TARRAGON & THYME

However have been extremely busy.  This week is a longer week as I am out of the house earlier (an hour each day more than last week). As a result of being in early I managed to sit quietly with one of my colleagues who also comes in at about the same time and whilst we were chatting I managed to do some crochet so at least I got to play a little bit. My shift is until 5:00pm.  It is nearer 5:30pm before I get home depending on traffic and I have to cook tea etc.  (no different to a lot of ladies I know) but this is a new routine and I am trying to make things work for us so that various (important to us) issues are covered each day.  Like having stuff in for pack-ups (OH is in charge of those) and getting laundry done, and clothes available to us both; food, animals, dealing with correspondence and other issues etc.as well as trying to cope with housework etc. It has been a good day at work; I am slow in learning, but once I have learned I am pretty usually oka...

Well I have had a fantastic day with my partner in crime L today.  Weather forecast for the last day of the fair was rain by 1:00pm.  Fortunately we were able to have a good look at some of the outside tents first and then went into what are known as the sheep sheds. I came away with a vintage pattypan tin (pastry tart tin) very similar to the picture below.  Mine is a nine pie tin and was bought for £3.  The reason really for me buying the tin was that it has an ivy leaf pattern in three of the tins and I thought that this would be ideal for mince pies at Christmas. I saw lots of lovely things today.  A beautiful Cloisonne bowl, lots of lovely glass cake tins, a beautiful music box which played via copper disc that was over £1,000 but the sound was beautiful.  Dough cutter machines, lots of lovely French vintage linens, beautiful glasses, crystal decanters.  Lots of vintage kitchen equipment, lots of vintage 1930's vases.  There ...

Continuing with the Christmas decorations I have since my earlier posts found the following: Now I am really taken with this one looks totally cheeky.  It will make a lovely tree decoration.  However I am going to have to wait to work on this one as I have no paint.  Not only am I going to have a large gluing session but it looks as though I am going to be having a large painting session as well.  Painting I must say is not really my forte.  I wish I was good at it but I am sadly not. I know my limitations.  It does not stop me having a go.  Plus it looks as though I am going to have to locate some small fittings like the little hats and some backing stars. https://youtu.be/2mZlG7fUuTI I will also keep my eyes peeled for unusual objects to use in my crafting and some individual pieces to use for my home décor for Christmas or anything else that takes my fancy.  It will predominantly be looking rather than buying tomorrow how...

It has been a very long day today; an active and busy one where I have been on the computer processing information most of the day.  I just have to learn to link what I have learned about the computer and put it into a format that is approved and acceptable for the customer.  My head is still working on that one.  Am going to revisit this over the weekend and create some personalised crib sheets for myself.  Have done a couple of calls to clients as well although this side of it is still being nurtured from my point of view. OH and I now work for the same company.  Different areas and different buildings.  My brother and my step-son also work at the same firm.  So you could say that we are very much keeping it in the family. Every so often they have a lady arrive with lots of different perfumes (proper makes) at very good and a lot cheaper prices.  These are not copies, fakes or duds but the real perfume.  OH has bought perfume for m...

Well thus far it has been a busy but happy week.  What I have seen of my new employers I like very much and the staff are friendly and very helpful.  That's all I could ask for although it feels as though I have been given the cherry off the top of the cake.  I have lots to learn especially as it is an area of work I have not undertaken before but it is a challenge and I am enjoying it thus far and as a result am a happy bunny.  I have been treated with integrity, respect and kindness. Because of the longer hours, it has kind of thrown everything that I normally do around the house up in the air with routines etc.  However I am going to revisit these and revamp them to make them work better for us.  Whatever it takes am going to get everything streamlined and tickety boo so that we get a better quality of life in the long run.  If I have to book crafting dates for myself then I am going to do this so that I get time to play and get stuff made as w...

One of the things I thought of to start this conversation was to collect items from the countryside around us and make something out of nothing with a little expenditure, a little creativity and a lot of thought.  This is both for practical presents, decorations and Christmas packaging.  I am talking about collecting fir cones in various sizes, twigs, herb stalks, and items that can be used in various projects There is a lot to do.  Lots of things to sort out especially now that I am to be working full time. I do choose my moments. So I need to get those important aspects of Christmas sorted out however little, small or unimportant they may be in the greater scheme of things they all play their part. What you may not be aware of though is that I keep in-house a very large roll of brown paper, and I use this for packaging parcels for birthdays and Christmas.  Equally I also keep in a roll of lining paper for the same purpose.  Brown and white pape...

