A SUNSHINE-Y ICECREAM-Y SORT OF DAY!

Hi Folks!

Its been a lovely sunshiny day here in North Wales - hope you're having a bit too!

The kind of day to sit in the sun with an ice cream! - I saw this nasturtium today, climbing up the trellis - the colours just reminded me of raspberry ripple ice cream!

On the Garden Front!

Not a great lot to report - much tidying of beds and potting on, not really photogenic stuff! However I have made an 'Artistic' decision! - No more plastic tubs, 'old galvanised' has just got to be more fitting for an old cottage like ours, and indeed! far more pleasing to the eye!

So! like mad woman on a mission! I have been buying up all the old buckets I could lay my hands on. They may not look terribly exciting just now, but planted up with lots of pretty foliage - they will look the business!
Hubby P wanted to take the lump hammer to 'straighten out' the old galvanised bath (I think it was used to feed animals!) - I was horrified -I had bought it precisely because it looked 'old battered, worn and well loved' (bit like me really!). I told him he would take his life in his hands if he went anywhere near it! He just gives me that strange look - sometimes we are poles apart! What was that book called? 'Men are from Mars !!!!


Carbooty Finds!!

Tuesday is Car Boot day - so this is hot off the press!

Look ! a whole bunch of pretty vintage smellies! A Girl can't have too much sweet smelly stuff! Only 50p a bottle, how could I walk away!





And thinking of the Chri******* word, a couple of little books to browse for ideas. I shall have a look make some notes, and probably put these on Ebay - I try not to collect this sort of craft book nowadays - I just haven't the space. Someone else can enjoy them.

These I thought were exceptionally cute - little vintage needle cases! What stories could they tell? Who made them? and why? The one with the swan is a manufactured case from Milwards -Finest Quality Needles! Nowadays you get then in an awful plastic box! These little cases are so much nicer - don't you think so?

Again - saved from the skip! These were from a house clearance 'Van Man', what he doesn't sell goes to the rubbish dump (I suppose its called the recycling centre now!) Although I don't really knit, I thought these would be nice to have and look at if only for the great Vintage pictures!

I could just see Hubby P in this snazzy yellow jumper! (I don't think So!! he would run a mile - he's not a jumper man really! and he certainly would refuse to do the 'Ahoy There' pose!)

And Yes again the Ch*********** word crops up! These little festive streamers took me right back to when I was a child, helping put up decorations in the school hall. Isn't it strange how you can almost 'smell' and 'feel' the time and place! I find old shoe box really nice - am I strange? -does it have to be old, worn and shabby for me to 'bond' with it?

Maybe its something to do with age!!

Earlier in the week the weather was more like this!

The nights are drawing in, it was cold, dark, damp - and I needed something comforting! So I made a batch of Treacle Toffee! It was sooooo good and sweet and sticky! Just the thing to snuggle up to the fire with! - of course I ate far too much!

I made lots, so I made little parcels off it - even sold some on the Carboot on Sunday! ( in this new era of tightening belts and earning extra, we have done/had a stall - a couple of times - its ok until we run out of surplus/unwanted/what Hubby P can prize off me - stock).

It must be said - the people who bought the toffee seemed to be Ladies of a certain age, shape and disposition as myself - no Posh Spice look-a-likes then!
I don't suppose Posh would know a good toffee if it hit her in the teeth! - and imagine the mess if the wrapper was to come off in her Gucci handbag! Anyway - I digress - how did I get to Posh Spice? - the Toffee was good - none left now - just neeeeed to make more!

Gotta go now Pancakes for tea! Ta ra for now xxx

WHAT A GRAND DAY OUT!

Well! Hello there!

Sorry to open with such a gruesome picture - especially nasty if you are a vegetarian. But this is life in the country! Its Sootin season!

My friend turned up with a Gentleman who was a retired Gamekeeper in tow, he had been at one of the shoots - had spare birds and would I like them? Yes Please! love a bit of Duck, and I certainly can't afford to buy it in the shops - and how could it be fresher than this?

Of course it involved me 'dressing' the birds, not that great a job, but I feel if we want to eat meat we should be prepared to do the nasty side. I got a goodly amount of meat from them that now sits in my freezer - lovely duck with orange sauce on a cold winters evening!

