Back at last

Hi and a very belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to everyone who has e-mailed me to make sure I'm ok, I was really touched. I had suffered from a computer failure and haven't been able to either post or keep up to date with what everyone has been doing.

My last real post was about the handmade christmas swap and as you'll know I was linked with the lovely Liz from Lululiz in LaLaLand. She sent me a wonderful parcel and I really must show everyone how generous she was.


A beautiful card, Liz said that she hadn't made any cards before...well her first attempt was lovely.

Opening up my box I found a stunning collection of beautifully wrapped goodies, just waiting to be delved into.

Liz had thoughtfully labelled up the christmas decoration, so that I would know which I could open.

and there it was a gorgeous padded christmas tree, complete with it's own little wooden stand

I think Liz thougth I'd have a ltttle self control, but I'm afraid not........once I'd started I had to carry on and open the other goodies she'd sent me ;-)

And the first little package was a fabulous crocheted flower brooch, complete with little beaded 'petals', and attached to a lovely stamped card.

Next came a lovely handmade soap from Liz's own toiletry range, from her hand made body care company La Croix Roison Soap Company

and then a gorgeous balm from the same..

in a wonderful art deco tin

and last by definitely not least, a beautiful spiral bead bracelet, very delicate and lovely in shades of brown and blue.

not that it looks like it from this photo..............but I have very small wrists and hands and find it almost impossible to get bracelets to fit, but this made a lovely change.

A lovely package of gorgeous gifts

Thank you so much Liz and I'm very sorry I haven't been able to show off your generosity sooner, still better late than never I hope :0)

Normal blogging service should be resuming soon........

Take care everyone and keep warm!

Last Posting Dates for Christmas

Just a reminder to those of you who have drawn a Christmas Swap partner in Australia or New Zealand. The last posting date for Air Mail is Friday 4th December, surface mail was 1st October, oh dear !

Don't forget to let me know, what you have received please so that I can put links on the blog.

P.s. Sorry about the lack of postings, I've had a poorly computer that doesn't want to work :0(

I hope to be back soon.

Swap partners are announced

Update - two lovely ladies found my swap after all the swap partners had been drawn, as they make a pair they have joined in the festivities, so welcome the swap to.

Ros at Rosa-Munda and Carolyn at Reclaimed Vintage

Thank you to everyone who has joined my first swap. I've drawn out swap partners, please see below for you partner.


Heartinthecountry & Lululiz

Maisyandtheboys & Serenata

Angela & Kate

Mistea & Smilernpb

Vintage Vicki & Pamela Hetherington (Pamela doesn't have a blog , so Vicki I will e-mail you Pamela's e-mail details)

Elizabethd & Karen

Forestview by Jayne-Marie & Sam Munday (Sam doesn't have a blog, so Jayne-Marie I will e-mail you Sam's e-mail details)

Twiggypeasticks & Lissylou

Gem & Sarah

The Sewing Room & Claire

Floss & Maria Tierny (Maria e-mailed me so Floss, I will e-mail you with Maria's e-mail address)

Ladies please contact your swap partner to introduce yourselves, and then please send a handmade card, christmas decoration and small gift to your swap partner to arrive by 19th December. I would love it if you could let me know when you have put pics of your parcel on your blog so that I can link it to my swap picture. I'm sure we are all curious about what the others receive.

Happy making!

It's a bit chilly!

At the end of the summer holidays, I took a wander round our local garden centre - a proper garden centre that sells mainly plants and seeds, rather than the multitude of extras such as books and crockery that a lot of centres have moved into, with an old lady who runs it and has forgotten more about gardening than most people will ever know.

They always have an area with end of season plants in at much reduced prices, we have had some real bargains, included two large Rhododendrons which were reduced for £40 to £5 each a few years ago, and are now beautiful established plants.

Anyway back to my wander........tucked into a corner was a chilly plant with the start of a couple of red chillies on it, the plant was lovely and green so at 50p I thought I'd buy it if for nothing more than a bit of greenery for a space left empty in the garden. Well yesterday, I picked the fruits of this little plant, 47 little red chillies to dry - what a generous little plant, rewarding me for taking it home from it's life on a shelf :0). It truly was a case of being rewarded for a little care and attention, a generous helping of chillies, and whilst they are drying a lovely decoration as well with their gorgeous glossy red colour.

