A Treat To Read And A Little Thrrifty Snippet!

Just really a little quick post, just to show you I have Not Just Sat And 'Played Around' Reading Blogs All Day' - as was inferred by nameless persons - shall we say' of this family!

Although this cold weather - with a nice roaring fire - its very tempting!

No indeed-y I have been very industrious today - thinking in a Thrifty manner - of keeping warm.

But before all that - just look what Hubby P brought home for me today! A real delight - one more reason to keep the post short - then I can get stuck into Country Living

and the wonderful fantasy world they try to sell - can anyone ever afford to buy the stuff they write about?

Still we can dream!

I bet people with Country Living lives wont be messing about with old blankets and hotwater bottles!

Anyway - here's todays Thrifty Snippet!

During one foray to the carboot sale I managed to get a (new) hotwater bottle £1, and a childs fleece blanket 20p.

We do use a lot of hotwater bottles in this house - I am almost always to be found sat with a nice warm bottle at my dodgy back. So the more the merrier!

So I cut a rough pattern around the bottle (actually it was a pattern I cut a while ago) and cut the pieces out of the blanket - I've done it double thickness because the fleece is quite thin.

I had to sew the two edges of the 'opening' edges together because I using the fabric doubled up - otherwise - if single I would just hem them.
I always use my trusty 'treadle' sewing machine - no electriciyt used - Thrifty or what!
Mind you lots used in much making of cups of 'inspirational' tea!

Next pin the pieces together - remember you are going to turn the whole thing through, so get the opening bits in the right order.

Sew around the outside of the whole thing, and trim the edges.

Turn through and pop your bottle in!

One snug little hot water bottle.

The blue lent itself to our household quite nicely, there being a few - well all men apart from me, and you know what they are like - I think 'pink and frilly' can work in a lot of ways! - but they have a bit of a problem with it!

Here's a nice pink one I made earlier from an old bedspread, I mostly use this one - well its pink isn't it!

Not to be too hard on Hubby P - he does seek out nice things for me in his lunch hour. So I thought I would treat him to one of there for his tea.

I have just descovered where to buy them here on Anglesey, we hadn't had a pudding for years. These little puddings were a staple in the Fish and Chip shops of Lancashire when I was a girl. We even lived near the factory that made them, and I grew up with the smell of the cooking pies and puddings emenating from a big chimney with 'Hollands' written all the was up/or down it!

I believe a German company owns it now - as with so many places it has had to go abroad for he funding to continue, and yet it seemed to be doing so well, everyone ate Hollands pies, it employed a lot of the town, even had special 'Traditional' type vans sign painted with their well known name and logo - its a strange old world!

Still - we enjoyed the puddings for tea!

xx That's all for now - Country Living awaits! xx

Christmas Bling! and Thrifty Snippets!

I'm don't know about you, but I'm tired of pictures of the snow now. So I thought I would show you some of the pretties Hubby P found for me at Christmas.

Now weeks earlier he was kinda quizing me - I couild tell (he's hopeless at any kind of secrets or whatever) - I knew he was wanting ideas for Christmas, so I just happened to mention I would like some new earrings. All the pairs I had were no longer pairs, I have an awful habit of losing just one of the pair. Hubby P seemed to take this on board, and I hinted at the kind of thing I might like - something dangly, perhaps a bit sparkly - a Girl can't have enough Bling!

So come Christmas I was presented with a number of nicely wrapped parcels. One of them had a little tag saying something like ' Some Northern Lights for My Northern Girl' well! I was intriged to say the least! - afterall it could have been as humdrum as a torch or household candles!

Of course it or I should say, they were a delight - lots of wonderful 1950's Bling!

The Gem Stones are called Aurora Borealis or 'Northern Lights' and they sparkle, and twinkle and throw a miriad of rainbow colours in the sunlight - real pretty Bling.

I did a bit of Googling - Auoroa Borealis rhinestones have a special iridescent finish that shines with many colours. The iridescent surface is a result of a very thin layer of metalic atoms that have been deposited on the lower surface of the stone.

This process was invented in 1955 by the Sworvoski Company together with Christian Dior.

The photos really dont do justice to the prettiness of the pieces.

With my new found knowledege I now stalk the Car Boot stalls looking for 50's bling! Something else, something new, something pretty, and exciting to collect!

On Sunday I came across this pretty ring.

What a stunner! Huge great gemstones set in what I think is a bronze setting. I needed a good clean up but I managed to persuade the stallholder to sell it to me for £4.

Just look how pretty the setting is! The whole thing is in a way so big and chunky, just what I need on my chunky, plump little fingers!

