Pink Green

A Cosy Weekend

I love weekends like this one - it is cold and grey outside so we have hunkered down and stayed warm, apart from a brief excursion with the dog through muddy fields. I cooked a huge roast chicken for lunch with Apple and Pear Eve's Pudding for dessert. It didn't hang around long enough for me to get a good photo, but it was delish!!

I was up with the sparrows this morning - something I also love at weekends. I find it so hard to get up during the week, but at weekends I like nothing more than being first up and sitting with a quiet cup of tea watching the sky change. This was how it looked at about 7.30 this morning. We have snow forecast, so keep your fingers crossed - I could do with a few snow days at home at the moment!! I did manage to finish my hot water bottle cover last night after frogging the part with the buttonholes about 4 times, so I am ready for the cold snap!!

I made the most of the time at home to list some more things in my etsy shop. Some of these things I am finding it hard to part with as I love them so much, but I really have run out of space. There are only so many sherry glasses and sugar tins a girl can use!

Please hop on over and have a look. There are loads of other new listings, plus a new category - Vintage Textiles!

I hope you are all having a cosy weekend too, and battening down the hatches ready for the snow!! Stay warm,

Cathy XX

I'm sure cats aren't this embarrassing!

Andy and I had a very rare day yesterday where we were both off work together and both the girls were at school. We decided to make the most of our childless day and head for to one of our favourite pubs for a walk with Bodie and a spot of lunch.

This pretty pub is 'The Tunnel House' at Coates, near Cirencester. We have been many times and the food and atmosphere is brilliant. Unfortunately yesterday as we arrived in the village we were met by the Beaufort Hunt, which made Bodie wild with excitement. However, we were headed in the opposite direction and made it to the pub without becoming too embroiled with horses and hounds (although there was a hairy moment on the canal path when we thought they were on our tail but fortunately they were the other side of the hedge!

A delectable meal was had by Andy and I, plus a fab pint of beer each, and Bodie kept our feet warm under the table. After lunch I took Bodie outside while we waited for Andy to settle the bill. A very lovely man who looked just like Tony Adams (former England and Arsenal football player for those who aren't footie fans) walked past with a dalmation with whom Bodie decided to have a little overfriendly action. I was very apologetic, and the lovely man was very kind and friendly. It was only when we got home that Andy looked up Tony Adams and we discovered that he lives in Coates and has a dalmation. Embarrassing that a) we weren't sure it was him and b) that Bodie was inappropriate with his dog. Oh the joys of being a dog owner! The one consolation was that Andy didn't have the opportunity to make me take a photo of Tony Adams. That would have have been even more mortifying!

(This is from the internet by the way - he was in tweed yesterday rather than a football strip!)

So aside from our brush with footballing royalty I have been trying to restore some order to my basement workroom (the before photos are excruciatingly embarrassing, and I'm not quite at the after stage), take more photos for Etsy, parcel up some ebay sales and manage the day job! I'm off to the pub tonight for a well earned glass of wine and a gossip (well, it is over 24 hours since I was last in a pub!) with a very lovely friend.

I hope your start of the week was less embarrassing than mine! See you soon XX

Over Christmas my lovely family sat me down and told me it was time I pulled my finger out in terms of my 5 year plan and what I am actually going to do with my life. Being a Teaching Assistant is mostly a fun job, but it doesn't pay brilliantly and it can be draining at times too. I need something to run alongside that is fun but may also make me some money. I come from a whole family of speech and language therapists, but that isn't really something I could retrain for at the ripe old age of 36, and my lovely dad thinks I should run my own business - something he did very successfully for 30+ years. My sister and her husband came up with tons of ideas, as did my mum, as did Andy, and the girls even joined in for good measure.

Faced with all this encouragement I decided to take the plunge. Well, actually I am starting with very small steps, but if you look at my side bar you will see a link to an Etsy shop!! After several years of deliberating I have taken the plunge. It has taken me all weekend to get it set up, and I have had a ball. It is going to be mainly vintage things for sale, with probably the odd handmade item as time goes on, and I have masses of photos of new stock to add, but from tiny acorns grow huge oak trees!

My Etsy Shop!

So, watch this space for new items and updates. Please have a look at my shop - I know there aren't many things listed at the moment (just 11 to be precise) but as today is my day off and I am fired up, hopefully there will be a few more things to take your fancy before too long!!

Early Spring Cleaning

Every Spring I go crazy clearing out clutter and cleaning all those places no one sees, and I think due to the unseasonably warm weather we have had recently the nesting bug has kicked in early. On Saturday, with Andy working and the girls both tied up with friends, I had a rare window all to my self in which to indulge my cleaning desires. Anyone who knows me will know that the desire to clean doesn't come often so I needed to make the most of it!

