Dan and I are having the neighbours round at the weekend for Sunday lunch. It's that time of the year when I'm not exactly sure what to cook - it's not quite cold enough for the comfort of a massive roast, Yorkshires and potatoes, but the weather most likely won't cooperate and be warm enough for a barbeque, either.
I'm leaning toward tomato and red lentil soup for the starter, followed by baked chicken breast and parma ham parcels stuffed with pesto and mozzarella accompanied by a crayfish salad with sweet chilli dressing. And a giant carrot cake with cream cheese icing for dessert.
Yes / No? Other suggestions for menu items gratefully received!
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work I go...
Walking to the train station this morning, I saw a garden gnome laying on it's side along the edge of the pavement. It made me giggle a bit because how did he get there? Who steals a gnome from someone's garden and just dumps it on the side of a pavement? Also it was about 6.45am and I'd only had 4 hours of sleep so my criteria for 'hilarious' were significantly lower than normal.
Coming home I noticed Otis (that's the name I gave him) was now standing upright. At least now the contents of his wheelbarrow won't tip out.
The most worrying aspect of this whole thing, though, is not the gnome-napper roving freely through the back gardens of Camelsdale. No, it's the fact my husband expressed a fondness for garden gnomes, which to me is a warning sign. Of what, I haven't yet decided, but no doubt something bad. If gnomes turn up in our garden, I might have to consult a family solicitor to see if that's grounds for a divorce...
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Today I hiked 11 miles, ate some curry & restarted my blog
It's been a while. Months, actually, but who's counting? I finished painting the living room around the middle of October, went to the States for two and a half weeks in November and immediately started my new job upon return.
Since January, I've barely had a non-work weekend, am consistently doing 10-12 hour days and even during the week I took off for Mom's visit in March I still ended up working most days. I'm not complaining, though, because I'm doing something I adore and am working with some interesting people.
The point, really, is that I might be a little crazy to think I'll actually have time to blog, but what the heck? I'm giving it a shot. Partly because I miss writing, but mostly because I crave the approval of people reading my witterings on the internet. I've even added a twitter feed, just to make the Google-stalking extra easy (you know who you are).
Expect a mix of politics, baking / recipes, random inanities, current affairs, maybe some photos and a bit of anything else I'm in the mood to share. It goes without saying that all views expressed are my own, except I've said it, so obviously it doesn't...
Since January, I've barely had a non-work weekend, am consistently doing 10-12 hour days and even during the week I took off for Mom's visit in March I still ended up working most days. I'm not complaining, though, because I'm doing something I adore and am working with some interesting people.
The point, really, is that I might be a little crazy to think I'll actually have time to blog, but what the heck? I'm giving it a shot. Partly because I miss writing, but mostly because I crave the approval of people reading my witterings on the internet. I've even added a twitter feed, just to make the Google-stalking extra easy (you know who you are).
Expect a mix of politics, baking / recipes, random inanities, current affairs, maybe some photos and a bit of anything else I'm in the mood to share. It goes without saying that all views expressed are my own, except I've said it, so obviously it doesn't...
Thursday, 9 September 2010
The dining room is done!
Well, one room at least is finished! I completed the main painting on the room last Thursday and spent Monday and Tuesday of this week on finishing touches - painting the skirting boards, cleaning up corners and borders and cutting in around the light switches and outlets. It looks amazing, if I do say so myself, so here are several photos for your viewing pleasure.
The whole process, though physically tiring, was immensely satisfactory! And there was only one incident of cat and paint meeting when Boots decided to sit in a splodge of paint. It certainly made it easy to tell her from the others for a few days!
Let me know what you think of the color and furniture now the painting is done.
The whole process, though physically tiring, was immensely satisfactory! And there was only one incident of cat and paint meeting when Boots decided to sit in a splodge of paint. It certainly made it easy to tell her from the others for a few days!
Let me know what you think of the color and furniture now the painting is done.
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| I'm very pleased with my corner painting skills! |
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Fireplace and dining room
The summer is coming to an end and my decorating project is progressing, albeit slowly. Once we pulled the old fireplace down and realized that the chimney breast would need to be re-plastered, the painting took a bit of a back seat.
Now the new fire surround is installed, the chimney breast wall is re-plastered and I've finally be able to start painting. Since every bit of DIY that the previous owners did seemed to be, well, pretty craptastic, I decided that I was going to start with the basics and work up. I sugarsoaped the ceiling and walls, which was a lot harder and grimier than I'd anticipated! Sponging sugarsoap onto a ceiling is not a quick or clean task, but the dirt and grime that came off in the water was proof that it was a good plan.
Once the walls were dry, I taped off the baseboards and other woodwork and started priming by cutting in around the corners, light fittings and outlets and then used a roller on the ceiling. Once again this was more difficult than I'd planned because I used a 5-in-1 basecoat that is thicker than most primers because it covers and fills hairline cracks, covers stains and dark paint, and smooths imperfections.
The dining room is now completely primed and ready to be painted.
Now the new fire surround is installed, the chimney breast wall is re-plastered and I've finally be able to start painting. Since every bit of DIY that the previous owners did seemed to be, well, pretty craptastic, I decided that I was going to start with the basics and work up. I sugarsoaped the ceiling and walls, which was a lot harder and grimier than I'd anticipated! Sponging sugarsoap onto a ceiling is not a quick or clean task, but the dirt and grime that came off in the water was proof that it was a good plan.
Once the walls were dry, I taped off the baseboards and other woodwork and started priming by cutting in around the corners, light fittings and outlets and then used a roller on the ceiling. Once again this was more difficult than I'd planned because I used a 5-in-1 basecoat that is thicker than most primers because it covers and fills hairline cracks, covers stains and dark paint, and smooths imperfections.
The dining room is now completely primed and ready to be painted.
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| Delightful chipboard behind old mantle |
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| Finished chimney wall and new mantle |
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| Most of the dining room furniture in the living room |
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| Primed dining room wall and arch next to old paint in the living room |
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