I shouldn't ...

I shouldn't keep the largest piece of toast for myself when I'm making breakfast.

I shouldn't keep clothes that I'm never ever going to fit into again.

I shouldn't eat more than 2 wine gums at any one time.

I shouldn't leave just 2 pieces of toilet paper on the roll in the hopes that someone else will put a new one on.

I shouldn't taste the soup and then put the spoon back in the pan.

I shouldn't put white clothes in the washer with anything other than other white clothes.

I shouldn't water down the dishwashing liquid too much so that others will suspect something's amiss.

I shouldn't pick my nose when on my own in the car because others may be watching.

I shouldn't dye my own hair because I miss bits.

I shouldn't not dust.

I shouldn't cut my toenails on the carpet and not pick all the bits up.

I shouldn't add any more - I've admitted enough already!

… should I?

xx

Spring and Summer wardrobe

Oh my gosh - I've splashed out! I've really pushed the boat out this year! I've gone and spent money on something new. Oh my.

Mind you my others have been worn to death and are a health hazard. I have searched and searched for the perfect flip flops as comfortable as the last ones I had, which were a cheapo pair from Ebay. The nearest I could find were the purple 'Surf' pair which are similar but not quite the same as my others. On my flip flop travels trawls through the internet I came across the green pair of 'DAWGS' which again are similar style and are extremely comfortable to wear. The centre pair are 'Crocs' which I suppose are the upmarket version of the other two. I purchased them for a reasonable price and have now made a concerted effort not to visit the Ebay site for at least the rest of the year! :)

I'm all set for the warm weather to come now. 

And which are the most comfortable pair? The pair that makes you feel as though you are walking on air? The pair I would purchase again and again and again - if I was feeling flush?

The clear winners of Mum's flip flops of the year contest are

the DAWGS.

Let the warm weather begin - I'm ready.

And what about the rest of the wardrobe? Why my favourite long skirts and tops will suffice.

xx

PS A very warm welcome to my two new followers.

Where, what, why?

Where've you been?

Well I've not been anywhere really.

Why have you not posted?

I only post when the fancy takes me and it obviously 'takes me' now.

What have you been doing?

A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Well that doesn't tell me anything - more info please.

I painted the outside table and DH made a new top out of recycled library shelves. It's now all set for the warm weather - wherever that is! I have weeded between the paving stones but left the moss. The plot has been weeded and turned over with a first planting of potatoes, onions, spring onions, mange-tout, garlic, leeks, land cress and beetroot.

My Mother's Day flowers lasted ages and, before I composted them, I managed to rescue some blooms to put in another display.

The bulbs we planted in the front garden are now a mass of golden daffodils and I picked some to put in my small vase.

The remaining tulips are shedding their petals but they still have some stuck on and will last a little bit longer.

I have a friend who likes owls so I crocheted her a mobile cover. It's loosely based on this pattern but the main body I crocheted in the round and the wings were granny circles.

The cat's just arrived on my knee so my 'little bit of this and little bit of that' will have to be done at the computer for the next hour or so!

Now have I answered all your questions?

:)

xx

PS And did you ask them in the first place?

Oh ...

… I do like to be beside the seaside.

The sea was brownish ...

... but the sky was blue.

The sun's rays sparkled on the water ...

and the donkeys, well the donkeys ...

… were just cuddly and cute.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.

xx

We're all glued to the eclipse

Now what's going on?

That looks interesting.

Great diamond ring.

xx

Another birthday

I made a birthday card made for my friend's birthday out of a recycled card, a frame from Marlene at Poppypatchwork and a few stickers.

xx

PS Welcome to my new commenter.

PPS to Janipi at Frugal in the Cotswolds. I'm sorry but I can't comment on your blog because I'm not on that Google + thingy but I read all your posts.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Time marches on and we are nearly a quarter of the way through the year. Soon it will be Spring and Easter is on the horizon. Here's my phone cover for the next few weeks - done in the round with single crochets and buttons. Just start a chain the width of your phone and after the first row has been worked continue round the bottom edge and just keep going round and round until the desired length is reached. The strap is jus a chain with the added reinforcement of a few stitches at the joins.

A new tree has been planted where an old tree came out 

and around it the recently planted daffs  are putting on a wonderful display - beyond the lawn, beneath the hedge!

a host of golden daffodils

The yellow of the sun will be obscured when the eclipse happens this Friday.

xx

PS I should really have focussed on green today, shouldn't I?

What do you do with left overs?

And what do I do with the left over bits?

Make leg warmers or a pair of mitts?

I chose mits.

They are not identical and certainly not perfect but are warm and cosy.

I just traced round my hand for the pattern and sewed them up on the machine - muttering and mumbling as I wrestled with the furry fabric.

Turning them right side out was also a mammoth task especially the thumb. They were supposed to be reversible but it's too much trouble to turn them the other way.

xx

Where is it?

Where is the hole for the thread on a sewing machine needle? I can't see it. I know it's there somewhere and when I feel for it and try to put the needle threader through it's definitely there. Mind you it takes me a while to locate it. 

And where is the hole for putting the thread through on the needle threader once it's through the needle hole? I can't see it. I know it's there somewhere because a needle threader is supposed to make threading the needle easier. It takes me another while to hit the hole with the thread.

And why does the thread always get in a tangle when I use the machine and pull the thread out of the hole? Is there a conspiracy somewhere?

One hour later (instead of 10  minutes) I finished the 2 cushion covers made from recycled clothes. I shall use the machine that has a light on next time (not the hand driven Singer) and borrow DH's glasses.

xx

Whoopee!

This pusscat book was a present from DD for Christmas and is an easy, gentle and interesting read. What a wonderful cat to have as a friend.

Another pressie was this book which I have flicked through and noted certain recipes to try.

I don't think my grandma would have made Navarin of Spring Lamb,

or Raspberry and Vanila Clafoutis,

or even Coffee Whoopee Pies! I don't know about yours!

I had some great pressies and below you'll see the other books I have read through.

*

*

*

On the twelfth day of Christmas my DD sent to me

Happy Birthday pressies

Some recipes from Grandma

Greek chic crocheting

Plenty pies for baking

This lady eating

Chocolates for consumption

A zoo to be knitting

Is this a kiss under the Mistletoe?

A wonderful pusscat book

Lots of choccy stickies

Simon's Catty diary

a Tap it unwrap it

and

Wine gums in a cool pink jar!

xx

From my seat

I've been here before! Here and here and here I am again as the sun is shining and heating up the room. It's warm and cosy in here. In front of me is the re-vamped small wrought iron pub table. The monocular came from the CS and I use it to view the seagulls who nest on the chimney stack of a house behind us. The visor is needed as the sun shines in my eyes.

Looking left is the big orchid and behind that is the 30s ash tray which we use as a plant stand - tho' there's no plant on it at the moment.

Looking up are more orchids, some of which are in flower.

This one has a slight pinkish tinge.

This one stinks when sniffed up close but the fragrance gets better the further you are away from it and it pervades the whole room.

DH has a 'strange plant' collection. This one is a shrimp plant. It's looking a bit worse for wear at the moment and has not yet recovered from it's journey through the post to us.

This flower is from ...

… this strange looking plant. Click on the picture to see it's name. The onion shaped bulbs have little bulblets that fall off into the compost. Very odd.

There are more strange plants on the windowsill and table.

Here's a Congo Cockatoo.

Strange shadows play on the walls when the sun is shining. This is a really restful room.

xx