Hello, gosh it has certainly been a long time since my last post!  I still browse blogland almost daily but the urge to write a post has just not been there.  My blogging mojo has left the building that's for sure.

Things in the Gingercat house have been pretty good on the whole, no dramas to report.  Christmas passed in a blur and thankfully Spring is just around the corner. 

Just before Christmas we decided to get a kitten.  Mr P was an adamant no at first but slowly we managed to break him down and persuade him that we needed another puss around the house.  He is a little black kitten called Splat or Splatty as we all call him.  He is so funny and so very cute.  Poor old Pepe had her world turned upside down, and she is still not feeling the love for Splat.  She is much better than she was but still growls and mutters under her breath when he goes near her.  They will eat side by side now and I am sure in time they will tick along together just fine.  Here is is when we first brought him home, he has more than doubled in size now.













The chickens are all doing ok, they seemed to have survived their first Winter.  Nellie and Henny Penney have been moulting.  Poor old Nellie has been badly affected.  First her head and neck were completely bald, then the freaky pin feathers all start to poke through (she really did look like something from Hell Raiser) and now she is sporting a rather flouncy new hair do.  The front of her neck and chest is now bald so I think it will be a few more weeks before she is looking her best.  Egg production has stopped whilst they have been moulting, Henny Penney has just started to lay again last week.  I'm not sure what has happened to Doris, she went broody back at the end of September/beginning of October and hasn't laid an egg since!  Daisy has sadly lost interest in the chickens (they were after all part of her birthday present) so I seem to have taken on the role of chief hen carer!  I do enjoy seeing them everyday and talking to them, not so keen on cleaning up their poo everyday but hey ho a small price to pay for lovely fresh eggs.

We had our garden office delivered in September and it has made such a difference.  We no longer have all of Mr P's work files in our wardrobe or have his paperwork lying around.  I am still doing my admin work for preschool and I love shutting myself away down the end of the garden, working whilst the chickens peck on the door.  I can wait for the Summer that will be a treat working out in the garden.  I will take some pictures of the office as I think it looks really cosy and is such a nice place to sit and work.

Daisy and Alex are both doing well, Daisy will be moving schools in September so a really big year for her.  Alex is growing up fast and has decided to grow his hair into a longer more trendy "do".  He celebrated his 8th birthday back in January. 

We have booked a holiday to Florida in the Summer so have lots to look forward to. 

I am still enjoying my crafting, a granny blanket is my latest crochet project and I am working again on my kiss cushion cross stitch - still go a long way to go on both.

My bed is calling me, so until next time.

Alison
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Happy Birthday Daisy xx

Just a quick post to wish Daisy a very happy 11th birthday.  It doesn't seem possible that eleven years have whizzed by in a flash -  where has my baby gone to? 

She has enjoyed her birthday even though it was her first day back at school.  We went out for a meal to celebrate this evening and then home for a slice of birthday cake.  She is having a trip to Wagammas and a sleepover on Saturday with a few friends to celebrate and then a family party on Sunday.

I am really looking forward to tomorrow as I have the day all to myself.  I need to catch up with a few jobs but then the rest of the day is all mine.  I really need to make a patchwork cushion for a friend of Daisy's who's birthday is on Monday or start the new roman blind for the landing window.  I really hope I wake up in a crafty mood!

All three of our hens are now laying eggs which is really exciting.  The joy of collecting warm eggs each morning is a real treat.  The hens have well and truly trashed the top end of our garden, they are like a trio of vandals, digging and scratching and generally trashing the joint!

We are having a log cabin (read as posh shed) delivered on Monday which we are going to use as an office.  We looked at moving house earlier in the year but decided to hold fire for a while longer as realistically we cant afford the type of house we want.  The new office should free up some space in the house and we will have a nice quiet space for working and homework.  Daisy will need this space especially when she goes to senior school next year. 

Hasn't the weather turned Autumnal?  There was a real chill in the air today.  I love Autumn but I wouldn't mind some sunny warm weather for a few more weeks.

Well I'm off for an early night, it took me ages to drop off last night, anyone would think it was me going back to school today and not the children!

I will leave you with some pictures of the birthday girl.  Till next time.

