Tuesday 4 August 2009

A surprise gift and other bits of chit chat

Special delivery
The postman delivered a small brown package for me today, I wasn't expecting anything,
so I couldn't wait to see what it was. Inside was this beautifully gift wrapped pressie. I knew at once who it was from because this person always wraps her gifts no matter how small, exquisitely.

I t was a surprise gift from my blogger friend Pam she makes the loveliest things. Inside the blue tissue paper was this little pin cushion with it's lovely beaded edges and complete with some bright coloured pins pushed in around a circle on the fabric.


On the other side is another coffee cup.
This was made from some fabric I had sent to Pam as a bit of a challenge, I had bought half a metre of the fabric to make something out of it, but I was stumped for ideas of what to use it for, so I thought I would share some with Pam. The fabric design is lots of squares of different brightly coloured coffee cups & saucers, and mugs. So when I sent some off to Pam, I never expected I would enjoy one of the results of her many talents.
Thank you so very much to Pam, and I look forward to her posting some other things she makes with the other pieces of the fabric.

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Baking

If you like baking, and especially like cup cakes for special events I can recommend this book. My son's girlfriend made him some delicious ones for his birthday recently using the recipe's from here. I was so impressed I had to buy my own copy to have a go at making something from it.
The best price seems to be from 'Amazon.co.uk' where I got it for £8.49 and no postage costs. It varies from £12.99 to £16.99 elsewhere. There are lots of lovely goodies to bake in here. bye the way 'The Hummingbird Bakery' is a famous bakery in London where they sell the cakes made from the recipes in this book.


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The Cutting Bed

Just to say that if you like dahlias, and want to add to your cutting bed then you can't get better than these 'Pink Giraffe' Dahlias, I cut them last Friday and they were already in flower for days before that on the allotment, and this photo was taken this morning and they still look fresh, I'll maybe get another day or two out of them.


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Harvests

A few photo's of the latest pickings from the allotment: some very large beetroots and two tiny ones pulled up accidentally.


Five very large tasty onions. I have pulled up around 70 ( drying off in the lottie shed) and still have more to pull, so shouldn't need to buy any for many months.



And last of all bags of French beans 'Fasold' I am picking these most days as I hate them to get too large, the runner beans are starting to come fast and furious now.


We all seem to have powdery mildew on our courgette plants which is slowing down the fruits developing, I look at other plots as I pass and everyone seems to have the same problem, I hope it doesn't spread to other squashes and pumpkins.

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Well thats about all my news over the last couple of days. The weather is foul, raining all day today so couldn't get to the lottie and I need to bring the onions home to dry out as they are overpowering the shed with the smell and the space they take up.

5 comments:

Corner Gardener Sue said...

You have pretty flowers and crops. Great photos! I love that dahlia. I can't remember what kind I have planted, but they are supposed to be pink with streaks of yellow. I had lost the roots, and by the time I found them, it was about a week after they were supposed to go in. I am pleased that they are doing fine, and one of the blooms is showing some color, so it should be open soon.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I forgot to say I love the pillow. I tried making some clothes when I was in high school, but had trouble going straight, and ended up with curved seams. I hated using the seam ripper, too, so I gave up on sewing. I am in awe of those who can make things with fabric.

GYPSYWOMAN said...

wow - what beautiful flowers and veggies! and what a wonderful and sweet gift - not to mention pretty! i've been out of touch of late with one of my daughters from louisiana coming up with her bunch - it was wonderful but way too short - just wanted to drop by your place and say hello - have a great day - jenean

Prospero said...

Hi Maureen. I'm a big cappuccino fan to begin with. And I love getting stuff in the mail (who doesn't). But what a surprise that must have been. Pam is a very creative and talented designer (and genius gift wrapper).

Your beets look great. I'm still enjoying the orange watermelon. But beets, I was done with that ages ago (February, for the sake of absolute precision).

Maureen said...

SUE, thanks for the nice comments, I laughed at your story of your sewing experiences, perhaps you should have another go !
Also I would love to see a photo of your Dahlia when it blooms.
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JENEAN, I hope you had a great time with your daughter, it's great when they visit isn't it ? Thanks for dropping by.
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PROSPERO, Yes your right Pam is very talented, I still haven't decided what to make with the rest of the fabric. I hope you took a photo of your watermelon ?
I still have loads of beets to harvest. I'm afraid I didn't do anything exciting with the ones I picked, I just boiled them and pickled them in malt vinegar. They taste nice with salad and cold meat. But my favourite way to eat them is baked with garlic and herbs. How's the little urchin ? I missed her photo in your last post.