post 'n' run II

Yesterday I picked up a rather funny all graphite pencil that was in a a pack my son has, and doodled while waiting on Taede returning from the take away pizza establishment.  Piper was watching tv, tired and sleepy and yet mesmerised.  So I thought I'd have a quick sketch of her.  I reckon it could very well be 10 years or so since I drew something 'real' as opposed to just dawdled with things in my head.

I've resolved to get myself a sketch pad and scribble more often, and get my skills back up to speed.  I've always been the sort of person who has to be in the mood to create things, regardless of whether it's sketching, baking or other creative pursuits... the more I have to do a thing, the less it turns out as it should.  Please tell me I am not alone in this?!

A while ago

I made a necklace for Jean's niece, for her birthday.  Jean's now asked me to make a bracelet to match. And I have a week!  The only requesite for the original piece was it had to be gothy, with purple and she likes dragons.

I have less to work on this time!  So I raided the stash and made a start on a charm bracelet.  My initial idea was to have some charms spaced out so it was a start of a bracelet.  But it looked too sparse so I added in some pearls.

Now it's full, but not as full that she can't add more charms to it.

Then I thought I might make something that Carol Passaro via Sarah Tucker whipped up for us on Operation : Tackle that Bead Stash as an alternative.  It used the same suede cord as was on the original necklace, but I didn't have a heart or crystal that was drilled through! I raided the stash again and found a purle pressed glass skull and used that.  This gave me a Cinco De Mayo vibe, and I remembered this chap. 

Another pressed skull in amber which I brick stitched around with an ornate headress in herringbone weave with tiny picot edges.  I doubled up the picots at the bottom to give him a frill.  I only had the one, so I ordered another pack of the mixed beads in the hope that there'd be another one. I was delighted that there was, but lost my beading mojo, so that little guy has waited for his buddy since mid December last year!

I thought it was high time they were a pair!

So, a tad early but ¡Feliz Cinco De Mayo!

More Lovely People

Bead and Banter tonight, and Sigrid and I were joined by Shirley as well as Lisa and Mary.

We had a laugh as usual, and met another beader as well as hooked up with the fab, gentile and fun Jane Lock again.  I didn't catch the name of the beader opposite Jane but what a scream she was!

Here are some pics ...

 Lisa, Sigrid and Mary engrossed by their work ...

Shirley and another beader enjoy the banter

Jane looks at bead pr0n - oooooo matron!

I do like our jaunts, and both the journeys to and from ... later in the month is going to be a blast! :D

All the lovely people!

I have had a wonderful weekend of birthday ness ... First, on Friday I  got a free day off courtesy of the new Mr & Mrs William of Wales! Thank you me ole chinas!

We had friends and family over and I'd made chocolate cake.  I had iced it with plain vanilla buttercream to look like roses (which was quite easy - Just like icing lots of cupcakes on one big cake!) Sadly I didn't get to take pictures .. I got waylaid by pfaffing the kitchen and the nuptials! And hats.... oh dear Lord the hats! :D Here's a piccy link to where I got the idea ...

And oh YES will I be doing the vertical layer cake at some point! Ran out of time this weekend :)

The boys' friends came over later in the day and in spite of the grey clouds and wild chilly wind went out with water guns and had a fun time :)

Saturday was different, the sun shone heartily and after Taede had finished work his week off started! woohoo! We visited my folks in the afternoon and there was more water fights. And more cake, Mum made a cinnamon cake that's traditional in Portugal and there was still chocolate cake left!

We all quaffed some cava and then made our way back up the road to allow me to get some kip before the walk. I wasn't keen on the idea of being without the bubs but Steve is entitled to his own bubs time, and I'd still kinda hogged them all day!

Sunday I got a wee long lie after my exertions! Then it was a small road trip to find Adventure Planet, an adventure in and of itself due to all the roadworks, with Sigrid and her youngest.  Ailidh was at a party so Sigrid and I nipped along the road to Dobbies garden centre where I bought a few plants and we had cream tea.  Sigrid gave me this beautifully crafted pendant, made with a smooth pebble from my garden which she snaffled during the great Garden Clean Up of Twenty Eleven.  What a wonderful job of it she did too! I wore it at the garden centre where it really snazzed up my dusty cardie and scruffy jeans combo!  I also wore it out to dinner with the family which was a day late. 

Today we had the paddling pool out, and had general outdoorsy fun at home. And had a good grin at some twenty something chap on his mobility scooter, who was having a blast on the new tarmac laid by the council for a new five a side pitch.  Sadly my batteries were flat or I'd have taken pictures. 

This is a pic of some of the workmen on their lunch hour last week while the sun shone.  I've never seen anyone enjoy driving donuts quite as much as this chap, and it fair put a smile on my face to see him come back later with one of his more able bodied companions who ran around after him like a daftie!

