Chronicles of The Troll Family

On ....... Progress

2011-07-30T09:51:00.000+01:00

Well it's slow to be honest, a combination of lack of will power not to start other things and having the kids at home has meant that the UFO's have more or less come to a grinding halt, but that does not mean however I have not been busy!
This is a witches ladder made for a swap, more can be found out about these Here at earthwitchery.com but they are great fun to make if you are into that kind of thing.

Then there has been mornings out walking stinky dog in pastures new. No walk would of course be complete without covering oneself in freshly mowed grass. Then there is the matter of dealing with the enormous broard beans that have been delivered weekly by our lovely Veg Box man.

Then there is the matter of dealing with the enormous broard beans that have been delivered weekly by our lovely Veg Box man.

They actually enjoyed doing this , so I'll have none of you shouting slave labour at me,lol. Next there was a trip to the library to partake of the annual summer readathon, where if the kids read a book each week then they get a certificate and other goodies each week to show off at school. I think rascal is a little perplexed by this particular book, but engrossed none the less.

Then I made a little matchbox shrine for a friend who wanted something Avalon themed! My fimo skills are somewhat lacking as my Excalibur looks more like a rusty dagger, but shh don't tell Arthur.

Then we have more outings involving stinky dogs,this was Thursday morning's excursion to High Broom Wood.

These carvings are simply amazing, made from a dead tree which overhangs the small stream. They could have cut them down but instead they chose to make something much more magical from them.

And here are my own little pixies splashing around having fun.

I've also been making some more of the Guatemalan worry dolls for a friend. These ones have been sent to Germany.

Then I sat and made this little fabric cornucopia which is also for a swap to celebrate the pagan festival Mabon which is celebrated in September. The tutorial for this can be found Here along with lots of other tutorials.

Last but not least, there is some progress on the UFO's, but to be honest it is minimal, however my redeeming grace is that from Sunday I will have a whole week child free as they are all off to Grandma Troll's house, so I shall make good use of this time and crack on with all my UFO's.

Fudge!

2011-07-22T12:33:00.001+01:00

I'm a bit of a control freak in the kitchen, I do not like little kids running round me in what I see as the most hazardous environment in the home. They are noisy and messy and they put little fingers in places where they shouldn't and it's something I have never been good at handling. I can already hear you all screaming at me but hear me out on this one, I'm trying. I am so good in emergencies, in harsh environments, in confrontational situations, blood, guts gore I'm there cool as a cucumber, dentists and hospitals too but leave me in the midst of screaming children and blind panic engulfs me like a tsunami.

I decided this morning however that this is not necessarily beneficial to the little trolls learning and that if I could keep my blood pressure at a suitable level for long enough, I might actually be able to get the kids cooking and it MAY even be fun and keep them from fighting for a while. So off we went this morning to buy a few of the ingredients I didn't already have and when we came home we made Fudge.

Now I even went to the trouble of taking photographs of the event, but on going to load them onto the computer, I have realised the memory card was not in the camera in the first place, but this is due to having to concentrate on my BP you realise,lol. Anyway I have just taken a photo of the finished product, still setting in its tin instead.

In the background is my second attempt at soap, nothing goes according to plan and this has come out exceedingly wonky, I'll have to get people drunk before I can give it to them as gifts!

Now I found a recipe on the Internet, but again as I was so busy with my concentration elsewhere I messed up the recipe, it does however seem to have worked a treat regardless so will share with you my messed up vanilla Fudge.

Vanilla Fudge Troll Fashion

This produces a soft set fudge ideal for mixing into ice cream or other desserts rather than an eating fudge.

500g golden caster Sugar
398g tin of Condensed Milk
4 tablespoons milk
Pinch of Salt
100g Salted butter
1 Vanilla pod split

Line a 20cm square cake tin with silver foil extending the foil over the edges. Grease and set aside.

Put all the ingredients into a large saucepan over a low heat and stir gently until the sugar has dissolved.

Stop stirring, turn up the heat and bring to the boil, for those of you with a sugar thermometer you want soft ball ( I just waited until it bubbled evenly across the whole pan).

Once boiling turn down the heat and cook for 10 minutes stirring to prevent burning.

Remove from the heat and take out the vanilla pod.

Beat the living daylights out of it for 10 minutes until it thickens and just starts to loose it's gloss.

Pour into your lined cake tin and leave to set.

Lick all utensils clean while the kids aren't looking :)

Once it is fully cold turn out onto a chopping board and cut into squares. I'm not going to bother with storage instructions, because it won't last that long!

Just in case you are wondering, yes it was quite fun and yes it did stop some arguments so I am happy with a productive morning and shall spend this afternoon recovering and cleaning up the resulting mess of course. Happy holidays ( I think,lol)

Thoughts On Impending Chaos

2011-07-21T17:53:00.000+01:00

Some women look forward to this time of year. The end of school for another academic year is upon us. Spending time with their little darlings, skipping through parks and making cookies with floured noses. This is what summer holidays are all about.

I think you all know me a little better than that by now though don't you..... nothing is EVER quite so sugary sweet here in Troll Manor. I fully expect lots of this...

Lots of this.....

Heaps and heaps of this.....

All resulting in this.......

Am I the only person in the world driven mad by their kids? I shall try my best to provide 24 hour entertainment, but I can't promise it's going to be pretty.

Meet Dragon

2011-07-14T14:04:00.000+01:00

Now bear in mind the things I wanted to get done in July which can be seen again Here for any of you who missed this post. Any sane person would keep things simple, but no not me. I decide to throw in as many complications as possible. So rather than continue with some quilt squares which are fairly simple, I decide I want pictures! Well it's for a 6 year old and I was feeling that despite it's pinkish colour scheme it was looking a little bland!

I have on my Internet explorings become aware of paper piecing as a method to put together quilts and have always marveled at the talents and the patience of those who produce quilts using this method, so when I discovered This Book via a friends wish list (thank you, you will know who you are), and being a sucker for all this magical I decided that it was time to have a go.

So may I present to you DRAGON.

Here he is before he is sewn together. This alone took me hours! Paper piecing is very complicated and only for sewing sadists, however the results are fantastic. Here he is without the border, so still looking a little scrappy.

Finally the finished piece, all ready to be squared up and incorporated into my ( sorry Rascal's) quilt, however I shall not be held responsible if I am forced to steal the quilt. Dragons are dangerous animals and for her own safety I may just have to look after it :)

Do you think if I leave him outside he will mow the cracks in the patio!

Lovely Lavender Edibles

2011-07-08T13:50:00.000+01:00

Lavender is not a herb that most would associate with cooking. It is normally a herb/colour associated with women of a certain age and a certain hair colour.

I would like to try and dispel that image somewhat as Lavender is not only a beautiful and very useful evergreen herb, but it tastes simply divine too.

I first made this delicious cake last year and while I often find cake recipes can be somewhat hit and miss as to how the picture looks in the book or magazine and how they then appear on my plate this one came out true to form and was gone in an instant.

Lavender Streusel cake

Cake Batter

4 large eggs
250g Caster sugar
250g plain flour

Streusel Topping

200g chopped nuts
1 tablespoon plain flour
200g soft brown sugar
100g chilled unsalted butter cut into small pieces
2 tablespoon lavender

To Decorate

Lavender flowers
soft brown sugar

First prepare the topping. Put the nuts into the food processor and pulse for a few seconds so they remain quite chunky, then sprinkle in the flour, sugar and chopped butter and pulse briefly, don't over mix it. Then add the lavender, stir with a spoon and set aside.

Pre heat the oven to 180oC and grease a deep 20cm cake tin that has a removable base. Whisk the eggs until they are pale and fluffy. Then whisk in the sugar a spoonful at a time until all the sugar is mixed in and it is light.

Sift in the flour a spoon at a time and fold in gently with a metal spoon. When all the flour is added pour into the greased cake tin and cover with the streusel mixture. Cook in the oven for 50 - 60 minutes until the sides have risen and browned and the struesel mixture has sunk in the middle.

Finally sprinkle with generous amounts of Lavender flowers and brown sugar and leave to cool before taking it out of the tin.

Eat and enjoy, preferably with Elderberry cordial or home made ginger beer for a real taste of summer.

Lavender of course is far more versatile than it seems and can be used in many more ways, although the above is my favourite. Here are some links to more fantastic recipes which you may or may not have thought of or tried before.

Lavender Lemonade

Lavender Shortbread

Lavender Creme Brulee

Savoury Lavender Butter

Balsamic Lavender Marinade

Lavender Scones

Finally here is one last recipe which is another firm favourite and one which I have already shared with you, but here it is again anyway.

Lavender Cupcakes

Hmm! It makes you wonder.

2011-07-08T09:23:00.000+01:00

I love to see who's looking at my blog where they come from and what they are reading. It gives me an idea of what interests people but having a quick look this morning at the stats I see that one of the referring sites is some minging porn site from Russia. Now clearly I missed something, I must trawl through the past few years of posts checking to see that I haven't been posting erotic dreams in my sleep or something, although I think I might have attracted at least a handful of male followers if that were the case!

Now I can't see what they might hope to find here and even before I nurtured 3 children my body was never destined for the 'glamour' or 'porn' industry. I am just left a little...

but later normal service will resume and for all those men looking for filth, well the only filth you will find here will be the state of my kitchen once I'm done cooking, but you're welcome to come and clean up for me if that's what tickles your fancy,lol. I am more than happy to play dominatrix if it get me out of cleaning up the kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!

Walkie Round The Garden....

2011-07-07T18:03:00.000+01:00

Like a teddy bear! I defy you not to finish that rhyme off in your heads! Ha I bet you couldn't do it, lol, I know I couldn't.

I thought today I would introduce you to the new kids on the block, or to be more precise the new chickens on the block.

So here we have on the left Blackcurrant, on the right Flower and if you look in the background we have Fizz just poking her bum up. Let me show you a better photo of her!

There we go that's better isn't it.
We still have two much older chickens who stopped laying at about 18 months so we have been bereft of eggs for about 2 years now. We were intending to wait until those two had popped off to feather heaven but Daddy Troll's aunt phoned us up asking if we would be able to take these three off her hands. She was having trouble with foxes and had also had a bunch of chickens stolen from her garden during the night.

We were more than happy to take them considering the circumstances. Unfortunately nothing is ever plain sailing and although we have tried the whole night time introductions and supervised meetings it has not worked. Flower has been repeatedly pecked at quite savagely by one of our elder two so we have had to separate them permanently.

This weekend Daddy Troll made a lovely little hen box for the older two and has separated the run which is a shame as now they have much less space to dig around in, but I was not prepared to let them bully her to death, which they have done to a previous chicken.

Anyway, spurred on by all the rain that we are finally getting the garden has been alive with colour. The last 4 years or so of hard work have paid dividends and we have quite a lovely yet small little patch of land in front of our house rather than a patch of mowed weeds.

English Lavender softening the colour of the brick and the vintage chimney. Destined for some cake soon.

Soft pink petunias spilling over containers, high up on a wall.

Astillbes blooming like clouds hiding the familliars that swim in the pond below.

Beans making their ascent skywards, towering up past the aquilageas and Rosemary kept by the front gate to keep our home protected from bad spirits.

Roses bowing their heads, with the burden of their beauty.

A small but delightful space and I shall continue to nurture it and enjoy its changing faces.

UFO's, Fairy Dust And Teeny Tiny Thingummys.

2011-07-06T17:04:00.000+01:00

Well what a productive day I've had. I just love days like that when you get lots and lots done and you enjoy every moment of doing it ( OK I didn't touch the housework but Blah! who cares).

My UFOs are still exactly that but I have made some good progress, especially on that quilt I started and now have lots more of the blocks done.

The colours are brighter than this, but it's quite dark in the living room already!

I just need to think about expanding the colours on it a little as I don't want it too muted, after all it's for the Rascal so she needs some zing in there.

A bright girls need bright colours.

I was thinking about picking out some of the brighter pinks and turquoises, I can't think of what else would go with it except creams and the dreaded beige's. It's all far too co - ordinated for me that's the problem,lol.

Then there is rag rug, hmm, hand sewing together plaits is not going to be my idea of fun, the tutorials and videos on this make it look so bloody easy! This project could be my nemesis but I will not be defeated as yet.

It's like one of those lollipops you see at the beach at the moment!

Today I've also managed to complete something which I have had sooooo much fun making. It's for a swap with a lovely friend of mine. It is a Witches' Chest made from 3 match boxes! Each drawer is filled with little mini trinkets and crafty goodies.

This picture shows you the whole thing. On the top of the chest is of course a Pumpkin, then there is a red Howlite skull and a tiny little handmade grimoire, which I had intended to go inside the chest, but it cam out a fraction too big so it sits on top instead. Here are some of the Grimoire pages.

All the pages

Teeny tiny spell page

Another teeny tiny spell page, this one holds the key!

The back page

The front cover

I cannot take credit for this tiny book idea and shall give credit where it's due. I have been a reader of Knickertwist's Blog for a long time and took inspiration from her lovely tutorial on Altered Faery Journals which can be found HERE although this one is even tinier as it was intended for inside the matchbox.

The inside of the matchboxes are a mixture of all sorts, one is a mini shrine and the other two are just stuffed with goodies. The 1st on the left is a shrine, with Earth, fire, water and air represented by different things.

The contents of the Witches' Drawers.

Here is the shrine on it's own, it shows the little tatted butterfly in better detail.

Add caption

And here are the contents so that you can see them all. There is a clay face, a gargoyle bead, two lamp work beads, some purple ribbon, a fimo gold goddess, a fimo spiders web, an evil eye pendulum, a shell and a brad which says 'made with love'.

Also today I have been making a journal, well I should say altering a blank journal. Here is a little sun and moon altered journal, bursting with fairy dust :) although you can't quite see it properly in this photo.

Wow, what a busy troll I've been, but I think there is someone who is even more beat than me..........

A worn out Wee Man.

There be UFO's In My House.

2011-07-02T18:01:00.000+01:00

As any crafter knows there are simply not enough hours in the day to complete all the fantastic ideas that float around in your heads. Ideas you find on sites like Craftser or on other blogs or forums that you frequent. Way too many ideas, a whole lifetime in fact!

