Garden Update

There was a break in the weather yesterday for a short while so I was able to get out into the garden and get some jobs done.  My husband is well at the moment after an infusion for treatment for his rheumatoid arthritis so he was able to chop and stack the logs after a recent delivery.  A job well done and a lovely feeling knowing that you can light the stove at any time.  The weather is so changeable at the moment we have found we hardly need it on at all.

I have managed to harvest some of the leeks which are amazing, they have a real taste to them and of course the satisfaction of knowing we grew tem ourselves.

They are taking a little bit of a battering from the wind so I may pull them and put them in the freezer before we lose them all together.  The beetroot is still going strong but not quite ready to harvest.

The clematis has been cut back hard to enhance next seasons growth.

The fruit bushes have also been cut back well.

The hanging baskets are now filled with spring flowering bulbs ready for a beautiful show next Apr/May time.

The empty beds have been raked over ready for spring planting.

All the pots have been gathered together to shelter them from the wind, we haven't enough storage space in the sheds.  Apart from raking up the leaves which are dropping continually, all our outside jobs have now been done for the moment anyway...

 

Have you prepared your garden for the season, or do you just leave it to chance?

 

See you soon.

Yarn Along

I have had quite a busy week so not a lot of time for crochet or reading, although I did find the time to finally finish About Grace, which I really did not enjoy I must learn not to get so silly about things and just give in when it is not a suitable read.  I haven't sewn the cushions together yet, it is on my to do list which is growing by the day every time I look at another Christmas book.  I have decided that this is my final project for hand crafted gifts...headbands in crackers for the ladies and key fobs for the men.

 A very simple headband finished off with some delightful vintage buttons.

I loved how the book made the crackers and then did a beautiful tartan table setting, showing them off in their full glory.

 

Do you have crackers on the table at Christmas?

 

Once again joining in with Ginny over at Small Things for the yarn along.www.gsheller.com/2014/10/yarn-along-198

 

See you soon.

Fun Packed Weekend

What a weekend so much to do, so little time.  A fun packed weekend full of laughter and wonderful memories in the making of a sweet Grandson, our eldest daughter and her husband.  Making the most of the few days we had together.

First up was a stroll around the car boot where we stocked up with lots of local vegetables for the freezer and then on to the Little Tots Village.  Wilbur explored every nook and cranny and had a wonderful time.

Granny had to have a go to.  Then onto the fairground for a couple of rides before going back to the car.

Sunday was spent catching up with each other and a wonderful walk with Baby...

A short stroll brings you to the field with horses.

Down the lane brings you to a dyke where we found a pair of beautiful swans.

They were lovely to stand and watch for a few minutes but too quick for the camera to get a photograph of them together.  What can I say it wouldn't be Sunday without an afternoon tea, so back home for tea.

 

 

 

All to soon it was time for my visitors to leave but we had all had a wonderful time and created some wonderful memories to savour and re-live later.  How was your weekend?

 

See you soon.

Warm and Cosy

There is nothing more satisfying than sitting in front of a blazing stove, warm and cosy with a book or some crochet. 

The only thing that betters that, is to pop a pan of stew on top and let it simmer away to its hearts content.  A truly wonderful experience for both body and soul, particularly when you are sharing it with those that you love.

I thought I would share my stew recipe today and give you some warmth on these cold and blustery days, or perhaps save it for when the real cold weather starts.

 

I use stewing beef cubed,

         2 onions,

         4 leeks,

         4 carrots,

         3 parsnips,

          half swede,

         1 turnip,

         2 large potatoes    all  peeled chopped and cubed and placed in the pan.  Cover the meat in a little flour and brown in a pan then add to the  pan of vegetables and let it all simmer for a couple of hours.  Add some stock cubes or gravy granules for flavour and to thicken a little and simmer for a further 20 minutes serve piping hot with warm crusty bread.  Of course season to taste, or add some herbs, I used black pepper today.

Delicious and filling, what's your go to favourite meal for the cold weather?  I love cooking stews on top of the stove, it reminds of days gone by and of course it is saving me money on the electric as I am not using the cooker, its a win, win situation.

 

See you soon.

        



Yarn Along

I am still plodding along slowly with the cushions, they now need to be crocheted together.  I am quite pleased with the overall effect and the colours.  There is enough to give it some texture and warmth, ideal for the season.

I am still struggling with the same book About Grace, sheer determination rather than interest is sustaining me.  Not a book that I would recommend, but I will not give up now.

I am also browsing Christmas books which are giving me an enormous  amount of pleasure, making lots of lists for recipes to try and a variety of patterns on the to make list. 

All in all a very pleasant start to the month of October despite the change in weather, breezy and wet.  The stove is burning brightly with a stew simmering nicely on the top, what more could I want?

 

I am once again joining Ginny at Small Things for the yarn along, to see what everyone else has on their needles/hooks and what they are reading.  www.gsheller.com/2014/10/yarn-along-197

 

See you soon.

 

Scrapbook Fun

I have had a wonderful weekend catching up with family and then with crafting friends at the craft fair.  Only 7 weeks to the wedding it is really approaching fast, so much to do so little time.

I woke this morning and padded around to a beautiful glow on the landing, as I looked out of the window this was I saw... A beautiful sunrise.

Does it get any better than that?  Certainly worth getting up for.  The temperatures are starting to plummet as the season now starts to get a grip, the changes now are really noticeable with blustery winds and overcast skies with rain.  All quite normal for this coastline, as soon as there is a break we still have a few jobs in the garden to finish. We haven't bothered this year with winter crops all we have left to harvest is leeks and beetroot.

 

I have spent a couple of hours in the craft room making some more pages for my scrapbook of my beautiful grandchildren, it gives me a warm glow like the sunrise to be such a big part of their lives.  I am truly blessed.

Daisy helping Granny strawberry picking, if my memory serves me correctly she ate more than she picked.  A wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

Lily and Daisy having fun at the ball pool, look at their beautiful faces they are having such fun.

This is such a sweet photo of Lily chasing a butterfly in the park.

A day out with Bertie and Amie at Festival Gardens Spalding, a half way point between our two homes.

Grandad and Bertie having fun at the Play Barn.

Wilbur having fun with the house, posting little people down the stairs and laughing with delight.

Playing shops before a trip to the Dino park, the concentration putting the food through the till and into his basket is amazing.

 

Lots of wonderful memories made through the summer now recorded to re-live through the cooler months, bringing lots of warmth to my life.

 

See you soon.

  

Cards and Hangars

I spent quite a fruitful afternoon yesterday making Christmas cards, a little early I know. but this year I am having to do all my Christmas preparation early.  By doing all this now it does mean that I can spend two glorious weeks with Bertie my Grandson without having to worry about cards and such. 

I have used Harris Tweed one of my favourite fabrics of all time.  I cut a small rectangle and frayed the edges and then a triangle fraying that also to look like a tree and then put a star embellishment on the top.

Simple but effective...

 

I am not printing the centres either as I write a letter to my friends filling them in with all our family news.  The card is more of a notelet, as I have said before simple but effective.

 

I have also painted a hangar for each of the boys for the wedding and stamped them with a dinosaur stamp from the Cath Kidston range.  Not very wedding like but perfect for three little boys who love dinosaurs.

 

Finished off with a pre-cut dinosaur and their name added.

 

We are going down to my daughters tomorrow for the suit fittings for the wedding and to meet some of Matthews family so that should be nice.  Sunday is the village craft fair to which I have a table booked, a chance to catch up with some friends and news of local events.  What have you got planned?

 

See you soon.