Alison

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A Summer Catchup

Hello, I have finally found a spare half hour to sit down and type a long overdue update for my blog. The Summer has whizzed by in a flash, holidays have been and gone and on the whole we have had a lovely time. So what have we been up to I hear you say? Well we have spent bank holiday Monday in Brighton, it was a spur of the moment decision and a lovely day was had by all. We pulled silly faces for the camera.

Rode the horses three times!

Enjoyed being hamsters in silly air filled balls on a giant padding pool!

Spotted lots of lovely sugar mice in a shop window.

We had a lovely week away with our in-laws in Cornwall. The weather was pretty good for once and we even managed two whole days on the beach!! We also visited my all time favourite zoo in Newquay. It is such a lovely place to take the children, it's not too big or small and is very hands on. We fed meal worms to merecats and threw stinky fish to penguins, peted farm animals and generally had a lovely day.

We visit Trebah gardens which were beautiful and led down to a lovely little beach, the perfect place for a paddle and an ice cream.

Mr P practised his digging skills on the beach, why do children love to be buried?

And really big news on the chicken front, we have a layer, Henny Penny has laid us 6 lovely eggs in the last week. They are a bit on the small side (which apparently is normal) but today's egg was much bigger than the other 5. Just need the other two to start laying.

We have also been swimming and visited the cinema, had lovely evenings and days out with friends. Only a week left now until school starts again. I am nearly ready for a bit of routine, if I'm honest. I am not at my best when left to my own devices, routine suits me better.

I have managed a bit of hookie and am working on a granny square blanket, this time I am crocheting the squares in one colour per square, so not as many ends to sew.

Daisy is going to be 11 in just over a weeks time. I find it hard to believe that 11 years have flown by so quickly. She is growing up and simply wants a meal out, a bit of a shop and a small sleepover for her birthday.

Daisy was a very proud winner last weekend. We entered the local horticultural show, decorated cupcakes for Alex and Daisy and a chocolate Victoria sponge for me. Daisy won first prize and a cup, Alex came second and I won first for my sponge! I couldn't believe our luck, Daisy spent ages making sugar paste flowers and learning to pipe butter icing so was really a well deserved winner. Alex went for a patriotic red white and blue sprinkles on his cupcakes. We might try and enter some veg into the show next year.

Well time for bed, I really hope this post doesn't have massive gaps between text and pictures. I find using blogger such a chore. If anyone has any tips on how to improve the layout please post a comment.

Till next time.

Alison

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Hello, well we have survived the first week of the Summer holidays and I think we have settled nicely into our holiday routine. It has been so lovely not having to do any work of any sort, it feels rather strange.


We have been on a few trips out this week, we went to see Cars 2 movie at the cinema on Tuesday which was actioned packed, good fun and really well done. On Thursday we had an exhausting day at Legoland. I always have to gear myself up to go there but as always I really enjoyed the day. I must admit my legs and shoulders feel rather achy today. We walked around for 9 hours and I had the job of carrying our picnic in a rucksack (hence the achy shoulders today).

We had a lovely afternoon yesterday when we met our friends at the local National Trust property Cliveden. We parked ourselves on a bench in the watergarden where we spent a good few hours, drinking tea, chatting and crocheting whilst the kids made a den and had the freedom to explore and play.



Last Saturday we went out to celebrate my mother-in-laws 65th birthday. We had decided to have afternoon tea at Danesfield House in Marlow. Danesfield is a rather grand hotel set in an old manor house and surrounded by lovely grounds overlooking the River Thames. The setting is beautiful which is more than I can say for the afternoon tea. We had such a lousy experience there. The amount of food was minimal, the sandwiches were served on dry white bread and the service was shockingly poor. We didn't complain at the time as it would have totally ruined what was supposed to be a lovely afternoon. I did however sent a rather shirty email when we got home. I got an initial response on Monday, but am awaiting a further reply after they have investigated the situation. The worst part was that it cost £200 for 5 adults! Here is Danesfield in all of it's glory, such a shame the it didn't live up to our expectations.

Next Saturday we are off on our holidays to Cornwall. We are staying in St Ives. I am really looking forward to going away but have that horrible feeling the weather is going to be rubbish again. I so desperately want the children to experience Cornwall at its best, when you can spend leisurely days on the beach. We have also booked to go for a long weekend to Centre Parcs in October. I have been really naughty and booked to go in school time. The difference in price between the weekend before half term and either of the weekends during half term is huge. It would have cost us another £300!


