Time for sort out, here

You'll have notice that over the past few weeks I have been rather busy installing the Kitchen at the BH.  I have been looking round WR this week and I have to say I have let things go here (a bit).  D and I decided to stay here this weekend so we could catch up!  And as you can see I am spending my time wisely by updating my blog!

The last week has been hot, considering we hit April tomorrow, it has been much hotter than the average March.  Things have started to happen in the garden.....

My new peg bag has had it's first outing this week (given to me from CD for Christmas)

The back of the garden is starting to look a little overgrown...needs a little bit of a trim and dig....



A couple of hours later ....

                                   

A little bit of colour needed - until my seeds have grown.....

I needed to transfer the seeds D and I planted back at the beginning of March ......

Most survived the transfer from the seed trays to the larger pot - had a bit of problem with the lettue - not sure if I'll use the trays next year.  No idea how I'm going to transfer the carrots - really didn't think that one through!!!



And some more flower seeds sown for my pots .......



Best go and tidy the kitchen before D arrives home....going to see if I can talk him into a veg patch at the end of the garden.....

A Weekend of Quilting and DIY

Saturday- a whole day of quilting with the girls.  We had the return of EL - who had been travelling since mid Feb.  It was great to catch up with everyone (although AB was missing).  EL had returned from the USA with a bag full of goodies - she has great taste.  Having found a $10 bill last month I asked her to spend it on my behalf  - it's great when you can spend and it's some one else's cash!  A layer cake was purchased - can't wait to make something with that!!

Off to the BH for one night only ..... Well a huge surprise, A had made amazing progress on the Wednesday - finishing the plinths and cornice, doors on the fitted appliances etc.   In fact we have a fully functional kitchen - a sink - running water - a working oven - worktops - all mod cons!!!

Of course we have small things to finish - splash backs, tiles but all this can be slotted in now when we have more time - I prepared a late breakfast (as we had not got to bed until 4am that morning).  And we then took a box at a time and started to put things away. 

I can't say how pleased I am with the work we have done - and all our friends.  I think I would even go as far as to say I would do it again (so long as it's in a few years and not next week!!).

Ooops......

I slept like a baby last night....after the long day at Olympia, and then the drive to the BH - I was in bed as soon as I was able!!  Wide awake at 6am ... laying listening to the birds signing loudly, and the sun trying to poke itself through the curtains ... I turned to see D smiling back - also wide awake!  Cup of tea in bed I declared - such a long time since we did that.  We had decided during the week that we would have a lazy morning and try and catch up with ourselves but as we were both raring to go we were up and 'Kitchening' by 7am!!!  Yes, 'Good Lord' I here you say - yes, I did use similar words myself.

Doors to be hung, space to be cleared, wall to be sealed, drawers to be made.  Nearly a whole days work completed in a morning.  We decided that a pub lunch was in order as we had achieved so much - plus the fact that I still have no worktops (well that the excuse I'm using)!

Such a beautiful day....a wonderful lazy lunch, a walk back along the beach, a sit on the rocks.....

The afternoon shift started about three ...  by about four that afternoon ... I decided that one last job was to be done ... the drawer front to be fitted ...and then DISASTER.....  I dropped the drawer on my way to cabinet - well to be exact the drawer front came away ..... and a large chip was made in my new laminated floor...... (a few unprintable words were muttered) ....

I decided a long hot bath was required to calm down - leaving D to finish up for the day!  We had taken another two days holidays - so luxury no journey home tonight - and both in bed for 9pm - it must have been that long lunch we had!!!!  We will deal with the chip another day.

Awake bright and early - our builder, A, was coming today and plumber - well the plumber was suppose to come but I sent our address to someone else...not sure who!!! So with plumber rearranged for Tuesday we made a start.  All works tops - hob and sink to be in within the next two days - anything else would be a bonus. 

I did feel at one point we were creating more mess than we were cleaning up!!!  Worktops cut and in place by end of Monday -  leaving Tuesday for other things!

Tuesday  - Fridge/Freezer wired up and put into its place, extractor fan - proved to be a bit of a bugger - taking a little longer that thought.  Handles completed - all doors finished.  Really starting to take shape - even prepared lunch on my new worktop.