On to our Exciting Day out!!

Hubby P has taken a few days holiday from work - to fix the roof primarily! but I thought he should have a least a days fun! So - off we trot to the local Household Auction, armed with a bit of cash and trusty picnic basket (no expensive cafes for us Credit Crunchers!).

I just love it all! - the smell of the old well polished furniture, musty old books, the anticipation in the air, the atmosphere, and then the buzz of the bidding as the Auctioneer drones on in his sing song-y voice!

We had looked at what was for sale earlier, and noted down a few lot numbers that perhaps we could have a bid at, Hubby P left me to go for a -break (smoke!) - That was it - I was so enthralled in it all, the Auctioneer mentioned 3 Antique chairs (my attention was grabbed!) -Chairs for renovation project (more bells ringing - he said renovation - that's the same as crafts/sewing/fun to me!!!) well my hand shot up! - I just had to have them! Got them for a £1!

Funny no one else wanted them! - No wonder when Hubby P went to track them down (we had not seen them earlier - they were stacked on top of a wardrobe!) - well! they all had 3 legs! one had no seat! but they had been beautiful - still were in a sad, crumbly, faded fashion. They just had to come home with us - to spend the last of their glory days fading away in our garden!

I think they look rather elegant!





As if they are just waiting for the Fairy Princess to take a rest amongst the flowers!

Hubby P managed to win this butter churn, it came with a crate of milk bottles! I like the churn, but I'm not sure what we will do with the bottles!

I won some Potty's (Chamber Pots)! again for £1 - no one wanted them. I have them in my bathroom for storing things in!

We got lots of other things - boxes full, because they sell things by the box, and if - for example I wanted some Willow pattern mugs (I won them for £1) I got the whole box of household items -an iron, heated rollers, clocks, pictures, and endless all sorts! Some things were really grim and went in the bin, but the rest - well we did a Car boot sale on Sunday! and turned a profit! What fun!

Just thought I would show you this -

Its a wonderful great big piece of woollen fabric given to be by a friend. Fancy finding this at the back of a cupboard! It really wants to be made into something rather fine, tailored into a nice jacket or coat.

Think I might put it on Ebay and share any earnings with my friend - I don't feel confident enough to put the scissors to it!

More Apples!

Hubby P came home with a box of windfall apples someone had kindly given him - we put them in the freezer (I made a few apple pies) and the peelings and cores I boiled up to make apple jelly.

Just before I put it in jars I added some finely chopped chilli - I don't know if it will work! - what it will taste like! but its a bit different!

Bad photo of the jars of 'Apple jelly with a hint of chilli'! as you can see I got quite a lot considering it was just the peel and cores I used, I will do that again -Nothings Wasted in the Crunch household!

Hope you are all having a good week Remember 'Gird Your Loins' against this Credit Crunch, and we will come out the other side!

Ta ra for now xxxx

WHAT AN UPSIDE DOWN WEEK!!

Hi folks!

What a week! The house and garden are both littered with this sort of thing!

Tools, paint, nails roofing felt, sticky-on-y stuff and ladders, gravel, you name it we have it here! And all this for a new - non-leaky roof!

Hubby P - bless him, has taken a weeks holiday from work to fix us a new roof. We desperately needed to do something, the roof was in a terrible state. Good job Hubby P is very good at this sort of thing, and can turn his hand to most things without much incident - we have had our moments during DIY but usually its me that gets my boot nailed through! or whacked on the head with a piece of timber - all in the process of 'helping'! Thank goodness I'm past being able to get up a ladder now (dodgy ankle, and general dizziness - not a good combination!) - and we have the Lads to help. It was a real job trying to get the bitumen off Richards hands and arms! he works as a Baker - not a good look 'Tarry ' hands dealing with bread!

We are half way there - what a job its been trying to do it around the rain!

Hubby P just has the finishing bits to do - fascias and flashing, if that means anything to you!






