Weekly Roundup

So, here we are again. Wow didnt that week go fast! Its been a frantic week at work, but also been a jam packed weekend. The weather has been gorgeous for the last two days, so the washing machine hasnt stopped. I cant believe how much washing we create between the two of us. I dont mind the washing of it, but I loathe ironing.
Anyhoo, this late Summer weather means that the garden is looking a bit better than it has for most of the previous months.
The calendula has finally burst into bloom..

And the borage (which self seeded a couple of years ago and is almost finished flowering) is looking rather nice from the back bedroom window. The bees are loving it!

Ive also managed to get my bulbs planted, so, hopefully they wont rot away or be eaten by mice during the winter.

On Saturday we went to a local booksale which a lady runs from her garage once a month. She does it to raise funds for the Alzheimers Society in Sheffield. As you may know my Father in Law suffered with this dreaded disease in the later part of his life, and , as both OH and I are avid readers we thought we'd pop along and have a look. I took along a couple of carrier bags full or books I no longer wanted to donate and came back with this little lot....                                                                                                                 

Oonce they have been read, I can take them back to a later booksale. They are only costing me 50p each to read, and its raising money to a good cause, so its cheap reading in my book (so to speak).

This morning we went off to a Car Boot sale. The one we wanted to go to wasnt there, so we raced off to another in the hope that it was still open. The sun was blazing  and they were starting to pack up when we got there, so we were a bit rushed, but we zipped around quickly glancing at each stand and managed to pick up more than a few bits and pieces for 'punking'. We are building up quite a stash for the Seampunk Etsy shop, tho I will feel a bit happier when we are up and running and starting to sell a few bits! Here is a pic of our haul.......

Then we called in to a Garden Centre (something I dont often do when OH is with me) for a coffee and a bit of recovery time. 

Last, and by no means least, today its 9 years since I became an orphan. My Dad died of cancer in 2003.
We went back to NZ to say goodbye in June (13 years after I had left) and for him to meet OH.
We didnt have the best of relationships, he was an old school Dutch Catholic who didnt show much emotion, but he was my Dad. I miss him.
This is the pic of him when he was did his National Service in Holland (the pic beside is of my Mum in Tahiti on her way out to NZ in the 50's).

Thats all from me for the mo, Ive got some letters and stuff to get written,soup to make, and a roast to cook, and I think Im coming down with a throat infection so Im in for an early night.

Will post again soon.

Laters.
Jojo

The Handbag Post

Thanks to the lovely comments and encouragement on my last post, Ive decided to bit the bullet and try and post once or twice a week.
I saw this idea recently on a blog I follow  here......shinypigeon.wordpress.com and thought this was a great idea.
So, as per the previous post my current handbag is this one.....

 
                                                          
This is the bag I use on a daily basis for work, and heres what it contains........

This list is as follows...........
Diary
Mints (grumpy old git tin originally bought for OH hee hee)
Sunglasses and case
Funky Pen (Xmas gift from Sister in Law) and notebook
Water spray 
Lip gloss
Small leatherman multi tool (includes scissors, 2 types of screwdriver, tweezers etc)
Screwdriver (double headed)
Inhailer
Tea Tree Oil
Cymex
Cold sore cream
Nail Glue
Makeup bag
Cute complact mirror (Xmas gift from OH)
Bach Rescue  Remedy
Mobile (my lovely Red blackberry I call my Raspberry) and case (Xmas pressie from my lovely Big Sis in NZ - the case that is not the phone)
Purse
Work clock card and drinks machine key
Car keys (with a yellow clear pig)
Piriton
Rennies
House Keys (with the yellow duck/torch and Xmas gift from my 8yr old neice - it quacks when the torch is on and frightens the life out of me if it goes off by mistake!)
Perfume (currently Treselle from Avon)
Glass nail file

OH thought it would be a giggle to add in the other items - tin of Mushroom soup, his toy gun and (I must stress this as I cant stand the stuff) HIS bottle of Gin. ;o)

The ironic thing about this is that I hate carrying a handbag, and when we go out in the evening or at the weekend if I have to I will carry my purse, phone and keys in a small backpack and thats my lot!