The kitchen was my main target, but as with all these projects there is a knock on effect!

(Before)

This cupboard houses our everyday china and glasses, and had got precariously out of control. Unfortunately in my rush to crack on I forgot to take a before photo until I had cleared the worst shelf - the plates looked like the leaning tower of Pisa.

(After)

The open shelves (below) had got the smeech and grime from cooking on them so everything was washed and sorted. I decided to move the jars of food stuff from the cupboard onto the shelves, which is where they were originally, and this is working much better for us now.

(Before)

 (After)

This is my new baking cupboard, having been a store for all sorts of kitcheny bits and bobs before. I forgot to take a before pic in my excitement, but it wasn't pretty! The tins on top are for dog biscuits and bonios.

And these are the spice shelves above it.

Unfortunately when clearing out there is always the problem of what to do with all the things you haven't found a home for. Such as these bits and bobs.

I'm systematically listing a range of things on ebay to clear out some clutter, and I have a plan for some of the other bits and pieces. I recently acquired 7 boxes full of vintage china (over 250 items) which I am slowly finding homes and uses for, or selling on those bits that aren't any use. I'm lucky that Andy just raises his eyebrows as he is forced to carry in boxes of junk from the boot of the car and then leaves me to get on with it. Despite having to step round the boxes in the basement and the dining room. He's very long suffering!

Today is not going to be as productive a day - I've got the lurgy so I'm wrapped up on the sofa and may just manage to tackle some knitting and dozing. I haven't been able to keep a cup of tea down yet and getting the girls sorted with breakfast was a challenge. Hopefully it is a short lived bug and I can get back to being productive again. The knock on effect of cleaning the kitchen was that heaps of stuff got moved the the dining room. That's my next before and after project so watch this space!!

P.S I have been trying to leave comments on several blogspot blogs and it won't accept my open id - does anyone know if it is a general problem or just me?

I love Fridays!!!

It's the weekend - hurrah!! I only work Friday mornings so my weekend started at 12.15 when I left school. I thought I'd make the most of the sunshine to take a couple of photos to share with you (although having said that the photos still seem to be lacking bright light).

The minute the Christmas tree is taken to the council shredder I itch to get on with the Spring flowers. These are some bulbs that I got from Lidl for £1.99 each, or 4 for £5. Well, it seemed silly not to get the 4 for £5, so we have crocuses in the kitchen,

narcissi on the mantelpiece in a pretty pot given to me by my lovely friend Clare,

and muscari (or grape hyacinths) in the window as camouflage for Bodie to watch the neighbours cats behind. It is better than telly for the dog with very little brain, and so he spends hours watching, just in case he can make Archie from across the road glance his way with a volley of blood-curdling barks. Fortunately for us and the neighbours, the cats tend to keep out of sight, but if they do stray past they give hime a cursory glance and then carry on about their business.

I'm tackling the knitting with a vengeance and a little help from YouTube. The decreasing had me stumped, but not for long, and I am whizzing through the back now. The pattern is from the very delectable and inspiring 'The Gentle Art of Knitting' by Jane Brocket, and was the pattern I thought the easiest to start with. I feel the need to progress from scarves, and this has been the perfect speedy project. The wool is Patons Eco Chunky and was a bargain in the wool shop sale.

So, this weekend is going to be spent knitting, baking and bathing in an attempt to keep up with my New Year's resolutions - it's so much more pleasurable than getting thin and fit!!

Happy (Belated) New Year!

Happy New Year! As usual I am behind the times and a week overdue, but hey, better late than never! I have great expectations of 2012. I feel it is going to be a good year in the Pink Green household.

A juxtaposition of Spring flowers and Christmas fairy lights!

2011 wasn't a bad year to be fair. It wasn't amazing, or one that stands out as one to remember per se, but it wasn't a bad year. Lots of things happened, good and bad.

So, bring on 2012 - a new year and a new set of resolutions!! I have the least self discipline and control of anyone I know so my resolutions usually go out of the window by about the 16th of January (or thereabouts!), so this year I have veered away from the usual 'get fit', 'get slim' boringness and have gone for resolutions that are a bit jollier. So this year I am aiming to be nicer to myself. This involves long baths, more fun family time, more reading, more creativity - in fact all round more

FUN!!

 

So, I have many plans for 2012. I am bored of crochet (I can hear gasps ricocheting through the internet as I type this), so have decided to tackle knitting in a bigger way instead. I am going to plan my garden and make it beautiful again this year (last year was the best ever, despite Bodie's best efforts to keep the garden cat free whilst paying total disregard to the planting scheme beneath his feet). I am going to bake more. I am going to give serious thought to my future career. I am going to laugh more. I am going to drink wine only at weekends. That one won't last by the way, but I thought I should show a little willing!

