Block paving? It's a doddle ;o)

Hello. It's been a great day, I've got a lot done. I like to start the day off with sewing, the light coming in through the back window into the living room is ideal for doing close work. Even though I wear varifocals I still prefer to take my specs off and get up close when I am doing tiny stitching. I had a frame earmarked for the picture but it wasn't quite right, then I looked through the others I have and found this one. It is exactly the right size but the colour is wrong, too brown. 

No worries, just paint it white. After three coats of vinyl silk emulsion it is ready.

Remember this, the collapsed pallet decking which became a graveyard for other pieces of timber and anything that didn't have a place elsewhere. I showed you the picture after I cleared it all out and took it down the tip. I leveled the ground off with some of the spare compost I had.  

And now it looks like this. I re potted a few plants into bigger pots, this is all I am going to put here, I like the tidy and uncluttered look. I have scattered grass seed all around it so hopefully the lawn will cover the compost when it starts growing. Big improvement, eh!

I ended up with more bricks than I needed for the beds, but not to worry, I found a use for them. A bit of home made block paving between the bed and the summerhouse.

And these bricks fit nicely into this space between the summerhouse and the garage.

The cats like to sit on the edges of the beds, thankfully they aren't getting in them to dig. When the seeds start coming up I will take away the plastic trellis. The ground around them is a bit bare but I've scattered grass seed over it. All we have to do now is wait for things to grow. 

Today I ate the second portion of the deeelishus stew, here it is. More left for tomorrow. I don't mind eating the same thing three days running, and I love the idea of cooking in one pan, just chuck it all in. Less faff and less washing up. 

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

A little prick will do it

Hello, a second dose today. That's a sight for sore eye's isn't it, the bottom of my left foot. I thought I felt a twinge, and there it is the little blighter. I always manage to pick up a blister or two between my toes where they are all scrunched up together, ha ha. A needle and a splodge of Germaline will soon get shot of that little devil. Look how supple I am, managing to balance on one leg and turn my foot over on top of the table. Should have been a ballet dancer. 

One healthy yellow sticker lunch today.

 I've been on a mission to cook all the prepared veg before it goes off. Looking at the original prices I wondered why people choose to buy these, given that they go off quicker than whole vegetables, and they cost a lot more as well. Don't people know how to use a vegetable knife? Ok some will say they have arthritis in their hands and can't grasp the knife, or they have a sight problem, fair enough, anything to make life easier. But if anyone buys these because they say they don't have the time to chop up a few carrots or peel a few spuds, or dissect a cauliflower, that's just a lame excuse for I can't be bothered. A 480g pack of peas and carrots costs £1.25. How much does a bag of whole carrots cost, 40p - 50p, and how much is a handful of frozen peas? 20p at a guess. A family pack of broccoli and cauliflower costs £1.65. What would they cost whole if bought separately? In season about £1 for both, or less.

I am chopping the carrots into small pieces to shorten the cooking time.

There is enough for three pans. Broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, beans and onions stew mix, and green beans. The small pan will be zapped with the blender and turned into soup. The other will stay as a veggie stew. It is all cooling now and will be put into margarine tubs to go in the freezer. Lot's of cheap ready meals.

Someone asked what to do with lettuce if it has gone a bit limp. There was a 'turn it into soup', suggestion, which sounds like a good idea, but I normally eat my lettuce before it gets to that stage. I once chucked the last bits of a prepared lettuce into a stew, but I never end up with a whole lettuce uneaten. I make sure I eat it, even if it means chomping on it straight out of the fridge without it ever going on a plate.

The Yorkshire Post article was online yesterday. I read it last night, but there was something in it which I was not happy about and wanted it removed. This morning, Sarah the journalist has done that, but unfortunately she has removed one of the photo's as well, and I thought it was a better photo than the other one which is still there. I have noticed a couple of  inaccuracies, I didn't buy the shorts at Primark, as if I would shop there. They came from a charity shop and cost £1. And I used more than a couple of pallets to build the Summer House. The article overall I feel is disappointing. Why she brought up parts of the old story I don't know. I was expecting it to be fresh and new, like what has happened over the last seven years since the first article. It reads like a series of one or two line statements with nothing holding it together. There is mention of collecting fabric and tin cans, but no mention that these are used for my arts and crafts work. Makes me look like a dotty old woman who hoards rubbish for the sake of it.