What do you carry in your bag?
Laters,
Jojo

Little Update

Ive been a wee bit despondent about this blog over the last couple of weeks. From the stats that I can see it doesnt look like anyone is reading it, so its getting me a bit down. Im not sure posting more regularly would make a difference, or if I should just pack it in. Part of me thinks I should give it a bit more of a chance, but its hard not to feel a bit uneasy when Im putting myself out there and not getting any response.
Anyhoo, enough with the bleating on, I guess time will tell. So, Im just gonna have a bit of a ramble about whats been new over the last couple of weeks.
So, since I updated things have been quiet (as per usual). The weather has turned over the last week, and the nights are drawing in, so its time to be thinking about (gulp) Xmas. Ive got a few ideas for ladies pressies and am trying to put stuff together to see if they are workable (but wont post here in case anyone does actually read this and might spoil the surprise). .
OH is still getting a bit of regular work with his brother - they are busy replacing the windows in a house at the moment, so two wages are a real bonus and are really making a difference. Im still doing the overtime when its needed. Im still 'twittering' tho not as much during the week, but am getting into Pinterest in a big way.
We went to a Vintage Fair last weekend (which was a first for us) and I found a nice waterset.

Ive wanted one for ages. Because of the throat problem I have, any toothpaste with mint flavouring in it dries out my throat (try finding a toothpaste that doesnt have mint in it -its not easy), so I have to have some water by my bed at night. This is just the ticket, the only drawback is trying to pour it out in the dark, hmm, might need to  think about some kind of nightlight methinks.

 Ive also finally got round to changing my handbag - my old one (which I guess will always be my favourite) is now almost 3 yrs old and starting to look a bit tired........

Old faithful - with a gorgeous bright pink lining inside

 

 

 

So, my new one is black with antique copper coloured eyelets, and a very funky leopard print lining.

Although Im sure my old faithful purple will still get the odd outing. :o)

Oh, Ive also finally gotten round to making a start on organising my crafting stuff. At the moment its all over the house, and when I need something I usually have to look in 2 or 3 rooms before I can find it. It doesnt help that I have nowhere to work apart from the kitchen table and I loathe having to clear away everything each day. So, I have been saving some  boxes from work . OH finds these ones really useful for his camera parts etc, as they have a double thickness on the bottom which means they can take some weight. My main storage area (not including the 5 of these boxes I have full of fabric) now looks like this........

Im quite proud of how organised it is, now I just have to do the same with the rest of my stuff.

Well, thats really about it for now, the garden is pretty much done for the season now, tho I have got some bulbs to put in for Spring (Yellow Alliums, Rockery Tulips, Muscari and Dwarf Narcissi), which Im hoping to get in next weekend. Ive still got some flowers showing, but its been a real letdown this year, the weather has not been very kind to us.
So, thats all for now. If you do read this, Id love a comment on here or on facebook just to let me know youve been by.

Bye For Now.
Jojo

 

 

 

 

August Update

Well  the Music Festival has come and gone. Heres what my owl stall finally ended up looking like........

We sold 18 and donated 1 as a prize for a kids joke competition, which means we bought 21 of them home. I was a bit dissapointed, but it could have been worse. I think the rest may be destined to go on Etsy (when we finally get round to opening our shop).  It was quite nerve racking and I dont kow if Id be in a hurry to do it again. Ive spent the last week feeling a bit restless, I think its because Ive been working towards this for the last 4 months and suddenly its over, and I havent got anything else to get on with. I should really start giving some thought to Xmas. Ive got a few ideas, just need to get on with it.

Gardenwise, not much is happening , there are a few more flowers out (borage, calendula, marigolds and gazaneias), but they arent really worth taking pics of as they have pretty much been ravaged by slugs. Ive lifted most of my potatoes as there were hardly any, so I have to rethink if I am gonna bother growing any veg next year. The last couple of years have been a bit of a waste of time veg wise.
We are getting a few nice days here and there, which means when I get home in the evenings I can sit outside with a cupa and have a natter with the Mother In Law......