Hmmm - in need of some tlc I think!

When I was a student doing a degree in Literature I used to read 5 books a week. Now, it is more like 2 a month, and they are usually just my 2 book club books. I miss it. I have decided to read instead of watching crappy TV that is just a time filler. This is my current read - a challenge due to the subject matter, but totally gripping and will be rated in my new book journal (courtesy of my Secret Santa from work) with a 10/10. If you are a tad squeamish I'd give this one a miss though!

More pertinent to this blog, I am going to blog more. I missed it (again) and I like the way it makes me think creatively. I enjoy writing, and I enjoy taking photos, and I love the way it is a diary to go back through and think "I'd forgotten that". I also like the sense of community it provides so I am going to start leaving comments again. I have kept up with all the blogs on my reader, but on my phone, so I have not been leaving comments for a while.

So, I have several schemes and plans afoot. Watch this space!

24 hours in a day isn't long enough..

Where does time go? We've had a MANIC few weeks leading up to the end of term and start of the holidays. We have had a round of various house guests, school plays, leaving dos, birthdays and trips which have meant that my feet haven''t touched the floor for quite some time. I am finally enjoying some laid back time at home pottering with the girls. That's the best thing about working in a school - the holidays!!

I am in mid-organising for the next Vintage, Art and Craft fair which is this Saturday from 2-5 at Highbury Church Hall in Cheltenham. Unfortunately I missed the last one at short notice as my 90 year old grandmother had a nasty fall and I went to see her in hospital in Leicester. She's a tough old bird though and despite splitting the back of her head open and breaking her collar bone she's off home tomorrow. The fair apparently went very well and was a big success, so I am glad I can make this one. It is going to be the first Saturday of every month so if you can't make this one, why not try popping over for the next one?! I've been making the odd last few things to sell, including these cake stands.

So, what else has been happening? Well, I have had a fabulous time since the end of term with my lovely sister, Rachel. She came for the first weekend of the holidays with her husband, who went home to work leaving her here for several days. We then drove up to Leicester with the girls and left them at my parents house while we carried on up to Newcastle to her house for a girly few days. I love Newcastle so much and we had fun at Tynemouth market and beach, the VW rally, Gateshead Flower Show, Gibside National Trust for a scone and tea, and I spent some time with Rachel's husband's family too, which was great (Hello Joan!!). A night out on the town was a must, and is such a fab experience. Cheltenham isn't great for nightlife, but Newcastle certainly is!

Tynemouth market is great for a rummage, and look what I turned up (amongst other things!).

Rachel has a love of a proper afternoon tea (which is something I did for her hen do - including taking enough vintage china for 14 people all the way to York!!), and we recreated it here on a slightly smaller scale. Only slightly though, it has to be said! It has to have smoked salmon sandwiches, scones, cream and jam, and other assorted cakes, plus strawberries for the healthy kick! We made raspberry lemonade which was delish and had a very glamourous time!!

While Rachel was here I made her earn her afternoon tea by helping me to set out my stall for Saturday. She did a great job and we had a ball doing it. This is how far we got. I have a tablecloth to go under it all, and some more bits and bobs to go on the stall, including a couple of northern purchases!

Thank you by the way to Heather at Pink Milk and Rainy Day Crafter for the 2 following awards. I think I have to list 7 things about myself, so here goes.

1)    I hate the colour lilac (especially when teamed with silver), but I love the flowers.

2)    My most treasured possession is a bird pie funnel that belonged to my grandmother (not the one       mentioned above, my other one). It reminds me of her and what a great cook she was - something to aim for.

3)    I love labradors!! Even ones who break my legs.

4)    I have been married for 13 years and I met Andy when I was 19 and he was 24. It was pretty much love at first sight and has been the same ever since.

5)    The only foodstuff I won't eat is snails because I don't consider them foodstuff! I hate them in the garden so I don't want to see them on a plate. Anything else is fair game!

6)   I used to do the football reports on BBC Radio Leicester for a local team (not Leicester City unfortunately!).

7)    I used to play the piano to Grade 6 and also the bassoon. I am aiming to take up the piano again, and am about to start learning the ukelele!

So, a random snapshot of me. I won't pass on the awards to anyone specific, but please let me know 7 things about you if you haven't done it already. It's harder than it looks to think of them!

Don't forget to come and say hi if you are in the area on Saturday and fancy a vintage hit - I'll be the one looking hot and bothered!!

Cathy XX

PS Thank you for your comment Ali - I can't find out how to reply to you - I'm either being very dim or the link isn't there. Ferrers Art Centre is one of my favourite places to go, and especially now there is the Vintage Bothy too!! The ice cream from the deli in the courtyard is amazing!!

 

 

 

Nearly there...

