The Last Biscuit...

Charity Shop Treasure...

2012-02-14T15:13:00.005Z

I have bought not one, but TWO cardigans of joy!

Both are handmade, the granny square one was £4.99 and the grey knitted one was £3.49...both are lovely and warm for work (it's very draughty in my library!)

I also purchased a fawn of joy! He will live with the bunnies of joy! Someone had given their entire collection of Fauna vases to the charity shop and I decided mum would kill me if I bought it all so I just chose my favorite one, I left about 15 pieces there, I went back today for another look and all the rest of it was gone :(

Have you bought anything joyful recently?

Composting at Work...

2012-02-08T22:35:00.001Z

We have a Lot of recycling bins at work, paper, plastic, card and tins, all looked after by the council, which is great. But no composting. The council here don't collect kitchen green waste and a lot of peelings and tea bags are going into the landfill bin at work. I asked a few of my colleagues if they would use a compost bin if I provided one and they said they would, so I checked with my manager, who after I reassured her it wouldn't be smelly and dirty and I would take it home to empty at least twice a week, said if I bought a little kitchen waste bin we could have it in the staff kitchen. After much googling I found a company called Garland who make compost caddies that ticked all the boxes on my checklist - made out of recycled plastic, has a handle for carrying home, has a lid that stays on. It arrived today! Tomorrow I shall have a grand unveiling at work and hope all my work buddies use it!

Do you recycle at work?

2012-02-01T09:12:00.000Z

from here

Library Love...

2012-01-30T22:04:00.003Z

This month I've loved reading....

Craftcycle - Heidi Boyd
There are looooads of projects in this book I want to try. They all use eco-friendly or recycled materials...I particularly like the sock babies, coiled fabric baskets, owl clothes peg holder, woven crisp bag bag, cd clock and candle mugs. This book also has yummy recipes and eco-tips for each season too!

The Gift - James Patterson
This is the second in a series of YA books about Whit and Whisty Allgood, teen witches on the run from a brutal, bald dictator and his totalitarian regime, which bans books, music and magic. I know James Patterson is a popular author because I see his books coming in and out of work all the time, but I've never really been tempted by any of them 'till I saw this series. So far they've been really fact paced, the characters are great and I'm enjoying finding references to adult sci-fi/post apocalyptic books I've read (they go to the Brave New World centre for 're-education'...they even live in a shopping mall like in the TV series The Tribe!)

Warhorse - Michael Morpurgo
I feel a bit like it's a cliche reading this book at the moment, there's a waiting list at the library for it as long as my arm, but I wanted to read it before I watch the film. I was a little put off at the start, because the horse is the narrator, but then I realised that he had to be, becuase he's the only character that's in it all the way through. After I got over that (and the fact that the horse can under stand German as well as English - clever old horse!) I really enjoyed it, although I did cry 3 times!

I also came across this, it's in a book shop rather than a Library but it's pretty spectacular!

How to Re-Cover a Vintage Hand Mirror...

2012-01-29T16:56:00.001Z

Last night at about 5 past midnight my mind started whirring about this old mirror that's been sitting in my drawer for at least 5 years. It was my Nan's, and I snaffled it when she died, it was covered with years worth of hairspray, and much as I enjoy the image of her looking at her perm and spraying it solid using the mirror, it wasn't very nice to look at. I washed it a bit overenthusiastically and water seeped into it, making the fabric go all brown and gross. Last night I decided I could probably find that mirror, take it apart and recover it. Cue scrabbling about in drawers at 1am (sorry mum. sorry neighbours!)

Sadly, I don't have a before picture of the mirror, I only thought to take photos after I'd dismantled it, but you can see in this one the pink with brown blotches fabric (top left). And my dressing gown sleeve.

To dismantle the mirror you need to unscrew the cap off the end (number one) then pull the handle off (number 2), then pull the cap at the top of the handle down (number 3) then remove the metal frame around the mirror (number 4).

You're then left will all sorts of bits from inside...my mirror was padded with this cardboard with a picture of some sort of hovercraft (I think!) on it, which I think is very cute!

Then you need to draw round one of your pieces with the new fabric you want to use...I used this vintage flowery stuff someone gave me...and cut it out. Next you have to sandwich all the layers back together again...mine went mirror, metal handle thingy, vintage hovercraft cardboard, new fabric, perspex cover and hold on to them really tight while you feed all of it into the metal frame. This is the trickiest part and took several goes, in the end I had to take out a layer of cardboard (there were 2 originally) but I still only spent about 10 minutes fiddling with it. Once you have the frame back on you can put the caps and handle back on and tighten it up again. Et voila! One newly re-covered vintage hand mirror!

I'm glad it's been redeemed from that sad and sorry place in my dressing table drawer and can be used again !

Things I Love January...

2012-01-28T22:43:00.001Z

This month I'm loving...

* Seeing Em * my contract at work being extended 'til May * selling a couple of brooches in Chris's shop * new wardrobe - finally! * reading Fred the mermaid books and Warhorse and the Peach Keeper * nice Polyglot meeting * baby sweetcorn in my stir fry * buying me and mum ukuleles and learning to play somewhere over the rainbow * watching the Bake Off on TV * Hello Kitty perfume * charity shop bargains! * enormous, as big as my head onion * putting up my flowery, Emily-made fairy lights * laughing * organising fabric swaps * blogging * finishing lots of crochet things * crochet owls * nice crochet lesson with Karen * taking photos with my new camera * crunchy frost * giggling at work *

This is the view from our bathroom window in our new house. What, you mean not everyone can see a National Trust property while they're in the shower?!

My best friend usually lives in Brazil with her lovely Brazilian husband, but her work sent her to London for a course this month, so I got to spend a couple of days with her and our gorgeous mummies, eating yummy food, nattering and having a bit of ukulele madness! Yey!

What do you love this month? Hope you've had a lovely one! xxx

2012-01-23T07:55:00.000Z

from here

Crafty Business...my first shop order...

2012-01-21T07:59:00.000Z

I've been selling bits and bobs online for a while now, but my brother's girlfriend's mum has just opened a real, bricks and mortar shop in Welshpool, which is about 30 minutes from where I live, and asked me to make some things to sell in it! The shop will be behind the market hall in Welshpool, and the business is called Flaunt It...you should check it out if you are ever having a Welshpool adventure!

So I've spent the last week making this little lot...

Crochet head bands/ear warmers with flowers on...

Crochet flower brooches....

Crochet butterfly brooches...

Crochet flower hair grips...

All the wooly things are made from vintage or second hand yarn, bought from second hand shops or ebay. I buy extra long hair grips from boots, becuase they are the only ones I can find that don't come wrapped in plastic...they're just on a nice simple cardboard backing...thank goodness!

Vintage fabric cards...

And a vintage (Laura Ashley!) fabric bag...

I made business cards using Piknik and printed them out on to the backs of cereal packets...so they're more eco friendly!

Phew...am going to have a sit down and a glass of fizzy pop now! Have any of you ever sold things in a shop? How did it go? Any tips?

Frosty Garden Day...

2012-01-20T08:03:00.000Z

What's the weather doing where you are? I hope my garlics survive the frost!

Charity Shop Treasure...

2012-01-19T00:02:00.002Z

I found this lovely little sylvac bunny ashtray for £4 in the charity shop! I love these sylvac bunnies 'cos they have sweet little smiles and a knowing look in their eyes. (yes, I know I'm a mad bunny woman!)

I know his poor little ears are broken, but that's because he's been used as an ashtray poor thing, he's come to my house for a nice bath with bubbles and then to rest his cute little lungs!

Enormous Onion...

2012-01-18T08:31:00.000Z

Is enormous!

And will soon be made into looots of onion bahjis!

And the recipe will then be shared with you here!

Spanish onion, 49p from the market, I chose the one closest in size to my head, obviously.

How to Make Salt Dough Buttons...Part Two...

2012-01-17T19:29:00.000Z

The second step to making salt dough buttons is the painty step! Pretty simple really, I just did a couple of base coats, mixed paint colours to match the crochet flowers I planned on sewing the buttons to, added spots or stripes (I use the head of a pin to get nice little spots!) then did a couple of coats of spray on varnish. Easy Peasy!

And here they are added to the crochet flowers...

And all ready with labels to go to the shop tomorrow! I'm sooo excited!

Have you made anything that makes your heart sing recently! I want to keep all my spotty buttons to myself!

How to Make Salt Dough Buttons...Part One

2012-01-04T19:33:00.001Z

I know someone who is opening a shop soon and she wants to fill it full of arty-crafty things, she's asked me to make some crochet bits and bobs for her...how exciting! First on my list is some crochet flower corsages with button middles, I've seen lovely spotty buttons on ebay and on the market stall in town, but they're quite expensive and plastic too, so I decided to make my own. Which is how I found myself making salt dough in my dressing gown in a fit of inspiration this morning!

I used a basic recipe for salt dough.... 2 parts flour to 1 part salt and water...I used a 1/4 cup measuring spoon (the recipe I read asked for 2 cups of flour, but I only needed a little bit and the amount I made was more than enough!) I also added a little drop of sunflower oil, to make it easier to knead, and a few drops of lemon juice, which is supposed to make it harder (seems to have worked despite the fact the adding of lemon juice instructions were quite vague and I guessed at the amount, I have dropped several buttons and they didn't break!)

I made up my mixture, kneaded it for 10 minutes and left it to rest for another 20.

