Another Sketch......

Greetings folks and Happy Summer Solstice to you all, and Happy fathers day too!

After my sketch of Woody last week, I couldn't resist the urge to do another drawing, so on Friday I decided to draw Phoebe. Its only my second drawing, but I'm very pleased with it. I'm on the lookout now for a good photo of my old dog Winston so I can do a sketch of him for my parents.

Look what I pulled from the garden today. They are big bu**ers don't you think!


And lastly a pic of the fairy cakes that were baked yesterday. I looked after my friends little girl for the day, so we made fairy cakes for last nights solstice party. I'm feeling a little ropey today, as it was a very late night and I had a few too many glasses of Elderflower Champagne, but a good time was had by all.

Enjoy the longest day folks.

TTFN

Bootsales, Kettles and Cats.......

Hello Folks. I thought I'd start by showing you a few pics I took in the dining room the other day. The sun was streaming through the window and it looked so warm and pretty in there. Here's the Dafs and Pussy Willow on our Dining Table.

And a pic of the cupboard with my Little Tesco Easter Tree on.

Today myself and My Sil, Tina from Teeny Bears, had a pitch at the local car boot sale, so it was a very early start, up at 5 and there by 6. I've got so much stuff to shift but people just want you to give it away, for example one man, was looking at a brand new in box set of shelves for the shower which I was asking £1.50 for, he then proceeded to knock me down to 50p and then wanted to know if you'd have to drill a hole in the wall to put them up, only he doesn't want to be drilling holes. DOH what do you bloody think, AAARRRGGG, Tina said perhaps he wants us to go to his house and put them up for him, and probably charge us for the Privilege.

We were only asking 50p and £1.00 for stuff. The most I made on one item was £3. So a grand total today of £31 profit, was it worth it?

I did pick this pair of vintage wool blankets up for £2, if nothing else they will do for camping or dog blankets.

Mum bought me this lovely goose plate in the charity shop Saturday, very Easterish I thought.

And here's a pic of my new camping kettle. I had to be different and have a pink one. I'm really looking forward to the camping trip in May. We even have a new tent.

Last but not least is a couple of pics of Phoebe all snuggled on our bed.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and enjoyed the sunshine.

TTFN

Pixie xxxx

Remember that Eiderdown.......

Remember the Eiderdown I got from e-bay? Well here it is on the bed. The cat couldn't resist having her picture taken.

She looks really evil in this pic, but she's only yawning. I love my new eiderdown, but so does the cat which is a worry, as she's not fussy where she sharpens her claws, even though she has two cat scratchers upstairs. Also the paw prints and furs a worry, as they aren't the easiest things to clean, but I suppose whats the point of having something lovely if you can't enjoy it.

Our bed is on its last legs and we are in need of a new one, and we need new bedding, which I'm saving up for, as I'm torn between a Cath Kidston set and a Laura Ashley set, both of which are not cheap. So if anyone knows of any pretty rose bedding that's cheaper can you let me know!

I also have plans to re-jig the cushions and make a new one or two, as well as having a bash at covering our bedside lamps.

Peg Rail update........ Its had its second coat, but will need another. xxxxx

The Sky is Falling........

Look at the pretty fluffy stuff falling from the sky!
I had to drive to work this morning, and it was so not funny. The roads were treacherous and on the way back from breakfast club my car did slide a bit, and I was only in 1st gear and being extremely sensible! But luckily I had a call this morning to say the school I work at in the afternoons is now shut and will be tomorrow too. Yippppeeeee.

So I'm sitting with a nice hot cuppa and reading through posts. Blimey you lot have been busy posting. Its taken me 2 hrs to read through it all.

So what to do now. I think a bit of sewing and a nice film on, as I'm still nursing a bad cold.

I think Phoebe has the right idea!

''Mum I'm staying put, ppppuuuuurrrr''.

The Cake....

Well, feeling a lot better but still not right. We're both still not eating very much and feel tired and drained, but had to go back to work on Wednesday as neither of us get sick pay and we couldn't afford anymore time off. Thanks for all the get well messages. I did force myself to get the cake made tuesday late afternoon , but had to get Mr Pixie to stir it a bit, as didn't have the energy. Fruit cakes bloomin hard to mix up.
Anyway here it is before it goes in, it did smell nice and should be nice and moist.

and here it is after it had cooked and cooled. Its now wrapped in foil in a tin, for a while until I get around to marzipan it. I hope it tastes as good as last years.

Here's a pic of phoebe curled up with one of my bears. Its the first time I've ever spotted her sat here, shes normally a creature of habit.

