Another 3 year old expected at the weekend.
Back to blogging when fully recovered (may take a month or too.................LOL)
Thursday 17 August 2017
3 year olds
Phew! Grandma forgot how busy, noisy and screamy(frustration) 3 year olds could be!
Still the hobby horse riding was a distraction for a bit.
Another 3 year old expected at the weekend.
Back to blogging when fully recovered (may take a month or too.................LOL)
Another 3 year old expected at the weekend.
Back to blogging when fully recovered (may take a month or too.................LOL)
Saturday 5 August 2017
Up cyling a cheap commercial picture
I used to think this was a dead sophisticated picture which fitted in well to the "big" executive house we used to have.
It has been in our current dull bathroom - beige tiles and beige walls. I recently invested in a brighter shower curtains which matched the stack of blue/emerald towels we have. I thought some brighter paint may help and intended just to vamp the background of the pebbles.
Firstly the commercial "made in Taiwan" product was simply hot glued throughout. It was quite difficult to take apart and I was a bit worried the frame would collapse if I went too far. had to cut through the glue with a sharp modelling scalpel and in the end made a finger hole to be able to lift the layers of cardboard off. disappointed in the "product" as other commercial pictures I have taken apart have at least had substantial wood frames.
Secondly, the layers of textured paper inside the picture the pebbles were stuck too were just poor quality faded tissue paper. So the plan to introduce bright colours by simply painting around the centre bit went out the window for now. Although I may revise with some scraps of wallpaper I have stored, somewhere.
I was playing about with some abstract shapes formed with acrylic paint and a palette knife on card when two shapes of figures began to emerge. I worked on this for a while and for now, it will uplift the bathroom a bit.
Ta - dah!
Have you tried updating pictures?
It has been in our current dull bathroom - beige tiles and beige walls. I recently invested in a brighter shower curtains which matched the stack of blue/emerald towels we have. I thought some brighter paint may help and intended just to vamp the background of the pebbles.
Firstly the commercial "made in Taiwan" product was simply hot glued throughout. It was quite difficult to take apart and I was a bit worried the frame would collapse if I went too far. had to cut through the glue with a sharp modelling scalpel and in the end made a finger hole to be able to lift the layers of cardboard off. disappointed in the "product" as other commercial pictures I have taken apart have at least had substantial wood frames.
Secondly, the layers of textured paper inside the picture the pebbles were stuck too were just poor quality faded tissue paper. So the plan to introduce bright colours by simply painting around the centre bit went out the window for now. Although I may revise with some scraps of wallpaper I have stored, somewhere.
I was playing about with some abstract shapes formed with acrylic paint and a palette knife on card when two shapes of figures began to emerge. I worked on this for a while and for now, it will uplift the bathroom a bit.
Ta - dah!
Giant onions
My husband has been growing some exhibition giant veg. Its a pity that our village does not have a fete or anything to show them off.
I am wondering how many meals each one will cover??
Thursday 3 August 2017
Kitchen improvements
The slow revamp of our kitchen continues. I have always felt hemmed in by the wall cabinets which were too low over my only "working" space so I was glad to finally have them removed.
As expected with a 1930s house there were lots of holes to be filled but it did not take long to poly-fill
and repaint with some emulsion from the bottom of a tin. Not bothered too much with shade as we intend to re colour the walls eventually.
My husband made some nice shelf brackets and got some decent wood. He fixed on an IKEA rail I have had in storage for ages and Ta Dah!
To all you who say what happened to the two cupboards worth of stuff? And is it the not an old fashioned idea? The contents of the too small and too awkward common kitchen wall units with the lattice windows was just "stuff" and 50% was out of date herbs and spices. So a bit of throwing out was needed. I now have all those things I use to cook every meal from scratch twice a day right there in front of me. The old ideas in life are the best. Marvellous.
(Also the cupboards, doors removed, are standing on their ends in the shed and are proving to be useful storage cubby holes).
Next step is to remove the disgusting and not working cooker hood, which is also a fire hazard as it is apparently too low and not the recommended distance from the hob. (Are we not all a bit more aware of fire hazards and spread since the dreadful London event?) Plus have some small shelves to the far end of the counter to house spice jars and oils.
