Fizzy's happy crafting world

Library reading

2012-01-22T17:16:00.000Z

Just read the intriguing book 'Courtiers The Secret History of The Georgian Court' by Lucy Worsley.
In the book are quotes and comments left by the letters and diaries of courtiers in the time of George the first and second of Great Britain.
It's racy,scheming and dramatic.
I picked it up as I wanted to know more about this period of time.
Knew nothing about the royal family of said period, feel like I knew them now.
Not a fast read, very wordy but this is needed to get all the stories in.
One can almost hear the courtiers as they plot their success at court.
Well worth a read if you like Georgian history.
Thoroughly recommended.

Thanks Fimo

2011-12-15T17:42:00.004Z

Won some new Fimo via the UK crafting site.
This is a new clay,light when dried apparently. Am thinking beads,earrings,mobile charms,things like that to make with it, watch this space!
This one does not have to be baked like the original Fimo.It is an air drying clay.

Nox Arcana - Starlight Serenade

2011-11-14T23:22:00.000Z

Nice wintery music, enjoy.

Halloween cake

2011-10-30T16:39:00.001Z

4oz margarine
4oz sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons marmalade
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/4 mug of water to mix
2 eggs
4oz mixed dried fruit.
I mixed the eggs and sugar together in one bowl and all the other
ingredients except water in another. Then I combined the two together ,
mixing them with the water. It went into a greased metal cake tin at 150
degrees centigrade for 2 and a 1/2hours . Then it was left to cool in the
tin on a wire rack. The texture turned out halfway between a sponge cake and
a fruit cake. This suited me as I am not a fan of heavy fruit cake like
Christmas cake.
Old post from the past, delish halloween cake so here it is again.

The Great British Bake off

2011-10-04T23:24:00.003Z

Fantastic program tonight.Thought the three finalists were all excellent anyway but my personal favorite was Mary-Anne Boerman.
Apparently she has a food blog so will be adding that to my list of must reads.
Enclosed is the link for one of tonights recipes
recipe
which I thought looked delicious.
Hah, just scrolled down the website page,Mary Anne's blog is at
this place
Following on I found a link for the rose apple tarts she made on the program.Might have a go at these when feeling brave.Thought they looked fab when made on the program.The link follows here

Cat Got Your Tongue? pumpkin pattern - Pumpkin Carving Patterns and Stencils - Zombie Pumpkins!

2011-09-21T22:37:00.000Z

Cat Got Your Tongue? pumpkin pattern - Pumpkin Carving Patterns and Stencils - Zombie Pumpkins!
Just discovered this site.Thought I would put the link on now so people who like these can have a go before finalising their pumpkin/swede designs later on in the year.

Herby Garlic bread

2011-08-23T21:51:00.004Z

Sheer comfort food.
Needed, one part baked Ciabatta or you could use a French Stick loaf
Approx half large bulb garlic cut into tiny slices
About 1 tablespoon mixed Italian herbs (I used dried in a Supermarket tub, easiest to mix in)
I used four tablespoons Olive oil
Method
Heat oven to 180 degrees.
Chop Garlic, mince it fine mix and add to olive oil Mix in dried herbs.
Slice loaf and spread garlic oil mix onto inside of slices (see pic)
Then place in preheated oven middle shelf on a tray and bake it for around twenty minutes.
Leave to cool about five minutes.
Enjoy.

Bits of this bits of that

2011-07-03T15:29:00.005Z

Socks did not happen,too complicated.I wanted to use my stripe Kaffe Fasset yarn and would have needed another 50 gram to finish a pair of socks. As an alternative, I am going to knit them instead.I will use a cheaper yarn for crochet socks as it looks like I will use more, using that method.
I have just today entered the Fimo competition with some models I have done in the past, one picture showing a models of a couple of dogs (much missed) who were our family pets and the other a fantasy dragon I created.Thought I would put the photos on here so you can see.
Best Fimo tip I know, have some baby wipes around when you model with it, to get it off your hands when you need to answer the phone,or do something else.

Crochet sock pattern

2011-06-05T15:25:00.002Z

Found a promising crochet sock pattern. This one uses regular sock yarn so won't be too chunky.Sock pattern here
Have crocheted socks before but they turned out more like slippers so pleased to have found this.
Will post a pic if they turn out.

Spring returning

2011-05-10T16:53:00.008Z

A few photos of the garden. This year we had a mutant Bluebell that grew as a white flower (perhaps it wants to be a snowdrop?) Am replanting the plant so it is in a more favorable site and perhaps it will do more of the same next year.
I have a link a bord raised bed ( bought from wiggly wigglers website ) for my onions this year. The photo shows said area planted with canes.This was to stop the three tom cats that live down our street (not mine I hasten to add) using the area as a toilet.It did work. Have now removed some canes that would have affected the said onions growth but have left many in as those cats still show an interest in the garden.
I am growing pound shop onions and potatoes this year.
The potatoes are the variety known as Charlotte and are supposed to be a blight resistant variety,useful in our rainy climate.So far they are growing well.

London Zoo monkeys caught stealing sunglasses - News - London 24

2011-04-10T22:10:00.001Z

Made me smile!
London Zoo monkeys caught stealing sunglasses
Link below.

London Zoo monkeys caught stealing sunglasses - News - London 24

Golf themed card

2011-03-08T17:15:00.005Z

I made a few cards recently for family. I thought I would show the golf themed card idea which I put together for my dad's birthday. I prefer to make his cards as am always concerned about buying the same golf themed card as another family member.He loves his golf!
I started with some card and glued on some paper adding borders.These were changed and 'golfing star' added with some stars.
The embellishment golf bag I found in Hobbycraft.
I then created the wrap with paintshop using a golfball template and then
adding the lettering.I created a tag to match. He recieved a book on improving golf techniques this year.Thankfully no one else had bought it for him!

January

2011-01-31T16:21:00.002Z

"The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February,
at least we notice that the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out. It takes some weeks before
we become aware of the change. It is imperceptible even as the growth of a child, as you watch it day by day,
until the moment comes when with a start of delighted surprise we realize that we can stay out of doors in a
twilight lasting for another quarter of a precious hour."
- Vita Sackville-West

Am so glad the days are getting longer. Soon I will plant things in the garden.
Surviving out there currently,despite the cold is some garlic I planted late December.It astonishes me it can survive and grow,yet it does so.

Crafts on the cheap

2011-01-11T16:04:00.002Z

Few ideas for thrifty craft sites to get you through January.Disney
Found this at Moneysaving.com.Lots of lovely card and paper printables here with all your favorite characters.It asks you to run an extra program on first visit, this is easily cancelled via Windows.
Mookychick has patterns for crafts of a goth/emo/hippy/manga nature.
turn pillowcase into skirt
goth sunglasses case (coffin)
cupcake keyring
Mookychick appears to be a student/late teen site so might have some areas that are not suitable for small children.Great craft site though.

Stop Aerial Gunning of Wolves on Federal Wildlife Refuge

2011-01-09T17:57:00.000Z

Stop Aerial Gunning of Wolves on Federal Wildlife Refuge

Snow boots

2010-12-21T23:14:00.002Z

Again Great Britain has snow.I found this idea for placing cord or rope or nylon around your shoes/boots to help stop slipping.
Link here.
At time of writing I do not know if this is an efficient way of stopping slipping so have not tested this.Interesting idea though.

Wolverine Movie The Musical : BFX : Original Short

2010-12-04T23:57:00.000Z

Hilarious, link to how to build claws at end of video.

Something for nothing for crafting

2010-11-10T16:26:00.004Z

Or possibly nothing for something.This linkhere will take you to a glass promotion site in the UK. There are a selection of glass items here. You can order one as a freebie.The idea is to use glass more and use less plastic with items such as a glass salad dressing bottle, jam jars and a tomato sauce bottle being available.
Might be useful for crafters as the dressing bottle would be a nice gift with bath salts or oil in it.
My teacher of maths ( I was a bit scared of her cos she shouted a lot and I was aged seven) would shout "You cannot add nothing to something" and I agreed. However one day she said "I have this nothing bag"(no you don't there is nothing there, I thought) and mimed showing it to me saying loudly "go on pull nothing out". Unsure whether to refuse and risk being yelled at or worse I delicately began to lift my hand to pull nothing (air) out. "You cannot do that, there is nothing there" she yelled, I stopped.Obviously, child of seven could see that.