Another project utilising the good old faithful clothes pegs. I thought that this might be lovely and cheerful to create a decoration for the wall or you could use it as a base to make a fresh herb wreath present for the cook to use over Christmas.  You can paint this or add fabric strips by gluing them onto the pegs.  It looks really cheerful https://youtu.be/naPOrJd0Y3k You can add buttons or indeed sequins in different shades of red, white and green just to highlight the wreath a little more. This is a project that you could involve the littlies on and make it a present from them to other family relatives or friends. There are a lot of things that you could turn this project into.  You could of course also make your own bouquet garni bags out of muslin for dunking in home made soups, stews and casseroles as well as seasonal fresh herbs or indeed dried herbs. Another one to let the imagination run away with. Catch you soon. Pa...

************************* What lies behind you and  what lies in front of you  pales in comparison to  what lies inside you ************************ Ralph Waldo Emmerson

The past three days I have not had time to play and with watching and observing Agents in full flow it has been a strong learning curve.  I have not had time to get bored!  Time has really past rather swiftly. Which in a way is a good thing for me. Today I was allowed to venture into and practice utilising the firm's software.  Best way to learn is to actually do it whilst being guided by your tutor so you remember what you need to do for each little bit.  Apparently will be doing that again tomorrow for a couple of sessions and then later into the week we will also be having conversations with the clients.  It is a strong learning curve but as I say I am enjoying it.  It is good to grow and learn something new. Last night I was late to bed but did not manage to get onto the computer.  I am very slowly starting to figure out the logistics I need to put in place at home so that meals are covered and something in place to have or which has been ...

One of the things I have decided to do when I get a little straighter is to scan and copy all of my important documentation for use in future years.  One of the problems I have is that I put documentation in a safe place which is usually to my mind pretty sensible and then things get moved around and I end up forgetting where I put it.  It seems to be a recurring theme at the moment.  My phone has gone the same way.  All I can say is that they are somewhere in the house. As more and more things are being processed only by the Internet (as in the case of residents parking where we live) and the fact that you have to prove your status with official documentation if I save it all on the computer it will then be just a matter of pinging it over from the computer. One of the things I was not aware of was the requirement to prove the right to work in this country by way of birth certificate or passport with a new employer.  I have had to make an emergency app...

Well my earlier post covered the Soldiers and in the Nutcracker Ballet there were plenty of Ballerinas.  So all is fair in love and war and we need a sense of balance so this time round it is the ladies out of wooden clothes pegs as well.  I like the way these have been done but I am leaning more to fabric skirts i.e. fine gauge net and satin embellished with beads and lace although this looks very pretty. In case any of you are having difficulty in locating either the old round pegs known as Dolly pegs or ordinary wooden pegs, they can be purchased from Hobbycraft.  Dolly pegs I have bought my wooden ones from my local £ shop but the Dolly pegs are not as easy to find.   As I am making the soldiers as well I am going to need more.  I will also need some pearlized paint so I may well go and have a nosey in our local Hobbycraft shortly. I will also have a look in the Works as they also have some interesting bits and bobs.  I have lots ...

Well it happened.  I started work today and was there in plenty of time despite not having much sleep last night. Most of today has involved induction procedures which are standard wherever you go and lots of signing off of documents. Tomorrow the work really starts in our relevant department.  From what we understand there are about three weeks of training for us to get used to the systems and to the way of working.  I must say I have met a couple of really nice people today who will be doing the same job as me. We are not allowed to have our mobile phones on our desks due to GDPR regulations, which is perhaps not a bad thing in the bigger scheme of things. So I shall be returning tomorrow. We have had a quick tea this evening, egg and bacon followed by some tinned fruit and cream.  I am tired, but it has gone down a treat.  Am just off to do a little bit of preparation in readiness for tomorrow. OH has also prepared pack up for tomorro...

Another beautiful star with a few different embellishments and you can alter the changes yet again.  These would look lovely on a tree or yet again in a window with different length strings. https://youtu.be/FUqgV7J_CaM They would also look lovely as coasters without the second layer of pegs, which would also make a nice present for a friend or friends. I really need a larger craft room.  The small room I use at the moment is more IT orientated than crafting room so when I get the back bedroom sorted I may well put a couple of tables in there in which to craft from which will be easier all the way round I think in the long run as I will have room for cutting out and working and for also using my Big Shot and Embroidery and sewing machines.  Will have to see what I can find on the table front in due course. I am hoping to get started on this star one night during the week when I get home.  Will see how it goes. Catch you all again soon. P...

********************* You can find an excuse  or you can Find a way *********************

We have had roast chicken for tea and it has gone down very nicely. Pack-up has been prepared for tomorrow, and wrapped.  We are having cheese and tomato for sarnies tomorrow. I need to get my teabags and some milk organised for drinks during the day.  I think most of the first day from what I have heard on the grapevine is likely to be induction into the firm procedures. I intend to take some of my crochet with me just so that I have something to keep me occupied whilst I am waiting.  It also helps calm my nerves.  OH is taking me in with him early so there will be a period of time when I am on my own before being directed where I need to be.  They asked for us to be there for 9:00am.  I understand I may finish early tomorrow as well, in which case the crochet will also keep me occupied.  That way around if I have to do extra work in the evening then at least am getting to do some crafting inbetween. This week is going to be a long week o...