I'm hobbling less and walking a bit further, so it looks like I will be ok to go back to work on Monday - hurrah! It has only been 2 weeks but I am bored of pottering at home and am looking forward to getting out into the real world. I think had I been able to do all the jobs I know need doing I would be happy to bbe at home for longer, but I am not very good at sitting down and not doing much.

So I have been filling my time with reading, cleaning (although I'm not meant to be doing anything too strenuous, but I couldn't bear it any longer!), crochet, dozing (I'm still sleeping off the remnants of the anaesthetic) and baking.

I made cupcakes yesterday in order to use my new icing squeezers (£3 from Dunelm Mill!) and was fully committed to the icing before realising that I didn't have nearly enough icing sugar. Being unable to hobble as far as the shop yet I had a quick brainwave. Strawberry milkshake powder. It worked a treat - turning the icing pink as well as giving it a strawberry milkshake taste! These didn't last the day, having been snaffled up by the girls and Andy while still warm!

Having learnt French Knitting at Brownie camp over the weekend, Ruth was eager to get cracking with some more. She spent all evening making a headband, and I crocheted a flower to finish it off with, and she is planning to make them for all her friends now too. She did offer to teach me how to do it, so over the Summer holidays I am going to teach her crochet and she is going to teach me french knitting. Any ideas for what to do with french knitting once completed please let me know!!It seems a fairly pointless craft to me, but I am prepared to be persuaded otherwise!

 

 

 
 

Still hobbling...

...but without huge great bandages! I had the stitches out today and am looking forward to a shower later - no more 'personal washing' for me! Yay! Unfortunately still no bath as I have steristrips instead of stitches now, but losing the bandages was a big plus - it's not the weather for layers of wadding and crepe!

We had a very quiet weekend as both the girls were on Guide and Brownie camps. It was very strange without them both, but we had a lovely time pottering about here - I'm not up to many excursions yet. They both came back tanned, filthy, exhausted and happy, with the biggest pile of washing I have ever seen for one weekend's worth of clothes.

I have been making the most of the peace and time on my hands to get creating again. I turned this pile of vintage hankies from this

into this.

I've got 4 lengths so far each with 7 'flags'. I started off using some of my stash of vintage bias binding but it was too stiff for the delicate nature of the hanky fabric, so I resorted to some lace instead, which I have to say looks better than the bias binding. I have got one length to unpick from the binding, which is another good sitting down type job. These are all for the up and coming fair.

I have also been crocheting away like crazy, but it is too hot and sticky today for that. I have got some finishing off to do before I take any photos.

The other thing I have been making by the ton are lollies. These ones are just pineapple juice, but we have done banana milkshake ones and other juices. My next batch will be strawberry smoothie ones. Yum.

I'm getting psyched up for the party season too - it was bad planning having 2 children in the same month, particularly when that month is the last one of term. Grace is up first, with her party on Friday going into Saturday - I hate sleepovers but they love them. I have made them promise not to eat Lucozade sweets to keep awake (a tip they learnt at Guide camp this weekend), but I am not anticipating much sleep. They have become known as wake-overs in our house, and all their friends houses too! At least I have plenty of time on my hands this year to get party bags done and the cake made.

I hope you're enjoying the sultry weather - while it lasts. It has almost felt like Summer recently, so a good excuse to cram in barbecues and cold cider before it becomes stew and hot toddy weather again!

Hobbling along...again...

It doesn't seem that long (although it is 2 and a half years) since I broke my leg in a fairly spectacular way and spent 3 months wearing a lovely velcro brace whilst sitting crocheting reams and reams of stuff. 

Well, I am now back in y favourite spot on the sofa - not with a broken leg this time but having had an operation last Thursday to remove the metal plate and pins that was holding me together. I haven't quite fallen apart yet, but I'm taking it steady! I will be off work for a couple of weeks (not months this time, fortunately) and I am looking forward to having the stitches taken out next Monday so I can have a shower. That aside, I have been ferried from door to door today so I could go to my art group, which was a blessed relief having spent the last few days indoors. It was just the tonic I needed and I am now raring to go again, although slightly hampered by bandages and wadding which makes my leg look like a tree trunk.

So, I am using this time to get ready for the Art, Craft and Vintage Fair in a couple of weeks time, and am very excited about some of my makes and vintagey stuff I have for sale. Don't forget if you are in the area please pop in - details are in my previous post. I am really looking forward to it, having not done a fair for a few years, and the stall holders at this one are mainly friends, which will be great -a social event and hopefully a way of earning some pennies!

Hopefully in my next post the sun will hove shone enough for some photos of what's in store, but until then I'll leave you with a picture of some flowers from the garden that I hobbled out to get in between rain showers! Roll on Summer!

 

Cathy XX