Green fingers - me?

Said I wasn't probably going to be around for a little while, however had to share this. I have had a compost bin for at least a year and have turned it over now and again but not regularly. We had been "George Saves the World by Lunchtime" http://www.amazon.co.uk/George-Saves-World-Lunchtime-Project/dp/1903919509 so decided to go and look at it.

I have even dug some through in the front garden, hoping to get my lavender to grow a little better, if nothing else.

Chuffed to bits so have taken out the good stuff as I intend to plant potatoes for Christmas when we get back from Scarborough and will keep adding to the bin from now on. Heeeehee!

Keeping Busy!

Well, this week we have been trying to keep busy with the boys doing lots of bike riding outside whenever the rain held off. The boys and I went toy shopping on Monday with their pocket money and we have had a walk past the reservoir on our mini scavenger hunt route, I found this on Pinterest. Hope you can read it and will enjoy it like we do!

Harry has done really well feeding Honey, his rabbit, by himself for most of the week.

On Wednesday the Gramps took them to see the Mickey Mouse Magic show at The Lowry and they had a great time.

Thursday we had over night guests and their little girl loves playing with the boys, witness below.

Hubby played golf on Friday so I took the boys to play on the pirate ship play area, which they love.

We had made plans to go to Animal Quackers at Bacup on Sunday but we arrived to find it was closed. (Compaint already made to Groupon!) We had packed a picnic so we went on to a childhood park of Jon's, Victoria Park in Haslingden, and the boys had a great time on the zip wire. When we came home we had a dry run putting up tables and things so we know what we are doing for camping - we leave on Monday and are all VERY excited.

I have done no baking this week, but I have been trying to gee up some trade between getting lots of new likes on my Facebook page and today have opened my Etsy shop. (Jon feels he has lost me to technology!!) Hoping to generate some funds for the family pot. I do have lemon curd to make as I hope to enter it into the Denshaw Show when we get back from Scarborogh, but of course it needs to be there before then so dropping it off with a friend.

I have started putting things aside for camping packing so work tops in the kitchen are covered in lists and baskets and equipment is being stored behind a sofa at the moment until we start to pack the car on Sunday.

Well, that is it I think but may be a week or more until I am here next. 
                                                     Keeeeeep creating and baking!!  xx

One down, five to go!

This has been the first week of the boys being on holiday so I have been getting myself into activity mode with them, so I don't go mad and they are occupied and hopefully enjoying themselves. This week they have had high tea outside, complete with bunting, because the weather turned meaning we couldn't take lunch to the park.

 
We practically emptied the library of books on Wednesday with subjects including anything from spying and Where's Wally? to early reader books for Harry and story books for Aflie.

Whist they played on bikes and go carts I gave the front garden a good weeding, so happy with the way it is looking at the moment. I am very excited about a Seedum which I uprooted from somebody else's garden and it has taken in the moss on the front wall really well with a very pretty pink flower.

Just today I finished a wedding journal and I am sooo very chuffed with it. I love the look and the feel, visually and touchy feel of it. Looking for more orders now as this was the last of the recent four I had to complete.

Friday saw the opening of the Olympic Games 2012 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So far have been enjoying the swimming, syncronized diving and the gymnastics.


My nephew was married on Saturday - he is now 31 so how old do I feel? Here are the Houghton's, en famille, and not a bad photo either.

That is about it for now. x

Well, the end of an era! 

(Just before I start, what do you think of the new pinker look? I think it suits me better.)
Sunday this week was quite a nice day and after Harry came back from a birthday party they played out in the front garden. I would have loved to let them stay out longer but bed time was looming and the hols will be here soon for playing out late - with sun hopefully!
 

 

Have finished two journals this week; this 1980's one was a real challenge as not how I normally do them - customer was a friend and a very happy one, too!

Covered to look like an old school notebook and I think the effect was just right!

This week I've been getting teacher gifts and cards ready. Made a nice big cake for the Pre-school teachers, see below then gave plants and cards to Mrs O'Dwyer and Mrs Magee.

This was a double-decker lemon drizzle with lemon butter icing and cranberries in sugar syrup!

