First pick

The asparagus plants are getting old now and are refusing to grow in the shadier part of the garden.

Nevertheless the ones that are growing continue to delight the palete, having been cooked in water and butter in the frying pan.

xx

Little bits

Little bits of leftover veg went into my veggie stew along with the ends of 2 sauce bottles and some relish. There's enough for 2 more meals now. 

The little bits that are sprinkled on my muesli are kept in my small jars. There's also the little bit of sugar that was left in a packet and some rice.

I'm still using little bits of left over wool for the blanket (now re-named as the Rainbow blanket) and I'm un-doing previous crochet attempts that never came to fruition.

I knew that I'd find something little to be kept in these mini ice cream tubs which I brought home from the circus. I also keep my chopped up lemon in one in the 'fridge.

I couldn't throw away the little bits of spoon that came in an Easter egg, nor the little forks I pick up when we have fish and chips on the prom.

There are always 'bits' left on the work surface when there is a busy working kitchen. I decided to display mine before they went in the recycling bin in the evening.

I like my salad chopped into little bits which I mix altogether. DH likes it all separate.

My dressing today is mixed in a 'finished' mustard jar. The last little bit of mustard is shaken up with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a squirt of lemon.

xx

Aladdin's Cave

Day out on DH business meant a 2 hour wait and there just so happened to be an Aladdin's Cave nearby. It was crammed with items from yesteryear. Mound and heaps of stuff.

We spent ages wandering round room after room of usual and unusual items.

Time soon passed.

Furniture, bric-a-brac, baskets, industrial, office and school furniture, lamps, bicycles - what a selection.

There was even something there for Vix!

xx

Useless?

Yes. The balls of wool were just languishing in the drawer not doing anything in particular, just there.

Unused?  Yes, I kept passing them over in favour of better colours, larger amounts, better feel.

But …

now I've been using them up in my latest blanket, I can't get enough of them. I keep hunting out more yarn to use and foraging through different cupboards and baskets in the hope of finding the odd ball. (I didn't put 'or two' because it sounded quite rude!)

I've been using them in not particular order. When one ball runs out another takes its place and it makes for a rainbow coloured blanket.

Is it turquoise?

or green?

or pink?

or red?

Is it white?

It's growing fast and is going to be very heavy because I'm using a large hook and 3 strands of wool.

So is the wool useless or unused?

No, not now.

I think I shall call it my 'Useless/useful blanket'.

"Everyone and everything has a purpose. You just have to take the time to figure out what that purpose is."

Quote - Unknown

Fun?

I've been having fun with my new to me iPhone 4s the past few weeks. There's such a lot I've missed out on  - I know now why people get glued to their phones to the exclusion of everything else! Play, play, play - 

* taking selfies. Why? I know not but I do know that ten zillion selflies have to be taken and viewed and scrutinised in order to find a semi decent picture to post. Where?

* Instagram - so many people posting so many pictures in so many different ways. Hours can be lost viewing.

* Apps - my goodness what a variety. I've played around with different pedometers, language learning, health recording and sky viewing (free) apps and enjoyed every minute.



I wonder if there are any crochet apps or apps that tell me when to plant the veg? I tried a 'monitor your sleep' app and have worried myself that I'm not getting enough deep sleep and am waking up constantly!!

* calendar - I've a perfectly good diary where I record important meetings or events but now I also put them on my phone.

* Reminders - I make reminders to myself but as with paper reminders I forget they're there.

* Lists - I made myself a shopping list but then decided that my paper list was better as I was juggling my phone, trolley, keys and credit card while waltzing down the aisles of the shop.

* Siri - my phone talks to me - how clever is that! Set a timer for half an hour please.

OK timer is set for half an hour. Clever, clever, clever. And it also tells me that it is there to please me when I say thank you to it. :)

* Internet - whoa it's a mini computer and I can use it as such. I think I prefer to use my laptop for serious work as the screen is large enough for my eyes to see clearly.

I can swipe and swish now with the best of them and there's probably heaps more to play around with.

xx

I don't think I've actually phoned many people with it though.

'Nother one

Short review

Didn't think I'd like the format.

Did.

xx

Should I?

I've been using up my small scraps of wool to crochet ...

… a basket weave blanket (a neat idea from a blog I came across. This isn't the one but has the same idea). Use a large crochet hook and 3 balls of DK and work a basket weave stitch, adding in different colours when each ball runs out. My hook was a 9mm.

Now should I use up all these balls of wool which may come in handy for smaller projects? While I decide I'll just carry on with this blanket. :)

xx

Should I keep a log ...

… of books that I have read? It's not as if I write a very good review so I don't think it benefits anybody but me in that it reminds me that I've read the book. My memory isn't that bad and if it was and I picked up a book that I'd already read then I wouldn't remember and would think it was a new book anyway, wouldn't I?