I've made a start on the Xmas decorations and should have the tree finished tomorrow. When everythings done and cleaned up, I will put some pics on here, especially the pics of the freezer unit and sideboard that hubby's made for the dining room.

Catch you later folks.

Curds and Cake......

Yesterday I had a go at making Bramley apple and lemon curd and here is the finished product. Must say I was quite pleased with it. Does taste very apple saucy my hubby said, and not as nice as your lemon curd. Still it was tasty and will be great in cake fillings. The recipe came from the new River Cottage Preserves book, which i still have on order, but this particular recipe was in the guardian taken from the book.
And today I made a courgette cake, as had loads in the fridge. Its filled with Lime Curd, which I also made today and a cream cheese topping.
This recipe is from Nigella Lawsons Domestic Goddess book. Had a taste not bad, but would be bland without the kick that the curd and cheese give.
Took this of my Puddy-tat last night. She wanted to be with her mum and was following me around everywhere. She took a seat on the dining room table, while I did battle with the freezer. I made a Lasagne and a chicken curry yesterday for meals when we don't have too much time and tying to fit them in the freezer was a military operation.
And finally a picture of my boy, looking very handsome after his fur cut on Monday.

Can you see me?......

Look what I found in the garden last night. Had to keep the dog away, he was going mad. He likes nothing better, than wandering around with a frog in his mouth.

Got Phoebe a new bed mat from pets at home which she loves. I'm definitely coming back as a cat! Lady muck.
Played the buzz game at work last night, and had to draw a squirrel for one of the boys. I'm loving this new job.

____________________________

Got to go to a funeral next Wednesday as my grandad passed away on Friday. Never been to a funeral before, not looking forward to it. He'd been poorly for a while and was into his eighties. I'm sure he's gone to a better place.

The Annual Booster Jab....

It was the day Woody and Phoebe had been dreading, the annual booster vaccination. What a palava trying to get phoebe in her cat box. If you've never tried to get a cat in a cat box before, its a nightmare, its a bit like trying to get a bed through a door! She's such a timid thing and the whole process is rather upsetting, but she's as good as gold at the vets and sits there quietly while the vet vaccinates her and gives her a wormer. The little man on the other hand was a right pain in the a**e. He wriggled and fidgeted and kept jumping off the weighing scales. But eventually all was done and a large amount was extracted from bank account.
To give them a treat I went to pets at home this afternoon and purchased a pack of new balls for woody and a catnip treat for phoebe. See how much fun phoebe had below.

Aahh the joy of Catnip!

Need I say more!

Sloe or Wild Damson....

I thought I'd post a couple of pics of my neighbours Blackthorn tree in blossom as it's so pretty at the moment. We've also got a couple in our garden, but there not in blossom like this.
These trees have caused no end of discussion in our house, and between the neighbours and anyone who visits. Are they a Wild Damson or a Sloe? We came to the conclusion that although the trees look identical. The one in the corner of our garden is a sloe and the one further along is a wild damson. The fruit on our sloe tree is a bit smaller than that of the wild damson. I thought I'd taste one to compare the flavours, not recommended bitter as hell!

I made two batches of gin in the end, one from the Sloes and one from the Wild Damsons. They did have a slightly different flavour and personally I preferred the Sloe Gin. Not that I even like Gin. My friend told me I was drinking it too soon anyway and to leave it until this Christmas/Yule. I also made an experimental batch of Elderberry Gin. This was quite different and a lovely colour. Most of these were given away as Yule pressies.

Another pic of my beautiful pussy cat Phoebe

What a wise old thing she is......

She doesn't mind where she sits.....

Phoebe - my little munchkin 5 today!

I thought it was about time Phoebe had a bit of web space, as Woody's been hogging the limelight of late. This is Phoebe 5 year old today moggy, Happy Birthday Puss. She's also known as Angel cat, little munchkin as well as mummy's black and white cat and affectionately known as Bubba.
She's a very slender and tiny little cat, she's still kitten sized and has the most amazing silky coat.
Here she is checking out my basil seedlings. She's soooo timid though she loves hubby and me to bits but won't go near anyone else. Last summer we had a BBQ and had friends in the garden till quite late. She wanted to come in but wouldn't come pass us lot, so I made everyone hide in the shed until I could get her in! It was quite funny at the time and they've never let me forget it.

Its been sunny and hot here all day today. I've managed to get two loads of washing on the line and have pottered around. To be honest I've really wasted the day, there's been so much i could have done, but couldn't be bothered. Hubby will be home for tea in a Mo so i better get moving!