Improvise

Hello. Some people are good at crosswords, others enjoy a challenging game of Sudoku, and some like pub quizzes. I am no good at any of those things, my brain doesn't work like that, but I do like to put things together on a more practical level. I used to love my brothers meccano set, I played with it more than he did.

Today I was searching through my bit box for something to join two pieces of wood together, something metal with two screw holes in. I haven't got the exact right pieces and I don't want to buy anything, so I thought, improvise. I have a lot of these cupboard door catches left over from when I had a new kitchen. A bash with the hammer did a good job of breaking them apart, bingo, a small piece of metal, just right for the job. I left some of them flat.  

And some of them I bent into an 'L' shape with a pair of pliers, very useful for joining two pieces of wood at an angle like this. Just the job, it works.

 I made this corner section today, and fitted the last door inside it.

This is the front, the entrance to get in and out. The plan is to put a long length of timber along the top, bridging the gap. Only trouble is the two sides are not lined up very well. I need to have a think about it, there must be a solution, hmmmmm. 

It was a beautiful sunset tonight. I am feeding Janet's cats while she is away, and this is the view from her conservatory window. She is very lucky to be able to see this from the comfort of her arm chair.

I've cropped this one, it would make a good header. Stunning colours.

I'm a bit late with this so I'll say Goodnight. Thank you for popping in.
Toodle pip

A cheap one pan meal

Hiya folks, what a wild weather day we had today. I couldn't do anything in the garden, it has been very windy the whole time, with intermittent heavy rain showers. A day sewing while watching catch up TV. I caught Sheriden Smith in 'The C Word', on BBC. It's a true story about a woman who wrote a blog and a book about her diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. Sheriden is an amazing actress, she must surely pick up an award for this performance.

A couple of snippets of the picture, still more to do. I won't stop until I'm happy with it, so you'll have to wait a bit longer for the finished article.

It was a cheap experimental dinner tonight.. I have some packet noodles which I bought a while ago from the cash and carry, they were eight for £1. I started off by slicing up four small courgettes into a small pan. Then I blasted eight sprouts in the mini chopper which shredded them in seconds. I add them to the courgettes and cooked them for a few minutes in a chunk of olive spread, with some garlic powder. Then I added water and the noodles, and a teaspoon of veg gravy granules, and brought it to the boil then simmered for two minutes. Serve with shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato, and beetroot. It was lurrrrvely, filled me up a treat. You could use any chopped veg you like, it only takes a few minutes, cheap on the gas, and it's a one pan meal, so less washing up to do.

I've had some lovely comments coming through on the older posts, thank you so much for your kind words, I read them all. I am chuffed that people are finding something of interest. You are welcome to pick out the bits you need and if I can help in any way, please ask.
Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip

Horsing around at Bransby

Hello. We've had an afternoon out with the Gee Gee's today. It doesn't seem like one whole year since I last visited Bransby Home for Horses, how time flies. The charity does such good work rescuing horses and ponies, and luckily it's not far for me to travel for a visit. Today I took a friend who loves horses. It was a bit blustery but thankfully we didn't have any rain. 

Bransby is near Lincoln, it is one of the UK's largest equine welfare charities, founded in 1968. The centre is open every day and dogs are welcome. Admission and parking are free. During 2012 and 2013 they took in more than 180 horses, most of which were rescued from situations of cruelty and neglect. A second site has opened in Herefordshire but this is not open to the public. Between the two sites there are currently over 450 animals in care. Here are a few of them.

It's tea time in this paddock.

That's it, all full up, let's have a look over here. The horses came to check us out. 

Ooo err, they look very big,

Help, they're all coming over now.

Now look you chaps, just because I'm little, don't think you can pick on me. You stay that side of the fence.

We moved on to have a look inside a big shed. These horses were being led outside for a run about in a field. 

Nosh time here.

Give us a kiss. Go on, you know you want to.

A man came with his tools and was giving them a pedicure. 