Ive also joined in on something called the Correspondence Club run by a lady here starcrossedsmile.com
The idea is that you write a letter and post it along with a small gift to your swap partner (as chosen by Starcrossed smile) and in return you get a letter and a gift. You do this once a month. You keep your swap partner for a few months so you get to know them and then there is a reshuffle. I love getting letters (and never get enough - hint hint!!!) so thought Id give this a try.
For my first (which is August), Ive been paired up with a lady whose blog I started following after coming across her on Twitter (her blogging about the C club was what prompted me to join - Thanks Suki!).
Her blog is here......theowlclub.blogspot.co.uk
It was a bit weird writing to someone I didnt have a history with, so I just dived in and started prattling.
 Heres the letter and gift I sent......

I got Suki's reply yesterday and here it is, along with some lovely bits of fabric to be added to my stash. :o)

Its quite neat as I doubt our paths would have crossed otherwise as we dont have that much in common, but thats not a bad thing as its a good way of stepping outside your usual circle of friends and opening yourself up to new thoughts and opinions, which in turn helps you to understand and respect the views and ideas of other people. So, I reckon my involvement in the Correspondence Club will be a good learning experience for me.

So, thats about it for the last couple of weeks. I started the post feeling a bit glum (as I have been feeling for most of the last week), but have ended feeling a bit more positive and upbeat, so Im gonna take that energy and use it to get on with the list of 1001 things I should get done.

I shall leave you with 40 of my babies to make you simle (as you cant see them all in the first pic)........

Hopefully the next post wont be so long in coming!

Till then, take care and smile lots.
Jojo xx

I do believe it might be Summer at Last!!!!!

Hello my lovely peeps.
Weve finally had some decent sunshine this week, it looks like this might be our Smmer!
Its been a busy week workwise, and as Ive been clocking up the overtime, Ive not had much time to do much else.
It was payday during the week (I still cant get used to being paid monthly), so The Husband and I went to do a bit of bargin shopping yesterday. I got a few bits and bobs for Xmas pressies (with such a huge family I ususally have to start quite early), and we picked up a really nice Jacket for  him (yup, buying winter clothes when the suns out), but it was 1/2 price @ TK Maxx and when you see stuff you have to get it - if you go back later it will certainly be gone. We took the Mother-in-Law carbooting this morning, but the one we went to only had about 8 cars turn up, so we decided to go to the one @ Hillsborough my friend always raves about. It wasnt there, but there was some kind of festival happening so we went for a look. Mother-in-Law bought some plants, so it wasnt a wasted morning.

This afternoon Ive been in the garden.  Ive finally had some sweetpeas flowers to pick

Ok there arent many, but apparently the more you cut, the more you get, so its a start.
Ive also potted on some Marigolds Ive grown from seed. There are 4 different varieties in the tub below, but as you can see one varitey hasnt done as well as the rest.They will be a nice mix of yellows, oranges and reds when they flower (hopefully the slugs wont get them first).

The other plant doing quite well is my Borage (sometimes known as Starflower).

These plants are seedlings from a plant I had in this spot two years ago. Last year I pulled them up as they came up, but this year I decided to leave them as they make good ground cover to help keep the weeds down and the cats off..

The husband has been doing a bit outside also.

Hes cut down our old black bin (the one the councils give you for rubbish collections). A couple of months ago the binmen ripped the wheels off it, so the council gave us a new one. They didnt want the old one back, so The Husband has sawn the bottom off (where the wheels were) and we have turned it into a compost bin! Clever bit of repurposing dont you think?

Craftwise, I have just got a wee bit of sewing up on the last few owls and they are done! Ive been working on them since February, so am more than a bit 'owled out'. Ive got some Xmas pressie ideas which I want to make a start on soon, but may need to keep these under wraps in case one of my Sister in Laws reads this! Might have to find out and get back to you. ;o)

We sat and watched the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on Friday night. We werent going to, but then there wasnt much else on. Im glad we did, as on the whole it was brilliant. A couple of bits were a bit iffy, but there were some real gems in amongst it all.