I used some little vintage Tupperware cutters that my Mum says are petite fours cutters to make some of the small buttons, a star cookie cutter that I got in my Christmas cracker and hand shaped most of the heart and round buttons...you can see the rolling in a ball and squashing technique I developed to make my round buttons in the photos below...

I used a matchstick to make the holes. As you can see I had enough dough to make buttons to fill this 12 inch square tray (which only fits in my oven if you tilt it at a funny angle!)

Put them in an oven on the lowest heat setting for up to 4 hours...mine have been in for 3 then it was tea time and they had to come out of the oven to make way for the chips! About an hour or so into the baking time, when the tops have gone nice and white and hard turn the buttons over. This is a good time to check the holes haven't sneakily closed up at the back, most of mine had (in the photo the hole on the left is all shrunken, the one on the right is after I poked it with a match stick again) these need to be re-poked with a matchstick, re-poking won't hurt the buttons so long as the tops have gone hard (so you don't squish them when you handle them) and the underneaths are still yellowish and a bit soft (so you can physically get the matchstick through!)

I have to leave my buttons overnight to completely dry out and then I'm going to paint them!!!

2012-01-03T14:27:00.000Z

from here

Things I Love This Month...

2012-01-02T11:01:00.002Z

This month I love...

* Muppets Christmas Carol * swirling about in the snow * unprofessional giggling at work * shiney new big camera * candles * cliff richard singing teddy bear * She and Him Christmas CD * posh drinks in posh hotels with open fireplaces * national trust Christmas party * ordering a new wardrobe * 2 new pairs of PJ bottoms * getting a star shaped mini cookie cutter in my Christmas cracker * chocolate reindeer * Christmas cups * getting a hair cut * Christmas drinks with traditional Christmas drinks people * fluffy the snail not being dead (he scared me for a while, but I think he was just hibernating!) * Hello Kitty plasters * granny crochet cardigan, £4.99 from the charity shop, patchwork quily £2.50 from the charity shop..yey!! * Christmas tree lights * ceramic cup cakes * homemade onion bahjis * Dr Who stickers on my new diary *

Over on The Organic Gypsy Carolyn was kind enough to add me to her list of blogs she's loved this year...thanks Carolyn...you should go and check out her blog, she's lovely!

I'm not really feeling the new year this year, I find out if I lose my lovely job at the end of January (which I probably will, because the whole council is being restructured and I'm on a temporary contract that will end at the end of January...ekk!) and my best friend has just moved to Brazil (for 3 months to start with, for longer if he can find a job out there) So I think that has something to do with the lack of positivity for 2012. I've spent all of 2012 in my PJs, sulking about the house! I like to set some goals though, so I have something to look forward to, so this year I want to do a pottery class, or a photography class, meet new friends, move out of my mums house, find a new job, and if I don't find a new job I'm going to go on a travelly/volunteery type adventure somewhere (I've looked at teaching English in Japan, American Summer Camps and learning Spanish in Spain courses..any recommendations?). There, I feel a little better about 2012 just having planned something exciting for myself!! Do you have any exciting plans for the new year? Hope you have a great 2012!

Homemade Christmas...part 2...

2011-12-27T10:45:00.000Z

I HAVE to show you what my brother and his girlfriend got me...I loooove it!

It's a vintage sewing basket...

And it's fulll!!!!

Soooo happy!

Mum bought me a little bunny vase, to go with my collection of bunny vases...

She also bought me a mini greenhouse, she found it in the sales and some lovely pink spotty pj bottoms (in fact after these 2 second hand presents everyone else gave up on the homemade Christmas idea...cheaters!)

Mum made me this yummy chocolate hedgehog cake...

And here's the plum rum we made, all bottled up and ready to give away to the friends we know will appreciate a festive slurp!

And that's about it...I have been thoroughly spoiled this year...hope you were too, whether that be with lovely gifts, time spent with people you love, or both!

Homemade Christmas...part one

2011-12-26T17:00:00.001Z

Hellooo! I hope you've had a merry Christmas!

I had a lovely one, could have done without a trip to hospital with mum this morning, she's had funny noises in her ear and hasn't been able to hear properly for the past couple of days and went to the GP this morning, while I was still tucked up in bed, to get it checked out, I was awoken by a text message saying she had been referred to the hospital, she had sudden onset deafness and the GP had said she needed to rush to the hospital to 'save what hearing she had left', obviously I made her come and pick me up to go with her first, so I did superhuman speed getting up-washed-and-dressed and ate a bowl of coco pops in the car on the way. We got to the hospital and waited for an absolute age (the only ear nose and throat Dr had had to go to A and E to treat a child) for mum to be seen, but although the Dr isn't sure what's wrong with her until they do further tests next week, he thinks it's unlikely to be permanent and has given her some tablets to try to help. Cue big sighs of relief all round. So yeah, apart from that it's been great!

My family were most bemused by my eco friendly, reusable, fabric wrapping methods (next year I hope I have time to decorate the fabric with some fabric-crayons we have, I ran out of time this year!)

This year we decided to have a cheap Christmas...we had to give each other something handmade, or something second hand costing £5 or less...I did handmade presents, I ran out of time to finish my mums cushion cover, it just needs sewing together, she said it was alright to stop cos I had actually made the skin split on my hand where my crochet hook was rubbing :( I did get her all this stuff for her stocking though, from charity shops (apart from the diary and calendar, which are new things she chose) and costing a total of £5. I made her some lavender mice so she'd have something handmade to open too.

I made my brother this crochet hat and a Christmas Yoda...he was bemused by the yoda!

And my brother's girlfriend got this Japanese Flower scarf...it's inspired by the one on Attic 24, I used the chart that's linked in that blog post and worked out the pattern from there...I'm really pleased with how this turned out and she really liked it too :)

Did you make any presents this year? How did it go?

2011-12-24T09:55:00.000Z

from here

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Library Love...

2011-12-17T09:39:00.000Z

This month I had to go through the palaver of collecting all my library books from around the house, taking them back to the library in my little shopping basket on wheels, leaving them in the staff cloakroom for a week, then bringing them back again, so they didn't get mixed up in anything or lost in the big house move...good job I work at the library and it's within walking distance really! So I haven't really had much time for reading this month, but I have really enjoyed these two books.

River Cottage Veg Everyday - Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall

I watched the TV series that went along with this book, and was really interested to see Hugh's (who is a big meat eater) experience of going veggie for the summer (and watching his dramatic weight loss as the series progressed!) There are lots of yummy recipes in this book, everything featured in the series and more, it's an enormous book. The spring onion, puff pastry pie, veggie biryani, bhaji and bread recipes look particularly dribbleworthy!

Queen of Crafts - Jazz Domino Holly

I nearly left this book on the shelves, it looks like all the other new crafty/lifestyle books that are out there at the moment...but it's not, cos this one is Awesome. Firstly, it has instructions to make your own edible glitter...if this was the only great thing about this book that would be enough, but it isn't. There are great instructions for home made beauty stuff, like moisturiser and lip balm, that seem easy to make, lots of instructions for making jam, baking, gardening, sewing, knitting and all sorts of other things. It doesn't have as many pictures as some other books, which made me think it didn't have much content when I first picked it up, but there are lots of projects without pictures and there are more projects in this little book than in some of the glossy, photo filled books you can get. I also really loved reading about Jazz's WI group, the Shoreditch Sisters, who are a young faction of the WI and have tea, cake and rock and roll parties, there are tips on setting up your own 'cool' WI group or holding other gatherings too. Jazz Domino Holly is my new girl-hero.

Charity Shop Treasure!

2011-12-16T09:18:00.000Z

I haven't done this for a while, but I wanted to share my glorious find with you...yesterday I spotted this on the rails of my favourite charity shop and it was one of those moments when you don't even take it off the hanger, just restrain yourself from skipping quickly to the till and buying it before someone else does!

I bought this quilt....

For £2.49!!!!

£2.49!!!!! It said cot quilt on the price tag, but it would have to be for a very big cot, as it fits on the end of my double bed!

Soooo happy!!

Have you bought anything swoonworthy from the charity shop recently?

Liebster Blog

2011-12-11T11:53:00.000Z

The lovely Kay and Sime from the blog Just Humans Being have passed on this blog award to me...

Kay and Sime write a lovely blog about their living in Cornwall and their attempts to simplify their lives...they are also rebels and have disregarded the rules of the Liebster Blog award, which are thus...

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.

5. And most of all - have fun

I am following in their rebellious ways and will instead list all the blogs I really, really, like...if you're on the list then please feel free to take the award yourself (or if you believe I've left you off my list and think you deserve an award too!) and pass it on if you like!

Just Humans Being - I think I already mentioned this one!

Allotment 2 Kitchen - Shaheens recipes will make you dribble! Mmmm!

Little Eco Footprints - Tricia writes about sustainable living and family life in Australia.

My Zero Waste - Mrs Green's blog is the best Zero Waste resource about!

It's Not Easy Being Green - Shannon Marie has an awesome garden!

Eco Experienment - Lovely Layla discusses green issues, activism and going zero waste in her blog.

The Organic Gypsy - Carolyn blogs about sustainable living, her lovely garden, raw food and her cute baby dreadlocks, which I am super jealous of!

Dandaworld - Danda shares her eco-friendly life in Italy in her lovely blog

Waste AM - Joddle writes very interesting and well balances articles about green issues

Attic 24 - mmmm crochetty goodness!

The Really Good Life - Louisa writes about Frugal Living in the UK, and much more on her interesting blog!

