Ooooh....Chilly!!!

We have woken to a very white and misty world this morning.
No snow but the kind of heavy frost that turns all those nasty brown sticks and stems in the garden into magical fairy wands and the spider webs on the fences into swathes of lace.
It is so pretty.
There has just been a short snow shower of the tiniest flakes imaginable but that has now stopped.

I am nursing aches in places I never knew I had after a very playful day with Marlowe yesterday.
Her favourite films at the moment are Father Christmas.....so we had to join in with the dancing.....and The Snowman and The Snow Dog....she wanted to fly like the snowman so I scooped her up and twirled her round....not just the once but...again, again, again Ganma.....lol.
Hide and seek produced much laughter as she would stand behind me giggling while I pretended to look for her. Then she discovered a new hiding place....up the front of Ganma's 
tee shirt and the strange thing is Ruby used to do the exact same thing when she was tiny.
I think we can safely say that potty training in the house is complete. She started on Saturday and there have been no accidents since Sunday. The next stage will be out and about which will be fun.

DD has invited me out for tea tonight but it will depend on the weather. If we get any snow we will be staying firmly put and I will make us a treat of egg and chips to eat at home.

Another full day with Marlowe tomorrow so I have plans to make Rice Crispy cakes with her which I think she will enjoy doing.

I have sat through six seasons of Game of Thrones wondering what the hell is going on. We have started season seven and now it gets exciting. There is one season left when it comes out on DVD and that will be the last one apparently although I have read somewhere that prequels are in the pipeline. I'm not a huge fan of prequels.

Today I will mostly be pottering....tidying the fridge and seeing if we are short of anything, a quick hoover round as it didn't get done yesterday and then I may go upstairs and have a cull of the tee shirts in my wardrobe as they seem to be breeding.

Hope you are all keeping warm.
Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

What A Horrible Day!!!

It's absolutely vile outside outside today. It started off dry but it's now grey and chucking it down with rain. There is a warning for snow later this afternoon but it won't settle on top of that wet which I am glad about as I have to pop out after tea.

Inside all is warm and toasty and there is a lovely smell of minced beef and onions cooking in gravy ready for a cottage pie for tea tomorrow. Jobs are pretty much done so I think a nice quiet hour watching something on catch up or You Tube with a nice cup of tea will just do nicely.
Last night I watched a wonderful documentary about Hannah Hauxwell. I did watch the programmes about her years ago but it was good to watch it again.
I am also watching Vlogs by Curiosity Incorporated which are absolutely fascinating. He has recently purchased a hoarders house in Canada and he is filming as he clears the house. The stuff he is finding is amazing. Once it is cleared I am hoping for videos as he and his family renovate the property.

Right....the kettle is going on 😃

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

So How Much Did I Spend?!!!

Well not a lot as it happens.
DD went to Derby but I decided not to as she was going looking for somewhere to get a small tattoo done in memory of Smudge and I didn't fancy trolling all over Derby with her.
Instead I stayed home and got Ruby's trousers to a point where I could pop down with them for a fitting.
The Doodle House was in potty training mode so DD and I took Ruby out for a couple of hours. Lunch was followed by a walk around little town. It was quite busy as the Maker's Market was on although there wasn't much to see as most of them were packing away well before the 4pm finishing time.
Charity shops and a small craft fair were visited and here is what I spent my money on.........

£2 for this beautiful jigsaw which has already been done.

£1 each for these gorgeous magazines.

There was also £3 spent on a dress for Ruby so £7 for a couple of hours out not bad and lunch was DD's treat.

Trousers were finished and delivered yesterday so today I am catching up on laundry with a bit of tidying thrown in just for the hell of it.

It's going to be a busy week as I am looking after Marlowe on Wednesday and Friday this week and Miss Ruby will be coming for tea on Wednesday as usual so tea for then will have to be prepared tomorrow so that all I have to do is pop it in the oven when I get back.

