Dream Country Chat

BATHED IN BLUE

A bit late posting this morning but l had to trot off to HQ first thing this morning and have my breakfast croissants and coffee on the deck. The sun is blazing away so happily out there, l just had to start my day with a blast of sunshine.

Away from the sunshine, in every shady corner of the garden, the bluebells are still nodding their pretty heads. I do love bluebells, and the pink variety too, they always make me think of slightly tired garden fairies, nodding their pretty heads as they dream in the shade.

Just up the lane is a little wooded copse, every year it is full of bluebells and is a glorious sight to behold. however this year it is covered in tiny white harebells instead. Tho pretty in their own right they are not a patch on the bluebell carpet. It seems strange that none have come up this year. Almost as if Mother Nature has been doing the Spring cleaning and whipped up the old carpet and replaced it with a new one.

Note to Mrs Nature - some things are best left alone.

Another busy day planned. Idgy having her birthday outing to the bowling and then Penata party.  I must away and fill party bags and resist temptation to eat all the sweeties.

Enjoy this amazing sunshine and have a lovely weekend.
Karon  x

BUSY,BUSY DAY

What a busy day l had yesterday. Firstly there was the Birthday Badger episode, and l have to say that badger outfit is getting just a bit tight these days! No, no l am only joking, l do not lurk round Ayrshire decked out like a monochrome mammal.

Anyway l then did my usual run, came home and decided to bake a cake for Idgy, a chocolate cake! Now it is lucky that l did a wee trial run on the candles on the cake. No, have not completely lost the plot here. I had bought these two fancy 'candle fountain' things. They are about four inches long and shiny sparkly silver (always attracts the magpie in me), according to the one line instructions 'light the end, plunge point into cake and retire 1m'. 6 extra long matches later l am no nearer the sparkling fountain. I merely have a silver thing with well blackened end and a kitchen  full of smoke. Decide to take firm action. Pull the spike off the end and try lighting that. Wow that works, quickly plunge it into cake to access effect - hellish, looks like an oil rig in the North Sea, just a silly firey flame, where is the sparkling fountain. Oil rig fire fades far quicker that it took to light the damn thing. Bin offending and offensive failed fountains and hunt for traditional candles. Find the ten used last year and arrange on cake. Did our girl comment on the lack of number eleven - no, she is far too nice for that. Must say, traditional candles do look (and work) best.

Then label 50 Tweedy Pies for Christmas and venture forth into the garden. Sort out slug damaged veggies with replacements, do some serious weeding and general tidy up out there.

Idgy home from school so time for that cake and Idgy's idea of champagne, Lorina cranberry and limeade .

Off into town. Quick rush round the boring things like errands in B&Q etc and then tea at Pizza Hut. Mega pig out with no regard whatsoever for ever being able to get into own jeans again far less any obscure animal outfits!

Then the cinema. What a fabulous film - Night at the museum 2 with that funny, funny man Ben Stiller. If you are into fun films that kids like but adults enjoy too, then you will love this one. Silly, funny, full of action and drama, just entertainment. A cinema full of kids and adults laughing out loud, a tonic.

9pm, back home again and sew poppy brooches for 2 hours before falling into bed. Slept like a log...................

Karon  x

BIRTHDAY BADGER

Imagine walking into the deep, dark woods. The night is peace full and calm, the leaves rustle above and pine cones and twigs crackle and snap underfoot. In this wood alive lots of animals; rabbits, deer, foxes, squirrels etc. But the most important animal of all is the Birthday Badger. See him lumber from his home with his swaying gait, his black and white coat gleaming in the moonlight. He is a tired old badger, for he works hard all year long. He is no mere Santa Clause who works but one day per year, oh no, the Birthday Badger delivers prezzies to boys and girls every day of the year, on their special days - their birthdays.

Okay l know, nobody else has ever heard of the elusive Birthday Badger, but that's the whole point, he is mysterious, elusive and downright rare. There would be nothing special about the Badger if everyone knew about him, he is a secret and so, so special.