I took an almond pound cake, also with cranberries on top, to Mrs Nicholls this morning. Got Harry to write a label for Mrs Nicholls's cake and Alfie to do ones for the plants. Here are my boys on their last day, for Harry in Reception and Alfie Pre-school taken this morning. Things are going to be very different from September with no more regular contact with Pre-school and the boys and Alfie who will now benefit from Mrs Nicholls's wonderful methods of teaching.

 I was very emotional at lunch time fetching Alfie and a little teary when I picked up Harry but all better now.

So, no doing stuff for school for six weeks! No committees, no meetings, no cake bakes but I know I will be busy. The planner for the boys comes into play on Monday - activities and stuff to do to keep them busy and me sane!

Will be back soon with new of how we are getting on with more fun in the sun, hopefully.x 

 

 

Too busy to blog but never too busy to share!

 

The time seems to have gone by quickly since I was last here. Alfie-boo and Harry-bo have had their Moving- Up Days for Reception and Year One classes; I think they will be just fine!


The weather has continued to be terrible putting a stop for me to a night out that was planned with some of the mums from Harry's class, although today it is quite sunny! Probably just but the kibosh on that!


I think at the moment the front garden, possibly due to the rain, is looking lovely - see here.

I need to think about what I am putting in the far let corner for next year, I really fancy a nice Formium. I made space for one when we took the triffid of a Lovage plant that had been growing there before!


I have also manged to complete one more journal this week, an A4 recipe one and here is the finished product.

 
Well, considering my blog title talks about dust-busting, today I have been using a new cleaning schedule for about three days and it's just great! So I thought I would share the link with you - this works for how ever big or large your house is with maybe a couple of tweaks.

Dust bust - and relax! 

Click here to see how much easier it can be to look after your home without cleaning all day everyday!

This week I will be getting myself ready for next week which is the last week of school before the summer hols. That means teacher presents to make and making room for things being brought home from school! plus I have two journals to make for next week.

I have booked us 5 days camping at Flamingo Land near Scarborough for August and the kids are really looking forward to that already! 

So, trying not to do too much for the next couple of days and then a bit busy!x

Count down to our trip without the boys!

This week has been busy getting things done before me and hubby went to a wedding, without the boys. There were two sports days, the stocks to move out of the back yard, finally, plus the hamper I made for the school raffle to deliver. I was very pleased with the contents and the look of it; lemon curd, onion chutney, parmesan and cheddar thins, sultana and banana bread and homemade lemonade.

I finished the Holy Communion journal and was really quite pleased with it. May post a picture of it later as I don't have one just now.

We left for our trip to Scotland without the boys feeling nervous but looking forward to our weekend away. Part of it was to celebrate out wedding anniversary - here we are seven years ago!

The wedding was on Saturday and I think you get the feel of the occasion by these pictures. Just imagine the smell of a hog roast and a few bottles of excellent red wine along with them!

It was a lovely occasion and the rain held off just long enough.

That is about it for the week. I'm having a fairly baking-free week this week, apart for the boys. No planning for fairs or trips away so a breather for a short while.x

Nearly had to launch the Ark - 

but the sun shone on Uppermills crafty individuals!

Well, how much rain did we have this week?!

Different stuff to do this week. Of course at the beginning of the week I started the baking for the Summer Craft Event in Uppermill. I baked everyday including Friday. On the Wednesday it was the job of the final batch of curd.

Thursday evening hubby and I went to the school induction for Alfie starting big boy school in September. Much the same as with Harry but nice to see the parents and check nothing has changed too much.

Baking started late on Friday as I had the Pre-school committee meeting to go to but got a couple of cakes made before heading back to get Alfie at lunch time - won't be doing that much longer!

Saturday I had all the cakes to wrap and label, like wise the curd needed to warm up a bit out of the fridge before I could label the jars. Eventually the car was packed and was all ready for me to go Sunday morning.

The event on Sunday was just fantastic. I had fantastic comments, some orders and potential interest on lots of things. Can't wait until the next one. Here are photos of my British tea party themed table.

 Having a rest today and then see what the rest of the week has in store!x