About this sort of time every year, I seem to make a seasonally appropriate card festooned with snowdrops. I like snowdrops and the way they grow in little clumps here and there. We’re currently waiting for our potted Polar Bear variety to bloom. We’ve probably got a bit of time to wait: as I recall… Continue reading Signs of Spring: Snowdrops
Winter Wonderland
Having not been particularly inspired by the festive magazines last year, or by the festive offerings of Hobbycraft, I’m going to be continuing to use the Stash. And trying not to repeat designs from previous years. It can be all too easy sometimes to just fall back on a tried and tested design, especially when… Continue reading Winter Wonderland
The Start of the Spring-Clean
It is perhaps a little early to think of spring-cleaning: we’re still in the depths of winter, though the lightening evenings are bringing a hint of optimism to this largely sofa-bound person. But, this year, M and I are doing a massive spring-clean, which involves new furniture and a complete reorganisation of most rooms in… Continue reading The Start of the Spring-Clean
The Birthday Macaw
Tiny would cause crafting problems if I liked to make complicated cards. As it is, the only problem caused is one of timing, and being able to snatch the time to plan a card and then to create it. Hence the lack of card posts of late. Or any sort of crafting posts, really. There… Continue reading The Birthday Macaw
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Finally, I have managed to start making cards again. Which is good because the magazines have had sets recently which I like and think I could actually use for a change. A lot of last year the sets were too similar to ones I already had, especially the Christmas sets. But I liked the Magic… Continue reading The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Notes From My Office: February 2023
Ah, the end of January! Such a long and dreary month, though it has been comforting to see the afternoons remaining light for longer. A reminder that the winter won’t last forever, even if that’s how January makes it feel. Although the last few days of sunshine have helped with that. This last week or… Continue reading Notes From My Office: February 2023
Nature Notes: January 2023
Our wildlife survival outpost is attracting the usual eclectic mix of characters at the moment. From the locals (the Blue Tit Group, the Great Tit, Robin, Nuthatches and Squirrels) to our visitors from -further afield (a family flock of Long-Tailed Tits and the occasional Jay) we have a thriving community of creatures that we are… Continue reading Nature Notes: January 2023
The Covid Diaries
It only took three years, but finally the Dread Plague that’s stalked the world has caught up with us. On the one hand, at least it has taken this long: we’ve been vaccinated and we know what we’re doing with it. And it’s much less of a killer plague. On the other, though, so annoying.… Continue reading The Covid Diaries
Notes From My Office: January 2023
Normally at this time of year I reflect on the year just gone and think about my plans or goals for the year to come. Still being in the early baby-bubble, I haven’t really got much further than keeping Tiny alive and trying not to go insane through lack of sleep or the constant feeding… Continue reading Notes From My Office: January 2023
Christmas Fudge
My normal go-to homemade festive gift is truffles, but this year I thought I’d branch out and try something else. Partly, this is because in the November Tesco magazine there was a recipe for what they called Microwave Speculaas Fudge. (If you don’t have a microwave, though, don’t worry: this can be made just as… Continue reading Christmas Fudge