Battery hen issues after 2012

2010-10-19T16:30:00.000Z

I thought this method of producing eggs was going from this country. Apparently from 2012 there will still be such cages but bigger with 'furniture' whatever that means.I have borrowed the below from
link here
will remove if requested.Full article at site.

By now, most people have heard about the E.U. legislation due to come into force in 2012 that requires larger ‘enriched' cages for caged laying hens. The problem that remains though is that unless the consumer is educated enough and opts to buy higher welfare eggs then the efforts that are being made within Europe might just shift the problem elsewhere.

I was first alerted to this when the Battery Hen Welfare Trust (now called the British Hen Welfare Trust) mentioned in their Freshly Laid newsletter that they had received enquiries from the Far East from companies looking to buy up old cages from UK farmers who were changing over to Free Range or Barn systems.

The prospects for the battery hen under the 2012 legislation don't sound so appealing to me now. What if the British egg farmer becomes legislated out of existence and we simply move the hens from Europe to elsewhere? The very same systems could be used and operated to much lower standards than we currently have in the UK. I realise that currently there is only one sure way forward: For the consumer to want to buy higher welfare eggs and products that contain higher welfare eggs. The supermarkets will follow of course by stocking what they can sell to their customers.

Congee

2010-09-10T16:30:00.007Z

First attempt, did not follow congee recipe much due to lack of correct veggies in stock!

Recipe today as follows
2 half mugs of white rice
2 carrots ( as picture, one marble sized, other like a big shallot)
1 shallot sized onion
3 mugs water plus one extra from mug that dried mushrooms were soaked in
About half a mug dried Chinese mushrooms soaked for half and hour in 1 mug water (hot)
Two tablespoons (uk) dark soy sauce
Sesame oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Place rice in bowl,added chopped carrot and onion,water soaked dried mushrooms.Microwaved on 80% for 30 mins then again same power another 30 mins.
Added two tablespoons soy sauce (dark).
Will add a little sesame oil to taste and a little salt and pepper.
Result, not exactly the porridge I was hoping for, more like savoury rice soup but its tasty!

2010-09-09T23:26:00.002Z

Am going to attempt Chinese rice porridge, Congee, tomorrow.Found a recipe at
Vegetarian porridge recipes
www.homemade-chinese-soups.com
Mixed vegetable porridge
Ingredients
40g dried mushroom
1 tsp cornstarch
Dash of cooking oil
40g carrot
40g bamboo shoot
40g soaked cloud ear fungus
40g soaked wood ear fungus
40g straw mushroom
6 cups of vegetarian soup stock
3 cups of white rice

Seasonings
Pinch of salt
Dash of pepper
Dash of sesame seed oil

Directions

Soak the dried mushroom with cold water

Marinate the mushroom with some salad oil

Clean and dice the carrot

Clean and dice the bamboo shoot

Parboil the bamboo shoot

Wash and parboil the cloud ear fungus, wood ear fungus and straw mushroom

Bring the soup stock to a boil, add the white rice and cook for 15 minutes

Add the mushrooms, carrot, bamboo shoot and fungus to the porridge

Add the seasonings.
Basically the original recipe goes like this may have to adapt it slightly.

July, slug season.

2010-07-27T22:02:00.004Z

Ha,last year we cleared a large section of Ivy, from the garden, thinking this would leave little for the slugs to survive on.They moved.
Last week my slug proof lettuce (so called) was decimated.Somehow the little blighters have navigated the Brillo pads around the pots and attacked.So this week back to slug hunting.Found around 40 this week, now in the green bin.
Found their base camp though. They were camped under a green refuse bag, full of clippings.Underneath the bag,was found a lovely selection of slugs, in varying sizes and colours.Bag now emptied and in shed.
Managed to grow two Turnips(photo)before the mollusc's turned their attention on them.
Underneath these, the netted planter contains Pak Choi seedlings.These will be staying in their netted haven so we have some late veggies, slug free.
Tomatoes are ok but late, waiting for them to turn red.
Courgettes are slow too this year.

Spuds

2010-06-27T22:51:00.004Z

What happens when you attempt to grow odd sprouted potatoes together. Odd sized potatoes indeed but two meals worth for free, yum.
The rose picture is on here because my Gertrude Jykel Rose is flowering at full power and deserves a mention.

Birds and Bagpuss

2010-06-27T22:37:00.002Z

Few photos, my gifts for my birthday included these lovely things. The Bagpuss and Mouse both talk, much to the cat's disgust. The other photos are from Martin Mere and crafting, I went to Martin Mere for the day with my dad and am showing my first make placed on the Folksy site, a little Silkie chicken.

Bees

2010-06-19T16:31:00.005Z

Have bought a delicious smelling Nemisia plant today. It smells like vanilla bath bombs. Hopefully the bees will like it.
I want them around when my tomatoes flower.I will pollinate the flowers myself with a tiny paintbrush, just to be sure I get lots.
Found a bizarre bee ecard thing athelp the bee link
It allows you to create a bee by using a mixture of hairstyles ( no I did not know bees had them) and other interchangeable parts of bees.
My own turned out quite cute.

Cat, perfume for.

2010-06-08T22:25:00.005Z

Just found this online. Priceless.

Big game cats like lions or tigers are attracted to Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men more than any other fragrance, scientists have found.

Researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo in New York experimented with a range of different fragrances and how two cheetahs reacted to them.

To their surprise, the cats spent more than 11 minutes sniffing and nuzzling up to a tree sprayed with Obsession for Men.

The perfume's effect on big cats is so potent that it is even used in the field by conservationists.

Pulling power: Scientists first discovered the effect of Obsession for Men by testing its effects on cheetahs

One program director in Guatemala has been using the perfume since 2007 to to try and determine the jaguar's population in the jungle.

Roan Balas McNab who works in a a protected tropical forest uses the perfume's unique properties to keep jaguars still enough so that he can take images of them using motion-sensitive cameras.

'But this technique is only effective if animals pass through the cameras' detection range and we get adequate photos,' Mr. McNab told the Wall Street Journal.

After hearing about its potency, his team tried spraying the perfume onto a rag tied to a stake in the ground.

To their amazement three times as many jaguars walked by and those that did lingered nearby making them far easier to identify.

The use of Obsession has even led to the researchers being able to capture footage of jaguar's mating rituals, something that had been rarely seen before the perfume was used.

'We're just starting to get an idea of how jaguars behave in their habitat,' Mr. McNab says. 'Before we used Obsession for Men we weren't able to get these images at all.'

Obsession for Men launched in 1986, just as the Calvin Klein brand was pushing the boundaries of sexuality in advertising. Early ads typically featured nude models and little else.

Ann Gottlieb, one of the creators of Obsession for Men's distinctive cat-friendly scent says the scent had synthetic 'animal' notes.

'It's a combination of this lickable vanilla heart married to this fresh green top note—it creates tension,' she told the paper. 'It sparks curiosity with humans and, apparently, animals.'

One of the main problems for scientists is being able to source enough of Obsession for Men as it is hard to find in shops near where much of the research is carried out.

Just thinking of those wildlife researchers trying to find a bottle of perfume in the middle of nowhere makes me smile.

Thanks Hovis Bread

2010-05-14T16:52:00.001Z

Thanks for all the comments regarding mum, I'm sure she would appreciate them.
Had a nice surprise today. Saw a delivery man at the door, with a big blue box. Hmm, wonder whats in there, I thought.
Brought it in, after explaining to a bemused delivery man, that I thought I had won a loaf of bread. (Saw a Hovis label on the side of box).
I did do a survey thing with Hovis about a month ago via the Money Saving Expert website.Basically,I thought, I might win a voucher, for completing their survey.
Well, I received a nice big oaty loaf ( in freezer, have lots of bread in at the moment ).
Also, another suprise, a new cotton shopper bag arrived too. Very nice, discreet Hovis label on side, not too flashy.
Not sure if the offer is still on, it will be on the Money saving site, if so. Well worth a try for.