Thinking of Spring, or rather not wanting to think of the cold Wintery weather, I sought out some pretty pictures in this little book. I so love the illustrations - those of you who can draw and paint are so clever, its not something I have a talent for. So I content myself my sitting and browsing other peoples work.

Just look at this delightful little guy!

On the 'Thrifty Snippets' front -

nothing too exciting - more of a practicle use than anything!

I've been looking for a warm dressing gown for a while now, being on the A'humm - larger size it is sometimes difficult to find nice clothes, without spending a fortune in specialist shops. Anyway the only ones I could find were rather frumpy, quilted things and I wanted more of a colouful wrap, but warm, if you know what I mean. So I looked around the house for inspiration, serched the fabric stash - nothing there which would do ( I was looking for a length of suitable fabric to make a wrap) - but I did have lots of patchwork-y sized pieces - you know - for that patchwork project you just know you will make one day!! The sort of bits you just cant throw away -just in case - and they are so pretty etc etc. Now I have a plain black wrap/gown thing-y that I am using at the moment its ideal - bit boring black - but right size style etc, just a bit thin for winter use - so I decided to patchwork the wrap!

As you can see I have started - its something I can sit and do in front of the fire, I am sewing them on by hand, in a kind of random fashion. I thought then I may do a bit of free hand embroidery over the top, to create a quilted kind of effect. Its amazing how the few I have sewn have made the wrap seem thicker and warmer.

Sorry this pic seems to be sideways on! But you get the idea. It may not be everyones cup of tea, but I quite like my little 'wrap of many colours', its cost be nothing and it will be warmer. Plus I suppose I can keep it going for years - just keep patching!!

xx Thats all for now folks - take care - keep warm xx

Car Boot Treasure Hunting, And Thrifty Firewood!

I saw this today, and thought of you!

I thought it was so pretty. Can you see all the pretty, frilly, fronds of fungi clinging to the end of this log?

The log is one of a heap of - usually the 'too knotted to saw into logs easily' variety, which we pile up in quiet corners of the garden to give a home to all the little creatures who live with us. We get a lot of toads and mice, and the odd hedgehog.

It makes a nice picture with its blanket of snow!

We ventured out today, to the indoor carboot sale. Gosh it was freezing in there. I was cold and I was wrapped up like Nanook of the North! These stall holders must be made of sterner stuff than me!

A few bits and pieces - keeping in mind I'm trying to be thrifty!

I found a good big Tupperware container for my porridge oats - remember I said I was hoping to get a bulk order from Suma, so I will be needing large containers to hold the dry goods. So this was a bargin at 40p!

I could'nt resist the little serving dishes, Alfred Meakin - now thats a good sturdy, trustworthy, old fashioned sort of name! I know its sad but that sort of thing appeals to me! A steal at 40p each! I do like to have a sort of mix of shapes sizes and colours on the table - I like to mix it on up - as they say!

And do you see it - did you notice? Another - another gloroius HAT! Just the thing for sitting in the garden amongst the pretty, pretty flowers! It was just so 'country living' how could I give it a miss! And for 40p too!
I got a handfull of Birthday cards 10p each - can't go wrong there - they are so expensive in the shops. I do make a lot of my own cards, but sometimes time is against you, and to be honest, sometimes the person you are sending it to, is perhaps not into crafty, handmade things, and does not fully appreciate all the time and effort and creative love you put into your mini works of art. So perhaps a shop bought card is just as happily recieved, and you can spend more creatve time on more fulfilling projects.

One thing I do love is a nice Vintage card, they do seem to be more flowery, big blowsy flowers, syrupy verses, and perhaps a bit more romantic!




I found an unopened pack of these today, a delight to the eye. It will not surprise you to know I have a little collection of Vintage cards, so this little handfull will join them - I couldn't possibly use them - unless you were someone really special - that fully appreciated Vintage cards!
Actually there were two packs - so I thought I might try and sell one pack on ebay - then in a super thrifty way the money I get for the one pack will pay for the ones in my collection! - thats if I manage to sell them!
The Christmassy fabric is a table runner and cloth someone has run up, I will give it bit of a wash and put it away for next Christmas - use the fabric for some nice Chrismassy projects. Again only 40p - the one stall everything was 40p each! My kinda stall!

This afternoon saw us - well Hubby P, sawing up wooden pallets for the fire.
Hubbp P gathers them together during the week - the lorry drivers who come to his workplace are very good, and save them for him. Then he has a sawing session at the weekend.





Here he is electric saw in hand! Super thrifty wood, and it burns really well!

