being creative

Julia Crossland is hosting a wonderful creative challenge called being creative with a theme for each month. This months theme is garden, and this is my recipe;

I have a dream to have a long row of lavender plants just outside the kitchen window. I have lots of tiny little lavender plants growing in the greenhouse that I hope will fulfil this dream. till then I have my lavender garden cushion - take one old woolen blanket, and throw it in the wash on hot, then take some merino wool for felting and layer some on a square of blanket. cover it with dissolvable film, and stitch into it, with free motion floweryness. wash away the film, and make up into a cushion. sit back with a cup of tea and your new cushion and dream of summer.

March Scavenger hunting

peeling paint; a fancy gate - well not fancy, but I love it, and found it on the beach;
empty chair - this rocking chair could also be in the old as me; lion - on the tenantry column in Alnwick - the lion is the symbol of the Percy family, if we had a symbol it would likely be a teapot.....



a lamb, also nearly as old as me, and showing it; as old as me - little ted; something green, first pea shoots; a collection, cookbooks - what else?

a shadow - always wanted to take one of these photos; a ring - bought for me over 20 years ago, worn everyday since, thanks hubby! something sentimental, lots of memories dedicated to this; a rainbow, - my fibonacci quilt.

as always I had lots of fun finding these, but please can someone tell me, who stole most of March? I think I missed it......

better late than never?

half term round up, only a few days late......

For all lovers of children's literature, The Seven Stories in Newcastle is a must. Seven floors of bookish delights, art work, dressing up, the history of the puffin book and a rather nice cafe.

Right next to it is Ouseburn farm; polytunnels, veggie beds, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens, right in the middle of the city.

Crossing over the pennines I can recommend Lancaster City Museum, and also the amazing gallery space of The Storey Institute and the very impressive paper art work hanging in the entrance space comes from here. The cafe is lovely too, take care though, whilst meeting a friend for the first time it is best perhaps not to disgrace yourself my choking on some rocket - Miss K has wise words about such things "salad is dangerous, eat cake"...........

back home and the garden makeover continues, my once neat veggie bad now holds a huge mountain of soil, and there is a pile of wood and paving slabs awaiting the next move. J is in charge of all heavy lifting and planning, so I have to forgive him for the paint/grey hair misdemeanor..... besides in his opinion grey hairs are to be highly prized - they haven't fallen out....

things to say when the kitchen has been painted.

advice for partners/spouses/random strangers...

when you come home from work and make someone very happy by saying "wow, the kitchen looks great, and I don't think it needs a second coat of paint"

it is probably best not to follow later with

"you've got some paint in your hair - oh no actually I think those are grey hairs.........."

February scavenging

news headline, truck (not that big but I loved the tag line - we can't move heaven but we can move earth)
bridge, bench (I think this is a bit unloved)



stripes, clock,
eyes, musical instrument



heart shaped, something red
post box, my shoes

thanks again to postcards from the pp

suitable Saturday night family viewing?

It all started with an assistant in a bookshop. she recommended the series to Miss K who was wandering about clutching a birthday book voucher.

I should have known better than to say ok to a book called Angus, thongs and full frontal snogging. The snogging bit really should have warned me. Miss K was thrilled, "all my friends are reading them, they laugh out loud in lessons"

Miss K comes home, reads several of the books, pronounces them very funny.

Fast forward two weeks and Father Christmas in a fit of needing something a little extra for a stocking saw the DVD of Angus, Thongs and perfect snogging and thought Miss K will like that.

Fast forward again to last Saturday night, where DVD is selected as part of a special Saturday night, movie and tv dinner treat.

DVD is rated a 12. Miss K is now 12. E is 10. I read the box. moderate language. no signs of gratuitous violence. I ok it. (choosing suitable films might be a whole other post - it's a mine field....)

the verdict

me; I have a nearly teenager. I was quite worried about it. Now I am very worried about it.

J; he laughed a lot, especially at the bits where the parents embarrassed their daughter.

E; pronounces it gross, especially the snogging. "that film was disgusting"

Miss K; runs out into the hall a lot squirming. perhaps it's a movie to watch with your friends not your parents!



my fave quote - "if you haven't noticed I'm a woman now, I wear a bra"



next movie night I decline film choice responsibility....

skip treasure

here it is.



my skip treasure



much to Miss K's embarrassment.
quote "you can't steal things from a skip"



I didn't steal by the way, I asked politely.



although when we went back later with the car it was very dark and I did wonder what the skip's neighbours might be thinking.....



the treasure is currently in the garage, in need of a very good clean, some heavy duty tlc and some love.

hope you have a lovely weekend, and maybe you'll find some treasure too.