Here and now

Just had a bath and now settling down in the loft room with To Do list to sort and crocheting to hand.

The Best Bit Book is open for today. It's already been filled in for the last 3 years - doesn't time just fly by. Must make a New Year's Resolution to neaten up my handwriting.

The computer's on ready to go playing and YT-ing.

Hair is wet and I'm dressed in my kimono for lazing about.

This is here and this is now - normal routines resuming for early evening de-stressing. I'll go downstairs later and finish off with a bit of TV viewing with DH.

xx

Kitchen in action

And what's taking place in this picture?

What about this one?

Now you've had your guesses, let me tell you. There's always plenty going on throughout the day. I don't know about Fly Lady but my sink never stays still long enough to show off its shine. 

First picture working backwards.

Top of stepladder which is needed for people of small stature to reach the top cupboards.

Cotton bag holding the homemade bread.

Food in Eye Key Ah containers, handy for breakfasts and suppers.

Red candle on its way to be put away in the dresser drawer.

Bread proving on the worktop covered by a tea towel.

Toaster

Flour still out.

Books brought home from the LWL outing. (Ladies Who Lunch). We tend to take and swap items as well as natter away.

Bananas hanging out of the way of the other fruit.

Fairy lights still out to light up January.

Cat on floor deciding what to eat. As usual 2 plates to choose from as she tends to turn up her nose at some offerings.

Plates out on the grill door to warm up when the grill is on for the chop that is under there. 

Second picture

Cat still deciding which plate to eat. 

Veggies ready to chop for a stir fry.

Dishcloth hanging about.

Karcher at the ready for the steamed up windows.

Mixer bowl full of soapy water in the sink soaking away and catching anything to wash.

I think that's all. Did you get everything?

xx

Another workout

This time it's making pasta. I really shouldn't watch too many YouTube videos. I've made pasta before but decided it was much too messy. Here's my pasta dough - just 2 mugs of flour and 2 eggs with a little water to make it into a firm dough. I mixed it up in the mixer to start off with but then got busy with my arm muscles.

Pasta machine from the CS at the ready. It would only fit on the table so there was a lot of walking backwards and forwards. I cut the dough into 4 manageable sizes ...

and did an initial roll out on the board.

Into the machine on setting 9, working down to 1, on to the other side of the machine to make spaghetti and fettuchini.

The handrail of the oven came in handy for the draping.

Then came the clear up.

Kitchen floor, back room floor, table and counter tops.

Yep, it's messy.

Here's the video that inspired me - what a lady.

xx

PS Chicken cacciatore next.

The Play Room

In preparation for the decorating of the upstairs - which is a long way off yet - I decided to sort out the play room which had been a dumping ground for various bits and pieces from downstairs. There's a large roll of new carpet underlay in here that is destined for the front bedroom when that's been painted so I had to work around this. The sorting took all afternoon because this room houses craft stuff and 'things' I want to keep at the moment. Here's a local newspaper pull out from 2003 which lays out future plans for Blackpool. We don't look a bit like the front cover yet. Obviously this dream is not likely to become a reality at the moment.

Here's a picture drawn by DD when she was 3. I think its a self portrait.

DS drew his dad who is obviously very fierce indeed.

Another of DD's efforts from later years showing the family cat.

I don't know why I keep patterns. I have 3 sewing machines but do not seem to have time or inclination to use them. I love looking at old patterns though.

I have a storage cube of cross stitch patterns, silks and threads which I should really get round to sewing. Time, again, is needed as well as the desire to complete everything. I think I gave up cross stitch when I couldn't focus properly.

Oh dear - I shouldn't have emptied the storage unit. Just how much craft stuff do I need for card making? Ribbons, embellishments, sticky things, old and interesting toys, puzzles, games - the list goes on. 

It's not getting any easier or clearer.

I'm having a 'right good time'.

xx

From my seat

It is a lovely warm day and a sit in the garden room is in order. To my right are the tomato plants which will be planted in the greenhouse tomorrow. These were grown from last year's seed and have been potted on twice.

To my left is our stone pot collection and in the corner pot is a rain stick which is a kind of musical instrument (don't look too closely).

Above me is an orchid in a hanging, homemade wooden basket and the hanging plant that used to be in the kitchen. It has a few flowers about to burst forth on it.

In front of me are our visitors just chilling. All is well.

We have been out and about this week and here is another 'from my seat spectacular' at Lytham on the little jetty.

This pic is before I sat down!

To my left. Very peaceful.

 Straight ahead.

To my right looking back towards Blackpool.

Here is the shore behind me.

Hope it stays warm for the planting tomorrow - there's weeding to be done too.

xx

PS Welcome new followers.

PPS I did warn you not to look too closely didn't I?

Found ...

… one Christmas bauble while hoovering today.

Note to self :

Must clean more often.

xx

Quiz

Most of the answers to the questions can be found by typing in the search or by clicking on a label. No pressure to answer the questions as I shall post the answers tomorrow. Well done if you can answer all the questions correctly without having to look anything up. I won't publish any comment (if there are any) until I've posted the answers.

1. My home is in which famous seaside town?

2. How many cats do I have?

3. What do I call my days out?

4. What adjective do I use to describe my back garden?

5. Name one of my hobbies.

6. How do I describe the majority of my Christmas cards?

7. Name my favourite home grown vegetable.

8. Name one of my crocheted blankets.

9. What is my volunteer job?

10. What was the original aim of this blog and am I still achieving it?

xx