31 October 2020

Pumpkin Parade

 πŸ‘ΏπŸ’€πŸ‘» HAPPY HALLOWEEN πŸ‘»πŸ’€πŸ‘Ώ

The only thing we do at Halloween, apart from hide from Treat or Treaters, is carve a pumpkin.


I thought it might be nice to see some of the creations our resident "Pumpkin Artist" (and by that I mean hubby) has come up with in years gone by.






This year there is a new Pumpkin Artist on the block.




28 October 2020

One from the archive - Fancy a Cuppa?

Totally unable to think of anything to write about this week I took a look through the "Labels" section and came across this post from May 2013.  

I might have to do this again soon.  


May 2013

Would you like a cuppa?  I've got coffee if you prefer.  So what have you been up too?

Sorry............. Don't go away but something has just come up and I need to pop out for a while.  I'll be a quick as I can :0)

So sorry about that but I forgot I had an appointment at the 'Wax shop' to get my eyebrows done.  Still I'm all done now so have a seat whilst I put the kettle on.

How have you been?  Not too bad?  That's good news.  How are we?  Oh were ticking along as usual. The Teenager is in the middle of his Standard Grade exams and has done 4 with another 4 still to go. I just wish he's do some revision.  Oh you have the same problem.  That makes me feel much better. It's nice to know I'm not the only one talking to myself. Ha ha :0)
John is still looking for another job but is happy to plod along in Aberdeen until something turns up.  I keep asking him if there is anything going somewhere warmer like Australia or the US.  He says he'll keep looking. Me I'm still happy at the school.  I've been there 11 years now.  (Almost as long as I was in the Royal Air Force).  There always seems to be something going on and it's not too long now until the summer hols.

Have you got anything booked for your holidays yet?  Turkey, Rome, Spain?  Oh you're going to book last minute.  Very wise.  You get some good deals doing it that way.  We're off to Florida with my sister and her family.  I'm really looking forward to it although I worry my feet might complain about the amount of walking I'm doing after the first day or so.  I think it's going to be a busy two weeks.

Please have a brownie.  The Teenager made them this afternoon.  I thought it was about time he made some seeing as he's the one who eats them all.  Take two as they don't last long in this house.

Have you done much scrapping recently?  You have.  Oh you are good.  I'd love to see some layouts if you've got time.  I really should get back into doing some.  I've still got my France album to finish from 2011.  You've made me want to go and look out some pretty papers but as it's almost supper time I'll wait until tomorrow.

We're having homemade pizza for tea if you'd like to stay.  You would.  Oh good I'll get hubby to make up a few more.

I'm sharing my cuppa with Abi over at Creating Paper Dreams.  Pop over and say hi and maybe have a cuppa with a few more ladies.  The more the merrier.  Till next time.  Ta ta :0)

26 October 2020

Plans for Half Term

 As with all things COVID-19 this year we have had to change our plans for the half term break.

We were due to go to York to see our Grandson and family but as we are now in Tier 3 and they are in Tier 2 we can't travel.  We had arranged to stay in a lovely Airbnb in the center of York, as their house isn't big enough for another three adults, but that had to be cancelled.  Our meal out for Ps birthday had to be cancelled too as did our breakfast at "Bill's".



Still all is not lost.  We have a few things to do around the house and garden and we can still walk locally so the week will be full.

The garden needs a tidy up and all the plants need cutting back.  The leaves needs picking up and the drive needs cleaning.

The kitchen needs painting.  After putting in a new extractor fan there is one wall that needs some TLC. So obviously the whole thing will get painted.

Despite painting the kitchen we are making decisions about moving.  Do we need a house this size or should we downsize?  It's not something you can just jump in to and to be honest I now don't want to even think about it until next year.  Lets just get 2020 out of the way first.

I have to go for my three yearly mammogram.  The delights of having your boobs squished between two bits of perspex.  But better to get it done and it only takes a few minutes.

The up side of going for a mammogram is that I get to go wool shopping afterwards as the hospital is just around the corner form the local wool shop.  

