Nettles For Tea ..... And Shabby Finds!

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Hello there .... hows the world treating you this week?

It seems so full of doom and gloom ... some poor people are having a dreadful time of it, hope all is well with you.

We've had a busy old time of it ... and a wet one too, seems to have rained a good deal.

Just look what Hubby P found at the Household Auction .... isn't she just delightful ... shabby and pink ..... with such a tale to tell... could she only speak.

Hubby P had bought the little wash stand to sell on ... and I was 'helping' or rather standing around nosing at what he had bought, whilst he was unloading the van ... and I spotted 'her'.

Well ..... I just loved her ... but how on earth could I fit her into my tiny ... rather full little cottage.

After much deliberation we decided that she would fit into the bathroom .... just ... if we removed the bookcase/shelving that was holding all the .... um ... bathroom necessities.

I gave her a good wash down ... and she fits... just!

I may freshen her up a bit ... the whole bathroom is in a desperate need of a lick of paint, but not today.

I'm just getting use to her in the bathroom .... you know how it is .. may need to play around a bit.

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Today was fairly dry so we spent the day outside, Hubby P had some wood to cut, and we had a general tidy up of the garden ..... everything looks so damp and dreary.

I found these darling little nettles .... just sprouted from the cold damp earth .... Oh Yum! just love the iron rich zingy little things.

There were just a handful, so I gave them a quick rinse .... and added them to some simple vegetable soup I was making ...

Gave them a quick blitz with the blender thingy....

..... and yummy nutritious soup for tea.
They do say Nettles are the Earths natural tonic and cleanser, one of the first plants to appear in early Spring, full of iron and vitamins and other goodies which it has managed to source because of its deep root system.

I didn't just happen across the Nettles... I have a Nettle pot, or old bath .... I just let the nettles grow in it ... keep it free of any other weeds ... and feed the nettles with rich soil now and again.

Its hard to see the nettles in this pic .... I've just 'topped' it up with some fresh rich soil to help bring on the new growth. I treat them as a crop .... and add them to meals to boost the nutritional value .... free frugal and healthy!

Oh .. and for tea .... I know we like to know these things .. hehe .... soup (although Hubby P declined ... I may have to disguise his Nettles a bit better.... maybe in a pie) ... jacket potatoes with lashings of cheese .... simple and tasty!

Looking around the garden the Daffs are on their way up .... not long now.

And here .... just for your delight .... a few Chicken pictures.....

How does she keep so clean and white ... and she's such an old girl.

Chickens, chickens everywhere!

Just a bit of grain .... helps with the yummy eggs!

That's all for now xxx take care xxx

A Treat to Make a Girl Smile!

Hope you are all well ..... life rumbles on here much the same.

Still a bit of the dreary damp weather but .... well... it is February. I'm sure Spring is around the corner.

Just thought I would cheer myself up with a few early bulbs....

I found this delightful little Bunny pot (think it was intended to be for cacti...?) ... how could I resist for 50p ..... and I just love baby blue hyacinths. Bulbs were 60p/pot... very cheap and cheerful...very me!

So here he sits ..... looking out at a very dreary wet day .... but he brings sunshine to my heart!

A couple of nice lengths of Vintage Laura Ashley.... yes... I've been sorting through my stash again.... trying to make room for new fabric.

If anyone is particularly interested in Laura Ashley .... this little lot will be on Ebay soon.

Have a cheery few days ... take care xx

When's A Mug...More Than Just A Mug?

So... when is a Mug more than just a mug? .... well for me its when its a delightful Retro-y little trio like these.

We were having a bit of a Mug crisis here in the Allsorts household...mostly due to me dropping them on a regular basis (due to arm-y...neck-y injury problem) ...and Hubby P dropping the picnic box this morning...in the dark, as we set off for Carboot...and smashing another two!

So how pleased was I to spot these real retro 70's style mugs on an old ladies stall...and for the princely sum of only 50p each.

Cheap and cheerful....that's me.

At that price I won't be afraid of using them....chances are I will drop them at some point, although they are a bit sturdier than the china ones I usually favor.

I bought these too, sorry the pic's a bit blurred, anyone know what this pattern is called?

I use to have the canisters and tins and whatnot in this pattern, can't say I have ever seen the mugs before.

I do like blue and white....its so kinda 'fresh' looking.

And Fabric.....

how could I leave this piece behind... a seasoned stallholder had put this aside for me....he's quite aware of my passion for old fabrics.....although its quite beyond his understanding...but then again he is a Man! (so I think we can forgive him! lol)

Its a new unused length of what I think is 1950's lightweight cotton... just so cute with the little bunnies...... so Easter-ish.

The colours are so fresh and bright, and it has that crisp starch-y feel of new fabric.



A largish piece so I have done the usual thing..... shared it between me (for my stash... maybe an Easter project) and put a bit on Ebay to recoup some pennies.

Now lets see.... what can I make with these cheeky little bunnies?

xx Take care for now xx nite nite xx

Todays Little Thrills!

Just had to share today's thrilling discovery....

........my seeds are up!

I was thrilled....Spring has got to be on its way. I just have to nurture these babies...grow them on so they will be nice and big and strong....all ready to be planted out.

Tiny things I know... but they give me a big thrill.....Well..you know what they say about 'Small things amusing small minds!!

And how about these... I think they are just so cute, came in the post this morning. I bought them to add to the sewing bits and bobs I sell in the Emporium. I have lots of ladies into all sorts of crafts, and they are always looking for something new.... a bit different. Of course I shall just have to keep one or two for myself.

And last of all Curtains!

How delightful is this.....bright and bold, glistening gold in the sunshine!