Positive Ponderings - Jaclyn shares lovely recipes, crafts and pretty inspiration pictures!

Heathen Vegan - Jeni shares yummy recipes and photos of vegan treats!

Green Bag Lady - In an effort to reduce plastic bag usage the green bag lady has given away 18,446 fabric shopping bags...she is truly inspiring!

Eeeep!

2011-11-30T12:54:00.002Z

This time next week I'll be in a new house!! Eeeeep!

Four Years. Go.

2011-11-27T10:47:00.000Z

FOUR YEARS. GO. A Campaign to Change the Course of History. from FOUR YEARS. GO. on Vimeo.

I just came across this interesting video on The Organic Gypsy's lovely blog and thought I'd share it here too...what do you think? Could we change the world in 4 years?

Things I Love this Month....

2011-11-26T21:10:00.002Z

This month I love...

* Selling our house * Gary the Gravel fairy * working in new libraries and making their shelves all pretty * funny games at my language group * new comfy jeans * Pierre the pumpkin * lovely new pond * £2.50 charity shop cardigan * wearing my purple DMs * starting new volunteering at a local global development education centre and arranging to help with Girl Guiding (once I've moved house!) * Luke being home!! * watching Breakfast on Pluto and the Frog Princess * sherbet lemons * staff bowling * candyfloss machine! * getting ID'ed twice in one day...once for sparklers and once for cider (I'm 27!) * hot water bottles * wearing my scarf for the first time this winter * fireworks * visit from Ali * Downton Abbey * crochet poppy * selling things on Etsy and on Ebay too * Alifie Boe and Michael Ball singing on radio 2 for Children in Need * Dr Who Christmas ep. preview on Children in Need - I'm soooooooo excited to see it! * penguin socks * roast potatoes * River Cottage Veg book * big duvet and patchwork quilt * Mollie Makes Magazine *

*Spending the weekend in Aberystwyth with my old housemates from uni - sea views, massive breakfast, skimming stones, fennicular railway, curly fries, new bunny necklace, crochet lessons, bumper cars and candy floss! *

That's the view I had from my attic bedroom...isn't it gorgeous...right on the sea front...I completely enjoyed it!

* My orange vintage fabric bag making it to the front page of Etsy! *

* Making this cute bunny and snowman display in the children's library at work (some young people who volunteer at the library made the background and I added the bunnies, snowman, the black snowflakes and the poem, which I found here - it says 'A chubby little snowman, Had a carrot nose, Along came a rabbit, And what do you suppose?That hungry little bunny, Looking for his lunch, ATE the snowman's carrot nose...Nibble, nibble, CRUNCH!' - in case it's too small for you to read in the photo!) I LOVE getting paid to make bunnies! *

I also had a lovely review written about my blog by Joddle of WasteAM where I am proud to say she named The Last Biscuit as the 'Best Eco Lifestyle Blog' in her current series about blogging...she writes lots of interesting, well written articles on lots of eco-issues as well as doing a podcast I can't listen to because my PC doesn't have sound! Check her out if you haven't already...she's lovely! One of her readers, Stephen, also wrote this lovely comment about T'Last Biscuit being all marshmallowy and nice...how nice is that...seriously guys I'll get a big head! Thank you sooo much! I was also contacted by Sarah from Greenty, a new green travel guide, who asked me to add my blog to their directory, which looks an exciting thing to be part of and full of other interesting blogs to discover! Thanks Sarah!

What do you love this month? Hope you're having a lovely one!

Buy Nothing Day...

2011-11-25T19:21:00.000Z

Tomorrow is Buy Nothing Day....a day to take a break from spending all your pennies on shineys and do something non-consumer-y and lovely...

I will be at work, then spending the evening eating curry and watching the X factor with my mumma...nothing special but no spending for me...what about you?

Library Love...

2011-11-23T12:22:00.000Z

This month I've been reading...

Chic on a Shoestring - Mary Jane Baxter
This is mainly ideas for customising clothes and making accessories...I particularly liked the pompomless earrings and rosettes, this book doesn't have many groundbreaking, innovative projects, but it has pretty pictures and is nice visual inspiration, which is all you needs sometimes!

100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet - Lesley Stanfield
I LOVE this book, I want to make many of the flowers from it, especially the pansies and butterflies, sadly I haven't had time this month to try it out, so I can't say how good the instructions are or how easy they are to follow, I'll have to borrow it again and find out!

There is No Dog - Meg Rosoff
There really is no dog in this book, which makes the title a little baffling! There is an Eck however, who is a small, penguin-ish, anteater-ish creature, who is God's pet and my favorite character in this book. To be honest, I got a bit bored of the storyline featuring God (who is Bob, a teenage boy) falling in love with a human girl and causing weather disasters with his love-struck mood swings....I was in it for the Eck! I also liked Mr B., who is Bob's assistant and has to deal with his messes. I enjoyed this book!

Baby Sweetcorns...

2011-11-23T11:22:00.000Z

Last night I picked and ate the baby sweet corn I planted in about August this year, I only did 2 plants because it was too late in the season really and I didn't want to waste the seed, but the experiment was a success! It was yummy too!

Moving Home...

2011-11-21T07:59:00.000Z

We've sold our house...we have to be out in 19 days....eeeeeek! Might be a bit quiet around here for a while!

Bags, bags, bags!

2011-11-16T19:17:00.000Z

I've been busy making bags today! But first, I want to show you my sewing machine...it has bunny stickers!

And this is the bag I've been making, this one's a prototype for some I'm going to sell in my etsy shop, I can't wait to wear it to work tomorrow!

I tried to make another from some purple 70's floral fabric I have, but it was too fray-y and needs some interfacing ironing on it...I did make this leopard print one from some fake fur I've had in my fabric box for ages, it has pink vintage floral lining and I can even turn it inside out and use it that way if I want!

Have you made anything lovelysome recently?

Remembrance Day Crochet Poppy...

2011-11-11T08:07:00.001Z

I usually always buy a poppy for Remembrance Day, but I'm very conscious of the plastic stem that they come on and the fact they can't be recycled, so I made my own crochet poppy, from the lovely free pattern found here...I shall be wearing my poppy with pride today, and don't worry, I still put some pennies in the donation box!

Beautiful Beans...

2011-11-10T13:48:00.000Z

I spent this morning volunteering at my local national trust property, pulling runner beans off canes and tidying up lots of veggies that were past their best...I love runner beans, they're so pretty and pink! I'm saving these seeds to grow in my garden next year!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

2011-10-31T07:51:00.001Z

This is Pierre, the pumpkin we're been growing all year, fulfilling his destiny and becoming a beautiful halloween pumpkin!

Hope you have a spooktacular halloween!

Crocheting and Sewing...

2011-10-30T18:14:00.000Z

It's been a flurry of activity this week chez moi...this chilly weather makes me want to stay in on my sofa under a blanket watch dvds and making something lovely...I made this plant pot by crocheting round a plastic pot that used to have jelly in...

And this bag, to send to my best friend who lives in Brazil, I made it using a free lion brand market bag pattern, but it was too big, so I had to rip a lot out and make it up as I went along...I'm super pleased with it...

I also had my sewing machine out (last time I used it I sewed through my finger...it was grim....it hasn't bitten me since though, so I think we're friends again...I did break a needle sewing this...perhaps that makes us even!) to make the bag-kit that came with Cath Kidstons Sew book I treated myself to the other day (it's currently about £6 on amazon). The instructions were quite complicated, and I had to use things like facings and top stitching, but this is the nicest thing I've ever sewn, it's all nice and neat and straight (ish!) stitches...I love it...I added the lining and pocket from my vintage fabric collection...I have made the handle, but I'm yet to tackle button holes on the machine, so I'm leaving it as it is for now...

Have you made anything awesome recently?

Library Love...

2011-10-23T11:24:00.000+01:00

This month I have mostly been reading...

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

I loved this book about 2 magicians locked into a challenge in a magical circus...pretty much all the action happens in the last 100 pages though, which resulted in one very late night for me as I couldn't put the book down and go to sleep until I'd found out what happens!

Junk for Joy - Sian Berry

This book is kinda like a lot of the other crafty/upcycling books that are about, but it has pretty pictures and I particularly liked some of the instructions for more unusual crafts, like glasses from wine bottles, that cost a lot if you buy them from craft shops. It also had lots of advice for furniture type crafts, like stripping paint and upholstery, which would be useful in the future when I have my own house and furniture to make pretty.

The 100 Foods you Should be Eating - Glen Matten

I needed this book to help get me out of my current crisps-and-sweeties-diet...it has lots of information about the nutrition of each food and how to cook it...I especially like that it doesn't focus on 'super foods' or food fads, but on sensible things we can all buy and eat easily...a good kick-up-the-bum-and-start-eating-properly motivator!

Have you read anything fabulous from your local library (or otherwise!) recently?

A Hat For Percival...

2011-10-21T14:44:00.001+01:00

At work we have a little pig that lives on the desk, his name is Percival and he has been MISTREATED by some cruel staff members, who have PICKED his ears off! Oh the humanity! Percival's earless state has been distressing me for several weeks, so this weekend I took him home with me and made him look a little more presentable...his new, attractive appearance has earned him a place on top of the till, rather than under the computer screen, so he can be admired by all the customers...

Before...

After...

2011-10-17T16:46:00.001+01:00

from here

Ridiculously Easy Biscuits...

