Square Eyes

Me again!

Anyone else watch the wonderful Alys Fowlers' Edible Garden on BBC2 at 8pm? Goodness, I'm all full of ideas to do in the garden now. Sadly, I only have a teeny tiny space in the front and not much more in the back and a lot of it is shaded a lot of the time, so I think I may have run out of space.

I truly believe my garden has been a life saver for me. That sounds OTT but whereas so much else has been too overpowering to keep up with during the worst time of my illness, the garden for all it is hard work sometimes, it gets my mind focussed I guess. Whatever, I am so thankfull for it, whatever the size. As they say, size isn't everything!!!!

You may know of the Cockney rhyming slang of 'apples and pears', which means stairs. Well, this is strawberry pots and pears, which stands for nothing at all! Sorry, it's getting late. It was daylight when I started this post! Only kidding.

Alys was followed by Cracking Antiques. That's pretty damn good too. Showing that 'antiques', ie secondhand, can be much better and cheaper that the High Street. Well, all us Bloggers may know that, but they show some good stuff. Tonight was Catherine Shinn for vintage furnishing fabrics and trims. Maybe some of you know of her, (I don't...didn't), but I loved what they showed...even if they did spend £120 on trim for curtains!!! Argh! I'd want to do curtains for the whole home for that! Well, you know what I mean.!! But the bed place near Brighton in the first episode was brilliant. And maybe I won't get rid of mums' Scheurich vase after all!

Byeeee,

Z xx

Happy Birthday

A HUGE Happy Birthday to Mr Blossom, who has decided he is a comedy genius at 49! To use Lous' (from Sparkle of Glitter) phrase - woop woop!

"Is it a bird? Is it a plane?"

"No, it's a bird."

Boom boom.

It has been a real hooha, this volcanic ash business, hasn't it? With some not very nice things occurring. Mr B saw a retired ballet director in Pret the other night and poor chap-he was out (working) in Karlsruhe, Germany, and had a devil of a job getting home. He eventually came back by train and it was SO overcrowded that it had to be run on the slow line because it was too heavy to use the usual fast one. I find that quite worrying. And he's in his eighties and a Sir to boot. Hope I'm still gadding around at that age!!!!

One of the crew had to travel back down to London from Edinburgh; he was going to fly down and then couldn't. He'd checked the train fare price and then when he went to travel, found out they had bumped up the price. Blooming cheek and rather a nasty thing to do. It wasn't Virgin...they were letting people had had bought plane tickets travel on their trains instead. So, woop woop to Virgin!

*****

Planted out my sweet peas that I grew from seed today. I usually buy seedlings, so I'm quite chuffed with myself. Even built this wild thing for them to grow up. I was inspired by a photo in Bob Flowerdews' "Companion Planting" book. I will try to post a picture at some point.

Enjoy the rest of the week,

Z xx

A better frame of mind

Evenin' all.

Mr B sent me this photo at tea.

A warm welcome to A Thrifty Mrs, a lady whose blog I have to admit I have lurked on; and also, Alex, from Odd Socks. A newbie to me, so I shall enjoy reading about my new 'friend'.

*****
I've been v. busy in the garden the last couple of days. Mr B brought home a plastic walk-in greenhouse that he found in Sunderland and I have FILLED it right up. Sprout, courgette, lupin, oriental poppy, bean, delphinium and sunflower seeds. I think the sunflowers were from The Lowry leftover from The Calendar Girls promo, if I remember rightly. If they all grow I have no idea where they will all go. Swopsies with one of my neighbours maybe.

*****

It is Mr Blossoms birthday tomorrow, along with the Queen and Iggy Pop. Class!

Nighty night all.

Z x

Really rubbish

Ooo, I'm really narked.

I'd never heard of Rosali, (from Ikea), before I started reading blogs.

I was SO excited. Mr Blossom and I went on the bus to the train station. On the train to Bletchley and then on another bus to the blue'n' yella store. Mr B said get a duvet cover in both the blue AND the white colourway.

Well, a week later, and I have just put on the blue cover. There are no fastenings at the bottom to stop your duvet coming out, (which may, of course be the Swedish way), but the top seam has several holes in where it hasn't been sewn together properly. For Heavens' sake, it's a straight line, hardly rocket science, even for a total beginner...just follow along the edges.!

This is only my third ever visit to an Ikea, and the first one, when I lived in London, so that was years ago, yielded me a wooden loo seat, for my mum, with pieces missing.

So to say I am NOT enamoured of them and probably will never bother going again, is an understatement! Cr*p! that's what I say!