Handmade Christmas Swap

I've started to make my Christmas Cards, and Christmas presents, and I thought a Christmas Swap would be a nice idea, but to make things extra special a Hand Made Christmas Swap.

I know it's still 12 weeks away, but I wanted it to be fun, and not make people panic about when they would have time to make anything to send to their swap partners, also if bloggers from other countries join in you will need to take account of postage times, so Sorry Sorry but I'm putting the idea forward now to give every one time.

If you would like to join in please leave a comment, or e-mail me by 15th October, and copy the Christmouse picture to your side bar with a link to this post. I will then draw out partners.

Just a few guidelines - swap should include a Christmas Card, Christmas decoration, and a small present, all to be handmade in whatever medium you prefer. The parcel should arrive with your swap partner by 19th December, so it gives quite a length of time to make your items, and will give your swap partner a lovely surprise in the hectic lead up to Christmas when most of us are worrying about others and neglecting ourselves.

It is my first time of organising a swap so hope you like the idea, and feel able to join in.

Serendipity

It's strange the co-incidences that happen in this world, and bring people together.

I was reading through some blogs and noticed the lovely New Zealand giveaway that Sarah at Red Gingham was offering. I entered and out of 251 other entrants my number was picked, thank you very much to Sarahs little daughter who did the honours!

Well whilst re-visiting Sarah's blog, to remind myself of the lovely goodies that were going to be winging their way across the planet to me I saw the letter writing swap at a bun can dance I thought what a lovely idea and decided to join in. By the time I went through to Denise's post there was only an hour left until it closed, and there were already over 60 blogger eager to join in. On Saturday the swap partners were announced, and .............do du do du do du do du........ who should be my partner but Sarah! Well we have conversed by e-mail and have a few ideas of each others interests so letters will be winging there way across the world pretty soon.

Anyway, back to Sarah's very generous giveaway, what a lovely surprise I had opening up the parcel.

The first item was a gorgeous red embroidered purse. It is a really rich cherry red, but the photo, or should that be the photographer, hasn't done it justice.


Next were some beautiful shell buttons

A gorgeous red gingham, lace edge T-Towel which is far too pretty to use to dry pots

Some pretty ribbon, which I've already ear marked for my christmas cards

Some very funky fabric - ooh but there was an oval missing out of the bottom, I wonder where that went?

Mystery solved! Sarah made a pretty needle case

Which now has pride of place in my sewing box :0) There was also a bar of chocolate, but I'm afraid that disappeared as soon as No 2 set his eyes on it.

And lastly a Sarah include a lovely note, inside a beautifully artistic card designed by her 10 year old daughter.

I'll now look forward to our letter swap.

I'm watching Ewe

Still half a sleep this morning as I made my way to make that vital morning cup of tea, I had the distinct feeling I was being watched, very disconcerting as we back onto fields! Well my intuition was right - the farmer has put his sheep back in the field yesterday, and I hadn't noticed, and this morning I was greeted by this lovely sheep just watching me through the window. A lovely start to the day.

She was soon followed by a few more of her 'friends' - now I know how zoo animals feel ;0)

It's been ages since I've posted, like so many of you it has just been such a busy summer, that I hvae just not gotten round to it - very naughty I know, but there we are.

I've finally finished a jumper that OH bought the wool for as an anniversary present, just in time for the rugby season! I've made my jams, and pickles and for the first time this year pickled walnuts, so it will be interesting how these are received as I made them to go into christmas hampers. This weekend I'll be picking the first of the crab apples - last year I only managed to make 3 jars, and No 2 had eaten them well before christmas and has nagged ever since that I didn't make enough.

It's funny but quite a few of my friends have also been pickling and preserving this year, with the intention of giving their efforts as gifts, home made presents for christmas, so much better than the mass produced things you get in the shops.

I know it's only September but I suppose next on the list is to make this years christmas cards, I've been doodling over the summer whilst watching no 2 play cricket so at least I have some ideas as to what I'm going to do.