 Steady now, we'll have you looking pretty in no time.

What a handsome chap this one is. He was a bit vocal, I imagined he was saying let me out of here, I want to go for a run.

Rocky decided to get out of his buggy and go for a walkabout.

Back outside again, we went across the road and found some little ponies. They were so cute.

These three were running up and down the field enjoying a game of chase.

A man came to collect the ponies, it was feeding time.

Think I'll stop here, I like it. Can we come again. 

It was a lovely afternoon out at Bransby, it is one of my favourite charities. If you are thinking of visiting check out their web site, but be aware that if you read the rescue stories some of them are upsetting. There are also details of how you can support them, should you wish to. Thank you for reading.
Toodle pip

Another door appears

Hello. How ya diddlin? Translated that means, How are you? It's been a super warm day here. Not many at Crafty Club this morning, but we still had a good natter. 

This afternoon it was get out in the garden time. I needed another large pallet, but the only one I had wasn't big enough. Not to worry, I also had a part pallet with some slats missing. I measured the space I needed to fill, and cobbled together a pallet to fit. Now this is ready to attach another door. 

The door I had in mind to use next is an interior door, I was a bit reluctant to use it as it wouldn't stand up the the weather very well. I decided to do a bit more work on building up the height on the other doors, and thought I would go to the door company and pick up another door tomorrow. 

I got quite a surprise when I saw that my next door neighbour had removed his front door, he said he is getting a new one fitted. What a stroke of luck that was, he wanted to get rid of it, and I needed it. Perfect, just the job. 

So here it is in it's place. I have put the outside of it to the outside of the summer house. It's all painted up so I won't have to touch that side of it.

The inside will need painting. The strap is there to hold it in place while I screw it down.

This is the view from my neighbours garden. I will paint it, but I also have a plan to camouflage it. 

This is the side which is facing the back of the garage. I tied the corner together while I put the screws in.

I'll do a couple of hours on it in the morning, but I am off out in the afternoon. I'll take the camera and bring some piccies back. That's all for now. Time to wind down. Toodle pip

Unique rules, YAY ;o))

Hello, from a wet and miserable Bank Holiday Sunday in North Lincolnshire. The weather may be miserable but I am not, I'm doing something I love, creating a picture with fabric and threads. Musical entertainment is provided by BBC Radio 2, Sunday Love Songs, peppered with feel good love stories from happy loved up folks. We need more love, I have some in Tightwad Towers, I don't miss out, my lovely pets are around me. Heidi joined me in bed this morning, something she has never done before, she is feeling very loved up, ha ha.

I am trying to make some little sheep for the picture, but it's not working out as I would like, so I have moved on to French Knot flowers, and I've put a couple of ramblers in a field. All very fiddly work, but it satisfies my creativity, to work things out, and to invent different ways to do things.

I've just had a comment through which turned a light on, my readers are always inspiring me, and giving me ideas for more blog posts, so thanks to those who comment. It's a two way thing, not just me chattering and you listening, you join in.

Sue says my shed of many colours is unique, a one off, just like me. Thank you Sue, I take that as a compliment. Not surprising that I am having difficulty making little sheep, I am not one of them, ha ha.

So, what's good and what's bad about today? My uniqueness means I see things from all angles. The answers are not always obvious, but with a bit of pondering I usually come up with some kind of solution. The rain is a bit miserable, and I have some dog walking to do, but, they will be pleased to see me, I like happy dogs. I can't work in the garden, but I can sit and sew. I will have a bath and wash my hair later, that will be lovely. I will have something nice for lunch, and dinner later. The garden is getting watered for free, so I can't really think of anything bad about today.

Is it hard work being unique? No not at all, if you practice it enough. If you decide that you don't have to be what people expect you to be. You can strive to be different, you can do things on a whim, even if you change your mind, and go in a different direction.