And while I'm in a narky mood, wasn't it rumoured that it was Cath Kidston who did the designs. Well, there's another retailer who I'll be VERY careful with what I buy. The same inefficient care to detail...we bought the big gazebo (in a sale, mind you), and there were bits missing, lots of unfinished ends and a bloody great FOOTPRINT on the white inside. Really, these retailers don't give a damn, do they?

And relax.............................................................

a little cocktail may calm me down!

(One of my little brooches from This 'n' That)

I have been lurking on all your blogs but just haven't felt up to commenting. But be sure, I love you all!!!

Z x

Oi!

Those bloomin' blackbirds. I've just escaped from 'the birds'! I have had to put on a hat and glasses to protect me whilst hanging up the washing. And as for the poor cats-they just dive bomb them. It is quite scary out in the garden at the mo! I have locked the cat flap (with them on the inside!), as there is a fledgling flapping about. It's not one from the nest as I can see their 2 little 'uns and hear them squawking for food. So I don't know who this other one belongs to.

Please just hurry up and learn to fly (away).

Some of you may recognise the following pictures from a post I did mid-March; I Shop Therefore I Am. Yep, well, clever old me realised (eventually) that I had downloaded the same towel photo twice. Thought 'I'll delete that and put in the other one that was supposed to be there'. Yeah, right. Deleted the photo and, somehow, the rest of the post. Darn!

But as I thought they were so pretty and received lovely comments (those sadly lost too), including 2 from new followers, Mel and Charl, that I'd re-post them.

Cupcake apron, child-size, that I use as a bib when I eat. (The hand/eye co-ordination is not what it was!)

My doggy cushion and Baby Phat baby blanket that I wrap around my knees when watching tele.

The cushion the post took its' name from.

And, finally, the book from Mr B, that Sal rather liked the look of.

Have a good week,

Z x

Happy Easter

Have a wonderful weekend.

This jug was our CS find in Totnes when did our first visit last year. It was bought to be used as a prop, until I fell in love with it and something else was found instead!

Yes, I know cupcakes aren't specific to Easter, but they blend in SO well!

And, of course, a pink "Christmas" tree is appropriate. But the tiny coloured, wooden eggs (you can just about make them out), came from Lausanne, way back in about 1993!It was the last foreign tour that the company that Mr Blossom worked with did before the Arts Council pulled the rug out from under them (boo). It is the only foreign tour I have done with Mr B and it was magical. Anyway, eveywhere seemed to have little tree branches with these eggs on. At that time, I had never seen anything like it in England, and it was a 'thing' we tried to do most years since. But this year, with inspiration from other blogs, I think I have outdone myself. The top of the piano has turned into a fairy wonderland!!

Take care all, and be careful of all the choccy if you have pets. I know Tabby would happily lick chocolate if she got a chance, but it would make her seriously ill! So, sorry mate, you're outta luck!

Z x

Home

Just a quickie to say 'Hi!', back home and it's lovely!

A taster of things from Devon...

Mr B found the daffodil candle holder-clever him.

(The jug - with real daffs - comes with flat we rent.)

What I call 'an Edwardian Ladies vase'; because the shape reminds me of their dress necklines, that just catch the top of the shoulders. One of my favourite things and a growing collection.

And introducing Cuff.

His owner is the pub landlady and he is sometimes allowed into the public areas. Here he is propping up the bar! She used to have 2 cats, and the other one was called Link!

Cuff is the biggest cat that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and is a really friendly, beautiful animal. What a joy! (But don't tell my 2!)

A warm welcome to Annie from

http://birdcagesnbutterflies.blogspot.com/.

Lovely to see you again and thank you for following.

That's all for now folks,

Zx

I was in such a rush I didn't put a title here! (Edited 30/03/10)

Bit of a rush here! I did manage to get out to the fair and it was fab. Will post piccies at some point, but must say, now, that I am the proud owner of 2 pieces from The Crafty Trundler, Sharon, and I am SO chuffed!!

Also got to the Antiques Centre-lots of stuff ,but v. good and didn't buy anything...today! But cannot wait to take Mr Blossom there, wow, there's all sorts.

I also caught the end of an indoor car boot and bought a pink pressed glass vase and a little dish-type thing.

Came home and did the washing up left from Thursday(!), when a power cut stopped play (shame, eh?). Bit too dark without the lights! Well, that was my excuse!

So, now I'm packing for a week in (rainy) Plymouth. I don't usually have t'internet access down there. There's a few cafes etc with wifi access but I've never used one - yet.

