Sniff sniff

I have a very keen sense of smell - my minor 'claim to fame' is I can (or I used to be able) tell which animal was on the surgery table before I saw them - by the smell of their fat..... (now you were not expecting that were you!)

Any hoo - onto nicer scents. I have just popped a fruit cake into the oven - one that requires all the fruit, spices, butter and sugar precooking in a pot before the flour and egg can be added. There is a deliciously spicy fragrance drifting through the house. It is a warming and welcoming scent and I am sure it will send Himself's nostrils aflare as he walks in!

I have just been experimenting with making mindful 'shower melts' - a natural bicarb and essential oil 'tablet' which you pop on the floor of your shower as you switch on the hot water. These natural tablets fill the bathroom with an invigorating waft of orange or sleep inducing lavender - I shall blog another time once I have used them. 

The washing machine has been churning away as I worked through my wardrobe. I am continuing on my mission to clear away the clutter and simplify my life. The clothes I am keeping which had been squashed behind all the other 'katunda' (clutter) stashed in the cupboard have been washed to freshen up. The weather outside is so dreary and damp that the clean clothing is hanging on the 'Victorian Kitchen Maid' - no I am not being 'posh' I really do suspect it is that old as I received it from a rather elderly gentleman when he had a clear out about 20 years ago ... it had been his mother's - she died when she was 105 ..... apparently it had been in their house 'forever'...   Anywhere this meandering story is going is there is a lovely fresh scent of washing upstairs, I am looking forward to hanging them back in my now virtually empty wardrobe.

Still on with simplifying my life I worked through a wicker basket filled with cables, ex-mobile phones, chargers, laptop cables, scart wires, headphones and laptop to MP3 players (yes remember those?) and other wires of varies vintages and dotages. The ones I recognised - I dealt with and those I didn't were photographed and sent to Youngest who very quickly replied regarding what could be ditched and which should be saved. Good thing he did - I think I would have thrown out far more than I did!

Now it is that quiet half hour before Himself returns from work, so supper is about to be started (Monday's seem to be the only day I am organised or not too tired), I best check the fruit cake, there is a warm and cakey fragrance drifting into the lounge and it calling to me!

#blogmorevember

Blogtober day 31 - you are a STAR!⭐

Today is the final post for #blogtober2021.

When I started I was a little unsure if I had enough waffle to fill a month of posts and I would falter. I did miss a couple of days and I did write some rubbish - no I wrote a lot of rubbish - so if you have read and commented throughout October you deserve a medal or at the very least a pat on the back - thank you!💜💙

This weekend was rather brief and very full - working on Saturday certainly put a dent into the enjoyment of having Eldest and GF over as they seem to leave as soon as they arrived but I am not complaining** - it was lovely having them stay over (** well I am complaining but only about having to work on the Saturday!!)

We went to see DUNE and we seemed to be (apart from one or two of the staff) the only ones wearing masks in the cinema foyer. I was also surprised how few folk were watching.  We were however, 'entertained' by the gentleman sitting IMMEDIATELY behind us (in an empty room that holds 180 people) as he sang loudly, fortunately tunefully, to the Beatles tunes in the lead up to the adverts and trailers.  He did give up on the film after the first hour as did a family of four quite young children. There was almost as much action in the cinema as there was on the screen! Did I enjoyed - yes, coz I love Sci-Fi - especially the epic trilogy type (cue Star Wars) and yes because we go out so infrequently that doing this was  'epic' in itself. 

The weather has been atrocious today and when there appeared to be a small window of relief we wrapped up after lunch and attempted a quick dog walk. As we reached the highest point just above the village we could see more rain rolling in rapidly so we decided to cut short our walk and only just got back in time before it began to absolutely throw it down. Strangely enough despite it raining hard, there was sunshine and a glorious rainbow.

So, once home and dried off - we made origami stars from old maps. It was lovely, just us (and a humpffing dog as she felt short changed over her reduced walk) and a couple of mugs of tea. 

