The North Wind Doth Blow - and Boy Does It Blow!!

Bit windy ere!!...

Well more than a bit - pretty awful, I am so glad I haven't had to go out in it. I hope everyone is taking care out there.

This pesky wind is finding every little nook and cranny which will let a nasty cold draught in the house. I have so many clothes on to keep warm, I can hardly move!

Thank goodness I am lucky enough to have a nice log fire to keep me warm, I dread to think what some poor folks go through if they are homeless, or indeed just cant afford to heat their home.

I'm glad a chose yesterday to do some jobs outside, it was a pleasant day if a bit cold.

The leaves are coming off the trees thick and fast, I no sooner pick up a heap, then the ground is littered with a fresh fall.

Heaps and heaps of them!

I spent some time tidying around the chicken shed, and putting down Rat poison - just seen the odd one, its all part and parcel of keeping hens - the rats are attracted by the food scattered about for the hens.

The 'Girls' are looking a bit worse for ware at the moment - a bit moult-y, shedding some of their feathers.

Here they are enjoying a bit of cabbage.

I gave their quarters a good clean out and put them clean shavings down, all nice and cosy.

Ahhhh bliss! What more could a Girl want ... full tummy and snuggled down in soft clean shavings! Bit like I feel when I slip into a freshly made bed, with a cup of tea on the side and a nice magazine!

A last dash of colour, a fading rose, the pink standing out against the battered looking green foliage! Are we ready for this winter?

I'm off to raid the cupboards now - groceries are down a bit, I need to shop but I can't face going out in this wind. I think it will be a real scrape together meal tonight - real frugal stuff, I will let you know what I manage to cobble together!

xxx Take care for now xxx

Little Catch up! ~~ Frugal Doings!!!!

Well hello there!

Are you all ready? the layers of clothes are going on in the Allsorts household - Hubby P has his long johns and extra long - up to the knee, super dooper thermal socks on! -I know Girls! - just don't let your imagination wander.... it would be just too much!

Yes, its getting chilly, have you stocked up on your wood/logs, hotwater bottles and maybe even some of that luxury stuff they call oil - I believe its an awful price.

We have the snuggly blankets out, the woodshed stocked and I even have some grit/salt from last winter - all prepared if we have another icy spell. I know it all sounds doom and gloom but I like to be prepared. Especially now Hubby P has finally parted with the company he had worked for for - a long time...... too long probably ... you know what they say 'all work and no play'! Anyway he is now his own man ... much happier and working where and when he chooses. But of course we no longer have the luxury of a set amount of money every week - so I - being me - 'like to be prepared '- and stock up where and when I can.

I'm sure its a trait ingrained in me from childhood growing up in the wild moors of Lancashire - no shops, we had to stock up, we were often snowed in for weeks during the bad winters.

Stock up and be Frugal - that's my mantra at the moment.

Waste Not Want Not .... Make Do And Mend......

Richard received a parcel to day, it came in a useful cardboard box, I seized upon this useful ebay packaging and snaffled it away, and inside there was lovely white clean tissue paper - another useful wrapping ... I tell you nothing is wasted!

I gave it a quick iron to smooth it out - and chose a pretty little stamp to liven it up a bit. I thought it would look pretty enough as wrapping with a bit of ribbon around it.

I have my old hatbox of stamps handy, they serve me well, had them for years.

I've started on the Christmas wrapping paper, I just use any old interesting plain paper that comes my way.... adds a bit of that 'Special homemade/especially for you' to the gifts I give.

So the big C is hurtling towards us ..... have you made a start on your homemade gifts?

I must admit I quite like the making and the giving bit... the thinking of who would like what....the gathering together of bits and bobs to make with.

Made a bit of marmalade and whatnot..

And found this lovely basket on the carboot .... a nice hamper for someone maybe.

