A Thrift not to be missed!

Hello my friends, how the devil are you all?

I am feeling particularly pleased with myself today...

I have been scouring eBay for a nice usable milk/cream jug and I don't know hwy but I was looking for something in particular and it struck me that I was looking for a jug that my mum had... so when i popped around I asked her about the jug I remembered and she pointed it out to me on her shelf ... and then she said those wonderful words
"you can take it on if you like!"
wow.... so I quickly picked up the blue and white 1 Quart jug, it doesn't have any mark on it but it is very old, and I love it!

In Mum's cupboard I caught a glimpse of a blue and white jug... so I carefully unburied it and found a larger one these are both Staffordshire Chef ware...then I spotted the two cream coloured jugs... these are Alfred Meakin and Mum kindly told me to take them on too!
As I dug deeper into the recesses of this slightly forgotten corner cupboard I spotted something pink.... and low and behold the lovely pink Gladstone tea set below!

I was on a roll now so I mooched my way into the front room and took a looked in the sideboard cupboard... I found the loveliest saucer and prayed I would come across the teacup to match...
it was there right at the back and I brought them home too!
This teacup and saucer is Crown Staffordshire and its called Maytime... so I think I might start using this one to drink my morning tea from...

Now I brought these two sets on, but I am not sure whether I will keep them....
these are 2 tea cups and saucers by Royal Park

These are by Royal Vale

It really was the best kind of thrifting....
Mum you are the best
and as soon as I have the room to display it I will gladly bring on Nanny and Grandpa's blue and white terrines and casseroles...
I am hoping Mr P will build me a cabinet in the alcove in the lounge and with the help of my brother put some glazed doors on it (to cut down on the dusting...! lol)

Well I hope you are all having a fab Monday...

Take care
Alex
x

Mr P is home.....

Mr P returned home safe and sound Saturday morning at 9:30am
Apparently he had a delay at Binghampton but apparently the flights are not allowed to land at Heathrow until 6am and the weather people in the States had a fabulous high wind that was blowing towards England and they wanted to catch that as it would save them an hours flying... therefore saving on that all to expensive aviation fuel...

Mr P brought home some local publications for me to see... and a couple of menu's from eating establishments that he frequented... I have never seen so much cheese... with everything!
He also brought home some goodies for all of us...

Apparently Crochet is a really big thing in America and he brought me home a couple of publications and a case to put all my hooks in... and all the coloured hooks...
I am well and truly set now... and if they will deliver to the UK I am ordering the Crochet world magazine... I know American crochet is slightly different to English but its quite amazing as I seem to be able to work from either...
he also brought home a bead tray so that I can lay out my designs before I string them up, which I used yesterday and it is really fab...

Jamie had a lovely Betty Boop bag and baseball cap... not sure where they have been whisked off to but if I catch sight of them I will take a picture, and Daniel had a fab Thomas aeroplane set and a John Deer Tractor on a low loader with a silver lorry to pull it...

Mr P was adamant that he was not tired and went off to mow the lawn....
I gave him a hand and we got it done.... needless to say he went to bed at 1:30pm and slept soundly till the kids went to bed at 8:30pm... I think he was tired!

I wish I could shake this cough...
its really getting me down, especially being woken at 3am suffering a coughing fit that ends up with me sleeping on the settee....

Well its 9:40am and Mr P is still in bed... Danny doesn't do lie ins so I have been up a while... Jamie has also gotten up... I had better get ready as I am off to the farm to take a look at the Carnival float... I had better take some paper and a pencil as they want a diagram of what the generator design should be.... and then I had better call in and mow my mums friends lawn... I need to pick up 3 bags of compost and drop some into my mum and then I had better get home and cook some dinner.... roast chicken perhaps!

Well I hope you all have a fab long weekend
and I will chat to you again soon
Take care
x Alex

ooohhhh lovely goodies in the post and the sun is shining...!

Good afternoon fellow blog land friends.... I have had a little bit of a stress filled week this week...
its been a bit of a roller coaster with my 11 year olds hormones causing her to crest and dip from one mood swing to another and Danny not taking no for an answer and the American VH71 helicopter project being cancelled on the American news but Mr P not being told anything by the companies he's working for and wondering whether he's coming home early or not...
Trying to organise the School Summer Fayre and today attend the Village hall opening, after its fabulous renovations (looks lovely) and finally receiving news that Mr P will be home on my doorstep Saturday morning..... yay!