The result of all these ideas.......... well, UFOs of course. You come across an idea, that you just have to do, be it knit, crotchet, sew, make in some other crafty way and you are so excited you have to make a start on that idea straight away. Then the lure of the Internet calls, you're just checking something ( wink, wink) and before you know it the project you started just a short time ago has been replaced by something all new and even more exciting. This cycle continues until you have ( if you're anything like me) a small mountain of unfinished craft projects!

So as promised thanks to Sue over at Living The Good Life here are my UFOs that I plan to progress ( I will not say complete, but I shall try my hardest ) throughout July.

Firstly there are some knickers which I drafted a pattern for, cut out fabric for (from old T-shirts) and then elasticated the legs. I then ran out of elastic so this project came to a grinding halt last month sometime, despite me acquiring more elastic!

Knickers from old T-shirts!

Next is a quilt I've started to make, a nice muted mixture of pinks, browns and blues, I like how it is turning out so far, but who knows where it will end up in the grand colour scheme of life. I'm just determined this one isn't going to take me two bloody years to complete!

Then there is an altar cloth I'm making this time for myself. I made on for a lady in Canada and sent it off some time ago, but sadly due to the Canadian postal strike she still hasn't received it yet. This is the one I finished Here

Most of the pieces are cut already, they just need sewing!

Then there is the rug. I can't even remember how long ago I started to knit a rug for our hallway, but after about 6 foot I gave up and it sat neglected in a black bin bag for at least a year!!!!!!! The other day I thought stuff this I hate knitting and I knew I would never finish it so I unravelled the whole lot, now I'm going to plait strands together and work them into a round rug instead. I want this one done and complete!

The next UFO is part of my New Year's resolutions, and probably one of the few that are likely to be completed (resolutions that is not UFOs). I have set up an Etsy shop.... but as yet I haven't made anything to go in it, but these are a sneak preview of some of the goodies I will be selling.

Can you tell what it is yet?

Then there is something I am teaching myself, actually something that I have been teaching myself sporadically and unsuccessfully since I was 11! I have always been intrigued by the tarot and would love to progress this little hobby further than the first two cards!

Finally here is something that I actually completed today. They are worry dolls for a swap, but I think they have turned out more like a tribal village and I love them.

Worry dolls.

Curse Technology, I'm Going Viking Instead.

2011-06-30T14:25:00.000+01:00

Ok I promised to show you pictures, so what happens, the camera batteries die. How bloody ironic, it heard me didn't it, lol.

So I will save my pictures of all my UFO's for tomorrow when I have purchased some batteries and instead show you something I came across thanks to the lovely, wonderful and very talented Mrs Flibble over on the Selfsufficientish Forum that I love. I want to marry this woman, her talent, perseverance, and dogged determination to be eco conscious and frugal inspires me at every turn!

She has made herself some wickedly fantastic Viking shoes using The Tutorial Here and they look like just the sort of thing that I have been looking for.

This is the pair made by the author of the tutorial, what a talented lady.

My poor feet suffer silently every day, having to hulk me around hither and thither, I should love them more than I do, especially as they do a fantastic job. Hell, I wouldn't want to be my feet, but having just purchased some leather offcuts and some leather thonging from Fleabay I shall wait excitedly for my packages to arrive so I can make myself a couple of pairs of shoes. I should have enough for at least two pairs, possibly three, but if not then I shall make some diddy ones for the Wee Man, as he like me has 'unusual feet'.

I shall leave you with a picture of my poor neglected feet and hopefully in a few weeks time they shall be happy dancing feet (OK I know that's pushing it).

I love how this photo looks like something out of a murder mystery.

I'm back, did you miss me?

2011-06-29T13:06:00.000+01:00

We'll I've been very busy over the last 6 weeks or so and have done lots and lots of crafting. I kind of gave up for a while on blogging as I was beginning to feel a little weighed down by it. I wanted to be living rather than telling others about not having time to live, if that makes any sense.

Anyway, I'm back from outa space.... as the song says and actually it was another bloggers post that brought me here. Sue from Living The Good Life is calling for support in what she is calling UFO July. The UFO stands for unfinished objects, of which I have plenty. Take a trip over to her blog and see all the fantastic projects she is planning to finish this July.

I too can never just have one thing on the go at any given time so have decided to join her on this challenge, and now that I have a brand spanking new camera HOORAYYYYYYYYYYYY.

Me playing with my new toy in the MIL's spare 'oom.

I can finally show you some half decent piccies of what I intend to finish during this challenge! If any one else would like to join her and me head on over to her blog and drop her a message. Having others around that you can share the fun, frustration, heartache (when the dog pees up your almost finished quilt) and some crafty love is so much better than going it alone. I shall be off now taking some photos of all the UFO's I have at the moment so I can share them with you.

It's nice to be back.

Day 7 - The End.

2011-05-16T12:51:00.000+01:00

Well, I have to say that I'm breathing a sigh of relief this morning, especially as the nice Abel and Cole man delivered a whopping £75 worth of shopping to my door at 6 this morning. Over double what I spent last week but I'm not sorry about it at all.
The food I had bought did last until the bitter end and we had a scrumptious toad in the hole with potatoes and carrots and beans and I was going to take a photo but it was gone in a flash so I shall just show you someone else's because I love toad in the hole.

A toad in a hole,lol.

Oops no wrong toad, I like to keep those to eat the pesky slugs. I wouldn't want you thinking I ate them. This is what a toad in the hole is meant to look like.

That's better!

The challenge pointed out to me that, while I think I would be able to live off of £1 per person per week, the range of food that I could afford would be so limited that it would soon become depressing. I am lucky I have that choice. I can't eat from Marks and Spencer's every day or even once a month come to that, but I can afford £2 - £3 per person a day which gives me the ability to feed myself and my family in a healthy and far more interesting way and for that I am very grateful indeed.

What I missed most while doing the challenge was fruit, and my digestive system is a little worse for wear ( I won't go into any more detail than that) and I have also managed to put on weight (arghhhhh) even though I was eating on such a low budget, I think the lack of fruit and the reliance on carbohydrates has made me blow up like a balloon. I also really missed the ability to drink anything other than water, although I know this sounds spoilt as there are so many on this planet that would kill for just that.

It has shown me that we were spending far more than was necessary on food and drink so I have come out the other end of this experiment with something usefull from that point of view.

I would like to say thank you to Voie de Vie who also shared her week of extreme frugal eating with us and for all of you who have followed me on my little experiment. Right now, I'm off to raid the fruit basket. My family will be thankful and I can stop worrying about this,lol.

Day 6 - Where did you send my posts blogger?

2011-05-14T09:43:00.001+01:00

I did write posts, but alas some of them seem to have disappeared. I think there will be lots of upset people all over the world. Friday the 13th was not a good day for Blogger.

I had told you all about the lovely prawn pie I made for our dinner using lots of fresh herbs from the garden to infuse the home made white sauce on Thursday. I had shared with you lots of lovely photographs of the herbs I grow in may garden and how I was planning to use them and I had shared with you my thoughts and feelings on this challenge up until that point in time. I have been asleep since then and cannot recall the ins and outs, but the post may return hopefully, if you have not had a look at it already.

Yesterday I had hoped to post all about the lovely home made pizza, but as you all know blogger was having a bit of a hissy fit so I'll just have to tell you all about it now. We like pizza in our family, but to be honest the takeaways that we sometimes indulged in became too expensive quite a few years ago, so I began to make them at home and obviously they were preferable so they became a firm favourite.

In more recent times what we have taken to doing is using ready cooked bread (mostly with home made bread although not always), rather than making actual dough as we prefer the less doughy bread and it is much quicker and easier just to cut some bread from a loaf rather than wait for the dough to rise and then spend ages trying to get it to go the way you want it to. It's even faster than the fastest of fast foods,hehe.

So having cut the made loaf up into slices it had a tomato sauce base spread over the top of each slice, which I made from 1 tin of tomatoes, 1 tin of tomato puree, some BBQ sauce from the cupboard and a little agarve nectar just to sweeten it a little. The remainder of the cheese was then spread onto the bread and topped with the last of the chorizio. It was all stuck under the grill and served with the last of the cucumber, tomatoes and pepper. It was very tasty, but having used the last of the salad and the meat and the cereal we are down to just a few items in the cupboard and I have to say that I am looking forward to the Abel and Cole man delivering our boxes once more on Monday. There are lots of things being used up now at this end of the week so it's become a little scary. I am just so glad this is just an experiment and not a necessity.

This morning as there was no cereal left and very little milk we had the last of the ready cut bread, throwing out the one slice nearest the top which had become a 'little' mouldy.

It was nothing like this i promise, just a speck and we checked the rest which was all fine just before you go ringing the NSPCC on me.

It couldn't walk away by itself so it wouldn't hurt anyone and I I wasn't going to waste it. I opened a packet of the sausages and allocated two each which will allow us to make a dinner out of the remainder for tomorrows dinner. I added two tins of beans and an egg each to the slice of bread and the two sausages so it was quite a nice breakfast and we wouldn't

This evenings dinner, will be a spaghetti bolognase( but with the pasta I bought which was not spaghetti) using the soya mince that I bought as part of the budget. I had intended to make a Shepard's pie, but the fish pie earlier in the week used quite a lot of the potatoes and I want to make sure we have enough for tomorrows dinner because otherwise I might have to spend some more money on food which I would be very reluctant to do, especially as I have just been bankrupted by two pairs of school shoes, two ink cartridges and have two school trips to pay for which have come to a grand total of £160!!!!!!!!!!!! There is also the insurance for the car which looks to be in the region of £500, although we still haven't got a final figure and will spend some more time hunting for the best deal.

Join me tomorrow for the final day of my challenge.xxx

Day 3. Results Of The Fruit Fight

2011-05-11T21:33:00.001+01:00

I had predicted this happening, but what can you do? Final result of the mega weight versus the wee weight. Mumma Troll 0 - Wee man 1.

The menu plan is going quite well although, it has become clear that I may have spent money on things that I will not use ( this week at least) and have not spent money on things (within the parameters of this budget), that I needed such as things for packed lunches, especially sandwich fillings, and the something extra that I have always added to a lunch be it a fruit jelly, cereal bar, healthy - ish crisps, home made piece of cake or flapjack etc.
This was the packed lunches that the girls had today.

The sandwiches are cheese, but the snack a jacks were things that I had bought a previous week. I didn't really factor in enough for the lunches, but all the other items were from the shopping I did on Monday and I would have to say a fairly well balanced packed lunch.

Dinner was very tasty too, even if it was just a variation of lunch. A lovely spread all lovingly prepared by Daddy Troll. I had intended for us to have potatoes with this meal, but am having problems with my feet at the moment, so standing to cook was not an option this evening and I didn't give enough fore though as to put some jackets in to roast. We don't have a microwave so that wasn't an option, just in case you wonder why I didn't do that.

Wee Man was at nursery again today so all his meals were provided, but he is at home all day with Mumma tomorrow, so I shall have to come up with a little lunch for him too.

I have now spent the final money on more fruit, I bought 2 bowls of bananas and 2 bowls of apples from a bloke on the high street, where everything is a pound for a bowl. I don't often buy from them as I find the fruit tends to go off quite quickly, but they looked of a decent quality ( not that they will last 5 seconds as soon as the Wee man spies them! ).

Annoyingly, no actually, REALLY FRUSTRATINGLY i need to get my car insurance renewed and have been getting quotes. All I can say is that I have 6 years no claim bonus and yet they want to thieve an extra £150 out of me this year and that is for the cheapest quote. That was after an extra £50 or so for the last 2 years running. How do these people sleep at night! Also both the girls have come to me in the last 2 days telling me their shoes are too tight, pah, typical. Who gave them permission to grow, the blighters! Any money saved doing this is well and truly spent and then some, so I think this 1 week might have to turn into 1 month.

Day 2.

2011-05-10T21:17:00.000+01:00

Well dear readers, it has been hot and humid and I haven't eaten anything until dinner, which I shall tell you about in due course.

Wee Man was at nursery today so all his meals were provided. Excellent, thank you MR and Mrs tax payer ( which of course includes ourselves, but you know what I mean).
Daddy Troll raided the far recesses of his drawer at work and turned up with an orange and a grapefruit although any nutritional value of these lost and found items might have depleted some months ago! This is basically because he is far too lazy to actually MAKE himself a lunch. He did however take an apple from the kitchen.
Rascal and The Roast Pig had sandwiches with chocolate spread made by Grandma Troll, so even though this was a store cupboard ingredient there was no actual cost to us as a family. They also took the carefully allotted fruit with them and they both had water to drink having bottles for school anyway.

Breakfast was cereal with milk and a banana for the wee man. He managed to eat just the one this morning as he got stern words concerning the devouring of the whole bunch as he would normally do within a few hours. The cereal option may well be boring but it is however frugal for the point of this little experiment.

Dinner - now let me tell you about dinner. I had at the beginning of the week carefully planned meals for each day. I had not for one moment expected to be provided with one from my lovely daughter. Well done Roast Pig! She had today cooked Ratatouille at school using 1 pepper, 1 onion, 2 tins of chopped tomatoes an aubergine and a little oil. I knew she was doing this but I hadn't expected her to bring home a big tub of it which would then be enough for us all to share.

Anyway Daddy Troll cooked up half a bag of pasta and added half of the chorizio that we bought as part of the experiment and we had it for dinner. Plenty of veg in there but again, apart from daddy Troll not much fruit throughout the day. I think I shall go and have an apple and a banana because otherwise I might wake up hungry and who knows there might be a fight for the bananas in the morning.
Hmm 2 stone, 2ft 7 wee man against 5ft 9, 17 and a half stone Mumma Troll rabid with hunger, not a fair fight, but he fights dirty, lol, so maybe fair after all!
Cost for dinner 1 courgette 25p, 1 aubergine £0.99, 1 pepper 31p (as part of multi pack), 2 tins of tomatoes 56p, half a bag of pasta 5p, half the chorizio £0.98, the onion was a manky one we had in the cupboard for way too long anyway resale cost 0 ( nobody else would have touched it with a barge pole) Total cost £3.14.

Shoping, Day 1, A hard start.

2011-05-09T12:52:00.000+01:00

Shopping wasn't fun this morning! I hate going to shops - Arghhh but as I cancelled our veg box scheme for the week I thought I better had,lol. It took me two hours to spend my money and lots of that was spent adding up things with a calculator, then re-adding as I had to chop and change ingredients to get the most for my money. Here are the results.

