IS THERE NO END TO HIS TALENTS........?

When I married my darling 'boy' 44 years ago, I was a love struck teenager with a very handsome bloke! (mind he's wearing very well and doesn't show his age even now!) I knew he was pretty handy at practical stuff the way he could strip a motor bike or lawn mower down and actually not have any bits left when he put it back together!.
He was also a great sportsman, football, darts, snooker then later cricket and seemed to excel in everything he did. He once bowled a whole cricket team out (though they only had 10 men that day) for about 26 runs, so they mounted the cricket ball for him and presented it to him at one of their cricket dinners.
Well over the years he has moved electrics, plumbed in sinks fixed just about everything that has broken and made kids toys from garages, to cranes to dolls houses.
So what does a woman do when her DD leaves home and is short of a table...of course you give them yours and say...but your dad will soon make me another one!!!

And so he did.......

and its perfect.....

Ummm!! now that corner could do with a cupboard....perhaps I better wait a bit before I put in my next order.....

Have a great weekend, we are off to a country fair on Sunday so hope to pick up a few bargains and have lots of piccies to show.

TTFN

Jenny xx

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER....

Last year, still I think it was last year...in fact I hope it was last year, otherwise time is flying past far too quickly, we tidied up the outside of my beloved summer house 'My Retreat', by giving it a fresh coat of wood stain. I said at the time that we would be having a great sort out inside, since it had become a bit of a dumping ground, but because of the dismal summer we had...it didn't happen and the poor wee house got fuller and fuller with 'stuff'!

image courtesy of the telegraph.co.uk

We didn't quite get to danger point but lets say we couldn't get over the threshold.....

Well it was all the window mans fault really........ no not the rubbish, but the sudden burst of DIY activity!!

We are about to have some windows replaced at the back of the house, and the only way to bring them into the garden is by the back gate. Well that means they have to be carried across the rickety, rackety bridge over the pond.  Now it wasn't so much a troll we were scared of as being sued when the workmen disappeared into the 5 foot of water (apart from the fact that they might damage our nice new windows too!),  so first job tackled was a new bridge....with super lighting no less.....(a birthday present to DH yonks ago carefully stored in his shed)........

......... and so it has continued one job completed after another.....................

and that's how the poor neglected summer house finally got its makeover completed  I am pleased to say it has been returned to its cosy best and looks loved and cared for...and whats more is back in use...yeah!

First we emptied out everything onto the lawn......

Then a fresh coat of emulsion.....

and voila order is restored.....

We even broke out the barby to celebrate......

and of course you know what happens once you start ........

we get carried away........

Ta da ............our new gate......now I wonder whats next!.............

Watch this space 'cos of course once the windows are done.........

the new sewing room needs cupboards ripping out and laminate floor laying....

the bathroom needs replastering......

the back room needs a new ceiling and replastering....

the dining room needs a new wood stove for the winter.....

Looks like we are not going to get bored sometime soon....

I think I need a drink after that and a lay down

Have a good weekend

TTFN

Jenny xx

DROOLING DEFINITELY ALLOWED........

Well at last I hear you all cry...yes I know I have spouted about this cheesecake recipe long enough now so no more delays...

However I do have to say up front that this comes with a definite health warning....do not under any circumstances try this out if
a.) You have just reached your target weight at the local slimming club
b) You are about to leave on that long planned holiday and that itsy bitsy bikini is packed
c) You have just had your final fitting for your wedding dress.....

..........You have been warned!..........

All my previous experience of cheesecakes were the 'Greens' ones out of a packet way back when and various 'home made' ones in restaurants which definitely broke the trade description laws, but no more.......

I discovered the recipe in this book

Complete Cookery Farmers Market by Jacqueline Bellefontaine, I have tried to find it on the net and I think you can still get a used copy on Amazon. I got mine in one of those cheapy book shops.

The recipe calls for a 9" deep tin, but this would make a dessert big enough for a family party, so I used a 6" tin and just halved the quantities and it worked brilliantly and gave 4 ample portions.

Ingredients

For a 9" tin  (half all quantities for a 6" tin)

225g/8oz oat biscuits (I used digestive biscuits which I prefer)

75g/3oz hard butter

350g/12oz full fat or medium fat cream cheese (I used Philadelphia on offer in Asda)

100g/4oz golden castor sugar ( I used white castor sugar)

225g/8oz Greek style yoghurt ( I could only find low fat or fat free so used the low fat)

300ml/1/2 pint double cream

1tsp vanilla essence

1 tbsp gelatine 

Topping

250g/9oz blackcurrants ( I had redcurrants so substituted these. Have also tried raspberries which were delicious)

25g/1oz golden castor sugar

2 tsp arrowroot.

Method

Place biscuits in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.

Melt the butter and stir in the biscuits. Press into the base of a loose bottomed or spring form cake tin.

Beat together the the cream cheese and sugar until well combined then beat in the yoghurt. Whip the cream into soft peaks and fold into the cream cheese mixture with the vanilla essence.

Sprinkle the gelatine over 3 tbsp of water and leave until spongy (about 10 mins). Place in pan of hot water or in a microwave for about 15 seconds and stir until dissolved. Fold into the cream cheese mixture.

Pour into the prepared tin and chill until set.

To make the topping mix together the fruit sugar and arrowroot with 2 tablespoons of water in a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture thickens. Allow to cool covered with dampened non-stick baking parchment.

Carefully remove the cheesecake from the tin and spread the fruit mixture over the top.

I am a little ashamed to say we have had this about 4 times already since I discovered it and this could well be why my clothes are feeling a little snug, however once tried it is very hard to resist.......

Do let me know if you try it and what you think....

Have a good week

TTFN

Jenny xx

ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE..............

Well I did say things had 'almost' returned to normal, and so as you can guess that meant it was going to be anything but.......

However it has mostly been for good reasons like our DD's 40th birthday celebration,

From this........with daddy

To this....with big brother......

 Where does the time go beautiful girl..........

We've had visits by workmen for some renovations we're doing and, not so good, a battle (which I am pleased to say I won) with a pair of roman blinds for my son and daughter in law.....

Just a piece of friendly advise, don't ever try to sew the Velcro on the top of a 7'9" blind once the carbon poles are inserted.......a picture of me sat on my sewing room floor with my sewing machine trying to feed this through while working the foot pedal with my hand and shuffling backwards and forwards so as not to catch the poles on the walls must surely be enough of a deterrent!!!.....

Having said that, if you are making a reasonably sensible sized blind and want some tips how to make a really professional job, just check out these videos, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJGdLU3v2cI
I have done some in the past but have to say these instructions and the template you can find on Terrell Sundermanns own site, which not only tells you what size to cut your fabric, but also what other accessories you will need to complete your task, just by inputting the width and depth of the finished blind are amazing!

 Ta Da.........

Only 2 more pairs of full length curtains and another blind to go........

 And finally I have been making headbands for my Etsy and Folksy shops and managed to find a willing victim
model for them this time....
How cute is my great niece.......

OK, so next time I really will share the delicious cheesecake recipe with you........that is of course unless something else gets in the way!.........

TTFN

Jenny xx