As 2016 Begins…

So in my last post I ended by telling you we finished 2015 with a surprise in the HAF household.

2015 saw:

One of my best friends having her baby in March.

The birth of our first Nephew in June.

Mr S and My first Year of Marriage in July. 

We had an amazing and fruitful first  year at the allotment. 

I got the garden started on its herb & medicinal plant journey. Ooo and started a Herbalist Course. 

It saw the addition of another cat to our Fur Family; Red.  

And 2 Indian Runner Ducks Korma & Tim.  

We had a fantastic holiday to France with Buster, who enjoyed all the sights and good food with us. 

I started a little job walking 2 sweet little dogs.  

I also started a part time job as an Animal Nursing Assistant.

We had our struggles and heartache as well in 2015, My Grandfather who I love so dearly has not had a good year for his health but he has got to 90! and is still fighting on.

Money as always on one income has been tight more so than in previous years mostly because Mr S went from contracting to a permanent job role which had lots of plus sides for us which is why he did it but a drop in wages. Money is not everything so this just meant adapting.

But we were ending the year in a positive direction.

November saw our surprise let me explain …

I suffer from combined autoimmune diseases; SLE Lupus and Sjorgens Syndrome, as well as Fibromyalgia and Coeliacs. So I take medication mostly these days painkillers. While I take this medication we can not try for a baby.

Mr S and I have wanted to start a family but had no success and had now with the start of my new career path put this idea on hold; we both shared the view however lovely it would be sometimes something’s just aren’t meant to be.

The Saturday before my new job began I wanted to start taking my pain medication properly to enable me to work. So as a precaution like hundreds of times previously, I bleary eyed at 4am; as this is when we get up everyday *thanks furry children* took a pregnancy test as standard so no medication mistakes happen… It was an odd reading I showed Mr S and we both agreed it was faulty so I tryed another.

Hang on maybe this ones faulty too they are the same batch and we are both tired … Queue a 6am drive to Tescos and this time Clear Blue test purchased.

To our great Suprise Shock and Joy two very clear lines presented themselves. Yes – I am Pregnant!

And this is how our year ended. I had to stop working after only one week unfortunately as my pregnancy journey began with severe morning sickness and I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, along with all the complications my health brings. I share this news with everybody with great trepidation and worry but that’s another days post.

Christmas was a bit different I couldn’t decorate a tree so we didn’t have one but we did have a lovely quiet Christmas at the in-laws and then with my family and New Year was a Turkey Curry and early night.

So that was the end of 2015.

Hopefully next year will see the healthy birth of our baby and we plan for more developments at the allotment. Mr S is diving head first into our permaculture dream.

Happy New Year from The HAF Household.

Sx

2016

Happy New Year! 

Ive been sporadically writing my blog now for 3years and through a combination of my blog/twitter/IG Ive developed some great new hobbies such as Pottery and Snailmail letter writing and developed some wonderful friendships and acquaintances. 

As Ive said before I never started with the intension of taking my blog anywhere or aiming at a set audience. I started it for my own personal development and remembering the good in everyday and for this it has really helped – it’s also why I dip in and out of my blog rather than post regularly. 

Ive realised that I’ve not blogged since the summer 2015 and so I will start with a quick catch up on the later part of the year here in the HAF household. 

AUGUST 

August was a fab month once more at the allotment. 

  
For the whole summer the allotment fed us handsomely and we had an amazingly successful 1st growing season. 

  
My permaculture allotment idea of having the Ducks there didnt come to fuition as apparently Ducks don’t class as Poultry at our allotment infact only Chickens do. So the Ducks are now perminantly a garden fixture much to the distress of the garden. 

The Ducks are amazing though and so cheeky and friendly. Quacking for attention and eating from our hands. They love nothing more than being with you. 

I managed to fit in a new Pilates class and a Yoga class over the summer which I’ve greatly enjoyed. Yoga I’ve done for many a year on and off now but this was the first time I had done Pilates and I’ve loved it! Just the right toning work out I’ve been looking for. 

SEPTEMBER   

Mr S, Buster and I were lucky enough to disappear for 3 weeks traveling and camping in France. 