The interview was rushed, she kept darting from one topic to the next, not giving me time to gather thoughts and construct coherent answers. I was struggling to keep up with her, and I felt like she wasn't really listening. The online newspaper is so full of advertisements it makes reading anything hard going. I think it might come out in paper form on Monday. Still, it's done now.

The only accurate record I am going to have of my lifestyle is this blog, written by myself. I have never met a media person who is fully understanding of the reasons why I live as I do.

I'm having a day off walking today, too much to do, I'll start again tomorrow on the three miles each day. Poor Jo is struggling a bit now, I've been watching her on and off all day. They keep putting little videos up and photographs. It must make it doubly hard for her with the cameras at her face every step of the way. The way I coped with the pain was to detach my brain from my physical body, to close up and retreat inside myself and fill my head with nice thoughts. Basically you have to try and switch off. She can't do that because as well as walking she has a job to do, performing for the cameras, whether it be joking or despairing, and speaking to her well wishers. If there is anyone out there who is of similar age and stature, who likes a drink and a smoke, and who hasn't done any exercise for 25 years, just imagine how hard it must be for her to do this challenge. I can almost feel her pain.

We have a few Walking Group reports coming in, I keep updating the list with whatever you tell me. Some of you are going great guns, well done. Don't despair if you are a bit slow at catching up, you still have 11 months and 8 days left, plenty of time. Don't keep putting it off though, time doesn't stand still. Do a little each day, you don't have to walk a marathon. Anything is better than staying sat on your bum and not moving. Go for it.

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your Sunday, get out for a walk if it is a nice day. Get out anyway, just wear appropriate clothing. Oooh, nearly forgot, welcome to the new followers. It's good to have your company.
Toodle pip

Flower power

Hello to my blogerettes wherever you are. This month we have had readers from the UK, United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Ukraine, Belgium, Ireland, India, Russia, and Sweden. Thank you all for popping in. I forget to welcome new readers, so here is a welcome to everyone. 

What a rotten day weatherwise, rain, rain, and more chuffin rain. A day inside I think. Here is a progress report on the artificial hanging basket of flowers. It's going to take a while, but it's something I can pick up for an hour or two while I watch something on the catch up channels. This picture is the right way up, but the basket is upside down if you get my drift. The pointy bit will be at the bottom as it hangs on the wall bracket. I covered the shell with green mesh, it's plastic so shouldn't rot. Remember the big roll of it I used to construct a makeshift fence in my garden, well that's still intact a year later.  

The flower shapes are cut from aluminium drinks cans, two sizes so one sits on top of the other, with a bead in the centre. They are attached with wire and need to be tight fitting so they don't flop about. Looking good so far. 

I did venture out this morning to the Crafty Club, in fact I ended up going back and forth three times, to fetch bits and bobs I needed to construct Santa's Grotto. The corner of the Foyer as you go in was chosen for it. I've put two of the white plastic gazebo sides as the backdrop, and put up a 9 foot long wooden timber across the corner to support the curtain and tinsel and lights. More decoration is needed, which will be added before Saturday. Santa will get a throw over his brown chair to jazz it up a bit. I'll take another picture on Saturday, when it is in use.  

I'm still munching my way through my bargain food. Lunch today was iceberg lettuce, button mushrooms, baby tomatoes, quarter slice of quiche, and some microwave in the bag new potatoes with garlic butter. A squirt of cheap mayo just finished it off nicely. Very nice it was too.

Dinner tonight was very simple, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and sprouts, with a sprinkling of grated mature cheddar cheese. No need for anything else, there was a massive plateful and I'm stuffed. The good thing about vegetables is that you can eat as much of them as you like, and not put any weight on.

I think it may have stopped raining so I'm going to take the dawg out. He will be chuffed. Thanks for popping in. Catch up with you soon. Toodle pip

Eat up all your greens.

Hello. Thank you for your comments on yesterdays post. I'm chuffed that you like the poem, and thank you Joan for sending it to me. 