For Mum

2010-04-30T22:24:00.001Z

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Thanks mumxx

Alys Fowler's programme

2010-04-08T15:31:00.003Z

Watched a new ' grow your own ' type programme last night on bbc. Alys Fowler told me you could eat pea shoots , yes I knew that . Then she produced an old fashioned looking box of dried peas and began to plant them. She explained that these would grow as well as expensive packs of garden peas if you just grow them for the shoots, like a salad. Delish.
Everything planted is still a little slow to grow this year. There are some tiny mixed salad leaves appearing and some lettuce.
I may have to buy in tomato plants this year as the seeds I have planted have not germinated yet. This year the choice of tomato variety will be Ferline. This is supposed to be very blight resistant, useful in a British summer.

Bye bye knotweed?

2010-03-25T23:27:00.001Z

From the BBC NEWS PAGE.
Superweed predator to be released
By Rebecca Morelle
Science reporter, BBC News

A tiny Japanese insect that could help the fight against an aggressive superweed has been given the go-ahead for a trial release in England.

Since Japanese knotweed was introduced to the UK it has rapidly spread, and the plant currently costs over £150m a year to control and clear.

But scientists say a natural predator in the weed's native home of Japan could also help to control it here.

The insect will initially be released in a handful of sites this spring.

This is the first time that biocontrol - the use of a "natural predator" to control a pest - has been used in the EU to fight a weed.

Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "These tiny insects, which naturally prey on Japanese Knotweed, will help free local authorities and industry from the huge cost of treating and killing this devastating plant."

Alien invaders

Japanese knotweed was introduced to the UK by the Victorians as an ornamental plant, but it soon escaped from gardens and began its rampant spread throughout the UK.

It grows incredibly quickly - more than one metre a month - and rapidly swamps any other vegetation in its path.

It is so hardy that it can burst through tarmac and concrete, causing costly damage to pavements, roads and buildings.

But removal is difficult and expensive; new estimates suggest it costs the UK economy £150m a year.

However, in Japan, the plant is common but does not rage out of control like it does in the UK, thanks to the natural predators that keep it in check.

Scientists at Cabi - a not-for-profit agricultural research organisation - used this as their starting point to track down a potential knotweed solution.

They looked at the superweed's natural predators - nearly 200 species of plant-eating insects and about 40 species of fungi - with the aim of finding one with an appetite for Japanese knotweed and little else.

After testing their candidates on 90 different UK plant species, including plants closely related to Japanese knotweed such as bindweeds and important crops and ornamental species, they discovered a psyllid called Aphalara itadori was the best control agent.

The little insect feeds on the sap of the superweed, stunting its growth.

Dr Dick Shaw, the lead researcher on the project from Cabi, told BBC News: "Safety is our top priority. We are lucky that we do have an extremely specific agent - it just eats invasive knotweeds."

Following peer review by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and a public consultation, the UK government has now given the go-ahead for release of Aphalara itadori , under licence, in England.

The Welsh Assembly is expected to announce its decision on the psyllid soon.

The insects will initially be released on a handful of sites.

These will be isolated and, in addition to as having the superweed present, will also have UK species that are closely related to Japanese knotweed planted there to check that the psyllid only targets the invasive species.

Dr Shaw said: "In the early stages, a contingency plan is in place so that should, in the unlikely event, any unintended consequences be detected, we will be able to do something about it.

"Insecticide and herbicide treatment will be on standby for rapid response."

If this phase is successful, the insect will be released at further sites, where it will undergo an intensive monitoring programme over the next five years.

Dr Shaw said: "On the localised sites, I would expect to see damaged knotweed this season.

"However, biocontrol is a long-term strategy - it could take five to 10 years to have a real impact."

The government believes that if the plan is successful it will reduce the costs to the building and engineering industries of clearing the plant.

However, some critics say that it is impossible to be certain that the Japanese insect will only target the superweed and could attack other species once in the wild.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/8555378.stm

Published: 2010/03/09 00:25:22 GMT

© BBC MMX

The socks at last

2010-03-17T16:32:00.003Z

Finally finished my Alpaca wool socks. As you can see, I knitted then in the tube style. I tried to knit one, with a traditional heel but didn't like it so unravelled it and knitted in the round instead.
I love the colour and they are really soft socks. My one consternation, was that the yarn slipped from my needles a great deal, slowing down the knitting process, as I had to keep unraveling, to reclaim lost stitches. Perhaps Alpaca, is better knitted on wooden, or bamboo needles,Or indeed a circular needle.

Dad's cake

2010-03-01T22:24:00.003Z

Photie of Dad's cake as promised.

Sock

2010-02-20T23:52:00.004Z

Thanks Leigh I have knitted 1 sock so far.I must finish the pair this week while I am free ( not currently working).
Last week I was asked to make a cake for my dad's 78th birthday. Not a big deal but I wanted it to be gluten free so my mum could enjoy it too.
So, from previous experience, I knew Dove's farm made a good replacement flour.
First stop health shop. The assistant (looked like he was aged about ten,) was astonished when I refused both the Spelt flour, (too heavy) and the strong flour (similar). His astonishment at me knowing there was also a cake flour ( for which I had deliberately gone in the shop ) of the same brand, led to me saying I would return (ha ha)as I quickly left. So I marched away to a supermarket that had the correct flour.
Ok gluten free cake... and my table top little oven, recently purchased when our ancient ex oven expired.( That looked like the one in the old farmhouse kitchen program, not kidding).
I had baked a normal flour Christmas cake in the new oven recently, which turned out fine so was quietly hopeful.
First go... cake mix in two cake tins and baked as a normal sponge cake.
One was ok, a little flat, the second rose well but manage to burn slightly. So redid the top layer. Did not matter about the two halves being equal so let it cool , added some jam, iced the cake and made a little golf figure for the top. (Am waiting for photo from relative to show on blog).
Thankfully it turned out and dad had a great day. As did mum, now off chemo she can taste things properly again. It was great to see them so happy together.

Tesco ask woman for proof of age to buy a quiche - mirror.co.uk

2010-02-04T23:10:00.000Z

Tesco ask woman for proof of age to buy a quiche - mirror.co.uk

Response to Leigh Russel's comment

2010-01-16T22:42:00.003Z

Seems they work a bit, (socks on ice...) Think if the ice comes back will try some ice grip shoe things such as yaktrax. Even the postie was walking tiny steps down the street, last week.

Not much to blog

2010-01-15T23:14:00.004Z

Am attempting to knit some socks with Alpaca wool currently.It is weird stuff,almost like knitting with Persian cat Bluebell's hair.Being a bit slippery,the yarn falls off my tiny metal needles easily. Might invest in some circular needles of the right size, it would make knitting those socks easier.
Dared to venture out today.Our street has been sheer ice for nearly two weeks.
I have a hip and a knee which try to out do each other by twingeing in the winter.The hip is so due to mild bone thinning( had bone scan last year,) and the knee due to a fall when I worked as a cleaner.
(Winge over)
Carefully walking on the still frosted pavement, a man shouted from the road "It's safer here" I agreed, thanked him and whizzed along the ice free road at speed, ever alert for cars.
Because the light was low outside, the local Spa shop seemed to glow with a neon like exterior. I blinked hard when I went in, adjusting to the sudden bright light, of the gaudy displays.
It was so quiet, not many people in.
Thankfully the ice melted today.

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T16:36:00.002Z

Happy New Year to all. Hope the weather is being kind to you. If you have some time to spare, go and look at this drawing game. It is a bit like a Paint shop or Plop drawing program, when you draw with 3 d images. The ones here all are edible and there is a print or save option so you can show off your art to the world. Slightly addictive. Link

Mum's progress

2009-12-19T23:47:00.004Z

My mum received some great news today . Since she had her chemo for at one point inoperable ovarian cancer, her blood marker has now returned to normal . (It is in the thirties, it was six hundred or something crazy in April).
Her cancer , which was tiny bits all over her inside has retreated, just to one tiny bit around two centimetres in size. All the other offshoots from this, have vanished and there are no secondaries anywhere.
Currently she has been offered a choice, either have a small operation to remove this tiny growth, which should defeat it or leave it. Because the nature of ovarian cancer ( according to the doctors, I am no expert,) it would come back if not removed. This would lead to more chemo sessions with no guarantees for the future.
Hmm, I have said, as before, I will support her, whatever way she chooses to go,on this.
I am just so happy, she looks and feels so well now.