   
We caught the ferry from Dover to Calasis and travelled down through the Champagne region to the south through Dijon and Lyon we stopped in the Ardeche on the Ceze for a glorious week of sunshine before traveling through the Sunflower and Lavender fields (unfortunately not in season) to Chamonix where we saw a friend of Mr S and dreamed once again of living in France. 

 
We finished our journey back across the country through the Wine regions and stopped in Versailles before returning home. 

Buster adored his holiday with us and the freedom he got in France we would love to travel again with him. 

 
OCTOBER

As you do on holiday you talk about your day to day life, dreams and aspirations… And on my return I decided it was time to look at getting a little job; as most know I look after our home and have not worked for about 4years now, it was a choice Mr S and I have been lucky to have based also on my health etc. 

Anyway I started a job search. I started locally and in what I’ve known best for years which is often available to part time – Dispensing/Pharmacy Technician. 

I dragged my heels so much and felt myself feeling sick with the thought of it again – I love the work I just wasn’t in a good place with my health when I left being a Pharmacy Tech for University and really wasn’t enjoying reliving those feelings. 

As if by magic an answer appeared my PERFECT job ! Animal Nursing Assistant part time, evening work which fitted with Buster care, 5 minutes from home, good pay and something I really got excited about. 

I got very nervous before the interview and then doubted wanting to work, I mean who wants to give up total freedom for the world of work… Long and the short I got the job and started my training  in November!! I enjoyed every moment of it and finally felt I have found my career in life. 

The allotment continue to flourish giving wonderful Autumn Harvest. 

   
 
And our Giant Pumpkin planted by niece R back in March, although not Giant was a good carving size. 

The girls came over for an official harvesting session. 

  
NOVEMBER 

I started my training at the beginning of November for my new Job and was extremely excited. 

I continued with my pottery when the term recommenced for the Autumn and once again throughly enjoying this crafty outlet.   

 
But we were about to get a surprise in November and with this I will finish my 2015 round up in another blog post. 

Sx 

Hundred Acre Farm Grows Once More…

Meet Red. 

  
   

Red has been a ‘stray’ for a year now. We have his story by hear say and it goes as follows … 

His original family moved to New Zealand and it was agreed that he moved in with the house next door. 

The house next door moved a year ago and Red would not go with them, apparently he proved allusive shall we say when it came to moving. 

We have known this little character since we moved in to our house 4 years ago. Our kittens and him have been the originals in the neighbourhood. 

Lately we have seen him wandering and looking a little lost. We got speaking to the new lady who moved into Red’s house about him and this is how we found out about him. 

This lady was feeding him and the owners apparently were trying to still get him, we tried to help but Red comes and goes as he pleases as apparently he was always an out door cat.

A year on and we presumed the lady had just adopted Red .. Until he got scruffier & scruffier and his coat matted we started to get concerned and realised it really was some time now since the family moved. 

Then one night Red was out side our back gate crying and we took this opportunity to feed him and get to know him. 

It turns out Red has not been adopted and no one comes to feed him anymore. He has a fully matted coat, an eye infection & hosts a whole commune of fleas – that was from just looking at him with no examination. 

 WELCOME To the Farm Red …. 

Needless to say we then started to build our friendship with Red which didn’t take long. Strangely the once ‘Feral’ cat is extremely friendly and social. 

Once trust was gained Red was taken to the vets and treated with the help of the Vets & RSPCA. We did not want to steel someone’s beloved pet – but I will leave it to your view on whether this is how you treat a beloved pet, hence the envolvement of the RSPCA. 

Red was chipped but all his contact details were not activated. The Vets & The RSPCA decided this was a Wellfare case and that Reds condition was one where he should be rehomed. 

At this point Mr S made the choice that Red was to stay with us. 

Red was an Angel at the vets it took 10 hours to shave him and he tolerated it without being anaesthetized; something the vets were amazed at. He has sores and an eye infection. There is a slight heart murmur but at 12 years old Red is a fighter. 

  

It’s been very hard to get a picture of our little shaved lion I finally caught him sitting still sleeping. 

It’s been wonderful and heartbreaking seeing him in the house. Red has been acting just like a kitten. He was unsure of carpet under his feet and is just getting used to soft furnishings. 