I've been to visit Helen this morning, we took her dog Henry choc lab for a walk, with Angus and Guinness, two other dogs she knows. Rocky came with me but he stayed in the house while we went out. He has been there many times before so he is fine with that. He has had three short walks today, it's best that we walk alone then he can go at his own pace, he can't keep up with other dogs.  

Here is a variation on the felt hearts, why not make felt miniature Christmas stockings as well, to hang on a tree. I have made five and they are so so cute. The tiny sequins were fiddly to pick up and the silver braid was awkward to sew around the top edge while holding the back and front together. I have put a bit of stuffing in to fill them out.  

Do you remember the cushion covers made from men's shirts? I made the one on the right a few months ago, and the two new shirts, charity shop £1, have now been made into cushions. So now there is a matching set of three, I deliberately chose stripes again. I am pleased with them, they will be sold on our cat stall at the Christmas Fair.   

Oh no, I have gone and done it again. I said I wasn't going to buy any more of the mayo in a plastic bottle because of the difficulty of getting it all out, unless you cut the bottle in two pieces. The trouble is that it was only 20p a bottle along with the sweetcorn relish, so how could I not buy them. I'll just have to put up with the inconvenience of shaking the bottle like crazy and bashing it on the work top, then slicing it in half with a knife, and finally washing the two pieces of plastic to go in the recycling bin. 

Dinner the other day. Quorn is or was on offer at £1 a bag, so I stocked up with sausages, fillets, and nuggets. Added to a plate of steamed greens and it's the ideal dinner for me.

Courgettes, pickled onions, one mushroom, and spinach cooked in a bit of oil, and add two eggs and scramble them. Serve with iceberg lettuce and cucumber. Very nice.

 I took Heidi to the vet yesterday late afternoon, for blood to be taken for another test. On the way back I popped in the Tesco Local. I was lucky enough to get a few items. Small bottles of fresh milk 5p each, I got three. Spinach 22p. Potato salad 7p, I got two, and pasta salad 68p. Total cost £1.19p. So this was my dinner last night, a no cook meal, half of the potato salad and half the pasta salad, eat it out of the tubs to save on washing up, ha ha. Have eaten the rest for lunch today.

It's been lovely out in the garden for the last few days. I am making use of the summer house and sitting out there busy sewing. I think I'm going to get rid of the raised beds over the winter and give up on veg growing. I fancy making a flower garden instead.

Thanks for popping in. Catch you soon. Toodle pip.

The bag of many colours

Hello peoples, there's thunder in the air on this hot and humid night. The last dog walk is done and we are snug indoors. It's been a sweltering day. I ventured into the garden for about an hour, to tidy up and have a firkle in the potato beds. The weeks spuds are washed and ready. It was too darn hot to stay out any longer. All week I have been sewing, this is what I've been doing. I'm making a bag. 

First off get a piece of hessian type sackcloth, fold it in half so it's double thickness, I don't want a floppy bag. Then cut strips of colourful fabric and machine them on, starting at the bottom. Right sides facing then fold it over and iron. Carry on with the next piece of fabric the same way until the whole piece is covered. Doesn't matter about the edges being uneven, they will be trimmed. 

This is one side almost finished. I have cross stitched all the seams, and put random embellishments on with more cross stitching. I have put two darts on the top edge to bring it in a bit. 

This is the back of it which will be covered by the lining.

Next I cut a piece of red cotton fabric from a bed sheet I got from a charity shop, especially for the purpose of lining bags. I pinned them together and machined them leaving the top edge open. Then I turned it the right way and ironed it. I am making the front and back of the bag separately, then the two pieces will be hand sewn together because it will be too thick to go through the machine. That's the front completed, more on this later. 

Hey, how do you like my new shirt, super isn't it. I was in the Age UK charity shop yesterday, everything £1, and I couldn't resist this shirt. It's 100% cotton and brand new. Aha, another cushion cover I thought, sort of matching the others I have made with stripey shirts. I've got plenty of stuffing to make the cushion. 

An amazing bargain, why bother going to a real shop when prices are this cheap.

My dinner tonight, steamed potatoes, carrots, onions, peas, and spinach, with a quarter slice of quiche. A couple of dollops of tartar sauce went down well with this. I am stuffed.

