We have decided to move house. Or rather, I have decided to move house and the rest of the family are going along with it.
The New House is still a 3 bed with enclosed front and back gardens...but on a much smaller scale. The gardens are both concrete and pebble affirs, so very low maintenance. I ma already perusnig the seed catalogs and planning my container veg plot - peas, tomatos, beetroot, aubergines, garlic and potatos wil be planted in due course - and I am sure the list will grow!
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
August Bank Holiday washout
Had a nice bank holiday morning out in Larne - despite the torrential rain!! We had a nice lie in because Grace had stayed in mums, then picked her up and went to pick up a wee sofa bed for Corey's bedroom. We got it in the charity shop for £30. Then Grace and I went to our favourite exotic pet shop next door so she could see the snakes. I like going in there mid week because it's always nice and quiet, so the animals are much more chilled out. There were no mammals this time, but we did see a small rattlesnake that rattled his tail a lot at us. Grace liked him a lot, and was not too impressed when I told her he was not coming home with us! We also saw some nice lizards, including a very cute baby bosc monitor and some funny little bearded dragons who ran up to the glass and did better "Let me out!" puppy dog eyes than most dogs could! We bought some wax worms as a treat for our own geckos, and then treated ourselves to brunch in a little cafe across the street. Sadly, it was home time all too soon because I had to go to work.
Seeing as it was a bank holiday, I decided to take a half day and surprise the family. I arrived home at 6.30pm - just in time to share in a yummy steak pie with spicy wedges for tea :)
After that I got into my jammies and had fun playing with my new toy. I bought myself a heat gun and some embossing powders from Ebay. I got a good bargain - the heat gun, an embossing ink pad, 3 tubs of powder and 9 farmyard stamps for £9 including postage. A similar lot I was outbid on a week earlier went for a whopping £35!!!!! I had loads of fun experimenting with the different powders and I think it is going to be a very worthwhile investment, especially for my Christmas cards. I got them all out and had a look at them last night. They look good, I have decorated each envelope to match the card, and packaged them in cellophane bags. I am waiting on some little stickers with my name and email address on them, I'm going to seal each bag with one just to give them a nice professional finish.
Wish I could go home early tonight too, but I am working on the reception desk so I am stuck until closing time :(
Seeing as it was a bank holiday, I decided to take a half day and surprise the family. I arrived home at 6.30pm - just in time to share in a yummy steak pie with spicy wedges for tea :)
After that I got into my jammies and had fun playing with my new toy. I bought myself a heat gun and some embossing powders from Ebay. I got a good bargain - the heat gun, an embossing ink pad, 3 tubs of powder and 9 farmyard stamps for £9 including postage. A similar lot I was outbid on a week earlier went for a whopping £35!!!!! I had loads of fun experimenting with the different powders and I think it is going to be a very worthwhile investment, especially for my Christmas cards. I got them all out and had a look at them last night. They look good, I have decorated each envelope to match the card, and packaged them in cellophane bags. I am waiting on some little stickers with my name and email address on them, I'm going to seal each bag with one just to give them a nice professional finish.
Wish I could go home early tonight too, but I am working on the reception desk so I am stuck until closing time :(
Sunday, 30 August 2009
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 :)
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
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 :)
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 :)
Monday, 24 August 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Not blogged for a long time
Just seems like when I've had something to say I've had no time, and when I have had the time I have nothing to say.
There has been progress in the employment department. We now officially have taxi insurance on the car and it has been wired up for the sign, radio and meter. The fire extinguisher is installed and the local mechanic is booking his fortnight in Torremolinos since we had the work done to bring it up to scratch. Now all we are waiting for is a date for the PSV test - then my beloved will finally realise his dream of having his very own taxi. I really REALLY want this to work out for him; he has wanted it for such a long time.
On the home front, DeeDee laid her second clutch of eggs about a week ago. They are cooking away in the incubator and hopefully will hatch around mid-June. The first two are looking very bad though. I don't think they are fertile, but I have left them in the incubator for now just in case. I think it may be too humid in there so am going to have a look at it tonight and try to sort it out.
The vivarium build/conversion project is progressing slowly. The shelves have been secured and sealed with silicon aquarium sealant. I'm hoping to get the chance to play with my dremel on Monday to tidy up the back - the screws were longer than the depth of the backboard so the ends are sticking out. After that I need to drill the holes for the vents before I take the lot to the glaziers to get runners and doors fitted. Unfortunately I can't get it glazed until hinself is working, so I will have to busy myself with making bits and pieces like hides until then.
There has been progress in the employment department. We now officially have taxi insurance on the car and it has been wired up for the sign, radio and meter. The fire extinguisher is installed and the local mechanic is booking his fortnight in Torremolinos since we had the work done to bring it up to scratch. Now all we are waiting for is a date for the PSV test - then my beloved will finally realise his dream of having his very own taxi. I really REALLY want this to work out for him; he has wanted it for such a long time.
On the home front, DeeDee laid her second clutch of eggs about a week ago. They are cooking away in the incubator and hopefully will hatch around mid-June. The first two are looking very bad though. I don't think they are fertile, but I have left them in the incubator for now just in case. I think it may be too humid in there so am going to have a look at it tonight and try to sort it out.
The vivarium build/conversion project is progressing slowly. The shelves have been secured and sealed with silicon aquarium sealant. I'm hoping to get the chance to play with my dremel on Monday to tidy up the back - the screws were longer than the depth of the backboard so the ends are sticking out. After that I need to drill the holes for the vents before I take the lot to the glaziers to get runners and doors fitted. Unfortunately I can't get it glazed until hinself is working, so I will have to busy myself with making bits and pieces like hides until then.
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