Mr Postman has been dropping off parcels too....
2 came yesterday and one came today
but I haven't had a chance to take pictures till today

Rose Swap
Hosted by A Country Dream

Firstly many thanks to Leanne at Somerset Seasons who has "scent" me some beautiful items...

Inside this lovely gift bag with an Allium roseum, and a pretty little card
was

Beautifully wrapped parcels with little flower stickers to decorate them...
inside the pastel pink packages were ..

A wonderful selection of rose related items...
a beautiful pressed spray of miniature roses, a china rose mug, 2 Yankee candles, a fabulous lump of rose quartz, A little rose notebook that has roses printed on the pages inside and 4 scented roses with scented glass chips these are now in 2 teacups that my mum gave me and they smell lovely...
Thank you so much Leanne... I will be posting yours tomorrow morning as I still have one more thing to complete this evening... sorry for the delay...


Gingerbread Giveaway
hosted by Julie at Gingerbread

One of the Parcels that arrived yesterday was this fab package from Julie at Gingerbread,
I recently won her giveaway and it arrived beautifully wrapped with some lovely ribbon

Inside I found the 2 cross stitch patterns and the little ladybird needle case and a pack of needles... Thank you sooo much I love it, I have put all the needles into the case and it is sitting in my bag ready for use!

Wool donations
sent by Rachel at Contented

Last but not least a parcel arrived from at Contented I mentioned to her in a comment that I was busy crocheting cupcakes and flowers and that I lacked nice wool and she popped some fabulous wool in the post to me... how sweet is that !

I am going to crochet a little something for her and I will pop it back to her as a thank you..

Rachel is also hosting a seaside swap that closes (I think) tomorrow so why not pop over and join in the summer fun...

Well that's me for the moment....
Mr P is due back Saturday and I have turfed everything out of my bedroom as I plan to have it made over before he returns... currently there is sooo much junk on the bed I had to sleep on the settee last night... ( I am such a plonker)
Jamie is battling with the fact that if she makes her bedroom into a mess she has to be responsible for tidying it up.... this is a long slow climb up a very steep hill... and I think there will be a few more tears along the way yet!

A friend of my mums needs her lawns cut as her gardener has let her down again, so I will be off to do that on Sunday.... after I have been down to a local farm to give my artistic opinion on where some stars should go on the Carnival float generator....

It looks like a busy weekend again
but hey ho, if I had nothing to do I would only sit and crochet...

take care
Alex
x

typing is a bit tricky.. but here goes!

It was Joanne and M's 10th wedding anniversary party last night and Danny and Jamie got all dressed up... it vwas a 20's gangsters and mols fancy dress party and I really struggled with my conciense about buying an outfit that fitted the bill or something I would wear again... I went for wear again and bought some pinstripe trousers and a white blouse...
Danny was easy (and cheap) to kit out... the most expensive things being the hat and gun, but Jamie loves the hat so I can see it bei ng worn again...

Jamies dress is an original dress given to my mum by an elderly la\dy that she nursed when I was little, she was a ballet dancer and was married to a Cinema owner... I use to wear the dress when I was Jamies age...

She also had her hair cut short and wasn't keen on it at the time, but once nanny gave it the seal of approval she loves it more than ever.. (she's nannys girl!!)

As sual ...no picture of me... camera shy! ;D

Joanne did a fabulous job decorating the hall.... but we came on early... Danny needed to go to bed and he really dislikes loud disco's... Jamie wanted some tea... and I was feeling a bit rough as my cold is still lingering... plus I could hear the rather loud whisers of "who's that" and the replies of " thats Joannes friend" I was feeling a bit "billy no mates" so I thought its rtime to go! I am not keen on going out and I think I will omit from social gatherings in the future, I love Joanne dearly but I am no longer a party girl... I can't drink any more with out having the most debilitating hangovers and wheres the fun in that... no a cup of Ovaltine, a good film and my crochet and I am sorted!

and the reason for the dodgy tyhping...
something I haven't done since my nightclubbing days...

false nails!

ahhhhh I can't do anything!
I have to get them off... asap!

they were a veryh bad idea....


x
Alex

Naughty Nicola... but I love you for it ...x

My freestyle swap partner was the lovely Smilernpb and we got to know each other really well via email... in fact we got to know each other so well and chatted all the time that we swapped well head of schedule....