Before I go, I must point you to Sarah's new zealand giveaway, at red gingham, it finishes on the 11th sept, so zoom over there, it is worth it!

See u soon

AND THE WINNERS ARE.............

The winner of the stone necklace and earring set is........... Gilly at Gillybean




And the winner of the little hen is .............................................. Pat at The Sewing Room

Thank you to everyone who took part in my 50th post giveaway, and to those of you who didn't want to join the giveaway, but still left lovely comments.

Gilly and Pat if you can e-mail me with your addresses, I will get your prizes in the post as soon as possible.

I will be having another giveaway in September to celebrate the 1st anniversary of my blog, I hope you all join in again.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

50th Post Giveaway

BIG 50

No, not me....yet! My posts.

When I started blogging back in September 2008, I was very new, didn't know anything about blogging, and wasn't too confident about inputting things to upload to the web, but over the months I have become more confident, and feel part of the blogging community. I've made friends with people from not only across the uk, but across the world - which would not have been possible without a blog. I'm not the most regular of bloggers - sometimes life gets in the way of actually posting, or nothing has happened that I think would interest anyone. But I do try to keep up with reading the other blogs, even if I don't leave comments I'm still out here :0)

As a thank you to all of you who write such wonderful blogs, that inspire and cheer me, and to those of you who take the time to read my ramblings and leave comments to let me know you have visited.......reading these are one of the best parts of my little bit of blogging I think, I decided to do a little giveaway.

I have two prizes to give away; the first is the baby hen, which could be used as a paper weight, or an addition to your egg basket :0)


The second is a dusky pink stone necklace and earring set.

Both prizes have been made by my own fair hands, so I hope you like them. It is a shame my photography skills are lacking wherewithall to show them off.

All you need to do to enter, is leave a comment saying why you enjoy blogging, and if you have a preference for either giveaway say which one. If you would like to leave a comment, but don't want to win either prize then please feel free, just say.

I will do the draw on Friday 17th July. Good luck!

Summer Sun

What a difference a bit of sun and rain makes - remember sun, that's that bright yellow thing that appeared for a few days last week! The veggie patch is coming along, but I'm really disappointed that my cucumbers haven't come to anything this year. I usually start them off in pots, but being late, yet again, I put the seeds straight into the ground. The seeds have obviously taken exception to this and have refused to grown - I won't be repeating this next year!

Looking around the garden, our walnut trees are absolutely covered this year, we have 5 or 6 together in bunches that look more like grapes, that I've never seen before. I don't know what this is a sign of, but it must be something :0) If anyone knows what, please drop me a comment.

I've alway wanted to make pickled walnuts - too much watching River Cottage I think - but I'm usually too late, this year I got my act together, and with the help of OH we picked 4kg of green walnuts to pickle. I didn't realise it was such a long process, so I hope it is work this it in the end.

"Prick your walnuts all over with a needle - discard any that have shells already forming. Soak in a salted water brine solution for a week, the colour the water turns is disgusting be warned! Rinse thoroughly and repeat for another week, then rinse thoroughly again, and leave out in the sun to dry to black, or in a dry airy place. Make sure you take in overnight. Once they are black and wrinkled they are ready to be pickled." For me they will be another addition to the hampers I hoping to make up for xmas presents.

The Blueberry bushes are starting to fruit, but I don't think they will produce enough to make any jam this year - particularly as No2 son keeps eating the ripe fruit every time he walks past!

The hens are enjoyed the weather as well and it's lovely to see them wandering around the garden 'talking' to each other. They all have their own favourite places to rest, some under the hedges, but these are heading towards the garden swing, where they lie underneath and make an awful fuss if you decide to sit on it ;0)

They are very spoilt and definitely 'rule the roost' if they are walking down the lane, which luckily is private adn goes to a dead end, they walk at their speed and wouldn't even consider moving to the side to let you drive past. I really must teach them the highway code....or does anywhere sell 'beware, chickens walking' signs?!

We have also got some new ducklings, after our previous 3 met a rather sad end at the hands, or should I say mouth, of a fox. They are perfectly happy mooching about in their run, when they are a bit older they will be allowed into the garden with the hens. And of course in the sun they love nothing better than sitting in their pond. Sometimes I wish I could join them!

