Making and Baking

We have been very busy today bringing in the last of our apples and pears of which we have had a bumper crop this summer.  Tomatoes and blackcurrants have been plentiful too.  We are expecting a bad storm overnight tonight according to the weather forecasts so do not want to lose the last of our crops.

 

I am always looking for new recipes to try out, if they are good I add them to my cookery book.  I am always tearing recipes out of magazines and this Pear and Lemon Curd Tart is one we enjoyed a lot.

I seem to be spending all my spare time crocheting at the moment but I am signed up for four different crochet courses!  The purple ripple throw was made entirely from yarn left over from other projects.  I had some odd balls of eyelash yarn which are quite tricky to crochet with as you can't see where to put your hook.  I came up with the solution to spray it with Febreze   which made it easier to see where to put the hook and smells nice at the same time.

 I have been learning some more advanced crochet techniques and this cushion is my first attempt at Tunisian crochet.

 This skirt is my first hairpin crochet project.  I bought a white cotton half slip with a ruffle around the bottom and random dyed it with the same colours as the wool using a piece of sponge.  I am really pleased with the result and have worn it a couple of times this summer.  I was thinking of making another thicker underskirt so I can wear it with boots in the winter but that is on my to-do list.  

 I always come back to my cross stitch and this little rose kit was free with a recent issue of Mollie Makes.  Before adding a circle of fabric to the back I put some dried lavender from the garden into it. 

 Turned my back for a while whilst baking and came back in to find Wilberforce innocently looking at me.  However, the flour on his beard gave him away, he had been up on the counter licking the flour!  Luckily everything had been put away, he is a real hooligan sometimes!!

Staying out for the summer

This summer has been such a scorcher, the best I can remember for years that we have been making the most of it and been out and about.  On Monday I went out wearing a t-shirt but yesterday it changed so I think winter is finally on its way.  Finished my Airdale Terrier, it is from Knit your own dog: the second litter by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne,  I used the recommended wool, Rowan fine tweed.  It took no time to knit but was a bit fiddly to put together.

Here are some pictures of the boys enjoying the sunshine on holiday, Wilbur at Hunstanton beach and Higgins under a bench trying to find some shade.

 

 

I have now returned to my craft room and computer although it is still very slow.  We complained to our broadband provider but because we are quite isoloated here there is no decent coverage so it seems I have just got to put up with it!
 

As well as the Block of the month course I have signed up for crazy quilting too, here is my work in progress.  I am just adding too it a little at a time so it will take me a while before I am finally happy with it.

It was my birthday last month and I chose some goodies from Hobbycraft.  I got a new Sizzix big shot and amongst my other gifts I bought these reindeer hearts kit from Docrafts, Christmas in the Country range.  I like to make a few new decorations ever year but it seems to come around faster every year.

Vote for Charlie the Airedale Terrier

 

Calling all Airedale Terrier Lovers !

CHARLIE has reached the final 6 in the UK competition to find ‘PAT DOG OF THE YEAR’ and the winner will be announced at Crufts 2014.

Charlie is a very hard working dog ! He ‘works’ at a hospital for young adults with learning difficulties , a residential home, a school and 2 prisons showing unconditional love to everyone he meets.

I cannot remember an Airedale reaching the final before BUT he needs your vote (and those of your family and friends to WIN !

Please email win@yours.co.uk Type in Charlie in the subject box and press send ( before 15/11/13)

PLEASE VOTE FOR CHARLIE AND AT THE SAME TIME SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THE BEST BREED IN THE WORLD !!