2011-10-12T10:37:00.000+01:00

While we had the oven on last night I decided to try out another baked recipe I'd seen on the TV this week (I can't remember which programme it was on unfortunately) for palmiers or elephant ear biscuits...they're supposed to turn out looking like this...

Mine did not turn out like that...I was using up some ready made puff pastry that I found in the freezer and there was only half of it left, so mine were very small and also I didn't roll them up tightly enough, so I made strange little piles of puff pastry and sugar...my goodness they were yummy though...I rolled out the pastry a little on a sugared surface, I used soft brown sugar mixed with a little white, which made them lovely and caramelly, then I sprinkled more sugar on top, rolled them up, cut the roll into 1cm segments, put them on a lined baking tray and baked for about 10 mins...they were so good we ate them in one go! The sugar sort of melted out around the bottom of the biscuits and went all hard and crispy and tasted all syrupy....

Have you baked anything exciting recently?

Back With a Garden Update...

2011-10-11T09:24:00.000+01:00

So after much more whizz-popping my old computer has been sent to the naughty corner to think about what it's done and my lovely auntie has given us her old computer, which after a bit of rummaging about in it's insides and deleting the 70billion antivirus programmes she had on it, works beautifully! Yey!

Our garden is still being exciting, even though it's definitely autumn now (we had a mad week of sunshine last week, temperatures of at least 30 degrees and vest tops and summer dresses on, but we've settled back down to crispy golden leaves weather now!) We have hazelnuts in our new garden! It's only a tiny corkscrew hazel in a pot, but it's nutted this year for us...fresh hazelnuts taste soo good!

I think this little green bug sat on this red leaf on purpose because he wanted his photo taken!

We lifted the onions a coupl eof weeks ago, the ones that survived are delicious! In their space we put some leeks and planted some garlic bulbs and beetroot seeds too...

This is what happens to asparagus once it's finished giving you asparagus stems to eat, you let it grow into a fern, before cutting it down ready for next year...I think it looks very festive and christmassy!

I LOVE nasturtiums! They've been so magnificent this year, and they're still going strong!

This is Pierre the pumpkin a few weeks ago, he's bigger now and more orangey...

Here are some of our harvest baskets from the past few weeks...I'm especially excited to pick my first peppers (I hope they're ripe...I don't think it's hot enough for them to turn red or even yellow) I'm making pepper and mushroom pizza tonight!

How are your gardens growing??

2011-09-27T13:42:00.002+01:00

Hellooo...my computer has gone wizz-bang-pop, so I won't be around for a while!

2011-09-16T10:18:00.000+01:00

from here

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-09-15T08:01:00.001+01:00

This week I love...

* skyping with my bestie in Brazil * getting an interview for a dream job * crochet * watching Confetti * Dr Who * listening to Take That and The Beatles * nice work people, who all say 'thank you for your hard work' every time I leave! * a happy, swimming, snail * planting garlic * blankets * new jeans and cardigan * going to my neighbours 90th birthday party and catching up with people I haven't seen for aggeeees * crisps * rice noodles * breaking in my new shoes * sparrows cheeping *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a lovely one!

Round Robin Free Crochet Pattern...

2011-09-13T09:40:00.000+01:00

Hello, this is the first crochet pattern I've ever written, you may notice that it's very simple, I've made it myself several times, but if you notice any mistakes please let me know...

You will need

small amount of brown dk yarn
3.5mm crochet hook
scraps of fabric to stuff it and to make the beak and breast
needle and embroidery thread

This pattern uses chain stitch (ch) and UK double crochet (dc) (US single crochet), slip stitch (slst) increasing and decreasing (dc2tog). You might like to use a stitch marker at the start of each round to help you keep count, I never do, because I can usually see where I am without them, and to be honest this pattern is simple enough that a stitch too few or too many doesn't really make any difference! So in the pattern, when I say 1dc, into next st, 2 dc into next st, repeat all the way round, I mean for one round, until you get back to your stitch marker (or if you're me, wherever you guess you started that round!).

Body...

1. Make 2 ch, 6dc into 2nd ch from hook, join with a slip stitch

2. 2dc in each st

3. 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, repeat all the way round

4. 1dc in next 3sts, 2dc in next st rep. all the way round

5 - 9. 1dc in each st

10. idc in next 2 sts, dc2tog in next st, rep. all the way round. Add your stuffing here before the hole gets too small to get anything in!

11. 1dc in next st, dc2tog in next st, rep. all the way round

12. dc2tog until the hole at the top joins up

13. ch 30, join with a sl st to make the hanging loop.

Wings...

Ch 2, 5dc into 2nd ch from hook, turning ch 2, 1 dc in each st, fasten with a slst.

Finishing off...

Weave in the end of yarn from fastening the hanging loop, and the ends on the wings, sew on the wings, cut out a red circle for the breast, a yellow diamond for the beak and sew them on, embroider little eyes and he's all finished and ready to hang on your christmas tree!

If you can't crochet, I'm selling these in my etsy shop...here and here!

If you want to use this pattern to make robins to sell locally (at craft fairs, school fetes, etc) then thats fine, but please don't use the pattern to make robins to sell online, or use or copy or sell the pattern anywhere, if you make a robin please let me know, I'd love to see it, and please link back to me if you post about it online, thanks!

How to Make Plum Vodka, Plum Rum (and probably any other plum based alcoholic beverage too!)

2011-09-07T09:29:00.000+01:00

Last year we sampled some of my friend's damson vodka, which is totally delicious, and as we have an over abundance of plums this year, me and mum decided to make plum vodka. We also found some Bacardi in the cupboard that someone gave us, so we made plum rum too! There are lots of directions on the interweb that require heating the vodka and dissolving the sugar into it, we decided that was a bit of a faff and basically bunged sugar, booze and plums into a kilner jar...here's how...

1. Clean the plums, cut off any manky bits and cut them into halves, weigh them, then measure about half their weight in sugar (so if you had 500g of plums you need 250g of sugar). Put them in a big kilner jar.

2. Add the vodka/rum/any-other-alcohol-you-suspect-would-be-improved-by-adding-sugar-and-plums to the kilner jar, this is where we weren't very scientific and just added the whole bottle rather than measuring anything out.

3. Shake the kilner jar until the sugar has dissolved (takes a long time, good exercise though!)

4. Keep in a cool, dark place, shake every day, for upto 3 months.

This is the plum vodka just after we made it, before vigorous shaking commenced. Below is the vodka (small jar - 1.5 litres) and bacardi (big jar - 2 litres!) about 3 weeks after we started it...mmmm....

We're going to decant it into small dainty bottles to give as Christmas presents this year!

Crochet Bits and Bobs...

2011-09-06T10:34:00.000+01:00

I got a shiny new pink phone last week, and decided it could only be made better with some stripey multicoloured crochet...

I've also been making these robins, hopefully I'm going to do a couple of craft fairs this winter, so I'm tryng out ideas for things to sell...I'm working on a pattern for these to share with you in a while...scuse the horrible, flashy photo, I couldn't find any real light...

I'm also 86 squares into my Big Blanket (only 314 more to make!) for my birthday mum bought me enough of the cream wool to (hopefully) finish the blanket...yey!

Are you making anything at the moment?

Library Love...

2011-09-05T18:05:00.000+01:00

There have been lots of lovely new books in my library this month!

Mexican Food Made Simple - Thomasina Miers
I've been watching the TV series of this on channel 5 and mainly got the book out to read the churros con chocolate recipe in more detail, but it's actually a really nice book about Mexico and all the yummy food you can eat there. Not many of the recipes are vegan, but I enjoyed reading it anyway.

Make, Mend, Bake, Save and Shine - Barbara Warmsley
This book has lots of tips and tricks to live a greener life and save money, most of the tips are common sense or things I've heard elsewhere, but it's a nice, positive read.

Cute and Easy Crochet - Nikki Trench
I loved Super Cute Crochet by the same author, and this book is great too, lots of easy crochet projects and pretty pictures to inspire! There's a flowery granny square blanket I'd particularly like to try making.

When God Was a Rabbit - Sarah Winman
I haven't finished reading this yet, but I can already tell I'm going to love it, it's about a brother and sister as they grow up. They have a rabbit called God. I will be back to write a proper review when I've finished reading.

Things I Love Thursday (on a Sunday)

2011-09-04T09:45:00.001+01:00

Busy week this week, was away visiting a friend at the beginning of the week, working and it was my birthday too...phew....this week I love...

* finishing my theatre job and the director giving a really nice speech about how good my team were, and getting goodbye hugs from all the kids * visiting my friend Vicki and having a lovely, PJ, cider and shopping filled time * buying a shiny new pink phone * crocheting a phone cover and some xmas robins * Chris Evans playing xmas songs on radio 2 * seeing a bunny in a field from the train window * my friends mum rescuing 2 vintage lloyd loom cupboards for me from being thrown away! * going to Aberystwyth with mummy and eating chips by the sea, buying a shiny necklace, sitting on a vvv cold beach and a nice walk by the river * sea air * applying for exciting jobs * surprise sunshine * listening to Cat Stevens * starting reading When God Was a Rabbit * getting Dr Who and Potter Puppet Pals ring tones for my new phone * lots of lovely birthday presents and cards and messages * vegan chocolate hedgehog cake * watching Blackadder * bed * sleep *

Here's a bonus picture of me 'contemplating' my birthday cake...

Hope you've all had lovely weeks too!

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-08-26T11:23:00.000+01:00

This week I love...

