Ack - what a bad blogger.

What a week! In defence of my lack of activity it has been a little up and down here this week. On account of Mum's shingles my Granny and Papa have watched the Chook every morning and since Wednesday my much improved Mammy has had her in the afternoon. But it's meant a bit of juggling for me and a lot of worrying. About childcare, elderly Grandparents AND sick parents. But it's the local fair now so I'm off work til Thursday, woop!! So, my holiday.

We drove down all day on Monday. nearly 8 hours including stops and the portable DVD Mum and Dad bought Chook was priceless. Hotel was lovely - new and clean and HUGE!

Tuesday we had a 20 minute drive to Legoland. First stop was the Driving school. A safety talk precedes a whirl in a lego car (only 6-13 year olds, phoo-ee) and if you pass your test?
You get a laminated drivers license with your photo on. Heh-heh.

We did various rides and Chook got a fright on a rollercoaster. Not a good fright, she felt sick and we spent an hour reviving her. But she was grand and we finished the rest of the park (which is FULL of lego sculptures, as you'd imagine) and ended the day panning for gold.

Wednesday was Chessington World of Adventures day. After the rollercoaster debacle the day before we only did the little rides but she was determined to have a shot on the climbing wall.

There was the most fabulous wee (actually quite large!) zoo and a Sealife Centre. The meerkats had a burrow you could walk under and pop your head up inside a perspex bubble so you were a their level. It was magic.

Private parts. Ho-hum. *grins*

This is on the storm chaser (or something) basically a very fast merry-go-round. See my gap-tooth gypsy girl? Spouse says she's got teeth like a witch doctor's necklace.

And on Thursday we hit London village itself. Chookie was determined to get a photo with the lions in Trafalgar Square. That's me at the bottom - one of the few photos of me I have this holiday.

Apart from this one. Blazing sunshine (hence the squinting) eating our pieces at the foot of Nelson's column. Classy!

We did a bus tour (highly recommended!) and the ubiquitous Hamley's toy shop (Chook's request) and this is my favourite photo. Untouched by photo programme and taken on the Spouse's crappy wee camera. It's not really so pants, but it's not got a viewfinder or manual controls so I struggled a bit. Was getting the hang of it by the end of the day when there was some really nice late evening light on St. Stephen's Tower (Big Ben to us proles!)

When I next blog I shall be a year older. Yikes! That was a quick year!

hip to be square?

The Old Red Barn Co (linkie on the right over there) are having another quilt-along. This time I'm learning all about zig-zag triangle thingies. It's exciting but how it's going to pan out is anyone's guess. I can't get my head round it at all. Anyhoo, I got me some cute, retro, green Erin McMorris Wildwood from California (how exotic) and this is how it looked yesterday. Pretty, aye?


And then I spent all afternoon cutting it into 5in squares. A bit of a chore but it's even prettier cut up. not a great photo! Rain!!!

And all stacked up in rows ready for a new block of destructions tomorrow. Yay!

My Mum has shingles!!! So there's been a mad flurry of childcare ideas flung about and the end result is Granny and Papa are sitting here tomorow morning to let me get to work. And work will just have to be happy with a half day from me. They're always very good about child problems (my boss is a great bloke) so I like to try and make it in where I can. Poor Mammy, though!

phonebox fripperies

The Chook and I were delighted to spy a proper phone box just outside Trafalgar Square on Thursday. Rawk, indeed!

So when I spotted this wee chap for my bracelet in a local jewellers today? Nuff said, aye?

And can you believe the excitement of a bead supplier in our wee town? Danger, Will Robinson, danger!! *g* That orphans bracelet is becoming a favourite. It's all the beads that don't fit in with my other bracelets - I like the randomness of it.

knackered.

We are SO tired. All we've done for 3 days is walk! I'll blog properly when I can be bothered (prolly tomorrow!) but I'll share a photo from each day incase I can't ever be bothered.

This is me at Mt Rushmore - Lego style! Yes, the yellow signs say keep off the grass, I was a bad girl at Legoland (Tuesday.)


Ride 'em cowgirl!! The Carousel at Chessington World of Adventures - trust Chookie to find ponies! (Wednesday.)