Santa games

2009-12-11T17:24:00.003Z

Link for tracking Santa and various Christmas themed games.Santa is here
Current fave is the ski ing game.
Photo shows Bluebell the cat trying to steal my seat. I had placed a paper cat I made about fifteen years ago, in my seat so she could not take it.( Was going to make a cup of tea) Then I noticed the pair seemed to be getting on well so a picture was taken.
The spotted cat, her friend, is just newspaper, masking tape and paint.

Spider pic and Printables link

2009-12-05T16:32:00.004Z

Printables link
Nice link to some free printables for Christmas. I think you have to either buy them or put a link on your blog or website before you can download them. Some really nice images there to use for projects.
Fop Monique, photo of suspected Steodata Grossa.( Taken in artificial light hence odd background colour).She is black, with a tiny pale mark on the top of her abdomen.Her web is not the spiral web of a garden spider, or the tube like web of a house spider. It looks more like a fishing net in pattern.She, will be released outside, far away from houses, just in case.

Steodata Grossa

2009-12-01T15:51:00.003Z

We have a Steodata Grossa ( form of false widow spider) living on the kitchen window sill. I keep trying to photograph her, the photos keep tuning out blurred, then she gets left alone and survives a little longer inside the house.She will be placed outside eventually in a glass, I'm certainly not picking her up.
Some good freebies out there at the moment, will post the link for two here, I received them both.
trials@laneshealth.com - This one is for the new Kalms Lozenges, you need to create a new email and use the email address to apply. These are really nice. The deal is you are sent a pack and a link to a later survey, to say if you like them, I did.

Yorkshire tea link
Great tea!

Cubees

2009-11-18T17:41:00.004Z

Christmas craft for the kids, or perhaps yourself here.Cubee link
Like the Storm trooper one and there are some Super Mario ones that are brilliant as well.
Quick spray recipe for Christmas
1 spray bottle ( poundland)
About 30 to 40 drops essential oil good ones are Orange, Frankincense, Cinnamon, Pine, Clove.Something like 10 drops Orange,10 Frankincense ,10,Cinnamon 8 Pine,2 Clove but you can change the formula to suit yourself. Mix with water in the spray bottle filled to the top.
I don't spray this in a room that the cats go in.
Caution needed for persons allergic to oils pregnant women (check the oils are ok to be around from a good aromatherapy website or book, I am not an aromatherapist).
Spray after shaking bottle into the middle of the room, avoiding furnishings and skin as Orange oil is a skin irritant undiluted on some people.Cinnamon oil and Clove can also be irritating on skin , keep well away from pets. Best used in a pet free room as the oils are dangerous to most animals www.lavendercat.com has more on this.

10 things you can do to save Honey Bees - Natural Choices

2009-11-13T17:49:00.000Z

10 things you can do to save Honey Bees - Natural Choices

Snowflakes

2009-11-12T00:00:00.004Z

snowflake link
Rather addictive snowflake making game. You have to manoeuvre scissors with your mouse to make the snowflake and cut at the edges of the paper, to get the shaping.
I did not download mine ( always slightly suspicious as could not get terms and conditions page to load). It was no.20701635 ( in case I go back).
Rather sweetly the flakes gently spin when you mouse over them.

Off topic

2009-10-28T17:44:00.006Z

Free hearing check herehearing check freebie
Mine was normal, thank goodness. Thought I would get it checked online as think it was last checked around the age of about fifteen at school.
The page asks you to set your computer volume to a comfortable level before you begin. It does this by speaking out numbers to test it. Then you can adjust the volume accordingly.
Not meant as a definite diagnosis, if your hearing is troubling yourself please still see a medic. Best wishes.

Proud of my mum

2009-10-20T21:49:00.002Z

My mum has had her sixth session of chemo last week.Her blood test revealed the cancer has retreated, her marker ( cancer indicator in blood test) is in the normal range, meaning no cancer.
To see how the cancer has retreated, the hospital is doing a body scan in a week or so to see what is currently going on.
Thankfully mum now has a few months off from the chemo. The doctors are using a treat it and see, type of therapy.
Mum's attitude is brilliant, she says OK she had it now it can leave.
Thanks to everyone who is doing positive thinking for mum. Whatever way you are doing it, it's really helping.

The March of Technology.

2009-10-11T21:58:00.003Z

The March of Technology. Ah yes, Libraries , full of computers . Don't get me wrong, I applaud anything that gets people into libraries.
I noticed my current book, a weighty tome of five novels by Pk Dick (best known for writing the book that inspired Blade Runner , Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep) would be due back this weekend.
Normally, if I cannot get to the library I can easily renew my books by the Internet.
Not since they have recently updated the graphics of the Internet local library page. After several attempts over two days trying to key in my correct number and code nothing happened. I tried to contact the library about it. For this to work , I needed to key in my library number. Yes, you have guessed, it apparently did not exist.
On to plan B.
I rang up the library ready to hand over my number, confident the book would quickly be renewed. After waiting several minutes as the phone sounded an encouraging ring ring, I finally got through.
Only to find that their computer system was down , apparently they needed number, name and address and would log it on the computer when it was back on.
Hope they remembered.

Coffee cake bake

2009-10-04T15:42:00.006Z

Sorry cake photo is a bit rubbish, did photo and ate cake before seeing if photo was up to scratch!
Other photo shows a garden peapod with one pea missing,from the back yard possibly a mouse's work ?Next door's cat is not doing her job! ( She likes to patrol our garden at night, our two are safely tucked into bed at that time).

Lightening coffee cake ( from 1001 Microwave recipes )
2 oz flour (used strong white , any will do should self raising really.)
2oz margarine or sunflower oil
2oz brown sugar ( can use white)
1 egg
recipe says 2 tsp coffee mixed with 2 tsp milk , this gives a crisper cake for a more sponge like cake use a little more water.
Its basically mix all together and microwave on full in a 650 700 watt oven , full power for 4 mins.
Today was the first time I had made it in our 800 watt oven ( recent purchase).
Cooked it on full power for 3 mins.
This gave a texture a little like crispy brownies.
Delicious, but if I want it as a sponge next time I will try 80% power.
Best eaten warm.

Simon's cat

2009-09-23T23:44:00.001Z

So funny.

Hamster and Halibut.

2009-09-14T22:51:00.005Z

You know there is a shortage of hamsters, surely, no ?
I had decided recently that the house needed a new pet rodent ( gerbils passed away early this year). After several years of gerbils I wanted a Syrian hamster, just for a change. Should be easy to find I thought, they are everywhere.
Not so. I tried a large pet store in the local town. When asked if they had any Syrian hamsters in, the reply was 'We have none and am not sure when we will be getting some more in'.The place was filled, with pens of pungent blond ferrets, and concerned pens of rabbits. I needed to go smaller.
Waited a week , then went to another shop, smaller, with fewer animals. Looked around,spotted a Syrian asleep in a tank. Asked if I could buy the hamster.The pet shop owner agreed and explained there was a shortage of hamsters currently. He had one female in the back of the shop.He was keeping her back to breed from eventually.He said he hoped she was pregnant, as he had only recently separated her from my hamster to be who was male and then seven weeks old. I know hamsters can breed from around six weeks and quietly made a mental note never to buy a female hamster from him in the future,just in case.
He then went on to explain, while dangling my hammy by the scruff to demonstrate his tameness ( bless him he did not flinch, the hamster, that is) that the shop had recently owned one hundred hamsters the week before.They had sold out really fast, I suspect due to the local children still being off school at the time.
The Halibut shortage was spotted in the local health shop when purchasing multivitamins. A sign on the till said there is currently no halibut oil for sale here due to a worldwide shortage, hmm,food for thought.

Cut short

2009-09-10T22:36:00.001Z

Blog buddy Leigh Russel reading from her excellent first book, Cut Short.