  
I’m sure you will see lots of this character on my Instagram feed as he gets better and fits In with #HafLife. 

Sx 

It’s Quackers At Hundred Acre Farm

We have wanted Chickens for ages but having felt we didn’t want them in the garden it wasn’t possible, but when we got the Allotment back in February it was a consideration again. 

After a lot of thought we made the sensible plan of establishing the Allotment for a Year then in Spring 2016 getting Buff Orpington Growers; the breed we feel would most suit us with their friendly personalities and willingness to embrace other pets; namely a very excitable over enthusatic Boxer. 

         And this was the plan until a week ago when we attended a BBQ at our friends house. 

This friend is a work colleagues of Mr S and we know he and his partner are also a bit animal eccentric like ourselves. Amongst their clan they keep Indian Runner Ducks. This Year they added to their Duck Flock by rearing the eggs from their own IR’s. 

Born at the end of May we got to meet these feathered friends at said BBQ. But alas 2 of the ducklings were being picked on for unknown reasons by the flock. 

Queue Hundred Acre Farm. 

A week on and we spent our 1st Wedding Anniversary building a pen for the imminent arrival of our new feathered friends, of whom actually joined the farm on Our First Wedding Anniversary. 

(Maybe instead of the traditional 1st Anniversary = Paper, 2nd = Cotton etc. Mr S and I should have our own. 1st Anniversary = A Pair of Ducks, 2nd = A Donkey) 

So meet Korma & Tim….  

 
We know that Korma is a little girl as she is slightly older and is Quacking. 

Lesson 1: Female Ducks Quack, Male Ducks are quieter in the noise they extrude.

All the original ducklings were named by our friends sons after curries, Tim however developed a bad leg due to being picked on and then adopted the name Tiny Tim. 

Lesson Two: Runner Ducks are good for organic permaculture. Hunting out bugs and slugs without damaging crops.

The Ducks are currently living in our garden while we gain permission to move them to the allotment. 

In this time I hope to clicker train the Ducks and bond with them. Then when they are ready to go to the allotment they will be given free range of our plot during the day and tucked up safely at night. 

Lesson Three: Ducks Grow Quickly !! Quicker than Chickens.

This is Korma at the end of May when she was born. The photo was taken by her ‘hatching family’.

  

 

And as for Tim… 

  

This is his fluffy self the weekend we met him. 

Now look at them both. This is only a week later from the above picture of Tim. 

 

Lesson Four: Not all Ducks are Messy & Quack all the time. 

Ive become fond of the Ducks very quickly and Im so shocked at how quiet they are, they rarely quack or meep in Tims case and they seem to be non destructive – I may live to regret saying this when they eat our greens and not the slugs at the allotment.

I’m sure I will share our new feathered babies with you again soon as they grow and we learn together. 

Sx 

Hello June

Hello Hello 

Despite my New Year best intentions my blogging has been slow. 

My poor blog has taken the brunt of lots of aspects of #HAFLife. 

So let’s have a catch up!

FEBRUARY 

The beginning of February saw Mr S’s Father’s 70th birthday celebrations. 

Friday 13th was lucky for us as we got our fantastic Allotment Plot 11A and the clearing & planning started. #HAFLottie

  
At the end of the month we had my friends book themed baby shower. 

MARCH 

My friend had her gorgeous little baby boy, he is a total heartbreaker. I adore him. 

The Allotment saw lots of progress. We cleared all the weeds, redesigned the beds, built a fence, sorted all the rubbish and generally tidied the plot. 

It also saw the start of our growing trials and trepidations. The learning curve began. 

We struggled with space and light starting off our seedlings which resulted in leggy unsavalvageable plants which we had to replant. Along the way we have learnt lots of lessons for next year. 

  
It was the middle Nieces birthday so we had a little party day for her at ours as she loves the animals. R also planted 3 Giant Pumpkin Seeds 1 for her and each of her sisters. 

APRIL

A Birthday month.. We have lots of family birthdays in April including my own.

For my own we had a lovely day out in Dedham & Flatford with The Dog in toe, having a wonderful Cream Tea at La Maison Talbooth with good enough weather to sit outside. 