Sorry about the appaling picture quality, I had to use my sons toy camera as mine seems to have gone AWOL for the moment, hopefully it will turn up before tomorrow.

2 loaves bread - £1.50 on offer from Lidl
1 Large bag potatoes - £1.79 from Tesco
24 Frozen sausages - £2.00 from Tesco
6 pints milk - £1.85 from Tesco
1 large bag carrots - £0.76 from Tesco
375g bag soya mince - £1.63 from Tesco
1Kg pasta - £0.18 from Tesco
4 tins chopped tomatoes £1.32 from Tesco
1 large bag frozen peas - ££0.85 from Tesco
1 block cheese - £1.48 from Tesco
2 packet cereal - £1.98 from Lidl
10 apples - £1.20 from Tesco
1 large bunch bananas - £1.15 from Tesco
4 peppers - £1.25 from Tesco
1 Chorizio sausage - £1.92 reduced item from Tesco
4 Cornish pasties - £1.16 Reduced items from Tesco.
12 tomatoes - £1.50 on offer at Tesco
1 large pineapple - £1.00 on offer at Tesco
4 tins baked beans - £1.12 at Tesco
1 large bag frozen green beans - £0.71 from Tesco
1 pack value frozen prawns - £2.00 from Tesco.
2 cucumbers - £0.98 on offer at Lidl.
Cereal bars - £0.99 from Lidl
1.5Kg Flour - £0.52 from Tesco

Total amount spent £30.84 so I managed to come in under budget, but how far that actually goes only time will tell. I still have £4.16 that I can spend if I need to.
I'm concerned about the lack of fruit we have, my son can polish off a bunch of bananas in two days and Daddy Troll usually only takes fruit to work with him, but I have some spare cash to do so if I need to, I also have 4 mangoes, a handful of pears and half a bag of grapes leftover from last weeks delivery which will get used in something as I certainly won't waste them.
Tomorrow I plan to cook up some pasta for their lunches, but I think I'm going to have to rely on store cupboard ingredients, especially herbs, spices and I didn't buy flour or yeast as I already have loads in the cupboard.I also have a handful of herbs growing in the garden which I shall no doubt use here and there, but nothing else growing yet.

I did check out the price for flour which is £0.52 for 1.5KG in Tesco and have added it to the budget calculations. Yeast I buy in 125g bags for £0.99 which last FOREVER as we only make a couple of loaves a week.

Day 1 Menu

Breakfast - cereal with milk
Lunches - Cheese sandwiches, a pear, cucumber, cereal bar, water.
Dinner - Cornish pasties, potatoes, carrots, beans.

The pears came from last weeks shopping as did the cheese, but the cheese from last week has all gone now although there are still pears left.

You might also notice that I do not include any drinks in this costing, that is because non of us drink anything other than water or squash so I didn't have to buy any tea or sugar or other drinks which is helpful to the budget. This week we will make do with just water from the tap.

I will be working this evening so only 4 dinners to make, I have taken out a pre - bought meal from the freezer to take to work with me for my dinner (which cost £1 from Iceland) and as you can see todays menu is very bland, but that is because Daddy Troll will be cooking with no assistance so I have to make sure he has easy things to cook, he has a bad habit of burning anything remotley complicated, actually he burns almost anything.

Join me tomorrow for extreme frugal day 2.

Challenge Check In

2011-05-08T18:10:00.000+01:00

Well I've been plodding on here at troll manor, I've sewed a few dresses for myself and a school dress for the rascal and I've started work on a quilt after swearing I wouldn't do another!

I just have to make some binding to finish this dress, but binding is not my favourite thing to do!

We had a great time at the burning man festival at Butser Ancient Farm and my kitchen wall is now adorned with authentic 5 foot Besom.

A very nice man offered to take our photos, here we are in front of the 30ft burning man, before he was set alight.

Some ve y jovial Morris dancers in the centre of the Roman village.

Here is the Roast Pig in her beltane crown she made at the festival with her face painted, which we all had on entering the site.

Daddy troll liked the Spirits of Ishtar! Anything for a glimpse of slightly wobbly flesh!

I've been watering the garden like there is no tomorrow as we have had no rain until last night which is just astounding for England! Lots of odd jobs have been completed and it has made me realise I spend way too much time on the computer. It has been refreshing to be honest not feeling the 'nag' to be blogging and feeling guilty when I didn't manage to do it every day. I take my hat off to those super mums who seem to have football teams of small children round them whom they then home educate, but then still manage the time to create wonderful things which they then blog daily about. Do they live on caffeine I wonder, or am I just lazy?

Anyway I am me and I am not super mum, but I will be doing my challenge as of tomorrow. For any of you who may read this post and not any prior to this I will be spending £1 per person, per day and feeding us for a week on this money. you can read more about the challenge HERE I do hope that those of you initially willing to take part can still join me on my little foray into extreme frugality. It will be lovely to see you all after my little blog break.

Tomorrow I will be showing you my shopping list and a breakdown of costs so that you can see what I have chosen to spend my money on and tomorrows menu.

Until tomorrow my blog friends.x

Live Simply.

2011-04-25T15:46:00.000+01:00

Live Below The Line

I knew I came up with some good ideas sometimes, but I suppose it's all about the publicity. It seems a little pointless doing my challenge now especially as they are doing this challenge the week before mine,lol, however it will stil be a good challenge for the purse strings, but anyone wishing to bow out now to take part in this instead I would fully understand.

I become more and more like my mother who in the mid 1970's suggested to my dad that she should set up a business selling potted baby food,

and then in the mid 1980's suggested she should set up a business selling soups which didn't have a shed load of chemicals.

I wonder if someone has a tap on our brains and then steals our ideas, but such is life.

Anyway I've been back at the sewing machine and enjoying the sun with the children and I think I shall be doing more of this for a while so if things go a little quiet here then listen carefully and you might just hear the whirr of the sewing machine and the laughter of children and you will know that Mumma Troll is enjoying some of the more simple things in life trying to resist the time flys quality that the internet seems to come hand in hand with.

Enjoy life my friends, normal service shall resume...... later :)

Keeping Them Out of Mischeif

2011-04-16T14:10:00.000+01:00

Well the baby trolls are back home after a few nights 'sleepover' as they call it at grandma's house. I got lots done and the house even looked tidy for a brief moment. Thursday morning we went to the library, so they are armed with some fantastic looking books including this one.

This has some simple activities in it which will be good to do as a family, even though it is aimed at the under 7's.

Thursday afternoon Daddy troll and the Roast Pig were busy making flapjacks, here they are chopping some dates which have been lurking at the back of the cupboard for too long.

The rascal and I then set about blowing out some eggs so we could dye them using THIS TUTORIAL. We choose turmeric, cinnamon and beetroot to colour our eggs, yellow, brown and pink. Unfortunately as nothing ever quite goes to plan in Troll Manor it didn't work and I haven't the foggiest as to why, so today I'm keeping them out of trouble by covering the eggs in some lovely Spring time coloured tissue paper.

Yesterday we went off to our favourite haunt Hever Castle and took a picnic lunch with us.

We had a great time rowing on the boating lake

had a look round the castle again and walked round the gardens which are looking beautiful as ever, I had some beautiful photos to show you but blogger is having a wee hissy fit now so I give up!

Things That Make You Go Hmmm.

2011-04-11T13:08:00.000+01:00

Hello Blogland and hello to my lovely readers. It is sunny and feels like spring is in full bloom, this is both good and bad in my parts of the world. While the sunshine fuels the garden into growth and leaves your skin with a warm healthy glow it also has the unfortunate effect on some, actually quite a few people in my area. So this post is sort of a wish list for me of things that I hope to see not too much of in the coming summer months, I fully undersatnd if you wish to leave this post here, as to be honnest it gets quite disturbing, lol.

My first anti-wish is this, the muffin top. Why oh why do women, insist on wearing clothes that are simply too short and WAY to tight. I don't care what size you are but please just buy clothes that fit you and don't make you look like a whale in a sausage skin.

Second on the hit list is this the not so trendy shoe and sock combo which seems to delight some. Why people, why?

Ok next is a shocker, but yes there are lots of women round me that do this. String vests on women. NO,NO,NO,NO,NO, Words.... just gone here.

OK, I admit this is just personal preferance but I really don't think that making yourself look like a fly is a good thing. If you are lucky enough to have a face that would launch a thusand ships then why stick some cheap plastic things over it. Sungalsses that work = good. Sunglasses that make you look like a burk = bad.

Next is just plain wrong and stupid and careless and vain. Sunburn. Stay safe and protected and if you feel the need to be bronze then fake it!

Finally, road rage. I have no scientific evidence for this whatsoever, but it does seem that a little sunshine brings out the worst in some people. This behaviour then magnifies itself a million fold when they get into thier cars. Maybe its the ovenlike effect on entering the car that cooks a little of the sense and reasoning part of their brain.. I don't know?

What are your sunshine bugbears? I'd love to know....

Yippe, skippy doo dah

2011-04-06T19:58:00.000+01:00

Hooray, it looks like I'm finally going to get to go to this:

Beltane At Butser

I have waited very impatiently for 3 years to have the time off work and the money to go and the see the wicker man burning at Butser Ancient Farm as part of Beltane celebrations and finally, oh yes finally we will be going as a family to this event. Hooray. I'm so excited I can't wait.

If you are looking for something fun to do this Easter / Bank holiday / School Holiday / Weekend / Whenever then I recently found this beautiful blog Twigs And Toadstools and I would recommend you have a look too.

Things are very rosy right now at Troll Manor, the seeds are all germinating, the tadpoles are swimming in the pond while the cats look eagerly on, the kids haven't broken any windows, appliances or bones, our finances seem to be coming together at last and I am keeping myself busy doing things I love. Even stinky dog is behaving himself most of the time.

Sometimes life is great and I love to grab those moments by the horns and not let go.

As Terry Tibbs would say.....'Much Love'

Shaping Up

2011-04-04T13:42:00.000+01:00

My little garden is shaping up very nicely indeed. I am really happy with the progress we have made out there in the past year or so.

The daffodils were lovely, although mostly past their best now, being rapidly replaced with tulips. The three 2 x 1 meter raised beds look empty for the time being although the far one on the left has sugar snap peas and mange tout in it, just waiting to spring up. The empty bed on the right is going to have courgettes and beans in it this year and the nearest on will be salad type things, beetroot, lettuce, tomatoes and whatever else I can squeeze in it.

The dwarf fruit trees which I bought 18 months ago have finally gone into the ground, last summer they were in pots and it was just too hot to keep them from drying out. I have dug up some bushes which were here from when we moved in and relpaced them with my fruit trees. This picture shows a dwarf plum tree and the lovely lime green leaves of a blackcurrant which in time will both fill the space very well.

The seating area is looking nice too, and daddy Troll and I planted the green wall on Saturday. Trailing geraniums and colour matching petunias are in the little IKEA cutlery racks which were screwed to the wall a few years ago. I hope I haven't made a mistake putting them out a bit too early, but we are usually safe this time of the year in London anyway.

The dwarf pear tree is looking really good and full to bursting with blossom, we had two pears off of it last year so we shall see what we get this year.

Finally, the herb wheel and pond area nearest the house is beginning to really take off. The dwarf cherry tree has been planted in the middle of the herb wheel, and the Lavender, garlic chives, creeping rosemary, bronze fennel and mint are all springing into action. The big bay trees by the fence need to be pruned before they block out too much light but apart from that all is well in Troll manor farmyard. BLISS.

I am happy and content with my space for the moment, even the frogs have produced spawn which is rapidly turning into tadpoles. We have put the cover on the pond as you can see in the picture above to protect them from the cats in the area. I hope lots of them survive to eat all those pesky slugs and snails which are rapidly showing their slimy faces.

Challenge 35 - The Rule Book.

2011-04-01T10:20:00.000+01:00

Firstly I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to those who are joining me on this experiment it is nice to have you along, and if you would still like to join with us then there is no time at which it is too late to jump in.

I shall explain the rules first and then give you my explanations for them.

1. The most basic rule first is £1 per person per day for the cost of your grocery shopping ONLY, ie food stuffs.

2. Duration 7 days and 7 nights to commence on Monday 8th May.

3. Anything homegrown IS allowed, although this DOES NOT include frozen things from last seasons veggie plots. So herbs, any early veg, sprouts etc can be used.

4. Larder/ pantry goods CAN be included but should not make up a whole meal and should be declared in any recipes.

If I've left anything out just give me a shout and i'll amend the rules.

OK as for the whys. I want this experiment to be two things. Firstly I want to run it as a money saving scheme both for my family and for those who join me. At the moment we as a household of 5 (plus stinky dog and 2 lazy chickens) spend between £100 and £120 a week on shopping. This may be considered lots by some of you and very little by others. I know that I am capable of spending less and this week might illustrate if we are indeed capable of spending lots less or if we will suffer because of it.

Secondly I want to see if it is REALLY possible to live on such a low amount of money, this is why I want to limit any frozen or larder goods. I could quite easily live for a week, possibly more from my freezer, cupboards as I know some of you could too, but my thoughts are, what would happen when those things ran out? Would it be so easy to come up with meals if you didn't have jam to go with the bread you made, or if you didn't have that tin of tomatoes as a base for a sauce?

Sometimes I feel I take for granted what I have in my cupboards. I deliberately stock pile tinned goods, toiletries and other things because I was brought up to do so. My father was self employed so we never knew when the next money was coming in, but we always had a cupboard full of things for the rainy day when he ran out of work for a while. The capability to do this is a luxury and I think I just need to be a little more humble. However, this all said how you do this is of course up to you, but I think that anything you use over and above what you actually spend as you challenge limit should be declared.

I hope this clears all the ambiguity up, please let me know if there is anything else you would like to add.

Finally I would like to thank those of you who have joined me on the dark side over at my other very new and exciting weight loss blog, having your support really means a great deal to me and I shall have something very cool to share with you later on today.

A new Journey for me.

2011-03-31T10:33:00.000+01:00

Hi there my lovely readers, I just want to alert you to a new blog I am doing. As you all know by now I struggle on a daily basis with my weight for a whole host of reasons. I am trying something new and in the hope that it will be the 'magic pill' that works I have set up a new blog Finding Aphrodite I of course would love any support possible because I know this will be a rocky road and an uphill struggle for me. I shall not be stopping this blog here at all, but I shall perhaps be wining a little less on this one which I'm sure you will all agree would be fantastic.
Any hints, tips, advice and of course encouragement will be most welcome no matter how small you may think it is I shall listen. I have tried in vain to do this on my own, but now realise I cannot. I hope to see you over there.

