TAAA-DAAAAHH!

My very first loaf

So proud!

Have a fantastic week everyone.

Blessings,

Andi xx

21st

Tuesday 21st February was my birthday. I had a lovely day.

M bought me a bread making machine:

I feel a bit nervous about using it. Only because it's new and I've got to read the instruction book. Not that I'm lazy or anything.

My son sent me this yummy card:

and reminisced about us reading the Mr. Men book 'Mr. Perfect' who had a party with lots of perfect cup cakes. Son is at uni now. I miss him.

My brother was also in a reminiscing mood and told me he remembered that Thunderbird Three was my favourite Thunderbird...





I think it was because it had a 'skirt' design which gave it a feminine look in a very male dominated show (Go Lady P! Go TinTin! Go Grandma!)




Then the floral birthday kicked in.


Some magic beans from BF Tammy:

Can't wait to see what they are.

Mum treated me to lunch at the Jamie Oliver restaurant that's just opened up in town.

(photo: renbehan.com)

And also gave me a pot of wild flower seeds








This gorgeous bouquet was waiting for me when I got back from the school run and is now filling the hall with a wonderful floral scent.

My MiL gave me some birthday money which I spent in my favourite shop, Wilkinsons:

I thought I would really miss Woolworths when it closed down, but Wilkinsons has more than replaced it.

BF Sue had visited me from Norfolk on Saturday and we had a fantastic fun day together. She had made this wonderful owl for me, all from recycled fabric:

His name is Michael.

Sue really inspires me with all the craft/design/work she does. So much so, that I've taken out the squares I'd cut to make a beach quilt (in my life before dog) and have started to sew them together. My electric sewing machine is having a problem with its motor so 'Dolly' came out to be used for the very first time:

I find the quiet trundle she makes as I turn the handle very therapeutic.

I think we're going to be friends.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Blessings,

Andi xx

Fab Feb's Helpful Hints

I recently received an email from a friend which was full of simple, but good, ideas.

However, some of them made me wonder just how helpful they would be.

I thought I'd share them with you today on this bright, frosty, February morning.

When travelling, put shoes in disposable shower caps (found in most hotel bathrooms).

Use a drinking straw to hull strawberries.

(Our strawberries are often so hard I think the straw would disintegrate if I did this)

Rubbing a walnut over scratches on furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

WD40 will remove crayon marks from computer screens, tvs and even walls.

To keep the kids' lunchbox apple from going brown, put an elastic band around it.

(although, I can imagine little fumbling fingers sending the segments flying all over the place as the elastic band is removed)

To keep sets of bed linen together, fold sheets and put them in the matching pillow case so the sets are always together and easy to find.

(How long is it going to take me to fold the sheets to the correct size to be stuffed into a pillowcase? Longer than it would take to find the separate pieces in the linen cupboard I think)

Use empty Wet Wipes tubes to store plastic bags.

(would someone tell me just how to fold the plastic bags so they pop up like the one in the picture)

String wire across the ceiling of a cupboard to store wrapping paper off the floor.

('Darling, I need to wrap a present, could you get the stepladders out?')

(That's unfair. Actually, I think this a good idea as long as your ceilings are not too high)

Cut crosses in the lid of a cardboard box to keep cupcakes safe during transport.

How to fold a fitted sheet.

(Don't tell me you haven't always wondered)

Use bread tags to label computer wires.

Tension rods. Bless them.

Turn pastry moulds upside down to bake cookie dough in cup shape. Use the cases to fill with fruit etc.

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice cube trays for soothing cool cubes for sunburn.

Use egg cartons to store Christmas baubles.

(Where was this idea a month ago?)




And finally, if any of you need to know how to remove the hard drive from a computer you're disposing of, please visit this recent post by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Can't tell you how timely her post was for me.

Have a fab Feb.

Blessings,

Andi xx