Sniffles n Snuffles & Disgruntled Hens!

I have had a stinking cold to contend with the past week and all the household has got the sniffles! Even the dogs keep making snuffling noises, I think it is just so they don't feel left out.

Again a busy weekend, I was at a craft fair on Saturday, we did not get many people through the door but the weather was awful, we had constant rain all day. A right miserable day however I had a good natter and laugh with some of the other stall holders, so the day passed fairly quickly.

Sunday we awoke to a smattering of snow, we did still venture out to a boot sale, as I thought it said it was undercover so there would still be some hardy sellers out. We all piled into the car and Jay was driving and we were heading toward the warehouse, me being totally oblivious as I was on the phone to my mum at the time and the boys were hollering 'happy mother's day!' and I thought they were saying it to my mum when in fact they were saying it to me. My mothers day present was attached to the outside wall of the warehouse. The boys had clubbed together and bought me a sign!

The best present I could ever receive. The picture is a photocopy, the weather has been too awful for me to take a proper photo.

Anyway we did make our way to the bootsale and there were three hardy stall holders! Whilst we were there about twenty cars of buyers turned up all to just turn tail and go. So you can imagine who got an earful for suggesting that she wanted to go to a bootsale! We did find a salvage yard down a little lane, oh it was like being in a sweet shop. I was like a magpie to all things that glittered!

With the weather being so cold and dreadful I could see no point in attempting to sow any seeds. I have a bag full off loo rolls all ready for leeks and  peas. Am I ever going to get my vegetable growing underway this year... So I spent the afternoon on the sofa watching Antique road trip and done some crocheting, and we all enjoyed a Chinese for dinner, a perfect mother's day for me.

We woke up to more snow today and I really needed to clean out the coop and change the bedding. I ventured out early this morning and they were making a right racket. I gave them a bowl full of kitchen scraps and even that did not appease Matilda. The other three pecked at the scraps.

I went to change their water and when I returned a few minutes later they were all back in the coop which I had yet to clean out and the pile of food scraps was still sitting there. So I shooed them all back out, they were all clucking away. It was snowing quite hard and they were eager to get back into the coop. It was the quickest clean out the coop has had. I think the girls have had enough of the horrible weather and can't wait for the sunshine and the extra leisure time in the garden.

Well that was a rundown of my weekend. I hope all you mums had a wonderful mothers day.
Until next time x

The Waiting Game...

We still have snow on the ground which is very slippery, thankfully no more snowfall but the temperature is sure dipping. The girls are coping very well with this weather and are still laying but they still will not venture out into the thick snow around the garden. I am just having a quick coffee before going out and cleaning out the hen house, I will leave the gate open to see if they will take the plunge with the snow.

I am really getting twitchy with wanting to get on with seed sowing and getting out into the garden and get cracking with the new sowing season. I am holding off for now but once I get back from our trip I will get my hands in some soil.

I keep looking at my plan that I drew up a few weeks ago and keep making changes of what is going to grow where and keep shuffling the seed packets about to make sure I haven't forgotten any. 

I saw a programme on TV last night called Allotment Wars, it was on BBC1 after the 10 o'clock news. Well I am gob smacked that people can be so petty and vindictive over a few root vegetables! Plot holders stealing other plot holders vegetables prior to the veg growing competition! Jealousy over fertile soil, it is mind boggling. You can probably catch this programme on the BBC iplayer. Watching the plot holders toil in the soil did make me feel a bit envious, I can't wait!

As you know I have been working on a blanket, well it is almost finished. I just have to add the backing and it is done. But here it is.

I stitched the squares together so they formed rows and then I crocheted the rows together. I made the poppies and then sewed them on randomly. Not bad for my first effort. I am now working on a baby girl blanket.

Well that's me coffee all gone, time to brave the cold and clean out the girls. Until next time x

  

Bit of this n a bit of that

Well the heavily predicted snow has finally arrived and we have more on the way. It is about 4 -5 inches thick in the garden. The girls were not impressed, it took them a while to venture out to the food at first and then once I put in the scraps and the hot bread and seed tray they came out as quick as you like!

I am sitting here watching them as I type and they keep standing on one foot and then the other, you can just imagine the conversation if they could speak. Clyde thinks he has the biggest ice cream cone in the world on his doorstep. He eats and chomp at the snow like his life depends on it. We are taking the dogs over the golf course this evening so I shall post some photos later.

I have been working on a project for the past couple of weeks and it is taking forever. I still have lots to do on it so here is a quick peek at what I have been doing

I decided to have jam on toast for my breakfast this morning, I went to the fridge and there was no jam left, fantastic time to open a new jar. When I make my jams I often have bits left so I end up with lots of jars with just a bit in and there was one without a label so I decided to have that one. I done three pieces of toast, two for me and one for the dogs and the jam was a very tasty yet tart plum.

I have been collecting the toilet and kitchen rolls ready for planting my broad beans. I was going to do them this week but with this weather is it really worth it? I think I will wait a couple of weeks then sow them. I have also been collecting the plastic food trays perfect for seed sowing. I am all prepared and ready to get my green fingers outs but will hold back for a little longer.

The girls have finished feasting and have retired back into the coop, sensible little girls. Right I have things I need to do. Until next time x

A day out CS shopping

We awoke this morning to a smattering of snow, not a lot to shout or wail about however it was rather icy and taking Max and Clyde for a walk was a slippery sliding adventure! I did manage to stay in the upright position but I did have to giggle when Clyde was pulling Lloyd along ahead of me, all he needed was a sledge.

I had arranged to go out to Felixstowe with mum and dad today and thought it would be cancelled but the weather was no where near as bad as I thought it would be and so at 11 am on the dot mum and dad arrived to take me out. It was bitterly cold down at Felixstowe, for those that are not local it is right down on the coast. We just stayed in the main shopping area, my leg is still not too good so a walk along the front was not on the agenda.

I think I managed to drag mum and dad into every Charity shop in the high street, I managed to find some great bargains and mum and dad even bought a couple of things. Some of you may baulk at the idea of entering a charity shop and would die of shame rather than be seen in one. I will admit in my teens and twenties I would of been the same but have you been inside a charity shop lately?

There is no nasty niff for a start and everything is clean and tidy and very well organised. In some shops the clothes are all colour co-ordinated and some of the displays and windows look amazing. You would not even realise you are looking in the window of a charity shop.

This little bundle set me back about £15.00, The wool is brand new but the shop makes a profit and it is reasonably priced. I have floral and gingham fabric in this little bundle and to purchase this from the haberdashery would of set me back about £60.00. I have two men's extra extra large shirts in gingham and the remainder is sheets and duvet covers all in excellent condition.

I am wanting to start quilting or at least have a go and by getting my fabric in this way it makes it much more affordable.

I also purchased this beautiful hand crafted bowl made of pottery and glazed.

I saw it and just had to have it and at only £4.00 it was hard to resist, it will make an excellent fruit bowl to put on the island. I am a bit hesitant to put any type of holding receptacle as it does not take long for it to fill up with useless crap, especially crap from the boys and Jay's pockets.

We enjoyed a lunch of fish and chips with a cup of tea in a little fish restaurant in one of the side streets, I won't be needing dinner later!

Once I was home the snow started to fall quite heavily, just in time for all the school run mum's, perfect timing as usual.

It has stopped again for now but I am sure we are in for plenty more. I don't mind being snowed in I have plenty to keep me occupied for now, especially as Jay sorted out my pinking shears. Apparently they had to be twisted the opposite way first or something like that, but they seem okay now.

Time for a cup of tea and to watch one of my favourite TV programmes, the antique road trip. Until next time x