Nearly there with this kitchen I kid myself. I am dismissing the much needed taking out and replacing of the sink and units from my mind for at least 4 months. Far too much trauma.
and repaint with some emulsion from the bottom of a tin. Not bothered too much with shade as we intend to re colour the walls eventually.
My husband made some nice shelf brackets and got some decent wood. He fixed on an IKEA rail I have had in storage for ages and Ta Dah!
(Also the cupboards, doors removed, are standing on their ends in the shed and are proving to be useful storage cubby holes).
Next step is to remove the disgusting and not working cooker hood, which is also a fire hazard as it is apparently too low and not the recommended distance from the hob. (Are we not all a bit more aware of fire hazards and spread since the dreadful London event?) Plus have some small shelves to the far end of the counter to house spice jars and oils.
Nearly there with this kitchen I kid myself. I am dismissing the much needed taking out and replacing of the sink and units from my mind for at least 4 months. Far too much trauma.
Wednesday 2 August 2017
Excessive veg
What are you doing with your gluts of veg?
Cake
Carrot cake - I have got a WWW veg oil based recipe sorted now but I may try to make two third quantities as the whole thing is a bit too much when it is just for us two. Also I substitute half the walnuts with sultanas as nuts are not top of our favourite tastes. I often leave the cream cheese topping off (unless its a treat day) as the sugar levels are a bit much if you have a lump for coffee and afternoon tea in one day! Note - home grown carrots are NOT like commercial ones - less wet, not the same bright colour and if you leave them a day or two after picking they go too soft to grate!
Beetroot and chocolate cake - we are not that fond of chocolate cake so this one has not proved too popular but it did use up a couple of large beetroot (before the hare called the other night to devastate a large one left in the ground).
Soup
Tomato
Broccoli
Carrot
Curried Carrot
Minestrone/Vegetable - a cabbage base plus just throw in what you have (except beetroot)
May get desperate next week - courgette with Stilton stirred in.
Relish
Tried a courgette one - not so successful
Red cabbage and red onion - oh yes, that is nice with just about anything!
I won't bore you with the endless salads from the garden - lettuce, toms, cucumbers, radish, beetroot. Or the dinners with at least 3 veg choices plus freshly dug potatoes.
The other day it all got too much - we had tinned spaghetti on toast for lunch.
What else are we doing with the excess? We have built a little stand from pallets and bits of ply and sell veg at the gate. Last year we made £90 over the summer excess ( we just had a small box perched on some bricks then) - so far this year we have £30 in the jar. The pound coins will be in useful for car parking at the beach in August when the various family bring the grand children.
Cake
Carrot cake - I have got a WWW veg oil based recipe sorted now but I may try to make two third quantities as the whole thing is a bit too much when it is just for us two. Also I substitute half the walnuts with sultanas as nuts are not top of our favourite tastes. I often leave the cream cheese topping off (unless its a treat day) as the sugar levels are a bit much if you have a lump for coffee and afternoon tea in one day! Note - home grown carrots are NOT like commercial ones - less wet, not the same bright colour and if you leave them a day or two after picking they go too soft to grate!
Beetroot and chocolate cake - we are not that fond of chocolate cake so this one has not proved too popular but it did use up a couple of large beetroot (before the hare called the other night to devastate a large one left in the ground).
Soup
Tomato
Broccoli
Carrot
Curried Carrot
Minestrone/Vegetable - a cabbage base plus just throw in what you have (except beetroot)
May get desperate next week - courgette with Stilton stirred in.
Relish
Tried a courgette one - not so successful
Red cabbage and red onion - oh yes, that is nice with just about anything!
I won't bore you with the endless salads from the garden - lettuce, toms, cucumbers, radish, beetroot. Or the dinners with at least 3 veg choices plus freshly dug potatoes.
The other day it all got too much - we had tinned spaghetti on toast for lunch.
What else are we doing with the excess? We have built a little stand from pallets and bits of ply and sell veg at the gate. Last year we made £90 over the summer excess ( we just had a small box perched on some bricks then) - so far this year we have £30 in the jar. The pound coins will be in useful for car parking at the beach in August when the various family bring the grand children.
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