I started the Birthday Badger back when Idgy was just a toddler. Her birthday gifts would come from the family etc and also from this mysterious Birthday Badger. Now the Birthday Badger is like Father Christmas, he can get into any home to deliver the goodies. Unlike Mr Clause however, he has no need of the chimney and fireplace. Oh no, the Birthday Badger is truly magical and appears in a puff of stardust to drop off the loot on the kitchen table (always in a food orientated area as Badgers are heavily into eating), he then disappears as fast as he came. He has even found us when we have celebrated Idgy's birthday while on holiday - this is one clever Badger.

I think this is something Idgy will carry on to her own kids one day (at least l hope so), a bit of her Mum's mad quirkiness from as long back as she can remember.

As you can guess today is Idgy's birthday, 11 today.

This was her 'big prezzie' - no modern technology for our girl, no, he hearts desire for years has been to own a real and proper dolls house, not the toddler style one she has had all her life but a real one that she can properly decorate and add to.

 

As you can see, the Festive Ferret got in on the act right away. We are having a wee bit of a Birthday weekend for Idgy. As it is Thursday and nobody about for a party etc, the festivities will kick off with the gal and me going to the cinema tonight to see 'Night at the museum 2' and then a Pizza Hut dinner. Tomorrow evening their will (weather permitting) be a BBQ in the garden with her Dad there, and on Saturday the Gang (Colette, Simon, their niece and nephew plus Idgy and I) will all be going bowling and then for a Penata Party at the Mexican restaurant. A real Birthday Bash weekend.
I will update you with pix of the lady in question when she is in celebratory attire (well at least not in her PJ's as she is just now).

So that is today - Idgy's big day and our annual visit from that elusive and beautiful creature, the Birthday Badger.

Karon  x

MAY WINE

May wine is a tradition in Germany where the herb Sweet Woodruff grows in profusion. This delightful herb grows in the shaded woodland and carpets the ground with its tiny star like flowers.

I started with 4 tiny plants 3 years ago, and now have a gorgeous starry blanket with enough of this fragrant beauty to fill sleep sacks and heart warmers all year long. Apart from being so delightfully pretty woodruff has a secret, when dried it has the relaxing scent of new mown hay.

In Germany it is widely used to flavour jellies, sweets and drinks. The taste is almost honey-like with a touch of aniseed. The May Wine is lovely and just a little Pimms like, perfect for the start of summer.

MAY WINE

large handfull of sweet woodruff
1 bottle German wine - Hock etc
1/2 cup sugar
1 basket strawberries
sprakling water or Cava

Dry the woodruff overnight in oven with door open just a crack
Pour wine into large jar and stuff in the woodruff
Leave this in the fridge for a week to soak up the flavours
Strain the wine and disgard the herbs
Mash up strawberries with the sugar
Mix into the wine and pour into a large jug
Top up with either sparkling wine or sparkling water

Serve in the sunshine with family and friends.

It was Simon's birthday yesterday, so I took a jug of May Wine up the lane and we all sat in the garden sipping sunshine and enjoying the day.

Enjoy your day whatever you are up to.

Karon  x

FAIR TRADING

Trade - I have sold to numerous shops before, in fact l have had my goodies in Liberty's of London and now have things in The General Trading Company in London, however most of my selling is to retail via my web site and at fairs.

Having said that, this means that l get most of my sales at the latter part of the year on the build up to Christmas. For the sake of my economy l really need to spread things out throughout the year. I should get my goodies into more shops, the best way to do that is via a trade fair. Very scary.

I am doing my first ever trade fair in Harrogate in July. From thinking and swithering (love that word) about it for ages, I finally phoned for information on Friday, now rather suddenly it has all come together and the ball is rolling.

I am now surrounded by lists and plans, prices and lists, lists and products. Seems to be rather a lot of lists in that list.

So if there is anyone out there who has done trade fairs and can offer any advice - please, please do so.

I have spent most of the holiday weekend out on the deck painting and sewing Tweedy Pie robins and cup cakes for Christmas. I am on a major stock building offensive just now. Between sewing and listing l feel a bit in a spin!

Hope l am doing the right thing, only one way to find out - try it and see.