* fresh air * chips * starting crocheting a new rag rug * this conversation with a little girl at work 'how old are you?' '26' looks at me hard, 'are you sure?'...excellent! * planning a visit to my uni friends * applying for a dreamy job * crisp o' clock * blankets * reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows until I fall asleep with my face in the book * watching the Great British Bake Off * getting 11 points in 'guess the musical' at work * sitting down *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a most lovelysome one!

The Big Knit (or crochet)...

2011-08-26T11:18:00.001+01:00

I just learned about Innocent Smoothies Big Knit campaign, you knit (or crochet in my case) a teeny cute hat to sit atop a smoothie bottle and send them to innocent, for each bottle sold with a hat they donate 25p to Age UK (a charity that helps old people). The deadline for sending in hats is 14th October, and there are knitting patterns and more info on their website, these photos are from there, you can see lots of inspiration on their blog.

Photos from here

I'm going to do this! Is anyone else? I'd love to see or hear about what you're making!

The BEST Vegan Chocolate Courgette Cake Ever...

2011-08-20T07:22:00.000+01:00

I usually make awful cakes, as in they're more like dried up biscuits and don't ever, ever rise, or taste nice...so I'm especially proud of this chocolate courgette cake, which has risen and tastes delicious! It's also massive, but that's not really a bad thing is it?! You can find the recipe here (you have to scroll down a bit)

Yummy!

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-08-19T09:22:00.001+01:00

This week I Love...

* gardening in the sunshine * making an epic courgette cake * buying swirly, beautiful el naturalista shoes in the sale £40, down from £90 * getting paid * Listening to the Juno sound track * watching Twilight - silly but good! * reading Harry Potter * buying Delia's Vegetarian Cookbook and a Kaffe Fassett quilting book for £1.60 from the library book sale, they're worth £15 and £25 new! * crocheting * tidying my room, it looks lovely! * someone asking me if I go to sixth form college, does that mean I look 10 years younger than my age? yey! * watching awesome free fireworks, twice *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a most lovelysome one!

Gardeny Goodness...

2011-08-17T14:41:00.000+01:00

I LOVE August in the garden, it's sunny, most of the planting has been done and lots of things are growing and being exciting!

I don't want to speak too soon, but I think my bell peppers are going to be a huge success this year. Last year they didn't fruit until about October, by which time it was way too cold, this year they're in the greenhouse at the new house, which is in a much warmer, sunnier spot and they're doing much better!

We also have cucumbers, tomatoes and (an unpictured) melon in the greenhouse, all making enormous fruits!

We have two plum trees, the first one has already finished plumming purple plums, this second one has just started getting ripe, pinky, green plums on it, soooo many plums!

Ahh, poor old onions, we planted 2 big packs of onion sets and lots of spring onion seeds, this is all that grew, they're not happy, most of them went brown and squidgy, these are a bit droopy, but the onions are firm and seem healthy so we're letting them stay for now...

This is Pierre the pumpkin, all the way from France (a present from one of mum's friends), he started off all puny, but he's making up for it now and has run all over the garden, he has lots of flowers and lots of yellow pumpkin babies! I also have two courgette plants that I've already had about 8 courgettes from, good job the snail likes them too! The courgettes have been sooo much happier in the ground than last years attempts to grow them in pots!

We have many leeks!

I had broad beans planted in this patch, once they were finished I pulled them up and we've planted 2 rows of beetroot and a row of spinach plants in the space, I also planted some more broad beans (no photo of them) about three weeks ago up by the courgette patch, and they've already got beans on them! Must have been the perfect time for them to go in!

I didn't take photos of everything, we also have potatoes, peas, kale, broccoli, cabbage and lots of herbs growing too - phew! How are your gardens growing this month?

Bit More Crochet...Lavender Mice, Strawberries and a Crochet Crochet Hook Holder...

2011-08-15T07:35:00.000+01:00

I've been busy with my hook again (that makes me feel like a pirate!) Making this rainbow of lavender mice and an experimental lavender filled strawberry, which I think looks more like a spotty radish (I'm claiming it's a homage to Luna Lovegood) It makes my wardrobe smell nice, anyway!

I also made this crocheted crochet hook pot, it's from a plastic bottle with it's top cut off, then crocheted round and round and round, tis very much handier than keeping all my hooks together with a hair bobble as I used to (they kept slipping out!)

Are you making anything at the moment?

It Starts With Me...

2011-08-14T10:09:00.001+01:00

I just came across this inspiring video on Green Bag Lady's blog, and wanted to share it with you too, you can find It Starts With Me here.

2011-08-12T07:29:00.000+01:00

from here

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-08-11T18:53:00.002+01:00

This week I love...

* passing my driving test * my new, swishy about my ears, summer hair cut * all the kids at work giving us a cheer on the last day and asking us if we were going to come back and work with them next summer * crochet, crochet, crochet * my mummy doing me balloons and a card with a beetle on for a driving-pass-congratulations * getting lots of library work this month * watching watchmen * reading harry potter * listening to Hello Saferide and Placebo and songs from musicals * nice coffee date with friends * reading all the new craft books in waterstones and stealing all the best ideas from them! * 2 hedgehogs having a snumfy fight on the lawn * evening walks in the sunshine *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a lovely one! xx

I CAN DRIVE!!!

2011-08-10T19:27:00.000+01:00

After 18 months of lessons, today I finally passed my driving test! Wooohoooo!!!

These are the balloons my mum stuck on our front door for when I got home tonight :) She's drawn pictures of cars on them, not bowler hats, as I mistakenly thought!

Meet Fredrick...The Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar...

2011-08-08T16:01:00.001+01:00

This week my mum is staying at my brother's house, dog sitting while he's on holiday. Today she popped home with a 'present' for me...an enormous caterpillar that she's found on the path at my brother's house and rescued because he 'looked cold', and probably so the dogs don't eat him. I've done a bit of research on him, and he's an Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar, he likes to eat fuchsia and willow herb. Currently he has lettuce and a pink flower to eat, I shall have to go on a fuchsia hunt under cover of darkness later! He would like a layer of soil and leaves to pupate in, he'll make a cocoon any time now, then he needs to hang out somewhere cool over winter, like the shed, then in spring he'll turn into a beautiful butterfly..well, moth! I have called him Fredrick.

This is what Fred will turn into one day!

from here

I found information from here and here especailly useful in finding out how to care for Fred. Have you ever raised a caterpillar-child? Any tips?

Some New Crochet Friends...Amigurumi Lavender Mice, Hedgehog and Bunny...

2011-08-04T10:07:00.000+01:00

I've been busy with my crochet again, I'm really quite proud of these little amigurumi's because they're the first ones I've made without patterns, I just made them up as I went along. First I made a little green mouse, he's full of lavender so he can make a nest in my drawers and make my clothes smell sweet. I liked my little green mouse so much that I made some more, a set of 3 in sherberty, sweetie, sugar mice colours to sell in my etsy shop...

Then, using the same basic body shape as the mice, I made a hedgehog, with lots of prickly spikes and a cute beary face, I always think hedgies look like cute little bears...

And finally, this bunny, which took ever so long to make from 2 ply yarn and a 2mm hook...but so worth it! I love this little fluffy tail!

What have you been making? I'd love to hear all about it!

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-08-04T08:51:00.000+01:00

This week I love...

* work busyness * getting paid * crochet mice, hedgehogs and bunnies * lavender * picking my first courgette * quiet gardening time after hectic work time * cakes for good behaviour * lie ins * reading Harry Potter * watching Kikis Delivery Service and Jawbreaker * having the house to myself * seeing photos of the monkeys that live near my friend in Brazil * thirsty squirrel drinking from the bird bath * sweet peas * pink potatoes * mummy coming home from her holidays * buying a new flowery blouse * listening to She and Him and Belle and Sebastian *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a lovely one?! xxx

2011-07-30T10:49:00.000+01:00

from here

Library Love...

2011-07-29T07:34:00.000+01:00

I found a couple of exciting new books this month at the library...

The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet - Joni Marie Newman

This recipe book has 101 recipes foe veggie burgers, I haven't made anything from it yet...but I can't wait to make the garlicky ranch potato burgers, curried split pea burgers, potato samosa burger and falafel burger. I really like that the recipes are labeled if they're soy or wheat free (I'm allergic to soya!) In fact, the only bad point is that a lot of the recipes are heavily based on soya, tofu or TVP, all of which are made out of soya, I find this is common in a lot of veggie/vegan recipe books, especially American ones, so it's not just a fault in this book (but all recipe books! :( )

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating - Elisabeth Tova Bailey

I had to get this book as soon as I saw it, it does very well at capturing the endearing antics of the little wood snail kept as a pet by the author when she was bed bound. It's also full of interesting snail-y facts, I have been informed and entertained. Very good.

Have you read anything exciting recently?

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-07-28T07:37:00.000+01:00

This week the things I love best are...

* loving my theatre job, it's so much fun, the kids are brilliant and the play is going to be sooo good * unexpected day off * charity shopping - new top for work, £4, 7 balls of posh pink wool, 25p each, 8 t-shirts for rag rug making, 10p each...yey! * burt the baby blackbird feeding himself berries, worms and a slug, clever boy! * sunshine * good driving lessons * lovely email from my favorite friend * listening to Texas, Amy Winehouse and Bob Marley * nice text messages * lots of crochet * wearing dresses and feeling pretty * chocolate microwave cake * coconut icing *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a great one!

Crochet Update...

2011-07-27T15:52:00.000+01:00

I am crocheting A LOT at the moment, if it sits still long enough in my house, it gets crocheted over!

