I've got an award....

Thank you Mel Mel.

The rules say I have to pass this onto 6 people, here goes.......

HenHouse

Sal's Snippets

Attic24

Andrea Fay's

Just Original

The Vintage Magpie

I enjoy reading everyone's blogs but these have to be my favorite.

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!!!!!

Happy Halloween !!!

What do you have planned??? I'm going on a ghost & witches tour of Exeter. Never anything to do here so I'm afraid to say that I do this nearly every year. Think I should take it myself as I now know all the stories!! It's a bit of fun & I always take my pumpkin torch which my friends are never happy about. It getting harder to find people to come with me so I guess one year I will be doing it alone.

Have you seen the news about Ottery St Mary??? How strange, it looks like something from a disaster film. I didn't even hear the thunder, which I'm glad about as I don't like it. My parents live in Ottery but didn't get flooded as they live on a hill....wise move! They were trapped & didn't have any power until 4pm. I feels so sorry for those poor people who have lost everything.

Enjoy your Halloween what ever you're doing.......

Anyone got snow????

I'm loving the winter weather although not happy about having to put the heating on in October. I did wait until the last minute & the heating did kick in at 5, maybe my house is really cold!!

I've been off today, so enjoying the lovely sunshine this morning. I was in the garden sorting out my lavender for the bags I plan to make for Christmas. Hope I haven't taken on too much. I've just got my Christmas rota, why do I have to work in retail?? It's not good, only 1 more Saturday off before Christmas! Every year I say this will be may last as I would like to have a life & see friends etc over the festive period. This is the first year we are opening boxing day..... hate it, why can't people stay at home! I'm working late on Christmas eve & off boxing day but they're hinting for 1 manager to do both days. Bet it'll have to me because I'm having 2 days off the week before to see the Pogues.


One of the ladies I work with has just opened an Etsy shop selling children's clothes. She also makes Pippa dolls clothes & sells on eBay. Remember Pippa? I'd forgotten how small she was. Check out the shop & see how clever Penny is...


http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6266325

I brought this lovely t-light holder from LA a few weeks ago but keep forgetting to share it with you. It was really cheap so I thought he would be very small but I was wrong! I love getting cozy with the lights off & just candles but I can't see to knit!!

Hope you're all having a good week & not too cold.

Jamie's pass it on

Hello everyone,

I've just seen this & had to act straight away!!!

http://justoriginal.blogspot.com/

So here it is...... I'm passing it on!!

Smoked Mackerel Pate

4 Smoked Mackerel Fillets taken off the skin and mashed
4 Finely chopped Spring Onions
1/2 the rind of a Lemon
1/2 the juice of a Lemon
1 small container of Philidelphia
2 tablespoons of Horseradish
Black Pepper

Basically just mush it all up together and serve on warm ciabatta or crusty bread.


As you all know I made this last week (see last blog for photo) & it was lovely, so I had it again on Sunday, and I've already passed it on to 2 people at work. Aren't I a good girl????

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.

Jamie's pass it on....

Hello everyone, hope you all had a lovely weekend....I've been working & I'm now enjoying the fact I can put my feet up for a whole week.....sorry to all you poor people who have to go back to work tomorrow (I won't be feeling so smug next Sunday!!!)

I had an idea about pass it on...... not sure if you've been watching Jamie's new show but I'm shocked by how little people know when it comes to cooking. I guess they've chosen the worst people otherwise it wouldn't make good TV. Anyway here's the plan... I thought we could all post 1 recipe that is quick & very easy to make. I'm a really rubbish cook but I'm trying to get better, 2 years ago I was the M&S ready meal queen but since moving to a new house with a large kitchen I'm starting to enjoy it.

Vanessa at just original has posted a recipe from Jamie's book which looks lovely....plan to treat myself to that. Take a look........

http://justoriginal.blogspot.com/

This is my recipe....not very fancy but good for when I'm working late.

Pasta, feta cheese, olives, garlic, oil, chopped tomatoes.

It's very quick, just 11 min's for the pasta then just throw everything else in, I serve it with a salad. I've had lots of friend around to eat who are really good cooks but this always goes down well. I think because it's so simple you don't think of making it. Hope you give it ago & enjoy.

Now can you all post one simple (just for me!!) recipe & who know what ideas we'll get.

I thought I'd share this photo with you....

It's my first home made toad-in-the hole!! I use to buy the frozen ones but with my mum's help I made this. Told you I was rubbish in the kitchen!!

Have a good evening....