TARRAGON & THYME

Its proved a tad expensive this weekend as sadly I am having to say goodbye to my old washing machine and have had to purchase another which should be in situ by next weekend.  I have gone for one of the new add wash Samsung machines with a 9kg capacity, bubble wash technology and 1600 spin speed.  I have purchased it from AO like my two fridges, and freezers.  I have been more than happy with their service to date.  My opinion only and mentioned here of my own free will with no sweetener being received.  If something is good then I believe in sharing that information and so far I have been very satisfied.  Lets hope this holds good with the delivery at the weekend.  I am like a bear with a sore head if anything is wrong with the washing machine as I rely heavily on it as I know many housewives do, but with working full time and the hours I do I get more than a little crotchety when it comes to the washer and not being able to get on and...

One of the items I inherited from my mum is a tea table cloth that my great maiden aunty Ivy embroidered. I remember it was used regularly for Sunday night tea.  My great aunt was a beautiful needlewoman.  She did not have much by way of money and she therefore kept herself occupied through the year by making everyone a Christmas presents.  The ladies often received pinnies the men hand knitted socks.  She knitted regularly with two and three ply wool and I still have a bed cape which is in 2ply with lots of stitch work in it.  It was a lovely pink colour but with age it has faded.  However I cannot bear to part with it.  I no longer wear it as it is too fragile but there is a lot of fine lacy work gone into it on such a fine ply.  Must have taken her ages to knit.  I was very fond of Aunty Ivy.  She was my maiden great aunt who stayed at home to look after my great granddad.  I always remember when we used to visit that she u...

... but I did not think I was a trainee duck.  For the best part of the week it has chucked it down torrentially.  Yes we need the rain but not all in one go. However today the sun has been out for the best part - it always cheers things up.  Because of the rain I have been very stiff for the past few days and so I have rested up and got a couple of early nights which is a novelty for me.  But sometimes, just sometimes you have to listen to your body and hibernate.  I had planned on having a session in the garden but that might have to happen next week or during the week so that I can plants in their positions and some more tidying up accomplished in the back garden. I have several things to achieve in the garden.  The more pressing part is to do with the herb garden as that needs sorting out and plants getting in.  Hopefully will be able to do a few each night weather permitting.  Its very relaxing to garden after a busy day at work. ...

That I have at long last got the Internet and blogging thing fathomed out.  Fingers crossed and toes plaited. Its been a while and a lot has been going on behind the scenes here.  I have been collating things together for future projects long term crafty ones, long term practical ones and running out of time ones. I have however become very fascinated with embroidered items.  I was taught basic embroidery as a youngster at school and mum let me do little bits over the years.   Mum was excellent at embroidery and you could not see where she had started or stopped the piece was as immaculate on the back as on the front.  However she never taught me the intracacies she was a lovely mum but was not always very patient with me. So I have been arming myself with embroidery books and transfers and projects to do in the coming months.  I have bought pre-worked pieces that have not been finished off  from ebay some of the pieces stunning the l...

I seem to have my internet connection back after struggling with my phone.  We had Virgin come in and have ended up with a new modem as a result but still no internet connection. We were having problems with the Virgin films and stations as well as the Firestick we have connecting properly.  OH nearly blew a gasket over it well he did and it took quite a lot of calming down on my part to restore some sense of normality and I ended up dealing with the personnel but I am no techie   We were told that apparently old brick terrace houses are sometimes a problem when it comes to connecting with the Internet.  Not sure whether that is true or not but I had no connection.  OH has therefore made some enquiries of the techies at work and they suggested investing in what are called home plugs from Amazon.  We have just connected them and peeps it looks as though I am back.  They work independently and look like adaptor plugs.  I have really st...

I have been stockpiling crafty items for a little while and now I really must start to get stuck in a little bit with the actual doing. That ws the plan for this weekend Oh was going fishing but changed his mind so what I had planned did not transpire. He tends to hang out in the computer/craft room so for me to concentrate I really need yo be on my todd.  I had planned in the first instance to use my Go cutter and cut out my pieces from the recycled shirts and then hopefully once that was achieved to then start sewing.  So this has been put off until he actually goes.  Then I really shall down tools and get stuck in.  I dont have much time to do things during the week so the weekends are ideal to get going on something like this.  I am getting frustrated though. I also have some table cloths to make.  I have a huge solid pine farmhouse style table and it costs an arm and a leg to buy decent drapery unless I spot it on offer.  I have recently bought ...

Yesterday while shopping I nipped into one of the pound shops that I do not get to very regularly and stocked up on some items which I use on a day to day basis. Things like shower gels soap etc. I came across some lovely cupcake cases. Some Purple spotted ones.  Some lovely blue floral ones. Some lovely pal tourqoise green spotted ones. And some Muffin cups. A lovely mint green And rose pink.  Both are spotted. Its my birthday in a few weeks so thought I would stock up whilst I can.  I have seen some cake carriers as well that I would nit mind. Cake carriers what does she need them for.  We have a tradition at work that when its your birthday you leave cakes in the kitchen for work colleagues so I thiught this year would make them myself and I will need a couple of cake carriers for this purpose. I also stocked up on some foil and plastic containers for freezing meals vegetables and fruit and soups.  I dont like wasting stuff ...