  
Another April Birthday is my Great Aunt, she was 90 this year. We had a lovely family celebration and I turned my hand to some flower arranging. 

MAY

We saw May in with May Day Celebrations at Kentwell Hall enjoying traditional Tudor May Merry Making!! 

It also saw the first of our allotment Harvest! with the Rhubarb which we enjoyed not only stewed but in the marvelous discovery of ‘Rhubarb Champagne’.

The #HAFLottie started to get exciting too as the fruit bushes came to life and we started to plant our seedlings now little plug plants out. 

  
In more #HAFLife we had a spontaneous family date night at the drive in cinema at Alexandera Palace The Dog really was happy to be with us and he was very interested in the big people on the screen. 

Finally the Craft Room was painted and the process of reorganisation & clearing out has started.

For the second Bank Holiday my #postcircle #goose buddy aka the little grey girl knitter & blogger came to stay. It was Fab as always to catch up with her and we popped along to the Cambridge Beer Festival. 

On the Sunday we had a day “mucking about on the river” with my Brother, His Girlfriend & of course Our Bestest Boy! 

  
And to finish off the month Our Nieces popped over and we planted their Giant Pumpkin Plants; started off in March.

JUNE

Mr S took a week off and we had an Ikea trip for *squeel* craft room furniture & organisation. Followed by 5 days away; 1 in The Lake District & 4 in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. 

  

The Sunshine and Showers have been miserable for me but GREAT for the garden & #HAF Lottie (minus the stupidly high winds). 

The #HAFLottie is really coming to life everything is now in with some successes and some less so, but we will see as time goes on. 

We have had spinach and strawberries this month, with the peas, gooseberries, redcurrant’s & blackcurrants not far behind. 

In 2 weeks we have had 6kg of Strawberries which is making us very popular with family. 

  

And some how we find ourselves at the end of June the longest day past and still no sign of the summer sun staying. 

I’ve not been crafting much although I’m really into my porcelain pottery at the moment. Im just finding my feet with it and can’t wait each week for my class. 

  

My time consuming passion this year has been the #HAFLottie which I look forward to sharing its seasonal progression. 

I’m still 4 weekly menu planning using my Filofax and we are now on the start of the Summer Menus. This has been one of the best changes, most time effective and money saving, I can’t recommend it enough. 

I haven’t been as active within the social media side of life but there is deffinatly lots of #HAFLife going on @HundredAcreFarm. 

  

I do miss catching up with you all! I mostly can be caught hanging around on Instagram these days; Serotiny_Haf So I hope to see you there… 

Let’s not leave it another 6 months. 

Sx

 

Catching Up

There has been a lack of blogging around here recently. Things have been a bit sporadic and intermittent.

For one I’ve been busy but also the WordPress app keeps loosing things I write when I update- grrr (it’s just done it again even though I’ve previewed the updated post!)

The positive side is though I’ve been a bit quiet with blogging, I’ve been doing little bits and bobs at home. Getting on despite picking up yet another blinking bug last week.

So another brief recap blog and then hopefully I will get back into the swing of things.

Tuesday

Tuesday I recovered from going out on Monday.
Painted my toes to match my hands.

Sewed the lining back into the sewing basket mentioned in my other posts.

It also gave me a chance to check out a few new blogs and odds and ends I’ve been interested in.

Read my Homemaker & Mollie Makes magazines cover to cover in between small chores.

I brought the last couple but I’ve now subscribed to Homemaker magazine & Mollie Makes which I’ve wanted to do for a while but thought it an extravagance, it still is but Im trying to give myself a little oomph back at the moment.

If your a crafter of general origins these 2 magazines cover a wide range of makes rather than one particular craft, plus have useful reviews etc.
Check them out if you haven’t already, their websites have nice crafty blogs too.

Then something I’ve come across on some blogs recently: Crafty Creatives and I’ve taken the plunge and signed up.
The concept is each month you receive a box of crafty goodies with a theme. With these goodies you receive you can craft your own ideas, follow some of the online suggestions and follow others in the make and do’s.
The last box 11 was Glamour for May.

I think it’s a great idea to try new crafts something mini each month. Especially as I am a habitual multi crafter.

