Happy Easter

Hello and Happy Easter. Yet again it's been a while, lots going on in the Gingercat house and not much time to spare I'm afraid.


All is good here, we have been enjoying the glorious weather and spending lots of time outside. I collected my bike last Wednesday, here she is. It has been lovely having a bike again, it's been a while and I was a bit wobbly at first! I have been out for a few rides, just to the shops and out for little rides with the children.





I have finally finished my sister's birthday blanket, I finished off the edging just this afternoon. My sister is coming for tea tomorrow so I will give it to her then. Do you like the edging? It's a row of trebles, then two rows of double crochet and then a little purple edging row. Here it is in all of its glory. I have to say I am very pleased with it and I am a bit sorry to see it go.






Finally a picture of my patchwork cushion. I think I'm fairly pleased with it for a first attempt. The patches all line up and the appliqued hearts look reasonably good. I haven't had a chance to get on with my quilt what with the school holidays and all, so I am looking forward to going back to college in a couple of weeks and finally being able to spend some time on it.




Easter preparations in the Gingercat house were a little delayed this year (well compared to last year). Our Easter tree only went up this morning and was hastily decorated by my two over excited little helpers. The Easter bunny called at our house and Daisy and Alex had great fun hunting in the garden for chocolate chicks and bunnies. Vast quantities of chocolate have already been consumed. It is also Mr P's birthday today, so on top of all the chocolate we have also been out for a yummy pub lunch with family and then back for tea and birthday cake sat in the garden in the sunshine.

Easter cupcake were hastily baked this morning and topped with little sugar icing eggs.

We have spent lots of time sorting the garden out over the past few weeks and it's looking good, so good in fact we are now undecided about whether we want to move just yet. We love living in our little cottage and especially love the garden but we do need more living space. Our hearts are still very firmly attached to our little house and that's the problem. We need to move but we don't really want to. I think we will put our house on the market at some point this year but maybe just not yet. It's very depressing when you look around and see what we can actually afford, an extra £100,000 buys you very little in the South East. It is such a huge amount of money for such little gain in my opinion.

Moving on from depressing house plans, we had a lovely picnic at Cliveden on Friday afternoon. Cliveden is a National Trust property about four miles from our house, it's the house famed with the Profumo affair during the 1960's and the Astor family. The house is owned by the National Trust but leased and run as a very lovely luxury hotel, with the gardens open to the public. They have wonderful gardens and have just recreated a yew maze that existed in the 1800's. The maze was an experience to say the least. We all made it to the middle fairly easily but getting out was another matter! Daisy and I were stuck in the maze for ages, we even phoned Mr P on his mobile to come and rescue us. Mr P and Alex had gone on in front and managed to loose us on the way out, they however seemed to find the exit easily. The National Trust had laid on an Easter egg hunt and crafts for the children, so we all enjoyed a really lovely afternoon. Here is Daisy tucking into a hot cross bun!

Alex and Mr P enjoying the sunshine.

Homemade hot cross buns made on Friday morning and enjoyed on our picnic. They were lovely, so much nicer than shop bought ones.

Here is Daisy's finished bedroom furniture, do you remember I had plans to have her furniture shabby chic'd. It's finally been finished and I am really pleased with it. It feels as though she has new furniture even though it's the same old pieces just with a paint job face lift.

Daisy asked me to show you her collage she made for her school's art gallery. Each year they host an arts and crafts fair which includes a children's art gallery. This year's theme was Great Britain. Daisy decided on the great British seaside. She used various fabrics and I think she did a really good job. She even got a head teachers award for her effort.

Do you remember that a few weeks back I went for an interview, well I got offered the job and start it the week after next! It's for 30 - 40 hours per month working mainly from home as an administrator for a local preschool. I am really looking forward to starting and it means that I have been able to give up one of the two cleaning jobs that I do and loathe. I am still able to work at the after school art club and have decided for the time being to keep the other cleaning job. I should still have some time for crafting and blogging if all goes to plan.

Well its time to get the smalls into bed, and then to plan my next crochet project. I have loads of crocheted squares that I started last Summer but never finished so I need to come up with a cunning plan for using them and turning them into something colourful and lovely.

Till next time.

Alison

x

Happy Mothers Day

Hello, Happy Mothers Day to all you mums. I hope you have been made to feel special today. I have had a very lazy Mothers day. I enjoyed breakfast in bed and then had a pile of lovely present to open. I had some lovely smellies, some vintage style bits and pieces including a ration book note book and all hidden inside a lovely union jack storage chest. Daisy and Mr P made a trip to the garden centre last week, where Daisy spent an age choosing bits and pieces that she knew I would like. I was thoroughly spoiled. I also received two very lovely handmade cards.

