The Matrix - Re-Evolution!!

greenbee

Main bit of sofa cover on the line drying after an extra rinse... Lots of bits of dead bug have been brushed off. Cushion covers were almost dry but are back in for an extra rinse as they had traces of washing powder on them. Hopefully they'll dry before bedtime. Then I need to book a laundry collection (ideally I'd like to get my current bedding stripped, washed and dried too, but that's something for tomorrow.

Energy appears to be deserting me, so I might lie on the sofa and read for a bit...

gilligansyle

De-lurking again, just popped by to see how everyone's doing and catch up.

My sewing machine is my Nan's old Singer, so I never have any problems with it blowing up, but I'm waiting for the day when something breaks, or I lose a shuttle as they are really difficult to replace.
I've a question though, MG you'd probably know this- I've lost a fair bit of weight recently (stone and a half) and because I still have another 3 stone to lose, I don't want to/can't afford to buy new stuff. If I'm adapting my existing stuff, am I best just taking them in, or would I be better undoing the seams and starting again? I used to make lots of stuff, but have got out of the habit, and now only make cushions and curtains!

Also any ideas for cheap/easy patterns?

Dorastar

Still feeling positive and have started on the house front in the kitchen, trying to get all of radiators clear from giffle so that when we turn the heating on it actually heats the rooms and not just the piles of kids toys and 'stuff'.

Am being ruthless and already filled 3 binbags with utter rubbish we have accumulated, cleaned guinea pig, emptied car, played football, been to church, had lunch, unloaded and reloaded DW, done WM, sorted ds's room, emptied and cleaned windowsills and only put back things I love. Kids are both happily crafting so going to carry on flinging rubbish and cleaning but need to get ipod on so we can sing and dance along. Then dd has promised to make me a brew

Thanks for all the positive comments and yes I will need a lot of boots up the backside (especially once half term is over)

ClootiesMum

Dorastar - not sure whether to say well done or mutter quietly as you make me feel guilty

So

:j:jWELL DONE:j:j muttery muttery muttery

Dorastar

Thanks Clootiesmum - for the well done and the mutters:p Am slowing down nicely now so going to have a break and do some filing while watching Kirstie's homemade Britain. Have moved a lot of furniture from in front of radiators and cleaned up a lot of dust so need a decent rest.

greenbee

Looks like I'd better get my bag packed... SIL has been having contractions all day, although she hasn't gone into labour yet. If they go in before midnight I'll go over and stay tonight (SIL's dad will babysit till I get there). If it's after midnight her dad will stay the night and i'll have to get up early so I'm there when my nephew wakes up as his grandpa can't lift him out of the cot... Unfortunately they don't have a spare room, as the new baby is going straight into the nursery and they've decided they don't want them to share.

Oh well, no wine with supper tonight for me...

lezzle_nz

All my tomato plants composted and hanging baskets taken down. Much better than last year when I had nasty, old, dead geranium stalks swinging away in the wind. Looked proper unloved.

Just ordered a copy of The Secret through the library. When searching for Mindmap books it finds no results but does suggest I try Mantrap instead. Freudian slip?!

Still ploughing away through Make Do & Mend 2010, only another 204 pages til the end Good job it's a page turner.

Horace

Sorry not around yesterday as I was out all day - didnt cost me a bean as morning tea was bought for me and the entrance ticket and lunch too. I had a whale of a time - just need to sign up and then I am on my way.

I have just come back from my parents who have made me cry - mum wrote a cheque for £2K to pay off my Virgin credit card and in two weeks or so, she will write another cheque for £2K which would then leave me with £115.26 to pay off. She gave me £150 cash and this is to go towards petrol for my car and a haircut (my hair cut and colour will cost me £105 or thereabouts) so I may put £20 into the credit union. As she and dad have been so worried about me I came home with the following:

half a dozen free range eggs
1lb of cheese
1 tin of tomatoes
1 carton chopped tomatoes with basil and onion
1 bottle passata
12 Cushelle toilet rolls
1 tin of Aldi sliced peaches
4 bananas
4 carrots
1 bag of pasta
1 bag of frozen comice pears (home grown)
1 ltr of diet lemonade (for pears..see later)
1 bag of frozen chicken breast pieces (morrisons)
1 pack of frozen steak mince (morrisons)
1 pack of frozen stewing steak (morrisons)
1 fresh lamb steak (now in freezer) from joint she cut up today
1 box of dumpling mix
2 homemade scones
2 home made mincepies
2 home made maiden tarts (jam tarts with a sponge topping)

Picked from garden today - 2lbs of Comice Pears, 2lbs of Conference Pears and 2lbs Laxtons Apples (this does not include the fruit I ate straight from the tree) - I have these and mum has around another 6lbs to go with the boxes she has stored in the garage already..she has given loads away to neighbours too but there is still too much fruit.

Poor mum her fruit trees are overloaded and mostly the birds are taking advantage because the fruit just cannot be picked as they do not have a ladder tall enough:(

Dad told me to put my furniture into storage and go back home and stay with them and get myself sorted out properly eg. divorce etc. I had a lovely roast dinner but mum boobed with the treacle sponge for the first time ever in her life and it ended up being nuked and turned into rubber but we had a laugh about it.

You may think it odd about the lemonade - the lemonade is used to stew the pears, my grandma used to peel and slice the pears and place in a saucepan covering them with lemonade and a sprinkle of sugar and then she would cook them until soft and use them in pies etc. I shall be doing the same:D

I am truly blessed...I wasnt expecting the shopping nor the fruit from the garden.

ClootiesMum

Greenbee - hope all goes well - & I'll have a wee wine for you (if that's OK)
Cheers:beer:

groatie_queen

Horace, how wonderful to have such fabulous support from your parents. You've been so inventive eking out the contents of your store cupboard, but I'm mighty relieved you've got a decent Red Cross parcel from home to give you some comfort, good nourishment and variety!

Love the idea of stewing fruit in lemonade too.

Ooh greenbee - how exciting that you're about to be Auntie Greenbee again! Please keep us informed.