Wednesday

Mr S had an early start and we were all up early. I managed to sneak a couple more hours in bed before getting up and taking the Parrot Cat to the vets for a weight & post op check.

The Parrot Cat is fine and nicely gaining weight though still grounded for a while let those pesky hormones of his calm down.

The dog couldn’t quite work out how to get down the stairs in this picture as he didn’t want to tread on the cat so he resorted to giving me his paw to indicate he would like me to stop taking photos & help.

I had a quick cuppa and some internet time. Before heading off to drop The Dog at the in-laws and pop into town.

I was naughty in town when getting Mr S’s brother-in-laws jokey birthday pressie, a few other things slipped into my basket as well.

In Marks & Spencer’s picking up the essentials, this tin of biscuits proved ESSENTIAL. Disregarding non gf biscuits. But love the tin!

*Teapot Island
*The Pineapple House *Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch

Now if your imagination is like mine Do Not click the links below because curiosity really did kill the cat and the reality of some of these are not as good as the images in my head.

Tea Pot Island; I had a “Willy Wonker” meets “Alice in Wonderland” esk island whose owner was Hesten Blumenthal in my head.
Giant dunking biscuits and a stream of tea … With a White Rabbit running late and Mad Hatter tea parties.
All hosted by The Mad Hatter, the ultimate marmite chef; Hesten Blumenthal (I happen to Love both Heston & Marmite).

Pineapple House;
Queue song … ” who lives in a pineapple under the sea ”
Who could not think of Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch – I’ve been there!

I also brought a wooden box container for storing loose bottles in the kitchen. I think it was meant to be a plant pot holder but its perfect to tidy up the loose bottles behind the chair and was much cheaper than the bottle boxes I’ve had my eye; the blue goes nicely.

Another jar for more pebbles & shells.

This bright gorgeous plate which I intend for the craft room.

And I think that was it apart from Mr S’s brother-in-laws pressie.

The explanation is that S likes nails according to his daughters, who oh so sweetly giggling about it.
He is a maker doer and does have one of those sheds full of hundreds of oddments and nails and everything you could ever need etc, so as a jokey gift we have brought him more nails & screws.

I’ve put them in the traditional style jam jar to mimic those found in your Grandfathers shed and Mr S came up with the idea of trying to stripe them in layers like coloured sand. (His turning crafty)
We had issues with this though as they kept falling through and blending. But this is the finished product.

Wednesday night was my first night back at my pottery class, my items have been fired so are ready for glazing, though someone had glazed a piece for me before I was ready.
So my little soap dish should have had a different body of colour with its oxide glaze.

This piece was meant to be shades of blue on the main body but the the slip obviously wasn’t what the bottle said, it is extremely light blue. Next it needs its glass adding to give the watery effect in the main body, then a glaze to make it all shiny and finished. The glaze will also change the slip colour a bit.

This is my next piece …

Under this bag is a Lilly pad and Lilly Flower bowl to match the froggie one, I’m going to use them as a serving set there are a few more pieces I want to do to make a complete set.

Thursday/Friday

I plodded with washing and chores.
Read another Mollie Makes

I have an idea for these freebie buttons – but I need to finish up some other outstanding makes first!

Thursday Evening I got an email from a lady who runs the local Clandestine Cake Club.
I had previously contacted her about joining the meet but the next venue/group was full so I was put on a waiting list and completely forgot about it this month. Until Thursday evening I got a message saying there was now a space would I like it – YES!
So this left me planning what one should bake!
The theme was celebration/birthday cakes for the 1st Birthday.

Friday I baked & did my decoration for my cake.

Saturday

Was my first Clandestine Cake Club meet.

You can see how I got on and what I came up with in my next post.

Here is a sneak peak…

I had a great time, but the night before it looked like an icing sugar bomb had exploded in the kitchen and I was having technical issues with the oven.

Sunday

Was a lazy day. I did some paper work drunk lots of tea.

Then Mr S and I did some of the garden. This has left me a little worse for ware.

However the bunnies had a great time munching at the unmown lawn with dandelions galore. Our boy bun though is still a house bunny at heart and after a while he snuck in to cool off in his favourite spot on the kitchen floor.