I listened And They Told Me.

2011-03-30T20:03:00.000+01:00

The past 4 years has been a real learning curve for me in terms of my gardening habits. I initially planted lots of pretty specimens in my garden when we moved to Troll manor 6 years ago, tried in vain to tame the grass and get Alan Titschmarsh stripes. I wanted this:

I wanted so badly to try and bring the countryside to the mangie place in which I live. I couldn't have it so I changed tack. Little by little my lawn of moss and weeds came up, little by little I listened more to the plants than to my heart. They told me what they wanted, and I stopped telling them what I wanted, now we are friends, companions and we work together. Finally I have my very little slice of countryside here in the scummy surroundings I call home.

Another lesson I have learned is that I only need a little bit of things. Some people can go to a seed catalogue and order lots and lots of packets of seeds in the full knowledge that they will have the space to grow them in. I however can make a packet of seeds last for several years in some cases and will never be able to grow all of its contents. My solution to this is that I give away what I don't need to friends, to my daughters school and to my sons nursery and they are happy to take them as these too are an increasingly expensive commodity.

So today I surveyed my little garden and I listened to what it told me. It told me not to grow a gazillion huge tomato plants, it told me not to grow things like onions and potatoes which take lots of time space and effort for a crop which can be brought relatively cheaply and it told me not to grow green courgettes because while they may be a doddle to grow, nobody likes them!

My garden has told me to grow herbs, my garden has told me to grow dwarf varieties of tomatoes which can be planted in hanging baskets and containers and my belly has told me to only grow yellow courgettes because we like those ones.
Today I listened to my garden and it was good.

Anyone For A Challenge?

2011-03-29T16:26:00.000+01:00

OK, I had this mad, crazy idea. I'm ill so maybe that explains it, but my thoughts are intact despite my body failing me...ramble....rant....ramble.
There is lots of web talk of increasing prices, rising food bills, the cost of living spiralling out of control so I thought it would be a good sharing, caring, learning experience if we (don't all run away now) shared a week. I'm going to call this Challenge 35

For this challenge you will need £1 per person per day for 1 week. You are going to feed your family on however many pounds that figure adds up to, for me it is £35 hence the title of the challenge. Each day for that week you will blog your expenditure and how you managed to survive on £1 each. In your posts it would be really cool if you wrote recipes and also thoughts/feelings so we can share them. Lets share the pain readers and get some really good but frugal recipes going. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell the world and in the comments section put a link to your blog so that others may share what you do too.

I'm going to wait and see how much interest there is in this, but I was thinking we should all do it at the same time, so the week commencing May8th should give people plenty of time to think about joining, plan some recipes, ask any questions ecetera, etcetera.
Anyone up for Challeng35 ?

A Frugal Mothers Day Gift

2011-03-29T14:57:00.000+01:00

I'm sharing with you my very humble offering to my mother which I have made especially for her out of some very frugal items. Firstly let me begin by telling you that like myself my mother has a bit of a thing for never throwing anything away. I actually come from a very long line of hoarders. I tried very hard when I was younger to shed this very terrible affliction, but once I had the baby trolls it caught up with me. It took me by the hand and lead me into it's very untidy lair! I was of course kicking and screaming, but now resign myself to the hoarding goblin.


Here he is, has he come fro you yet?

My mother is an organised hoarder, verging on the OCD, and one of the things she likes to hoard is seeds for her garden. She was over at Troll manor recently and spied one of my own hoarded treasures which was a large shoe box. I was in fact waiting for a similar sized one to accompany it so I could fashion myself some troll shoes, but as it's Mothers day on Sunday I have decided to for- go that pleasure and got a bit creative with it instead. I made from my lovely big shoe box a now very nicely decorated box for her to stash away some of her seeds.

Do you like my artistic arrangement with the watering can,lol?

It has been covered with a whole pack of yellow tissue paper £0.99 using watered down PVA glue cost approximately 20p. I then used some gemstones from a pack which cost £0.99 but I used less than 1/4 of the pack so 25p there. The picture was out of a book which cost £1, but I still have loads more pictures so lets say 10p and then I used 4 copper skeleton leaves out of a pack of 30ish which cost me £2.49 from Hobbycraft. Finally I covered it with Matt Modge Podge so the pesky snails can't get at it so lets factor in another 50p.
So all in my gift to my mum has cost me around £2 and I know she will love it.

As Promised - Stevia

2011-03-24T16:29:00.000Z

I was alarmingly organised yesterday, that is to say I actually took a notebook AND a pen. This is more or less unheard of you must understand, I have frequently left home without, keys, purse, forgotten where I am going whilst driving the car and am on Debit card number 11 as I keep leaving them in the pay machines in shops!
Well, as promised yesterday I am going to share with you some of the exciting stuff imparted to be by Ethanobotanist James Wong. The first plant is called Stevia, but I guess you worked that out from the title all by yourselves! This is what Wikipedia has to say about it:

'Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar.
With its steviol glycoside extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Because stevia has a negligible effect onblood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate controlled diets'.

In other words the leaves of this plant pack a very sweet sugary punch with next to no calories and we were told yesterday that Stevia even contains Fluoride, so unlike sugar which rots your teeth, this little baby will be helping them.

More to the point however, is that this little beauty can be grown easily in this country, although is not hardy so perhaps should be treated like an annual rather than a perennial. I purchased a seed and mini propagator pack for £2.75 which contains 18 seeds of Stevia and will be growing my own this year.

I also got to taste test this wondrous plant and can vouch for it's taste. It is very, very sweet and would make a great substitution for sugar in many ways. Obviously not in jam, sadly, but in baking and teas it would be perfect.
I have since had a little google for you and there is a whole website packed with products ( of course there are always people out to make a buck on something you can grow yourself, but hey ho).

Stevia Website

The website is however packed with recipes, which I plan to look at in greater detail once my little plants have grown. I suppose I'd better go plant some seeds now. I was going to plant lots of seeds today, still not having managed to plant any yet this year but I got robbed! Well at least that is what my house looked like this morning.

And I'm sure someone dumped a clothes bank on one of the chairs.

But that was this morning, now things are much more orderly just no seeds done yet!

A Morning With A Very Sexy Man and a Vent.

2011-03-23T19:38:00.000Z

I haven't felt much like blogging recently. Not because I haven't done much because to be honest my days have been filled from morning until night with one thing or another, but because I have realised I am not particularly good at writing and equally bad at talking to those who I don't know. Also some of my favourite blogs have gone quiet recently, so my daily 'fix' of inspiration has been missing. I have as well been upset by the loss of a blog which was truly inspirational written by a lovely lady known as Frugal Queen. She inspired many, many people including myself with her blog on how she leads a frugal life, away from the trappings of consumerism to pay off a debt which she accumulated through unfortunate circumstances, and how she tries to tread more lightly on this earth. It has been such a shame that she has been forced out of the public domain by vicious, nasty, mean minded humans who obviously left horrible comments for her to read.

I wondered if perhaps I should just delete my blog and resume my life before it. Then I realised I enjoy writing the odd post (despite being a bit crap at it) and have come across some truly wonderful people on my blog travels. I have learnt lots, been inspired on a regular basis, been close to tears and even formed some blogesque relationships with people I would otherwise have never met.

So here I am, random, sometimes senseless and completely undisciplined, writing a blog post because I want to and if a handful of people like to read what I have written then i am more than happy for them to do so. Thank you readers of my blog for your support.

Anyway enough of the serious stuff! For those of you who actually read my ramblings, for that is what they truly are, you may remember that for my birthday at the end of February I was given a ticket to see James Wong.

Today was the day and I was not disappointed ladies ( I can say that because I don't have any men followers - they wouldn't put up with my crap). This man has written two books both of which I have read cover to cover more than once. I have enjoyed making many of his recipes and shall continue to do so and thoroughly enjoyed his TV shows when they aired a few years ago.

Today's talk, was called 'Incredible Edibles' and as I had expected was about some of the slightly stranger plants that can be eaten. This was an amazing talk from which I have come away feeling refreshed and inspired to cram even more into my tiny space. My garden has to work bloody hard and each plant that takes up room in it has to work and not just be beautiful and I have some new and fantastic names of plants with which to do this.
Maybe it was because this man was ridiculously sexy but I listened to each and every word as it tripped merrily/enthusiastically off his tongue and the hours long talk evaporated into moments. I could have sat there all day, even endured a numb bum to listen to him impart his botanical wisdom. I shall of course endeavour to share some of this new found wisdom with you but for now I shall just leave it there, actually no I wont.... here is another picture of the very lush James Wong.

Happy Ostara

2011-03-20T16:42:00.000Z

Ostara blessings to all my Pagan friends, I hope your day is filled with love and light.

The Weather Man Is Lying.

2011-03-16T12:08:00.000Z

Apparently, according to the BBC weather man, we have balmy temperatures of 17 degrees and sunny skies. I think maybe someone spiked his drink or maybe he's been smoking a little too much weed. It has been freezing outside for several days, we have had quite heavy frosts here in my part of the world and freezing fog at night. I think I want a little of what he's been taking,lol.

The froggies in my pond have finally produced two large clumps of spawn, hooray. I'm going to have to put the pond cover over it this weekend as the pussy cats of which there are plenty are taking lots of interest.

Saturday me and Daddy Troll empties our two large compost bins onto the raised beds, so they are now ready to plant once I have finally gotten round to sewing some seeds. I have some mange tout and some sugar snap peas which I will put straight out into one of the beds. I'll have to protect those too, as the pigeons will be keen on any new shoots.

Sunday once I woke from a good slumber ( for a change) we went off to Keston Common.

It is a lovely place with woods and ponds. There has been activity there since 2000BC and there is still evidence of Iron age settlement there. Treading through the Scots Pine and Oak woods is like a journey back in time, we had a great time and I bought back some Scots Pine which had fallen from a tree along with some very dinky little pine cones, which were too sweet to resist. It is one of the few remaining bits of heathland left in the south and has a very interesting history. They do some great walks and talks there too, some day I hope to go one one or more of them. It's so nice to have such an interesting place so near to me.

The rest of the week so far has been taken up with appointments, Wee Man seems to have several a week at the moment and yesterday we saw the ENT consultant. He told me that there is a perforation in Wee Man's left ear and the grommet has gone now, but there is still one in his right ear. His theory was that nothing should be done for the moment as an operation would be an unnecessary risk. So that is that done for now. His speech therapy is really starting to help him now, although we only have one more session left which is a shame, but I've no doubt we will be offered more in the not too distant future.

Sheet dress and thoughts of Japan.

2011-03-11T14:59:00.000Z

Firstly I would just like to send my thoughts out to an old friend who I went to secondary school with. We were inseparable for many years at school and my thoughts are with her today as she lives in Japan where a enormous earthquake has taken place. I hope you stay safe old friend.

On to something much lighter and BRIGHTER, here as promised is my very 1970's dress which I made from a sheet found in a charity shop sometime last year. I think I purchased the sheet for £2 or £3 and I just loved the fabric instantly for being so kitsch.

I just have this horrible feeling it looks better on my back garden fence than it does on me, but who cares,lol. The only real detail in the dress apart from the belt which stops it from looking like a tent is the pleating around the neckline and I think next time I make this pattern I will lower the neckline as it sits quite high.

I'm going to add some belt hooks to keep the sash in place and add a little more detail. I was wondering weather I should add some pockets as I have enough fabric left for some, what do you think? Or maybe some buttons down the back for show?

Other than that I'm quite pleased with it. The pattern was very quick and easy to make and fits well and I have several more equally garish sheets to cut up, Alys Fowler eat your heart out.

I just need to find a wicker basket and grow my hair a bit and I'm her (oh and shed about 6 stone, but shhhhhh).

Little Victorian Missy

2011-03-09T13:49:00.000Z

I have been set a challenge by middle daughter who will be going on a school trip to a Victorian school at the end of March. She needs an outfit so in a rush and a whirl and a whizz of the sewing machine I have found the perfect little hat tutorial and spent yesterday afternoon making her this very sweet little bonnet as part of her outfit.

She is i'll at the moment, poor little snotty face Rascal.,but still gave me a smile.

The instructions came from Given Moments blog and was just the thing I needed. I had some curtain fabric in my trunk which also serves us as a sitting room table and my sewing table too, nifty don't you think? It was the bottom sections of some IKEA curtains which were too long, but the perfect fabric for this bonnet. I also managed to make her a little ruffle apron on a wing and a prayer.

Again I used the same fabric, so she has a rather cute matching set. It was nice to whizz up something so quick on the sewing machine and put me in the mood to make something for myself, which I haven't done for a long time. So I dug out my pattern books last night and found this:

http://www.simplicity.com/p-5092-misses-plus-size-sportswear.aspx

I am going to make this cute little ( there won't be any little parts on it mind you) dress from a sheet which I found in a charity shop very seventies, it still has the St Michael label which has made in Great Britain on it, a rarity these days!

I'm going to hope that I can work the pattern around the worn bit in the middle, which most old sheet inevitably end up with, but it might be hard as I'm not exactly a small size and this is only a single sheet. Progress reports will follow of course :))

No progress, however, on the face ache yet, I bought some Jason's Aloe Vera Oil yesterday from Baldwins as we had to take the Wee Man down to King's College hospital for an appointment anyway and the shop is not much further so I thought I might as well while I was in the area.

I hope this is the 'thing' as I can't take too much more of this bloomin' face. I hate even walking out of the door now, it's not like I've got pimples on my arse which I can hide. Oh for a pimply arse, how much sweeter my life would be, but I know it's bad as even daddy Troll was looking at me with a pitiful look this morning, and he wouldn't normally notice if I had turned into a Rhino, even one with pimples on its arse, lol.

I can't quite believe I found a pimply rhino, the world truly is a wonderous place!

Scalpel Please

2011-03-05T15:06:00.000Z

Yesterdays events were great, me and Mr Meldrew went out to the cinema and for a meal all paid for by my mum which was Daddy Troll gift for his birthday. He loved his pressie and now I have the eldest demanding one too - good times.