The Spouse on a tour bus crossing Tower Bridge. You should note he is not the cool lookin' guy with the shades on. Oh no. I am married to that weird lookin' orc at the front. *grins* (Thursday)

All the London city pics are taken on the Spouse's wee camera as well - I filled up my card at Legoland and Chessington. His camera is pants. More tomorrow. Bed. Bye.

Charcoal boy.

The Spouse is one of those people who hates gas barbequeues. (Is that spelt right? It looks weird...) so he always diddles along with our tiny supposed-to-be-for-garden-decoration pot bellied cast iron affair. It's tiny but he loves it. So last weekend? He was defeated by our mad winds - the wee charcoal chap would not light so he had to - gasp - cook on the GAS BARBIE!!

You can tell he's not impressed, right? And here's some pink turds........ooops, no. Raw Cumberland sausage. My mistake!

And my poor lamb finally admitting defeat and relocating the snags.

Guess what he's getting for his birthday!

We're off to London village in the morning for our hols - I'm hoping to blog from the big smoke but it's dependant on t'internet access. Fingers crossed!!!

what fun!

In 1992 I made my prom dress with the help of the home ec. department and my fashion and fabric teacher, Mrs Brodie (bless her heart, she died really young). Anyway I think I can safely say that was the LAST garment I made - until now.

Check ma pinnie out! The pattern is the lovely "Emmeline" one I picked up on Etsy (Sewmamasew have it, too) and the fabric is Alice Kennedy for TT. The pattern is reversible and the other side is white with black and green butterflies. Daisies, butterflies, black and green - how very me!! I really enjoyed this wee project, I'm scared to look for more patterns coz I reckon I'll find loads!!

Redemption.

A few weeks ago the Spouse and his mate trundled off to see an old favourite teenage band playing up in Glasgow. Great were the promises of behaving themselves and being home early. You'd think I'd know by now, aye? Needless to say it was a late night (early morning!) when they staggered home full of the joys of youthful punk rock and......well, and beer. *rollseyes* Eejits, the pair of them. Still, at least it was a Friday night and my Spouse wasn't working the next day - unlike his pal, Jonah (not his real name, he's just the unluckiest man you'll ever meet!!).
So, by lunchtime the following day Chookie and I were off on the train to Stirling to buy some fat quarters (for her now finished Sugar & Spice quilt) and the Spouse, in a fit of remorse, tagged along. He sponsored the lunch AND the quilting shop including a rather lovely 1/2 jelly roll of batiks that are totally not my style but rather lovely.
After seeing the start of Flossie's beautiful "Lemonade" coin quilt I really fancied a shot at one myself and spent a happy afternoon some weekends ago piecing the coins together. Then spent 2 weeks agonizing over sashing colours before consulting my colours expert. AKA my Mum. She suggested black - I think she was bang on coz here's what I made up on Saturday.

Looks like stained glass, I think. But I'm going to call it "Redemption." For the fact that the jelly roll was bought in remorse but also because the name of the band playing that fateful Friday? The Damned. *grins*

Se7en.

No, not the scarey Brad Pitt film. My baby turned 7 today, the wee cutie that she is. (not the prettiest background but the only shady part of the garden today!!)
She specially asked for cupcakes with mice on them. Nothing like making life easy for me (and that's nothing like making life easy for me!!) But i found (eventually!) white chocolate mice for on the swirly jam n' cream frosting. The purple muffins? They're actually for Chookie because while she loves the look of cuppies? They're a bit sweet for her so raspberry & white choc muffins are her favourite.

And this is my favourite photo of today. My 7 year old daughter showing her 86 year old Great Grandmother (my Beloved Wee Granny of the tin mice gift - Chook calls her Nana) how to play the Playstation 3.

Gaun yersel' auld yin!! She is game for a laugh, my Granny. And she wasn't bad, either!! It should also be noted that this is almost lunchtime and the Chook's still in her nightie. *g*

running, running, running...

I've been playing myself making another table runner from those adorable Mendocino FQ's. Cute, aren't they? And I had a bash at some prairie points...