Now it is dark, the weather is miserable, no chance of mini monsters, ghouls and witches braving the elements - rather glad as we have battened down the hatches - don't fancy any visitors tonight.

Right, enough waffle, I am off to the kitchen to cook - not sure what, I'll just have to open the cupboard and see what I am inspired by .... 

And if you have got this far - thank you for sticking it out and thank you for all your lovely comments!

#blogtober2021

Blogtober day 30 - nearly there!

Another silly busy day and once again I am curled up on the settee (with a now empty mug of tea) having just written the work's blog post - so please forgive me for just copying and pasting it in - I don't have the brain power today to be 'witty and wordy' (well,  I am not often ever witty, although I know, I can be wordy!)

So here goes ... The Santa's grotto check list....

• Elf on the Shelf  ...... ✔ well - two actually - double trouble!
• Garland ...... ✔
• Stockings ...... ✔ (one either side of the roaring fire!)
• Gifts ...... ✔ wrapped and tucked into the stockings
• twinkling lights - on the garland   ...... ✔
• More twinkling lights around the room - work in progress
• Festive tree ...... work in progress
• Back drop ...... ✔ well the back drop has been measured and cut, needs a bit of sewing and decorating before it is ready to hang
• Back drop support wires  ...... ✔
• Comfy chair for Santa  ...... ✔
• Snuggly rug for Santa's tired feet  ...... ✔
• Paper tree workshop materials collated and packed ready for next Thursday
• Pebble painting pebbles boxed up, brushes found, paints and paintbrush rising jars collected for the Wednesday session
• Sticky stars, 'gem stone jewels', ribbons, string and scissors sorted
• Origami stars made ...... ✔ well, a start was made, more need to be crafted then we will have such a magical place for Father Christmas's grotto.

It was a bit of full-on day with us all busy getting on and doing things, cutting, snipping, folding, gluing, drawing, measuring, wiring but by lunch the bulk of the grotto set up was done. You may wonder why we are being so early in our preparations - the Garden Team are about to transform into the Chrimbly Craft Team and we need to make sure we are ready to go go go and hit the floor running!

Thank you Molli, Sharon and Dylan for your help and input - I am now going to lie down in a dark corner!🚶🏼‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🎅🏼🎄🔨

Samhain blessings from our house to yours

Blogtober day 29 (only just)

I am working tomorrow

Eldest and GF are here for the weekend

It is late and I am tired.

What did I do today? Started building Santa's grotto ..... yup you read that right.

Sant's grotto

image from pixabay

IT...IS...STILL ... OCTOBER!!! (only just) but still!!!

g'night.

Blogtober day 28 - Izzy, wizzy, let's get busy !

This morning started off wild and tempestuous and as the day went on it worsened! Not surprisingly we all managed to find work indoors.

We are prepping for our festive (gah) workshops coming up - they start next week. On the list of 'attractions' we are starting with two sessions of pebble painting, then I am leading three workshops making chrimbly tree decorations. 

The week after that kicks off three weeks of hosting festive wreath making sessions. In between that we are decorating the 'Coach House' (our place of work) building Santa's Grotto (twice) as well as creating items for sale for the Christmas Market.

So far we have wired seed pods and dried flowers, lightly sprayed foliage (dried) silver, red and gold, made willow wreaths for bases, stamped labels, cut ribbons and sorted out the workshop space.

Succulent and cacti planters have been made, wooden shelving and display units made and painted - all being prepped for our Christmas market.

We are still eight weeks away from a certain date and there is still so much to do!!!

All this activity is partly why I missed yesterday's post - I was so knackered when I came home I fell asleep on the settee 🙄😄

#blogtober2021

Blogtober day 26 - let's get to the root of the matter!

Day 26 of my first blogtober attempt and this evening I really don't have much to talk about....

