Kitchen clear out

Here are my kitchen shelves at the beginning of the week.......messy eh?
I've been dumping stuff on here for weeks knowing I was going to sort them out on my holiday.
I hate doing it as it takes for ever & my collection has grown since I moved in........I need more shelves!!!
You can read about the last time I did it here....whoops how long ago???

Better????

I found some cup hooks to display the mugs to try & free up space but it didn't work.

Spot my Homemaker china??

More about that another day.

After completing this mammoth task I realised I'd forgotten my EB mugs......oh no.....I'll have to slip them in somewhere. I've had to take loads off & hide it in cupboards.....OH hates my collections!!!

Just to remind you Show & Tell Sunday will be Sunday 4th April.....Easter Sunday.

The topic will be your favourite photo or picture & why.

I watched a TV programme about this & thought it was really interesting how everyone's taste varies.

It's ok you can have more then one!!!!

Back to work on Monday.......groan!!!
I didn't make my millions at the races so back to normal.

Show & tell Sunday

How exciting, I've been chosen for show & tell this week! It's the first time my name has appeared on the list, I'm a little unprepared as I didn't think I would have to do it.

The topic this week is favorite collections and I've chosen to show you all my Home pride Fred's...

Sorry the pictures aren't great...it was a bit of a rush.

I love Fred because he will always remind me of my Auntie Lucy. We used to visit her house on a Saturday tea time & have sausage sandwiches.....no one can make a sausage sandwich like Auntie Lucy. She had some Fred's on the window sill in the kitchen & I was allowed to look at them, she was quite stern so you wouldn't really play with them!! That was in the 70's & I've loved them ever since. They remind me of a happier, simple time with no worries, why do we have to grow up?

I was likely to find this little one.....

He's only 1 1/2 inches tall & is used for sweetex. I've never seen another one & I was told he's quite rare.

I have a number of old & new which I think sit nicely together, some of the new pieces are limited editions so at some point they will be collectable.

This one has to be my favorite. I brought it from a lady at a boot sale, she told me she was given him in 1971 as a wedding present but she felt it was time he left. This is the year I was born so I just had to have him, I promised I would give him a good home! He has a chip on his foot but I think he's looking good for his age....better then me!!

As you can see they only take up a small space in my kitchen & sit along side all my other favorite things......Cornish blue, red & cream tins etc.

My love of Cornish blue also came from Auntie Lucy, boy does she have a lot to answer for!!! When my sister came to my new house she did point out that it looked like Auntie Lucy's.....what a complement!! And yes I still love sausage sandwiches!!!!!

What Josie-Mary did on her holiday....

Well another very quick week's holiday is over and yes I was right last week, I'm not feeling so smug today!

So did I do all my jobs??? Did I heck as like!!! I managed to do some but I also had some lazy days, why do we always feel guilty of that?? Yes I did lay in bed one afternoon & watched a film...is that soooo wrong?? But I do feel bad now because I still have a long list of things that didn't get done and my next holiday won't be until February or March. Can I make it??

So what did I do.....

I put up my Whirligig.

















I do love these but they're getting harder to find. I've been looking for a wood chopper for years without any luck. Mum & dad found this on their travels & gave it to me for my birthday at the end of August. Yes it really has taken me that long to put it up!!

I made 10 jars of pickled onions, all for Christmas gifts, now I can focus on making my own. I hate pealing the onions but you can't beat home made so I have to do it.

I made a bag.


















I mentioned this a while ago, didn't come out as well as I hoped but hey it cost me under £5 and it's my first attempt. As I was making it I thought how lucky I was to have a mum who showed me how to make things. I've met so many people who wouldn't even know where to start. So even if it's not the best bag in the world at least I made it!!

I made a lovely pie & pasties. Ohh the joy of having the time to do this kind of things. I have some left ready to take to work. I also made the mackerel pate from just original's blog. Very yummy & easy to make.

















I've started to make my friends little girl a toy, not sure what it'll be. It was a doll but I'm now thinking I could change it to a cat! What do you think??


The box is going to be the bed & I've made some granny squares to make the blanket.

I've also dusted my kitchen shelves.....



I won't tell you how long ago this was done but as you can see it's a bit of a task!!! My motto is.... the more you have on a shelf the less room there is for dust! You may have noticed that I collect everything... I love Cornish blue, these are just the pieces we don't use. Also I can never resist a Fred at the bootie. And yes of course there's lots of red & white things.
















I went to Morrison's shopping & had to buy this lovely shower cap........will I use it??? Not sure but it was a bargain & will look good in the bath room!!



Now I written all this down I feel I've done quite a lot so now I won't feel bad about sitting down all afternoon!! Don't forget I've had to do general house work all week as well.....yeah I feel good now!

I'm going to make a list on my blog of all the things I need to do before Christmas. I always think one more list won't hurt!


Back to work tomorrow, not looking forward to it as I feel really rough with a cold. I've fought it all week with loads of drugs but it's finally come out. This always happens to me at this time of year. Last year I had the same week off & was really ill so had to take the following week off sick. Hope I feel better as I'd hate to have to call in sick again, I think they're just getting over the fact I had to take 5 days of when my cat died in September. Maybe my friend was right, I shouldn't have wasted that time off (yes she did say that!!)


The next thing to look forward to is going to see The Pogues in Bristol on the 16th December. Didn't make it last year but we normally go to London every year to see them, it's our Christmas present to each other. The tickets cost a bomb but it's a fantastic night...I think....can't always remember it!! But it's lovely when they sing fairytale of new york at the end at snow starts falling & the very drunk fans sing along!

Hope everyone plans to watch 'Little Dorrit', I'm hoping it will be as good as 'Bleak house'. Have a good week.