Karon  x

AWARD TIME

Whoopee doo l have an award. Thrilled to accept this award from lovely Mel at 'Country Dream' , so nice of you to nominate me Mel. Now this is my first award so l am hoping l am doing the right thing here.

I would like to pass this award on to three other bloggers, all you do is click on the award and paste it into your own blog saying who gave it to you and sending one on yourself to some other blogs that you personally like. Just a little way of banding us bloggers together and lurching from one lovely read to the next.

Bertie Meadows

Land Cuckoo

Pots and Pins

Now all l have to do is work out how to get my award on to my side bar to keep it there. Might even have to email typepad for help, eeeek!!

Off to visit Mum in hospital today. Then help Colette and Simon in their garden if the weather stays good.

Have a lovely holiday weekend.
Karon  x

HOLIDAY MAGIC

                            

School holidays here again, yesterday, today and Monday. Don't know why l am always so out of touch with these things and why l am always so surprised when Idgy announces that they are on holiday again. I am a bad Mummy who is out of touch with the scholastic world!

Anyway at least the weather is being kind and it is dry and bright, so hopefully Idgy and her friend Amy will be able to play outside and maybe even practice their magic act for the fothcoming talent show at school. Others may be singing, dancing or telling jokes, oh no we have the budding Tommy Coopers round here. They are working on some clever little tricks and have even borrowed a top hat from my friend Robert at the antique shop. And no, Harry the ferret will not be popping out of it, they will have to settle for a toy rabbit instead. Come on guys, l have to draw the line somewhere.

So what am l up to today, making up the spare room bed and trying to remove a light fitting that is blotting the landscape in there. Working on my Christmas prototypes for photographing and generally doing this and that in the garden.

Here's hoping the weather is kind to all of us this holiday weekend, enjoy.....
Karon  x

BARKING MAD

 

Sorry to disappoint all the dog lovers out there, it's tree bark I'm mad about.

I really notice the trees as l run in the mornings. Some have scales like old crocodiles.

Some are smooth with little lichen islands sprouting out all over them.

Some have hidey holes that must be homes for all sorts of creatures. This is when Beatrix Potter mentality springs into action and all the furry creatures are suddenly wearing Victorian clothes and rushing around like people.

And some are just old and mossy with pretty flowers around them. They are restful, interesting, and a good way to slow down the mind and take you away from the bustle of reality.

Go on, have a look at some trees next time you are out and about, they aren't just woody sticks with leaves on top, they are interesting too.

Might have to start talking to them...................

Karon  x

BLOG TROTTING AGAIN

Here are a couple of local lovelies enjoying some Spring sunshine. Couldn't resist snapping this pic, it just looked so much like a butter commercial.

Anyway today we are blog trotting again. Thought it was high time that l updated my list of nice blogs to visit, so here are a few l enjoy reading  just now, why not drop in on them.

Cowboys and custard
Highland adventure
Cottage Economy
My Country Dream
My not so hurried life

I really love the whole blogging community thing and would love to hear about your favourite blogs, so come on, lets share.

Spare room update; looking more like a bedroom and less like a shed! Painting done, books back, cutrains made    -    hopefully invite you round tomorrow.

Karon  x

A HANGING OFFENCE

For anyone who thought there would be fabulous pix of the spare room up here today, l disappoint - come on gals, best will in the world, l still can't work that fast! I can report tho, that the floor to ceiling book case is now a tastefully aged off white like the furniture. You really don't want to hang around in my house just now in case you too become tastefully aged in off white!!

I have even wrestled with the curtain rail. Now how hard could that be to hang. Try using a spirit level next time.  I did think l could visualise a straight line. Obviously l can't. Have since raided my tool drawer and found the spirit level, so that's another little job for today. Moral of the story - just because an object is inanimate and metal (curtain pole) never underestimate it and foolishly assume you are a superior being and can therefore outsmart it, you can't.

what a pretty little scene it was.The photo is of one of the shelves in HQ. It wasn't until l took the photo that l realised It is just one of my prop shelves.

In the true spirit of all mysteries and cliff hanger tv programmes l shall end this post with these words

to be continued......................

Karon  x