Cat vacum

2009-09-08T22:43:00.001Z

At last cats are beginning to evolve, this one does the vacuuming.

Nice jewelry craft project site

2009-09-01T13:39:00.005Z

Make jewelry link
Just found this. I am on a knitting magazine forum and found this page as a link to their magazine site. The bracelet looks good enough to eat.There are several good giveaway competitions currently on there too . Prizes range from resin making sets to bracelet kits and pendants.

Chicken coat crafting

2009-08-31T16:13:00.005Z

My mum in law has some new chickens. I understand around eight of them are currently quite bald due to being rescue ex battery hens. Am now checking the Internet as I am sure I have seen a pattern for jackets for bald hens somewhere.
Found one . If anyone else is in the same situation the link is here Hen jacket link
Not something I thought I would be ever looking for but there you go.

All go this week.

2009-08-23T21:59:00.004Z

Bit of a whirlwind week. A quiet beginning with shopping and a little card craft packing from home.
Midweek my dad is too poorly ( recovering from a bug) to take my mum for her monthly chemo. Thankfully husband was off work (I don't drive) and kindly took her there, I stayed with her while she had her treatment and then he brought us back.We arrived back at mum's house happy as we had been told the cancer was retreating and mum is doing really well. My big sister opened my parent's front door, announces the doctor has explained dad had pneumonia ( good grief) and that she would stay to look after them that day and the next ( my other sister was then visiting the day after ).
Next day, as we were available, we took mum back to the hospital ,she then had an injection which boosts her white blood cell count after chemo. This stops the chemo affecting her white blood cell levels too much.
Then we stopped at a store for some shopping and then took mum back home, back to my big sis, where arrangements for a delivery of new antibiotics were being arranged for dad. I believe my brother delivered them in the end.
We are back on shopping tomorrow.Dad has now turned the corner. He is sounding a little better on the phone today. My mum will be feeling a bit rough this week till the chemo is out of her body but she is doing so well otherwise with her blood markers reducing every time she has a treatment.I am so pleased.

Slugs don't like metal pan cleaners.

2009-08-14T23:31:00.005Z

I found this picture onvegetable grower forum link
A line of metal scourer pads used to protect chilli plants from slugs, hmm, how could I use this idea-

Modifying the idea slightly , I planted new cabbage seeds and beetroots seeds , in large pots. The cabbages are in my mini greenhouse, the beetroot plants outside in the garden. Both pots have a ring of metal pan scrubber around the middle of the pot. So far the slugs refuse to attempt to get my seedlings.

Video: Aesop's Fable - or fact? Meet the world's cleverest bird - Times Online

2009-08-08T17:03:00.001Z

Video: Aesop's Fable - or fact? Meet the world's cleverest bird - Times Online

Shared via AddThis

Bluebell at 13

2009-08-01T21:31:00.002Z

Bluebell relaxing now she has reached retirement age. Bob appears not to believe this. (Actually he was miaowing at a lettuce I had in my other hand , I was trying to get his attention with it)

My cosseted cabbage plant.

2009-07-25T15:17:00.004Z

I grew several cabbage seedlings, gave some to my dad to grow on in his garden, keeping three for myself. Two were eaten by slugs. I needed to find a way of keeping my last plant safe while it grew outside. In the end, I used a bag, sewn from garden fleece. This was to ensure the poor plant was safe from all angles. Our annual slug and snail glut was in full force at the time as the young cabbage grew safely on in a new large flower pot.
This week I thought, it time to see how it was getting on . The photo shows it newly emerged from it's cocoon of fleece. I do not want to eat it yet, want it to grow on a bit more. So it's in a new bag ( made from a length of household net curtain) which should allow this .

Natacha Atlas

2009-07-17T21:53:00.002Z

Next gig, for the weekend.The superb Natacha Atlas.

Karin Dreijer Andersson

2009-07-15T16:17:00.002Z

(Borrowed from the Guardian) Karin Dreijer Andersson, aka Fever Ray, hides as much as she gives away. For four songs, she shrouds herself in a hooded cape, like a voodoo priestess presiding over a pagan ritual; even when she divests herself of it, all that can be seen through the shadows playing over the stage is her swaying silhouette, and the occasional flash of blonde hair. Her disembodied voice peals out, its unearthly effect magnified by pitch-altering treatment, droning electronics and sinister percussion. Banter is absolutely out of the question. An ever-changing light display - nine flickering lamps, accompanied by criss-crossing lasers, angled spotlights and a nightmarish red glow - keeps the attention without illuminating.

Andersson may keep her face hidden, but the ascetic intensity of her performance is such that her soul is bared. The tense terror in her music is heightened by her resolute distance, and in the aching grandeur of Keep the Streets Empty for Me it feels as though she is pushing herself to the outer limits of emotion
What can I say, fantastic gig.Xela ( the support), were great too.

A video

2009-07-11T16:33:00.001Z

Am lucky enough to be seeing the wonderful Karin in Manchester this week.Cannot wait.

Garden and amigurumi

2009-06-29T21:46:00.009Z

Few photos . The hanging basket has Virginian stock flowers, Alaskan Nasturtium, I think Livingstone Daisy and a mystery plant , probably Night Scented Stock as there is a gorgeous perfume in the garden later in the evening, if you happen to be outside.
Also perfumimg the air is my lovely Gertrude Jekel Rose, flowering profusely.
I show mark one of my crafted Amigurumi. Mark one, as I think the nose may be too big. The larger eye does give the creepy cute kawai noir look so I like that, think that will stay.
We have eaten the summer potatoes. Two meals, provided by one flower pot. I don't keep the plants to compost , am too nervous of blight so they are now green binned. Also we did not eat the potatoes in the middle of the potato pic they were either green or sprouting strangely. The ones we did eat were fab.

Latest

2009-06-16T22:46:00.003Z

Just found this video via Strawberry Jam Anne's blog, cute cat appears to enjoy playing the piano.MUSICAL CAT LINK

Going to attempt a crochet amigumi this week . It is a name for a little Japanese cute style doll or ornament made of yarn. Will post it on here when done.I want to do some knitting for Christmas as well, just some little ornaments, not sure what type to do yet, will see what develops when I begin.
Mum has moved through her first chemo session well . She hit a sort of wall about a week or so after the first go but has improved now. Next week she has her second session. After the next one they apparently can tell if it is working via a blood test so fingers crossed.

Chervil

2009-06-02T16:44:00.002Z

Remembered to plant Chervil this week. I like eating it on brown bread sandwiches, combined with cream cheese.
According to Culpepper's Herbal "The roots boiled and eaten with oil and vinegar, does much please and warm oil and cold stomachs oppressed with wind and phlegm". I have not eaten the roots myself.
The flavour is a mix of anise and something a bit like cress.It's great with egg and cheese dishes or a green salad.
Easier to grow than Parsley , which the plant resembles, it seems to grow wherever it is planted, I have had success both in open ground and in pots.
Like Parsley, this plant is not too keen on being moved about so is best planted where it is to grow on, seeds planted at an inch deep.
Reaching a height of two feet, this annual plant is best cut back every so often so it does not seed everywhere.

Bit of this bit of that.

2009-05-25T14:45:00.002Z

Saw Jean Michael Jarre in Manchester at the weekend. Absolutely brilliant. His music was drawn from many of his albums, so his style was varied through the evening. We had a laser show too, lots of gorgeous colours zooming around the arena. Great stuff.
Am back gardening at my parent's house tomorrow. We made a sort of box shape of light garden fleece , supported with canes. Then inside planted some cabbage, lettuce and onions. So far ( touchwood) no snail has got in. As the prototype has succeeded, we are making the structure bigger, to accommodate more planting. The plants are liking the situation they are in , out of the wind and rain of last week. Also the local wood pigeons and cabbage white butterflies have not been able to get anything.
For some reason, the street where my parents live is not as snaily as ours.Think someone breeds them , or something.