Everyone can be unique if they want to be. Everyone can be quirky. No one needs to be a clone. If all my readers left and went to other blogs I would say, good for them, they are doing their own thing, they have decided that they don't want to read me any more. I read other blogs, I don't have to and neither do you have to read mine, but I'm pleased that you do.I'm pleased that I share my living room with you, I can chat to you whenever I like, and someone is listening. So step forth into this big wide world, do your own thing, and be unique.

Lots of love.
Toodle pip
Ilona xxx

Mixing the colours

Hello. Although it's been a bit cold up here today in North Lincolnshire, we have managed to avoid the rain, so I have been able to get stuff done outside. I started the day with a bit of sewing, 8 till 10am, listening to Sounds of the Sixties on Radio 2. Keep adding a few more stitches to the picture. 

A couple of people mentioned the going out of date food, and asked how I was going to use it up before it went off. It's a case of checking it often, and using it in order of how quickly it is going to deteriorate. The prepared fruit in pots needs to be used within a day or it will start to go slimy and ferment. Yesterday I zapped the fresh pineapple with the stick blender and put it into ice cube trays. It is now frozen ready to add to drinks, or they could be added to a smoothie. I did another tray filled with melon, blueberries, and kiwi fruit. 

In the next couple of days the mushrooms will have to be eaten, so I'll keep checking them. The grapes are looking good so they should last a week. The tomatoes are still firm so five or six days for them. Shredded iceberg will need to be eaten in three days. Coleslaw will be ok for four days. Root vegetables last longer than leafy green ones., so the sprouts, the prepared broccoli and cauliflower will be eaten before the carrots and potatoes. I will be eating sprouts every day until they have gone.

It's a case of using your eyes to inspect the food very closely. Using your nose to sniff everything. Squeezing it, is it firm or starting to go mushy. If you eat meat though you have to be even more vigilant, there's more chance of food poisoning so keeping it at the right temperature is very important. It should be said though that regularly checking the state of your food whether it be fresh, chilled, frozen, packets, or tins, should be done on a regular basis anyway. Food should be used in rotation, in a similar way that supermarkets stock their shelves. The new goes to the back, and the old is brought forward.

Yesterday I made a veg curry using two packs of chopped prepared onions, and a bag of prepared carrots and peas. I had a portion for dinner last night, the rest I have pulverized in the food processor and portioned it out into four margarine tubs and it's gone in the freezer. It makes a thick soup which can be diluted slightly and eaten with bread, or it can be eaten with a jacket potato or a portion of rice or pasta, as it is.

Breakfast this morning was Bran Flakes, Value 88p for 750grms from Tesco. A handful of crushed seeds, grapes and strawberries, with Soya Milk 59p from Aldi. 

Dinner tonight was a plate of steamed vegetables topped with some grated cheese. My favourite.

Here is a little update on the Bespoke Summer House. My friend gave me some green paint, and some white, yesterday. The green was a bit dark so I lightened it with the white, and now I have a door of forty shades of green, ha ha. . 

I was in the High Street this morning and a man was painting his window frame, I cheekily asked if he had any paint he didn't want. He said, follow me, and we went to his workshop at the back. Four tins came my way, yippeeee.

 I fancied having a pink door, but no pink paint, then I remembered I might have some ink upstairs in the office. YAY, add it to white and you get pink.

That looks nice. What about a blue door next to it, but no blue paint. Easy, I have some small sample pots of emulsion, I found a dark blue and mixed it with some white. YAY, now I have a blue door. Looking good.

Then I was hungry, and it was trying to rain, so it was time to pack up for the day and go indoors. We'll see what tomorrow brings. There will be some dog walking, hope it doesn't rain. Hope you have a good Bank Holiday weekend.
Toodle pip.

PS, We have a lady called Judy ploughing her way through the entire blog. Judy if you get this far, I am reading your comments on the older posts, they always come to the top of my list so I get to read them all. Well done girl, stick at it, you deserve a medal.