The Centre Parcs weekend is very well timed as we are going the day after Daisy finishes taking her 2nd 11+ paper. The dreaded 11+ seems to be hanging over our heads and I think everyone is feeling the pressure. At least by October it will be all over and what ever will be will be.


On the crafting front, I have finally finished my cotton granny square blanket which I am rather pleased with. I have also finished the second baby blanket, which was really well received. I have just bought a load of yarn for a blanket for Daisy. I think I might make a granny square blanket for Daisy but do each square in one colour. I hated having to sew in all those ends when you change colour each round. I think I will use a cream yarn to join the squares together.

I have decided that I would like to run a stall at the school's Christmas fair this year. I have asked my friend Julia (@ Peacock Blue) to go halves with me, which will make the job a bit easier. I'm not sure exactly what we will make but at least by deciding to do it now, we have plenty of time to get making. I don't expect for one moment that it will make a fortune but it would be a good way to show people what we can make. I thought I could make some Christmas Stockings similar to the ones I made last year.

We have a fairly quiet weekend ahead with very little planned at all. It looks as though today is going to be a nice day, well the sun is shining at least. Mr P has to work today so it's just me and the kids at home. Daisy has some grand plan to make a collage and Alex wants to go and buy some embroidery thread and Aida (is that what the white fabric with all the holes in is called?) and make some book marks. I think he has set his mind on selling them at the Christmas Fair!!

Right it's time for me to get up, I have a stack of washing to do and lots of boring old housework jobs that need doing.


Have a lovely weekend what ever you get up to.

Till next time.

Alison x

PS Still no eggs yet!

Tuesday Update

Hello, how are you all doing on this rather wet Tuesday afternoon? It was absolutely glorious up until 3.15pm and since then it's done nothing but rain. It's hard to believe looking at the weather outside that I enjoyed a rather lovely lunch with my friend Julia sat outside in blazing sunshine. That's the good old British weather for you.

We are all pretty good in the Gingercat household, although I think it's fair to say we are all feeling a bit tired and jaded and really in need of the Summer holidays. Not long now only a few more weeks to go.

Mr P and I had a fabulous night last night, we went to the Take That concert at Wembley. It was so good, those boys don't half know how to put on a show. Robbie really was the star of it all, he was exceptional. God I love that man, he has such talent and certainly knows how to entertain.


We have had a bit of a wobble on the chicken front. It started on Sunday morning when Daisy went to let them out. I was still in bed and I heard what I thought was a crowing noise. Low and behold, Mrs Featherbottom was crowing. I don't profess to be a chicken expert but even I know that hens don't crow. I went to investigate and the more I looked at her the more it dawned on me that Mrs Featherbottom is in fact most definitely Mr Featherbottom!


Sadly it's not possible to keep a cockerel in our garden, if they weren't so noisy then it wouldn't be a problem. Mr P took him back to the breeder and swapped him for a hen. Daisy was upset and there were tears and sadness as we said goodbye. Mr P came back with this funny little thing, which we have called Nellie.



















She is a grey colour with a funny little small head. Doris and HP were not keen on her one bit when she arrived. There was lots of annoyed clucking going on and a bit of pecking too. They seemed to have settled down now and even allowed her on their perch. Here they are the inseparable two.

















I haven't posted a pic of Pepe lately, here she is asleep on the sofa this morning. She hasn't really budged all day, the lazy thing.



















I finally managed to take some photo's of my finished blankets. This granny square blanket was started last Summer. I have joined up 16 squares and am now crocheting around in treble clusters (as I got fed up with granny square making). The treble clusters don't really lie flat and the boarder is a bit flouncy if I'm honest. However, the colours are very summery and it will be perfect for throwing over laps or legs when it starts to get a bit chilly.



















This is the first baby blanket that I have crocheted. I choose some very lovely Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino in gorgeous baby shades and used a vintage granny stripe pattern. It is so soft and snuggly, I am just waiting for the baby to arrive now.


















Here is a close up of the colours, I thought if would be fine for either sex.


















I am also crocheting another baby blanket, this one is white and lemon. The baby arrived a week ago now, so I really do need to get on with it.

It's my book club this evening which I always look forward to. This month our book to read was Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes, it was gripping to say the least. Rather disturbing too but definitely a page turner.