But where there is light so too must there be dark. This comes in the form of face ache, it sounds stupid I know, but my face feels less and less part of my body every day. It feels like some cruel mask I am forced to wear all day every day. It is sore, red, itchy and generally not a face to be seen out in public. I have smothered it daily in Aloe gel, Manuka honey moisturiser and now I just want to cut it off to be honest. This is all part of the PCOS but I want to get off now please.

I am considering something more radical than usual and maybe some kind of lOOOOOOng juice detox might be in order, but I am going to have to ban food from the house and rid myself of any form of cash or card to complete such a task so for now at least I am going to have to put up with face of doom - Bad Times.

Zombie Sudoku

2011-03-04T14:46:00.000Z

Well let me just begin by saying Happy Birthday Daddy Troll. He's an old man now, (ahem) at the grand old age of 34. He has his old man trews, his pot belly, the hairline receeds visibly by the day, the nasal hairs grow visibly by the day and he resembles Victor meldrew more and more.

See what I mean? (If you are wondering what the strange shine is t is one of those peel off face pack things)

He is my lovely husband, however, and a Troll like me, we are a well matched pair and I wanted to make him something for his birthday. The trouble was I had no real inspiration, that is until the day before his birthday when I suddenly had a light bulb moment. He likes Sudoku and has an unnatural 'thing' for zombies. So why not combine the two. Well that is exactly what I did.

I bought a 100 page notebook from Wilkinsons, covered it with tissue paper by spreading watered down craft PVA glue on it. Then I decided I didn't like the tissue paper look so I mixed the most zombie looking green I could find, added a tough of green glitter paint ( because even men like a little bling don't they,hehe) and painted over the tissue paper.

Then I found some good zombie women on the internet, printed them off and stuck them on. I covered the whole lot in Modge Podge shiny effect and let it all dry.

This is the inside front cover, a pretty zombie girl and some green paper stuck over the front to hide the tissue paper edges.

Then I cut up a perfectly good sudoku book and stuck all the puzzles inside my zombie note book along with a few more zombie girls.

This is the back cover.

Happy Birthday Husband.xxx

Welcome in the Spring

2011-03-01T12:50:00.000Z

Despite the fact that IT IS BLOODY FREEZING out there today, I have been trying my bestist to get into a spring time mood. It is my favourite time of year not too hot, not too cold (cough,cough), the greens of new growth are so bright and new. Flowers are blooming and the colour they bring to the garden leave me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
It is this time of year that I see how wonderful mother nature can be and how alive she can make me feel. The lengthening days mean more time, or at least the feeling of having more time, and a sense of expectation and excitement without the dazed feeling that a sweltering summer can have or of the sense of impending gloom that the winter can sometimes have.
So here is my little tribute to spring and mother nature in her state of... springyiness. Shut up laughing you know what I mean, lol.

My little spring time goddess doll, made from green swirl fabric and stuffed with Millet. I cut the pattern using a paper doll patern from HERE but if I was making her another I would enlarge it by 50% as she was a total pain in the rear to turn inside out once sewn. I then used some whiteish sequins to decorate her look like she is springing from the earth.

And finally here she is enjoying the little perfume packed lovelies in my kitchen before she wings her way off to the US of A.
Blessed spring blogging friends.

The Fairy Garden.

2011-02-28T13:13:00.000Z

Well, what a week half term was, good, bad and every shade in between. I was hoping to have time to share some of it with you, but everyday was jam packed from beginning to end, so instead I will finally share with you the rascals birthday present. Her fairy garden which has engulfed our small pond.

Primroses of every shade, violas, heucera, water mint, yellow flag iris and some purle ones whose names I don't know, our grumpy gargoyle Scree and of course her lovely ceramic fairy toadstools. There our broken pots under which our lovely frogs can hide from prowling felines and reclaimed bricks to his the plastic pond edge. Shhh don't let the fairy know it's plastic.

All hidden behind my witches herb wheel, which is just starting to recover slowly from the winter cold. Bronze fennel, garlic chives, lavender both French and English, creeping rosemary, and three varietys of sage, pineapple mint and curly mint too hides in there not showing its face yet. The tree in the middle is a dwarf Cherry, hopefully we will see some fruit this year, the flowers all dropped off last year as it got too hot, but this Mumma Troll has plans to give it a better life, hehe. So my lovelies, until tomorow when I can share some more with you I say adieu.

Lots of Itty Bitty Stuff

2011-02-19T15:49:00.000Z

I just love days when a plan comes together don't you?

Yesterday and today however are turning into lots of stuff and nothing at the same time. I got one of my dwarf trees planted in the border of my teeny tiny garden yesterday, I got some washing clean and folded and I read some of my book which I am absolutely loving at the moment. I would highly recommend it to you, this book even has a whole community forum and all, people love it so much.

Wee man and I had a trek round the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace park yesterday, with stinky dog and the we picked up some violas with which to make a fairy garden round the pond, but more on that next week when we have made another purchase for Rascal's birthday.

Here are my lovely Crytsal Palace dinosaurs as viewed some time yesteryear, and the picture below is our lovely local assets as it looks now.

I was looking forward to going out and sitting under the full moon for a while last night, but my eyelids would not stay open and I think the stresses of recent weeks got the better of me. Usually it is Daddy Troll lying asleep by 8pm while I throw anything I can get my hands on at him to stop the incessant snoring that usually accompanies this slumber.

Today was a trip into Bromley, to pick up a little something for the Mother In Law. She is 60 this year, so as one of my handmade things would be frowned upon no doubt, we decided to send her and Father In Law to see War Horse, which looks amazing and she loves going to the theatre so hopefully will appreciate this.

We don't have the tickets yet for her so the little something ended up being a rather nice candle holder from M&S. Then we picked up two pairs of old man corduroy trousers for daddy troll as he only has 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of combat trousers, which are not suitable to go out to a restaurant in. I'm sure they are all the thing apparently, but I can't get images like the one below out of my head.

Daddy Troll was then overcome by the sickness thing that he seems to suffer from periodically, so we had to race home, just as I was looking at an interesting gemstone and incense stall in the Market Square, but never mind.

This afternoon is wet and miserable out, so I think I will just do an hours crafting and then read some more of my book. I picked up an interesting one from the library yesterday after picking up Rascal from school and I am eager to get started on it, but eager too to finish the one I am reading now. It's off to work tonight and the tomorrow afternoon we are off to a restaurant to celebrate my birthday (21st) and Rascal's birthday (22nd) and Mother In Laws birthday which is also on the 22nd.

I'd just like to add Daddy Troll is a Pisces too.....it kind of explains the lack of clothing we both have and the old man trews too,lol.

Quickening Moon

2011-02-18T10:13:00.000Z

It is the full moon tonight, the Celtic tree Month of the Rowan ends and the month of the Ash begins. Tonight's full moon is also known as the Quickening moon.

The quickening moon is the full moon which falls in February, it is the month where the Earth lies dormant still, but if you go and take a careful look there are signs of life stirring everywhere, literally the life is quickening. This is almost the end of winter and to be honest hasn't come a moment too soon, although having just taken the kids to school the temperatures are still decidedly on the chilly side. Brrr, but at least there is some sunshine. Hooray.
The Ash moon, the moon of waters, is also the moon of love. This is the perfect time to explore love magic and having had a request from Daddy Troll that we do some spell work together then maybe this would be a good time to begin.

If like me you are born under and Ash moon then according to Celtic astrology you will have the following traits,

February 18 – March 17, Ash: Ash trees highlight the connection between all things in the natural world, and lend compassion, sensitivity, and inquisitiveness to individuals born under their guidance.

You can head over to this site if your birthday doesn't fall within this month and you are interested in Celtic astrologyy.
http://horoscopes.lovetoknow.com/Celtic_Astrology
There is also this page which I found which offers more thorough interpretations.
http://www.celticattic.com/contact_us/the_celts/celtic_astrology.htm

If none of this interests you whatsoever then simply take a look at one of natures most beautiful gifts to us, enjoy the moons light and wonder for a moment at the free spectacle which shines over us each and every 28 days.

Journalling

2011-02-17T09:56:00.000Z

Journalling is something I have never routinely done, but.... in my new found spirit of give it a go it is something which I am embracing. I love the freedom it gives you, to create, to make something from just a blank sheet of paper, or in my case card as I am never one to stick to the rules. So here are the journal pages I have made so far, all totally random and just well, just bits of me and my crazed thought processes really.

This page was inspired by my love of all things celestial.

This was a tangle I did whilst watching Shawn of the Dead, hehe.

This was a moment of punk rock that entered my brain, I'm confused as to where in the recesses of my mind this little gem was hidden, having never been into punk nor grown up being forced to listen to it either. If I was making a journal page on music I grew up with then it would be an odd mix of something with Dolly Parton, the Bee Gees and Cliff Richard. Hmmm an odd threesome. No I'm definitely not going there.

This was a page about my star sign funnily enough, I certainly don't believe in the stuff and nonsense they churn out in the papers as they are far too generalised to ever be true for most people, but I have always felt that in some way my life and its events are governed by something greater than myself.

This page came out really well, and discusses in no uncertain terms my loathing of the colour pink.

This page was written after an argument with Daddy Troll, of which there has been a considerable amount in more recent times, it felt good to get it off my chest in some way.

I'm really pleased at being able to scan things now as it shows the work so much better, but it has taken me three painful and exasperating days to try and work out how to change the format of the files so I could upload them on to Blogger.There are another two pages but I just can't get them to scan properly which is a shame, but hey - ho. I have tried to take pictures of them but they have writing on them and they just look rubbish, as does most of my photographic work! I am off now to finish some more pages, I have two currently on the go and need another two to finish this particular project. Then I want to concentrate on making some which I will keep for myself, inspired by Aradia's Cauldron and the pagan 52 week journal she is doing there. It is a lovely blog so if you haven't had a look head over and take a squizz at it.

Growing weary of pop music?

2011-02-13T11:56:00.000Z

I have grown weary of pop music and have been on the search for something a little .... well.....a little less poppy.

There are some cool tunes which I have found on my travels and which are to my liking that I wanted to share with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7asPGWuLdeM a great Swedish group

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCyYqVT8dpg&feature=fvsr a medieval pagan sound from Germany.

Of course I couldn't not include the lady that that I included in my wedding music, although this one comes with a cool video for all you Lord of the Rings fans and is a tune I had not heard before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-MOZ4YFGTo&feature=related

This one is a bit like eating a donut without licking your lips. I dare you to listen without tapping any part of your body,lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W2duTA5kJ4

Also check out Lisa Theil on You tube, all very magical and just what I have been looking for for now.

If you have any recommendations that you think I might like I would love to hear them.

It's OK I'm A Witch

2011-02-10T13:13:00.000Z

I cleaned out the pond yesterday, a grimy labour of love I know, even though it is very small I had hopes it would breed life into my slice of Earth. My hope have come true. I know I am maybe a little too excited by what I have just seen but it's OK I'm a witch so I'm allowed to get excited by this kind of thing.

Mating froggies, WHOOP. I had fears that the cats had eaten them all, but here they are three years after I collected some frogs spawn, doing the do, and doing it by my pond side. I did feel a little sorry for this fellow though as he was clearly aware of the action by not getting any.

I thank mother nature, I find more happiness and more beauty in the most natural things in this life.

The Sun Shines And So To Work

2011-02-09T18:38:00.000Z

Hello my lovely peeps, I hope you are all well. I have been away just for a little while as illness has struck Troll manor in a big way. The Bogey monster came to town and he had a field day when he found our house.

Me and Daddy Troll have been up for the past two nights trying to placate a screaming Wee Man who has had a temperature and cough which has clearly been unpleasant for him. We are a bit worse for wear now due to lack of sleep but hey. Wee Man is now on his 5th course of antibiotics for his ear infection, but in truth I think we will just have to wait until we visit ENT to see what is actually causing it.

I have been very busy spring cleaning the house and today the garden too. That's the only trouble with having the sun shine through the windows. The dirt shows itself in a BIG way, but it will be worth while in the end ( there is an end isn't there?, lol).

Anyway, enough for now, babies are still sick, and there is still a mess to clean, but I will not be gone long.

Imbolc and A Nice person In The World.

2011-02-02T14:55:00.000Z

After this weeks events I have questioned humanity, but today I have faith in the world again ( well for now anyway). The lady I work with on a Saturday night has had a rather large clear out of her wardrobe and has very kindly donated all her unwanteds to my eldest daughter who is the same size as this lady. My daughter now has a brand new wardrobe, albeit in bin liners at the moment. How lovely :))).

Today I celebrate Imbolc and was extremely impressed with a little snowdrop I have had my eye on in one of my pots as it has chosen today to open. That is celebration enough for me.

The Lemon balm also in the pot is showing good promise too, yummy.

One of the things on my to do list for this year was to learn to meditate, I think I have found what I am looking for in the art form known as Zentanling. This is basically doodling, but with style. I found myself last night creating a tangle which was for a swap, and realised when I had finished it that I was calm and relaxed and my mind had been free of thought for the time I spent doing it, which was about 2 hours. I love the result too. The little Zentangle city I have just finished this afternoon and will go to the same lady.

Usual excuses for the crappy pictures, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I would also like to thank everyone who has left me lovely messages on my previous post. It means a great deal to know that I might not have moral people around me (family excluded), but that there are good kind and just people in the world. I wish I could live on a commune, in the middle of Alaska with you all,lol.

Numbness

2011-02-01T12:32:00.000Z

I work in a petrol station part time. It's the biggest petrol station in the UK and is very busy all the time.

This picture was taken by one of my friends daughters. It makes the place look beautiful, she is a talented young lady.

Last night I went to work and was told about an armed robbery which had taken place Sunday night. I was shown the footage of my two colleagues. Three masked men grabbed him by the neck holding something (presumably a gun or knife) into his back. My other colleague was then made to empty the tills into a plastic bag while the first boy ( I say boy as he is only 20) was held to the floor. These are not just colleagues, but they are friends, two friends which I have a laugh and a joke with. Two friends which make working there a little less monotonous. Two friends which I take time and effort to enquire after, and seeing footage of them having been physically attacked at the place which I have to go to work has left me feeling numb.

The company's only solution to this attack so far is to stop us going out of the garage after midnight, but we have also been warned now, that because we will not be required to leave the garage at any time there will only be one person needed to do a night shift!

I am numb, I work the Saturday night shift and have no desire to be on my own from 9pm until 6am. What is the solution? What can I possibly do except keep turning up for work waiting until these men decide to do it again?

