Ready For Sunshiny Days! On A Shoestring!

Well the suns been out, and the garden is blooming! I've just been geering up for the long lazy summer days!

I treated myself to this Steamer chair - my last one gave up the ghost last year and fell to bits! I won the Steamer on Ebay - 'Oh Blessed are Thou, Oh wonderful 'sitting at home' shopping site!'

I think of my Ebay /Paypal money a bit like Monopoly money - not quite real, well you never see or hold it in your hand, do you? So I spend it on things I wouldn't normally just splash out on!

I think of it as Pin Money, just selling bits and pieces around the house, vintage pieces I tire of, or unwanted clothes (of a rather larger size - for those of you with a luscious figure like mine!!!). Some bits come in boxes from the Household Auction - I will have bought the box full (they usually sell in box fulls!), I take what I wanted from the box and put any interesting bits on Ebay - shame to just throw them away, someone somewhere will love them!

So - Cheers to Ebay! One very nice new Steamer chair, all ready, snuggled in what I call by Circle - its sort of a sunken area surrounded by slate pillars one side and garden on the other. It has a chipped slate floor - its lovely and warm, shielded from the wind.

Bargain of the day has to be this sun shade and its stand £2 from todays carboot sale, and the two chairs with cushions for £5 - from same carboot sale! Chair cushions are a bit faded and have seen better days but hey! I am mostly going to sit on them in my gardening clothes, and for £5 - its something comfy to sit on! There is no way I could afford brand new chairs, and you know what - I wouldn't pay that much for something that in all probability is going to get rained on!

I suppose the Steamer chair was an exception, but only because I got it really, really cheap on Ebay.

Hubby P has done a Quality Control Test on the chairs - and Yes! his highly developed, comfort rating skill, built into his posterior says Yes! they are very comfy - definitely a fivers worth of comfort!




And just a pretty picture of Mr Sunshine! This is a little set of Childrens table linen, its so cute, thought I would just show you. It came in one of the aforementioned boxes, with some glassware I wanted. Its now on ebay - I need to replenish the Monopoly money!

Take care x Ta Ta for now xx

Who Said It Was Easy Being Green???

Hello there! Hope all's well with you.

Just a bit of 'this and that' today.

Can you see our baby Tadpoles, the pond seems full of them, so nice to watch them develop over the weeks. Then its a case of watching where you put your feet, as they leave the pond to make their way in the world!

This has got to be my bargain of the week, I found at the carboot sale for £4! Of course I snapped it up - Hubby P was not in sight, despite the fact that he was the one who would have to carry it to the car and do any repairs. But I just 'Knew' he would be pleased!

His enthusiasm was somewhat 'luke warm' - he sometimes takes a while to see the potential in a thing! When He hove into view I met him with -

'Its just the think to sit out at the table to eat lunch' - I gushed!

'Its got rotten legs' - he said!

Not to be beaten I said 'That's a minor problem, I am sure you can easily fix it up - You are so good at that sort of thing! - and anyway I've bought it!'

A look of 'something' crossed his face!

Once we got it home and had a good old look at it, he said it would be easy to unscrew the legs and replace them - he even had some wood stashed away that would do (a bit like us girls with our fabric stashes - Hubby P has a wood stash!).

I was just inside at this point - keeping up with the demand for hot mugs of Tea!

Here it is new legs and I sort of rubbed it down a bit with some sandpaper.

And gave it a couple of coats of stain, the former red colour shows through a bit, but it doesn't worry me - its something to sit on, and for £4 that's good enough!


Found this pretty little book too, its actually a Blotter ( pages of blotting paper for use with ink pens). The pretty bird print is of a kind of raised card, I wondered if it had once been the top of a chocolate box and just stuck on to the Blotter.

The Threads are unusual, there are quite a few of them, they came in their original box. They are different colours of Laundry thread. I imagine that the big old Laundries used them to mark and differentiate between customers laundry items. As I said I have a box full, so in the spirit of not hording things I will keep some and put some on Ebay - so keep an eye out if you just feel the urge for some Laundry thread!
I just thought they are nice to display amongst my sewing things - the Kids think I am mad I'm sure - more junk!

Talking of junk - look what I found at Tuesdays carboot sale. A whole heap of beads and jewelry making stuff. Those two cardboard boxes behind are just full, as are all the little trays in the cabinet thingies, and the tins and whatnots!

I was in luck, just as I stood in the middle is a heap of boxes, having a good old nosey in them, the stall holder was still unloading his van, and put down these boxes right in front of me. I could see right away they were full of goodies - he ( the stall holder) had cleared an old house and this was, or had been someones craft stash. Well more than that, there is so much - not only beads but all the wires and thread and whatnot to make jewelry on a big scale.

