Live at the Castle

What a weekend!!

Friday night we packed up our raincoats and folding chairs and headed into Carrick on the train. We arrived just just in time to see Imelda May's set. It was well worth seeing, she was really good.

Next on stage was Paul Carrick, of Mike and the Mechanics fame. His set was good too, but soon it was time for the main event of the night - Jools Holland and his Rythm and Blues Orchestra!

They were absolutely brilliant, despite the fact that it was utterly freezing! He has a few special guests with him, but it was Ruby Turner who really stole the show - even Aaron was very impressed.

Saturday night was far less refined!! It kicked off with an excellent set by Tin Lizzy - a brilliant Thin Lizzy tribute band who are even endorsed by Philomena, Phil Lynott's mother. They were the hilight of the weekend for Aaron, but I decided it was time to relax with a pint of cider.

I had good reason to conserve mysef. The long-awaited moment was fast approaching - Hayseed Dixie were due on next. Aaron and I managed to muscle ourselves into the third row from the front of the stage, so we had a perfect view.

They did all my favourtie songs, including Walk This Way, Fat Bottomed girls and I'm Keeping Your Poop In A Jar - I think I was the only one who knew the words and sang along to that one!!

After that, the cider started to kick in. Except for me, I only had the one hahahaha. And looking back at the pics from when Status Quo finally hit the stage, I'm glad!!

Frugal food

Here it is, the fruits of all my labour earlier in the week.

Firstly, here is the butter we churned.

We made enough to fill 2 ramekins this size, that's enough to do us about 2 weeks - or it would have been if our parents hadn't demanded samples!!

I also spent about 3 hours shelling peas. It wasn't as bad as it sounds, as I sat in front of the TV and watched a movie.

I think it was worth it though - a full collander of fresh peas for only 70p :)

Family time

Me, Owen, Megan and Grace had a fab morning out yesterday. We went to Slemish Market Garden at the Ecos centre in Ballymena. We had a lovely time looking around the working garden, which is completely organic, and came home with 2 big bags of organic veg for just under £6.
We headed on up the road to the Ecos centre as none of us had ever been there before. It was fabulous!! They had enormous sculptures of insects that we could clamber about on, grace especially liked the big snail. Then there was a play park, with swings and a slide. Next stop was reception where we were able to buy a bag (or two!) of bird seed. We made our way to the lake, where we fed the ducks from a lovely sloping pebble beach. It was great being able to get right up to the edge of the water with no fear of Grace falling in! There were stacks of pigeons as well as ducks. Grace and I put seed on our hands, then sat very still - and the pigeons came right up and pecked the food from our hands!
After we said goodbye to the ducks, we found a large sand pit that had 2 or 3 ride-on tractors and diggers in it. We didn't stay there long, Grace is still too little to pedal and mummy isn't fit enough to push the tractor for more than a couple of laps. Outside the sandpit, Owen found a great big sculpture made from different size tyres. Grace said it looked like a snail shell. There was also an outdoor room that had a picnic area. There were walls on 2 sides of it, but no roof. The walls were decorated with lovely ceramic mosaics made by a local primary school.
Lastly we found a zip line ride. Me and Owen both had fun riding it, and we held Grace on and ran with her so she could have a turn too. Megan didn't have a go - flip flops and short skirts aren't exactly appropriate attire!!
Unfortunately we didn't have time to explore the many nature walks and the island, or the actual Ecos centre itself- we had to get Megs to her youth work in Belfast. But we are definitely going to go back - and next time it will for a full day including a picnic!!
After we got home and had dinner, we went to Pesky Tescys. I picked up 7 packs of peas for just 10 pence each, and 4 small tubs of whipping cream for 25p each. The peas were duly podded and blanched, and are now in the deep freeze. The cream was decanted into 3 jam jars and shaken hard by me, Owen and Corey until we had churned our own butter from it. We drained off the buttermilk, washed the butter under cold water and then refrigerated it. This morning we all tried it on our toast and it was really really good!! It was also special because it was our first activity as a proper family. As of last night, Corey officially lives with us :)

Making Christmas 2009

Firstly, welcome back to my blog. I have been somewhat neglectful of late. Ho hum. But I'm back now.
Preparations for Christmas are officially in full swing. No, this isn't an old post from last year, and I have not lost my marbles either. I have started Making Christmas. The craft fair is early this year, 22nd November, so I don't actually have much time to get stuff ready. It's a serious business this year - I have even re-arranged the furniture in the living room and kitchen to give me a much bigger crafting area with a lot more storage.
I have been making a lot of cards. They are mostly Christmas cards, but have made a few others, like birthday cards and thankyou cards so I don't get bored doing the same thing all the time. I have definitely rediscovered my crafty mojo - it deserted me for a while. My new "thing" is stamping - which works in rather nicely with the card making. I'm really enjoying experimenting with the different inks, and layering the cards, and colouring the images...I'm bidding on a heat gun with embossing powders on eBay , currently winning the lot for just £6!! Really hope I get it, I'm dying to try heat embossing. I saw it on one of the shopping channels ages ago and have wanted to try it ever since.
I've been looking at other crafty pursuits I can indulge in all in the name of Christmas. I think a lot of family and friends will be getting home made or semi-home made gifts this year. I'm planning on trying some mini Christmas cakes for the craft fair, pyjama cases for Grace and Joshua, fruity vodkas for assorted male cousins, girls night in baskets for the females and various other hand made sweets and treats, as well as flavoured oils and vinegars. I'm also making Grace a recycled art kit.