I'm still going on my starburst flower blanket, from the pattern in Mollie Makes magazine, I thought I needed 200 squares, but actually I did my maths wrong, I need 400 to make a cover big enough for my double bed! Best get cracking then!

I'm making another t-shirt rag rug, I shall be making more, to list in my etsy shop and a tutorial for here too!

And some cushion covers from vintage yarn, I need to make backs for these and then these in my shop too! (they look wonky in these photos! I shall have to straighten them, or I'll be keeping them for myself (what a shame!))

I also made another pink haired hippy dolly...

What have you been making?

2011-07-23T08:01:00.000+01:00

from here

How to Make Sock Lavender Bags...

2011-07-22T16:04:00.000+01:00

Ok, so does anyone else get attached to their socks? Or is it just me? I make my socks last a long time, and I'm always very reluctant to get rid of them once they've gone holey. So reluctant in fact that under my bed there is a plastic box full of worn-out socks. And as I've been sorting out stuff for when the house is sold, so I'm not moving stuff to the new house that I don't need, this box of socks has surfaced and it needs dealing with. I cut some of the socks up and kind of weaved them into a long string to coil around to make a mat, which I'll show you another time, used some as stuffing for a draught excluder snake, but for the socks with pictures on that I like I've been making lavender bags....

You will need..socks, dried lavender, needle and thread...

1. Take your sock and push the toe up through the hole, so the toe is just poking out and the heel is hidden inside....

2. Sew up the opening at the bottom with the needle and thread...

3. Push the toe of the sock through the hole, so it forms kind of a bowl, put the lavender in this sock-toe bowl...

4. Sew up the hole at the top of the sock...

5. Put in your drawers to make them smell nice...if you add a ribbon while you're sewing up the top you can hang them on hangers in your wardrobe...use different dried herbs for different smells, use mint and keep the sock sachets in and around your shoes for sweet smelling footsies!

Do you have any interesting uses for worn-out socks?

p.s.- I've had those panda socks since 2006, when I worked in Primark just after finishing my undergrad degree, the elephant ones were a present from my mum and so were the pig ones! There's a photo of me playing duckies with my little cousin when he was one, wearing some spotty socks, I still have those socks and he's now 8!

Things I Love (almost on) Thursday...

2011-07-22T15:33:00.000+01:00

This week I love...

* working! yey! * selling my first thing on etsy! yey! * buying lots of 10p t-shirts to make rag rugs from * baby burt the blackbird learning to eat berries off the tree and eat a worm, all on his own, I'm so proud! * chips * chip butties * aldi mega mouse crisps! * reading harry potter and Eva Ibbottson * listening to Lily Allen, Norah Jones, Texas and Placebo * my brother and his girlfriend visiting * making the man-garage at volunteering all tidy and clean, while the man was on holiday! mwahahhahhhaha! * being asked to steward at a council event tomorrow, I shall get paid, a voucher for lunch, a high-vis jacket and a radio! *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a beautiful one!

Small Harvests...

2011-07-19T08:05:00.000+01:00

This month we've been enjoying picking little bits of what's ready in the garden each day...peas, beetroot, spinach, gooseberries, rasperries, plums (which are excellent, we thought the tree was a damson but it's not!), broad beans, purple sprouting brocolli and our first crop of red rooster potatoes!

What are you eating from your garden?

2011-07-18T10:26:00.000+01:00

from here

Things I Love (almost on) Thursday...

2011-07-15T15:17:00.001+01:00

This week I mostly love starting my new jobs!!! As some of you might remember, I lost my library assistant job a couple of months ago because of council restructuring, thankfully I was offered two casual positions within a month of losing my job, and it's taken until now to get the paperwork sorted. Last weekend I started work as a Youth Theatre Support Worker, it's just a summer job supervising kids doing a production of Our House, which is a musical based on Madness songs. And yesterday I did my first stint as a Casual Library Assistant in my local library, I'm so tired! But it was lovely to be back in libraryland and to sort of know what I was doing on my first day (they use the same computer systems and stuff, which is a good job as two of the members of staff that should have been there were off sick, so there were only 3 of us all day and it was really busy!). Yey! Other things I love this week are...

* sleeping under my new cath kidston rose bedding * 1940's caravan * hedgehogs waiting on the path for their biscuit * surprise plums (we thought it was a damson tree!) * full harvest basket * taking my shoes off and walking on the grass in the park after standing up at work all day * skinny pigs - hairless guinea pigs, I want some! * wearing my new dr marten sandals * reading harry potter - I want to go to hogwarts! * TORCHWOOD *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a lovely one! xxx

1940's Weekend...

2011-07-12T09:00:00.000+01:00

This weekend me and mum went to our local National Trust property for a 1940's weekend...we were stopped at a check point by two 'soliders' checking we weren't Germans, then looked at all the nice displays of 1940's stuff...I was particularly taken with the pale blue 40's caravan, complete with cute deckchairs outside and crochet blankets inside, unfortunately I didn't really get a photo of that...but you can see it in the distance to the right of this big army tent....

There's a lovely walled veggie garden...the picture above shows hyssop, which was completely buzzing with bees and butterflies, and below are some Egyptian onions, can you see the onions are on the ends of the stalks, two things on our 'to buy for the garden' list next year!

There's also a transparent bee hive, so you can see the bee's doing their honey making stuff!

Here's mum making friends with the free range chickens...

Did you have an exciting weekend?

My Green Bag Lady Bag...

2011-07-11T11:07:00.000+01:00

A week or two ago I entered a competition on The Green Bag Lady blog...I didn't win the competion, but I was sent a lovely, pink reusable shopping bag! So far the Green Bag Lady has given away 16,274 fabric shopping bags, free, in exchange for the promise to stop using plastic ones. My pink bag is great, not only because it is pink which is my most favoritest colour, but it's also got nice short handles, excellent for short arses like myself who end up dragging long handled bags along the floor if we're not careful! It's also flowery! Yey!

Do you have a green bag lady bag?? She's having a give away on her blog that ends today, winners get a lovely set of bags, any one else who hasn't already got a free bag will be sent one, what are you waiting for??!

2011-07-08T09:04:00.000+01:00

from here

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-07-07T08:08:00.000+01:00

This week I Love...

* sunshine * re-reading allllll the Harry Potters, I'm on book 5 now! * making a crochet bunny * postman bringing me wool and a green bag lady bag and mollie makes magazine * yesterday lunch time - homemade potato cakes, sunshine, lovely breeze, birds chirping, reading mollie makes * loooong walks * making felt, and seeing old friends at the workshop unexpectedly * sleeping under clean, cath kidston bedding * making sock lavender bags * Torchwood excitement! * booking tickets to see a live screening of Henry VIII at the cinema in September with my mummy * baby birds *

What do you love this week?

I Love Where I Live...

2011-07-06T18:52:00.000+01:00

Beautiful! Hope you're having a lovely, blue skies and sunshine sort of day!

Baby Blackbird (and friends)...

2011-07-05T08:21:00.002+01:00

Last night a horrible big jackdaw tried to eat the baby blackbirds out of the nest at the bottom of the garden. Cue the blackbirds, mum and me going ballistic and scaring the jackdaw away and one baby bird escaping (I'm not sure how many babies were in the nest to begin with, so I'm not sure if any of the blackbird family were eaten). The baby left his nest, but he's obviously not quite big enough to be ready, he spends his days flopping about the garden, with his beak open reeeeaaalllly wide waiting for daddy to feed him. Last night I said some very rude words to the new neighbours cats, who were performing a pincer movement on him and were about to pounce! He's very sweet. I think I shall call him Burt.

We also have a sweet young pigeon frequenting our watering hole...wonder if he knows you're not supposed to sit in it!

We also have slightly more sensible baby sparrows, starlings, robins and dunnocks in our garden at the moment, who don't sit still to have their photos taken!

Do you have any bird families in your garden?

Because I Felt Like it...What I Made at the Felting Workshop...

2011-07-04T14:21:00.000+01:00

At the weekend I went on a felting course, run by a local couple who teach bushcraft and outdoor skills. It was really good fun, vegan lunch and cake was provided and a lovely time was had by all. We started with a big pile of sheep fleeces and after adding lots of water, soap and elbow grease, ended up with a hat each. As you can see my hat is a little redonkulous, I am however a fan of redonkulous head wear, and it's quite possible you will find me with this on my head, in public, at some point. Slightly too warm for that at the moment though, so for now I've bopped the tip of it in and turned it upside down to form a fabric bowl to hold my crocheting supplies!

2011-07-03T18:21:00.000+01:00

from here

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-06-30T19:15:00.000+01:00

This week I lurve...

* 40 minute phone calls from my best Brazil lady * the smell of honeysuckle, roses and jasmine * popcorn * lunching with N * crocheting a rag rug * crochet blanket progress * new (to me!) wool and cath kidston duvet off ebay * friendly post man * listening to Texas Really loud * garlic bread * happy gardening times * eating home grown raspberries and strawberries * sunshine * booking a place on a felting workshop tomorrow * I start my new job on Sunday - woop woop! I'll be supervising children on a 3 week summer theatre project, sunday is the audition day where I get to meet them all - can't wait! * Finally getting some pennies from the job centre (I applied for JSA 2 months ago!) * very fluffy pigeon in the garden *

What do you Love this week? Hope you're having a lovely time! xxx

Crochet T Shirt Rug....

