SUNDAY IS NEAR AT AN END

Oh dear what a very busy day. Kids have been up the wall so bored as raining again. I did suggest they painted or crafted but they just wanted to annoy each other, but I was too busy doing ADMIN for MS SOCIETY so didnt have time to entertain them.

We didn't have our usual dog walk today as unfortunately Stellas owner pasted away last week and we are now without our dog to walk on a Sunday. We have been put on a list so watch this space we might get the opportunity to walk another guide dog soon.

Dreaded Dentist tomorrow at 10 am need a filling as tooth broken then Walton centre at 3pm to have an electrode in my arm ahhh that sounds painful will tell me why my arm hurts so much. I think its nerve damage after my last relapse but I'm no doctor.

Charlotte Web on tv kids watching if I remember right its very sad at the end so need to fish out the hankies.

Some crafty news I made my first sock monkey which youngest has nicked for herself named it LUCY. On to my second which might go to the new addition to the family. Hubby's cousin has had a baby boy on Friday 8lb 9 oz ouch that must of smart. HA! Mum and baby doing fine can't wait for photo.

Photo of sock monkey to follow but I can put up a link to a fab blog that has the instructions to make your own monkey and lots of other crafts.
http://www.craftbits.com/project/sock-monkey

Well best get going and surf other crafty blogs for inspiration.

CRAFTY AFTERNOON

HAD a fab afternoon on friday playing with crafty stash with my bessy crafty friend M. Should of taken a pic of the dining room table at the start and at the end of our session but forgot. Wasn't productive in the sense not made one single card. But did make a mess no I mean a lovely range of toppers to put on our cards.

We were playing with christmas stamps using different techniques to colour them in; water colouring, promarkers, mica powders, embossing images, brush inks. The embossing with a heat gun was a first for both of us and was brilliant, we also did shrink plastic mine being a bit of a disaster. Oh yeah! also used flowersoft.

The whole afternoon was fun as I have to admit I have tonnes of stash and don't get chance to play with it so thanks to M for coming around and bringing the sandwich with cake yum! Will post pics of cards when I have made them up.

Next week M's house and I think we are going to do some BRAINSTORMING, we think we might be slightly MAD, but we fancy doing a stall at our local craft fair. Will be going along to check it out soon. Any craft ideas will be much appreciated.

I have also joined a new crafty forum to get some ideas from fellow crafters will put the link here if anyone is interested.

http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/


CRAFTY TIP OF THE DAY
Use twitters* when doing shrink plastic to stop it disappearing around the table and burning your fingers ouch!!

*Foot note I mean tweezers that made me giggle so I kept the Freudian slip in. We were a pair of twits or tweeters according to hubby.

HOMEMADE DAMSON JAM

Friday 3rd September.

 OMG September already were has the year gone 8 months gone and 4 months left. Well it is that time of year again. WE have picked the majority of damsons off our tree and started jam making. The past two years the Jam was a little hard when set and had to be microwaved to soften before spreading. This year I think it looks much better.

How to make damson jam.
http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/143/damson-jam-recipe/

Here is a great website that gives you all the instructions and recipes so I won't bore you.  I will show you some pictures of my process.

1.Damsons with 1/4  pint of water simmer till fruit reduced

I will just say I got very messy and so did the kitchen but its worth it when the jam is spread on some yummy brown bread.

2 .Pick the seeds out but save pulp

3. Need to add sugar and test if set see link

The Best Part is when put in jars and give them to friends.

I made 13 jars of damson Jam Yummy

Just need to make some labels now. My neighbour then called around with more damsons off his tree so the process has start all over again. Will be giving them as christmas pressies at this rate hee hee!!

Another kind neighbour was happy to take some damsons off my hands as you can imagine I had tonnes in exchange for some BLACKBERRY JAM and ORANGE MARMALADE brilliant!

Now on to my apple tree. Poor crop this year got exactly 12 apples were last year I had so many I was giving them away by the bag full. My mum in law made a load of apple pies/crumbles which were fab. This year lucky if I will get one crumb.

Bet they taste juicy though

Well thats all folks!!!

WHAT A ROLLERCOASTER OF A DAY!

Had a fab time at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Tuesday 31st August 2010. The Mouse being the most terrifying due to the fact I did it on my own, it was so rickety I thought I was going to fall out and I have very sore arms cus of the shear force of being knocked from side to side. Little D not keen on the 'GRAND NATIONAL'  and Big O and Hubby did the 'BIG ONE & INFUSION'  I WAS HAPPY TO SIT THESE TWO OUT.
The 'HOT ICE SHOW' was brill Big O and I went in the evening loved the costumes, the hunky skaters and of course the skating. The illuminations were on for one night but I was so tired I only had enough energy to get back to THE BIG BLUE HOTEL and collapse in a VERY BIG BED. Hubby took Big O down to the bar and did some celebrity spotting of his own (thought I had taught him well) he came back to inform me that he reconized a guy from WATERLOO ROAD but didn't get an autograph rubbish!!! Was going to go to the bar in next PJ's (bought for me by a generous friend) but thought better of it as I was soooo knackered. Lucky I didn't as I had in my head MR MEAD and it turned out to be the other one TOM. But he was buying the film crew drinks so I might of got a J2O for FREE Ha!!!

Infusion they did it twice did I mention they are unhinged