My husband has a Mistress!!!! Out for a Walk!!

We have been together for nearly 21 years, and I have never had any reason to doubt my hubbys loyalty, love and trust to me and the girls!!! But it is a different matter when someone throws themself at him. No matter where you turn she is always there, watching, waiting for an opportunity to close in and get her claws into him.



Sassy is monopolising Mark, she is always by him, under him, close to him and more often than not on him!!! Heaven help me if I get close, I get shouted at and told off in no uncertain terms!! ALl the cats love Mark but this is definately a new development and it is quite funny to watch as Sassy has always been a female cat, and has never been keen on men!!!!



Mind you it is that time of year! The feral cat has started visiting again and now we don't have Chimarni, not that she ever liked him, maybe Sassy has decided that Marks the one for her!!!

As we where up so early and there had been quite a heavy frost, we decided to go out for a walk so went up the hill that you often see when I take pics of my garden...


The houses right in the middle of this picture are where we live!

We have a leak!!!!

When I got up this morning and went to the bathroom I went squelch! So put on the light and there was a puddle.




Now its not really bad just a little drip, drip but these can cause quite a bit of damage, so phoned the insurance company and the builder who did our roof, 5 years ago! I then emptied the airing cupboard and put it all in Kathryns room......



I just hope she hadn't planned a surprise visit this week end!!!!

So there I was doing major housework (I must be ill!!) and I had just stopped to have some lunch and I heard this thud, thud, thud. Ran round the house trying to see what it was and found this



not exactly where I thought it was. They are not small drips either. So got the bucket and put it in place and blow me don't the roofers turn up. So up they went checked the bathroom then went up and out onto the roof. Slide tiles on and of, checked to see what was dry and what was not and came to the conclusion because they couldn't see anything, that it was probably coming down either round the flue or waste pipe and leaking in. So we now have to wait for a dry day, and the insurance company to get back to me, but the work will probably be done next week!!!

Hows that for service!

This made me laugh!!!!!

I always knew I wasn't normal, now everyone else knows too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You Are 55% Normal

While some of your behavior is quite normal... Other things you do are downright strange You've got a little of your freak going on But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

Why don't you have a go!!! let me know how you get on? Cos us normal people have to stick together!!!

In the garden!!

The weather forecast was for a dry day today, so I thought I would take the opportunity to get out in the garden and do some tidying up!!
So I started out the front! Earlier this year we had 2 x 1 cubic metre bags of soil delivered, now these are delivered in these specially woven bags, sadly the Recycling company who deliver the soil, are unable to re-use them because of health and safety reasons! So I kept them and to be honest they are great!
I have no rear access so all my garden rubbish that doesn't fit in the compost has to come out through the house. So I use smaller, liftable bags and then empty them into the very large bag.
Well this bag had been left out the front along with a pallet, some plant pots and a couple of buckets. So they where duely moved!!
I then washed down all the paintwork on the windows and front door then cleaned the front window. We have wooden windows and door at the front, they have only been in for about 6 years. When we bought them you couldn't get UPVC windows with raised bars, the victorian effect bars where put in between the panes of glass and we felt they looked too flat!
Then I toddled through to the back, by now it was raining ( so much for a dry day!!) and started on the patio, clearing, cutting, brushing, playing with the cat etc.

I have had this piece of wood for years, I just love the shape of it. Now it is slow being covered in moss. Its the green that I think is beautiful, not that I would wear it or anything. If you look around though there are many types of moss, they all have different was of growing, outwards, upwards etc.










Then after cleaning out the chickens, who I think have totally lost the plot! You never have a camera handy to get that vital picture, do you!!!

I went to check the greenhouse........ I haven't had to put any heaters on for weeks and I must admit I find it quite difficult knowing how much water to give everything, bearing in mind it is all supposed to be 'dormant'!!!!! Supposed being the operative word!!!!!

This is the Brugmansia, just sprouting new leaves!!!!




The fuschia covered with buds!!!!




The Elephants Ears (Alocasia)that sprouted in the last week!!!!!




An Eygytian Paparus that has also sprouted!!!


Although I haven't got a picture of it, the banana is sending up a new leaf as well. This is (I think) quite worrying! When the real winter comes these will all be hit hard, I hope I don't lose them!!