2011-06-30T19:04:00.000+01:00

I have crafting schizophrenia at the moment, I have about 17 projects on the go at the moment!

Yesterday I made this, I'm thwarted by a lack of green/purple t shirts now and can't get it finished until I've found more! My mum took one look at this and decided it was hers for the kitchen (it matches her new washing up bowl!)...

I'm also going great guns with my crochet starburst flower blanket, there are 25 squares here, I plan on making 200, so I'm 1/8th of the way through!

Are you making anything at the moment?

Product Swap...Puff to Flannel...

2011-06-28T10:36:00.001+01:00

Epic battles have been fought in this house hold over this plasticy, nett-y bath puff...while pondering a more eco-friendly replacement for my previous bath puff, my mum got fed up of waiting and bought me a new one, which she now has taken against, because it's old and has gone big and puffy, so I had to think quickly this time...loofah's are too hard, hand crocheted cotton puffs get too soggy and heavy, the crochet hemp 'sponge' I had came unravelled...what to do? Eventually I settled on a cotton flannel (or face cloth), I know cotton isn't the most eco friendly fibre in the world, but surely it's better than plastic, at least it will biodegrade, and it's easy to wash. It's also nice and scrubby, I have super-soft skin since I started using it. I bought a pack of four, so I can wash them regularly and not run out. A small, simple swap.

Have you made any swaps, big or small, to be more eco-conscious recently?

Garden Garden...

2011-06-27T09:17:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we spent hours in the 34 degree heat pottering about the garden...it was lovely!

At the old house we have all these strawberries in pots and planters, which are just about to start giving us lots of lovely berries...

We also have lots of lovely lettuce, and some leeks waiting to be planted...

In the green house I have some pepper plants, spring onions (no matter what I try I can't get my spring onions to grow when I sow them outside, they grow inside though, very strange!) and some parsley. The parsley's a bit floppy because I just split it up from one big clump into two (Monty Don says you'll get twice as much parsley then!)

At the new house we have peas! and lots of nice, big, healthy herbs...

We have soo many gooseberries...we have 5 bushes. Mum picked 8 pounds yesterday, which didn't even make a dent in the gooseberry overload we have...

In this bed are some of the gooseberry bushes (to the right), Pierre the pumpkin plant (at the front), onions, that are hard to see and which aren't being particularly successful and right at the back against the fence are some blackberries...

Here we have broad beans (front), spinach and beetroot, in between the rows of beans, and more onions...

Something funny happened to my broad beans...when they were in flower something came along and nibbled a round little hole in the top of each flower, now some of the bean pods are black and not nice looking, but the ones nearer the bottom seem to be healthy and big and green...ten points if you can tell me who the nibbler is, cos I have no idea!

In this bed are cabbages and broccoli (left) and huge potatoes (right)

Next we have leeks (at the back), 2 courgettes and a pumpkin (I had to do new courgettes, a slug ate through the main stem of my first one! These new ones seem much healthier though, I let them grow in pots for a while longer, so if they get nibbled they might have more strength to survive! I can already see little flower buds forming on them!) Also a row of new broad beans (which I planted when I thought my first beans were ruined), there's a row of spinach seeds just next to it, and just out of shot are some kale plants too...

Great excitement followed when I discovered a raspberry bush! We didn't know it was there, I ate both the ripe berries there and then, but there a plenty more to come!

Finally, the greenhouse at the new house, some huge tomatoes, some teeny tomatoes, 2 cucumbers and a melon...

How do your garden's grow?

2011-06-24T10:24:00.002+01:00

from here

Things I Love (almost on) Thursday...

2011-06-24T10:21:00.001+01:00

Haven't done this for a couple of weeks! This week I love...

* Seeing David Tennant!!!!!!!! * the smell of honeysuckle and roses * popcorn * watching Saved * reading Harry Potter * seeing my lovely friend Luke while in London * new crochet project * rag rugging lots * cute baby sparrows in the garden * listening to Paloma Faith and Regina Spektor * watching repeats of Glee, from the start on E4 * sunshine, blue skies and fluffy white clouds * seeing amazing art in the galleries of london, including Van Goughs, Monets and lots of Pre-Raphelite Brotherhood stuff * on my blog stats, one of the search terms used to find my blog is 'what happens if someone accidentally eats the shrink wrap of a cucumber' lol sorry I can't help you shrink wrap eating person : / * emails from my besties * doing my driving test, I didn't pass, but I only got 6 minors and 2 seriouses (I couldn't get the handbrake on hard enough on my hill start, cos I'm a weak girly and the hill was vertical, and using the left hand lane when turning right in a little quiet road I didn't realise one way system - woops!) But I didn't do anything to endanger the lives of others, or myself, and the examiner said I was a good driver, so I'm confident to take it on again soon! *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a most lovely one!

New Crochet Project...Starburst Flower Blanket...

2011-06-22T19:25:00.000+01:00

I'm currently making a rag rug, a green dress with an elasticated top, a crochet snowman and I have 2 necklaces to restring, so obviously, it's a great time to start a new crochet project! I went back and looked at this issue of Mollie Makes magazine with this crochet blanket pattern so many times I think the newsagent was getting suspicious, so I bought it and immediately sought out all the little scraps of acrylic yarn to start making the circles. I'm really enjoying choosing the colours and making the circles, but eventually (when I've bought some cream wool) they'll get a square border, so they can be joined together.

Are you making anything exciting at the moment?

Happy Blogiversary Tooo Meee!!

2011-06-22T08:51:00.000+01:00

Two years ago today I started this blog!!

Thanks sooo much to all of you who read, follow and comment on my ramblings...you always make me smile!

Harvest Time...

2011-06-21T08:16:00.000+01:00

I'm so excited to be eating stuff from our garden!

Today we had our first strawberries, very new potatoes (from our next door neighbours garden, our potatoes aren't quite ready yet) and the spinach plants are still going wild!

What are you growing? Are you eating from your garden yet?

Library Love...

2011-06-20T09:05:00.001+01:00

I had another struggle to find inspiring books this month at the library...the branch local to me is very small, but it's about to get a make over, so I hope they get some new stock too!

Super Cute Crochet - Nicki Trench
I LOVE this book! I posted a couple of the projects I've made from this book earlier (crochet chick, snail, Guinea pig and dolly). The instructions are super easy to follow, I'm a terrible instruction follower and have never been able to understand instructions to make amigurumi before, but this book makes it simple enough for even me to follow! It definitely helps to keep the book on your lap while you're making a project, so you can keep track of where you are and how many stitches you're supposed to be making (I also found that even if you do the wrong number of stitches the patterns still work!)

Not Just a Witch - Eva Ibbotson
I found myself with another children's book this month...I did get an adult fiction book out (Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart, which I mainly chose for the title, I can't get into it though) This Eva Ibbtson book was great, it's about a witch who has a toe of transformation and a knuckle of power, and her pet dragworm, and the adventures she gets into trying to make the world a better place (by turning all the bad people into animals, which isn't a bad idea if you ask me!)

The Day I Saw David Tennant...

2011-06-18T11:20:00.001+01:00

You may have noticed it's been a little quiet here the last few days...because I've been in London, with my mummy, getting very wet (it rained a LOT!) and mostly being very over excited about seeing David Tennant in Much Ado About Nothing! We did some other touristy things like the Tate Britain, The National Gallery and Portrait Gallery and Westminster, but seeing David was the most exciting part. I won't say much about the play, in case you have tickets I don't want to give it away, but it was brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. It was in Wyndham's Theatre, which is very beautiful and small, so even though we were on the second circle up, we still had a nice clear view and felt very close to the action. And then afterwards we ran down to the stage door and I got my programme signed. Unfortunately I didn't get to the front, so I didn't get to speak to Mr Tennant, he didn't even see me, I was just a hand, reaching over the crowd waving a programme at him, but I was still very close and it was very exciting!

Here are some photos, normal blogging will resume after I've recovered!

Angry Letter Reply...ASDA and Cucumbers...

2011-06-12T10:21:00.000+01:00

So, even though ASDA are an evil corporation who double wrap their cucumbers at least their complaints department emailed me back quickly. Here's what they have to say for themselves...

'Hello Susie

Thank you for your email about the packaging on our cucumbers.

I'm sorry that you were disappointed that the cucumber you bought was double wrapped. As you are aware of our recycling and zero waste policy I can understand your disappointment.

As you have read our commitment to reducing waste you will have seen how much we try to do to help the environment. What we also have to think about is ensuring that our products arrive with our customers in the freshest state possible. This is why we choose to use both a shrink wrap and a cellophane packaging on our cucumbers. I have however passed your email on to the relevant team and asked them to look into ways of reducing this packaging. I'm sure if they can find an effective way of doing this they will as soon as possible.

Thank you again for getting in touch. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.

Kind regards'

Which is pretty much the sort of answer I was expecting. Funny how our home grown cucumbers keep for weeks without 1 layer of plastic, never mind 2! Tut, tut, I shake my head at you ASDA and will not be (letting my mum be!) buying your cucumbers in the future.

2011-06-10T08:10:00.000+01:00

from here

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-06-09T15:46:00.000+01:00

This week I'm lovin'

* sunshine warming my back * sitting outside the pub and not needing a cardigan * laughing at the thought of my male friend dressed as a Christmas elf * making a crochet hamster and a pink haired doll * seeing old work colleagues * buying a Cath Kidston strawberry mug and 2 sparkly necklaces with the gift vouchers I was given when I left my old work * nice phone call with my old school friend * people viewing our house * reading 'Not Just a Witch' by Eva Ibbotson * buying a duck brooch and a bunny jug from the charity shop * having 4 walks in one day * the smell of roses * lots and lots of rag rugging * chickens *

What do you love this week? Hope you're having a grrrrreat one!