In my parcel I sent a little something for her Little girl and little boy...
and Nicola apologised for not sending my two anything... which I told her was not a problem as she spoilt me rotten.... and not to worry about it... we must have swapped about 3 weeks ago and today completely out of the blue a parcel arrives with Mr Postie...
as soon as I saw the return address I knew what she had been up too...

Sorry about the blurry photo, but I placed them on Danny's duvet and as soon as he saw robot wrapping paper he knew it was for him.... I only got one chance at photographing it before the excitement was to much for me to bear...

for a poorly little boy he looks quite pleased...

His trusty companion (miaow) is discarded (miaow needs a bath!) and the unwrapping begins!

Nicola has been very naughty indeed... its a led torch that doesn't need batteries as you charge it by pulling a lever.... yay no batteries!
and it has his name on!

He also received a Thomas the tank engine book.... Yay for mummy I can read something different tonight.... a fudge bar... and milky bar buttons... which by the time I have finished writing this will be all gone...!

I have a lovely beach picture card... which I am going to frame and hang in my beach themed lounge... and some Ferrero Rocher...yummmmmy!

Daniel was about to open Jamie's present and I managed to point out to him that it was his big Sis's gift... he was okay with that... but seems to think I am going to share my chocolate...

I don't think so!

Nicola you are very naughty
but I luv ya for it
x

Do you remember......

Do you remember Pookie books?

Pookie sprang from the imagination of Ivy Wallace while she working on a switchboard during the war. In 1945 she took Pookie's first adventure to Wm Collins and not only was Pookie put into print but Ivy Wallace and William Collins her publisher were married in 1950.


These books belong to my brothers...
being the youngest girl I tended to get everything handed down to me...
which in turn means that when it comes to being all grow'd up all these things are snatched up by the original owners...
however if I whisper.. and you promise not to tell.. I will show them to you ... don't tell them I have them... or they want them back!
This is Jonathan's book (he's my middle brother)

Pookie at the Seaside


Pookie had silly little wings and was teased by everyone...
So he set off to seek his fortune
He had lots of adventures and then was lost in a snowstorm, but Belinda saved him and kissed his little wings...
with this they grew into beautiful big wings and then he could fly...
He lives with Belinda in Bluebell wood...

Pookie is asleep and Belinda is spring cleaning... he doesn't want to get up... if I were that cosy I wouldn't want to get up either...

I love the pictures...
Belinda is trying to spring clean... and Pookie is being a naughty rabbit
Belinda tells him to go and come back once he can say sorry!

Pookie finds everyone in bad moods and bickering with each other as they are all spring cleaning so he decides to lead them to the seaside... for a break!
sounds good to me...
lead on Pookie!

They have fun playing on the beach...

These are the other books in the series so I will start looking for the others I think...

Tomorrow perhaps I will show you the butterfly ball!

Family update!

I bought Danny man a train track at the last car boot...
and Jamie has had as much fun building and playing with it as Danny has...

It even has a cannon that blasts a Duplo character into the air!

Its still being played with ... and was the best £15 I have spent in ages!

well I hope the weather is better where you are..
its a grey and rainy day and I feel like poo!

to be honest I would be happy curling up on the settee with my crochet...
but I don't think Danny is going to be happy with this arrangement,
even while he's got a cold he doesn't stop!

Never mind
Onward and upward!

take care
Alex
x

Sneeze... cough... bluegh!

Well its official, Danny has given me his cold... Oh well never mind I shouldn't have been such a silly beggar and run myself down by staying up late every night for the last 2 weeks.... Needless to say I went to bed a little earlier last night....

I have been making a few small bits and bobs... but I can't show you as they are all gifts...

and apart from taking Joanne shopping yesterday for decorations for her party at the weekend and banquet roll from the local wholesale shop I haven't done very much lately...

I spent yesterday signing myself up for to be the promoter for a lotteries license for the PTA as no one else really wanted to do it... and ordering loads of bits and bobs from Baker Ross, which I must get the money back from the PTA Treasurer...