Oh happy day!!

23 October 2020

Weekly Diary/Journal






















New album - check
Pages for said album - check
Embellishments old and new - check
Coloured pens because biro is boring - check
Worked out how to print small photos - check

A few months ago I decided to start a weekly diary.  Nothing fancy just a few lines every day, some photos and a few embellishments.  Some times I have a few weeks to catch up on but I'm pleased to say my weekly diary is coming along nicely.


19 October 2020

Something Beginning with A

I've been trying to tidy up my photos on the PC.  If I'm honest I'm not having much luck as I keep stopping to trawl through old pictures.

Having said that, I thought it would be a good idea for a blog post to find things starting with the letters of the alphabet.  So here goes.

The letter A

1.  Aiming.  The Young Man at Moy Field & Sports Fair 2009


2.  Alamo.  San Antonio, TX.  2015


3.  Alligator.  Brazo Bend State Park, TX



4.  Apple Blossom.  Our garden, Fochabers, 2012


5.  Airsoft.  Halkyn, North Wales, 2019


6.  Athena Gun Club.  Houston, TX, 2015



16 October 2020

Ten More Questions for the Blogger

 10 more questions 

1. Are you a dog or a cat person?  Definitely a dog person.  Dog’s are awesome and when I retire I’ll get another one.















2.  What was your favourite subject in high school? Needlework.  Even though my teacher told me “I’d never get into the Royal College of Needlework because she didn’t”.  And she told me I sewed the wrong way!!  Is there a right or wrong way to sew something? 


3. Are you more likely to avoid conflict or engage in it head on?
Avoid!! Avoid!! Avoid!! 

4. If you had more courage, what would you do differently in your life now? I would give up my job, buy a canal boat and live a quiet life somewhere peaceful.

 















5. Do you have a tattoo? No!  And never will.

6. What scares you about aging?  My eyesight getting worse.  I think I could cope with anything else but don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t see.

7. Have you ever suffered a fracture?  Yes.  My elbow which I did doing leapfrog in a PE lesson when I was about 11 or 12.

8. What kind of car do you drive?  Peugeot 108,  but I miss my automatic Nissan Rouge which I drove in Texas.  I don’t really care what kind of car I have just so long as it gets me from A to B.

9. Do you love your job? OMG yes!!  It’s the best job I’ve had.  The children are amazing and the staff are totally awesome.  Who wouldn’t want to work in a school where the children say they’ll miss you till they see you the next day?  

10. Are you named after anyone?  I’m not sure but Elizabeth is a family name.  It was my mum and Gran’s middle name, my Great Aunt’s first name and I’m sure if I searched back far enough I’d find a few more.






14 October 2020

Slimming World Cauliflower Soup

 Slimming World Cauliflower Cheese Soup





















I made half the amount and also added a leek.  If you like it spicy you could also add some chilli. It made three portions for me to take to work for lunch.


Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • Low-calorie cooking spray
  • 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • 550g small cauliflower florets
  • 800ml vegetable stock
  • 10 The Laughing Cow Extra Light Cheese Triangles
  • Smoked paprika, to serve

Method:

1.    Spray a large non-stick saucepan with low-calorie cooking spray and heat gently. Add the onion and paprika and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened slightly.

2.    Add the cauliflower and stock and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until the cauliflower is just tender. Using a slotted spoon, lift out a few cauliflower florets and set aside to garnish. Stir the cheese triangles into the soup and blend with a stick blender or in a food processor until smooth. Season lightly.

3.    To serve, divide between shallow bowls and top with the cauliflower florets. Sprinkle with smoked paprika and serve immediately.


12 October 2020

A Day Off!!

 I haven't done one of these posts in a long time.  


The weekend is supposed to be my time off from working full time during the week.  How come I spent yesterday busier than ever?