Angry Letter of the Month...Adsa and Cucumbers...

2011-06-08T09:07:00.001+01:00

Last week me and my mum came home from the supermarket (Asda, which we don't usually use) with a very suspicious item...half a cucumber wrapped not only in plastic shrink wrap, but in a printed plastic bag AS WELL!!!! My mum usually does the shopping and buys a half cucumber which is usually shrink wrapped, which is bad enough, if I do the shopping I try to find a whole, unwrapped one, but to have TWO layers of plastic wrapping is madness. Madness I say! Especially as you can't really tell just by looking at it that there are two layers there, you see the outer bag, but it's quite hard to see the shrink wrapping until the beg is open. Argh!

Which means I have to write to them to complain!

" Dear Asda,

My mother recently bought half a cucumber from your store. Where my food comes from is important to me, so I was pleased to read on the packaging that the cucumber was grown in England. However, I was disappointed with the packaging of the cucumber. I usually try to buy unpackaged fruit and vegetables to prevent having to put unrecyclable plastic into landfill. So I was horrified to see that the cucumber we bought was wrapped in a printed plastic bag AND shrink wrapped in plastic inside. Your website (http://your.asda.com/sustainability-waste) makes a lot of claims about reducing waste, heading towards zero waste and helping your customers reduce their waste. I would be interested to know how double wrapping cucumber halves in plastic fits in with this policy? I would also like to know if you are planning on changing the packaging of these cucumbers in the future?

I look forward to hearing from you soon. "

I'll post their reply when it arrives.
Have you bought an environmentally terrible product recently? Did you let the company know you weren't impressed?

Dealing With a Spinach Overload...

2011-06-07T09:24:00.000+01:00

I didn't go to the new garden for a week, in a week about this much spinach will grow...

I'm the only person in my house who eats spinach, which leaves me with severe spinach overload!

I've read a lot about spinach or kale crisps on the internet and thought I'd try to make those first. After following many tutorials online, which didn't work, I found spreading them out on a sheet of greaseproof paper (VERY important, otherwise they just stick to the tray and are VERY hard to get off!) on a baking tray, sprinkling with salt and pepper and putting on the top shelf of the oven on the highest heat setting for about 5 minutes (check regularly so they don't burn, burnt spinach crisps do not taste good!) works for me! They are soo yummy!

I also made Mangocheeks recipe for spiced cabbage flat breads, substituting the spinach for cabbage, which worked really well. So well in fact that I was so busy eating my flat bread that I forgot to take a photo of it!

I have plans to add spinach to the top of homemade pizza too!

Do you have any yummy spinach ideas to help me deal with my glut?

Craft Show Off...Another Amigurumi...

2011-06-06T12:07:00.000+01:00

I can't stop making these! This is the girl doll pattern from So Cute Crochet, I love her! I've even made her a dress from vintage cotton, with poppers on the shoulders, so it comes off easily if I want to make her another one! She's made from 6ply cotton yarn, stuffed with a bit of old tshirt and is about 4 or 5 inches tall. I don't know why her hair is soo big, but I like it!

Here she is hanging out with her animal friends on the bookshelf!

Craft Show Off...Amigurumi Friends...

2011-06-05T11:13:00.000+01:00

Last week I borrowed Super Cute Crochet by Nicki Trench from the library, and since then it's been all crochet, all the time chez moi! I've tried to make amigurumi (cure Japanese crochet animals) before, but it went horribly wrong, but the instructions in this book made sense to me! So far I've made a punky chick, a baby hamster/guinea pig/moomin and a snail. I'm especially proud of the snail's shell, I used purple and blue yarn together to make it and it turned out really nice.

This chick's name is punky chick, cos his hair looks like a mohawk! He's made from 6ply cotton and a 2.5mm hook. I maked him first! I'm supposed to give him felt feet, but I don't like the look of them, so he can't stand up on his own at the moment, he has to lean on something! All these ami's are about 2 inches long or wide, and all of them are stuffed with a bit of left over t shirt arm. They're loads smaller than the examples in the book, because I used smaller yarn and a smaller hook.

This pattern is for a guinea pig, but I think my version looks more like a baby hamster, and also like a moomin! He's made from 4ply acrylic and I embroidered his eyes on, which I like better than the beads I used for the punky chicks eyes.

of course, I HAD to make a snail, I made his head a little more realistic than the pattern suggested, I'm still deciding how to do his face, so at the moment he is featureless!

There's a pattern for a dolly I'm working on now, she's going to have pink hair! Have you ever made amigurumis? Do you have any recommendations for more ami books?

2011-06-03T08:44:00.000+01:00

from here

Things I Love Thursday...

2011-06-02T08:37:00.000+01:00

Extra big things I love this week, to include last week because I didn't have time to post (I can't actually remember fully what I loved last week, but for years I have written down at least 5 things I'm grateful for each day before bed, it's one of the routines I have for staying happy...so it's easy peasy for me to copy them out every Thursday)

* Glee * listening to Paulo Nutini * new skirt * giggly phone calls with my bestie * blue tits nesting in the new garden * being asked to help at the children's bug hunt at volunteering * the smell of Lush bath bombs * lovely emails * watching Black Cat White Cat * sorting out all my vintage fabrics * nice, sunny garden times * dancing to The Who in my bedroom * Dr Who * sofa + blanket + saturday morning TV * baby birds in our garden growing up and getting cleverer * watching Horrible Histories * rice noodles * Miranda Hart on radio 2 * fluffy not being dead * coconut cakey biscuits * garlic bread * strawberries * Becky bringing me bourbons in the rain * sausage sandwhich * wearing antennae * when I was doing the bug hunt at volunteering two cute little boys chose wooden frog castanets as their prizes, as they drove out of the car park both of them were snapping their frogs wildy and laughing manically while waving them at me! * happy worms in the new compost * getting the final veggie plot dug * a line of baby starlings following a very confused looking pigeon round the garden * crocheting an amigurumi chicky * meeting nice new Theatre Project people *

What do you love this week? xxx

How to Construct a Worm Bin...

2011-05-30T15:49:00.000+01:00

Mum was lucky enough to find a can o' worms style worm bin in the charity shop for £6, we used to have one of these ages ago, it was a slightly different style and all the worms dies in it :( But we have gained much composty knowledge since that tragedy and felt ready for another try. I was put in charge of setting up the wormery, and I decided I didn't need or want to buy any of the expensive extras off the website. Luckily you can download the instructions from the wiggly wigglers website (link above), I didn't really have anything the instructions asked for, so I improvised, and so far it seems to be working!

The instructions say to take the circle of cardboard from the packaging and use it to line the base, I didn't have the packaging, so I used some old cardboard, easy peasy. Then you're meant to add a rehydrated coir block and some compost worms bought from the website. Luckily, we already have compost worms (we took the survivors from the first can o worms tragedy and out them in our normal compost bin, where they have reproduced on an epic scale) so we dug them out, along with some of the compost and some confused woodlice, and used them instead of new worms/coir combo. Then I added a layer of kitchen scraps and some bits of cardboard for a good greens to browns mix. The instructions ask for a moisture mat (which costs a fiver) or says you can use newspaper as an alternative, you can guess which option I went for. Then you put the lid on and wait for the worms to eat through the kitchen scraps, before adding more. When the first layer is full, you add a second, then a third. then you empty the nice compost out of the first layer, and add it to the top, where you continue adding your kitchen scraps in a lovely cycle of composting!

It lives right next to the back door at the new house, we take our kitchen scraps with us each time we visit (we haven't moved in yet, but the worms have!).

Do you have a worm composter? Any tips for not killing the worms would be much appreciated!

Mr Blue Tit...

2011-05-29T10:10:00.000+01:00

Here's a photo of Mr Blue Tit, who lives in the bird box in our new garden, he has a family of chirpy chicks who you can hear cheeping for food if you sit quietly for long enough...

We also have baby blackbirds, sparrows, robins and pigeons hopping about all over the place! Do you have baby birdy friends in your garden?

New Garden Progress...

2011-05-28T12:03:00.000+01:00

Lots and lots of things are growing in our new garden, it's very exciting..last week we cleared the very last bit of garden, the bottom corner where we're going to grow more veggies, had a giant bonfire and dug over all the soil to make it nice...we're going to add some manure and compost, have a final weed (we have buttercups all over this garden...nightmare!) then get our leeks and some kale and cabbages in there..

Here's the bottom of the garden before...

And after...

We need to sort out the bit at the very back, that's behind that spikey tree, but the tree is too spikey, we will cut it down in autumn and then make it all tidy. Eventually the spikey tree spot might be where we put a chicken coop and have some chuckies! Eeeeexciting!

This bed has broad beans (they're supposed to be dwarf, but I don't think any one's told them that!) and onions. In between the beans are rows of spinach and beetroot.

The bees seem to be enjoying the bean flowers - they buzz loudly as you walk past!

We have zillions of gooseberries, next year we'll get rid of most of the bushes, but this year we'll have to think of lots of creative gooseberry uses because neither of us are keen on them! we also have loads of damsons, I'm going to dry some in my dehydrator and mum's going to make jam! We must remember to make damson vodka too, it's totally delicious!

We also have lots of pretty flowers!

How do your garden's grow?