Of course Christmas always means needing extra cash - so good old ebay usually supplies the extra. I've been sorting through my fabric again - some has gone to the car boot - Hubby P has a stall every Sunday now and of course we have our Emporium which is open on a Tuesday. Choice pieces of fabric I will put on ebay.... and thus turn into Christmas gifts... bit like magic .. Tra laaaa!

I put this pretty little number on ebay tonight - how pretty is this... of course I've kept some for myself... nice cushion I thought.

And this other .. this bright, bright, in yer face! Retro!.. how wonderful is this!

I just loved this so much! Its a cover from the base of a vintage Silentnight bed - well you can see the label. I am keeping the label bit to make myself something - probably a bag - a 'in yer face Retro' bag! lol! Think I shall leave the label on too ... talk about carrying your bed about/on your back!

This other bit is on ebay .. lets hope someone likes it too.

Just a quick Thank you to Twiggypeasticks for the award - hopefully I will get around to sorting it out soon.

I don't seem to have time for anything these days - Ooooooo you should see the cobwebs ere!

xxx Take care for now xxx

Meet Neville!

Just sat here thinking of you all, so I thought I would just drop you a line - or two!

We're having a nice evening with Dean Martin - he was such an impossibly handsome man - and the voice! Tis' almost a Sin!

Anyway Hubby P did well and found me a whole boxed set of records, they are like new, in fact I would say they have never been out of the box. Perhaps they were an unwanted present - or maybe? just maybe? - the lucky lady receiving this little slice of the handsome devil couldn't trust herself to play them!

Well Ya Knooooow! We ladies of a certain age!?

(Mind you this is not one of the best pic's of him)

Enough of the nice music - I want to introduce you to a special visitor.

Meet Neville.....

Neville showed up a few days ago - he tells me he is an Internationally renowned Adrenaline Junkie.

He is on a Gap Year - too much study you know - makes a snail soooo boring!

Anyway he thought he would use the year to travel - see a bit of the world and visit the 'Wild Washers of the West (this translated I gathered to be washing machines of North West Wales).

Apparently we have a washer with a 'wild' spin cycle - I know the machine throws itself around terribly when it spins - I didn't realise this was a sought after feature for your everyday 'International Adrenalin Junkie'!

I must say it is impressive to see him in action - riding the spin! he hasn't once fallen off!

I was introducing him to Richard (Son No 3) this afternoon, and suggested he just wait and watch - see Neville in action! - he was daft enough to stand there watching for ages but got a tad bored! I mean! - everyone knows these adrenaline junkies wait for 'The Big One' - the biggest wave or biggest spin! These young people - no staying power!

I don't know now long Neville is staying, you know how these 'hip' characters are - he may just up and away at anytime - I keep you posted.

Back to the mundane - I haven't spent all my time watching the washing machine go round, I have pickled a bit more beetroot.

I thought it best not to press more beetroot soup onto Hubby P. His is an old fashioned 'system' and soon goes a bit 'wonky' - and causes us all a bit of consternation - too many baked beans have the same effect!

So pickled beetroot it is - there is only really me that eats it - but I do so like a bit of pickle!

That's enough waffle from me - take care for now xxx

How Goes Your Preserves?!!

Well Hello!!!

And Cheers!!!

Here's a Welcome to the Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness!

Are you all ready? I hate to say it but the nights are drawing in, there is a damp chill in the air, how is your Preserve shelf/cupboard?

I do like to make the most of Mother Natures bounty, although I never do as well as I might - full of good intentions but - well - you know how it is, Life just gets in the way!

Hubby P is still off work and life pretty chaotic - or rather 'different' should I say. Any kind of shoddy 'routine' I may have had when he was out at work - as far as housework-y tasks - has rather gone out the window.

But Hey! I managed some squirrelling away of Autumn-y goodness.

Cheers! Here's some nice healthy/Good for You/Flu fighting Elderberry Cordial.