The snail and the slug

2009-05-18T22:17:00.005Z

Am using a slightly different means of mollusk control this year. Instead of the usual daily massacre, (squishing). This year, slugs and snails are being placed in the green bin, along with the weeds and prunings which won't rot in my compost bin. The evening before the expected bin collection , the green bin lid is opened, and all snails and slugs gently knocked back into the bin, with some fresh new greens ( leaves they like) added. Thus they stay in the inside of the bin and do not remain sticking the top of the bin lid. Next morning, gone.Possibly a more cowardly way of contributing to their end but hey, they get a nice meal out of it.
More ways to deal with the little horrors at this link snail and slug control link

Cheaper seeds

2009-05-08T14:24:00.004Z

Thompson and Morgan are having a half price seed sale currently. There is also lots of advice on what you can sow and grow in May cheap seeds link here
Thanks for all the good wishes concerning mum, she is getter better every day.
Due to me spending more time at my parents house, it has been agreed I can have a little patch of their land as a mini allotment there.I have a few cabbage, lettuce seedlings that I will plant and try some carrots. Am going cloche / fleece hunting this weekend to find something to create some barriers. Three semi tame Wood Pigeons are frequent visitors to the garden and I am not growing veggies for them!

Mum update

2009-05-03T16:26:00.003Z

Sent Reiki like mad all week to mum. Doctor visited her and said chemo would probably be too much ( in different words he didn't push an opinion ). Apparently the hospital where she had her op automatically issues chemo to persons having similar ops to the one she had ( exploratory, usually removal of some tissue). Its a 50 percent chance with the chemo whether mum would live or not after the treatment. Firstly when she came out of surgery she was going for the chemo.
After a few days of recovering, she now wishes to avoid the side effects of chemo and just enjoy her life . She rang today, she feels fantastic and very positive.
I have some good friends on the grassroots Reiki yahoo list who are sending every day and I thank them. Also thanks for all the good wishes and prayers from friends and family. Must say too thanks to my two sisters and brother who have shared the care this week you have been brilliant.Thanks as well to Allan Fraser Bell, who is a local healer and a good friend of mum, I really appreciate your help.
So this week we are continuing on in this journey on a positive note.

Looking after mum.

2009-04-28T16:56:00.002Z

Not here to blog much at present. Mum is poorly and am going to be keeping an eye on her closely for a few weeks,to help her along with her recovery from surgery and through her chemo with my sisters and brother.
She was taken into hospital for a routine operation for an ovarian cyst. Sadly cancer is suspected and nothing was removed. The consensus is for herself to gain strength and weight before chemo can be considered.
Before this I thought cancer was cancer, chemo was chemo. Not so, turns out there are many different types of cancer and many kinds of chemo to treat it.Tests have been performed to see what exactly is going on.
She remains optimistic and so do I.
She told me that the ward she was on was full of older ladies like herself who had been given hysterectomies when younger. Ovaries are left in. These women get the cancer in the remaining ovary. Apparently it is a major health issue for older women. Surgeons don't take ovaries out usually unless the person involved is over 45.This I believe is to allow a natural menopause to take place. Mum just had a small pain in one side she thought it was post surgical for another op.Tell your female relatives to check out any pains.

From a Reiki yahoo group

2009-04-21T21:24:00.002Z

From GrassRootsReiki@yahoogroups.com
I like this:

39 Things I Have Learned In My Life By Michelle R. Brennan
Listening to Spirit's inner voice ultimately makes life easier.
"Letting go" is the only way to keep something or someone in your life.
Everyone should have a cat because a cat makes you smile once in a while

Children are the best mirrors.
Love is a commitment to growth.
Dogs understand love better than people do.
Angels inhabit human forms.
"We" vs. "They" thinking creates fear and conflict. Harmony requires a
sense of community.
Quiet reflection feeds the soul.
Books are the ambrosia of life.
Freedom is worth the responsibility.
Friends who listen are rare treasures.
Ice cream can make almost anyone feel better.
Life is a privilege.
Goodnight hugs and kisses heal the day.
Tight shoes don't make your feet look THAT much smaller. Vanity isn't
worth the pain.
There's a gift in every lesson of life.
No one is an expert on you, except you.
Sunshine promotes a positive attitude.
Holding onto grievances smothers joy.
Help is as close as a prayer.
Truth is simple.
One person CAN make a difference in the world.
Change only APPEARS difficult.
Open minds are healthy minds.
People who follow their bliss are the most interesting people.
You don't own an idea until you understand it with your heart.
There is no end to learning; you just move to the next level.
There is ALWAYS another way of looking at things.
Peace is a choice.
Your life is your creation.
It's not worth the calories unless it's chocolate.
Whatever you give eventually comes back to you.
New adventures help you feel young.
It is your inner power not your weakness that most frightens you.
Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.
Everyone has the same amount of faith, they just invest it differently.
Older doesn't mean wiser unless you've looked within.
Sometimes crying is the best response.

Turbary Wood Preston

2009-04-13T23:09:00.008Z

Turbary link
A very pleasant afternoon was recently spent at Turbary Woods, near Preston Lancashire. We went to the falconry centre as well as the garden centre . Practically had a private show at first as there was only the two of us there. A few others appeared and we all took turns flying the birds.
Can recommend it to anyone traveling around here. The birds ( many rescued) are very well looked after.We were told of their life stories. The little Barn Owl had been neglected by a previous owner and is prone to sore legs due to previous leg rings ( now removed) being too tight - he gets sore flaky legs still. He has looser rings on now and Sudacreme applied!
Also shown are Great Grey Owl, European Eagle Owl, (I seemed to get the big owls)and husband with a Barn Owl.
The link will show more about what they do at the centre.

Staying

2009-04-11T16:35:00.002Z

Thanks Leigh and Monique for your lovely comments, am going to stay. Happy Easter to all.
Planted, Tomatillos today.

A thankyou.

2009-04-11T00:08:00.003Z

New self sufficient blog and recipe

2009-03-28T15:28:00.003Z

Quick Moussaka recipe without cheese.
1 can tomatoes
2 potatoes
1 courgette.
1 tsp each mixed herbs Oregano and Garlic granules
I tiny pinch Cinnamon.
Wanted a cheese free recipe this time so used some veggie chicken mix( bit like sosmix) from Granose. Around half a mugful made up with water quite sloppy.
It was a quick recipe so potatoes were microwaved for around 7 mins, then the courgette chopped in a separate dish ( about 2 mins)
Then I layered the potato , chicken sosmix, courgette. Poured on the can of tomatoes, plus some water mixed in the tomato can to give a sauce. Added to the tomato water were tsp each garlic granules, Oregano and some dried mixed herbs and a tiny pinch of Cinnamon.
Baked it on around level 650 microwave for 6 mins as most of it was previously cooked. Left it to mature for a few hours, then reheated for around four mins.

Just found this- lots of links and ideas to keep me busy.
self sufficient blog link

My three favorites

2009-03-25T16:00:00.003Z

The three I picked on the site I mentioned yesterday are:
Max the English Setter. Gilbert the fish and Elizabeth the hen. These pictures are still the copyright of their owners so if you recognise your pet and don't want it here let me know and I will remove them.

Not very blogy.

2009-03-23T14:12:00.002Z

Nothing too blog able happening at present. Have a look at this link . It is for Britain's grumpiest pet, the pictures are hilarious.
link here

Bees

2009-03-17T15:09:00.003Z

Was buzzed by a large Bumble bee yesterday, was glad to see it. The bee supervised me , as I planted tomatoes, Basil, Parsley, Dill and Chives, in my mini greenhouse.
Recently I have been messing about with a drawing programme called Plopp. Although it is designed for kids, its fun and I'm finding it a good introduction to 3d drawing. I post a recent drawing I made which is a mix of Plopp and Paint Shop Pro 6.
Just a bit of fun , hope you like it.