We still managed to visit a Car Boot Sale - or two!
Got myself this little 'Shabby' table - I knows its very shabby, people were giving it a wide berth, but its just what I have been looking for. I wanted just a small table to put in the conservatory, something to put the newspapers on. And I think it is just charming - well loved as it is! The blokes just throw the papers on the floor - its just one of those things that really gets to me - so now and forever it shall be the 'paper' table!







I couldn't resist this! Isn't it delightful! and in such good condition. I know the its outside, but 'artistic licence' and all that - I just wanted to get a good photo of it.
Not sure if I will keep it or not, I need to play around with it, see if it 'fits' anywhere in the house.
Very 'Country Living' though!







More Grannie Bags, again these were common place when I was growing up!
And do you remember Peek Frean's Biscuits! I remember them being Soooo sweet - covered in garishly coloured icing with pretty pattens decorating the top! Real tooth-achy stuff!
Maybe they were a bit more expensive - I remember they seemed to make an appearance at Birthday parties.
The little blue bag I bought to decorate with felt toadstools and embroidery.







More builder type goodies - Hubby P bought these stained glass windows for £3, he intends re-doing the little porch we have on the conservatory and will incorporate these. Just - well because he wants to! Make it look a bit different and pretty!
A bargain at £3!!

Gardening news!!

Not a lot really - its all been roof, roof, roof!

These exciting little boxes came the other day, some Allium Bulbs I had sent for ages ago.

I really must try and get them in soon.

Should be a wonderful show next summer!

On the Crafty front!

Just some little Friendship Bands and Brooches/Corsages - the sort of little projects I can do whilst watching TV, I've not had much energy to do much else after mauling about with the roofing.

Got to go and assist with some big boards/fascias now - just hope I don't get nailed to the wall!!

Ta Ta for now xx

THE CREDIT CRUNCH BITES!!

Hello there! Hope you are having a good week!

Just a little bit of worrying news - Yes! the Credit Crunch is snapping at the heels of the Allsorts household! Hubby P has been told at work, the situation is - if we don't have any work/orders then we will tell you not to come in to work, and we cannot pay you for those days. Things are really bad in the Printing trade, lots of Printing companies are in the same position. So we are living one day at a time, hoping things pick up - Hubby P is confident they will, and I have got my fingers crossed!

On to happier things - Car Booty finds!

Just look at this wonderfully Pink! dressing gown! It just shrieks 'Girlie Girlie' at you!

I know its not my size (it will go on Ebay I think) - but I just had to save it from the recycling/rubbish tip (a lot of Booters are House Clearance people and what they don't sell they take to the tip, to make room for the following weeks house clearance).

It just reminded me so much of the 70s - I had one just like it - I think everyone did. Mine was a lovely lemon colour with little roses embroidered on the collar. I remember Mum repeatedly warning us not to go too near the fire (although there was always one of those huge nursery fireguards around it - remember - with all the towels an d socks drying on it!). I suppose being made of Nylon they were a real fire hazard!

This pink one is real glam! for the sophisticated Lady!!

It was a day for reminiscing! My Gran had one of these (this was scrunched up at the bottom of a box!) it was kept behind the pantry door and she kept little bits if string in it. She saved every last piece and the same with wrapping paper - and even butter wrappers! I suppose it was habits formed during the war. I tell you - that pantry was like an Aladdin's cave to me! We had a great time, she had all the time in the world for me, we sat and did all sorts of crafty things.

This is a lost lonely little Staffordshire dog! Hubby P brought him home one day - I have a little collection of similar dogs (which were my Grandparents) and he thought this one could join them.







The others are here sat on my bedroom window sill. Although he is lovely, I just don't think he fits in - too flowery for me. So he too is destined for Ebay or car boot!








An exciting little gardening project, our neighbours want away for a couple of weeks (somewhere nice and warm!) and I looked after the house and resident goldfish.
How thrilled was I when they brought these special exotic seeds back for me!
The seeds need a good soaking and whatnot, buts lets hope I can get them to grow! Watch this space!






On the Home Front!
Apple wine (made from the peelings of the apple harvest the other week) is doing well - the kitchen smells like a brewery! I got almost 3 demijohns full - that's some party!






And whilst snapping around with the camera, I caught this - this is something I found the other week. I have been using it for eggs, I thought it was rather cute! Only thing is, it doesn't hold enough for me, maybe its time for it to move on!