And the answers are!!!!! Plus what happened to Tori!!!

An army of Caterpillars.
A bed of Clams.
A quiver of Cobras.
A gang of Elk.
A mob of Emus.
A cloud of Gnats.
A smack of Jellyfish.
A parliment of Owls. (This is my favourite!)
A nest of snakes.
A string of Ponies.


I forgot to tell you that Tori has been signed off from the Psychiatrist on Saturday, which is fantastic! We asked if he had helped Tori set any steps should this happen again and he said, he felt it was purely developmental.... a situation occured that she had never dealt with before and due to Aspergers/Dyspraxia her age etc. had no idea how to handle it so went inwards!!! I only wish someone had said this earlier.

When she was little, she used to stop breathing and pass out and on one occasion whilst I was staying with my sister we actually had to call an ambulance!!! Our GP referred us to a specialist who told us it was breath holding and she would grow out of it!!! Mark and I had a big row with this bloke because I had worked in Residential Social Work for 10 years and I knew what breath holding was, and Tori was not taking a breath first, then holding on to it, she just went!!!
It always happened after an incident that she got hurt in or didn't like, obviously at this time we knew something was not right we just had no idea what!!!

Anyway after we came out from the psychiatrist, she started asking me loads of questions, about what he meant so I explained, that basically its a learning process that we all go through, we find ourselves in a situation we:- a) don't like, b)can't cope with c) haven't the faintest idea what to do, etc. We deal with it as best wa can at that time, but should a similar incident occur in later years we have learnt from the first time and deal with it better! Roughly speaking!

It is like someone has turned on a light! We are currently in the middle of 'Mock Exams' and I have been dreading this fortnight all year, but she has 'grown up' is probably the best way to describe it, she is walking taller and straighter, smiling, chatting (unheard of). She is so focussed, the last time I saw her like this was probably in year 8.

The school have given her a 'mentor' who happens to be her most favourite person in the whole school, this lady is currently studying for a PHD in English, and Tori has immense admiration for her! They are very good friends and it wouldn't surprise me if this friendship continued after she leaves school! She has been helping her in drawing up a study plan, how to revise and just generally being there!!!

Yesterday Tori came out of school and said that the Learning Support section have arranged for her to have extra support in school for her coursework!!!!

So it all comes together (fingers crossed). We have battled for over 18 months for this support in school and what a difference it has made to her. I mentioned that we needed to go and visit friends to deliver Christmas presents etc. either this weekend coming or the weekend after and was told in no uncertain circumstances that if it was this weekend she would not come with us as she had a load of studying to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sat with my mouth open, and she laughed! A week ot even 2 weeks ago studying was a very nasty word!!!!!!!!!

Kathryn just showed me if you go to Google, then put in Worcester Uni, look who's the third link down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

What do you call a group of???????? and Sweetie Making!!!

I thought a small quiz today might be in order! I will post the answers tomorrow.... remember this is just for fun!!!!

So what do you call a group of Birds? Well so you get the idea the answer is a flock, flight or congregation. Ok so you now know what to do here are some more...

Caterpillars
Clams
Cobras
Elk
Emus
Gnat
Jellyfish
Owls
Snakes
Ponies

Have fun, whilst I'm busily preparing Christmas presents!!!!

Take a look at Kathryn's blog which I have persuaded her to start. the link is on the left!!

A group of us at the Potting Shed are having a sweetie making week. These could be Christmas presents for grandparents, if you would like to join in then take a look at some of the recipies we maybe using, or if you have some recipies you think we may like to use just drop me a line!!!!

Pralines

1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup cream
Pinch salt
1 cup peacan halves
Mix first 4 ingredients and stir until sugar dissolved. Cook over medium heat until soft ball (240 degrees F) Put pan in ice water for 3 minutes. Beat until mixture becomes slightly cloudy. Add nuts. Whilst mixture is still shiny drop spoonfuls onto greased surface or waxed paper let set.

Peppermint Creams without egg whites!!!

To make these really special, colour half the batch a pale mint green and dip in dark chocolate.