I stood in the midst of this sea of boxes, guarding my little heap with my life, whilst I frantically waved at hubby P to come and help! I must have looked a little like a 'Lady in Distress' because one or two Gents asked if they could help! Either that or I looked like an interesting Loony!

When I got them home - well! there is just Sooo much stuff! I have sorted most of it out, I will keep some - really nice jade beads, old crystal, glass beads, ceramic beads all sorts! But a lot of the stuff I will never use - like Hubby P said 'Just how many beads does a Girl need in a lifetime?'

So good old Ebay - I wonder if beads sell well? There are a huge amount of wooden beads, the sort that were popular in the 1970/80's (I think they are probably from then) - do you remember when Macrame' was all the rage, and the beads were interwoven with the string to make hangings and whatnot?

I have kept just one of the cabinet thingies, to house all the particularly nice beads, and it stands rather well in my sewing corner. Hubby P wanted one - well he did say 'I will have the cabinets to keep my little tacks and screws in' - I said 'Not on your life!' So we 'compromised' - I let him have one!

I can't wait to have a go with my beads - so that's settled then- bracelets all round for Christmas!


On a Green theme
- how to dispose of you kitchen scraps - my chickens just love a good old bowl of 'mash'. I keep all my veg peelings and give them a bit of a boil up so they are nice and soft, drain, and add a bit of old bread, or porridge oats to 'dry off' the mash, and serve it up to them - they like it nice and warm! especially in winter!

Here they are tucking in! I am sure it helps the eggs taste nice and it helps cut down on the amount of bought in food they eat - a saving there because Hen food costs quite a bit.

This seems to have been a long Post - hope I haven't bored you too much - thanks for sticking with it!!

Have a nice Weekend xx Take care xx

A Little Rain and the Garden's jus' Lovin' it!

Hello there, hope all's well with you!

Life's just been rumbling along here, nice and quiet, just as we like it - we are so lucky, so many people are struggling along with uncertain futures. This Swine Flu thing is a bit worrying, everyone is going to be worried about the slightest sniffle! Lets just hope it passes without harming too many people, life is tough enough at the moment with this Recession.

On a lighter note, a little rain last night and the garden seems to have taken on a lovely lush summery feel, all is green and it smells 'fresh and green an summery' if you know what I mean!

This little guy was busy doing his thing!

And the sun shining through the leaves brings up all the glorious colours!

I spent a lot of money (well a lot for me - too much to mention to Hubby P!) on Alliums last year, so I am quite excited to see them emerging - I just know they are going to be fantastic. I think they are so lovely - they remind me of my Mum, she loved them too, she would buy just a couple each year - her 'One Weakness' was plants, an extravagance she could not really afford being a Widow on a small pension. Her garden gave her so much pleasure - I do hope there are gardens in Heaven - somewhere she can do a bit of weeding!

Bit more done on the Summer House! Over the weekend we (me doing the 'Yes - it looks straight to me' bit!) put up the wooden frame for the roses and clematis to climb up, and over. It just needs a bit of finishing off then I can get the plants in.



Car Booty finds!

I know I showed you the lovely lampshade I found on the last post. Well I found an ideal lamp stand for it. It was in pieces when I found it - someone had thrown it out of a box and it had been stood on, and broken. Well I paid my 50p and brought it home for Hubby p to do his magic! It just needed re-gluing back together, it worked really well and looks great.

Looks just the part on our old Radiogram. The only hitch was finding an old style light bulb (not the new energy efficient ones) so that the lampshade would fit on it - the shade has little wires that straddle the bulb.

Hubby P found one on a shelf in the local Garage - non of the Super stores sell them now. Although he is rather concerned that having the lamp switched on will increase out Carbon Footprint no end!

Honestly! the things we have to worry about these days!

Three little Council men turned up yesterday with 'Another' big wheelie bin for me - a green one this time, with a booklet of Do's and Donts, when I looked inside there were' Two More' recycling boxes! That makes a total of Three big bins and Four recycling boxes we have been given - Just How Much rubbish do they think we have!

I said to Hubby P -'Well at least they will make good planting boxes!' I have some little chitted potatoes that are looking for a good home!

Leave you with a nice picture of my lamp and pretty Ballerina Lady!

Take care xx

Weekend Goodies!

Just a little Hello, and a few Pic's of goodies found at the car boot this Weekend.

Marsh Marigolds amaze me every year, they are just so gloriously bright and cheerful! Just look at this one, shining her little socks off in my pond!

Highlight of the weekend finds just has to be this 1930/40's little lampshade. It was awfully dirty when I bought it (for £1!) - and I thought maybe it would fall to bits when I washed it, but its come up beautifully! Just need to find a nice base for it now.
The little pots of Aquilegia were just £1.20 each - how could I leave them! I have only the blue - rather common one in the garden at the moment, so these white and pink will make a nice addition.






