Elsie, Some News and a Question

I meant to show you the pics of Elsie first, but it seems the following uploaded in this particular order, so here goes:

WE WON! The play wot I wrote won Best Production in the festival. Along with the brilliant performance by the cast we had them almost rolling in the aisles. I was so astonished. I was hoping for a couple of laughs and a few chuckles. The response was amazing.

Here I am collecting the trophy from the Festival Coordinator:

(Perhaps I'll remember to relax my shoulders next time.)

This has certainly encouraged me to write more for the stage.

NEXT - Elsie. Butter wouldn't melt, eh?

Here she is with a towel stolen from the downstairs loo:

Earlier on today she 'helped' me dig a hole for a paeony. Digging deep...

...and then deeper...

The other morning I found I'd left a cushion to my swing seat out all night. It had rained and the cushion was very wet. I left it in the kitchen to dry by the Aga while I went out for coffee....came back to find the kitchen filled with foam and a very amused puppy. Hmmmm.

Lastly, can anyone help me identify this plant?

I bought it at a car boot sale last year. The seller didn't know what it was either but told me it grew well and was easy to care for. I've searched google images but can't find it.

I'll try and blog more often from now on.

Blessings,

Andi xx

It Runs In the Family

This is a photo of Granny Owens. She is my g-g-grandmother born Elizabeth Edwards in Wales in the 1850s.

She lived into her 80s and according to my Nan she would do any job that needed doing - which included digging graves. On Christmas Day she would walk from her cottage to my Nan's with her apron full of fruit.

Now the photo above seems an ordinary photo of my g-g-grandmother, but if we take a closer look under chair...

I believe I can see terrier fur, a box face and black nose and ear.

I like to think the camera-shy pooch is a Welsh Terrier and that I have something in common with my ancestor in owning one.

My Elsie is growing bigger and peskier all the time. Yesterday, while I was hanging out washing she ran around the garden with a pair of my knickers in her mouth. Thanks, Els.

Blessings,
Andi
xx

I'm Still Here

Hi everyone,



Just wanted to let you all know that I'm still around but have so much going on at the moment I don't seem to have much time for blogging.



A play wot I wrote has been shortlisted for a competition and I've had to get a cast and backstage staff together as well as direct the play. The learning curve is so steep it's almost vertical. I have to be honest and say I'll be glad when it's over.

Then there's Elsie...

Oh boy. Just when I think the house training is a success, she pops a surprise. She's gorgeous and lots of fun, but it's like having a toddler in the house - she needs to be watched all the time.


I will try to visit your blogs when I can and hope to write a bit more soon.


Hope you are all well and happy. I'll leave you with a link to this video. It gets funnier every time I look at it.


how to upset your dog



Blessings,

Andi xx

At Home

Happy Easter everyone. Hope you all had a wonderful time. We didn't go away for the holiday as Elsie has only just had her second lot of vaccinations. However, we did go out for her first official walk:

She was interested in everything and of course got lots of attention from people we met. She's very nervous of other dogs though, so we have to ease her in gently with a few smaller, calmer dogs.

She is gradually losing the black on her face and the brown fur is coming through.

We took her to a local park which has country walks, a walled garden and an outdoor theatre. I liked these seats:

Elsie is chewing everything. She bites the blooms off flowers - attracted by the nodding action. Today she ate a wasp. I believe she is Imelda Marcos reincarnated as she LOVES shoes.

This weekend saw the demise of Sasha and Elaine:

(Yes, I have named my clothes pegs. Why not?)

And my garden trolls have been terrorised outside their own front door.

Elsie drags them off by the hair.

What a monster!

This is a bloom she has not been able to reach. A paeony we inherited from the previous owner of our house:

This week I am linking to Met Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch. These stepladders I bought at a car boot last year for £4.

They've been in the shed ever since while I waited for time and opportunity to paint them:

I got the idea for white stepladders to display plants from Sal over at Sal's Snippets

Sal has a greenhouse and surrounding area I covet.

I've been having fun in the garden during the glorious weather we've been having. I'll show you some more next time.

Blessings,
Andi xx

Absolute Chaos

Introducing

ELSIE

Our little Welsh Terrier came to live with us last Sunday and since then has given us a week of chaos and love.

It's like caring for a new baby again. I can only get chores done when she's sleeping. Oh but she's soooooo sweet.

I'm sorry I haven't got too many nice pics of her yet. She seems very curious about the camera...

But I hope to post some nicer ones later on.

This morning was the first morning there wasn't any crying or howling. I hope she's finally settled in. She certainly looks it during the day

Blessings,

Andi (and Elsie) xx

Sunday News

A word of advice

However gently and responsibly you swing a sledgehammer

you will still ache down one side in the morning.

OUCH!

Today is a very exciting day in the Attic household.

We are expecting a new addition to the family.

Here's a clue

I promise to post a pic ASAP.

Blessings,

Andi xx

KIWIS DON'T FLY

Picture taken from http://www.juicer-detective.com/vegetable-juicing.html

I read this post at One Shabby Old House a little while ago and it inspired me to dust down my juicer and begin using it. I've been feeling completely devoid of energy since Christmas and I thought juicing might help.

So I've been juicing every morning for a week now. My favourite so far is carrot, apple, kiwi and parsley. It's delicious and seems to be helping my energy levels. However...

This morning a piece of kiwi flew out of the juicer before I could push it down the funnel:

It ended up on my ceiling!

(quite difficult photographing something stuck to the ceiling)

A few weeks ago I was given this lovely award by Amy over at Blighty Boutique

I am to tell you seven things about myself. Seven. I'm running out of things to tell you - I'm a very boring person really. Hey, perhaps that could count as the first one?

1. I got 'unclassified' for my CSE maths exam (for those who don't know, this was the lowest level of exam you could be entered for back in the 70's). My talent in this subject really is abysmal.

2. I once tried for a job as dolphin trainer (no maths needed here!).

3. Although I admire their beauty and grace from a far, I am not fond of cats. This may stem from the time at infant school when our headmistress (an old battleaxe if ever there was one) shouted 'mind where you're walking'. In a crowd of about 100 children how was I supposed to know she was shouting at me? I stepped on the school cat's tail. I was made to apologise to the cat in front of the whole school.

4. I am a quarter Welsh and I'm inexplicably thrilled about it.

5. I love the old fashioned penny slot machines and would like to own one one day.

6. When I was small I was convinced the wind was whispering my name.

7. I believe in ghosts and that we have one in our present house. My daughter used to see 'him' when she was very little. Now she's older she no longer sees him but I occassionally get a whiff of ghostly cigar.

Thanks Amy for passing on this award. Now, as with other awards, I'm supposed to pass this on to a number of others. I am reluctant to do this as I can't pick out any in particular. Let's put it this way, I wouldn't follow your blog if I didn't enjoy reading it and in my opinion you are all deserving of the:

Blessings,

Andi xx