PPS. Nice that we have a new Princess. I hope the name Diana is included somewhere in her name.

Shopping all done and dusted

Hello. I went to work last night, clocked on at 7.30pm, clocked off at 9pm. My job? Foraging for reduced food, generally know as Yellow Stickers. My place of work, Tesco. Every so often I invest some of my time on searching out the best bargains, usually once a month at the big supermarket, and times in between at the discount stores, the Cash and Carry, the market, and other smaller supermarkets I happen to be passing. Ten minutes here and there can give me 75% of my total spend on food. With 90% off on most of these items, it is a significant saving, and well worth the effort. This is where I manage to save the most money on my day to day living expenses. 

Thursday night is usually quite busy, but I was pleasantly surprised last night, only me and one other person was waiting for the final reductions to be applied, and there was lots on offer. Someone must have misjudged how much stock to order, not good for the supermarket but very good for my purse. Fair do's though, my Tesco has a policy of passing on the cheap food to the shoppers, instead of binning it, so I thank them for that. It helps my budget enormously, and makes my shopping experience a fun activity rather than a boring mundane task. I am always looking for ways to beat the system, and to come out of the shop with a big grin on my face gives me a buzz.

A few more happy shoppers joined us, but there was more than enough for everyone, so no fighting. The mood was quite relaxed as everyone went away happy with their haul. Carol did a good job of scanning the items and stickering up, we waited patiently and got what we wanted.

This morning I have given some of my veg to Barry up the road, he helps me so I help him. This was gratefully received as I know he likes to do all his meals from scratch. I have a few items for my neighbour across the road, she has three hungry men to feed and is good enough to give me the excess apples from her tree that they can't manage to eat.

I'll do you a run down of my shopping list, I also had £5.20 off in vouchers, some of them on the reduced items, so that took the price below what I paid for them. I went for the yellow stickers first, and as I needed to reach £30 to use a £4 off voucher I put some full price items in the trolley, but they are what I normally buy and have a long shelf life. I had two treats, a bottle of wine for £5, and a pack of five donuts for 33p.

2 boxes Value Bran Flakes, 750grm 88p each
4 packets Tesco Cream Crackers 27p each
1 large tub Value yogurt 45p
1 bottle chardonnay £4.99
1 packet wholewheat pasta 75p
1 Pack of 6 FR eggs 89p
2 packs soft cheese with garlic 60p each
1 pack of 6 small flavoured yogurts £1
1 bag Value prunes £1.19
1 small fresh single cream 55p
7 loose bananas 75p
2 jars pickled onions 30p each
1 pack chicken slices for Bugsy £1.35
3 jars Value lemon curd 22p each
Various cat food and treats for 3 fussy cats £10.54

3 packs baby brussel sprouts 10p each
4 bags loose brussel sprouts 36p total
1 swede 10p
1 bag carrots 10p
1 bag 3 large leeks 10p
1 punnet organic mushrooms 10p
4 bags cauliflower/broccoli 10p each
1 large pot coleslaw/potato salad 16p
2 packs prepared white onions 9p each
2 packs prepared red onions 10p each
1 bag prepared carrots and peas mix 13p
1 pack of red and green grapes 20p
1 shredded iceberg lettuce 13p
2 packs of crispy sliced potatoes 15p each
1 pack tomatoes 15p
1 pack carrots 9p
1 bag potatoes 18p
2 packs baby courgettes 14p each
1 Value macaroni cheese 24p
1 pack 5 donuts 33p
1 pack square wraps 40p
3 packs prepared fruit 20p each
1 pack of 4 peach yogurts 28p

Total £32.85, with vouchers off £27.65. I also saved 32p with a 3 for 2 offer.

Now I am fully stocked up, don't need to go shopping for a while. Pet food is fully stocked as well, so we are all happy bunnies. Now I can have a nice weekend knowing that job is done. I shall be hanging around here, no plans to go anywhere. I hope your weekend is good.

Toodle pip