No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

flowertotmum

Hello all...wow what a difference a day makes..went to bed all white outside..get up and i can see the green grass again..much better.
I hope you all kept safe and warm in the cold weather.
Lots been going on here..my reading corner is a big hit with the girls,grandchildren and big girls too...had Andrea here yesterday..she came and did my hair and her sisters...had lunch with us..and left saying she loves coming home as she is always stuffed when she leaves..bless her..we talked weddings and it seems the date is going to July 2015..they want to get a mortgage and house first..then get married..fair enough.
I finally seem to be getting somewhere with the math and fern..i found a site and they do printable sheets..ranging from so easy to more complicated..she enjoyed doing them so i have done some more a little harder but not that hard she gets stuck and frustrated..
Iris can do the total alphabet..and count to 20 on her own..she can write her name..i started a typing project with them both..fern writes her story the types it up on my laptop..which i then print..iris does the same kinda..i type a sentance and she copies it underneath..then plays at being secretary lol..
I have started Fern knitting and by crikey she got it..she has done 6 rows so far..losta few ,gained a few but all in all doing brilliantly..very proud of her..Iris is not dexterous enough bless her ,she does sit on my knee and hold my needles whilst i am knitting so hopefully it will rub off.
I bought a new fancy fangle camera this week..and gave Fern my old digital..i think i have a David Bailey..she has took some amazing shots..she has been posing Iris who is more than happy to do it..makes me laugh..Fern is also very artistic..we did a little one day project on the great painters..we picked Paul Cezanne..she was reading about him for ages..then wrote a short timeline for his life and i printed off one of his paintings that she then painted in her own way..we enjoyed doing that..
Iris..is doing well..she can do allsorts..spot the difference is her fave thing at the moment..and reading her new book..painting is her thing,she loves to do it..paints her numbers,letters and probably herself if she could.
I have been busy too...i made nuttella cookies,nutella muffins and granola bars..which proved to be the biggest hit..they are lovely and very moreish..may have to do more,,seeing as my son is supplying his mates with them..
Hubby has got 9 days at work with no day off..he is shattered at the moment..all early mornings til late at night..staff shortages..due to illness.
My son has decided to remain at college..he was due to leave this year..but has spoken to his careers advisor who was very honest and plain..there are no jobs for young un's and no apprentices are being taken on.So he is going to do a course in painting and decorating for 2 more yrs..hopefully it will all have picked up by then.Plus he can do some for me.
right have to go i really hope your all ok..and not cold or flooded.
love
ftm

[Deleted User]

Morning FTM golly, you lot are busy bunnies!!!!! It sounds as though you have thoroughly cracked the home education thing. It all sounds wonderful and seems like you are enjoying it as much as the girls, aren't they making progress, from what you tell us I think it very much was the right decision for all of you. Lovely news that Andrea and her OH are planning the wedding in 2015, and very sensible to set themselves up with a home before hand. It's just what Ruthie did, they found and bought a flat 3 years ago and have done all the improvements and decorating it needed. She and OH are looking at venues and think they have found where they want and are thinking about late August this year for the wedding, they visited one venue on Saturday and were very happy with it and the venue has a licence to hold weddings and has a vacant weekend for the one before the August Bank Holiday, we are waiting for them to decide for certain, it's so exciting isn't it? So very sensible of your son to decide on another college course rather than be bored at home, I wish him all the very best of luck for his future career, you've trained them all well haven't you.

Glad you can see green through the snow, ours has all gone and we have a lovely if breezy day with sunshine and blue skies. DD1 is here for the weekend and is going home this evening and we've had a lovely relaxy family time with lots of laughing and easy to do food, it's been lovely/ Take care of yourselves, Cheers Lyn xxx.

scottishminnie

Evening all.

Well, the end of another week already and into the last week of January. I swear I see better light in the evening now so my mood is improving along with it!

We had some horrendous snow on Friday. Thankfully I was working from home however did have to venture out later which was not fun. Saturday morning, once it had frozen overnight was even less fun:( but then we had torrential rain last night and this morning. Now there is hardly any snow:j

When I was a child my granny used to say the snow was frightened of rain and sunshine so it ran away when they came. Hubby thought I was mad when I opened the curtains at 6am this morning and announced that the snow had definitely had a fright! I still haven't explained to him- I'm sure he thinks it's just my age that I make some weird statements!

I don't feel I have achieved much this weekend. Although we had lots of snow yesterday I suggested to mum that we take her hounds for a long walk which they were thrilled about. I didn't get any cupboard clearing done but 2 happy hounds and mum and I spent nothing so I think it was a success.