Daddy Troll also came home with news yesterday, that a former colleague of his had just been banged up for 6 months for priming a 12 year old girl who was actually a NOW reporter. This was a man to whom my husband had spoken to on many occasion, this was a man who had enquired why my husband did not have photos of his children at his desk and this was a man who had then been shown photos of my babies when my husband had taken some photos into work at his request.
Is there such thing as an honest, decent, real human who has values and is morally sound? Am I the odd one out, did I skip a class at school or something? Do good humans only exist in Blogland and are those blogs that I read of real people? I find myself questioning it all?

Scrap Busting.

2011-01-24T12:00:00.000Z

I have a bag full of teeny tiny little scraps from all sorts of projects which I cannot bare to get rid of especially as most of them are expensive quilting scraps and lovely designs so I saw a swap on Swapbot which grabbed my attention as a great way to use lots of them up.

Fabric postcards. These are blank card with the word postcard on the back and the front is left blank too. I used offcuts of wadding and then decorated them with the fabric scraps and had a great time doing it. It was like quilting but on a really easy level as no seams had to be measured and no lines had to be perfect. I love these little things and the idea could be used elsewhere too. I'm going to make more scrap fabric cards, postcards, journal covers and anything else I can think of.

This one used fabrics from the back of mega quilt and was sewed using rectangle lines in yellow thread.

This one used offcuts which I had leftover from a corset top I made for the Roast Pig last summer and more offcuts from mega quilt. I got a bit brave here and made an actual scene, lol, as well as some of those fancy stitches on my sewing machine which I would otherwise have absolutely no use for.

Finished Messenger Bag And My Birthday Boy

2011-01-20T12:45:00.000Z

My lovely little boy was 4 yesterday. He had a lovely time and they threw a little party for him at his nursery, as they do for all the children there.

I finally managed to get his jungle bag completed for him. I lined it using an old sarong I don't think I'll ever need again. I cut all the pieces the same size as I had done for the outside of the bag and then because it was quite thin material and had an evil amount of sideways stretch I used iron on stabiliser to.. well stabilise it and give it some stiffness.

I sewed this to the outside of the bag and then bound all the raw edges with a bright yellow satin binding which I already had in my stash.

Then I reclaimed an adjustable strap from one of Roast Pig's old school bags and attached it to the sides of the bag using more of the binding which I had sewn together for strength. This is what it looked like when I had done.

And here is the inside fully lined.

I followed the advise given to me by Foster Mummy, which was to get some jungle themed items to put in the bag. Thanks Foster mummy, I scored! An afternoon spent raiding the charity shops and two items from the 99p shop resulted in this.

Two jungle themed books, 1 Jungle puzzle book, 1 Jungle blanket for picnics with his toys, some jungle chocolate and 1 packet of jungle plasters, because boys will be boys. In total £7.20 ish on a great gift, I'd say that was a result.

How could I possibly conclude this post without a picture of the man himself... drum roll please,lol.

On finding the plasters...

He's come a long way in his 4 years as you will see from the picture below. He's been through much more than the average 4 year old, there will be dangers unknown and hardships untold ( to steal a line from Labyrinth) for him yet, but he will always have the support he needs from us, because we are his family and we all love him very much.

I brought a very jaundiced little baby boy home with me as you can see. At least the shape of his head wasn't still 'alien like' in this photo.

Food For The Soul

2011-01-18T14:30:00.000Z

This morning I got up (read dragged myself up), feeling like a grizzly bear with a very sore head. Not through alcohol, but lack of sleep and ragingly bad hormone fluctuations.

My fingers were swollen like a bunch of Walls pork sausages as the heating had been left on! This is a most unfortunate thing that happens to me and unless the house is at -5oC I swell up like a hot air balloon. Daddy Troll on the other hand would quite happily pile on a gazillion layers, wear woolly hats and insulate his nostrils finally covering them in clingfilm were it not for the fact he would suffocate rapidly doing so.

I shouted at the kids, clearly too engrossed in the TV to get dressed, then phoned Daddy Troll, barraging him with some abuse concerning the lack of substance as far as packed lunches were concerned.

Then a wondrous thing happened, and I'm sure dear reader that you have noticed it too. The sun shone on my dank little hovel and all was well.

Now having thrown in my slave/cleaner hat for this week I decided it was to be a morning out in the garden. So off I trotted out into our little 12 foot square back garden to find two rather noisy chickens. They wanted food, so I raided the shed for their food only to be greeted by mould in what was left of their feed. This damp weather is no good for man nor beast as they say. Luckily their bag of corn was not mouldy so I filled their bowl with this and shall replace their food tomorrow as it is a fair way to get it for them and I would not have had time to get it today.

I then ventured to look into their Eglu, which has been left for a shamefully long time without being cleaned. the sight which met me was not overly pleasant, and that is all I shall say on that. So with rubber gloves, Dr Bronner's, scrubbing brush and bucket of hot water I stepped into the face of fear.

Three hours it has taken me to scrub, scrape, gouge, rinse, rake ( the stones in their cage) and scrub some more, but it is done. I have a large trug which is half full of Chicken poo, two happy chickens, 1 clean Eglu and a sore back, but all is well. I have also cleaned the kitchen, put on some washing, mopped the kitchen floor, hung up some things cluttering the floor and am about to pick up some toys the kids left on the sitting room floor this morning.

This was not the idea at the beginning of the week, but I feel good for having done it. It feels better to have done it because I wanted to and not because I had to. Cleaning is my food for the soul, but I do apologise if you were expecting something tasty for your bellies,lol.

I hope my family learn something from this week too, maybe we will all be a little better by the end of this experiment. It is important to get your family right first in my view, if you can master the intricacies of dealing with family then everything else becomes easier to deal with too.

See, even the Simpson's can be happy,lol.

48 Hours Since Impact

2011-01-17T13:17:00.000Z

It's been 48 hours since I went on strike here at Troll Manor. Other than Saturday morning when I had to intervene as breakfast for the kids still hadn't been started by 11.30am, I haven't lifted a finger to help. Normal service will of course resume once the week is out, and we will see if it was all worth it then.

I've still been very busy however including the usual Saturday night shift. I've had a lovely bath ( a rare treat, as usually I don't have the time or the boiler doesn't want to play ball), I've reclaimed my eyebrows,lol, trimmed nails and moisturised very overworked feet into some semblance of loveliness.

I spent a while doing Wee Man's homework with him which he has been given by the speech therapist. That was really enjoyable as I don't usually get the time I would like to help him at all. He is to start school in September, and while he will be going to a mainstream school I really worry that he is not ready. His speech is very unclear still, and I think he is behind in capabilities mentally. After all he was not able to hear properly for the first 2 years of his life.

Physically he is always going to be different, but he still finds walking very tiring and we still have to use a pushchair to take him out, and while he may be able to use the toilet with help at home he is not going to manage on his own at school.

He will not be able to dress or undress himself without help for some time to come and I worry that he is going to get all the help he needs. I have an appointment to see the Educational Phsycologist ( or educational phsycopath, as I say) in a few weeks to discuss all these issues I have with regard to his education, but I still worry none the less. What kind of a Mumma would I be if I didn't?

Roast Pig had her first parent evening Friday and it seems she is clearly Intelligent, which came as somewhat of a shock. We tend to find at the moment the hormones are taking over her brain as well as her body, so stomping and grunting are what we see. We would love her if she had the brain capacity of a goldfish, but it's good to know she is more capable than that obviously.

Rascal seems to be going through some sort of 'cry at everything' stage at the moment too, which I have to admit I find most irritating. Just about every other negative human trait is more bearable to me. she will grow out of it soon ( I hope).

As I have been able to have some time to myself this weekend I have been working on a few projects, of course. The garden is still a no go area as it hasn't stopped raining, so I have been indoors with my crafting stuff.

This is a little springtime dotee doll I made, fresh red and green colours and some leaf shaped beads for a tail. I would have gone for yellow but the recipient didn't like yellow.

I compiled this collection of chewing gums for a swap with a lady in the USA, I don't often chew gum but I can't wait to find out what she has sent me, they have such unusual flavours out there. I will be pleased as punch if I get any grape flavoured gum or watermelon. Fake as hell but I love those flavours.

This is for a Imbolc card and surprise swap with a lady in Wales, hand drawn by me it shows the goddess in her maid aspect.

I have another two projects almost completed, a raindrop dotte and also my first art shrine, which has been surprisingly time consuming. Also I have been painting a picture of the Muse Calliope, my first painting with acrylic which is going to be seen by anyone else other than those at Troll Manor. I will show you these tomorrow when I have finished them and also the camera needs to be charged so I can't take any more pictures right now. I hope your Monday isn't as wet or as grey looking as mine has been, if it is.. all I can do is sympathise.

Strike Action

2011-01-15T12:38:00.000Z

It's been a really crap week here at Troll Manor, my week has not been my own at any point and I seem to have spent it waiting for others, waiting on others and being pushed around by others. I have decided that there is only one way to go and so my decision is this....

I have no objection to being a mum, a wife, a dutiful daughter, a considerate colleague but I do appreciate just a little respect and even a smithereen of thanks every now and then for my time and considerations. These things seem to have been sadly lacking this week so Mum's on Strike. I really don't expect much in return, even an acknowledgement that I have spent my day doing something would be enough. So this week should be an interesting one, I have agreed to cook Wee Man's birthday meal, but I will do no more. I know it will drive me crazy but I don't know how else to get across to people how much I actually do for them.

On a more positive note I should have lots to show you this week as I will have more time to devote to other things,yipeeeeeeeeeee.

Setting To On The Resolutions In Earnest

2011-01-11T17:16:00.000Z

This year I want to really make several changes to my life. I wrote them down here and I have already made a concerted effort on a few of them. One of them was to hand make every gift this year or ( in the event of some kind of destructive force, namely my own lack of self motivation), at least buy them second hand, ie. not new.

I have two birthdays this month, so no rest for the wicked, as they say. Wee Man's birthday is first on January 19th and while you think it may be easy to think of something for a 4 year old boy, I have had several restless nights trying to think of what the hell I could make for him. He has lots of toys, and we do not have much space, he has lots of clothes and again he simply doesn't need any more. I thought of maybe taking him out, but that would have been cheating, and probably have worked out expensive too. Then in the middle of one night I remembered something I had been given in the first swap I was ever involved in. Susie from Useless Beauty had sent me a good sized piece of children's fabric which she had been unable to find a use for. I too had been a little unsure of what I could do with it on first inspection as it has a very large pattern and could only have been used one way up.

Then I had the idea that I would make him a messenger bag for nursery. I cut the fabric into bits....

The sections were (in Inches), 20 x 12.5, the two pieces on the left were this size. Then the thicker piece with the rhino on was 20 x 9.5. The thinnest strip was 20 x 4.5.
The two largest pieces would form the front and the back of the bag, while the 20 x 9.5 strip was to be the front flap. The small strip was going to be the bottom, just to make it wider at the bottom, but not at the top.

Then I decided that 20 inches wide was too big, after all he's a Wee Man and only 30 or so inches tall himself! (For those of you who may not know, my son has Achondroplasia the most common form of Dwarfism). I made all the 20 Inch measurements into 16 Inches and cut the 4.5 wide piece down to 4 Inches. This gave me enough fabric to have wide sides to match the wider bottom, he he, how clever was that ( although I have to admit, it was pure chance and not intentional).
I then pinned and sewed the parts of the bag together and now have this...

I have dug out a salvaged, adjustable strap from one of the girls old bags ( it's a shame it's black, but this is frugal pressie after all), and have found some bright yellow binding which I had left over from another project.

I plan to make a lining, making the sides stiffer too and then bind round the top, sewing the adjustable straps on last of all ( I think). That will be pressie number one done. The second one will be a bit trickier... a few more restless night's methinks.

An end In sight? Art Quilt and a zentangle.

2011-01-10T13:41:00.000Z

OK, I admit, while I am not a summer person I do love the springtime. The fresh greens and happy yellows of daffodils and intoxicating smell of the hyacinths, the blossom on the fruit trees. I am longing for it.. very impatiently I might add. This has been a hard winter, cold, wet, snowy, frosty and bitter, but now I am bored of it and long to get a day of sun ( even weak though it might still be) to get out into my little patch of planet Earth. The temperature here in London has now increased a little but in its place we have a cold,cold wind. Is there an end in sight? Well a quick scan in my garden says maybe, the Forsythia has started to bud and I can see the first sign of some of the bulbs poking their heads out of the very bare earth. Hooray!

As I have been housebound, by all this weather I have been busy as usual crafting away. I thought I would have a go at an art quilt. It was very time consuming I have to say, but I enjoyed doing it and trying my hand at some embroidery too. I don't think I'll be giving up the day job as it were as far as my embroidery skills are concerned but I think the recipient will like it ( or at least I hope so).

Art Quilt based on a picture of Anne of Green Gables.

I was pleased with my attempt, but the face wasn't as good as I hoped.

A close up of her basket, be nice it was my first time,lol.

Something else which got my attention earlier in the week was Zentangling. This is basically doodling with style,lol. This again is something which I have never tried but really had fun doing. Here it is......

I'm going to learn how to do more of these as it was so much fun. Really absorbing to do, almost to the point of meditation, letting the pen do the work while the mind drifted aimlessly, bliss. If your interested in having a look at a whole myriad of patterns and aweing ( is that a word?) the people round you with the skill of you doodles then have a look at this site.
http://tanglepatterns.com/

Grinding The Day Away

2011-01-06T19:11:00.000Z

Today has been a day of many, many parts. The one thing I can tell you for sure is that I have worked my ginormous arse off, hence the title of this post, sorry to disappoint any one who was looking forward to any grinding of any other kind.

Sorry but, none of that sort here,lol.

Firstly this morning it was sort out all the baby trolls, showers, PE bags, uniforms, breakfasts, packed lunches and all the shouting that is involved at getting three children out of the house, complete with EVERYTHING they need. Then it was round to the school trying desperately to smile nicely at the other mums ( I really don't 'do' humans, I'm no good at it. I think I invented the term hermit in a former life).
Then there was the quick dash round to Wilkinson's to buy up all the flea spray, carpet and upholstery stinky stuff I could find, since we seem to have an infestation. Thanks stinky dog!
Then it was dash home, pick up all the stuff that seems to have found its way to the floor ( as opposed to where it should be!) and them sprinkle the very heavily scented flea killing carpet vac-esque all over the three bedrooms. When I had done that I stripped the beds that the dog has ever been on, and have spent the day spraying everything he has been near.
In between washing loads, and collecting children from school, and scouring the charity shops ( where I managed to get 2 really good books I have been on the look out for, and some note cards, I have also managed to cook a chicken pie, which I am soon to eat, peel loads of veg to go with it, pack up a load of home made cards which are for swaps, draw the start of a new ATC ........and have a go at Zentangling,PHEW.