As you can see Hubby P and I gather lots of Elderberries - the trees were so heavily laden, lets

hope the old folk lore is wrong. The one that says that if the trees and hedges are laden with fruit and berries we are in for a very hard winter.

They looked so pretty - like tiny jet beads - just bursting with goodness!

I gave them a good simmering with lots of nice spicy things (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and the like) - strained through a cloth and heated up with sugar and honey - added some Brandy, and bottled. ( Let me know if you want the proper recipe).

Elderberries are supposed to be excellent at fighting or preventing colds and flu. A Lady virologist (I forget her name - hopeless with names!) has done lots of research into and around the flu - and her research suggests Elderberries have all the best flu fighting whatnot's!

The cordial - it is recommended, should be taken as a hot toddy last thing at night - sipped from a pretty glass/china cup in bed with a good book (well it did say taken last thing at night, as a hot toddy and in bed - but what the heck - a pretty glass and good book must just help a Girl relax - thus immune boosting and flu fighting!

I have honestly made some effort with the Preserve cupboard although I must admit I have not picked a single Blackberry this year - shame on me! And now its too late - the Devil is in them all (folk lore again - no picking blackberries in October - the pectin is greatly reduced, no good for jam, or so the saying goes).

I pulled a few of the jars out of the cupboard to see what I had achieved - a paltry selection I am afraid! - and Please!! don't look at the shoddy, hastily written labels - or no labels at all!

I managed a few jars each of Strawberry jam, Damson jam, Apple Mint jelly, the Elderberry cordial and a bit of pickled beetroot. Its just a good job we have the luxury of shops and all year round availability of all foodstuffs - or our diet this winter would be dire!
Housewives in the 'olden' days - or wartime even must have been so organised, puts us to shame!

Of course Hubby P not able to work at the moment does have implications financially - that's a nice way to put it!

Frugality, thrifty snippets, make do and mend - all needed to help ends meet.



We went shopping this evening - just around the time they were reducing the price of today's bread and whatnot - how I just love those little yellow stickers!

Just the thing to have with my Beetroot soup! Have you tried it?

If not I urge you to - a funny colour I know - Hubby P took some convincing (and was a little disconcerted - to say the least - the next day when he 'hum - went to the little boys room' - beetroot does come out the other end still pink!) - but he's a convert now.
It really is rather yummy and so easy to make - real hearty, Autumn-y soup!

And to finish - just a 'real pic'. I know we on Blogland all like to show pretty pic's - and its a delight to see them, but we are all real - or I think we are?

We all have down days - weeks - months? life takes over/gets on top of us - just look at the chaos I am living in at the moment!

This is my sewing corner - my poor sewing machine is buried!

Oh for an hour to sew!

Mind you I will have to find the machine first!

At least we are all hale and hearty - here's wishing you all well -

xxx Take care for now xxx

A Little Bird House For My Soul!

Hello there!

Sorry its been a while - what can I say? sometimes Life just takes over!

August always is the silly summer month for us - we have lots of family visiting, lots going on. Hopefully things have quietened down now and I can get back to my sewing machine - I do miss having my crafty 'fix'. At the moment its buried under a pile of fabric that's just waiting to me transformed into something nice and pretty.

We have been out and about a bit - Treasure Hunting!

Just look what I found at the Household Auctions !!! I was so thrilled to win the bidding - just £18 and mine to take home!

Hubby P did have a bit of a 'Wobbler' - whispering in a frenetic fashion (whilst the bidding was going on!) - something about where on earth/put the **** thing/no room - that sort of thing - but hey! it just had to be brought home to our little hovel. Fits in well with our - erm - 'eclectic' furnishings.

Just take a peek at the lovely woodwork and knobbly feet!