By for now, and look out for my giveaway with my next posting.

Another year older!

June is a very busy month in our household. No 1 son celebrated his 20th birthday at the start of the month - it's amazing how the years have flown by. He asked for a British and Irish Lions shirt for a present........given the results of the series so far I'm sure now he will wished he has waited a I'm sure the shirts will be selling at half the price come July!

My birthday came next, and I was taken out for a meal at a local pub restaurant run by ex Ghurkas, I have to say that the meal was absolutely fantastic, and I'm not a fan of spicy food - I'm a bit of a wimp really - but the meal was cooked with this in mind and was wonderful. As for the service, it really was first class! A little village pub, and they served 40 meals on a Tuesday evening which tells you how good the food is, if you want to go on a weekend I believe there is a 3 week waiting list of a table!

No 1 son and his girlfriend bought me a beautiful picture for an art festival, drawn by a local artist. I've already hung it as I wanted to show it off, but it will look far better once we have painted as the colour I've chosen will set it off far better.

No 2 son bought me a lovely ocean jasper ring and pendant from a local New Age shop, they sell come amazing things and I usually end up there for birthdays and christmas.

It was also my Sister-in-law's birthday, and her husband the day before. I really didn't know what to get her, she collects old earthenware jugs and bottles but I couldn't find any, so decided to make her a chicken door stop, from a pattern I found in a greener christmas , as she also collect country style paraphanalia. They had a group of people round for a barbeque, and she put on a fanastic spread so a great time was has by all.

Community Spirit

Recently the main road through our, and neighbouring, villages was shut for a Sunday as two huge cider vats were brought through on their way to a local cider makers. The vats had come from europe by boat to the closest docks, and then had to make the rest of their arduous journey by road, as being 35m long and 8m high they were too big to go under some of the motorway bridges that would have crossed their route.

It must have been a mammoth task organising their transportation, as well as a mammoth expense, as the accompanying party included a police escort, contractors from BT, e-on and the councils tree fellers, as many of the trees overhanging the rural roads were much too low for the vats to go under.


Being completely stranded in the village, many of the villagers as well as those living in neighbouring villages decided to come out and have a look at the huge loads. The load entered the village at 8:00am in the morning and the word soon got out so that the main road resembled a pavement with people turning up to have a look at what was going on. By 10am the load had managed to move about 500m, however by now no-one was going to move, and the road became more like a street party.

Friends and neighbours who hadn't seen each other for ages, were catching up on news and gossip. It was quite sad to think that some of these people lived within a mile of each other, but due to such busy lives hadn't seen each other to speak to for in some cases years.

It really made me think that we should take time out to keep in touch with friends and neighbours, it was so nice to catch up with everyone, and sad to think that it took the road to be closed before everyone made the effort.

When the vats finally went through, some 5 hours after they started everyone moved away, promising to keep in touch, or catch up for a drink........but realistically how many will?

Meet the author

I recently made a tour to Taurus Crafts and was delighted to find that the internet company The Laundry - The Taurus crafts website explains "After 12 years of mail order and online trading, The Laundry has opened it's first shop in the Forest of Dean, selling 'Homewares, Jam & Pyjamas'. Proprietor, Gloria Nicol, is a designer, maker and gatherer of household textiles, eclectic vintage and domestic paraphernalia as well as being a specialist in eco housekeeping and jam making. The shop brings together all these elements to create a unique home emporium." Whilst mooching around I found this gorgeous book, and was amazed to find that the author was none other that the owner of The Laundry, Gloria Nicol, who was serving behind the counter.

Gloria is a very talented lady, who not only wrote a brilliant book, making some amazing preserves, cordials and curds, but also took all of the photographs.