I know it sounds like I am 'moving everything on'- but if you could see the amount of stuff I have packed away in cupboards!! Trying to be firm with myself, got to lessen the load a bit!

Time for Tea! Bye for now XX

BABIES TO FREECYCLE!!

Hi folks - just a quickie!!!!

Just an excuse really to rave about Freecycle! If you haven't tried it, try it - if you don't know about it find out! Its world wide as far as I know. www.freecycle.org/

I was a very emotional day today, when I had to part with some of my baby trees. I have a number of different trees in large tubs (which they are desperate to get out of, and into the garden) - I have grown them from seeds and cuttings, so I have nurtured them for a good while - all along hoping I would find somewhere to plant them!

Who was I kidding! no way could I fit another tree in my small space.

So I have had to bite the bullet and re-home them! I Offered them on our local Freecycle scheme - what a response I had!! I could have re-homed them tree times over! In the end I just put names in a hat - and what nice people they were - so nice to meet new people, and hear all about their gardens and what they wanted the trees for. Some to screen off the rugby pitch, others were going to a school gardening project, others to grace local gardens.

A wonderful thing too for sourcing odd bits and pieces - I asked if anyone had any off cuts of shed felt (poor little summerhouse has sprung a leak) - I got a email within the hour, a nice man said he had some part rolls, and we would be doing him a favour taking it away! So everyone is happy!!

Babies in assorted junky pots and buckets!

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Update on the Money Making Schemes!!!

I have always got pots of little cuttings and seedlings (which have decided they like it in the vegetable bed rather than the flower beds!) - I have a special little nursery corner. I usually give them away, and the last couple of weeks took some to sell at the Car Boot Sale - But! - covering all possible sales opportunities and venues!! I put a table out by the gate and stuck a few plants out there!

Well - I thought! - years ago when you travelled the lanes there were always bits and bobs outside cottages and farm gates. I can only give it a try!
And guess what!! First sale today! I'm only charging a £1 a pot - but many a mickle makes a muckle!
I am full of optimism! - we shall come through the beastly Credit Crunch!!

I lifted my Horseradish plant today and harvested some of the root, I'm looking for receipts for horseradish sauce to bottle (which will keep for a few months ). The ones I have found include fresh cream - sound delish - but are designed to use immediately, will not keep. Anyone got any ideas?
Just need to find some roast beef now - Credit Crunch beef ?

Ta ra for now xxx

MONEY MONEY MONEY!!

Hi there folks!!

As the title suggests this post is about Money - I know its a rather vulgar topic and genteel ladies sipping tea wouldn't dream of bringing the topic into the conversation! - But! ask yourselves! are they faced with the complexities of the Credit Crunch!! -- and impending Dooooooooooom!! Not that I am worried! - there are no cries of 'Don't Panic, Don't Panic !' in the manner of Dads Army - not yet anyway.

Its just that I feel I should be prepared should we encounter difficulties - and have a little salted away for a Rainy Day (I know we've had plenty of those - but you know what I mean!).

Thus - Money making schemes!!

I have messed about on Ebay for a while - how better to idle away hours by trawling through lists of goodies that you shouldn't even consider buying! So I decided to 'Get Serious' - 'Be Tough' and start selling some of the mountains of stuff I have collected (most of it sits in boxes, not looked at for months on end!), and maybe look for items to sell - to sell to people who appreciate pretty vintage finds, who perhaps don't have the great fortune, as some of us do, to trawl through boot sales and charity shops.

I might be rubbish at it but I can give it a go, I have just discovered (techno wiz that I am!) that if you go to Community on Ebay you can easily search for listings by individuals if you have their ID - maybe I am teaching 'Grannie to suck eggs' here, but its all new to me! My ID is Anglesey_Allsorts - no surprise there then! Should you want to have a peek!

Speaking of finds, I picked this up at the Car Boot on Sunday - again the box intrigued me!

Box was a bit dusty and shabby looking but in good order, and when I lifted the lid I found this!