So, it's been fab and tomorrow is bead and banter. And I get to go out to lunch and some shopping with JoJo too ... Thursday is a night out for us, then Saturday is a night on the town with friends and workmates ... was going to make jelly shots, but I'm no where near organised as such at the moment.  I don't want to make my own cupcakes, but my hand may be forced ;)

Well ...

what are you waiting for? It's almost time!  You can either tune in or opt out, but either way the Royal Wedding is nearly upon us.  I'm having friends and family over for viewing or avoiding so there will be food and frolics a go go ... two tv's have been set up for those who do want to see every minute and the rest of the house and garden is a no fly zone!

I'm hoping the weather continues to hold, so we can sit outside and have eats set up there too.  The back garden is going to be opened up and I may even get out the paddling pool (if only for somewhere to keep the cider/beer chilled)

On the menu

Sarnies - Ham, Egg and Cucumber varieties
Mini Cornish Pasties
Mini Scotch Eggs
Chocolate Cake
Crisps
Sweets (old fashioned style in plastic yet glass like jars)
Should I do cupcakes?
Scones, cream and jame
Burgers and Hot Dogs

Cava (do I look like Andra Carnegie?!)
Shirley Temples
Sangria
Margueritas
Various fruit spritzers
Cider
Alcoholic Ginger beer (with Roses Lime as an optional dash!)
Fruit Juice
Tea/Coffee ...

I had intended to make a vertical layer cake with chocolate/strawberry sponge, but it's now 20 to 9 at night and I can't be arsed!

In true Oor Hoose fashion, it wasn't until about an hour ago I discussed with Taede that it might be an idea to hook up the different t.v. - cue much grumping, and we've got the x-box set up to stream it on the other telly assuming it's going to actually be that popular! :) 

I did, like a twit, resort to some red white and blue bunting which I may hang along the garden fence in the morning if I a. have time, and b. remember :D

I wish the young couple nothing but health and happiness, which is hard enough to get in a normal life, far less the goldfish bowl that they will conduct themselves... I've managed to avoid hype and hyperbole up til now and would just prefer it to be a day of relaxing with friends at home while something magical and mysterious (as well as historic) plays out in the background ... we'll see :)

So, what are your plans?

excuse me, your cool Britannia's showing....

The Bank Holiday weekend isn't over yet for us, this being Taede's rota day off, but the boys are back to school!

We had a fab weekend, Friday the boys went to Deep Sea World with their Dad and I had work at night.  Saturday was a Dad day for the boys again, with him doing childminding duties while I slept.  An early sleep was essential as I was doing a backshift on Saturday night. I was allowed to go home early though, as I'd done something to the middle fingers of my right hand, and the pain is now excrutiating ... :(

Sunday was a big tournament for the rugby up at Strathendrick in Fintry. I wore a summer dress as it was sunny here, but it was dull and breezy up there! Not unpleasant though and what a day was laid on. Tombola, bouncy castle slide, hot food, and plenty rugby.  Sadly our p6's were laid low after a promising start.  And in the final pool play off Ewan was felled by a big lad from Hillfoots and had to be attended by first aider and helped off the pitch.  Never seen him in so much pain or so upset - he was gutted he was going to miss the last half of the last game. We carried him to the car after he got his medal and headed back to Granny and Granpa's for Easter dinner...

Which was lovely!

Yesterday, the boys were both expecting some mates to come over, but this didn't materialise, which given Ewan's stiffness of knee probably was a good thing. Not that he saw it as that.  I had a jewellery repair to carry out and Sigrid popped over for a wee sesh on how to upload and link to photos ...

Some tea and scones later and the pics are all up but I'm so not used to the magical workings of iE ...

Today I think I shall be waiting around in A&E to see if my finger really is broken ... oy vey

I'm off this coming weekend so I shall be making the most of having a house full for the Royal Wedding and the snarking should be good.  I am horrified at the amount of crap that is being punted, even by what I would class as a reputable business, with the union flag on it.  And the exorbitant price of this bandwagon claptrap ... I'm annoyed, because in the midst of all this rubbish, lie beautiful gems, lost and swamped by the tide of tat! If you must display your britishness and want to wave your flag, please buy responsibly. Or with humour ... I'm loving regretsy at the moment, and would love this mug ... *evil cackle*
If you're having willing mates round and there's going to be alcohol involved, or even if there's not - you could always try this drinking game on facebook.  pixpls if you do :)

toodlepip, and chin chin!

Hat Trick

I know, I know.... THREE posts... I warned you I was like something driven by Midland Bluebird* ;)

I was in the garden this afternoon, pottering, snipping, and hanging out laundry whilst Piper began to paint.  Yes, I let her have paint, and no, I didn't used to... but she got to at her granny's and I figure outside the mess can't make it much worse. Besides, it's a (reinforced) glass table top, easily cleaned!

So here she is, hard at work creating. And this is what she did - not bad for not yet three years old, stayed in the lines not too badly :)

The dog had fun too, she has a little bubble machine from Asda that she adores, turns out Alex likes to chase them too!

 

*an old bus! ;D