Sunday, January 27, 2008

Mainly Starring Angus, but Some Woof and Fabric too.....

Hey! Excuse me!

What do you think you`re doing there?

Just this...(I`m definately going to paint those table legs brown this summer)

And this....

What`s the problem ma?

I layed out the fabric I found for the bed that matches as close as I can get, but there were some complications in taking a picture....

This one is called Portfolio Bellington. It`s beautiful with a linen mix and ecru backgound....

Hey! Not you again.....

This is a Waverly Toile with the same colours and though the background looks whiter here, it`s actually the same as the floral....

I`m not going to do any sewing yet. I want to concentrate on the bed and hopefully in the next few months I`ll be showing how I`m going to reproduce all that trim for the bed. I`m quite excited about finding a way without spending a fortune. I love the internet! Stay tuned.
In the meantime, hubby has been making bunk beds for when the boys visit. This frees up our spare sitting room/library(sorta)for reading tv or knitting or doing homework.
Angus found another comfy spot, if only temporary. I`ll take a pic of the beds when he`s fixed something he says needs fixing. Won`t be staining them until I can open the windows though...

Give us a kiss....

We came home the other day to the garbage emptied out and spread to feast the eyes on all across the kitchen floor. An absolutely vile mess...coffee grounds mixed with broken tea bags, meat wrappers etc etc. Elvis hides his naughty head..

But who can help lovin him anyway...

Two of my baskets fell from the ceiling this weekend. I didn`t feel like climbing up and putting them back so I removed two more and just left the ones near the sink, although I think I`ll take them down too as they`re dusk catchers, big time.

No.....I still haven`t sewn this chair yet LOL

I`m really slowing down on blogging. I think unless I have something really worthwhile, I might slack off more. Confession...I`d rather read others! And trying to comment with slow dial up :( It usually takes three or four tries before the darn things post. Always comes up blank. I usually don`t give up, because I like to commment. But if I don`t, you know why.
Anyway, have a great rest of Sunday weekend!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Wool and Fur and Herbs and Stuff


I bought some lovely ivory pure wool to knit an afghan for a keepsake birthday gift for my daughter. I originally wanted to try the Great American Aran Afghan but I can`t figure out the patterns unfortunately. I`m trying to teach myself to cable knit and that`s for an experienced knitter I`ve realized. So I found a nice aran free pattern on the web as you see above.

The cable strip I`m leaving because I haven`t done it right. These next pics are the back and front of the cable part. The middle cables aren`t twisted properly as you can see, so I`ve placed them on a stitch holder for now.


Teddy sleeps here all the time now. Hopefully he`ll get more exercise in the warmer weather again. But whenever I sit down....

Here he comes. He comes over to be patted but for some reason wants to stand. Stand on my knee or my shoulder or climb up my back. It really can be a nuisance when I`m trying to knit. But he`s old and won`t be around for many more years sadly, so I don`t have the heart to ignore him. Pat pat, cuddle cuddle, Teddy..

Someone is jealous.....

Angus naps this time luckily. He can be on the spot for knitting quite frequently....

That other window in the frontroom sure makes a difference to the natural sunlight. I`m so happy I can have some live plants and even a couple of herbs. The rosemary has stayed strong and healthy so far, although the one stalk of purple basil finally flopped over so I used it in a sauce. And the Italian Parsley and Oregano is doing great. My Mum was tossing out the gold painted bust, so I thought I`d stick it on the floor..

Almost overnight this sage shot up like mad. Too bad I don`t use as much sage as other herbs. I`m sure that it will be the fullest in the garden next year. I`ll have to make sure to grow much more basil.

I had made too many curtains out of this fabric. Preferred the sheers by themselves in the end except for the big window. So I`ve pinned (for now) this chair with it instead. Ignore the weird arms. It will be sewn to shape...eventually. Balances out the room better I think....

The quilt I brought back from the Oswaldtwistle Mill in Lancashire 9 years ago needed a good wash. And whilst it was away off the bed.....

And later when it was put back on the bed.....

Okay guys,how am I supposed to fit? Spread out....

Ahhhhhh...that`s better.

If you`ve been here long ago, you may remember this pic.I`ve got the toile and the pillow fabric and some trim so far. Ply wood and wood trims and paints will eventually recreate in some odd way, this bed hopefully.
But how, I wonder, will I ever be able to maintain my what I like to call "storybook sexy bed" with animals all over it? LOL

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. I`m not sure when next I`ll be posting,they get few and far between these days sometimes. But I`ll be visiting :)

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Apple Cranberry Crisp



After disposing of peel, slice apples and place in dish with cranberries...

Coat the fruit and pour sweet mixture over top and bake......

Serve warm.



4 - 5 cups apples
1/4-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tblsps. sugar or less
3 Tblsps. flour
1 cup flour
1 cup oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup cold butter

Slice apples into a 9x13 glass pan. In a small bowl mix 3 Tblsps. flour, 2-3 Tblsps. sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Pour this into the pan of apples and mix.

Next, in a large bowl mix the 1 cup of flour, oats and brown sugar. Then, slice cold butter into bowl and cut in with a fork. Trying not to get the butter too warm as that will make more of a dough. We want it to crumble. Spread over the apples.

Place in oven uncovered for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees, or until golden brown. Cool for 30 minutes.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Come On Summer...or Even Spring......

I`ve had so many great pictures I could have taken if I`d had the camera on hand, which by the time I did the moment or event was gone, but for now....Angus......

And this will be a fun thing to check out when the warm weather gets here. A birthday gift from hubby that`s a frozen margarita machine :)

Off the computer now and relaxing. I`ll figure that other thing out another time.
Happy Weekend!

Still Here......



Been busy busy busy and just when I`m thinking of posting I`ve somehow deleted the profile pic. Don`t even ask how. So here I is.... uploading it again and seeing if I can get it back up. Geesh! Yep, that`s me the doofus, still in the drawn on hat that bleeds grey into my hair.
****Update..
Can`t get the darn thing to work. There doesn`t seem to be anywhere upload button and save doesn`t save and the picture code doesn`t look like the sample blogger gives. I think I`ve tried every combination of the code of this pic in every different way. It worked before but for some reason it won`t now. I give up for now, this is taking far too long and I`m computered out. Oh well. I guess this ridiculous pic stays here for now. Although I rather like my hat hehe.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!