Today was busy and I managed to work both gardening sessions - the morning one was delayed and accompanied by rain and a lovely friend while the afternoon garden was battered by high winds and filled with laughter.

One of the jobs from this morning was to rescue and repot a rather 'congested' Chlorophytum (think most folk know them as either Hen and Chicks or Spider plants). I was warned it needed a little TLC .... the description of it's predicament was ....

'It is trying to climb out of it's pot, I've never seen one trying to move out by itself'.... 

...and they were not wrong! The poor thing had pushed itself out of the terracotta pot by it's incredible mass of roots. 

It did take a bit of a pull before the pot released the plant, then with a bit of 'cruel to be kind' root pruning, the plant was potted up - I swear I could hear it sigh with relief.

Any hoo - shall leave it here - I have a mug of tea waiting for me and I am about to watch #SHOTY (Scotland's House of the Year) which we both thoroughly enjoy. Till tomorrow when hopefully I'll have something a little more interesting to say!

#blogtober2021

Blogtober day 24 - taking the slow lane

Today gave us no illusions of a lingering Indian summer as it seems that autumn is definitely here. We watched the rain fly across our view through the window while we sipped tea first thing this morning. The clouds seemed in a hurry too, rapidly sliding across the dreary grey sky.

It was a good thing that we went walking yesterday when, despite the greyness of the sky, there was warmth in the air and colour all around. The woodland we visited smelt damp and earth rich and the leaves were shades of bright orange through to red, browns and creams.

Odd fungi abounded - from the tiny little bright orange 'Yellow Stag's Horn' which when you compare it to the fronds of the sphagnum moss, you can see how small and delicate it is; to the large peach coloured bracket fungus which I suspect may be a Birch Polypore.

We followed a path blanketed by fallen leaves when we stumbled upon a strew of green and red crab apples, we must have stood on some as the air was filled with a crisp sharp apple scent making our mouths water at the thought of the very acidic tangy juice.

Although plenty of bird song, there were very few insects about - apart from this sticker of a bumblebee on the road sign.

On such a dull day - the more subtle and probably over looked colours seemed prevalent, the soft tan browns of the front door glowed in the dull light as did the red leaves on the wall climber.

The bracken in the gill still looked gloriously fiery in shades of yellows, lime, rust and terracotta yet it's brackeny cousins on the top of the hill were already a dull dead brown.

And just in case you ever wondered if there were ever any stars on earth - the answer is yes - 'Earthstars' or Geastrum - a type of puff ball - strange creatures indeed.

A tiny family of tiny Mycena, I am not sure which variety, seemed to be strolling through a mossy scene on a rotting piece of fallen wood.

So, while Moss was stick hunting, puddle splashing, water drinking, sniffing, running and generally taking life at high speed - we slowed down to see the smaller things, the less visible, the quiet and the decaying. Yes, Autumn is definitely here.

#blogtober2021

Blogtober 23 - A Wuffing good walk

Moss here ... fink I bes put my bes paw furward and type a tail from today's furbulous walk.

Wos dat?

Dere wuz sticks and fings to chase, mud to run through and lots of sticks.

Dere wus paths to follow and run up and down, up and down, up and down! 

Wot was dat?

Wot wus dat? Oh nuffink.

Where wus I,  ah yes.

I find da bes drinkin' places, lap... lap... lap dis one tastes nice an clean!

C'mon, wotcha waitin' fur?

Deres more paths ta follow.

Look! I's finds a gate!

Hi - I've taken my laptop back Moss was getting a bit 'pawsey' with it!

We had a lovely walk - Moss thought it was brilliant - she may not have said it as much but her face radiated joy and she must have the biggest and best stick collection a dog could ever want! Sadly (not) we had to leave it behind!

#blogtober2021

Blogtober day 17 - smoke signals

So, 

hello Sunday what shall we get up to today? 

Well how about I try to make a mental note of what happens through out the day and attach photos - sort of a 'photo an hour' type thing ? (pffft as if I can remember to do that!!) 