After this lovely start to the morning, it was time to get up and make a quiche, as the in-laws had been invited over for a spot of Mothers day lunch. They arrived at midday and my lovely MIL had bought me a bunch of lovely spring flowers just because it was mothers day. Lunch was eaten, followed by a trip to the park and then back home in time for Daisy to go horse riding.

I didn't go out to the park as yesterday I took a nasty fall whilst out for a walk with Daisy. We had the afternoon to ourselves as the boys had gone to watch football. We were left without the car so we planned a walk down the hill to the next village and then we planned to catch the train into Marlow for a mooch around the shops. I fell over in spectacular fashion whilst walking down the hill. I was walking one minute and flat on my face the next. The path was in a very poor state and my ankle had gone over on a very uneven patch of path. I fell heavily on my knee and managed to cut it. Luckily no-one saw me fall, that would have been so embarrassing! I had to lean against a fence for a while as I felt really sick afterwards. I think I last fell over when I was 17, so it was probably the shock of it that made me feel sick.

We managed carry on into the village, me hobbling very slowly and went to the chemist to get some plasters for my knee. Eventually we made it to the train station to catch the train into Marlow. My knee was very sore and stiff and it was a bit of an effort hobbling around the shops.

This morning my knee felt much better and I smugly thought I had got away without too much damage. However, as the morning went on I started to ache all over, I literally ache from head to toe. My arms in particular are very tender. So I spent most of the day just sitting around feeling a tad sorry for myself. My sister offered to take Daisy to horse riding as she enjoys watching her, so I even managed a sneaky doze in the chair this afternoon whilst they were out and Mr P was upstairs doing his paperwork. He guessed I had fallen asleep as he shouted down "I hope you are not asleep down there" he knows me so well!

I have an interview tomorrow morning, so wish me luck as this is the first job that I have applied for that I would really like to get. Its only for 40 hours per month as a pre-school administrator, working from home. It sounds interesting, I have all the skills that they are looking for and it would fit in around family life. Alex has already told me he doesn't think I will get the job! Kids - don't you just love them!

I have ordered a bike. I have been thinking about getting one for a while as I am finding the cost of petrol just ridiculous for the amount of miles I actually do. I do mostly local trips, just here and there, popping to the shops. Probably half of those could be cycled to. So that's the plan, cycle instead of drive if at all possible. The kids also like to go out for a cycle ride, so it will save me trying to keep up with them. I have ordered a traditional style bike with a basket, unfortunately not a Pashley, shame I don't have a spare £650, the one I have ordered is a much cheaper make and model. I should have it by next weekend all being well.

No photos tonight, I will do a daytime post this week and include lots of photographs. I seem to have lost my blogging urge at the moment. It's not that I have lost interest in blogging just lost the will to actually write!

An interview, quilting and parents evening to look forward to tomorrow, along with all the usual Monday jobs. I am feeling tired out just thinking about it all!

Till next time. Alison x

A quick hello.

Evening all, sorry for the lack of posts, this is my first for March! Not sure were the weeks have gone to, they just seem to roll on by. I have been keeping up with blogland but just haven't felt the urge or had the inclination to post. I think blogging can be a bit like that, sometimes you have lots to say and other times you just want to listen to other people.

Life is good in the gingercat house, well, apart from the dishwasher finally packing up, breaking the liquidiser glass jug and the toaster stopping all in the space of three days! The dishwasher and the liquidiser both had to be replaced but luckily the toaster has been sent off to be repaired. I had to chuckle to myself, I took the toaster back to John Lewis and was told the repair would take anything up to four weeks and as Mr P only ever eats toast for breakfast during the week I knew I would have to invest in a cheapo toaster just to tide us over. Well can you believe I found a toaster in John Lewis for £5.65 and it comes with a year guarantee!

My quilting course is going well, I have finished the patchwork cushion and have bought some gorgeous fabric for the quilt that I have chosen to make next. I am at the cutting out stage at the moment and need to cut out 396 3 inch squares. I think I have managed about 40 so far. I am still a little nervous about using the measuring mat and rotary wheel but I guess by the time I have cut out all 396 squares I will feel a bit more at home with it all.

I have also made fairly good progress on my sisters birthday blanket. I have chosen a granny stripe as I find this fairly quick and not too greedy on the yarn. I have chosen some style craft yarn in six gorgeous dusky tones, its 80% acrylic and 20% wool. I think the colours are working really well together. Her birthday is a week on Monday, so I really do need to get a move on with it.