...they're right fiddly! I'm not convinced the angles go with the soft lines of the fabric but, hey, I've only lost a 2 1/2 in strip off each quarter - plenty more to play with! I got some perfect Moda "Neptune" for the backing but I haven't a clue how I'm going to quilt this one. I have a friend in mind to beg an idea from! Maybe tomorrow I'll finish it. If the buttons and ricrac ever arrive. Oh, and I've birthday cupcakes to bake as well! Chookie is 7 on Friday!!!

blue food

You gotta love it! That is all. *g* (Oooh, and only the middle one is mine!! Blonde girls abound round these parts!!)

Harry Snotter.

Before there was Stinky Eric there was Harry Snotter. Harry was a 1961 Ford Anglia that Spouse took 6 years to restore, kept for 9 months and then sold. *sigh* Y'see what I have to put up with? Anyhoo, Harry was sold to a local man who keeps him all tucked up in a nice garage and takes him out for a whirl when the weather's nice. In other words, he's looking after the old fella. We were at the Pre-67 Ford Owners Club car show yesterday afternoon and who was there? Wee Harry! He still looks great - hard to believe it's 3 years since he lived with us.

P.S. Yeah, so the name. A snotter is slang for a bogey up here (as in green and up your nose!) but also means when something is a bit rubbish. Harry was another rusty bomb! And the flying car in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets? That's a Ford Anglia.

family.

I have a fantastic family. I really do. I know everyone says that but I really have. My Mum is on childminding duties for the duration of the summer holidays (thanks, Mummy!!) and since the Chook has discovered some freedom these last few months and is out playing a lot? Mum has been spring cleaning my house. And my Mum can clean!! We've also got new towels in both loos and smelly candles and pretty storage boxes. Not to forget the washing and ironing. Talk about above and beyond the call!

Beloved Wee Granny bought us this wee rattie thingie for our anniversary on Friday. She was going demented (her words!) trying to find something made of tin - that being the 10 years symbology. Which is rubbish, dontcha think? Tin?!?!? Anyway, she found this wee creation and it is just *perfect* between the 3 rats (even though we only have 2 now *sob* ) or the 3 of us (Spouse, Chook and I) AND being metal made. And totally quirky to boot. Totally us - she's so smart that auld yin.

So we went out to dinner on Friday night to the local Italian (which is lovely.) To cut a long story short, when we came to ask for the bill? Turns out Papa had phoned and paid for us. *g* Wasn't that just adorable? I'm so lucky, I have the best Grandparents.

And so to Saturday afternoon. Baby brother Funky and his lovely wife the Vixen (yeah, weird nicknames abound here!) had an inpromptu barbie with a whole group of their friends and both families. I was a bit negligent on the photo taking duties but went out of my way to snap Funky getting down with the sausages. His aubergines were to die for, BTW. Quite the revelation.

And here he is having a refreshing beveridge with the Chookie in attendance. She just *loves* him - god knows why. *g* Could be something to do with her having him twisted right round her wee finger!! Or that he is just a fabulously indulgent uncle. So is Auntie Vixen! Except for the Uncle bit, like.

And this is me, my Daddy and my baby bro. Either I'm standing on something or oor kid is hunching down coz he's a good 8 inches taller than Dad and me!! My hair IS dark, innit? It's naturally blonde (not as much as the kid's, though! Make you sick, so it would...) but I've got dark highlights just now. Hmmmm..........hadn't realised is was quite SO dark!

And so, in summary, my family is okay. *grins*

that's a spicy meatball.

Chookie and I bought the Spouse a jalapeno pepper plant as a joke about 6 weeks ago. I didn't think for a minute we'd actually get any chillis but look!! I haven't even repotted the poor thing, it's still in the shop's 1/2 litre affair but it's producing chillis like nobody's business. Cool or wot?

Ten years ago.