Phew and that is the end of this catch up.

S

This * That * The Other

Its Monday once again people, I am hoping all had a wonderful weekend but for those who may not have, as life is like that, remember always look for the good in every day how ever hard it seems.

Over the weekend Mr S & I didn’t do a lot, I had a lot of ‘plans’ but nothing really got off the ground.

Friday I had been to the hospital for some blood tests and seen my Mother & Grandparents which was nice. The Dog loves a family outing.

Saturday was a duvet day. I unpacked some bits I had brought back with me Friday. One of which being a sewing basket given to me by my Grandmother.

This sewing basket has bits and bobs from my Grandmother, mostly my Great Great Aunt and my Great Great Great Grandmother.

It was interesting opening the little tins and discovering what was inside. Mostly buttons, but I like buttons, I have a teapot full of buttons.

Wooden sewing thread reals. Pre-Decimalisation monetary values marked on packs of binding, needles and such like, novel to me being a Post-Decimalisation child.

The basket it’s self is a little flimsy and the fabric needed a wash.
So carefully I unpicked it hand washed and ironed it it ready to be sewn back in and used for another generation to add to it.
I didn’t want to replace the fabric yet I like the blue gingham, plus I didn’t want to loose that part of its history.

Sunday Mr S had studying to do and I tidied and prepared for the week ahead ironing shirts and such like.

Afterwards we sat down and I finished my crochet granny squares practice piece.

Which I was quite chuffed about and has spurred me on to finishing my WIP blanket which I have shown you in past posts.

In a Random subject change:

Our Dog; The Dog is a rescue and on Sunday evening I made the mistake of looking at the website of the place we got him from Norfolk & Suffolk Boxer Rescue. .

I REALLY REALLY shouldn’t look!
I’m a sucker Mr S is a sucker we know this, it is how one Saturday we ended up taking the plunge and went from one day we will have a dog to looking at dogs and the next weekend owning one!

Currently on there is a 6month old little boy & 3 1/2 year old little girl.
Though the little boy caught my eye, I am sure he will find a good home quickly ppl like young puppies. But it’s the 3 1/2 year old little girl… I really have had to have a we can’t discussion with myself and Mr S. As age and personality wise she would be perfect, when we got The Dog we always had full intentions of getting a pair male & female.
There is just something niggling at me, there are lots of dogs that crop up but there is just something about her.
Any way NO!!

Monday came around again.

A caramel hot chocolate with cream and caramel drizzle was in order before I had a nail appointment, thankfully. My nails were in a bit of a state and due a pamper.
I’ve got fat hands with funny knuckles in my eyes and I hate having terrible nails as I feel they draw attention to them.

I am a red polish kinda gal normally but today I went for a pink with a purplish hue.
I brought some L’oreal (503 Addictive Plum) nail varnish which was the closet match to my nail varnish to paint my tootsies with tomorrow.

Afterwards I popped to stock up on pet food which seems to always be on our shopping list.
Then L meet me for coffee and we had a look around some shops.

I picked up bargains in Dunelm Mill a fux fur throw reduced from £40 to £10, the cats love faux fur.

It co-ordinates with The Parrot Cat very well.

Curtains reduced from £70 to £8.25 for a temporary fix in the lounge; it currently looks like we live in a squat with an old duvet cover over the broken blinds. Got to love our pets luckily they have now all grown out of the destruction phase.
A little job for papa when the parents next stay.

L & I couldn’t resist a quick look in Hobbycraft they have just got in a favourite of ours Smash Pad.
I brought some Smash Pad quotation notelets, discounted yellow ribbon and some multi coloured card. I intend to start my recipe cards I posted about a while back on the card. I’m just on the look out for a suitable receptacle for the recipe cards now.

I picked up a copy of Mollie Makes and last months Homemaker magazine to peruse while I’m painting my tootsies and having a tea break tomorrow.

Now Time for bed me thinks as its been a long day.

S

If I had a Brain I would be Dangerous…

Lately I’ve had nothing but cotton wool between my ears!

You might recall me telling you I have misplaced the purple yarn I brought for my pebble project, then over the weekend I put a cheque in the bin by mistake luckily this one I tracked down before it was too late. Well today the latest has been loosing the car key.