So, all in all its been a quiet, but industrious week. 
Until next time, take care.
Jojo

Oh, Id love it if any of you would leave me a comment or let me know who reads this  I can stop annoying those who dont by posting the links on facebook and Twitter.
Ta.

Quick Update

Been a pig of a week.I really must get myself organised and either get myself another job or get serious about going back to NZ ( I think the husbands gonna take a bit more convincing). My current job is baking my head and not good for my stress levels!

Anyway, as  I havent had any takers for the craft bits and bobs I was (trying) to give away, I thought I was stuck with them. Then I picked up a craft mag and found a newish website which is like an Ebay for crafts!
 Craftybob.com   
You can buy and sell your excess supplies of stuff youve made yourself. Its still quite small but I thought Id give it a try.

Making wise, Im now on the last batch of Owls for my stall at The Donfield Music Festival on the 12th of August. I shall be taking (and hopefully selling) of them.

Last week I came across the hear-twrenching story about an 8 month  old girl who died of  SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). Estella Star 
An appeal has been launched in memory of Estella for crafters to make stars which are all going to be put on a wall.  You can see some of the ones that have already been made here........Estellas wall
So I thought I had to make one and sent it off. I had thought about sewing one and stuffing it, but that turned out to be a disaster, so I ended up paperweaving three instead.

My stars for Estellas wall

In the garden,things arent  looking good, due the the crap weather weve been having this Summer. . Ive lost my potatoes to Tomato Rust and there arent many flowers around. This is pretty much it........

My lone sweet pea flower

Petunias

Petunias

Wild Poppy (growing as a weed)

Pretty much the only thing which is thriving in the garden at the moment is the slug population!

All in all its been a pretty quiet week. Having put in quite a bit of overtime at work, it feels like Ive not been home much. The house looks like a tip and Ive got WAY behind with the domestics.

So I shall leave you with an image of The Mother-in-Laws girls who were chilling on the bench outside the back door when I got home from work this morning.

Such a hard life!

So, take care and will 'speak' to you again soon.
Laters.
Jojo xx

Sundays Trip to Mablethorpe

When my husband was growing up,his family had lots of day trips and Summer holidays in Mablethorpe. His Mother felt that this would be a fitting place to scatter his Dad's ashes, so we all went to Mablethorpe on Fathers Day last year. We had a picnic and a day on the beach, and paid tribute to my lovely Father In Law.
It was decided that we would return every year on Fathers Day to pay our respects and have a kind of memorial day.
This year, (due to reasons I wont go in to), the date that was chosen was July 8th. I was not happy, but sometimes its easier to keep quiet, so sucked it up! Needless to say, we werent looking forward to going.
So, the Husband and I decided that we would take charge of our day and not let others dictate what we were going to do and when.
We got to Mablethorpe just after midday ( we left Sheffield just after 9.30), and went off to get a cuppa and a bite to eat. We had a yummy All Day Breakfast from a nice beachfront cafe.
The weather wasnt brilliant, but the rain held off for most of the afternoon. We had a look through the shops and wandered up the beach to find the rest of the family, who, had by the arrived.
We pretty much had the beach to ourselves, as you can see by the pic below! really hard to believe this was Mablethorpe on a Sunday in the 'middle' of Summer,

We had a paddle, during which I got pretty soaked (but had bought a change of clothes), then sat round for a few hours.......

Our 'campsite' 

watching family members play footie, cricket and fly kites

Nephew and his youngest son, kite flying

About 7.30, husband and I went back to the town to have a meal before we set off back home and were surprised at how little was still open. We found a place called 'Sams Diner' , looked great, but very disappointing. Be warned!!!!

Husbands meal, promised much,deeply disapointing.

 

 

 Then it was time to head for home. We got back just before 11pm, thoroughly knackeres, but havgin enjoyed a day that we thought we werent going to.
Next year we will be going on Fathers Day even if the rest of the family arent.
Jojo