Its a 1920's 3 piece suite, all dandy woodwork and leatherette. Of course the cushions had seen better days, a lot better days - they had to be replaced. I managed to find some big, big cushions at the carboot sale and cut them down to fit, not perfectly, but hey - they will do well enough for me - cheap and cheerful. The original cushions were a lovely chocolate brown, real heavy cotton velvet - it must have looked stunning, I can just imagine the odd skinny Flapper Girl sat - cigarette holder in one hand, G & T in the other!

There was no way I could afford such opulence, no posh heavy velvet for me - so I looked at what I had. I really liked the grey vintage curtains I found the other week, and after having a sort of measure up I decided they would just about fit, and make four cushion covers.

I'm quite happy with them, they will do for us.
Although the suite does need some work still, it needs some new strapping underneath, and one side of the settee needs the leatherette replacing, but no doubt I will find what I need - everything turns up at the carboot eventually!




You see my little lamp matches the cherry blossom on the cushions, and on with the 'pinky' theme, I found a table and dinky inky stool and painted them ( Farrow and Ball paint found - you guessed it - at the carboot!) - the colour is called Dead Salmon, how cool is that! Just love this pinky colour!
Colour and design just fits in well with the new suite - don't ask where we have put all the old furniture! Shall we just say it was 'fun' fitting it all in this tiny house!

This weeks fun project - a pretty little bird house - Shabby Vintage Birdy Lodgings!





I should have taken 'before pic's' but - well - I forgot, and our posh new camera has died on us (not that there is ANY PRESSURE on Rob to get it fixed!!!) but needless to say once you are use to using something rather good - to go back to the old steam driven - almost - camera, its a bit rubbish!
So here we have the finished Birdy house/cage.

As you will have guessed I found it - or rather Hubby P did, at the carboot, just a sad scruffy unloved little house.




So I prettied it up with a bit of Dead Salmon paint (just love that word - who thinks up names for paint - what a good job!) and a bit of flower-y/rose-y paper - a touch of shabbying and - there you have it!

Pretty little thing - what for - well that's up to you, maybe to display your treasures, or maybe a nice trailing Ivy plant. I am sure it will lend itself to something pretty.

Its looking for a home (we cant possibly fit another teaspoon into our rooms, we have one or two chairs too many as it is!) - so little Birdy Lodge may end up in the Emporium.

Must go to bed now - you know when you are so tired your legs are all jittery!! :(

xxx Take care xxx Bye for now xxx

Just Had To Share - A Lovely Lady!

Life has become frantically busy - but such fun - much 'out and abouting' since Hubby P has been off work. Well it was what the Dr ordered!

'Go' he said - 'rest and enjoy your life, take some time - relax', so we took him at his word!

So busy, busy - but nice times and lots of treasure hunting!

Just had to share this lovely Lady with you!

Isn't she just Fab!

She was obviously 'slumming' it a bit at the carboot on Tuesday.

Luckily a friendly chap had rescued her from - well who knows what fate! - its enough to make a girl blush!!

My Man of a Tuesday and his hardworking team - they bring forth three vans full of 'Treasure' every week to the carboot - all sorts of everything to be found, and this week this lovely lady.

As you can see she is dressed in some style - her body is made of pottery or china maybe - I don't know a lot about dolls. The dress is wonderfully trimmed with lace and ribbon - what a 'doll'!

And if we dare lift her skirts!!

How great is that - she's a lamp!

I think she's probably from about the 1950's, the lamp still has the old Bakelite fitting, the sort that plugs into a light socket. Amazingly it still works - she lights up a treat. Although just to be on the safe side Hubby P will rewire the lamp - I don't think she will thank us for her underside going up in smoke!

Of course with all the pretty skirts and whatnot she does give off a very pink glow - Hubby P had his own description of the kind of establishment she came from - just so uncharitable! I'm sure shes a 'nice' girl.

Stuart Tuesday and his gang have lots goodies most weeks, and as you can see have an eye for interesting items, I just know you wish you too could have a delve in the boxes that come out of the vans. They do put one or two interesting things on their ebay site - redsky951 - I would hate you to think I didn't share some of the Treasure Hunting opportunities with you, so have a peek on ebay!