Our house isn’t even a house that is untidy, Im the type of person who is C.D.O (the correct order for what they call O.C.D). I have places for things and I am the person who knows where everything is.

It’s a boring story of how I got distracted to loose the key involving a naughty dog.

I looked in every possible place for this key or so I thought!
Then Mr S found it in 10minutes tonight in my Ugg Boot by the door.
*sigh* I’m just glad it’s found.
I will add I wasn’t even wearing my Uggs today.

My stupid fuzzy brain though is really getting to me again of late.

‘The Parrot’ cat went to the vets today for an operation to remove his ‘crown jewels’ bless him.
All went ok, though the vets commented on him still being very skinny after his vanishing act, we are working on feeding him up.
As you can see his fine though and has resumed his normal activities.

At lunch another parcel arrived.
Parcels are not only exciting for me but for the dog.

He loves a visitor, just visitors aren’t quiet as sure about him a lunging 6stone plus of muscle Boxer, being held back causes some great expressions on people’s faces.

I can understand their worry but unless your about to harm his Family your safe. Dogs have good senses about people. Our boy loves his family they are a terribly loyal breed.
You should see him round the nieces up if they stray to far.

Anyway the parcel…

This time it was from Doves Farm.
As a coeliac I have tried various gluten free pasta’s but by far my most favourite for taste and cooking is Doves Farm. I can only seem to get the Macaroni & Ditalini online from their website so I stocked up and treated myself to some Fig cookies too.

The little envelope was another treat from Baker and Maker , a slightly smaller snowflake cutter.

Then this evening I had an evening out crocheting.

At the weekend I spied on twitter a last class space on The Sheep Shop’s Granny Square Crochet class so I leapt in.
The next project I’ve been discussing is a granny square blanket and I thought I would spare L’s patience this time and join the class.
(Though I have told L I may still be calling on her expertise)

I had a great evening and Joanne was a fantastic and patient teacher.

And Look what I managed!
After some undoing and redoing and undoing and redoing.

I’m looking forward to continuing using the joining technics and edging technics Joanne taught us.

I can highly recommend Joanne’s class & teaching style, she is most adaptable to everyones way of learning and pace.

I’m hoping to do more classes at The Sheep Shop in the near future.
I have my eye on a Knitting Course & a Felting course.

Unfortunately I have not had a chance to Window Shop today but no fear next week It shall be back.

Now time for bed.

Night

S

The Last Week

I had full intensions all week of catching up with my blogging but it’s been one of those weeks.

Having not actually been up to much really at all it’s a bit of a mystery to where the week has gone but my old ‘buddy’ has been sapping my time again recently, mentally I have been having a wail of a time but physically my body just won’t keep up.
Back ache, hip ache moan moan moan. Lets leave the moaning there! I only moan to then point out the positive.

The positive in this is that I’ve been doing stuff. I’ve been fighting my way through each day doing something rather than nothing and my driving force is my personal plan I set back in January of achievements throughout the year. I blogged about this in February under the odd title Exam Day.

In My House Planner I set myself personal goals to achieve before becoming a Mama (well trying to become at least). It was about establishing crucial routines & organisation to help me at low times as I know such times will be tough when I’m plus 1 and I’m pleased to report I’m doing a good job of sticking to them. I will blog more about this at a later date, as for now there is enough to catch up on.

Monday

My Mummy & I spent the day together, going for lunch at The Elveden Inn; they do some great food including gluten free & the service is good too. Followed by some shopping at the The Elveden Estate Shop .

My Mummy brought me a pretty new tea light holder.

I saw these paper birdies there too.

I like the idea and think they could be made out of scraps of paper I keep.

Monday evening The Parrot Cat returned needless to say we were very happy and so was he.
His settling back in.

Tuesday

I tried a new recipe from my Indonesian book.

“Gule Kambing” An aromatic lamb stew

Wednesday

I baked GF White Chocolate Chip & Macadamia Nut Cookies.

Thursday

I made the dog some Large Ice Cubes, as he loves snow & ice so I figured he would love the coldness in this hot weather.

Friday

I made a GF Ham Hock Pie.