My job is to chop all the thin plank-y (technical word!) wood into sicks with my trusty blunt axe (not so sharp - they worry about me chopping off my fingers - they know me of old!!).

We use these sticks to light the fire, and they do a fine job.

Even if I must say so myself - I am very good at this little job - never let it be said this Girl will be without a stick to light her fire and keep her tootsies warm!

xx Keep cosy xx

Some Pretties, Bit of Thrift, And a New Year Giveaway!!!

Bit of a long, photo heavy post I'm afraid!

Just thought I would show you some pretty, pretty Christmas gifts the wonderful Hubby P found for me - and of course sent to Father Christmas, all prettily wrapped!

I am such a lucky girl! these little scent bottles are just so lovely.

As you can see, they are so dainty,with delicate glass stoppers which act as 'droppers' to dab the scent behind your shell likes - or where ever really!

The glass is very fine/thin and has a 'collar' of silver over it. We think there is a hallmark, but it is so tiny - hard to read.
But are they not - such a delight?

Another 'wonder' he found me - that I must say I got over excited about - although some people would wonder at me - its a bunch of old metal!?

From the Sygun Museum of Wales - a Collection of Bronze Buckles Dating from the Medieval - Tudor -Georgian Periods.
How amazing is that!



As you can see there is a Certificate of Authenticity with the little lot. Hubby P found them on ebay of all places, the Museum was having a clear out of some stock.

I think they are just amazing, the work that has gone into such tiny buckles - and survived all this time.

What to do with them, I've thought of the usual -unusual features on an embroidered piece, a feature on a purse, on some handcrafted jewelry - they will make a stunning 'something extra' to a piece. Now would you clean them up - or leave them as they are ?

And just because I feel I am such a lucky person to have these nice things, I would like to share some of them with you - my friends.

So leave me a comment perhaps about the buckles (or anything else that has caught your eye but mention you would like to go in the draw) - what would you do, how would you use them ? And I will do a draw in a weeks time,and the winner will receive an original antique buckle and some other vintage-y sewing bits.

Just to start the New Year off to a nice caring, sharing time!

And on to the Thrifty Snippets - how are you all doing? Being thrifty I hope - save those pennies of the special things in life!

This is a bit boring but whilst shopping - thinking Thrifty, I saw Mince reduced to £1.50 a pack. It was British Beef - extra points for buying British/fairly local. Pack was a bit big for me to use in one meal (only two of us eat meat). So I halved the pack of meat, and using the plastic bags that the fruit came in (I gave them a quick wash) re-packed into said bags, and put the mince into the freezer. Not bad 75p/meal.

I did similar with a big container of milk. I buy most of my milk from the local milkman - he delivers every other day to the door and I think we are so lucky to have this service, I know milkmen are a dying breed. So I like to support him, plus the fact that he sells milk in glass returnable bottles. I prefer milk from the glass bottle, the stuff that comes out of the plastic containers always tastes like plastic to me, and I like the fact that the glass can be reused and recycled.

However milk from the milkman is more expensive (not very thrifty!) so I cheat a bit by buying the odd extra bit from the supermarket, I try and use this 'plastic' milk for sauces, custards and the like. So I buy a big (which works out cheaper tha two smaller) container of milk, but I will not use it that quickly, so I decant it into smaller milk containers before it goes in the freezer, this way I don't waste any, I can defrost it bit by bit, as I need it.

You just need a random selection of milk bottles in the cupboard.

I told you this was a bit boring - talking about milk bottles now - for goodness sake!!!


And another Thrifty bit - You thought you had enough with the milk bottles!! haha! - this is a bit more crafty!

Went to feed the rabbits the other day and -' Oh No' - where's my feed scoop? Hubby P had pinched it to use to spread the rock salt on the paths. Not that I could complain, he's mostly doing it for my benefit - I have a habit, as you know of throwing myself on the floor!

So I found myself an empty Fabric Conditioner bottle - you know the sturdy kinda bottles.

Give it a wash out, and cut diagonally across from the base of the handle to the bottom corner of the bottle.

I used a combination of my bread knife and the scissors - the plastic is easy enough to cut. I gave it another wash, and removed the label - just so it looked prettier really.

There you have one scoop - ideal for - well anything really - animal feeds, soap powder, -rock salt! - dry foodstuffs (the plastic is quite clean), my children , when younger use to take them to the beach to play in the sand (no sharp edges -child friendly).

This was a large bottle so it made a large scoop - you can play around with different size/shape bottles. Better to Reuse than Landfill! (some areas may take them to recycle - it depends here you are).

