Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot ........

Goodness isn't it HOT !!! I love the summer but I'm finding this heat a bit too much, my hair looks like Monica's from "Friends" on her honeymoon ( Frizzzzy man!! ). The little men are finding it hard to sleep at night, last night they didn't go to bed until 10pm.

Anyway we visited our local Farm Shop a couple of days ago, I love that shop. The fruit & veg are nearly all locally grown & they sell English strawberries too !!




And English cherries ::

And lovely cottage plants ::


And Ice Creams ::

Local Honey, Pickles & Jams ::

Yummy strawberries ::

I hope you are enjoying this hot weather, I must get the paddling pool out tomorrow.

Hastings & Winchelsea Beach ......

As it was such a lovely day today Mum & I took the little men down to the seaside. We packed up a picnic & drinks, picked the little men up from nursery & were in Hastings by 12.30pm.


We sat on the beach & ate our picnic while watching the little fishing boats coming in to land.

We were accosted by the seagulls from land & from the sky ::

After our picnic we went for a walk along the sea front & had an ice cream. The weather was perfect, very warm with a warm breeze. We had a ride back on the Miniature Railway, which was great fun.

As it was still early we decided to drive onto Winchelsea Beach. I must admit that Hastings is not my kind of place but the boys enjoyed it, which was the main thing.


Mum & I love Winchelsea. My mum used to have family holidays there as a child so she has lots of lovely memories. Mum & my Stepfather also used to get up at 5am & drive down to walk our 3 German Shepherds on the beach at 6am most Sundays in the summer 20 odd years ago.

There was hardly anyone around so we had the beach to ourselves. Mum & the little men went looking for shells & seaweed & I sat back & watched the sea going out...... Bliss !!!

At 4.30pm we packed up to go home, then panic .... I couldn't find my car keys.

We searched all through the bags, combed the beach, nothing, help !!!!!! Then after half an hour of panicking I found them in the zip compartment of my Kath Kidson bag, thank heavens. I had visions of having to get a taxis back home. Anyway all's well that ends well. I will definately be taking the little men to Winchelsea again through the summer hols.

Sports Day ......


The little men had their first school sports day yesterday. They where in a running race & a sack race. Little man no. 1 came 2nd in his sack race & was very pleased with his sticker. I was sooo proud of them both as I wasn't sure if they would take part as they can both be quite shy when they are being watched by lots of people. WELL DONE BOYS !!!!!!

Pretty Country Cottages ......

Last week at the Tidebrook fete I bumped into an old friend who I haven't seen for over a year, even though she only lives 3 miles away, & she invited me for coffee. So yesterday I went for coffee & to catch up. The village where she lives is very pretty & the cottages are so sweet.

This is my favorite cottage, isn't it lovely !!!


Last night there was fantastic sunset, " Red sky at night shepherds delight"

My Sanctuary Is My Garden .......


When I am down in the mouth the one thing that gives me pleasure, other than my little men of course, is my garden. I love to just sit on the patio & look at all the lovely plants. I did this yesterday after having yet another viewing of the house.

Just an hour in the garden helped me get myself back on track. I even settled down to some crocheting last night, my ripple blanket is very nearly finished, Hurray !!

Unsettled ......

I have been feeling very unsettled recently. I really do not like having people viewing the house, I feel that my home is not my own anymore. It wouldn't be so bad if it was my decision to sell, but I have been put in a position that I have to.

I feel like I am living in limbo, I want to do things to the house & garden but know there is no point as I will just be wasting money & energy. I hate living like this as I love to make a house into a home.

I can not even settle to do any knitting or crochet, I get it out & then just look at it, I really hope that this feeling will pass soon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tidebrook Fete ......

Yesterday the little men, my mum & I went to the Tidebrook fete which is held every year in the grounds of a lovely country house in Tidebrook.

It always reminds me of the fetes on Midsummer Murders, except on one dies, as far as I am aware !!!


The little men were very happy with their 50p toys ::

And enjoyed "Hook the Duck" ::

The plant stall was very popular ::

The village brass band played ::

The gardens are awe inspiring, I especially love the walled garden & the vine grotto ::

We bumped into lots of friends, Andy & mum ::

It was a another lovely day out, the little men played with friends from Nursery, mum & I looked around the stalls & chatted to friends & ate organic hamburgers & home made ice cream.

I hope these village events don't die out as they are such a lovely part of living in the country.

Wool & Cake ......

Look at this lovely skein of Manos Wool Clasica I pulled out of my rather large stash of yarn. The colour is 6422 & I have 3 skeins, enough to make another scarf.

On Wednesday it was my little cousin's 18th Birthday. She is having her party tonight & asked if I would make a cake for her, how could I refuse. I made one of my favorites which I made up a few moths ago for another family celebration.

Tanski's Black Forest Cake

Cake

8oz SR Flour

8oz Caster Sugar

8oz Butter/ Marg

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 oz Cocoa

4 Large Eggs

1 tbsp Camp Coffee

Topping

Double Cream, whipped

1/2 tin of Cherry Filling

Preheat oven to 180 oc.

Mix all the ingredients together & add cold water to make a dropping consistency. Pour mixture into a greased & floured 10" cake tin. Bake for about 45-50 mins.

Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins before turning out onto a cooling tray. Once completely cold cover with cream & top with cherry filling. Best eaten with a fork !!!

Some Knitting On The Go ......

I couldn't take it any longer, I had to get out my knitting needles & knit. I haven't done any knitting for about 2 months & I was getting very bad withdrawal symptoms. I love crochet but my first love is knitting. My mother taught me to knit when I was 14 & I made a black mohair boxy jumper that I wore until it fell to bits in my 20's.





I am knitting yet another scarf using Malabrigo & The Yarn Harlots 1 row pattern. The colour is called Jacinto which is much more purple then the photo shows.

Rain, Rain Go Away ......

What a horrible wet day, where has the summer gone?

It decided to pour hard just as I was leaving to pick up the little men from Nursery. Luckly it didn't last very long so we didn't get too wet. The little men didn't complain as there where lots of puddles to jump in.

How Does Your Garden Grow?... Very Nicely Thank You ......

The garden has never looked so good & it's still only early June.