The Summer Fayre is in June and I have to admit I am not really motivated about it at all... which is really not like me...

I think my battery needs a 2 week "kid free" recharge!

Don't get me wrong I love my kids to bits but Danny is at that stage of "mummy this and mummy that" and keeps on all the time, Jamie is at the stage where money is no option and "can I have this and can I have that!"

2 more years and she's going to have a shock... when I sign her up for a paper round at the village shop! lol

I think I need to book a holiday, so that I have something to look forward to, we haven't had a family holiday.... apart from a week in Skegness 6 years ago when we had to go to my brothers wedding, I think we are overdue a break!

Take care
Alex
x

Bitten by the bug...

Well it would appear that Mr P is not having much fun in Sayre, Pennsylvania as he has found the culprit to his bites....
He managed to catch one of no doubt the many little blighters that has been attacking him while he sleeps.....
He has requested a change of Hotel room and is currently washing all his clothes... again!
and then he's off for a soak in the bath!

He's not looking forward to going to bed this evening either... he was a slight insomniac anyway so this is not going to help...

I hope they all stay away from his new room... and that the rest of his stay is uneventful...

keep an eye out for those bed bugs... they generally leave bite marks in a row of three... with apparently led to the saying " breakfast, Dinner and Tea"

check your mattress for brown specks of blood and they like to live in small cracks and crevices, the fold of your mattress etc...

I dare you to read this and not itch!

Take care
Sleep tight
Don't let the bed bugs bite!!!

Alex
x

I am still here...

I have been very busy for the past few days as I seemed to have signed up for another swap... I am sooo silly! but I love them ... and the way that giving gifts makes me feel... I am self medicating my need to spread the love!

I think I should have been around in a different era... I love the fashion of the Doris Day 50's with the nipped in waists and full petticoat skirts...
I would have loved to have seen the glory days of the big houses with the ladies in their corseted dresses roaming around the big houses and sitting doing lady like things in the follies... Mind you back in those days I would probably have been a scullery maid though....

I have the finishing touches to my last PIF to do and I have signed up for 3 swaps so far
A FRIENDS swap, A Rose swap and most recently a Seaside Swap...

I am however feeling a little worn out... as much as I try I cannot go to bed without talking to Mr P via email or telephone so I am not getting to bed before 1am most nights....
Last night Danny woke crying, complaining of a sore throat... so I was rummaging through the medicine cabinet looking for Ibuprofen liquid... only to find it out of date... luckily I found one sachet in date and used that.... he woke again at about 5 but just needed a cuddle to get back to sleep... We were meant to go to a birthday party this morning but Danny is in no fit state and I am sure all the other parents would prefer me to keep his germs here at home, I did manage to get my hair cut this afternoon, and I feel so much better....and tidier! lol
and I popped out to restock the medicine cabinet...
I am hoping he has a cold... but I think it might be tonsillitis again... I think we might be visiting the doctors on Monday

Mr P has managed to get a all over body rash... the doctor at Lockead Martin told him that it was most like a skin mite... and to go back to the hotel, have a good bath and scrub and wash all his clothes and get his bed changed... he has cream to apply but he is not a happy bunny...
Add the fact that we haven't been paid for last weeks hours and it looks dubious that they will get it sorted for this weeks hours either I think he is pretty close to telling them to stuff it and get on a plane home... on the upside Lockead have asked if he and his family would like to come over for a year or so as they could do with his skills over there.... am I tempted?

Too right I am.... what an opportunity !
It probably won't happen though, something is bound to crop up...

Well I had better get some washing in the machine and make the most of this weather...
Danny is asleep on the settee... which is very out of character... and Jamie is up in her room... I think I feel a quiet 5 minutes of crochet coming on... teeeeheeee!

Take care everyone
have a fab weekend
Alex
x

I feel better...

I have taken on board all your advice and stopped to consider some that I have been dishing out of late... and I took the morning off......

I dropped Danny at Pre-School and returned to the office to start a completely new PIF project as I was not particularly happy with the previous item...

I had a lovely morning and after picking up Danny and loading all the bits I needed into the car and doing an amazing piece of manoeuvring... (some Muppet blocked me in) I came home to sit and create some more.... I feel a little more chilled and I think after a few early nights I might even feel less spaced out...