Note to all short friends: Integrated Fridge/Freezer - if replacing your kitchen and considering integrated appliances you should consider these carefully - being only 5'2" - I think I may need a stool for the top shelf of the fridge! My mother - being below 5' may need a step ladder!!!

Leaving very late Tuesday night after grabbing a quick bite to eat with A, we headed home after another hugely successful few days..... what that you say .... what about the large chip in the new flooring - well thanks for reminding me..... 

Stitch and Craft Show 2012

Olympia here we come.  Saturday (17th) (Yes I know a bit late in updating my blog!) saw myself and HW off to Olympia for the Stitch and Craft Show 2012.  Quilting on the top floor (along with Knitting), Cross Stitch on the middle floor and then Crafts on the lower floor.

A show, that contained my favourite hobby, Quilting, along with many others I would maybe come to love.  I, particularly, was looking forward to the large selection of knitting wools on show - hopefully to help me move forward some crochet - well as soon as my time allows!  Also a chance to see some quilts produced for the Olympics. 

The quilts came in two sections - small quilts - being given to each country participating in the games. 

And small pendants - given to each athlete competing in the games.

I, unfortunately, did not contribute to either set of quilting gifts, a little sad maybe on seeing the wonderful creations that I would not be a part of history.  I do sometime think if only I had more time.... but then I think well it's not like I'm sitting on my backside doing nothing!!!  Next time - as I say to myself so often!

Top floor was most definitely the better floor for me - quilts and wool - my main interest really ... a few items purchased and much admiring of the goodies on offer.

Debbie Bliss wool to try for my crochet blanket I will try and make in the near future.....

Wonderfil thread - as recommended by HW - this is a box of testers - I'm going to use on my JR Scrappy quilt - hoping to try the thread in the bobbin - never done that before!.

After a very quick lunch we moved down to the lower floor - however - the use of the word Crafts was not really as I expected.... the whole floor dedicated to card making - not really my thing but certainly by the number of people on that floor there was a large interest in that hobby.

The second floor offered a little bit more for us.  Lots of cross stitch items - HW had certainly indulged in some bit before but not on this occasion.  We both enjoyed the bead stands - both coming away with beads to finish projects started earlier this year - mine are for the completion of the Scrappy quilt.

I also - having vowed not to purchase buttons -  came away with some interesting one...

Just can't help myself sometimes.

Late afternoon we settled into our course we had booked - Make and Mend: Button Jewellery - as the button - real odds - were handed round I did wonder if I would be able to produce anything wearable but it came as a surprised as I hunted through - and a surprise at all the other wonderful necklaces that were made!!

A good day - the show I think missed many opportunities to offer something different.  The wool on offer was nice but not a large choice - and we had both gone with the intention of splashing out on some thread for our new (ish) crochet love but it was not to be - ah well enough pennies left for a cup of tea before heading home.

Training for the Olympic's

I was most surprised, this morning, on my way to work to see the Synchronised Swimming Team training in the local park.  It really made me smile.

Having watch for a good few minutes I think their routine is well worth a gold!!!

A Weekend with L

A change of routine this weekend.  Up to the BH Friday night, on my own, ready for an early collection of excess Kitchen materials on Saturday morning. 

So leaving work Friday evening (on time), straight home, a quick change and a quick bite to eat and on my way.  It was a little bit strange not having D by my side on the journey.  Arrived in good time and after a quick cup of tea - I started to sort out the items for return.  B&Q were coming early Saturday morning to collect two worktops they had over ordered.  And the rest I was returning.  A large pile later (well about midnight actually) I fell into my bed and slept like a log!!

Saturday morning came, B&Q came - nice and early.  With the car loaded with other items, I was back on the road by 9.15am.  Back home by lunch time, I decided to have some me time - an hour or so sewing - finishing a gift I have been working on for a few weeks.  I also decided that a small nap was required before tackling the ironing and some cleaning, picking up D from work and the journey back to the BH again!!  All go today - well apart from the nap bit!