Whilst chatting Gloria was very willing to impart her experience of jam making, and spoke about her 'new' discover - using a foodmill to prepare her fruit for jam making

There were some delightful variations of traditional jams and chutneys -definitely something for everyone

If you are ever in the area, drop in and check out the shop yourself, I'm sure Gloria would be thrilled to see you, and I would definitely recommend her book. There is also a blog, which keeps you up regular happenings in rural Gloucestershire

Things to do # 1 JUNE - amendment

Authors addition: Sorry I seem to have misled readers with my post. What I was trying to write was a seasonal To Do list to act as a reminder for myself and others of things that can be done on a monthly basis, not as my personal to do list. I wish I could manage all of these things but my superwoman costume has strangely disappeared - sorry if I've spoilt the illusion, LoL. I'm constantly reading or hearing about what we should be doing on a monthly basis in tune with the seasons, and have frequently missed by chance to do by the time I think about it - e.g think about making marmalade just as the last of the seville oranges have gone out of the shops - , so have been noting down monthly to do's so that I can just check my notebook at the start of each month to pick and choose what I want or have time to complete or attempt, and thought I would share it.

I've been thinking for a while about writing a monthly "To do" list for the house, garden etc and I've finally got around to completing the first one.

GARDEN

• Put your garden furniture back into the garden, prepare ready for the summer sun by rubbing down wooden furniture and treating to a layer of teak oil, or washing down plastic or metal furniture with hot soapy water with a handful of soda crystals added

• Sow hardy annuals directly where they are to flower
  Move your conservatory and greenhouse plants outside for the summer (depending on the weather this may be towards the end of the month
  Divide and replant polyanthus, primroses
  Divide and repot auriculus
  Plant out morning glory and black-eyed susan
  Harvest flowers for drying
  
  

• Pinch out any blackfly infested broad bean tips
• Mulch a circle around the base of fruit trees after first giving the ground a good soak
• Protect soft fruit plants from birds with netting
• Protect strawberries from bruising by putting a layer of straw underneath plant
• Do a 2nd sowing of tomatoes and courgettes for late cropping
• Once over cut back herbs to within a few inches of the ground
• move plant outside from the cold frame
• Dig up main crop potatoes, onions, garlic and shallots

HARVEST

• Salad leaves, lettuce, broadbeans, peas, first new potatoes, carrots, baby beetroot, courgettes, basil, mint and other perennial herbs, rosemary, sage, bay, thyme and other ever green herbs, summer cabbages, dwarf beans, onions, radishes, redcurrants, rocket, runner beans, spinach, spring onions, turnips

PLANT

• cabbages, cauliflowers, courgettes

POT UP

• Strawberry runners

PROTECT

• soft fruits, brassicas

SOW

• beetroot, carrots, turnips, spring onions, spinach, rocket, dwarf beans, herbs, lettuce, radishes

KITCHEN

• Bottle and or pickle fruit and vegetables when at their prime
• make jellies, jams and curds from soft fruit
• make elderflower and other fruit cordials
• make the most of the short asparagus season, by baking and freezing such delights as salmon and asparagus quiche
• make fresh tomato ketchup from gluts of over ripe tomatoes

STILL ROOM

• dry herbs
• dry flowers for pot pourri
• collect fir / pine cones for use in crafts and pot pourri
• make lavender bags and other scented sachets
• make insect repellant candles
• Make herb oils
• make herb vinegars
• make lipsalve
• make hand creams

CRAFTS

• Make tea light lanterns for the garden
• make summer bunting
• make iced bottles - cut the top off a plastic coke or large sqaush bottle. Pour 1" of water into the base and freeze until solid, stand a glass bottle in the centre of the container, add another 1" of water and freeze until solid, arrange flowers, fruits, leaves etc around the sides of the bottle and pour in 3 - 4" of water, freeze until solid. Repeat until the container if full, return to the freezer until needed. When you wish to use the container, plunge briefly into a deep bowl filled with hot water - the plastic container should slide off easily. Fill the bottle with whatever you want, it will keep superbly chilled inside its own beautiful ice bucket.
• Make fabric tops for your preserves
• make a wreath of dried bay leaves
• use the time to knit, sew, crochet, cardmake, or jewellery make outside in the sun. Enjoy the sun while still being creative
• visit car boot sales to search out garden ornaments, plant pots etc when people replace with new.

I hope you've enjoyed my first monthly things to do, as I get around to doing them myself I will add to the blog. If you have other To Do's that you complete on a monthly basis through the year, please let me know I'd love to read about them. Let me know what you think.