Cheap wormery

2009-03-13T15:37:00.003Z

We have two old metal bins that now hold compost. Well one does.
The other , has gerbil cage offerings, various bits of plants and some elderly porridge that was recently added.Looks like a paper shredder exploded inside.
The gerbils, (getting on a bit, aged two) don't like wood shavings, one has an allergy and gets a really sore nose in a cage full of shavings. A few handfuls are ok. Mixed with this goes compost. Usually this is regular peat free, (usually Lidl) added in .
Today I used home made compost in their tank for the first time. The first bin I started around this time last year is now rotted down nicely into real compost. Full of wildlife though. Each flower potful was carefully tipped out onto a plastic dish (lives outside) and carefully checked through for worms, woodlice ect. Found a Centipede and a Woodlouse spider as well, back in the bin they went.
Today's cage clearings went in to top up that bin. Think all the creatures inside were relieved.
The containers are both just metal dustbins one with a metal lid, one with a softer lid. I added worms found in the garden.
Fortified with garden waste, old gerbil bedding and some paper, both bins are teeming with life. Everything survived through the freezing winter without extra insulation.
So if you have an old bin to spare, try making a cheap compost maker. It will double up as a wormery eventually.

Is it really gluten free.

2009-03-08T22:42:00.004Z

Been researching gluten free sweets, for my mum. As herself coeliac , diagnosed quite late on, it can be a bit awkward to buy her sweet gifts due to flour or anything wheat derived, being present.
Bassets Jelly babies, once definitely gluten free are not now. Nor are Asda brand.
There is an Aussie site online that is claiming to sell some gluten free ones so will try some of those if I can find a near bye supplier.
Found this link. gluten free here.
I was reading it looking for pointers on where to go for celiac , as they spell it in the US,food and found something I had not thought of before.
Coeliac shampoo.If you think about it, bizarre, yet wheat /oat ( oats upset some coeliacs ) products in a shampoo.
Wash your hair might get a bit in your mouth, allergy trouble. Or it could give you eczema on your sensitive skin.
The site recommends Dove products as gluten free, if anyone is wondering what brand is currently safe.
Hope this helps someone.

A little gardening lore.

2009-03-03T16:35:00.003Z

Traps for snails (lore from from Victorian Enquire upon everything book)
Snails are particularly fond of bran, if a little is spread upon the ground, and covered over with a few cabbage leaves or tiles,they will congregate upon them in great numbers and by examining them every morning and destroying them, their numbers will be greatly decreased.
Victorian punctuation surprises me here, the comma after ground , before the 'and' was present in the book, which is of extremely ancient binding. It was dinned into me in the 70's never to do that, wonder why it was ok in the nineteenth century.
Also - exactly what was a cabbage tile?

Secondlife

2009-02-24T14:44:00.003Z

I have been exploring second life recently. It is a free game, as long as you do not buy land or want to build anything permanently there. Some people go on it to meet people but you can just (like me) put in your profile that you are not there to date, just to chat and explore the world. Its like everywhere really there are some weird places and people on there but you are ok if you treat it like a chat room. Many people are very helpful and give tips for the best places to see there. My current favorite being the virtual Louvre art gallery. I show a pic of me in my first incarnation there, with a spider exhibit.
Just found some writing sites on there thanks to this writer's blogwriting in second life link
Lots of help here and ideas to explore.That's me busy for the afternoon.

Open University

2009-02-18T23:36:00.003Z

I hope the weather is not too cold, where you are. We have avoided most of the snow but it is still chilly. Some Crocus flowers are bravely flowering, along with the Snowdrops, braving the freezing elements outside.
I have just submitted my homework for my OU tutorial. I had to write a passage , around a hundred words, rewrite it, then comment on it. That felt strange, discussing what you have written yourself and why. I have two more such tutorials and two essays to hand in. Quite a lot, considering it is only a three month course. Also, I must send in a piece of work to the place essays go to electronically (Tma service) . This is a first for me, as I have always submitted in work previously in paper form only. It will save me a fortune in stamps.They like a practice session in which you send in some other piece of work ( not to be marked) in so you feel confident about using the service. The tutor lets you know if you were successful in doing so. I had best get on with doing that next, I think.

books

2009-02-12T23:01:00.006Z

I have just finished reading 'Waiter Rant' by an anonymous author. The person in question writes a blog, now in the links area of this page. The book is basically about the waiter's first seven years in service.
This book shows dealings with difficult customers and employers,from behind the scenes of the restaurant system.It is hilarious book , yet moving and slightly gruesome ( see the chapter about the squirrel at large) at times, in the restaurant.
Sad the series Victorian farm has finished.It was nice to see a reality show where people are actually enjoying being on the program instead of the usual good for television winge types wingeing about their situation.
The Book of The Farm , the essential Victorian book they refer to nearly all of the series is available online at Google.waiterrant link

Odd

2009-02-09T23:48:00.002Z

Walked through the local British Home Stores today, while going to the library. No great deal, it is a good short cut . A woman breezed ahead of me and unknowingly knocked a rather gruesome flimsy orange blouse, away from a rack of similar blouses.
It of course landed on the floor as I passed it. Why did I feel the compulsion to pick it up and place it back neatly,( who on earth is checking me) who knows. Felt like I had done it, almost. Carried on.
Woman was heading up the stairs by the side of me now, to go upstairs. I then noticed she had the classic current shop workers outfit of black trousers and a uniform top. So she worked there. She obviously had not noticed she had knocked the blouse to the floor . It just seemed odd.

Bob the builder

2009-02-05T15:30:00.007Z

Bob ( the cat) can he trash it , yes he can. Bob has managed to remove one of the new curtains in the front room. The curtain pegs, bizarrely are still on the curtain. Leaving for husband to see to later. He thought the curtains were Bob proof, I knew better. Sadly I missed getting a pic of Bob sleeping on the curtain, which is how I found him before. As I arrived with camera, he had vanished and I had to be content with a pic of hin by the gerbils.The old squashy chair is the cats own in the picture. We have newer ones in the other room.I have never seen the point of buying completly new when keeping cats.

Crafting and spiders not for the squeemish

2009-02-03T17:37:00.006Z

I show photos of my newly knitted socks. They are not perfect but I am delighted with them. The yarn is a self striping one ( pattern happens as you knit).
I also show spider bite pictures.Top one is today's photo they go down the page to Tuesday about a fortnight ago. Lowest was the first day ( Tuesday to Wednesday) next shown Friday morning and then night. Then the Sunday after that. Finally last one shows bite today, very much healed. Sorry if they are a bit graphic but I wanted everyone in uk to know we have a house spider that can do this. Namely the Yard spider Tegenaria agrestis ( Hobo spider in US). It is a native one not an exotic. I removed one last week from the house touch wood no more bites. So along with research on spider sites on Internet I think this was the culprit.
Apparently they hate Lemon Pledge, guess who is buying some this week. The house will smell nice anyway!

Sprouts

2009-01-31T15:18:00.003Z

Not sure if broccoli sprouts are that fantastic. Being a person who cannot eat a great deal of veg at one setting ( due to several surgeries for Crohns disease in my twenties). I like a few sprouts on a sandwich as a way of getting some fresh grown greens. My current favorites are still alfalfa sprouts.
I did grow some broccoli sprouts just at the beginning of January. Apparently they contain twice as much anti oxidants as the mature plant, at that time. But they are a sprout to be used sparingly. Why? They taste not like mature broccoli but like a piece of cabbage stalk - raw. I will sprout more but will use them lightly. Perhaps I could have steamed them but they were so little it would seem almost cruel, to do so.

Feeling better

2009-01-28T16:06:00.002Z

Thanks for the kind comments regarding the spider bite. It is much better now. I think I just had a bite from a uk spider, possibly a baby house spider . I put one of these out the other day, it is the only one I have seen inside recently.
My Open University mini course begins this week. I feel a combination of excitement and nerves inside at the beginning of the course, A174 Start Writing Fiction.
There are two TMA'S ( pieces of work) expected for the course. One is due in to mark in March and the other, in May. I must participate in an online conference as well , bit like a forum.I have introduced myself online and now must write a little about me to my tutor (50 to 100 words) about why I write.
As my work must remain secret and only for the OU, I can not repeat what I have written for this here. I just write, its like I just draw, seems to have always been so ( definitely it has been so from a memory point of view). Can any person say why they write, or blog even?