Hope you are all having a lovely day.

Sheila-x-

What To Do This Weekend?!!!

I am trying to decide what I want to do this weekend.
There is still carpet shampooing needing to be done and other jobs on the big job list but I feel the need to have a weekend doing something I want to do and not what I have to do.
It's a long time since I went fabric shopping or indeed any kind of leisure shopping so I may well have a morning in Derby tomorrow. There are a couple of things I could do with from Lakeland and maybe a mooch round the market might go some way to lifting this horrible black cloud that seems to be hanging above my head at the moment.
I need to have some fun for a few hours.
So....today I am getting the house weekend ready. I will be able to go out and not have anything to rush back for. Andy is cooking tomorrow as he fancies steak and chips and he cooks a better steak than I do so I won't even have to worry about doing that.

I hope you all have exciting things planned for your weekend.
Sheila-x-

Home!!!

Our little boy came home last night. We are keeping him in the house until Spring and will wait for a warm sunny day to scatter his ashes in his favourite place in the garden.

It may have taken five times as long to prepare the Afternoon Tea than it would have done to make a cooked meal but the look on Ruby's face when she came in and saw it all laid out was just the best thing ever. I meant to take a photograph but she was ready to get started and before I knew it nearly everything was gone.
I'm sure most children go home from Ganma's with a bag of sweets or maybe a pocket money toy....ha not Ruby....she went home with half a chocolate cake to share with the rest of The Doodles and a tub of tiny cocktail onions in honey and balsamic vinegar which she had discovered that she liked. Bless her.

Today I need to have a bit of a scrub round in the kitchen and get my jobs up to date so that I have time to sit tomorrow and turn up two pairs of school trousers to deliver back to Ruby in time for school next week. I'm hoping they will kick start my sewing mojo as it has been a long time since I did any.

It's a miserable day out so a bit of comfort food is needed and I am going for sausage, mash and beans. It was actually salad on the meal plan but it's not only cold this morning it's damp too so DD will want something hot when she gets in.

Well I could sit here all day if I let myself but I suppose I had better go and get something done.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Afternoon Tea!!!

The girls and I had a smashing time on their visit yesterday and today I will be repeating it with just Ruby on her weekly after school visit. She wasn't giving that up just because she had already been once this week....lol.
Today the request was for Afternoon Tea.....as in tiny sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and chocolate cake so I have been busy in the kitchen this morning getting everything ready for her. I have really enjoyed my little baking session and would have liked to make a couple more things but guess who forgot to pick up eggs when she went to the supermarket last night....duh......so I only had enough for the cake with a few left to boil for the requested egg and cress sandwiches.
All that's left to do is my least favourite job of buttering the bread ready to be made up with it's fillings and I have to go and find the teapot and a milk jug.....she likes things done proper does my Ruby...lol.

Hope you are all enjoying your day.
Sheila-x-

Tasty!!!

Oh....the Bungit I made yesterday was so tasty that I have had to write it down so that I can make it again.
Cajun spices gave it a lovely rich warmth and I served it with roasted Charlotte potatoes and a bowl of mixed leaf salad dressed with orange, lemon and ginger balsamic vinegar.

Today I will be having little visitors as I am looking after Ruby and Marlowe while DS goes to an appointment. I have offered to give them their tea so that there is no rush when he gets back so spaghetti and meatballs should go down well with them both.
New colouring books have been purchased for entertainment and we have some games that should be just about right for Marlowe. Bring on the fun.

Seeing the bright sunshine this morning I was hopeful of hanging out some laundry but there isn't much of a breeze so it will end up in the dryer.

Now I shall go and Marloweproof the house and put away anything she might get hold of that she shouldn't...lol.

Have a great day.
Sheila-x-

The Last Few Days!!!

Friday evening we had some snow. Big fat fluffy flakes.
They looked beautiful but alas they didn't settle as the ground was a little wet.