Just 'ANOTHER' (as Hubby P said) bag - but I haven't got a 'just Black' Vintage bag - and it was all of 50p - how could a Girl walk away without it! This again was very dirty, but for 50p you can afford to take a chance, and Yes it came up a treat! Another pretty scarf too - I didn't show him that (and it was more than £1!!!)






We spent Saturday clearing the ground in front of the Summer house (bigger job than it sounds!) and on Sunday after the Car Boot ( we had a stall and made LOADS of money - lots of nice friendly people, buying lots!) - of course we has spare cash, so we bought some bags of chipped slate to put down on the path up to the Summer House and in front of it. It looks really well, the Lads (Hubby P and Rich) worked really hard - Bless' em!

Hopefully, fingers crossed xxx I have persuaded Hubby P to build a wooden framework over the area in front of the Summer House, so that I can train roses up it and have a kind of Rose Bower - if that's the right word for it. Some where shady and sweet scented to sit and ponder the world! I have suggested it might be for my Birthday - in June - no pressure of course!!

Have a nice week, I'm off to plant my Aquilegias! xx

The Print Room!

Hello there!

Hope you had a nice Easter Holiday, we had a lovely time with friends who came to stay, we did all the 'visitor/tourist-y' things like visit a Castle and whatnot.

Thought I would give you a glimpse of one of my favorite plants - not that its very bright and showy, but it does so remind me of Home! It grew with gay abandon in the garden of my childhood home.

'Twas my constant companion', as I played, and created my 'make believe' worlds of fairies and little people in a wonderful lush garden with a little brook tinkling through it.

Plants are so very much more than just 'plants' - if you know what I mean? Do they have the same memories, ties or whatever to you? Can you not pass a rose without thinking of your Grandad?

Shall I get on to the more 'real' heavy duty stuff - enough of the 'air fairy' stuff!

This is what we have been mostly doing - heavy duty crafty stuff!

Using a lot of this!!

It all started when Hubby P came home with a van full of these!





These are Printers trays for those who didn't recognise them. They hold all the lead type for a printing press (Letter press). Sadly our friend has had to close his print shop due to ill health, they (Hubby P went to help) had cleared all the equipment, sadly no one wanted a lot of the old letterpress stuff, so a lot of it went to the scrap yard. The trays had been thrown in the skip! Of course Hubby P 'lept into action' - well that's not entirely true - rheumatics and a dodgy back put paid to the 'leaping' bit! Let us say he fished them out, and proudly brought his trophy home!
Very nice - but what to do with them all? We slept on it!

To go back a couple of weekends Hubby P (the back was good, sun warming the rheumatics) had re roofed the little summer house he had built in 2000. It had sprung a leak so needed a new roof and general 'fix up'. His idea after a sleep, was to fix the print trays to the ceiling of the summer house to give a 'different' - honeycomb effect. I quite liked this idea - and so it started!

As you can see it is quite 'different' - but what a job trying to hold them up (me using a broom handle Hubby P and screwing them in place!
I had the idea of papering the panels between the spurs/framework of the summer house with a mix of Vintage print - old magazines, sheet music , old comics, old children's etc.

I wanted it to be 'The Print Room' - a random mix of yesteryear printed materials, and of course the ceiling one huge print tray!

In summer we often use the summerhouse as an extra bedroom (it is much sought after - so quiet at the top of the garden - bit like a retreat) so we put the bed up, and my Grandmothers rocking chair lives in there too. Altogether very cosy!

Just the outside to finish now - Yesterday I painted the door and window - bright Yellow - very yellow - it was an old tin of gloss I found in the shed - 'this'l do', I thought!

Still nice and bright and cheerful, clean and fresh looking.

Just needs the wood work staining now and a new step, and a general tidy up around the front - I am getting there, but what a big job its been!

Just a photo out of the window - we haven't a huge garden, but I feel blessed to have a little space to indulge my love of plants.


Other news!

We went to the Household & Collectables Auction - much excitement, but a little disappointed. It was a poor sale, not a lot that caught my eye. I got this little 'swizzy' chair - how retro does it look! A bargain at a £1. Ideal for sitting at the computer!

And a pretty water colour painting (by a R A Cook - if that means anything to anyone) -I just thought it looked pretty, and again a bargain for£1!

Not a lot of sewing/crafty stuff been done - it seems I have spent my last couple of weeks shut up in the shed!

Although I am in the process of making a couple of hot water bottle covers - I know Summer is on its way, and it seems a bit 'unseasonal' - but I am trying to work my way through my fabric stash - I had a piece of a vintage Candlewick bedspread, and thought covers would be a good use of it.