I'm continuing on the using things from the pantry and freezer so another week of previously cooked meals. Most are comfort food so I'm making sure to supplement with plenty fruit and veg. Mr A has some fab oranges just now (£2 for 10 or so) which don't have pips and are easy to peel so hubby and I are having one a day.

FTM - your reading corner sounds amazing. As a bookworm since childhood I can think of nothing better. I'm planning to create a "reading corner" in my "posh" lounge so I can read there. Goodness knows why when I have the whole room to myself but I have a notion for 2 tartan covered wing back chairs and I really need to justify them!!

MrsLM - glad it is dry with you. I don't mind breezy as long as I can see blue sky although I have no idea why I adorned myself with lipgloss before I walked the hounds yesterday. Two minutes out the door and my hair was stuck to my mouth - why does it never look like that in the glossy mags??:D

scottishminnie

February at last - woo hoo:j I know I shouldn't be wishing my life away however spring is getting closer. I can see more bulbs appear by the day so the signs are certainly there!

I've been absolutely miserable, full of the cold and feeling dreadful but so busy at work that a day off was simply not an option so I've battled on. I was so looking forward to some long lies at the weekend however events conspired against me and both mornings I was up and about before 7am. Never mind, if I'd still been in bed yesterday after 7.30 I would have missed the sight of my resident sparrowhawk dismembering some poor bird (pigeon I think) before leaving my back lawn covered in grey and white feathers. Nature can be so cruel sometimes (despite me not being very fond of pigeons)

I made a rare trip into Mr T yesterday to pick up 3 items and found a huge shelf with Christmas cake and Christmas cupcake making kits. They were reduced to £2.50 and £1.25 respectively so I bought one of each as I'm not sure you could buy the ingredients for that cost. I will make the "christmas" cake for Easter and the orange and cranberry cupcakes in the next few weeks. Today I made Coconut Cream pie which hubby loves when we are on the US. It was a huge success with my parents too and some friends who were visiting them so that is another standby in future.

We've had a week of replacing light bulbs - does everyone else find that they seem to blow out one after the other or is it just me?! I had to replace one in the coooker hood two weeks ago and was horrified that a single bulb was £5 in Mr S. Yesterday the other one blew out taking the new one with it so it was off to a certain high street DIY store where a pack of 2 replacements were £3. You can bet that is the last bulb I buy in Mr S!

It's wet and windy tonight and the forecast for the week is for much more of the same so I think it will be a week of soups and heartwarming food. I'm still working through the storecupboard/freezer and I think we have enough for another 2 weeks at least. I'm a little embarrassed about how much I had stockpiled. I had leftover egg whites from the Coconut cream pie today so currently have meringues cooling. They will be hubby's treat along with the very traditional soup.
I also have a vacuum pack of chestnuts left over from Christmas which I think I may make soup with - my friend mentioned a chestnut and parsnip soup recipe so I'm off the track that down on the web now.

Enjoy the last of the weekend everyone.

flowertotmum

Afternoon all...i hope your all ok..
Well what a time we have had..fences blown down..escaped chickens..climbing frame over..pond burst its banks too..good grief..i got to the stage where i didn't want to open the curtains lol..

Nevermind these things are sent to try us and boy did they..thankfully my neighbours helped me out..catching the chickens and helping me temporarily mend the coop and fences til hubby had weekend off..its all done now..fingers crossed they hold up the next wave..

Me and the tots have been doing little and often at the moment..i realized i may be pushing to hard so have relaxed a bit..we made up times table hopscotch on a roll of lining paper..they enjoy that.
I have done a bit of batch baking..goulash and lasagnes,bolognese sauce..looks pretty good when i open freezer..we have started to make our own bread again..smells lovely when we get up in the mornings...
I have set myself a budget of £50 a week for groceries and cleaning stuff..have yet to spend all of it..so the leftover gets put in our treat jar...i really should make my own laundry liquid and save more money..also i am switching to just stardrops,zoflora for cleaning..and i have some beeswax sticks to melt down for polish..that would save a bit more too..
Fern has lost a front tooth...she now lisps a little when she talks..Iris is jealous and wants hers to fall out..

You will all be pleased to know that the KFC home baked chicken was a complete success thanks to scottish minnie and her wonderful gift..go ahead make some its amazing..did i post the recipe? if not i will do..believe me ladies is soooo amazing you will never again want your chicken froma KFC...
I have an expensive month..
Andrea..birthday on the 8th
Samuel birthday on the 13th,i am also at dentist this day for a crown prep
Valentine 14 th
Mum and dad birthday on the 12th
Mum and dad wedding anniversary on the 16th..
so quite a few things to do...
I have got annie a necklace..half price..beautiful
Sam has got new mp3 player..half price so worth it for him
Mum i have some vintage pink hankies and dad some cufflinks..
Flowers for anniversary..and of course cakes for all of them..
So an expensive month but not too bad thanks to argos sale and ebay..
Right i have to go..girls are dancing in dining room to psy and gangnam style so funny will have to video it..
love to you all
ftm

scottishminnie

FTM - I know I shouldn't but I'm giggling at the thought of your escaped chickens. I know they aren't the easiest of creatures to simply round up again!

