wool, I purchased in Morris & Son, Sydney. Knits up beautifully and felts quickly and evenly. Green and sea blue are my favourite colours of the moment, well have been for some time now.

Tuesday was spent in hard labour, Benny and I finished digging this last piece of lottie. In two months we have cleared, dug and planted the whole allotment. I am very pleased as it was a daunting job when we looked at it in April and I knew if we wanted our own veg we needed to clear it. Well I tell a lie we haven't planted this piece but we have stuff to go in and the bottom half is for fruit which will be planted in the autumn.

Here is a very exhausted Benny.

I spent yesterday mulching the squash and sweetcorn after much needed rain on Wednesday.

This morning was a joy to be outside as the sun rose above our wall and filled the garden with it's warming rays again.

Here is another critter enjoying the morning sun, not that he stayed there long I'm afraid.

The 'Albertine' is still in bloom and smells ' mmmmmmmmmmmmmm'

and this is 'Rambling Rector' just as beautiful and just as perfumed. I love standing under the arch in the evening.

Sorry my battery ran out on the camera as I was making the pasta but it was yummy. Will try again next week.

Spinach and Ricotta Pasta.

2009-06-12T21:40:00.003+10:00

On my morning walk around the garden I noticed the spinach had erupted during the night ( well it seemed that way ) and there was now lots that needed using. I've been waiting for a glut as I want to make spinach and ricotta ravioli a la Rhonda. I noticed the tutorial on her blog 'down-to-earth' a little while ago. I love Rhonda's blog and try to read every day. It's full of good old down to earth wisdom.

I bought some special pasta flour for my first attempt at homemade pasta, I think they call it 00 flour. Four nice fresh free range eggs and a pinch of salt and I have all I need to start.

This all started when Benny brought this home from work, not man enough for his kitchen but I can't wait to get going with it. A pasta maker all of my own. I'll let you know how it turned out on Monday.

Chocolate and chocolate.

2009-06-10T08:41:00.003+10:00

It was chilly here yesterday and I really needed the heating on but the next best thing was the oven. A batch of double chocolate cupcakes, not good for the old diet but nice.

I think I may have gone over the top with the chocolate as there was chocolate sponge with chocolate chips, chocolate butter icing with chocolate sprinkles. All in all a bit of chocolate there.

I also rustled up our daily loaf of bread, in the machine as it doesn't need any watching.

Baking always makes me feel good. To see a rack of buns, a loaf of banana bread or a quiche sitting on the kitchen table is what it's all about for me.

Here is my photo of the day, such joy in the simple act of jumping down the sand dunes.