This book was a lighthearted read where nothing much really happened but it was fairly interesting anyway.

There, that's it, my review for what it's worth. I've read some other books which I've passed on and not commented on so perhaps they are not all that memorable.

We're reviewing the Foxtrot at dancing at the moment and our instructor was telling us that the dancing started off on the fourth beat of the bar. Of the people I've danced with no-one has started the dance off on that beat. Perhaps we are doing it all wrong. When he was explaining and then dancing he wasn't exactly practising what he was preaching. I'm off to look at YT videos to swot up on timing now. At least I know that I'm the one who dances backwards!

xx

PS - Dawn - I left a reply to your comment about the vine.
PPS - A very warm welcome to my new follower.

(My welcomes aren't that very inspiring either, are they?)


Hey, Homemaking Tales, I'm really pleased that you are following me. I've had a pop over to your new blog and read your first post. Dive in there and keep posting. If your interests are the interests of others you'll find some virtual friends in no time. Happy Blogging.

(Is that better?)

:)

xx

They're in

The tomatoes are now in their final home and are feeling a little strung up.

I always put in the climbing strings as soon as I've planted the small plants and I always knot the tops the same way - a round turn and two half hitches bringing up the loose end to form a slip knot. That way I can adjust the strings as the plant grows. 

I just knot loosely at the bottom to allow for growth.

I've planted Orkado, Shirley and tasty Blackpool (our own saving of a particularly tasty tomato that we don't really know the name of).

My pruning of the grape vine did not result in the demise of the vine as shoots are starting from every bud. I hope there will be grapes from every shoot. This is the new runner.

And this is the main stem.

While visiting the nursery where we purchased our vine many years ago we bought a new plant called Cannon Hall which originated here. It is another Muscat grape with supposedly a delicious flavour. It will probably be next year when we plant it as it is only small now.

It was gloriously warm when I planted and strung. Now it's tippling down and the wind is howling.

xx

PS Thank you for all your comments yesterday. I think it is some kind of pyjama or stocking case. It's about 22 inches wide at the base. I can now report back my findings to the CS manager. :)

xx

Is it a bird?

Is it a plane?

Probably not. It came into the CS today.

Could it be a tea cosy? Maybe, but the base does not open.

It's the back that opens. Aha! Could it be a peg bag? The top does not have a hole in for a hanger or a hook.

It has a sulky lady embroidered on it ...

… and a snooty man.

It is decorated with flowers, trees and ribbons, lined and made of linen. It is not padded.

The lady who brought it in was using it as a tea cosy but do you put teapots in a tea cosy that is not padded. I thought cosies were put over teapots.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

No, it's …

?

xx

From my seat

It is a lovely warm day and a sit in the garden room is in order. To my right are the tomato plants which will be planted in the greenhouse tomorrow. These were grown from last year's seed and have been potted on twice.

To my left is our stone pot collection and in the corner pot is a rain stick which is a kind of musical instrument (don't look too closely).

Above me is an orchid in a hanging, homemade wooden basket and the hanging plant that used to be in the kitchen. It has a few flowers about to burst forth on it.

In front of me are our visitors just chilling. All is well.

We have been out and about this week and here is another 'from my seat spectacular' at Lytham on the little jetty.

This pic is before I sat down!

To my left. Very peaceful.

 Straight ahead.

To my right looking back towards Blackpool.

Here is the shore behind me.

Hope it stays warm for the planting tomorrow - there's weeding to be done too.

xx

PS Welcome new followers.

PPS I did warn you not to look too closely didn't I?

Found ...

… one Christmas bauble while hoovering today.

Note to self :

Must clean more often.

xx

I haven't got a bucket list ...

Day passes for riding the Blackpool trams were duly bought for family and visitors and we bump de bumped to visit memorable places along the coast. A day ticket for the trams costs £4 and this enables passengers to hop on any tram all day - or so we thought. The Heritage trams were running this day and I espied one of these open-topped trams. Oh my, I've lived here all my life and have never, ever been on one of these. If I had a bucket list this would be on it - I'd like to ride in an open-topped tram. Here it was in all its glory. We must ride this one. Up the stairs we went and sat on the rickety wooden seats. The wind was howling and the sea mist was in full misty force. It was great.

… Until the conductor informed us that day passes were not accepted on Heritage trams, so we had to cough up extra money to 'enjoy' the ride. It was worth it though.

The visitors wrapped up warm and complained about the slight breeze and fine, wet mist, only jumping once when the trolley pole, which connects the tram to the overhead cables, went fizz buzz and sparks went flying. The conductor rushed up the stairs to reassure all the passengers that this was a normal occurrence and if the trolley pole strayed from the overhead cables it would not come crashing down on our heads.

Great fun. Tick!

xx

PS Welcome to my new follower.

PPS Have you ever played Fizz Buzz?