Northpole Nonsense

Well it's 6.30am, Saturday morning, and I'm sitting with my early morning cuppa contemplating the past week.

It's been hectic, I'm shattered but the children have had a fantastic time! What was it? North Pole Nonsense - our church's annual Holiday Club. From 10 - 12 every morning, hordes of village children have descended on the church for 2 hours of games, songs, crafts and general fun led by the wonderful Paul Wilmott. Paul is a brilliant Holiday Club leader - the only human I know who can keep (and hold) the attention of 80 primary school children single handed! The highlight had to be Custard the shark threatening to eat the children for lunch! Anyway, this was the result on my youngest son. It's not quite sleeping on a clothesline, but you get the picture!

The other highlight (apart from Custard), was the fact that the helpers all pulled together and made this a success. It's been a brilliant atmosphere all week, with many new friendships forged. Topped off by us all going out for lunch after the final session on Friday. Ultimately it has been a testament to the power of God in all our lives. A great week!

Flippin' Chickens!!

Aaaah, I give up! I thought my veg patch was now chicken proof, but it appears that one little madam sees it as a personal challenge to attack my veg patch at every opportunity. Yesterday I noticed that she had been in again and this time scratched up all my patches of new seedlings - beetroot, chard, rocket, mizuna and lettuce!!!! Thankfully, everything that was growing well has not been touched. It is Bella that is the culprit, she isn't even laying any eggs at the moment. Luckily for her she is the prettiest chicken - but looks will only get her so far. If I catch her in there again I will not be held responsible for my actions! :-( :-(

New Chicken!

I was given a McCall's pattern the other day - various soft toys, book covers, bags and things. As soon as I spotted this chicken cushion I had to try it as soon as possible! It's quite large - 13" nose to tail and the body is soft and squashy. The wings and tail are also quilted, although that doesn't show well in the picture. It was a bit fiddly, with the head, wings and tail having to be handstitched to the body (I always end up with several pin stabs when hand sewing). I also messed up the comb a bit, but managed to get it looking OK.

I don't think I could make them to sell, too fiddly and faffy. But it was nice to make something different!

Preston Presents

I will presenting my wares at the Preston Presents Craft Fair on 31st August. Preston is just south of Oakham. This will be my first 'proper' craft fair and I am simultaneously excited and terrified! Click on the link to Preston Presents on the left to see more about it and see what other craft stalls will be there. And if you are in the area - come and say hello!

Ebay Bargains and Caterpillar Wars

I've just realised how long it is since my last post!
Just goes to show what a boring old life I lead!! LOL
Anyway, this is my latest ebay bargain, £72 for a set of garden furniture in need of some TLC. Well it is surprising what a bit of TLC can do for wood! After plenty of elbow grease, some wire wool and a couple of litres of teak oil, this is the result. Looks even better when the green parasol goes up and the green cushions are on the chairs! It was well and truly christened on Monday when I had some friends over and we all sat round the table eating pizza, drinking coffee and having a good old chinwag in the sun!

Although there has been some activity down at the allotment site (grass is cut, an area of hardstanding has been created and there is a proper gateway), we can still not get on as the parish council and the allotment association are in negotiation as to who will pay for the shed *rolls eyes*

So I've dug up all the potatoes and used the space to plant out my cauliflower seedlings. I was hoping to get them onto the allotment, but I don't think that will happen this side of christmas. So we are into round one of caterpillar wars. After eating half a caterpillar in last years broccoli, I'm determined they won't get to these brassicas!!

The Saga of Dora the Dove

Poor Dora (or it could be Dougie but it looks too pretty) flew into our bathroom window yesterday evening and fell onto the back door step. To add insult to injury she was then set upon by 10 angry chickens determined to finish her off!

Alan caught Dora whilst I shut the velociraptors back in their run and we inspected the damage. Poor thing had a nasty looking wound over her breastbone - either from the impact or chicken damage, I'm not sure which. Plus she had lost all but one of her tail feathers. We both agreed that it would be best to put her out of her misery, but gutless cowards that we are, neither of us had the heart to wring her neck. So I made her a nest in a laundry basket, added some mealworms and a bowl of water with poultry tonic and shut her in the shed for the night.

This morning I opened the door expecting to find a dead dove, but no - she seemed to have rallied a bit! Her wound looked a bit dryer and she was standing and looking quite bright eyed. And she had eaten some mealworms! Thinking that she may be getting stressed shut in the shed, I took her to the birdtable at the bottom of the garden and put her there under the cover of the trees. She seems to have gained strength throughout the day and by evening she was motoring round the garden, pecking at bugs and drinking. I went out as it was getting dark and she was hiding under the shrubbery. I caused her a bit more stress as I had to catch her with a fishing net (big improvement over this morning when she just sat and let me pick her up) and I parked her on a branch in the conifer tree at the bottom of the garden (don't want next door's cat to finish her off!). I've just been out with a torch and she has managed to climb a bit higher and is now roosting.

What a little fighter she is! I really hope she makes it!

Happy May Day!

The last two weeks have been quite stressful - to cut a long story short, my husband lost his job two weeks ago. He has worked really hard and starts a new job on Monday. It is such a relief that he is in the kind of job where his skills are in demand. Although it has been stressful and worrying, that is nothing compared to those who have lost jobs and are unable to get another. I have several friends whose partners are in IT and who have been out of work for months. I can't imagine how that must feel.

Thought I'd share this picture with you - chickens going back to their roots! As the weather is now a little warmer Bella and Ruby have taken to roosting in the branches of their run. You wouldn't think it, but they do look quite cosy don't they?