Thanks for popping in, glad you could make it. Have a nice Sunday. Toodle pip

Don't judge a book by it's cover

Hello. It's been a day of watching Heidi, she has been very quiet. Janet came round and we managed to get some water into her mouth with a syringe as she wasn't drinking or eating. This must have triggered something off because she ate a small amount of tuna fish, and now she is having a nibble of dried food. Lets hope this continues till we get the results of the blood tests. 

Ordinary brown vinegar did the trick, diluted and soaked for a day. I have a new pan. This was really black, now I can carry on steaming my vegetables, I must remember to put enough water in the bottom, ha ha. 

The notebook cover is finished. This was a bit of an experiment, I didn't put much thought into the design or much time into it, I just stitched willynilly. I started with a piece of grey felt, then cut strips of fabric and machined them to it, starting at one end. Each piece was sewn right sides facing and folded over, and the next piece added and so on, till the felt was covered. This is the front, although it can be put on the other way round.

This is inside the front cover, some machine stitching as well as hand stitching.

Inside the back cover.

It's an A6 size notebook, the cover can be taken off and used again on another book. I have put a strip of dark blue ribbon top and bottom on the inside, to hide the hem

The back cover, or it could be the front cover.

This was just a practice piece to try. It's ok, but not wonderful. I think it would be better to use a lighter fabric, felt is too heavy, and too thick and bulky. A lightweight fabric would make it a better fit.

My dinner tonight cost me 33p, that's for a bag of broccoli and cauliflower. In the bottom of the pyrex bowl I put a frozen portion of home made thick soup, cost negligible as it was made from yellow stickered peas, sweetcorn and carrots, 2p at a guess. Zapped that in the microwave and put the steamed veg on top of it. Simple and cheap.

Thanks very much for popping in. Catch you soon. Toodle pip

Worth a look when passing

Hello. A nice time was had with Sis yesterday, we chatted and scoffed nice food outside in the sunshine. They have all mod cons in their posh caravan, so when it got a bit chilly later on we went inside and watched the tele. 

As I was driving home I wondered if I might be too late for any yellow stickers at Tesco. It was 8.30pm when I came off the motorway, sometimes there isn't anything left at that time. Worth a look, and I needed some soya milk and yogurt anyway. Well that was a nice surprise, there was stacks of food in the fruit and veg department and chiller cabinet. I only took a hand basket in, so I filled it. Seventeen items with a value of £22.70, and I got them for £2.30. Also full price Value yogurt for 45p and milk at 65p. Chuffed with that, definitely worth a look. 

It was breakfast with a difference this morning, I put a bag of prepared fruit, 20p, in a jug and zapped it with the stick blender. There was strawberries, apples, oranges, cucumber, and two leaves of mint.

Very nice it was too.

Dinner tonight was wild rocket salad leaves, mixed bean salad, and pasta salad. A quick and cheap meal.

I have made curry with the veg, and it's portioned in margarine tubs in the freezer. Now I have loads of salad to plough through in the next few days. No cooking till it's gone  :o)

I needed to go to town today to visit the hole in the wall in the bank, and pay my Council Tax at the Post Office. I picked up a jar of coffee at B & M, and some cooked chicken for the cats. I popped in Aldi for a few things to top up my cheap Tesco shop. Two more cartons of soya milk, cheaper at Aldi, 59p. Packets of Brazil nuts, walnuts, and cranberries. Free range eggs, a pint of ordinary milk, and a multigrain loaf, oh and some dog and cat food in foil trays. £9.95 spent.

Some good news, I've booked myself a holiday. I want to do more walking, so I've chosen three Youth Hostels conveniently placed on the North Norfolk coast. I shall drive to Hunstanton, stay overnight, leave my car there and walk the 17 miles to Wells Next the Sea. Overnight there, next day walk 17 miles to Sheringham, overnight there. Next day, set off and do it in reverse choosing a different route. Should give me 70 - 80 miles walking, That will suit me fine and no having to look for beds. Cost for a bed in a female dorm for the five nights is £95. I've booked a breakfast at Sherringham for £4.25, Wells hostel is self catering, and Hunstanton is an Independant Hostel. I will see if they do breakfast when I get there, or get my own. Not going just yet, but I thought I had better book in advance to make sure I have the nights that I need. I haven't been to that part of the country before, except drive through in a lorry, so it will be a bit exciting. Yipppeeeee.