Have a great week,

Z x

The Fair hits town

Hurrah! It's the day before the Fair comes to town. I am so excited; I cannot wait! Is that being daft?

Good luck to all the stallholders, have fun and makes lots of money!

And a great big THANK YOU to Ann and Debbie for organising it.

*****

There is also a sale a few minutes walk away at the Antiques Centre. Never been there, but have bought a couple of bits from their 'bicycle' at the Bazaar.

*****

I had a cruddy sort of day today-think I did too much gardening yesterday, sowing grass seed, pruning stuff back etc etc. Woke up at half 4 this morning with pain in my forearm so got up and had a couple of Nurofen. Not the best start to the day!

I cannot believe we have a blackbird nesting already! It seems ever so early. Even though our garden is tiny and we have 2 cats we had 5 nests last year. Are they mad? Couldn't they find somewhere, well, safer, really? Mind you, the puss cats are very good ... considering! It is lovely, but I don't like having to do the occasional 'bird rescue'!


I don't know if this is the same fledgling, but he's a bit of a belligerent looking b*gger, isn't he?



Right-ho, I must sort out what I am going to take to Plymouth-cat litter tray etc., priority of course!

Have a great weekend, wherever you are, whatever you do,
Z x

Green Day

I forgot.

Happy St Patricks' Day!

Especially for Christy, who I hope hasn't overdone it on 'Shamrock Shakes'!

Cheers,

Z x

s l o w

Hi! to Mel and Charl, many thanks for following. It's been a bloomin' dull blog since you've found me!!!!

Most meds state that they may make you drowsy and mostly I find they don't, but I'm on a new one and I think that with the others is the straw that broke the camels' back! Once I'm up and running it's not too bad it's just the getting there that is a problem!

My wellness nurse, Amanda, has been a real Godsend. Little things she says make all the difference to how I view my life. (Which is probably not SO bad, but I worry about stuff and get all twisted up in it).

(View from The Hoe to Mount Edgcombe)

Anyhow, having missed going to the Ballet Gala last week, I (and the cats) am travelling down to Plymouth with Mr Blossom next week. So I could see them every day next week, lucky me. Sleeping Beauty with designs by the brilliant Philip Prowse. His visions are amazing. One of those people that when I was at college I deemed as a God!

Am also hoping to get to Totnes a couple of days-Friday for the market (hoping that Amanda the Shabby Chick will be there) and probably Tuesday for everything else...This n' That, the fab bead shop, the sewing shop and, thanks to reading Posys' blog, Gazebo, which, looking at her piccies, is an OMG-I'm-getting-palpitations sort of shop.

http://posy.typepad.com/posy/2010/03/weekending-saturday.html

Gosh, just seem the time...must skedaddle of to the docs. Take care all of you,

Z x

Home cooking and 'stuff'

A big hello and welcome to my new followers, Sian, Christy from the USA and the two Emmas.

Maybe you might fancy an oaty cookie (from Attic 24, http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2010/02/oat-and-raisin-cookies.html) or a slice of flapjack from Jane Brockets' Gentle Art of Domesticity http://www.janebrocket.com/books.asp), both of which are very yummy and probably the only way I will ever eat porridge oats!

I also made some more coconut ice.

Sadly I cannot offer you a piece of walnut and honey tart or treacle tart as these were from the 'cake lady' (who also does the most wonderful quiches as well...and I'm sorry, but I don't know her name), at the Bicycle Basket Bazaar on Saturday. We stopped off at The Nook and had some of the aforementioned quiche with a jacket potato and salad. For 'afters' we had Tamsins' heart-shaped passion cakes. Yum!

This was a phone picture, so not too clear, I'm afraid.

This looks as if it is turning into a foodie blog. Scary. Particularly as so much of the time I can't be bothered with food. (One of the 'extras' of clinical depression.)

One of the stalls at BBB is a chap from here,

http://northamptonantiquescentre.com/default.html

and they are having an Antiques Fair on the 20 March, which is the same day as the Homemade Fair. Now, conveniently for me, as I have to catch 2 buses to get to the HF, these 2 fairs are about 10 minutes walk form each other. How good is that? He's had some great pieces at BBB so it'll be interesting to have a mung around the 'big stuff'. Might need to get a taxi home!!!

Mr B had to go and stay in Brum at the W/E and Rene thought she was going too!

I know, I'm biased, but what a cutie!

Oh the sunshine has been FABULOUS today. What a treat.

Hope the weather is good in your part of the world. With so much bad news in Chile and the storms in Europe, I take comfort from whatever I can.

Take care of yourselves, don't get sunburned!

Z x