Saturday was wardrobe delivery and building day. It arrived early which I was pleased about and the building went fairly smoothly despite working in a tight space.
We had a little trouble with the doors but that was soon sorted by a little sideways thinking and we were done and dusted just after lunch time.
I am loving all the extra storage space.

Sunday we decided to go out for lunch and although the meal was lovely as always the restaurant was cold with an awful draught in the corner where we sat. I was chilled right down to my bones and it was tea time before I got warm again.
The usual Sunday night viewing of Dancing on Ice and Call The Midwife. I am not enjoying either of them very much to be honest although I think that is due more to my low mood at the moment rather than the programmes themselves.

Today I am having a bit of time in the kitchen. We are having Bungit for tea which is a family favourite. Chicken with various additions......just bung it in and see what it tastes like.
Not something that be exactly repeated as I can never remember what I've put in it....lol.
Once that is done I may well be having a nanna nap this afternoon as I have been up since 5am after a restless night.

Hope you all have a lovely day today.
Sheila-x-

Going Out And Coming In!!!

As fast as I am clearing stuff out in this major declutter the postman is delivering stuff back in.
DD had a lot of vouchers for Amazon and is searching out wanted books from her long list so all of the ones I have got rid of this week have probably been replaced.
I fear I will never have a completely decluttered house.

On a good note the rejigging of the bedroom furniture worked and now we just have to wait for the wardrobe delivery tomorrow and then build it. More sorting can then be done when I see how much space there is in it and then that is one room done and dusted.....well apart from a new pair of curtains when I can find some I like.

Minimal cooking again today. Chicken in a brioche roll with salad and corn on on the cob but we won't eat until late when Andy finishes work so I just need to wash his lunch dishes and then I am taking a day off and will find something to watch either on catch up or You Tube.

No plans other than furniture building for the weekend.
What will you be up to?

Sheila-x-

Another Beautiful Morning!!!

Quite a heavy frost this morning when we got up but now the sky is a lovely hazy blue and there is sunshine.

I'll be upstairs again as soon as Andy has gone off to work and will make a huge effort to get finished so that I can shampoo the carpet so it has until Saturday to dry.
Luckily there is not much to do in the way of cooking today as DD and I will be having beans on toast and a lovely cuppa while we watch some more Game of Thrones. 
We are onto season four and I am still none the wiser as to what is going on apart from lots of chopping off of various body parts and more sex than anybody really needs to see....lol.

Ruby's visit was an absolute tonic and just what I needed. She has lots of things happening this year and was full of excited chatter about it all. Hard to be sad in the face of all that wonderful excitement.

I can hear Andy's tummy rumbling so I'll go and feed him before I make a cup of coffee and have a go at today's crossword to keep my brain ticking over.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

A Rethink Needed!!!

There is going to have to be a bit of juggling about in the bedroom. I really don't like the chest of drawers next to the bed. I don't know where it will go but it can't stay there.
Anyway I am leaving that problem and the shampooing until tomorrow as I am not feeling great after a bad night, also I have my Miss Doodle coming for tea and have things to prepare for that.

Andy has spotted a rat under the shed....again.....and he also saw the cheeky swine climbing up the pole to the bird table.
Poison has been purchased and laid down and hopefully it will be despatched as quickly as the one that came last year.
One of the joys of living by open fields I suppose.

Right....I have a bit of tidying to do and a chicken pie to assemble before my girl arrives so I will go and get on.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Started!!!

It was such a relief to make a start on the bedroom yesterday. The job was long overdue as it has been used as a dumping ground for way too long.
Two large bags went in the burning bin and there is a box of Ruby's books to be passed on to Marlowe plus a large bag of books for DDIL.
After a bit of measuring I found that I can keep the bookcase in there and should just about be able to keep the blanket box although the bedside table will have to go and be replaced with the chest of drawers which I can't do without.
Today I hope to get the floor cleared as far as I can and then tomorrow I will shampoo the carpet.