A friendly older Gentleman of the Church gave me a bag full of this sort thing....it is very grand, super fancy ....intended as net curtaining...sort of...I think

Its very beautiful anyway.... there are a few different sorts, and he intended that I sell it on rather than it sit in a cupboard, so I shall sell some on ebay....but of course some will be stashed so that I can admire it now and again!

xx Take care xx

Tickling the Garden Soil....And the Tastebuds!!

A bit photo heavy this Post...but I've got to give you something to look at....its a bit grey and bleak out there.....Spring 'Must' be around the corner!

Look what I found peeking out from the cold earth.....Isn't she pretty!

The first Snowdrop....and if you look closely lots of green shoots.....the garden is coming back to life......its enough to make a Girl smile on a wintry day.

I managed an hour or two in the garden on Wednesday....just giving the beds a bit of a 'tickle'....

Giving the soil a turn over and general weeding/clearing of overgrown areas.

The Spring bulbs and whatnot are on their way...but I think I will look out for something bright and cheerful to liven things up a bit....maybe some pots of daffs or something (whatever is going cheap really)... I am in need of some flowery loveliness.

Clearing the veg beds I found some Elephant Garlic growing in a neglected corner, I must have missed an odd bulb/clove and it had divided and spread. So I carefully split and transplanted the bulbs to give them a bit more room....hopefully they will grow on and give us a tasty meal or two.
Elephant Garlic is a larger than life version of the regular garlic, but milder in taste. Nice to roast the whole thing with some peppers and tomatoes...yum!

Liz the chicken was out and about....giving a hand with the digging.

And this afternoon....

.....Well I was feeling a bit alone....Hubby P having to go away for a few days ... it always feels a bit strange....I often feel we don't live in the 'real world' and fear the he might come to some harm in the 'big bad world'....very silly I know...he's a very capable, grown man....but there we are....silly me.

So......lets make cake! ....its got to be a cure all!

Look at these yummy oats ....healthy stuff (well it is until I mix it with lashings of butter and syrup!)

But how nice are flapjacks......who just loves flapjacks...full of healthy oats!

And what about this..

.....how gloriously yummy does this look....who discovered treacle? fabulous stuff!

Maybe I went a bit mad with the quantities.....that's an awful big Gingerbread....Oh shucks...we'll just have to eat it up with custard on it!

Must admit I got absorbed in a book and forgot about the Gingerbread....it is a bit 'brown' on top, but Richard has eaten three pieces....just to check its OK.... just how yummy is Gingerbread!

So we have cake to fortify us....and nice, rich dark, turned over garden beds...So...what have you been up to?

xx Take Care xx Bye For Now xx

Frosty Frugal Day!

Nice bright sunshine today, but cold and frosty....the ground stayed frosty white all day, so no playing out in the garden.

A day of the dratted housework and fidgeting about indoors.

I tackled the last of the stored apples.....about time too, many were happily rotting away.

Still...lots of good apple there, so chopped away at the bad bits and saved the good.

Enough to make a couple of apple crumbles, one for us and one for a friend.

Not very pretty 'Country Living style' dishes....but sturdy and practical...and the crumble will taste just as scrummy. The dark brown bits are caramelised 'dark.. dark' rich yummy sugar....I used up what was left in the packet....just love that dark rich stuff.
Just need a bit of custard!



So Hubby P's dream dinner ....pie.
And cheap and cheerful....nice and frugal.....good dinner with lots of roast veg (carrots and parsnip), peas and a heap of mash. Good warming stuff.





I managed to get a few seeds sown, ready for the early Spring.....I am hoping like mad we have one.....t'would be so nice to have a long warm Spring/Summer.
I've just put a few seeds in little tubs....trying not to end up with far too many seedlings. I sowed some tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers,onions, and leeks. They are just in the window bottom, fingers crossed they do ok.....I can keep them going indoors until its fit to plant them outside.
I know its early but I want to make a good start.

And Nuts!


Finally Hubby P got his Christmas nuts!
I wouldn't buy any over Christmas.... they were just too expensive, but they have been reduced a little each week until this week they were down to 30p/bag.
So Hubby P got his nuts!

Hope you had a good day.... the sun is getting brighter each day....soon be fit to play out!

I'm Carbooting again tomorrow... fingers crossed for the sunshine!

xx take care xx

New Year.....New Projects!!

Just had to share this lovely photo with you!

Isn't he a magnificent Chap... or perhaps she's a Lady?

Her/His colours really were so bright.

New Year....New Projects!

And as the day was dry and fairly bright we made a start. The project is to clear the old pond (nasty smelly job)....it leaked and was just so overgrown, and the surrounding area.... move some sheds about....make a largest space ...in which to build a new summerhouse/shed type thingy.

Sounds easy....

Richard made a start on the pond....

Liz was at the forefront helping with the digging.....lots of tasty worms!



Such a mucky job!
Eventually they got the pond liner out.... now I am left with a big hole.....the garden looks like the Somme!
At least we got through the day without any incidents....just achy backs.
As you know Hubby P does have a history of spectacular injuries... something to do with his enthusiasm for playing with big boys toys......or/erm should that be tools!
I've found encouraging Hubby P to let the younger ones.... Richard and other various sons 'have a go'....
cuts down remarkably on the 'incidents'..... !



Unfortunately we disturbed the frog.... it was in the pond... Richard carried it off and found a suitable damp patch of garden to 'relocate' it.


Anyway Hubby P's day ended well ...we had to shop....and we scored!
Asda was 'Whoopsie-ing' on the bread produce...so we filled a good shelf of our freezer with 10p pies. Can't be bad....Hubby P loves a pie!

Hope you had a good day.... xx