I will be posting Snippity Gibbets PIF tomorrow and then I will get on and finish Sarah's (The Blueberry Patch) PIF ...

I have to be in on Friday as the post office is redelivering a parcel... I think its Scarecrows, but it could be silk sunflowers.... but that's another story for another day!

Take care everyone
Hugs and stuff
Alex
x

I am a very lucky lady...

wow... I am on a roll at the moment...
the lovely Melanie has given me a wonderful award and I am so pleased

I have to pass this one onto 7 people and I think I will choose:

1. Marmaladekiss
for her helpful hints, tips and a blog that is always fresh and interesting
2. Eclectic Pink Rose
because she will love this blog award... it has pink roses after all... and her new look and chatty posts are so refreshing...
3. Downeast doing stuff
I have always dreamed of riding a horse on a ranch, or visiting those non tourist places in America and this lady paints the type of places that I have envisaged visiting... I love her work
4. MarmaladeRose
I have two pieces of this lovely ladies work and I am so in awe of her sewing and creative abilities...
5. Country in the town
My dear friend Mrs Shabby... she's fab and her blog is too... always a good read and every time I see a rosie posie now I think of her...
6. Suzy's Vintage Attic
I love the feel of this ladies blog... its so calming and beautiful...
7. Somerset Seasons
This lady writes in such a calming way... you get so relaxed when you read it... I love it

If you wish to accept this blog award please pass it onto 7 of your favourite blogs..


How am I dealing with Mr P being away?

I am feeling very tired at the moment... I have been staying up to the early hours ever night so that I can talk to Mr P via email and I have even phoned a few times... the hotel put me on old the second time I rang... lol
I was listening to some advert for the hotel thinking " this is wasting valuable chatting time"

It been a tricky first week... for about 2 minutes everyone was really nice and understanding about me being a little snowed under... but now that has been forgotten and I have people pulling me this way and that and all I want to do is look after my children and keep my sanity...

but no....
I am organising the school Summer Fayre while trying to keep a 3 year old entertained dealing with an 11 year old that cannot understand why I don't feel like driving to the beach on a dreary Bank holiday afternoon ... and a dog that is pining for his dear master... and won't eat...

plus the lawn is desperate for a cut... I have a fab meadow coming on so I will have to beat it first as we have had grass snakes, frogs and adders in the garden.... and I really don't like mowing them

Plus a request to help at a children's party on Saturday, which means cancelling my much needed hair cut appointment and to top it all this evening I had a request from my mum to just pop down and help the carnival float man work out where to put stars on the generator...
throw in some housework, cooking meals and Jamie's SAT revision and I am knackered!

I know I don't have a job in the eyes of many therefore I must just sit around the house living the dream, but I swear I probably had an easier life when I did work in a shop, or in that office... or even when I had a job cleaning a pub and working in the kitchen...
I am not work shy by any means but when you find yourself guilted into doing things you really don't want to do you start to wonder if there are invisible words tattooed on your forehead that are only visible to the people around you... does it say "mug" or "Muppet"

The worst bosses I have ever worked for would not have ever expected me to do the hours I currently work...

I do miss the support and love that Mr P gives me... I can't say I am missing his snoring though! lol

well I feel a little better for getting that out..
I just hope the next 4 weeks fly by, Mr P is not enjoying sitting in a windowless room with 3 monitors and being bombarded with questions he can't answer as they are very cryptic...

He loves America... and nearly fainted when he filled his car up and it only cost $18, he was going to go and buy some petrol cans and ship it back to the UK...

I think we will be saving for a holiday in the future as he wants us to go over there for a couple of weeks which I am more than OK with ... in fact I might not come home again! lol

He is enjoying confusing the hotel staff with his west country accent and terminology...

well I am off to bed... once I have answered Mr P's emails
so sleep tight everyone
and Nightie Night!
Alex
x

Hi guys!

I received a lovely award from Shabby Chick and I thought I would pass it on to some lovely friends of mine... I know I have been given a couple of awards a few weeks back and I was very rude and didn't pass them on and I apologise for my bad manners...
This one has arrived at a time when I have a spare moment to pass it on
(Mr P being a away gives me much more time in the land of blog)
and I know a few pretty pink ladies who will love this one...