We will be having the beef stew for tea tonight. It has been standing in the fridge over night and hopefully will be really tasty.

Have a wonderful day.
Sheila-x-

Thank You!!!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the wonderful people who have left such kind and caring messages on my last two posts.

I am missing my little boy so much. The house just doesn't feel right without him.
We are now just waiting for his ashes to come home so that we can scatter him in his favourite spot in the garden.

Meanwhile I have things I really need to get on with so today I will be making a start on clearing the bedroom ready for the wardrobe delivery on Saturday. There is so much stuff to go through and make decisions on so that will keep me occupied.
I am also preparing a beef stew which can simmer away while the jobs get done upstairs.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Goodbye My Beautiful Boy!!!

Smudge

14th July 2002 -12th January 2019

You will be loved and missed every day

House Of Tears!!!

Today is a very hard and emotional day.
Our much loved little boy Smudge Dog is spending his last day with us before he walks over the Rainbow Bridge tomorrow.
He is only a little dog but he will leave a massive hole in our hearts.

Sheila-x-

Oh No......Here We Go!!!

Sorry for being MIA yesterday.
The day didn't start too well as I woke up with a migraine...unusually for me a sickie one so I spent most of the day lolloping about on the sofa. Luckily it had worn off by mid afternoon.
Ruby arrived for tea with sparkly eyes and very pink cheeks as her last lesson of the day was Forest School and she had been out in the fresh air. It had given her a good appetite too as she polished off a good bowl of sweet and sour chicken with rice.
DDIL was collecting her on her way home from work so by the time we had had a cup of tea and a good chat it was nearly Ruby's bedtime before they made their way home.

DD and I are now on Season 2 of Game of Thrones and to be honest I haven't a clue what's going on....lol.....but it's watchable.

Today I am having a pottering day and have so far sorted out the cupboard where I store all of the lunch boxes, freezer boxes etc and reunited boxes and lids so that is all tidy again for now.
I'm having a day off from cooking and we're having cold meats with salad and parsley buttered potatoes for tea so I am looking forward to that.
Once I have prepped the salad I will stocktake the fridge and see if I can get away with leaving a top up shop until the weekend. If not I will go out tonight and do that.

Right....I shall go and have a mooch around to see if I can find another little job that wants doing. I really want to be upstairs sorting out the bedroom ready for the new wardrobe arriving but as Andy is in bed I can't do that.

Hope you are all having a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

What A Beautiful Morning!!!

It is absolutely gorgeous outside this morning....acres of blue sky, fluffy white clouds and sunshine. I did think I might venture out and do some tidying in the garden but after going out to the tumble dryer....perhaps not. The wind is wickedly cold.
I think a good clean up in the kitchen, a bit of sorting out in the sewing room and the making of some chicken pie filling for the freezer ready for when Ruby asks for it.
Tonight we are having good old sausage, mash and beans.

Ruby is back at school today after a wonderful day out with Mummy yesterday at Madame Tussaud's, a visit to Hamley's and the M&M store.
Her Christmas gifts from DS and DDIL were an experience of some kind every month for a year and yesterday was the beginning of that. I think it is the most amazing idea.
I'm looking forward to her visit tomorrow to hear all about it.

I hope the weather is lovely for you today.
Sheila-x-

A Chilli Kind Of Day!!!

I am so glad to be finally rid of all the festive food and today I am going to be making a huge batch of chilli con carne. Some for tea tonight and lots to put in the freezer in meals for three sized portions and individual portions for pack ups. I've gone off rice a bit so tonight we will have it with a jacket potato.
My plan is to overcook every day this week so I have things to pull out when I can't be bothered to cook from scratch.

A new wardrobe has been ordered for one of the bedrooms so I have twelve days before it is delivered to do a massive declutter up there. Black bags have been purchased in readiness and I am quite looking forward to it finally being organised.
I can't start it today as Andy will soon be going up to catch up on some sleep before his night shift tonight.