Ingredients
500g icing sugar
4 tablespoons condensed milk
oil of peppermint
Green food colouring (optional)
Plain chocolate (optional)

Sift the icing sugar into a bowl and stir in the condensed milk until the mixture is smooth, add three drops of oil of peppermint and knead it into the mixture until the flavour is thoroughly mixed through.
Add more oil of peppermint a drop at a time and work it through the mixture until you achieve the strength of flavour you prefer.
Take half the mixture and roll it out on a board dusted with icing sugar to the desired thickness and then cut to size and shape with small pastry cutters or a knife.
Take the remaining half of the mixture and work a drop of green colouring into and then roll out and cut. Leave in a cool place to set.

Dipping in chocolate
Once the creams are set break the chocolate into a bowl. Heat some water in a saucepan over a low heat until it just being to bubble. Stand the bowl over the saucepan over a low heat, stir chocolate with a wooden spoon until it completely melts. Turn off the heat and move the bowl onto a mat.
Take a peppermint cream carefully and dip it into the chocolate so that half of it is coated. Place on a sheet of baking parchment to set.


Butterscotch


The ingredients below will make about one pound (450g) of butterscotch.

Ingredients:
One pound (500g or 2½ cups) granulated sugar
Quarter pint (150ml or two-thirds of a cup) water
3 ounces (90g or ¾ stick) unsalted (sweet) butter
One teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
Quarter teaspoon (1.5ml) cream of tartar
Quarter teaspoon (1.5ml) vanilla essence (extract)
Oil for greasing a baking tin (pan)
Method:
Well oil an 11" x 7" (28cm x 18cm) shallow baking tin (pan). Put thw ater and lemon juice in a heavy-based saucepan and heat until slightly warm. Stir in the sugar and continue to heat gently, stirring with awooden spoon, until all the sugar has been thoroughly dissolved. Don't allow it to boil.

Stir in the cream of tartar and bring to the boil to 115C/242F on a sugar thermometer (or until a teaspoon ful of the mixture forms a soft ball when it is dropped into a cup of cold water.

Remove from the heat and beat in the butter. Return to the heat and boil to 138C/280F or when a teaspoon of the mixture forms a thin thread when dropped into a cup of cold water. (The thread will bend and break when pressed between the fingers)

Remove from the heat and beat in the vanilla essence (extract). Pour into the oiled tin and leave until it is almost set. Then mark into small rectangles with a knife. When it is competely set, break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Make your own marzipan fruits

You will need some marzipan already made up. This can be bought from a supermarket.
Leaves: Roll green dough to 1/2-inch thickness on waxed paper. Cut dough into leaves using cookie or canapé cutters. Draw leaf indentations using a wooden pick.

Apples: Shape about 1-1/2 teaspoons red dough into a ball for each apple; gently stretch balls, forming apple shapes. Indent stem ends slightly using a pointed wooden stick. Insert cloves in stem ends. Brush the apples with glaze, if desired.

Strawberries: Shape about 1 teaspoon red dough into a ball for each strawberry. Shape a rounded point at one end; slightly flatten other end. Indent flattened end slightly using a pointed wooden stick. Combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and a few drops of red food coloring, stirring until blended thoroughly and desired color is obtained. Brush strawberries with glaze and roll in red sugar; place strawberries on waxed paper. Shape point on stem end of an equal number of leaves; press point of leaf into each strawberry indentation.

Cherries: Shape about 1/4 teaspoon red dough into a ball for each cherry. Push 1/4-inch piece of licorice into each cherry for stem. Brush cherries with glaze, if desired.

Bananas: Shape bananas using about 1 teaspoon yellow dough for each. Push clove into stem end of each banana. Combine 2 tablespoons water, 1 drop green, 4 drops yellow, and 3 drops red food coloring, mixing well. Brush streaks on each banana with mixture.

Oranges: Shape about 1-1/4 teaspoons orange dough into a ball for each orange. Roll each orange over grater to get rough skin. Insert a clove in each orange for stem.

Grapes: Shape about 2 teaspoons purple dough into small balls (about 1/8 tsp each) for each cluster. Brush balls with slightly beaten egg white and shape balls into clusters. For each cluster, brush egg white on tem end of 2 leaves; attach to back of each cluster, pressing gently to make grapes and leaves adhere to each other. Allow to dry. Brush grapes with glaze, if desired

Have fun!!

This is me!! What time of day are you??

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?