Spiders in the uk

2009-01-25T14:28:00.005Z

I was bitten by a spider this week. One night while preparing for sleep, I noticed a strange sensation on my hip, as if an item of clothing was too tight. Moving my clothing I felt a bump, on my skin around the side of a small egg cup. Thinking I had somehow got a boil I went to sleep thinking I would dress it with Campho Phenique the next day.
Checked bump the next day , it looked angry and red and my whole hip was stiff and ached, odd for a boil, I thought. I remained fluey for the day, while dressing bump with eucalyptus oil and Lavender oil. That night it had a Campho dressing on it, surely this would pop a boil.
Next day , it apeared slightly reduced in size with a small black scab on top. Ah, a bite. This was the point I defiantly suspected a spider. I know there should have been two fang marks but the area was still painful, although my joints were better.
Since then it has steadily decreased in size although any pressure is still a bit painful on it, when applied. The bite is being watched to make sure there is no secondary infection. I suspect something like a British garden spider, nothing too venomous as the bite is going so quickly. Someone told me last year there is a person in our street several blocks away who keeps spiders "she shouldn't really have", so I am being vigilant in case one of her little pals, has escaped.
I found a helpful paste mixture recipe for spider bites at www.badspiderbites.com.I must warn you they have some very graphic pictures on the site, of both spiders and bites so if you are squeamish or afraid of spiders get someone else to look there for you. Basically the recipe was a paste of baking soda ( I used bicarbonate of soda) and water applied to bite, it does take the pain, swelling down a bit. Salt applied to wet ( with water) spider bite was tried too. It stings but also helped deflate the thing a bit.
I am taking a daily photo of the bite to catalog its progress but thankfully it is healing well.

Garden centre

2009-01-24T16:00:00.004Z

First of this year, a garden centre visit today. Dunscar nurseries, near Preston. Hadn't been for a while. They have made it about twice as big as the centre was before and extended the cafe. (Very good food if you chance upon it.)
I didn't buy any plants today but had a good look at Blueberries, Blackcurrants and Raspberries . Suddenly realising I needed to know what varieties would not grow too tall for my little yard I held back from purchase.
Also I hunted for a lungwort plant. I think this will have to be an online purchase though, as there were none about. This sweet little shade loving plant which does resemble lungs slightly, would be great in my front garden.The leaves are handy for coughs and colds,I believe, when made into a tea.

Keep on blogging

2009-01-22T15:56:00.004Z

Thanks carma for your comment,still feel a bit odd blogging today but Ma would want us all to keep on bloggin so here goes. I have linked your blog as any one who can bounce juggle ( don't know what it entails but will soon found out) , must be cool.
carma

For Emma- a tribute

2009-01-21T16:09:00.005Z

Emma, I only knew you for a little while, from blogging and from your excellent messages. Clever person, you managed to finish your MA last year and graduate. Although I know you always had difficult times from your disabilities and from taking medication, you always managed to leave cheerful comments. I will read the titles on your favorite booklist that I have previously missed, thankyou for the recommendation. Thanks for being a blogbuddy.
I'll miss your comments.xxxxx

Knits and paints

2009-01-18T15:58:00.003Z

Am attempting to finish my first ever pair of knitted socks. I have seen some videos on Kitchener stitch , mm, not totally confident with completing that stitch. Better get the craft books out and see how they show you how to complete a sock project.
After an Internet search, I did find an alternative, that I will use if Kitchener proves too fiddly at Alternative sock completion link .
There was a free download as well for several sock patterns on the page , you will have to scroll down the page a bit for that.
Bought a few watercolour paints today. I'm thinking of creating some greetings cards, with them. Nothing specific planned yet, I'm at the thinking stage, for this, currently.

Panduro specials

2009-01-15T23:09:00.003Z

Panduro Spring catalogue link.
Above , as it says is the Panduro site link. I have put this link on due to there being some special crafting offers on the site currently, which I thought others might enjoy.
Also, online you can now browse the Springtime as well as the Christmas collection/main catalogue. The best thing about this, is the catalogues are in a page format. Thus you can click forwards or backwards through them , as if really having a good look. I like the look of some of the new fabrics in the Spring catalogue and the jewelry section has some gorgeous beads in it.

Lush again

2009-01-10T22:46:00.002Z

Must admit after my scathing report on Lush new products I enjoyed a whole bath melt this morning with no ill effect. This one was a limited edition 'Witches Ball' from my sis in law (she is not being rude, she is quite gothy). Lovely smell ,earthy 'with reviving herbs ' ( perfect, was nursing a cold this morning, it seems to be giving up as we speak) with a floral sweetness underneath.
The bathmelt's colour was purple, with a Star Anise pod sat on top, like a baby Tarantula, and gently coloured the bathwater so. Lots of star anise and cloves drifted away from it as it melted . Much was removed, I wanted a comfortable bath. The morning aches from my germs, were stifled with the help of the bath product and warmth of the bath. From a neat person's viewpoint the bath needed a good clean after I had finished. Me being messy, the bath looked like someone had emptied half a Christmas cake within. No problem, soon removed. I suppose next time I could make a muslin bag and crumble bath product into that, then pop it in the bath.
MA, get well soon , hope those ears improve.

Lush

2009-01-09T23:44:00.007Z

A jolly Lush bath products paper appeared at the door today. ( Thanks rellies who gave me the Lush stuff for Chrimbo.) As usual I poured over the paper seeing what was new. I like their Karma range and bath bombs. Often one product is too much for one bath ( here I am thinking of the sweet bat melts, they produce rather more scent than bath bombs). Some are too concentrated for me.
Bizarrely they have produced some giant bath bombs for £7.50. No way am I spending that on something like a bath bomb, that will be too much. They advise you could use one everyday. Erm even if I have several days of their regular bath bombs in use my skin begins to dry up, I tend to alternate them with baths with regular products , sometimes make my own up or just shower. Think I would need a bath about four times the size of my current one for one of those giants. Seems odd in a company that tries to be eco aware. Rant over.
Am sprouting special broccoli sprout seeds currently. They should be ready in around three days. Makes a bit of a change from Alfalfa sprouts. I bought them from Thompson and Morgan online, if anyone would like to try growing some.

Tagged,what next.

2009-01-05T22:24:00.006Z

Um, first time to be tagged, 6 things that make me happy.
The rules…
Link to the person who gave you the award. If you want.
Post the rules on your blog.
List six things that make you happy.
Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
Let the person who awarded you know when your entry is up.

1, Books, reading , the luxury of time, spent in the escapism, of reading about and experiencing another world, or lifetime.
2, Reiki is something I find time for because it makes me feel good. This one sort of links me to blogging and crafting, as I can craft more since the Tendinitis practically vanished in my hands when I learned how to work with Reiki. Also happy to send it when people ask. I was taught to expect nothing and not attach to results but they were certainly positive for me.
3, My two cats, Bobby and Bluebell, who often make me laugh, with their antics.
4 , Has to be my family,and good friends. Family have supported me whatever has gone on in my life and good friends offer the same support.
5, My creativity, not just being able to make things but being able to get new ideas from nothing. Sometimes I write stories for fun too,that ability makes me feel good and I'd say belongs here.
6, Gardening. My little back yard garden, (a little bare at the moment) will soon be full of fragrant flowers, my pots of veg and I hope to add a Blackcurrant bush this year. I just like watching plants grow.

New year internet, back on now

2009-01-04T14:24:00.003Z

My isp had a blip New Year's day. We could not get on that day. Rang the company involved next day ( we had a meal with friends, New Year so were out most of the day) twice. Told me to reconfigure account, did this did not work. Rang again, tried again modem on modem off all the things you do. Knew our computer was ok and account sorted out, tried once Saturday, nothing happening yesterday. Husband tried today,modem on without a problem, everything bar Outlook Express messages worked.(I think something on the line was fixed.) I checked internet options, then reconfigured again and yippee! it worked. I think lots of people have complained and I know they had a fault on New Year's day-and we are back on so I am HAPPY.

Nearly new Year

2008-12-31T17:14:00.004Z

Thanks Rusty for the recommendation to look out for Lear when it is next on. I have a version of the play from 1970, which is terribly dramatic. I would like to see a different approach to the script. I tend to get used to a version of a play, when owning it on video / dvd. It is good to see a fresh application. Don't you just wish you knew Shakespeare.
Monique , I look forward to new episodes of MiddleDitch next year. Enjoy your lovely new Dvd of Winds of War and please keep writing.
All the best to everyone for The New Yearx