I am away on a girly weekend in Brighton this weekend with a group of mums from school. I am really looking forward to it. It will be lovely to see the sea, do a spot of shopping and generally have a weekend off from all mum duties. I am really looking forward to a meal that I haven't had to cook and several large glasses of wine! I am sure Mr P will cope fine, he can be very hands on when he chooses to be. I think the little ones are planning a day at London Zoo on Saturday if the weather is good and then swimming on Sunday. They won't even notice I'm not there they will be that busy!

No photographs tonight I'm afraid, the light is rubbish and I am very tired. I will post some pictures of my cushion and my gorgeous quilt fabric very soon and hopefully a taa daa picture of my sisters birthday blanket.

I'm off for a quick mooch around some of my favourite blogs and then an early night, I need all the sleep I can get between now and the weekend as I fear there will be lots of very late nights involved!

Till next time.

Alison
x

And the Winner is..........

Good evening, how are we all? I am feeling very Sunday -ish, you know that feeling, the one that tells you school is just around the corner and half term is well and truly over, it's back to packed lunches, homework and early mornings. All good things must come to an end I suppose.

Anyway on to the winner of my 1st birthday giveaway. In true bloggy style, here are the pictures

Vintage jug with all the names folded up on strips of paper.

In goes the big hand of fortune, ready to pick out one lucky winner. I had to do it all myself tonight as my little helpers are tucked up in bed and Mr P is watching Top Gear!

And the winner is ..... Amy from Blighty Boutique. Well done Amy, send me your address and I will post out the goodies ASAP. I am afraid I didn't get to finish off my hand made item but I am hoping you will still be pleased with your bits and bobs.

Thank you to all of you who left a comment on Daisy's guest post, she was very pleased with all your kind words. She was adamant that she was going to write a post, I think she has got the taste for blogging. Here she is with the ginger pudding earlier this week. Pepe has that oh, blimey not another photo look about her - don't you think?

Half term has whizzed by in a flash, it was ok, but the weather really spoiled the week if I'm honest. We had one really nice day out in the sunshine, but I think the rest of the week was wet, grey and cold.

I am really suffering this Winter from the effects of the weather - not depressed but just really really fed up with all the greyness of the season. I feel the need for sunshine on my face more than ever before.

We had a nice afternoon on Monday with our friends Julie, Eve and Fern. The kids enjoyed their belated Valentines tea whilst Julia and I enjoyed lots of cuppas , chatting and crochet. I really can't think of a better way to spend and afternoon.

I made some of these white chocolate chip cookies this week. They were delicious a real family favourite. The only trouble was that I didn't read in the recipe that they made 56 cookies! Now I like a cookie of three but not 56 of the things. I made about 18 and popped the rest of the dough in the freezer. I baked some more today using the defrosted dough and they tasted fab.

I also made a coffee and walnut cake, this was inspired by a post from Ruby's mamma made it. I followed her recipe to the letter and was very pleased with the results even if it did sink just a little in the middle (I'm blaming that on my oven).

Mr P loves a slice of coffee and walnut so he was a happy man. Shame the little ones couldn't have any due to their nut allergies!

I have been a bit of a naughty girl again. I saw this Jan Constantine tea cosy half price at our local garden centre. A bit of an impulse buy I know but I do love her stuff. It has a red gingham cosy underneath it, so two cosies in one. Its made of linen as opposed to her usual felt. My union jack tea pot is hiding underneath it all cosy and warm.

At last a photo of my finished big ripple blanket. I managed to crochet the final six rows and sew in all of those pesky ends during half term, so I suppose rubbish weather does have some advantages after all. I am very pleased with it, it is so colourful and cosy. The little ones have snuggled under it, and even Mr P the hater of all things crocheted had it draped over his feet yesterday afternoon.

I have been plagued by toothache this weekend. I had a niggly tooth earlier this week but didn't think too much about it, on Friday however it got worse, so an emergency trip to the dentist was in order. She gave me a course of antibiotics and took an xray. Thankfully the antibiotics have started to work today. The annoying thing is that I am due to go to the dentist a week on Tuesday anyway, why couldn't it just wait for another week! I did feel very silly though. I told her that it was a bottom back tooth that hurt, she had a poke about and asked me if it hurt, to which I said no. She checked my top teeth on that side too which I thought was a bit odd. Anyway on Saturday morning I awoke and realised that it was the top tooth that was aching, by this point I couldn't touch the tooth as it was so painful. Apparently you have a nerve that runs from the top teeth right around to those on the bottom. How odd though, I was so sure it was my bottom tooth hurting when in fact it was the one directly above it! How odd our bodies are at times.