Ten years ago, I was coming up 25 (and felt so old!), drove a powder blue Rover Mini that someone special restored for me, lived in a lovely old flat and spent too much money on skateboard trainers, CD's and books. Oh, and I got married. *grins*

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary and - bizarrely enough - the weather is pretty much the same. And by that I mean it is raining heavily!! We got a 10 minute window running to the registrars and a whole hour to take photos before it started up again. It was a lovely day, though. Very relaxed and informal and by seven thirty we were on our way to the airport to go on honeymoon. And I walked down the aisle to the Verve since I can't stand the traditional wedding march shenanigans. I don't think I would change anything if I got married tomorrow!

I can't truthfully say we've had no fights, disagreements or short periods of tension but, y'know, I think we've done pretty damn well. He's still one of my best friends and still manages to surprise the hell out of me with what he knows and thinks. Plus he makes me laugh like a drain on a regular basis. Oh, yeah, and there's that love thing, too. *g* And he restores brilliant cars.

Happy Anniversary, Spouse. And a big "yah-boo" to all those who thought we were nuts getting engaged after 5 months - I was right and you were wrong, ner-ner-nerner-ner!! Here's to the next 10! *muah*

Model pets - not.

The blog header here? That's wee Rizzo (RIP - rest in prawn crackers *g*) and she was always my best rattie model. Quite content to sit and stare into space while I fizzled about with ISO and aperture settings. The other two? Let's just say there's a reason I have hardly any photos of them. However, in light of this mornings operations I was determined to get one decent snap of each of them. I whipped them both out their cage last night (not too late so the light was still nice), let them run (and poo) everywhere getting used to the kitchen table. I took 3 photos and my camera batteries ran out. *pouts* And I cannot find the spare rechargeables. So these were taken on my phone. Not ideal by any means but still pics of my girls.

This is Sniffy. She's the bottom of the pack but is the friendliest of our 3. I mean 2. *sob* Largely due to her glutton tendencies - when the toaster pops? Sniffy is the first to appear because she knows that means jammie toast crusts! She likes to ride on my shoulder when I'm doing the housework but her claws are like razors! Even though I trim them with the nail clippers.

And this wee chap is Riley. She's the tiniest wee skinny thing and bizarrely is the alpha rat in our gang. She's a tough wee cookie! She's also the least friendly and most shy with us. Not that she's unfriendly, she 's just slower to be affectionate. Nice shot of the new table runner that one. *grins*

I know rats aren't everyone's cup of tea. Between the tails and the bad press (wild rats are a different breed, y'know) they can't always shake the "Eeeek!" tag. The number of people I've had look at me like we're insane since we got them? A lot. But, honestly, they've been the best small animals. And I've kept everything. They are smart (Rizzo came when you called her name), easy to handle, love company (and food!) and never ever bite. Even when they're terrified. They've been an unbelievably rewarding group of pets to have in the house and I salute them! With toast crusts and prawn crackers. And yoghurt, peanuts and ham. And cheese, boiled egg, pasta, dog biscuits.........

P.S. The operations went well this morning! I have 2 sore and subdued but okay wee furry friends downstairs. Fingers crossed for a continued recovery.

I love stash.

I've only had my sewing resurgence for about 2 months (if that) but already the little bits and pieces of fabric and tools are starting to take over the scrap room. I've cleared a couple of shelves but need better storage or I'm in danger of losing paper, photos AND fabric now. Anyway, I was grumbling yesterday that since my package from the US hadn't arrived I was out of stuff to stitch. Then I remembered the half charm pack of Moda's "Swanky" left over from the doorstop making. So I spent the evening cutting up sheets and pillowcases to make this table runner. I've been complaining for weeks about only having one and this is perfect. I made it up as I went along and I'm fairly happy with it. It's not been washed yet so is still quite flat - I'm hoping it doesn't crinkle too much. It shouldn't coz the batting is a piece of flannel sheet. Fingers crossed. The back is my only still whole half yard and luckily it's a perfect match being the green version of Flights of Fancy "Par Avion" - I forgot to take a photo. Ooops.

And then the package arrived today! Lookee!!

Enough for 2 aprons and at least another table runner from the Mendocino FQ's. Happy day!

P.S. Any healing zen vibes you want to waft this way would be appreciated - our 2 remaining rat friends Sniffy and Riley go in for tumour removal surgery tomorrow morning. Gulp. Here's hoping it all goes smoothly!