I backed/lined them with a piece of flanelette sheeting to make them nice and thick and cosy, I think they look ok, nice had inviting!

Just leave you with a pic of some pretty flowers.

Ta ta for now - be good! xxx

Sam !! Back with us.

Hello, hope you are all enjoying this sunshine.

I don't know about you but my garden is simply bursting with colour! The front of the cottage is almost buried amongst the fresh greenery and sparkling flowers. To think when we first got the cottage their wasn't a flower to be seen!

I just planted whatever I could find, and slips of plants from kindly friends - we had no spare money to spend on plants.

Luckily most of what I have planted spreads easily and self seeds all around the garden - along with the weeds I might add!

Below is a little clump of 'Three Cornered Leeks', so pretty with their little white nodding heads - they spring up everywhere. I hadn't come across these until I moved to Wales, I think they are native amongst the hedgerows.
I use the greenery chopped up in salads and omelette's - they taste onion/leek-y.







They look so pretty amongst the bluebells ( they are on their way, flower buds are there just waiting to open!).
As I say pops up everywhere, if you would like a cutting just let me know.

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A little sad news today - the little Robin has deserved her nest and chicks - chicks are dead, I think the nest has been hit by a football from next door - it looked knocked about!

Such a shame, I could have wept!

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I wanted today, to tell you about Sam.

Sam is my long time Trusted Friend, Survivor, Hero and Indispensable Co -Pilot!

He trundles around the lanes with me, now in this, my new car.

I first met Sam at a car boot sale - where else! He had a notice on him saying 'Buy me now and take me home - or I go in the skip (rubbish/garbage bin for those of you overseas!) Price 25p'!!!!

I was horrified - by the look of him he had served his time well - was battered and threadbare - had obviously been so well loved, did his little people not want him anymore?

Needless to say he came home with me, I put him in my first Moggy car and he travelled with me, taking care of the car whist I worked, and giving sound advice, and 'spot on' directions - and what a wonderful listener - and so discreet' He knows all my troubles and secrets!

One dreadful New Years Eve something dreadful happened! Some bad boys stole the car - with Sam sound asleep inside - took it and set fire to it! Needless to say Sam fought the fire with all his little being - luckily the fire engine turned up and saved a lot of the car and Sam. The car could and was repaired - not that it was ever the same.

But poor Sam what a state he was in - all singed and grubby!
As you can see he permanently has one arm bandaged and no wears a waistcoat to hide and protect his singed body. But he is very brave and still has a smile on his face!



We were so proud of him, we thought he deserved a medal, and asked on Freecycle if anyone had such a thing for a Brave Bear. Of course we had lots of response - there are lots of people out there just as Nuts as us!
He got his Medal (although its a swimming medal - we didn't tell him!) and we proudly sewed it onto his waistcoat.




So now he is back with us in our new car, in his rightful place as Co - Pilot extraordinaire!

Anyone else have special 'friends' they cart around in their car, or keep in a special place - or is it just me??!**

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Just a quick look at a WIP, I don't know if it will work, but I am trying to surround a glass jar with felt stems and leaves - to make a kind of soft pretty container/desk tidy?!



It doesn't look much now but I will persevere - It may turn out to be something entirely different!

Ta Ta for now! xx

Oh' to be Fashioable for once!

Just a couple of pics of the pretty little tablecloth I picked up at the carboot sale yesterday. Its immaculate - must have sat in someones drawer, only used for 'best' occasionally!

Sharie from View to the Hill asked for a pic or two of the cloth, she's another of us,that can't walk past a pretty bargain!

The work on the cloth is amazing. Its a square cloth, but difficult to get a good photo of all of it - I had it on the washing line,but it was blowing so furiously a photo was impossible!

And I found this inside a magazine - Times supplement I think. I just had to show you - it seems all of us thrifty - wont throw any scraps away - unpicking and saving lovely old vintage fabrics - Well! we are the height of fashion!
'Everything comes around' as my Grannie use to say!






I should have photographed the whole article really - but basically its saying 'who has the time to make like Martha Stewart and hunt down the darlingest swatches of fabric' - to make your patchwork quilt.
It suggests you cheat by buying and I quote 'Worn and Washed reclaimed fabrics' sourced from charity shops, laundered and cut to size - Liberty is offering colour co-ordinated swatches of fabric in bundles. Small size £32.50 and large £69.95!? (It doesn't say how many in a bundle!)
I tell you it made me look again at my box of fabric scraps!




So today I spent another couple of hours sorting through the boxes of fabric and putting together fat quarter sized pieces to go on ebay - I would be happy with a fraction of Liberty's prices!


~~~ xxx ~~~