We had to deal with some escapees on Saturday. I arrived at my parents farm to witness more than a dozen large bullocks hurtling around the farmyard heading for the gate towards the main road. Turns out my father was moving one of them and left the gate open to their pen thinking, as they were eating from a feeder at the far side he would be back before they noticed the gate was open. Now as a farmer all his 70+ years and someone who is waiting on his second hip replacement and can't move terribly fast you do have to wonder what on earth he was thinking. Thankfully hubby was also in the vicinity and we managed to get them back in before any damage was done.
Father's final comment to hubby and I, who were red faced and wheezing due from the sudden exertion and both having stinking colds - what a bonus for you both- free exercise!

I'm glad the KFC was a success - I'd love the recipe. That would make a nice change and I think would be a good Saturday night treat.

It's been very windy here too but not as bad as south- I do hope it is coming to an end for all of us soon. Some good cold, crisp, dry weather would be most appreciated.

I only have one birthday to buy for this month which is good as I'm not half as organised as you FTM!

This blasted cold is not shifting and I can feel another coughing fit coming on so I'm off for some cheap cold medicine. Fingers crossed it works or I will be banished to the spare room!

scottishminnie

Another Sunday evening coming to an end. Why is Saturday and Sunday are the shortest days of the week????:(

I have a huge pot of soup bubbling away, it's full of turkey pieces left over from Christmas. I thought it was time to use the bits up. I have the breadmaker rumbling away in the background too. The Mr T Xmas cake mix has been made and I will feed the cake from now until Easter and then ice and use as a celebration cake.

I have a slight issue with my tumble dryer. For some time I've had white items which ended up with yellowish stains on them. Sheets, towels, pillowcases etc. I put it down to the washing machine which was past its best however it has now been replaced and the problem continues - things have no stains when they go into the washing but are marked when I go to iron them - so I have concluded it must be the dryer.
Now the dryer is about 6 years old however it still works so I'm reluctant to buy another until it finally goes bang.
Does anyone know what I can use to remove the stains in the meantime?
I washed 12 new gents hankies last week and when I went to iron them 2 have big yellow marks which is so annoying as they had never been used so it has to be the dryer. Any thoughts welcome (apart from buying a new dryer as that will only happen when it fails to function completely:))

My "using things up" mission continues - slowly but surely I will empty the cupboards and restock with more relevant goods:o

Today I noticed that as well as my spring bulbs appearing my grass is definitely growing which alarms me a bit as I don't expect to be able to cut it for at least another 7/8 weeks. I need to get my seeds sorted out for spring sowing and have a clear plan of when I'm going to do things or I will miss the boat completely.

Seems we dodged a bullet with the weather again this weekend - we have family near Toronto who sent us photos of their back yard and the huge amount of snow. I can honestly say I could happily live in a warm climate all year round:) but then I would miss the changing seasons - maybe!

anyway, off to make sure I'm totally organised for the week ahead - it may all be downhill from Monday however if I start with 100% organisation then I have a fighting chance!

[Deleted User]

Hello everyone, FTM thank you for the chicken story, the picture I have in my head is keeping me giggling also SM's Bullock picture, you are better than the tele!!! DH and DD1 are currently cruising up the Norwegian coast in -17c and having a great time chasing the Northern Lights, fairly successfully, I am looking forward to the photos. DD2 has just come back from a weeks skiing in France and despite taking a really hard tumble and having a very sore shoulder tells me they had a smashing week away. I am at home with my boy having a lovely relaxy time but we are both getting really fed up with oh so wet and windy walkies twice a day, I take it I am not alone in wishing that springtime would hurry itself up and arrive early this year? Hope you are all well and happy, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Molly41

flowertotmum wrote: »

You will all be pleased to know that the KFC home baked chicken was a complete success thanks to scottish minnie and her wonderful gift..go ahead make some its amazing..did i post the recipe? if not i will do..believe me ladies is soooo amazing you will never again want your chicken froma KFC...

Yes please.....x

WeegieWumman

Scottishminnie or anyone. I've looked for the recipe for the homemade KFC that's been mentioned but couldn't find it. I'd be grateful if someone please be kind enough to direct me to the appropriate post?