Here are the cards, which I made yesterday, complete with ATC's in home made envelopes.

Card plus ATC in hand made envelope, for Tarot swap.

Card plus ATC for tarot swap.

Card plus ATC for Tarot swap

Card and ATC for Darkside ATC swap.

It's 18.02 and I'm fit to drop, but I think I have had a productive day, the sort which I love the most. Today I am satisfied and happy with my lot ( well, except for the flea bites, ewwwwwwwwwww).

Easing Back Into The Swing Of Things.

2011-01-05T07:50:00.000Z

Three children is hard work, keeping them all up to date with home work, keeping them entertained ( not just letting them idle away their time in front of the TV), keeping their minds active and their bodies dressed and stopping the inevitable rounds of bickering and fighting is a full time job. It is nice when holidays come around as it gives you the breathing space to let a few of these things slide for a while, but as they are back to the normal routine again this week I thought I would be more prepared this time so while Daddy Troll was busy making bread for lunches I was slaving over a hot pan making several days worth of these lovely little babies, and I thogut I would share the recipie with you as they are so quirky but oh so tasty.

Beetroot and Elderflower Mini Pancakes

2 Eggs
2 mugs plain flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 mugs water
3/4 mugs of home made elderflower cordial ( it's what I had, but you could use juice or other squash)
1 mug of very finely grated beetroot
1 tsp cinnamon
Good pinch salt
oil to cook.

Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Add the flour, baking powder and salt.
Pour in the water and the squash/cordial and mix together.
Fold in the beetroot.

Drop a good sized table spoon into a hot pan and cook like you would a normal pancake. These come out quite thick so take a bit longer and smooth them out a little as you drop the mixture in.
Serve hot with butter, or honey, although the kids got away with some chocolate spread made by grandma!
They keep really well and I think they taste better after a day reheated, but that's just me,lol.

Thoughts for 2011

2011-01-01T12:37:00.000Z

I have lots going through my head at the moment, thought which have pestered my head for a while now, forcing their way through the mush in my brain. These thought have become my New Years Resolutions, something which I am not usually one to partake in.

Firstly, concerning myself I was to get fitter by the end of the year. Wee man is almost 4 now so I can't really blame baby fat any longer.

Secondly, the finances need to be more controlled, it would mean a concerted effort but by the end of the year there is no real good reason that we shouldn't have money in our accounts rather than living in our overdrafts.

Next I REALLY want to open up an Etsy store, this will help with the above resolution.

I want to have a completely home made year of pressies, birthdays, holidays, Christmas all included.

I want to try to buy nothing new for a year, although there will have to be a few exceptions to this, notably shoes for me and Wee Man will have to be bought new as we both have exceedingly strange feet.

I'll be back this time next year to this post to see how much of it I have actually accomplished, I hope it's more than I expected.

I thought I would also show you in this post some of what been keeping me out of mischief in the past week or two as well.

Stephen Kings It, for an upcoming swap.

A blue fairy collage style, already sent to a swap partner., the resolutions come out bad on this one for some reason.

For a Tarot ATC swap

For The same Tarot ATC swap.

A Dotee swap, already sent to my partner.

To be honest what I am most looking forward to is getting out into my garden and making it green and lush once more, but those days will be here soon.

New Year

2010-12-31T14:58:00.000Z

I wish all of my lovely readers a most happy, prosperous, healthy and enjoyable New Year.

May all your dreams and wishes come true.

Put a smile on your face,

and keep love all around you.

See you all in 2011.

All Christmased out and ready for the New Year.

2010-12-30T08:33:00.000Z

I have to say that Christmas this year has been REALLY good. It has been like one of those really cheesy smiles and mince pie type Christmases that you see on the TV and grimace at, because in reality they are never really like that.
There were no fights, no sarcastic remarks from the older generations, there were no tantrums, no carving knives at dawn. None of it. The kids seemed happy with their things and have been busy making and doing ever since and I have lots of lovely gifts, 3 of which are particularly fantastic.

Firstly a handmade gift from my husband,it still needs a little modification here and there but I know he spent time and effort on it so I love it for that.

It's a bee hotel made from an old coffee table. It has the name HOTEL BEEBYLON inscribed on the plaque at the top. I will repaint it and make the holes in it bigger and hopefully get some solitary bees to come into my garden and take up residence.
The second pressie with which I am very pleased with is a lovely set of Sabatier knives. I have been using the same set of Asda £4.99 knives for the past 6 years, and well I could have cut things up more easily with a plastic spork!

The last present was really unexpected, and has made something very official.... I have turned into my mother!.

She made this beautiful quilt for me and Daddy Troll, most of the blue is from fabric I used to drool over as a young girl, so I am very pleased to have this in my possession now. Thanks Mum.x

I now am turning my attention towards 2011, I have a feeling in my gut that it holds something special, but I suppose I will just have to wait and see.

Fun Is A full Time Occupation

2010-12-23T12:01:00.000Z

I used to dread the kids holidays and despite having three children, I am not by nature a child friendly zone. My patience is often frayed and very limited when it comes to my own children and I am almost phobic of other peoples offspring.
I have tried very hard in more recent times to address this issue with regards to my own children at least. This holiday is turning out to be the best so far. Why?, because I have taken the time and effort to find them things to do, activities, fun stuff and none of which has cost the earth so they haven't been fighting over the small issues and have been occupied from dawn until dusk.
So here is some of what they have already made along with some help from me and Daddy Troll.

Firstly they made some Christmas cards.

Then their stomachs got the better of them.

I cant' believe how well the Roast Pig did making these, she even made the pastry from scratch, the only thing she asked me to do was separate the eggs! Clever girl.

Then it was a gift for an elderly neighbour,

It was some simple decorations from the Wee Man and Rascal, paper chains from a Wilkinson 97p pack. They have cheered up a dour tree this year, unfortunately our brighter decorations all seem to have broken so it's all a bit glum this year.

Finally, a joint and very messy effort went into the pinata which will be for a game on Christmas day. It will be a Christmas Bauble once painted and decorated and filled with some goodies.

Here is the results, so far

Well done my beautiful babies, may Father Christmas be good to you. Love you always Mum.xx

A Labour Of Love - The End.

2010-12-22T14:40:00.001Z

This is the end of an era......

2.5 square metres once bound, 1000 different fabrics used, 500 ish metres of thread, a gazillion Mumma Troll hours of labour, plus a few Daddy Troll hours two, 1 bottle of jack Daniels, 1 packet of colour catchers, 1 packet of Ariel stain removing powder, 1 dedicates wash, several hours drying time and some blood, sweat and tears too.

A total of 11metres of scrap fabric for the top was used, the binding was 1 metre, the backing used a whole single duvet cover plus 2.5 metres of other fabrics, and the wadding was 2.5 square metres.

It's stitched in the ditch, which was amusing in itself as some of the seams are less than straight, and you really can't see the quilting on this anyway, but it is there honest.

My only wish is that I had a place big enough to get a good photo of the whole thing, but alas I live in a matchbox,lol.

Goodbye mega quilt, we have had a love /hate relationship and I almost barbecued the dog because of your presence in my home ( he weed up it while I was sewing the binding on, in case you missed the rambling in a former post). you have taken me two years on and off to complete, but now my work here is done and on Christmas day you go to the best of homes where you will be loved, cherished and slept on by two black cats.

And a Merry Yule To All

2010-12-21T13:22:00.001Z

I feel so ready for Yule this year, the rebirth of the sun. The days will lengthen once more and even though winter still has an icy grip on us we will have more daylight with which to enjoy those wintry walks.
The Oak King becomes successor of the Holly King and the crone gives birth to her son/lover who will bring forth the sun once more.

I having been raised a fairly strict Roman Catholic still find it hard to let go of Christmas as 'the big one', but as I get older and find my own path more and more, I find Yule a more natural day to celebrate. It is a turning point in the year.

We have been celebrating so far with lots of crafting and cooking, and I really want to make a traditional Yule Log, before the day is out. In Kate West's Book The Real Witches Year, she suggests lighting a candle each on the Yule log and making a simple thank you for something you have been grateful for in the past year and also making a simple wish for the coming year. I like this idea and hope to do this with the baby Trolls this evening.

Roast Pig Troll has made a whole batch of mince pies from start to finish, including the pastry! Rascal has been making a picture for Father Christmas and Wee Man got to play some games on the Cbeebies site, which I have to say has some great games and activities for little ones even though I do not agree with letting children have unlimited access to computers and games consuls.

Anyway, I must away if I want to get that Yule Log made. So for those who celebrate it have a very Merry Yule, and for those who don't have a lovely day anyway.

Mini Art

2010-12-20T12:52:00.000Z

We are nearly there folks, are you ready, are you feeling festive or is it all going Pete Tong? Luckily here at troll manor all seems well, ish. The Wee Man has yet another ear infection and should have had a hearing test today but I had to cancel it for the third time.

For those of you new to my blog ( hello, by the way, nice to have you all along), my youngest whom you will from time to time see referred to as the Wee Man has Achondroplasia. He is a little person, a dwarf and no I do not find that an offensive term it is only the manner in which words are said that is offensive to me. Unfortunately because of the shape of the bones within his ears he is very prone to ear infections as are all Little people. We are off to the doctors soon for some more antibiotics as he has not been able to get rid of it by himself (boo, I hate antibiotics and only use them as a last resort).

Anyway, I've been busy with my liitle works of art and am beginning to really enjoy them, although the results are not always as I intended. This first one is on a background of silver glitter, the zebra stripes are simply paper, but I have used enamel spray to make the final thing REALLY shiny. I love this and will be doing this some more with different animal prints.

This next one is made from different types of blue tissue paper, the raindrops are glitter glue and gel pen embellished with an umberella. I'm not totally happy with this one yet but I got a bit stumped with what else to do with it.

This is a hand drawn from the imagination of Mumma Troll. It's a vampire decorating her tree by the light of the full moon.

This next one is really not done any justice by the photo, it's an image from a tattoo book, cut and put on top of a red glitter background. The red parts have been exaggerated with red nail varnish ( well i had to find a use for it as I don't ever paint my nails,lol)

This one is Ugly Boy, again he is straight out of my head, done in acrylic paint. I do begin to wonder about my imagination, there are some pretty dark and sinister images in there,Hmm.

They have all been made for upcoming swaps.

Experimental Brewing and the Art Of Have A Go.

2010-12-16T16:30:00.001Z

I've become somewhat of a have-a-go freak recently, inspired by so many talented bloggers and people on forums that I frequent, that my attitude to certain things has now changed. I am by nature a stubborn old bag really and have spent much of my life willing myself to fail. Never really pushing myself just in case things were not what I wanted them to be, but stuff that if others can do it then so can I.
I may be no Renoir or Picasso or Vivienne Westwood and I'm most definitely no Einstein or Stephen Hawking (even though I did do Astrophysics at University... for the grand total of three months,lol), but, if I think it's plausible to attempt something in my own home and within fairly limited means then by golly I will.

I have in the past had various attempts at home brewing, some of them successful and others not so. Sage beer is my latest attempt at a bit of this experimentation and have a go kick.
I found a recipe in a James Wong book I own. Apparently Sage is a good general tonic which can help if you are feeling tired and run down ( and who isn't a little flagged at this time of year). Sage beer contains B vitamins which apparently help the nervous system. Sage is also known to be antiseptic and antibacterial, although I personally won't be wasting it as a side spray.

I also came across this very interesting site about Gruit ale which also gives a recipe for sage beer as well as some interesting history.
http://www.gruitale.com/intro_en.htm
On the site I also found this lovely picture and just knew she had to have a place on my little blog post, how fabulous is she?

The good thing about this recipe is the quantity of sage needed is very small and could easily just come from a solitary plant, the yeast I used was the same yeast I use for my bread making, and again just a small quantity there, the sugar was just a small amount and the only other ingredient was a jar of Malt extract, which I already had in my cupboard, but can be purchased in Holland and Barrett for £1.89.
Cheap round I'd say.
Now what's next I wonder.....

Magic Mail.

2010-12-14T20:21:00.000Z

These days I really look forward to the mail, not because I'm rich and paid off all the bills in advance therefore not getting any, not because our postman is handsome or dashing and not because I enjoy setting the dog on him and get some sadistic pleasure out of watching him being torn to pieces. I like looking to see what some clever/talented/thoughtful individual has sent me in a swap.

These are some ATC's which I received in a swap.

This lovely card which I received from Susie's Mum whose name i have now found out. So Thank You Sandra, your efforts are most gratefully received.

This is a wonderful card made from a paper bag for a tea swap I did. Sorry about the poor lighting in this photo.

This is the inside of the card, the opening to the right hold a letter which the sender wrote to me which details some things about herself. Even the back of the card is decorated, how clever is that?

This is two lots of fabrics, the large stuff is 6" charm squares and the little bag holds 50, 1.5" squares which I have plans for already.
I am a lucky Mumma Troll, and love post time now.
Just in case you think I have been slacking, the final picture is the Sage Beer on the brew. I think it got a little cold so my yeast friends were not doing their job. I have warmed the little beasties up, what do you think?

Diversity Breeds Creativity.

2010-12-13T10:13:00.001Z

I shouldn't be here today. This is a guilty and hurriedly written post. Why? Well because, I have a 'to do' list as big as my increasing waist line, although I can't be sure which is growing more quickly,lol. This trying something new business has really awoken a beast within and the more I do the more I want to do. I just have so much to share with you that I had to let you in on a smidgen of it today.
This is a journal made for a swap, and I absolutely loved making every bit of it. Out came the coffee for 'ageing' some of the pages. Out came the gold kids paint for some of the other pages. Out came the craft knife for the pictures of Indiana Jones. Out came some lovely Batik fabric, and I had to raid the cereal cupboard for the covers.
If anyone is interested in having a go I followed this tutorial although I did not totally follow it, but used it more as a guide.

Anyway here are the results.