Its a hard job keeping the rabbits comfortable in this cold weather. I have to defrost the drinking bottles everyday - and fill them with warm water, to give them a chance of getting a drink before they freeze again!

I give them lots of fresh veg, at least that has got lots of juice in it to make up for the lack of water if it freezes during the night.

And I fill the hutches with hay, so they can snuggle down and keep warm. Mind you, they seem quite okay, I think its the wet that they find difficult to deal with.

They do have nice thick warm coats!

Anyway I've wittered on for long enough! Remember if you would like to be in the draw for a dainty little buckle leave me a little comment.

xx Take care xx

'Cool and Trendy' Thrifty Snippet!

Just thought I would share this with you - Son number 1 - 23 yrs old going on 7yrs - thinks its Sooooo Cool!

The weather being so cold - well! what else can a girl do but sit and browse the web for interesting ideas to share!

This is what you need for the project!

Yes! I can see you are intrigued!!

I found this whilst browsing a Blog -myzerowaste.com, its written by a family who have manage to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill to one small bin full for the whole year! Have a read - its a fascinating story.

Anyway - you know the mantra Reduce Reuse Recycle, well this is a way of Reusing those Tetra Pak boxes (fruit juice and whatnot) - because they are difficult to recycle, mostly they go to landfill, and well all know that is 'Bad'!

So - take your empty box - cut off the ends - wash and dry.

Fold the side in and crease.



Measure about a third of the way up, fold and crease.

I ran the but of the scissors along the creases, to help make a lasting crease.

Trim off the upper third (on side of box) to make a flap.

Staple the two middle pieces together, to make two pouches.

Trim the flap into a pleasing shape.

Put a hole in the flap and pass an elastic band through it, and loop the band as shown.

You now have a trendy little purse for holding cards and loose change!

Fasten the little purse by looping the elastic band around the whole.

Its not terribly big, but holds a cash /library card or whatnot, and a bit of change - just the thing for children's lunch/pocket money!

I thought it might be a nice activity to do with older children.

Give it a go - and help save the world!!!

Just A Few Snowy Pics!

Just had a bit of a play outside today with the camera - its so unusual for us to get any snow here, I thought I should capture the moment!

So here's a few pic's for you.

I don't really like the cold wet stuff, I had plenty of it as a child, but even I have to admit that when it first lays - it is quite sparkly and magical!

Front of our little cottage, even the lane looks white - not much traffic today!

Remember the little fir tree I replanted - it looks as though its been dusted with icing sugar!

And the magical 'Fairy Princess' chair in the garden!


No need to water today!

Just look at the fresh green underneath all that chilly snow!

The last of summer!

I liked the colours of the bark against the white, white backdrop of the world.

Uncas - a happy dog usually, he's part Husky (but I don't think anyone has ever told him!) - not too keen to go out in the cold stuff!

And the chickens! doing sterling work - still laying, only two eggs today, but a wonderful treat. I thought the cold and dark would have knocked them off laying. Mind you they are snug and warm in their little hut. What with hot mash for lunch, grain, layers pellets, fresh veggies and the odd bit of Chinese food to tempt them they have a cushy life! They looked at me in disgust yesterday - their drinking water had frozen over, so they had to have fresh, slightly warmed water to refresh them!

They are all tucked up in their little hut now, I can see them through their window looking out at the white world - I wonder what they are thinking!

Thrifty Snippets!

Washing Soda - wonderful cleaning power!

I have been using Washing Soda in my washing machine for a few months now, it works just as well a all the fancy laundry detergents, at a fraction of the price - 48p a bag I think I paid for the last bag.

I keep it in this old tin (so it doesn't go damp) - I put 3-4 tablespoons in the powder section of the washer, I use cheapo laundry conditioner, just to give the clothes that extra nice smell really. Just a drop - half a cap full of the conditioner, and wash at a lowish temperature for colours - 40 degrees, and it works just fine.
Whites I do wash at a higher temp, but colours - we we don't really get clothes that 'dirty' do we - its not like we work down the pit! Its more just freshening them and getting the odd baked bean juice out of the t shirt!

Well if it was good enough for our Grandmothers - an all that!

And the washing soda is is inexpensive - give it a go, you've nothing to lose, just buy the odd bag. I think even Tesco sell it, not that I use tecsco much, Wilkinsons sell it too, and most hardwear-y kinds of shops - Stermat is our local.

It can be used for all kinds of cleaning, I use it for just about everything - there will be loads of advice on the net - just Google it!

xx That's it for now -stay safe in this icy wet stuff! xx