Getting the authorities involved.

For charges of blog neglect....





Well. It's the cheeky monkeys tea party for our local branch of NCT. I'm turning up a bit early to give a hand, setting out tombola on table and offering to butter a few scones. Should be good, as there's all sorts of craft activities planned.

!*£$?ing quilting

I am NOT one of lifes quilters. Have been making my little quilt,as described in previous blog post, but its all gone a bit wrong - 3 times.
Am giving up and chalking it up to experience.

Raffle prize

After making a dress for DD1s school raffle, I'm currently making a small quilt (26inch sq) for the local branch of the NCTs raffle. I'm going for basic large squares and a 'satin' backing, with 2oz filling. Will post up pic once finished.

I've been neglecting you, poor blog.

I've been neglecting you, my poor blog- My apologies.

Have been busy with GPLets, and sorting out new 'improved' yahoo group.. Plus sorting out NCT local branch's stall at local pre school learning alliance event 'Picnic in the Park' (http://www.pre-school.org.uk/).


Well, news.. Have made a few things, mostly from the freeneedle site, as I've been feeling a bit brassic and its cheaper to buy odds and sods of material, rather than pattern and material! (Cheap huh?) Plus it means I can sell them on at local craft fairs - building up a bit of a stash for that. Will see whats going on locally, or might try ebay.


Some piccies and info:

http://www.patternbee.com/FREE5.html made one of these, out of 2 old tea towels, with teddy pattern on.





Making the apron to left but modifying the pattern on freeneedle to accomodate my size. I've got the bug for patchwork now, after knocking up a couple of cushions... http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/quilt-block-apron.shtml

Have also bought 2m of this:

To make DD1 a dress. If I've got bits left I'll be making DD2 a skirt too.

Decoupaging.

If that is indeed a word. Have spent a while looking for Ben10 decoupage online, for DD1 friends birthday card (not long to go, need to think about getting bits) and its very hard to buy ben 10 decoupage sheets.

Gap in the market, perhaps?

Busy weekend

Went to the LOUD protest march on Saturday, to try and halt the unsustainable development around the fringes of our town. (http://www.lb-loud.co.uk/ for info)...

Also went to natural history museum, on the train today. TH off work for a booked week, as its half term, so enjoying the company, and given I had an extra adult, decided to go on a 'big event' trip, and was very much enjoyed by everyone.... We even met a T-Rex!

DD1 back at school

DD1 has gone to school today... the past few days have been very stressfull. At one point, it was dicussed that she be put on antibiotic drip for the infection. She seems over that now, but still tires very easily and is off her her food. VERY unusual for her.

Ill DD1

DD1 scared us on wednesday night. We had to go to A&E, and were told she has a severe urinary tract infection. She tires very easily, and is on horse strength antibiotics, but still not 100% (or even 70, for that matter.) Very worried about her, as she is obviously quite ill. Hope she'll be well enough for school on Monday, as she's really missed going.

What do I do with that in my veg box?

http://www.asda-recipes.co.uk/recipe/331.html
got fed up of celeriac and carrot soup.

Fleece hats

http://gailbable.tripod.com/id25.html
Link for easy pattern to make fleece beanie style hats.

A photo tells a story

There may be over an 80 year age gap, but DD1 (DD2 is asleep, so cant comment for her) and her great granny get on swimmingly.

Snow

Think the picture speaks for itself.

Brrrr!

And so to sleep....

Proof it does happen, both of them asleep!

DD2 has had miserable cold, and hasnt managed much in the way of snoozing at all.

This was taken last night.

News Events Today.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Girl-Thrown-Off-Bridge-In-Melbourne-Australia-Father-Arrested-After-Tot-Fell-From-West-Gate-Bridge/Article/200901415212642?lpos=World_News_News_Your_Way_Region_6&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15212642_Girl_Thrown_Off_Bridge_In_Melbourne,_Australia:_Father_Arrested_After_Tot_Fell_From_West_Gate_Bridge


It feels like someones pulled the plug on love somedays, and its all just draining away. The more and more you hear, the less and less faith you have in the world coming right. If we’re going to survive the big changes due to happen, we all need love, self reliance and trust. Peak Oil, GW, Worldwide Economic Depresion, its all coming and what on earth are we all going to do to cope with it if society appears to be fracturing around us? Surely someone should have asked that father if he was ok… I really do think that some (ok, if I’m honest, a large chunk) of society see caring and doing things not for our own gain as some sort of sign of weakness.

Sleep well little lady, and the world needs to reach out and hug those two poor boys. AND their father.

cous cous recipe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/couscouswithspringve_81567.shtml

yum.

Jerusalem Artichoke Soup

Preparation Time: 10 minutesCooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
500g jerusalem artichokes, washed and thinly sliced1 onion, chopped1 tbsp olive oil800mls chicken or veg stock100mls creamsalt and pepper



Instructions
1. Gently fry the onions in oil for 5 minutes. Add the artichokes and stock.
2. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes until the artichokes are tender. Blend the mixture until smooth and stir in the cream.

Hamster Trouble.

Well, have had to take one of DD1s chinese hamsters back to the pet shop. The other one sadly left the house in a body bag. The still living hamster had killed his cage-mate,and then begun to eat him. Thankfully we discovered this after DD1 had gone to school. We exchange phsyco hamster (getting him out of the cage, he bit me twice, so was no longer safe to have round with young children) for a traditional Syrian - like nibbles, our previous incumbent - who is a black and white female. DD1 was told the two previous hamsters were fighting and had to be tkaen back and be separated, and has named hamster mk3 'Rosie'...

No Success!

Didn't win the fabric I was bidding on, so its back to searching the net for suitable stuff. Please feel free to comment if you know where I can get hold of breathable waterproof. Dont want much, metre and 1/2 at most!

Nappy Wrapping....

Have bitten the bullet and have deicded now I have my new swanky sewing machine, I'm going to have a go at using it to make a couple of nappy wraps for DD2. I'm currently bidding on some fabric on ebay suited to the task, and if I win, shall be embarking on the project next week, will post up how I get on. Shall be using velcro, as I don't want lining up press studs to get in the way of sewing,cutting and aligning. Perhaps when I've got my nappy stripes.

Farewell, Nibbles

DD1s hamster, Nibbles died in the run up to Christmas. We now have two new members to the family, who are using his previous accomadation. Chinese hamsters, called Yin & Yang. The are very small, about mouse size and dont grwo and longer, only possibly plumper. Chinese hamsters, it turns out are actually members of the rat family and not hamsters at all!

DIY Rusks...

2kg self raising flour
250g marg
4 cups sour milk ( just add some lemon juice to milk to get the effect)
2 beaten eggs
1 and 1/2 cups sugar - if you want or a half cup still makes them palatable

1.Rub marg into flour.
2.Combine eggs,milk and sugar.
3. Knead together
4. form long cylinders on a tray.
5. Bake 55mins at 180 c
6.cool
7. dry overnight in a very low oven....or just for a few hours.