8am aka Cat-o-clock or 'where's my breakfast and can I go out now please'.  Which, once she'd been out and come straight back in, turned into 'Stop the rain I don't like it!'

9.30 (ish) Moss hiding from the very scary goings on downstairs .... Himself was cleaning the chimney and the vacuum cleaner is a rather industrially noisy one. We cover all the furniture and I remove soft furnishings and plants before he starts. Moss does not like her 'safe space' to be different so she escaped to her bed and kept a very wary eye out in case the noisy monster slipped out of Himself's clutches and came upstairs after her!

Also 9.30 ish ish I started another soup in the slow cooker for lunch - this would leave me free to help clean up post chimney wrestling (and it is definitely a hard wrestle Himself has, as the chimney puts up quite a fight each time). This soup was just a random selection of vegetables (cabbage, onion, carrot, lentils, tin of tomatoes, seasoning and Cajun spices) and again the house filled with a delicious scent as it quietly simmered away.

10.30ish (sort of) you can just about spot Himself through the dust sheets we hang up to keep any escaping soot sprites (and their pungent sooty odour) from contaminating the rest of the house. 

11am (well around there coz I put the kettle on for elevensies) Himself and his mucky knees reveal themselves from behind the dust sheet - Ta Da! (His toes were keen to join in...)

11.30 ish All the plants removed from the lounge have taken turns in the 'spa day in the kitchen' having been given a good soaking, a leaf wipe, some repotted, others mulched, leaves trimmed and general molly-coddling.

12pm (this I am certain of as I popped a fruit cake in the oven at this point) but on the one occasion I can be sure of the timing ... I did not take a photo - so let's just pretend this lovely image of an Aeonium in it's soft autumnal shades of green is a bowl of simmering fruits, nuts, sugar, butter and ginger spices....

1.45pm Lunch time (well, by now we were fit to fall over post chimney-sweep-tidy-up which was still very much work in progress)

Himself earlier had been dispatched off for a shower - those mucky legs were just a precursor to the sooty face and arms which seemed to appear soon after!  We sat blissfully slurping a rather tasty soup and chewing on warmed naan bread.

Somewhere between 2.30 and 3(ish) we'd finished, the plants returned, the carpet vacuumed, all shelves, surfaces and books dusted, soft furnishings replaced and dust sheets churning over in the washing machine - we took ourselves and Moss (who had to be encouraged to come back downstairs) off for a walk. Fortunately it had finally stopped raining.

4.45pm or 15 minutes to dog food time (except we decided she be fed there and then) We sat down, with a mug of tea each, a slice of that previously un-photographed fruit cake and stared at the clean fire, the only sound ... us munching, a cat purring and a dog snoring.

And now at 7.31pm (I've looked at my laptop clock ).... Pan is dozing a shade too close to the quietly ticking over fire, Himself is bumbling about upstairs, Moss is still snoring with the occasional twitching foot and I am typing here while I listen to the radio.

So, 

That was our Sunday - more or less, it was full and busy yet quiet and simple. 

How was your weekend?

Did you get out and about?

Did you tackle chores at home?

Did you have rain too?

#blogtober2021

*edited to add : I am a bit annoyed with myself and the spambots and blogger ... noticed this morning I'd received a rash of spam comments, so ticked them as spam. Unfortunately with the latest way blogger has been set out - the spam messages although not shown on the blog - are stored on the list of saved comments. So I then re-ticked them to delete not realising that they'd already been taken across to the normal comments page so the entire page of comments were deleted..... grrrrrrr

so!

• cross with myself for being so unobservant
• annoyed by those stupid folk who set up the 'g00gle-translate-english' comments of utter nonsense - to what gain??
• Particularly ticked off by blogger for their not thought through updates and the inability to either get a reply to any queries or to be able to retrieve a mistaken trashed comment.....  hey ho.