More goodies - how sweet is this bit of fabric.

I found a fairly biggish piece so again, as usual I shall keep a piece for me and put a bit on ebay - got to fund my fabric addiction!


All this outing and abouting is okay - but we've been eating out of the picnic box - and of course chips!
How sick was I of this snacking - it seemed ages since I had eaten proper veg;



So I raided the fridge tonight - dragged out all the bits and bobs of veg to concoct something fresh and colourful.

How nice it was to chop and cook, and catch up with Richard - he always hovers in the kitchen to chat.

Although of course he has to work - tasty home made pizza type things, with - because he was making them, mountains of cheese!


I even managed to jam a few strawberries.

There is a lady that has a fruit and veg stall at the carboot and she was selling off the strawberries for 80p a punnet - so I bought four, 3/4lb of fruit by the time I had de-stalked and whatnot. Not as cheap as growing your own, but I did just fancy some strawberry jam!

I used the sugar with the pectin in it - so very easy.

It made some good big jars full - not very glamorous jars but functional! And the jam tastes wonderful - just so summery!

Although I don't know where the summer has gone! Its been so cold the last couple of days - I'm sat here with the wood burner blazing away!

That's all for now - must be bed time xxx take care xxxx

Car Boot-y Finds - just A Quick Few Pics!

Good evening friends!

Just a quickie post - mostly pic's - just a little something for you to look at - bit of prettiness and everyday stuff!

Some nice car boot-y treasures, pretty fabrics I couldn't resist.

How about this for a pretty pair of curtains - and all in good order too, I just love the grey and

pink together.

This is one huge length of unused fabric - fabulously floral!

Real Miss Marple era!

Someone must have bought it to cover that favorite armchair or settee even - its such a big piece, or perhaps some nice bright curtains? - anyway - they never got around to it - its been stashed in a cupboard. Such a pretty lump of fabric.

What is it about blue and white? Got a bundle of this - good sized, nicely faded, shabby vintage, salvaged remnants - Ohhhhh what to make? My fingers are itching to sew!

A nice big set of unusual curtains - unfortunately they are damaged at the sides, as often happens with vintage curtains the sunlight catches the edges weakens the fabric and it rots away. The middle portion of the curtains are just fine - they will have to be reclaimed pieces of fabric, nice big pieces ideal for - well almost anything - certainly an unusual design.

You can see the holes down the edges, I shall cut all that away.

Who remembers this type of old desk - who has sat and stuck chewing gum to the underside - yes! you know who you are!

Hubby P found this - in a bit of a mucky state - hes been spending time in the nice fresh air sanding it down and whatnot. Its done him a power of good - 'just messing'- its not often he makes the time to do anything sort of creative - if you know what I mean!

I think he needs some nice beeswax to finish it off - I just love that beeswax-y smell.

Just look at this Oregano, its growing in the window box - and it has both purple flowers and white flowers - I'm sure its the same plant.

Here it is nestled amongst the nasturtiums and whatnot - gives a lovely scent when you brush past - and tasty too in salads and pasta.

I've started saving the seed from the nasturtiums - I just put them on a saucer on the windowsill to dry, ready for next years pretty flowers.

I do believe you can pickle nasturtium seeds - they taste peppery - a bit like capers (mind you I've never tried capers - so I don't know!). I pickled some once - just to try - its not something we really took to - but if you like capers?

Made the jam this afternoon (gooseberry, apple, black currant, and rhubarb - all I had in the freezer jam!) - It tastes just fine, nice and fruity - just the job for my toast!

And chocolate crispy cakes - I haven't made these for years. I just fancied some rice crispies for a change, and saw they had chocolate at a good price in Asda - so I made a few for some 'littlies'. All little children should have the pleasure of a rice crispie cake now and again !

xxx That's all for now folk's xxx Take care xxx