Right I am off to make a brew, and an early night. Toothache does not make for a good nights sleep I can tell you.

Till next time.

Alison

x

10 things about me - By Daisy

Hello I'm Daisy and I am Alison's daughter. Mum said I could write a post on her Blog. So I'm go to tell you 10 things about me.

1) I love horses and ride every weekend.

2) I am allergic to nuts, peanuts and horses. I also get bad hay fever.

3) I can crochet and have made a cushion cover.

4) I collect wade whimsies.

5) My favourite movie is Harry Potter and the goblet of fire.

6) Sausages with mash, yorkshires and gravy is my favourite tea.

7) I like sewing and I have a mini sewing machine which is mint green.

8) I'm very like my mum , we both like the same sorts of things. My mum says I look exactly like she did when she was a little girl.

9) I like collecting vintage buttons.

10) My favourite book is called The elephant in the garden by Michael Morpurgo. I love to read.

Whats your favourite book?

Bye bye

Love from

Daisy

x

1st Bloggy Birthday & Giveaway

Evening all, so sorry it's been a while, I have been planning an update for over a week but I just haven't found the time to sit down and write it.


The past two weeks have flown by in a whirl of sorting, decorating and general everyday life things. I managed to make my roman blind for the bathroom, cleaned the bathroom tiles from floor to ceiling and Mr P painted the ceiling and replaced the rather yellowing down lighters for some nice new brushed chrome ones. The bathroom is now ticked of the to do list. Do you think the blind looks OK? It's a CK boat print, I think it looks nice and fresh and just adds a bit of colour to a rather bland creamy/beige tiled room. I found some wooden boat bunting and some little wooden boats on holiday in Cornwall last Summer to adorn the window sill.





The closed look followed by the open look!



I also shelved my bottom of the stairs cupboard as promised (well Mr P did) and I have finally got a dedicated space for my craft stuff and fabric. A trip to Ikea did the job, their storage solutions are fab and so reasonably priced. I now have some lidded storage boxes for all of my fabric. I have also dug out my sewing machine and placed that on the craft shelves. Its fab as everything is now so accessible. No more trying to sew things on Daisy's little mini sewing machine, I can use my own from now on!


Our front porch has also been repainted along with the lounge which is now a nice chalky cream colour as opposed to the very yellow cream it was previously. I was very silly a few months ago and left a teacup candle burning overnight in the lounge. I am normally very careful with candles, I am not really sure how or why I left it burning. Anyway, Mr P got up to find the flame on the candle burning at around four inches high. We were very lucky it never caused a fire. It did however turn the paintwork in the lounge very sooty in places. All the pictures had a very fetching black soot mark around them and there was a very odd shaped mark above the radiator that looked like a pair of breasts or a set of bum cheeks! Last weekend was spent redecorating and thankfully it's all looking nice and clean and bright once again.




We have decided that we are definitely putting our house up for sale in the Spring, so the plan is to get it ready over the next month or so. We have a lot of tidying up in the garden to do, Winter is never a good time for gardens is it? Ours look such a mess at the moment, I have however started to notice the signs that Spring is very much on its way. Lots of greenery poking through the ground with the promise of things to come. This is what I saw when I looked out of Alex's bedroom window the other afternoon! What a naughty girl, she really is a menace at times.






Tomorrow is my first blog anniversary and as promised I will be hosting a little giveaway to celebrate the end of the first year. I have gathered together a few bits and bobs, a few of my favourite sort of things to send to the winner. There may be a hand made item but it rather depends on whether I have time to finish it or not. If not then don't despair there are still lots of lovely bits and pieces for you to enjoy. Please leave a comment if you want to be included and I will draw the winner next Sunday evening. I have really enjoyed blogging this past year, it is such a lovely way to make a record of my every day life. I love reading the comments that you leave and its is so lovely to be part of the blogging community. Long may it continue.


This coming week is half term and I am really looking forward to a week of no school, lie ins and chilling out - well that's the plan anyway. We are hosting a belated Valentines tea tomorrow for my friend Julia and her girls, which should be fun. I need to make some heart shaped biscuits and some fairy cakes in the morning. Mr P came up trumps on Valentines Day and gave me this lovely tea cup and saucer. I bought Mr P some Hotel Chocolate hearts and some bubbly which we shared, the chocs were delicious.






I received this lovely bouquet on Friday from my neighbour. I always pass on Daisy and Alex's outgrown toys and books to her two little ones, so it was her way of saying thanks. Very unexpected but very much appreciated. Don't they look lovely, spring blooms of anemones, tulips, pale pink roses and blue hyacinths.