My ten bloggy buddies that I would like to award this to are:

1. Eclectic Pink Rose
Theresa is a lovely lady who can make you smile and when you need a supportive word is there in an instant... thank you Theresa... you are a lovely friend
2. Domestic Disaster
Now this is one very talented lady, her bags and purses are amazing and she sews all these fab creations and sells them to raise money for the Brain Cancer

Why not visit her Etsy shop Threads of Grey to take a look at her items and support a worthy cause
3. Smilernpb
This is a new buddy of mine, she's very normal and down to earth and expecting a baby girl....awwww! I recently did a fab swap with her and I am honoured to have such a good friend
4. Little patch of heaven
Now many of you will know that Joanne and I live fairly close to each other and we knew each other in our naughty nightclubbing days... we rampaged around Yeovil and then kinda lost touch when her itchy feet took her travelling, its weird ... we always kinda knew each others location but didn't hook up again till last year.... She's a very good friend indeed and I am glad she turned up on my doorstep last year...
5. Notes from my days
Lesley is the me I wish I could be... she has a beautiful house in a beautiful part of the world and I am about to do a friends swap with her... which is very exciting...
6. Snippity Gibbett
Now this lady has a talent that intrigues me, she has introduced me to scherenschnitte its an amazing art form.... I will be posting my pay it forward gift very soon I haven't forgotten you... honest!
7. All about Eden
Sara is a blogger that has decided to sell her wonderful creations and recently I left a comment on her blog that I really felt I needed to leave to show that every opinion has two sides... I worried about that comment all evening, as blog land seems to have an unwritten rule that you shouldn't go against the grain, luckily Sara graciously accepted my comment and is still my friend.... yay!
she works really hard to make ends meet (as do most of us) and I would be really pleased if you could spare a minute to pop over to from the hands of kitty eden and take a look at her wonderful creations...
8. The Bluberry patch
An Enid Blyton fan is definitely a friend of mine... plus a lover of car booting and buttons and all things vintage... what a girl to follow... I am sending her a Little something from my pay it forward and I really hope she likes what I am making... it will be with you soon!
9.The sewing room
Pat is a new blogger to me, and I love her to bits... she does everything and is sewing her daughter a beautiful dress for a London trip... how cool is that!
10. The ramblings of an everyday mummy
Bekimarie is also a new to me blogging buddy, and I love reading her blog... she is a very down to earth gal who loves to sew and make... she recently sent me a fab button heart, bookmark and hand made postcard... and is organising the friends swap....

10(a). Mels blog aka A Country Dream
Now I know I am only suppose to choose ten... but its really hard !
Mel is a new friend to me and she has to be the most excitable and enthusiastic blogger I have come across in a long while... she has grasped hold of crafting and is giving it a damn good go and as she is remastering crochet and knitting and often leaves little reviews of films and the many books she homes I am pleased to have added her to my diverse and ever growing band of bloggers...

I have lots of friends in this escapism world and they are all different and lovely people, some may appear to live in palaces, others may seem to have no cares or worries in the world... and if that is the lives they truly have then I am happy for them... others may well give that impression and that is fine too as you need to do whatever makes you happy... and if spending some time with people whom you may not even look twice at in the flesh let alone strike up a conversation with gives you hope, support and perhaps an urge to try harder at something you always thought you couldn't do then I see no harm in living a happier life at times in this virtual world...

I have made so many new friends all over the world and I thank you all for your support, love and friendship, it really means a lot to me

Wishing you all a fab weekend
take care
Alex
x

May Day

It's the first of May and spring has arrived

I love the colours of spring, and all the growth and fresh shoots make you feel hopeful for the coming season...

Pot Marjoram, Golden Marjoram and Basil by the back door

Fennel... waiting for me to choose a spot for it to grow.... I love the way it wafts around... I did notice last year that the flowers attracted wasps... so I won't plant it too close to the house

Peppermint and Pineapple mint...

Celery Leaf.... use it like parsley but it has a celery flavour...

I hope to grow and use properly a lot more herbs this year... I need to get tall containers so that the dog doesn't keep watering them for me... lol

May Day blessings to you all
and have a fabulous bank holiday weekend

take care
Alex
x