TARRAGON & THYME

Don't die of shock.  I have actually picked up an unfinished item and started working it again last night.  Very chuffed and I quickly settled into a rhythm of working.  Spent about seven hours last night on it.  This is a cross stitch woollen needlepoint with flowers on which is going to be turned into another cushion cover for the front room.  Unfortunately I did not take some before photos but needless to say last evening I sat and worked a lot of it.  Photos will have to follow later as I am having issues loading them.  It would appear to be Roses/Paeonies with Delphiniums.  It is also on a coarser mesh canvas more akin to a miniature rug canvas.  I had to unpick part of it last night as I had worked the wrong colour in the wrong place but that was quickly sorted.  All tickety boo now. Still working in the lounge we are in and a lot of stuff is out.  Am now having to stop and make room elsewhere so that I can give the re...

Well despite the best laid plans of mice and men....  I had intended to carry on with the front room today but just did not get there.  I had arranged to meet up with a friend for lunch which I did and then was later back than I intended.  On the way back home I then bumped into another friend who had not seen for a little while and ended up going to have a chat with her and her husband.  Came back into the house as I was on my way in OH was on his way out as it was walkies time. Walked Missy down the river.  OH had said that the Electric Cut had been covered in ice this morning.  Not a thick layer but a layer all the same.  It was still there when we walked Missy.  It was really cold last night and has been a cold day.  Glove weather. After getting back in I started to cook tea.  We have had a steak pie with onion gravy and mashed potato, peas, carrot and kale.  It has gone down very nicely and has warmed me up from the in...

Well its been a really busy day.  I have found loads of things I knew I had but did not know where they were.  House is in utter chaos but over one-third way through the room.  Hopefully I will have a lounge back to sit in soon. Found some vintage cushion covers that I had purchased which were not sewn up very well.  They are destined for a reproduction Bentwood rocking chair in the snug/computer room/Craft room.  So on my sewing day next Tuesday they are in a neat pile and I am going to fix the seams and tidy them up and then get the cushions into the chair.  I have also found another part worked kit which will end up as another cushion panel so aim to do a little each day until I get that finished.  Then I will make that up also. I have some beautiful needlework kits in waiting.  One of them in particular is a woollen crewel work of pansies in the shape of a heart called simply "heartease".  It was an expensive kit but well worth t...

Sorry deep into sorting the lounge out and trying to find homes for the stuff that we are finding.  We have not used the front room for a while and so it became a bit of a dumping ground.  OH is in there passing stuff through and I am trying to find it a home or chuck it in the bin or charity shop pile.  It occurred to me that if we can get the front room all tickety boo I might be able to start off on one of my ventures.  However that will mean opening up the front door.  Not too sure on that one.  Will have another think.   Also belatedly had the first slice of my Christmas cake.  Nice and sticky and flavoursome. Well I have always done things in my own time and space . Right better had get a wriggle on. Hopefully catch up a little later on. Pattypan x

I am extremely lucky in that I do have a fairly good veg and fruit shop.  Quite frequently I have picked up a bowl of plums for £1 reduced because they are a little past their best  - not that you would notice a lot of the time and the weight usually being around the 1kg area. They are still good to eat as they are and I frequently have a bowl in just for munching or to be more correct for other half to munch on.  I try and have a regular supply of fresh fruit most weeks and it is either eaten fresh or turned into something else. As this is a resource that is open to me I am making the most of it but it maybe something that could be turned into something for your larder/pantry shelf especially if you are on a budget or have to do things a bit at a time.  To my mind finding a recipe you like is key to most cooked items.  Sometimes in the past things have gone wrong, usually whatever is still edible but perhaps not quite to your liking.  There is always a wa...

Has gone down very well indeed.  Comfort food of the highest order  and I was ready for it. Toad in the hole with mashed potato, kale, peas and lashings of gravy. Despite it being a lovely sunny day it has gone colder as the afternoon has turned into early evening.  Dinner has warmed me up on the inside and we have popped the heating on as it is cold in the house today.  I am mindful of keeping the animals warm as well. It is slow going on the front room  front although I have managed to divest myself of another three large bags of rubbish. (The dustbin is full and is not due for emptying until next Wednesday).  There is also a line of bags next to the dustbin.  We will need to go to the tip on Sunday to get rid of them plus anything else I find inbetween.  All is double bagged and tied up.  I do not think much will get done tomorrow as I am meeting a friend but it is what it is.  The lady I am meeting tomorrow is the lady w...

.......for the first time for days.  How lovely to see,  Still not warm but then it is not supposed to be.    However today is not a day for the garden.  Later in the week yes but the front room needs recovering. I found my man and he put the light bulbs in for me so I was able to continue working in the front room last night. I am not very good at putting them in myself as my hands have lost a lot of dexterity these days. Still a long way to go but as I said yesterday am inching my way forward.  Three large bags of rubbish have been put out as well so slow work but therapeutic.  Another large stack of books will have to be sorted later on the ones that fell off the book shelf.  Hopefully by the end of the week my man will have been able to have repaired it.  It is only when you have the books stacked neatly and have to negotiate them that you realise how lucky we are to have bookshelves.  I shall also look at the books to see i...