Right I  had better go and get on with some chopping of onions and peppers and get this chilli on the go.

Have a fabulous day.
Sheila-x-

Bright!!!

It's nice and bright out this morning although quite chilly so I am glad that I don't have any outside jobs to do today.
Plenty to do inside though. I need to tidy away the toys Ruby had out on Thursday and Friday. They have to be taken back upstairs as I just have no room to store them downstairs.
There is laundry to put away and the stairs need hoovering..... although I forgot to put the handheld vacuum on charge so that may have to wait until tomorrow.
Lunch will be late today as DD is at work so I should get everything I want to do done this morning and then tonight I can sit down to watch Dancing on Ice and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire without feeling too guilty.
Hopefully Call The Midwife will return soon and then Sunday evenings will be perfect for a while.

What is your favourite thing to do on a Sunday?
Whatever you are doing I hope you have a good one today.
Sheila-x-

....And Breathe!!!

Well that was a busy couple of days.
Thursday....baking a birthday cake, visitors and a little Ruby shaped person who decided she wanted to stay at Gandma's so that she could have Chinese for Tea.

Friday....up very early to prepare a picnic and down to The Doodles by 8:30 am to take over the childminding duties for the day....and a visit to a play barn where I discovered that Marlowe is actually a Ninja baby. She nearly gave me a heart attack chucking herself about on everything and I was rather glad when we left.
Back to Ganma's to eat our picnic as it was too cold to eat it out and too cramped in the car to have a car picnic.

This morning the house has been stripped of it's Christmas finery and all the corners have been vacuumed free of glitter. I will start and wash down the skirting boards etc.
Tea tonight will be cheese and crackers to use up the rest of the cheese wheel and some of the pickles and then tomorrow I will do a good old Sunday lunch to set my pair up for going back to work on Monday.
It seems to have been a really long holiday this time.

Hope you are all having a good weekend.
Sheila-x-

Wot....No Veg!!!

A wasted trip out to the veg shop today. Apparently people in our neck of the woods don't need any until January 7th when they open again.
I love that shop for my veg because you don't have to take any plastic bags if you don't want them. Everything is loose so that you can just take as much as you need and it is really good value for money. Had to resort to the supermarket for what I needed.

Freezer topped up at Iceland and I learned something today that I never knew.....the shop staff hours depend upon people using the delivery service. I have never really bothered using the service because if I have done my shopping there then we have a car to transport it home. Today I gave in and let them deliver it. Still not sure I'm a fan but I hate to think of people losing working hours because I haven't used it.

Tomorrow we have a birthday in the house. DD was offered a meal out to celebrate but has declined in favour of a Chinese takeaway, a homemade apple crisp for pudding and a bit of binge watching of our new box set of Game of Thrones.
Sounds good to me.

Friday I will be looking after the girls all day while DDIL is at work. I have asked for the car seat so that we can take them out as I don't think my sanity will survive hours and hours of Bounce Patrol which Marlowe loves but Ganma doesn't...lol.

Then there will be just one more weekend to get through before I get the house back to myself on Monday.
I am looking forward to a good clean up and some menu planning.

Hope you are all having a great day today.
Sheila-x-

In With A Bang!!!

Well here we are....2019. Let's hope that it's better than 2018.

Our January 1st came in with a bang due to Andy and his ruddy rockets. Oh my goodness they were loud.
Unusually we were the only ones letting them off on our small estate but there were plenty going off over the fields in other villages.

Today I am pottering about tidying my baking cupboard and a couple of the kitchen drawers before I start to assemble our evening meal of stuffed chicken breasts wrapped in bacon. There will be quite a mixture of veggies to go with it as I have some that needs using up before I venture out for new supplies tomorrow.
I also have a lemon that wants using so lemon meringue pie will be made.

Hope you are all having a smashing day whatever you are doing.
Sheila-x-