Thanks for popping in. Catch you tomorrow. Have a nice Sunday.
Toodle pip

Shopping, repairing, recycling, and other stuff

Hello. Did you know that the pooch has got into recycling as well. We were coming back from visiting a friend, and found some people taking stuff out of their full to bursting garage, and chucking it into their car. An opportunity to have a nosey, and maybe rescue a few things from the council dump. They allowed me to look through it. As usual there was stuff that could be used again so I loaded up the buggy. I couldn't turf Rocky out because it was too far for him to walk home, so he had to share the space, ha ha. 

My friend had a shopping bag that has seen better days, he rang me to ask if I had any shopping bags left from the sale. Sorry but no, they were all sold. I asked him if the bag could be repaired, he said, hang on a minute, I'll get it out of the bin. I went round and picked it up. Chucked in the bin indeed. No.

Yes, it can be repaired. I cut four pieces of hessian type fabric with a tighter weave than the bag, turned a hem under all round, and machined them on outside and inside. Jobs a good one, the bag will last another year. I could start up a bag repair business  ;o)

My mini chopper is used daily now to prepare my morning cereal topper. Such a handy gadget. Other makes are available  ;o)

An assortment of nuts, seeds and fruit...

all stored in my dry goods cupboard with the pasta, rice, noodles, and spices.

Yesterday I finally got round to defrosting the fridge, a job which was well overdue. Almost everything was eaten except a few items which went into the cool box while I was waiting for the ice to melt. A good scrub out and it's all clean and ready to start again. 

Last night was the Tesco yellow sticker dash, I got there about 7pm. I managed to find these four tins marked at half price due to them being dented. They don't usually have much of interest on the damaged goods section, but it's always worth a look. Two tins of peach slices, a tin of mandarins and one of chopped tomatoes.

The man brought a trolley out of the warehouse, everything already marked up, or should I say marked down. It was the last reduction of the day, so 90% off. There was about half a dozen people waiting but there was enough for everybody. Two small cauliflowers 10p each.

I've given up with the broad beans in the garden, they have been decimated by the slugs. Not to worry, I am happy to pay 20p. Who in their right mind would pay £2 for a bag of mainly pods, when you can get a large bag of frozen beans for £1.

Fridge is all stocked up again. Looking good. 

My lunch yesterday, I already had these items in before I went shopping. 

Lunch today. chargrilled mushroom pasta, salad, and gaucamole. very nice, followed by fresh mango and melon slices.

So, do you want a breakdown of my shopping list.
Whole Galia melon 69p
Sweet potatoes £1.50
Bag carrots 60p
Loose bananas (6) 56p
Cat food £1.88
Small milk 45p
Frozen mixed veg £1
Frozen sweetcorn 99p
Frozen peas 89p
Frozen broad beans £1
Frozen veg sausages £1
Frozen veg mix 50p
Frozen macaroni cheese £1
6 small yougurts £1
Large plain yogurt 45p
Vitalite spread £1
Large seeded loaf £1
2 packs cream crackers 54p
Cooked chicken £1
Cherries £1
The rest are reduced
2 packs brussel sprouts 15p each
2 bunches salad onions 10p each
4 packs mixed prepared veg 48p total
2 cauliflowers 10p each
1 pack prepared fruit 20p
4 dented tins 75p total
Mushroom pasta 20p
2 pots guacamole 16p each
5 bags assorted salads 61p total
Broad beans 20p
Total £21.43

That will last a while. I managed to steer clear of any sweet treats. Luckily there were no reduced donuts, ha ha. I have fallen off the wagon a couple of times, picked up some snack bars when I have been in town, and my size 8 trousers are getting a bit tight around my waist. Can't have that. My will power is running at full throttle now. A little voice in my head screams at me, NO NO BLOODY NO, YOU DON'T NEED IT, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT. OK boss, ha ha.

Hope you are having a good Sunday. I'm off outside, the sun is shining.
Toodle pip