My quilted cushion cover is going well, I am now at the quilting stage and only have one quarter left to quilt. I will do a taa daa post once it's all finished. I have been rather neglectful of my crocheting at the moment. The decorating has taken up lots of time, so this week I want to concentrate on getting the big ripple finished off. I have decided to crochet three more double rows ending the blanket with the same three colours that I started with. I still have the joy of sewing in all of those end to look forward to.

I have managed to find another couple of Carltonware pieces to add to my collection. Two little pin dishes, one from Ebay and the other from a local magpies nest sale. I think they are very sweet and have a horrible feeling a small collection my be the end result. I can't wait to move to a bigger house where I can have a dresser to display all of my treasures!

Well I shall love you and leave you, please don't forget to leave a comment in order to be included in the giveaway.

Till next time.

Alison X

PS did anyone watch the Brits last week? I was blown away by Adele's performance, the way she sang actually made me cry which has never happened before. One talented lady.

Friday Catch Up

Hello, how is life treating you this windy Friday? Good I hope. Life is fine and dandy here in the gingercat house. I can't believe it's Friday again, the weeks just fly by at an alarming rate.

I haven't really been up to much this week, the first part of the week was spent trying to recover from the throaty thing that turned into a very hoarse throat and annoying cough. I was so tired with it too, which annoyed me the most. I hate having lots to do when I feel exhausted.

I did summons up the energy to go quilting on Monday, I have learnt how to applique and have sewn one of the two hearts onto my cushion. I need to sew the other heart on and join up the four squares before Monday's lesson.

I was very naughty on Monday evening, I popped to our local John Lewis to pick up a new saucepan handle that had been ordered but funnily enough I left JL's without the pan handle but with a very nice Cath Kitson craft bag, to take to quilting, a new cushion for the lounge and some cushion pads for our kitchen chairs. Well that's the last of my tax return earnings well and truly spent!

I have felt the need for a bit of a spruce up in general. Everything around the house seems a bit tired and in need of an uplift. My first mini project is to put a couple of really cheap shelves up in our boiler room cupboard, so that I can store my craft stuff and material stash in an orderly fashion. It is currently stuffed into carrier bags and boxes in all sorts of nooks and crannies around the house. Most of it is stuffed down beside the chair in the lounge, which I don't mind but it does look very messy. It's funny how most of the time you don't notice scruffy corners in your house but sometimes it's as though you look at things with fresh eyes and notice all the messy bits. That's been me this week - Mrs fresh eyes!

Do you like my new cushion. It has a little mustard coloured pom pom fringe.

My new craft bag, perfect size for taking all my stuff to quilting.

I also notice how grubby the bathroom looks, the blind is minging and the ceiling is in definite need of a lick of paint. So project two is to make a roman blind, give the bathroom tiles a massive clean and to paint the ceiling. I am also on the look out for a bathroom cabinet, I fancy something a bit shabby chic I think. We currently have an open shelving unit, which is great as it stores all sorts but blimey it gathers dust something chronic. I ordered a blind making kit today from Ebay and have bought some sailing boat fabric from CK, so that's the plan a bathroom spruce up.

Project 3 is to have three pieces of Daisy's bedroom furniture shabby chic'd. I have found a local guy who will do it all for £200, which I don't think is a bad price. The blanket box is being collected on Monday and is in most desperate need of tarting up. I was going to paint it white but last year I painted Daisy's bedside cabinet and it took an absolute age and didn't look that great when it was finished. The paint work is already badly knocked. I think a shabby chic paint job will freshen up the furniture and give it a new lease of life.

So there you go, three mini projects to get stuck into. I also am on a mission to sort out cupboards as I am so sick of them all being full up and totally disorganised. I am going to be a very busy girl by the sounds of it. All this freshening up and sorting out will hopefully be worth it as we still plan on selling at some point over the next year. Our house is nice but could do with a serious sort out of clutter and a quick freshen up.

I am off to a 40th birthday meal tonight, whilst poor old Mr P has to go and work. He probably won't get in until around 3am, so I guess that will mean tomorrow will be a non event sort of a day. My sister is babysitting tonight and staying over so maybe we will go out tomorrow with her whilst Mr P catches up on his ZZZ's. The downside of Mr P late night work is that I will have to stand on the cold football pitch tomorrow morning worst luck!.

One of the fish has died. We took a water sample down the to pet shop after school today and were told that we were over feeding them and that the ammonia levels and nitrates were too high. So, a 50% water change and no feeding for 4 days will hopefully get us back on track. I must admit I did have that slight smug "I told you so" face on with Mr P. So no more fish this week, that's for sure.

Have a great weekend whatever you get up to.

Till next time.

Alison.

x