It was Lovely

Thought I'd just let you know that the casserole was very tasty, I'm not really a fan of the slow cooker, as I'm not a domestic goddess when I've used it before it's not been very successful. Some might say I need more practice! I thought I should use it as last weekend I had a go at cooking Heston Blumenthal's three times cooked chips, they were lovely. In passing I said " Maybe we should get an electric fryer" I'd used the wok, a comment was made " Good idea, it can stand on the side next to the slow cooker, bread maker and the ice-cream maker that never get used". So yes you've guessed it in the coming week I'm planning on cooking another casserole with bread and for dessert.......

There is a give away on Silver Pebbles blog take a look! She's giving one lucky person the chance to win Kirstie Allsopp's book and also a Silver clay starter pack.

Domestic Goddess (NOT)

Things with Betsy seem to be settling down. Betsy and I  have started going to obedience classes once a week, Dave says he's noticed a difference in ME not the dog!!!!!! She is still waking at six in the morning but I'm used to it now and don't mind it at all anymore!  I probably shouldn't speak to soon but the toilet training seems to be getting there too, 2 wee's yesterday on the floor (thank goodness for laminate flooring) and only one today! Look at that face, I can forgive her anything..........

No textile work to show, I have been getting on with work for the Material Girls next exhibition, 2012 is going to be a really busy year for us.

Last weekend we went to George's Naming Ceremony, it's the first of these I've been to. I was really thrilled to be asked to be a witness, I wasn't sure what to expect as I've only been to Christenings before, but it was a lovely day and a great way of welcoming a baby into the world. 
 
Christmas is approaching fast, I'm buying most of the presents on the internet this year, I'm not in love with shopping. Last year proved a bit of a disaster, a couple of parcels didn't arrive at all, but I decided to give it another go. I've started earlier this year and the first parcel has arrived today, so that's a good start.

I've even made the Christmas cake, I'm giving the Delia 'cake in a box' a try, all I needed to add was the butter, eggs and the peel from a lemon and an orange. So easy and I feel like a domestic goddess without all the mess! There is a casserole in the slow cooker, just waiting for Dave to get home, he's been away for a few days, boy he'll be impressed when he get's home.

This afternoon I went to 'A Celebration of the Life of Freda'. I met Freda 26 years ago I was an assistant in the local adult education cake decorating class, I know it was 26 years because I was pregnant with Rachel.  Freda was one of 12 woman in the class and she was a warm and funny lady, we lived near each other and I would often give her a lift to the class. She then asked me to join her and her sister in law at a fabric painting class, we lost touch for a few years. I'd progressed with my cake decorating and was teaching a class of my own when we met again. We were both invited to take part in a 'Focus on Crafts' in our village, I was painting on sugar and Freda and her daughter were doing 'Quilting', it was lovely to meet her again and I said I'd always fancied having a 'go' at quilting and patchwork. Freda always keen on people trying something new was quick to invite me along to the class she attended and so my journey into the textile world started and my life changed! It's amazing how one person can change and influence your life. Today the church was full to bursting with family and friends of Freda, a testimony to a lovely kind lady 'gone but never forgotten'.

1st November Already-only 54 days until Christmas!

I don't know whats been happening here, that's not strictly true BETSY is what's been happening! I can't keep using her as an excuse. I must get myself organised and get on with things, so many deadlines have been missed. I knew I was getting a puppy so decided not to submit work for selection for the ERTF exhibition in September, it would have been impossible to leave a pup and go off and do the necessary requirements if I had been selected. Since then I've missed the deadline for ALQS6, I was really hoping to take part in that, maybe I'll have a chance another time. Then I said I'd knit cup cakes for Gina's Pink Friday Party, I even went out and bought the wool from Craft Arena, Denise loaned me cupcake knitting patterns, but the parties been and gone and the wool is still in the bag. I've returned the patterns. So sorry to all those I've let down.  From now on I must either do the things I say I'll do or keep my 'BIG' mouth shut and don't say I'll do them in the first place! I have really let things slip, I don't think I've commented on other peoples blogs either, not always my fault, sometimes it's blogger, I type out the comment and then cant get it posted. I have been reading blogs, that's easy I can sit with Betsy and check on my i phone. A big thank you for everyone that comments on my blog I really do appreciate it. I do manage to get bits onto my facebook via my phone on a regular basis but getting posts onto blogger isn't a success for me via my phone even using the app! Well enough of my problems and failings. Hope you've not dozed off or cried your eyes out yet.

Now for what I have managed to do! Lots of walking Betsy, she gets me out at least twice a day, evening walks are a bit difficult since last week the odd firework is 'let off', why so far in advance of 5th November? She really doesn't like them and so I'm taking her out earlier, how do other dog owners manage any tips gratefully accepted! The weekend walks are the best Dave and I take her to various woods all within a few miles of where we live. Despite being able to get into London in next to no time we have lots of green spaces Thames Chase. The nearest place for us to walk Betsy are Berwick Ponds and Woods its about a 5 minute walk from our house, that's where we walked on Sunday and Betsy had her first meeting with ducks and geese, she didn't turn a hair!

Despite missing some deadlines there's one I just have to make, so there has been some work going on, not as quickly as it should have been, but it needs to be completed by next Tuesday for the Material Girls monthly meeting!

Tonight I'm putting the backing on and it's done then I need to make a start on my 3D work or at least have something in my sketch book to show. I know what I'm doing just need to get it out of my head and into the page! Are you convinced? Good.

Looking forward to next year, we've booked a cottage for a week's holiday. We are going to Norfolk in May, when James was a baby we had a couple of lovely holidays in Norfolk. The cottage is on the coast and I'm dreaming of long walks on those lovely Norfolk beaches with Betsy (hope the obedience classes have worked by the time May comes).  We've also booked a holiday for later next year (without Betsy)  after reading Purple Podded Peas accounts of her road trip from LA to San Francisco, a trip we did with the children. I seriously thought about doing it again for the third time or going back to New England and visiting Rhode Island a place we have never managed to visit. On Saturday I left Dave with two brochures one for America and the other Worldwide and off I went to have my hair cut when I got home he'd picked where he fancied going. SO we're off to Mauritius for 11 nights!!!!! I must admit I was looking forward to visiting all those wonderful textile shops in the US, I'm not that disappointed though, I've been told that Mauritius has lovely textiles (keeping that to myself) and it's good to widen your horizons.

Oh well better get on Internet, Christmas shopping to be done, only 54 days until.........
But before I leave a photo of Betsy, it's not easy getting a good one, she doesn't sit still for long!