Our friends C and L had taken a weeks holiday and this was their last weekend before they both return to work on Monday.... so... a meal was in order Saturday night - with C doing the cooking again (bless our good friends - who actually have a kitchen!).  D and I discussed our broken pipe and kitchen alterations - we are getting so boring in our topics of conversation....I do feels that's all we talk about at the moment.  happily the conversation turned to seeds  and what veg was being sown for this summer.  C had been to the local garden centre a couple of day before and had invested in chilli seeds and a tomato plant!  I promised to bring some of D's plants when strong enough (I have a feeling a bit more culivation will be happening in the next few weeks).

Sunday was a fine day - too nice to stay in and fit a kitchen - so two kitchen doors later we went off to the beach. 

Collecting C & L on the way.  It was so nice spending some time with L this weekend - it's not the same trying to catch up over the bar counter were she works!!!  And it was so nice to see the beach again.

Stopping for a cold refreshment, and much admeration of the local cars - we headed back to the house late afternoon. 

D decided it was time to tackle the grass - which was a good foot (well give or take an inch) high. 

 I hung two more doors, and emptied a box! The first of many. As you can see my boxes were packed with great care!

We can really see the progress we are making but D and I are now running on reserve.  The decision was made (while travelling home) to try and get the final major things finished in the next two weeks. We really need to put our feet up now!

The Pipe...at last

The pipe has been exposed, although we are still trying for Australia.

Not really what we expected to find at this stage.  Just have to test now to see if it leaks or if we still need to dig (me think we may be digging a little bit more).

Something completely different

Well if I can't find time to sew ... then sowing will have to do!  Monday night was spent sowing our vegetable seeds ready for the warmer weather, along with some seeds I'd taken from my plants at the end of the Autumn.  Now this activity can go two ways...... we'll either have a garden full of veg or we'll end up with me buying a tomato plant from the veg man in the high street where I work (again)!!!  Watch this space to see....

I have planted seeds (with much encouragement from the QQ - all of whom are successful gardeners) before but this will be the first year D has got involved - his request last year for a greenhouse (for his birthday) and seeds did come as a bit of a surprise but I went with the flow - picking up a small one in the sale.  Our close friend C has had great success with his little green house and his seeds and I think D has got the bug.  Hold onto your trowl we may have discovered the next Percy Thrower (think I'm showing my age there - some of you may not know him being of the younger generation .... the next Alan Titchmarsh....).

Tea and Cake

Today, for the first time since we started to dismantle the kitchen at the BH - we had official visitors.  I felt a little bit more giddy then yesterday when I woke this morning.  Not only was we going to sit and have tea and homemade cake but we were going to unveil the work so far to the in-law's, and our friends parents (who had not seen the in-laws for about 10 years) ... a meal out at lunch time ..... and even more exciting for us was there was not a screwdriver in sight!!!!

First job was to locate the coffee pot - in one of the boxes - packed away six months ago - never to be seen again!  It was like Christmas opening box after box of kitchen things .... things I'd completely forgotten we had!! Coffee pot found, just needed mugs now.  Mugs located, I then realised I had packed the coffee filters ....  several boxes later - not sure I'd really thought these invitations over ... a box of filters!!  With coffee on and as tidy as we could be the door bell went!!

In-laws first .. lots of oohing and arrhing...lots of patting on the back - such a good response seeing as we still have so much to do!!

With tea and coffee poured and a slice of cake offered - the door bell went again..

Our good friends L&C, and C parents.  Lots more oohing and arrhhing (apart from C who had of course been involved in much of the work, and was happy to accept the pat's on the back). C's parents had seen the BH about one month after we purchased so were surprised at how much it had changed!  More coffee and tea poured and more cake offered.

Much catching up was done in the next couple of hours - lots of stories about the 'old times', many stories about D and the neighbours cars (and how C's dad has four locks on his garage so D couldn't get in!!!).  L and I reached for our car keys and hid them away very early on in the conversation.  Details of D's antics as a youngster may appear at a later stage in my blog.

Lunch at the Oyster Catcher.  And then a very lazy afternoon. It is such a long time since I have done nothing.

The afternoon went sooooo quickly, and after packing the washing up again, we were off again.  I'm already looking forward to when we can next have visitors!!