I had expected just a box of the usual transfers, and they were transfers (for embroidery etc) but how wonderful! All 'Letter' transfers, all different fonts - Gothic, floral and whatnot, and all in their own little alphabetical compartment.

Some had their original wrappings on - never been opened. I have been through the box looked lovingly at all the beautiful designs - folded then neatly and put them back - Hubby P thinks I am mad! - spending the best part of a evening - taking out - looking - Ahhhing - refolding and putting back in box! But what can I say - He's a man! - how can he possibly begin to understand!
However! working to the new Strict, Strong - Firm with myself - criteria - what would I do with it! - put it on a shelf? So I don't know yet - it maybe Ebay bound!







Anyone remember Granny with one of these? Found at Tuesday Car Boot! Its called (the label says) a Gaybag! I thought it rather cute - harking back to Grannies stood in the grocers, hair curlers covered with a headscarf - havin a good ol' gossip!

Another Money Making scheme -
why not have a stall at the Car Boot, after all we go every week, it just needed a bit of organisation - and an injection of effort - the getting up early was possibly the hardest part! Its amazing how much stuff you can find if you go through the house with a box - and determination! Hubby P at work - one hurdle out of the way! hes like a hamster wanting to hoard things away - although I must admit its one of my weaknesses - but not now Strict, Firm , Strong - Credit Crunch - its like a mantra!!





Anyway I made some of this scrummy Apple Mint Jelly, from the apples from the tree and mint from the garden. It really is fragrant scrumminess - we eat it by the bucketful! So some for us and a pot or two for the Car Boot stall! I even bagged up some fresh from the garden spuds and sold them! People do appreciate fresh food.

Just couple of garden pics!

I have been collecting these old pottery bottles and whatnot, I think they give a little interest to the foliage, this big one came from the Recycling centre - one of Hubby P's finds!

The fennel is looking really lovely - a bright splash of golden yellow!

Ta Ta for now xxx

APPLE HARVEST!!!

Hello there!!!!!!

What busy week again!

As you can see we have been harvesting our apples - all of 1 tree! but what a lot of fruit - the tree went mad this year - lots and lots of good clean apples!

In fact I was so impressed I just had to weigh them to see just how much! -- 47lbs, not bad from one little tree!

Charlie the cat was there to supervise!






Then a fit young man ( son Will ) climbed into the tree to prune it, its what he does for a living - so I left him to it! - its just not nice seeing great lumps being cut off my lovely tree!! He assures me it will do wonders for the tree and next years fruit! I gave it a good big feed afterwards to help it recover from the shock!






Apples everywhere!
Because we have nowhere suitable for storing them as they are, and lots of freezer space in the new freezer - that's where they ended up! Hubby P and I sat and peeled all 47lb of them, chopped, bagged and in the freezer. All ready for lots of scrummy apple crumble, jams and jellies, I usually make a really nice apple mint jelly - wonderful with cheese or meat!
Hubby P did moan a bit at the peeling -said it was like peelin spuds in prison! - but as I pointed out all the peelings would make a great Apple wine! We have just finished the last from last year!





We put all the peelings and cores in a big tub to 'stew' for a few days then I will strain off the juice and add sugar and yeast and leave to ferment into lovely fragrant wine!

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In between the showers - when the sun shines! I have been collecting flower seed and putting it to dry. Hopefully lots of baby plants for next year!






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Car booty goodies!
Just look at all this wonderful lace! It was the old Christmassy box that caught my eye, and when I opened it up - wow! Lots and lots of of neatly folded and stacked in the box - and all for just £2!!!!





This lace collar is particularly lovely - it would look just great on a dark velvet dress/gown around Christmas time!

And how about these butterflies drifting across a pretty flowing skirt! Or used to pretty up a little purse or cushion!

So many wonderful possibilities!

I found this pretty hand embroidered tablecloth (50p) - the hand work is just so perfect, so well done! And the cloth is in such good order - it will look great on my table, especially when my new dining room is finished - not that there is any pressure on Hubby P!!!!

And I must just say a big Thank You to Twiggy (TheworldofTwiggypeasticks) for my Award!

I need to Blog it another time - It needs Links n' stuff - and I can't get my head together for that just now!

Ta ra for now xxxxxxxxx