I am home, after a lovely time out at Stamford Meadows Antiques Fair today.  Rain had been forecast for approximately 1pm today but it was here for about 9:30am, just gently spitting.  It stopped and then we had a wander outside before it started tipping down at which point we went into the tent.  There were lots of lovely displays today particularly French ware items.  My friend bought a very unusual pottery cat with a flat face which was a long ornament the body of which you could pop things like Elizabeth Shaw mints at Christmas.  She also bought two little bowls with a chicken relief border on.  Both will look super in her intended kitchen revamp in due course.   There were simply lots and lots of pieces that I would have loved to have bought home.  However I am still downsizing.  Once I have it under control a little bit more then I might start buying carefully selected pieces every so often.  I am still wading through everythi...

Now for a little project using traditional old fashioned clothes pegs. I have always been fascinated by the Nutcracker Ballet, especially at Christmas since I was a small child.  This December I am going to see my first live Ballet and it is the Nutcracker.  I am super excited.  It is my Christmas present from my friend. As part of my Christmas decorations I have a collection of German Nutcracker Soldiers, all dressed differently.  Some are automatons and others have musical movements.  The bulk of them were found many years ago reduced in the Works bookshop.  I picked them up for £5 apiece and I think that there are five of them.   I love traditional wooden ornaments.  They have a naivete about them that strums the emotional strings.  It is also a big part of childhood Christmas traditions like going to see Pantomine and of course the rich tradition of story-telling.  However, this little set, is not only actively making someth...

This morning I escaped with my friend to Plush Addicts in Peterborough, for the Project Linus morning.  There were lots of ladies who dropped by including a couple of new ladies who are going to try and make next month's meeting.  I could not get my sewing stuff out so I took some crochet today (the recently started project) and managed in amongst all the chatting to work 8 squares.  A load more to go yet.  I missed doing my patchwork though.  Hopefully I will be able to attend next month.  A pleasant time was had by all I think (well I certainly enjoyed myself). After doing a little more research for another set of posts when I came back and then walking Missy.  We then set too (OH and I and had brunch);  egg, bacon, sausage, fried egg, tomatoes, mushrooms and tomatoes (he had been working this morning in any event). Since then I have been pottering around in the house and slowly starting to get myself mentally geared up for the return t...

When I was researching Christmas decorations for the wooden peg stars, I also came across this miniature Christmas tree (also made from clothes pegs).  I must say that I was quite taken with this decoration as well . The link is here:  https://youtu.be/IF24opd9GRI Both projects are something that can be done bit by bit of an evening.  With me starting work on Monday it may be a good way for me to relax when I get home and actually be making something as well.   I intend to take some crochet with me to work just in case I get a few moments, but this would be good to do of an evening just for a little while. I guess I am old fashioned when it comes to Christmas decorations or at least my style of decorations and this is making a memory and a decoration rolled up in one.  Much of the charm in bringing out special Christmas tree decorations lays with the fact that they are treasured lovingly and brought out year in year out.  Modern day hei...

This post should have been entitled 100 days to Christmas but as I got side-tracked it is now Countdown  to Christmas 2019 and today is 96 days to Christmas Eve. The day when children (and bigger children) mostly all over the world get all excited about hanging their Christmas stockings in anticipation of being on the good list for a present or presents on Christmas Day but most of all celebrating the closeness of family and friends and finding the joy in life no matter what financial constraints there may be.  Most of all though celebrating love in its purest form and lighting the dark days of an English Winter.  Well here in the UK at least.  I know that each country has its own customs and availability of different items depends very much on what is around you where you live. I thought this year that I would try and make some little bits and bobs earlier on than I usually do or at least leave a paper trail so that I can play when I have a few moments....

******************** Follow your Heart  and Let your soul sing! *********************

**************** I Matter ****************

Today I met another friend for lunch.  She is in the New Year about to retire and it had been hoped that the pair of us would be able to meet up more often than we have been able to.  However, we intend to keep in touch and maybe meet up of an evening due to the dictates of my new employment. LJ is my oldest and one of my dearest friends.  Her Christmas present to me this year is taking me to see the Nutcracker Ballet down in London just before Christmas.  I am very much looking forward to it as I have never been to see a live Ballet performance. After leaving her I went into town for a wander.  Ever so slowly the shops are starting to add Christmas bits and bobs.  I went into Wilkinsons today and had a wander round. I found some large storage boxes which I think will be ideal for storing some of the Christmas decorations in.  Yet again will have to wait until pay day. They are 90 litre boxes for £7 apiece.  I also went into John Lewi...