Right I am off to make the tea.

Till next time.

Alison
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At last - A post!!

Hello, well it's certainly been a few weeks since I last posted. I felt the need for a little bloggy break, life has been fairly hectic and the wonderful land of blog has taken somewhat of a back seat. But, I'm back and hopefully regular posting will be resumed.

My last proper update was way back in April, the day before the Royal Wedding. What a fabulous wedding day we had, definitely one to be remembered. We sat all morning and watched the wedding on the box and then enjoyed a fantastic street party with our friends. The weather held out and a fab time was had by all. I think we staggered home around 10pm. It was a day that made you feel proud to be British, we certainly know how to do pomp and ceremony with style. Didn't the bride look fabulous, I loved her dress, she is one stylish lady.

At the end of May, I had my usual outing to RHS Chelsea with my in-laws. Mr P always opts to stay at home with the little ones, he doesn't like the crowds at Chelsea. Once again, we had a fabulous day out. We spent the morning looking around the small gardens, had a nice lunch, and then we did the show gardens and the main marquee in the afternoon. We always manage to do lots and lots of shopping. Good job my in-laws are organised and always bring those little pull along trolleys with them.

This year, I made a big purchase of our chicken coop (as posted by Daisy) at the show. It was such a good price that I just had to have it. Mr P had to drive up and collect it at the end of the show (good job he didn't mind - he is pretty good like that!)

Here it is in all its chicken coop glory. We have fenced off the bottom part of the garden by our shed and playhouse, Mr P spent one Sunday making a fence and a little gate to keep the chickens in. They are kept in the coop over night but have free range in their part of the garden all day. I didn't realise just how much chickens scratch - boy do they love to scratch. Every morning I sweep all the wood chip back onto the chipped area, but by lunch time it looks as though I hadn't bothered.

Let me introduce you to them, here is Henny Penny, she's a white Orpington.

Here they all are on their perch, Henny Penny (on the left), Doris (she's a black birchen Orpington) and then top chicken, Mrs Featherbottom (she a partridge coloured Orpinton).

They are very funny to watch, I didn't realise just how close chickens are. They really don't do free thinking, they quite literally live as one. If one stretches a leg, then they all stretch their legs. The same with the perch, if one hops up then they all hop up. The chickens were an early birthday present for Daisy, so she has the fun job of cleaning out the poo and letting them out every morning.

We haven't had any eggs yet as they won't start laying until around 24 weeks. They are 20 weeks now, so not too long to wait.

Daisy had her very first residential trip away with school at the start of the month. She was very anxious about going but I think she enjoyed it. She really is a home bird, so I think she was very glad to come home at the end of the five days away.

On the crafting front thinks have been a little slow. Although I have managed to complete one very lovely baby blanket (picture to follow soon), I am halfway through a second baby blanket (the baby is due today!) and have got almost to the end of a granny square blanket that I started last Summer.

My patchwork quilt is coming along very slowly. As my class is on a Monday, it has suffered from far too many bank holidays plus the children have each had a Monday at home due to being poorly and then last Monday was sports day! I reckon I will be about 70 before it's finished.

My new job for the preschool is going very well. It keeps me busy but I am really enjoying it. It's so much better than cleaning!

Well time to sign off I think, this weekend we are camping overnight at school and then it's the football awards ceremony for Alex. Keep your fingers crossed for nice weather on Saturday please.

I will leave you with a picture from Chelsea - a gorgeous display of spring flowers, I love delphiniums, they are one of my favourites. Also a fabulour Alium growing in my garden. It was a whooper.

Till next time.

Alison x

PS does anyone know how to get rid of these massive gaps and spaces on my post. They are driving me mad!

Just a bit chicken mad

Hi it's me Daisy,

On Saturday mum went to Chelsea flower show with nanny, grampy and my aunty. while she was there she saw a chicken coop that was affordable, the right size and perfect for our needs so we bought it! While she was there she also bought a few more chicken things including a chicken bowl, a chicken mug, a chicken tea towel and chicken oven gloves!

Peps has taken a liking to the chicken bowl. which she decided to sit in as soon as it was on the table! cute eh.

Have you spotted the chicken table cloth. it's not from Chelsea flower show though.

Got to go to bed now.

bye bye.

love

Daisy

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