Excuse the slushy heart. Not very savoury pie like I know.

And as I had some pastry left what should you do with left over pastry? …

Thats right Jam Tarts are a must.

The dog got to play with the Ice Cubes.

Kindly sharing with me while I was obliviously sunbathing – that was a shocker I tell thee!

What Else?

The Female rabbit is broody again?! I know how she feels.
She’s nesting once more.

My Roses are still alive. One still doing better than the other.

The Cats are enjoying being back together.

I’ve also been sticking to my daily chores and laundry routines.
And when I am done well I’ve been enjoying lots of this

And this

So that’s this last week.
I’m going to try and add the Gluten Free (GF) recipes I’ve been using as separate posts. So watch this space for those.

S

A Weekend Catch Up

(I started this post Monday!)

A quick catch up post. This weekend was birthday celebrations for moi.

Friday:

We had a lovely lazy breakfast together. Then took The Dog to Thetford Forest he loved running around with his stick.

Saturday:

We got up early; for a weekend, packed up a picnic breakfast and flask.
(Not forgetting The Dogs breakfast)

And headed to the Norfolk coast; Holkham. For Sun Rise.

I love the beach between Holkham and Wells. The sand dunes and vast expanse of sand then the crashing waves. I’m not eloquent enough to describe in words what exactly it is about it, but then sometimes in life there aren’t words just feelings.

Look at the lovely rainbow…

Yes lovely what usually happens when a rainbow appears? yes you got it rain, and my goodness just as I took the next picture did it RAIN ! And SLEET !

Very very wet we got back in the car for our picnic breakfast. Warm Sausage and Bacon wraps with tea/coffee.

It would have been nicer to stay longer but being so wet and sandy/muddy (ask the dog why we were sandy/muddy) we thought it best to head home as the weather showed no sign of clearing up.

Once home I opened my presents!! And cards. It’s nice to get presents so often when your older you get money gifts which don’t get me wrong is also nice but a present you unwrap – eeeeeeeeeeeeee – (that is the sound of excitement)

Mr S is taken me/us on a trip to Dublin at the end of May which he arranged as a surprise.
Ireland is a place I’ve wanted to go and never yet made it to, so very excited about this.

Then L & K spoilt me!
Look at these goodies!

Perfectly me all 3!

I’m a late comer to the tv series ‘Miranda’

“complete trash, unfunny why do you watch it, it looks so corny”
*cough*
I eat my words!

I’ve no idea how I ended up watching a couple but oh my it’s switch off, crafting to, pleasure tv and corny maybe, but my goodness nothing makes me laugh as much. Maybe it’s my age ??

So L & K getting me the box set to catch up made the rest of my birthday afternoon “such fun” (ok maybe a step to far with that)

And a very apt card from L & K too.

I was feeling crafty when we returned so thought I would attempt crocheting a pebble. But I couldn’t find the purple cotton yarn I brought for it anywhere very frustrating, I attempted to invent something using scraps of wool I had but it was to thick and the sewing cotton to thin.

Made a lovely finger hat though. Much to Mr S’s mic taking.

And what pebble doesn’t need a wool hat for the winter.

Miranda on TV, crafty stuff in my hands, Tea by my side and not forgetting Mr S.
We had an enjoyable rest of the day.

Sunday:

Started lovely and we headed off to a local club we are members of for the AGM, the grounds are in a pretty orchard. But by the time we got there the weather was cold and windy. So we didn’t stop long after the meeting finished.

Then I was lucky to have second celebrations with our nieces and the In-laws with afternoon tea.

We had Gluten Free Birthday cake; chocolate with lots of sprinkles apparently “Serotiny LOVES sprinkles” so it had to have lots sprinkles according to the youngest niece.

And more lovely presents.

From Niece’s and their parents. A very handy blender I mentioned I needed and I’ve put to use even since Sunday already and this gorgeous sewn owl made by the girls.

He is now living in our kitchen I adore him!

And from the Parents-in-law…

A new bag for my WIP blanket (I’m to ashamed to show you the shredded plastic bag it current lives in)

Beautiful Debbie Bliss wool and a new handy sewing kit in a very me tin!

A Very Lucky Girl With Presents and With Family.

S