1.  I stripped and re-made the bed.


2.  I did the ironing.


3.  I found a cauliflower lurking in the salad drawer and made Slimming World Cauliflower Cheese Soup to take to work.



4.  I tidied out the freezer.  I can now make dinner for a whole week without going to the shop :0)


5.  I hoovered and dusted the living room.


6.  I fought my way through the garden furniture to put the washing in the dryer. How I wish I had a dryer in the house.


7.  I eventually sat down mid afternoon and had a coffee break and a quick round or two on my crochet.


8.  As I was taking a quick break I sat and watched this little fella emptying the nut box on the back wall.


8.  After putting the washing away and making sure we all had clothes for work next week, and whilst hubby was making dinner, I had a little bit of me time and made some scrap cakes with the wool left over  from other projects.  I was amazed how much I had lying around.  I can see a new project coming on.


9.  After dinner I stacked the dishwasher and called it a night.  Time to sit and catch up with something on TV.

Maybe next weekend I should Have a "Boys Day".  One where I get up late, mooch around all morning and do what I want in the afternoon.  One where I don't don't do the housework, washing, ironing and cleaning.  

I wonder how long it would be before someone said they had no clean underwear or anything to wear for work?

Anyone else have a 'Day Off' like that?




























9 October 2020

Middleport Pottery

Back August, when we were still allowed to travel for a day out, the hubby and I ventured about an hour and a half down the road to Stoke on Trent to visit Middleport Pottery.


We first heard about the pottery on the TV show The Great Pottery Throwdown.
A show where amature potters compete weekly to become top potter.


It's filmed at Middleport Pottery.  The last working Victorian pottery and home of Burleigh.  Pottery which is decorated by using a technique called tissue transfer printing.


We couldn't do the factory tour as they aren't currently running but we did manage to do the Heritage Tour which was really interesting.






































Originally there were seven kilns, (three biscuit ovens and four kilns for firing pottery that had been glazed).  Only one is still standing today.  This is mainly because it is attached to the main buildings.






































Hubby was fascinated by the engineering behind the steam engine, Duchess which has been fully restored and is set to work using steam once a week.  She is the only one of her kind as the company never built another.
The day we went she was working with an electric motor but it would be good to see her working with steam.

Burleigh is a little too fussy for me.  I'm a less is more kind of girl but it did make a great display in the shop.

After the tour we stopped for lunch in the Canalside Tea Room, which I can highly recommend.  My mask for the day was a good choice as it match the tea set!!

You can read more about the pottery here.

5 October 2020

Summer Photographic Scavenger Hunt 2020 Pt 2

It's time again for SPSH hosted by Mary Lou at Patio Postcards.  A huge thank you to Mary Lou for hosting again this year.

I'm a bit late in posting these as time just got away with me last month.  I've managed 19 out of the 20 with one alternate added. You can see all the other finds here.

1.  A favourite piece of Jewelry.  My wedding and eternity rings.














4.  A toy you play with.  It's a stress puzzle I bought from a street vendor in Paris in 1995.




















In an attempt to use different photos I have re-done number 9. Something that starts with the initial of your name (first or last) - Elephants at Chester Zoo
















10.  Something smaller than a paper clip - The back off my earing.


15.  Something inherited - An Owl.  It's brass, about 2cm tall and I'm not even sure who this came from, but I've had it for a long time.  Since this photo was taken I have at least attempted to clean it up!!


18.  Something that can go in the water. - The Lighthouse at New Brighton (again).  See number 9.


19.  A stone/rock/pebble with some colour in it.  I totally missed this one so have had to use an alternative in it's place.

Alt A.  An animal Statue. - Boxing Hares in the gift shop at Dunham Massey.



And that's all folks!!  Same time next year?











 

2 October 2020

One from the Archive

I suddenly felt homesick this week and thought of all the lovely walks we used to take at Millbuies.

Here's a reminder of one of those walks.


Millbuies

Today the sun came out for the first time all week and in an effort to make the most of it I bundled Mum, the Young Man  and the dog into the car and headed off to Millbuies.

The colours there are amazing just now and the sky was blue.
 This is my favourite shot of the day.
 More colour.  It won't be long before all the leaves have gone.  They were falling like crazy at one point.