This is the cover of the book, it's actually the bit I was least happy with, I think I applied too much glue and it came through on the fabric. Lesson learnt for next time.

This is the inside 'signatures' I think it's called. This came out really well, it made the finished project look like a proper book.

This is just one of the 40 pages inside the book. Almost all of the have an image or two from one of the films on them.

This is the last page of the journal, unfortunately the images have come out a bit odd, but you get the idea. I just hope my swap partner likes it. I thought it was really cool, one of the best things I have done so far.
Tomorrow I want to share with you some of the things I have received as there are some talented people out there. This will include the lovely card I got from Susie's Mum. I didn't get her name she signed the card Susie's Mum, how lovely is that.
Now I really must go and get on with the Sage Beer and I have about 40 or so wool dreads to roll for some fairy dolls for the kids, but they will get their own space another day.

An Obsession Begins.

2010-12-11T08:55:00.000Z

I have one person and only one person for the obsession that has taken over my 'spare' hours. (Can you hear me laughing?). What I mean is the time I am choosing to procrastinate and do the fun stuff as opposed to the stuff I really must do as a matter of life and death. Well let me first tell you who this person is. Her name is Susie and she has a really wonderful blog HERE. She has the most wonderful sense of humour and her writing is always a pleasure to read. Well back in October she suggested a card swap. At the time I was feeling a bit 'inward' shall we say, having a bit of a wallow in the pit of approaching winter gloom and despair and thought that it wasn't the thing for me. At the last moment I thought Sod it, what's a card... good will to all men and all that malarkey and I might enjoy it.
That same evening I found my brain churning and I couldn't sleep. Some beast had awoken and it was hungry. This was the swap beast and it was telling me I had agreed to make something for someone I didn't know, had never met and probably never would. This beast was also telling me I had to make it wonderful, because it would feel great.

This is what my inner swap beast came up with.

This is the front of the card, it is a nine patch made from 1.5" squares of Christmas fabric, with a holly pattern hand embroidered ( I use that term very loosely having never done embroidery in my life) and some sparkly red sequins at the centre for the berries.

The centre showing the card part ( the rest is all fabric).

This is the back, the edges are bound with red ribbon which has a cheeky little bit of sparkle, who doesn't need that at this time of year?

This shows the pattern on the reverse of the card.

What I'm hoping for with this is that it can either be used again in the same way next year as the card is easily detachable, or perhaps as a needle case, or book mark, or with an extra bit of ribbon as a decoration. maybe there is a Christmas fairy who would love to use it as a winter warming blanket.

Let's hope it's not this one.

I loved making this so thanks Susie, my inner swap beast is being fed via Swap-bot at the moment and has fast become a bit of an obsession, if you're not already there come on over and have a look. It's lots of fun, especially at 1 o'clock in the morning when your husband's snoring keeps you awake.

Feeling the frazzle?

2010-12-10T12:48:00.002Z

Earlier this year I made a non spoken promise to myself that this year I would attempt to make as many of the gifts that I was going to hand out at Christmas and other celebrations as I possibly could. I find myself with loads still to do despite having started around August.
I am still 5 metres of hand sewing the binding away from completing mega quilt which might be finished if the dog hadn't decided to piddle on it, but that's another story!
I haven't started on Daddy Trolls pressie yet. He has asked for a cheque book, with cheques he can redeem through out the year each one entitling him to a nag free football match, this is a hard burden for me to bear you must understand,lol.
I have three fairy rag dolls to finish and clothes to make for said fairy dolls although I have found some really sumptuous trim for the clothes.

Sorry the camera didn't like it close up.

Finally I have some sage beer to make for the Father In law which needs to get brewing this weekend.
At the moment I'm feeling a little bit like the woman below, but I shall take some deep breaths and take my sore fingers back to the binding as I can't wait to finally show you all the finished product.

Anyway it's not possible to feel sorry for yourself when you come across images like this.

Do you think they know they're days are numbered?

I have certainly noticed that although we are told times are hard due to the current financial climate that this is most definitely not stopping people spending like crazy. On a shopping excursion ( non Christmas) yesterday my mum and I only made it as far as the car park cue into Bromley before heading off to a garden centre instead to show the Wee Man the reindeer which they have. On arrival we were greeted by 4 coach loads of people and a car park choco block with cars. The garden centre was heaving and the sad part of it all was that the Christmas spirit seemed to have deserted each and every one of those people replaced by a mad frenzie to get, in front, around and generally right up your bum just in case you picked up something they wanted. I was pleased to get out and even more pleased that I have chosen the handmade by me route this year as it spares me the wretchedness of being in the shops in December.
Are you all feeling the frazzle at the moment? If you are let me know what you are doing to relieve said frazzle, answers on a postcard, make them out to frazzle central and I'm sure they will find me,lol.x

Leaving you with a calm and peaceful image.xx

Meet The Fae

2010-12-08T11:01:00.002Z

If you see a faery ring

In a field of grass

Very lightly step around,

Tip-toe as you pass,

Last night faeries frollicked there

And they're sleeping somewhere near.

If you see a tiny faery,

Lying fast asleep

Shut your eyes

And runaway,

Do not stay to peek!

Do not tell or you'll break a faery spell.

William Shakespeare.

Nissa

Nisa is a happy faery, she brings sunshine to the darkness.

Sebille
Sebille is a calming faery, she brings quiet to a storm.

Elswyth
Elsweth is beautiful, she radiates her beauty to those around her.

Elden
Elden is captivating she commands great respect.

These faerys have been made with love and will bring the four little girls to whom they shall be given great joy and happiness.

Victorian Shawl.

2010-12-02T15:15:00.002Z

This is a gift for the mother in law for Christmas.

The lighter colour is the back of the shawl.

A close up of the bead trim.

It is made from two pieces of silk which I picked up from the remnants bin and some trim which I found in Bromley market. The pattern is from Sew Retro. I have had to sew it all by hand as with the trim it wont go through the sewing machine! A perfect project for a day like today where the only distraction has been a trip to the park to prevent the feelings of cage rage from developing,lol.

Off we go on a snowy adventure.

Even the cross terrain pushchair doesn't cut it in the snow.

Fidget in his totally camp sweater recon.

A Rascal and a Roast Pig having some snowy fun together, without arguing!.

Me and Daddy Troll, looking like Yetis.

Enjoy the snow readers, if you have some. It will be gone all too soon and my family will be off to school and work and even though they are a pain in the proverbials I will miss them when they are not here.

November Snow

2010-11-30T14:36:00.000Z

Well it's white out there in London town. The town stops, the buses struggle, the folk whinge. Me I'm lucky I don't have to be out there and I do feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have a choice, but it's not like it's 16 " that some parts have seen. I do have to giggle at it all, I do find townies as the rest of the country calls us really do live up to their weak reputation sometimes. When you see exposed midriffs and high heels...well what can be said to redeem that reputation except, we are not all like that.

Hmmm!

I have been trying out another art form recently. ATC's or Art Trading Cards. It's basically art on a piece of card 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Have a google and some of the art work is stunning. well I may be no fine artist, but give me some glitter glue and sticky back plastic and I'll have a go. Here are the results of my childesque attempts at art. Laugh... go ahead but don't let me know you are laughing. I want comments that would see my work in some famous Art Gallery please,lol.

Cherub ATC made with acrylic paint, gel pens and water colours on a printed image.

Are you laughing yet?

Silver and gold metallic paint with glitter glue, star sequins, silver crepe paper and a butterfly from a broken piece of jewellery

Stop it I can hear you.

David Bowie inspired space theme, made with glitter paint and collage from a children's book.

Ok I'll let you laugh at this one, it's meant to be funny.

Right now I'm off to rescue Rascal Troll, the school has phoned me to say they are shut. Poor Roast pig has been kicked out of school some hours ago, but is having to walk as all the buses are stranded. It's only 5 miles away, it will harden her teenage moods off a little, Mwahahahaha.

Try Something New

2010-11-27T11:58:00.000Z

Sometimes life takes you unaware. When I was 17 I never in a million years expected to be married, have three kids and be fat. I was going to be a fighter pilot in the RAF serving Queen and country and be at the peak of physical fitness. I never thought it possible that I could be an almost stay at home mum and enjoy it.

One of my life's events changed me more than I could possibly imagine. In 2000 my Dad died. He was 48 years old and within 3 months of being diagnosed with cancer it had wasted a 15 stone 6 foot man who was a builder by trade and strong as an ox into a 9 stone shadow crippled and in a wheelchair. His death was a relief, I wouldn't wish that suffering on my worst enemy. He is not gone, not forgotten, but out there doing what he loved, what he was good at, he is guttering the Himalayas. This is how we keep his memory going and what works for us as a family.

I have learnt to take life's ups and downs ( and there have been many) and to use them as experience. They have formed me into the person I am. I could sit at home watching crap TV, I could scour shops building up debt which I can never pay off. Daddy Troll and I live within our means, we find ways of making a little go a long way. My Dads death made me appreciate my life. It gave me an almost obsessional desire to never waste time and to try new things.

I have tried lots of things, some I have been..well a bit mediocre at to say the least. Some I have really enjoyed and some I will never waste time doing again. More than anything I have become increasingly fond of upcycling, finding older or used things to make them into something else or more simply, using what I already have to make something. This week I have had two baby trolls at home rather unwell so big projects have taken a back seat in favour of some smaller things which I have really enjoyed. The great thing about this stuff is it is from things I already own, or things I have found in the charity shop, or things I have been able to purchase inexpensively from the 99p store. There is one exception to this. yesterday I bought some beautiful paper from Hobbycraft which set me back a whopping £18, BUT it will go a long way. So here is one of the items I have made in the past few days.

A Birthday Card for my Mum.

This is made from an old scrap of ribbon, a picture cut from a charity shop children's book, one of the kids gel sparkle pens and a small quantity of the lovely paper I bought yesterday. The actual card is from a pack from the 99p shop. 15 per pack so good value.

Another swap for SwapBot.

This is for a Swapbot swap, two handmade cards are accompanying 10, 6" charms of fabric which have now been sent to two different people. I hope they like the cards as these were extra to the requirements of the swap. Again using some of that lovely paper, this time with a length of ribbon and a small heart cut from an off cut of fabric which they will be receiving.
For my next try something new, it's journal making. I have never done this before but spent part of last night ageing some paper. I'm now off to decorate that paper with things cut from another charity shop book.

Bringing Sunshine To The Darkness.

2010-11-26T11:18:00.001Z

OK I know I'm nuts but it feels the more crispy it's getting outside the better I feel. I'm loving this weather to be honest. Wrapping up cosy against the elements feels good and I like it. My only complaint is the lack of daylight, I don't like it getting dark at 4 o'clock as I feels like the end of the day. It makes me think I should be off to bed but I still have hours to go.
I have been really busy trying to get the Christmas presents finished. Mega quilt is quilted and now just needs binding but that involves 10 meters of binding which is why I have been putting it off.... can you blame me really? Hand sewing 10 metres of binding is not my idea of a good time.

Instead I decided to make another quilt rather than finish the one I started. Does anyone else do this or is it just my inability to see something through to the end? This one is for the Brother in Law and his Wife who got married recently here in June and are now expecting baby in April/May. We have decided to give them our rocking cot and I have made them a really bright quilt to go with it. I'm not really into the whole baby pastels thing so I have gone for as bright as I could. The back is like a tropical island, so has been some sunshine in the darkness for me. I enjoyed every moment of this little quilt. Small is the way to go here and this quilt is 30" square.

The front, this is 9 units.

This is the back, 9 squares of batik fabric.

I'm not looking forward to giving it to them actually, I really love it for a start, but also I fear they will not appreciate it and the two whole days it took me to make, but they shall have it regardless because I am not that mean.

As I have mentioned before I have also become a little fixated on Swapbot which is an online international community of crafters who just like to swap stuff with other people. I have done a few swaps now and am currently signed up for a whole load more, simply because it's fun.

Here is a set of stickers I packaged and sent to a lady in Australia. I wrapped it all up nicely in some pink tissue paper and closed it with another sticker.

This is the great part about having kids, you have all this stuff lying around anyway. The kids wont miss some, they only ever stuck such things on the TV screen anyway,lol.

Another swap sent is 50 1 1/2 " fabric pieces to two different partners. Hopefully I should receive two different sets of 50 squares in return. Again I packaged them up nicely and put a little note card in with the fabric. I just have to see just how slow snail mail can be now.

Oh What A beautiful Morning, Oh What a Beautiful Day

2010-11-17T19:22:00.001Z

Actually the title refers to yesterday, today was really miserable looking and grey outside.I love this time of year generally speaking( days like today aside). The temperature starts to really cool down. The days shorten dramatically. The garden dies right back and once more I can see bare earth. Some people...in fact lots of people really hate this time of year, but as I walked through Crystal palace Park yesterday morning with the dog, it was bliss.

It was like I had been transported back in time, the frosts were slowly being steamed off of the surfaces by the sun. Walking through the trees was like being in an enchanted forest and I half expected to see some Unicorns or Hobbits or something, but wait there was a Troll in there....Me,lol.

I have had a productive couple of days, my mums birthday present is complete. I have sewed her a sewing basket from a pattern from this book which I purchased a while ago. I found some lovely heavy duty upholstery fabric and some contrasting silk fabric from the curtain shop remnants bin for about £9. The good thing is I've only used a small amount so have more for a couple more of these baskets. I think I will make the lining fit neatly inside the basket next time though. I'm not so sure about the poofy look of the silk on the inside.

It's really about time I got off my arse and set up an Etsy shop!

Anyway, in the basket is going two sock books.

And today I just couldn't resist browsing Etsy for some sock wool which is going in the basket too. Go take a look at the shop. http://www.etsy.com/people/greeneyedmonsters?ref=ls_profile

I can't wait to get the wool in the post, it's just a shame my knitting really sucks. I'm just hoping mum gets the sock bug and knits me a pair or two.

It also occurred to me as I was looking back over my posts the other day that I never showed you the quilt I finished for the Wee Man. I think I will call this my ancient circle pumpkin patch quilt, what do you think?, lol.

I've also been browsing the Internet again, I really must stop soon,lol, and came across a site called Swap-Bot. It's a site where crafty minded people swap their stuff. I only intend to do the little things as I gather there can be a bit of giving and then not receiving. I of course have joined up and got involved with 5 swaps with people from other countries. I will show you what I have been up to there once I know my partners have received their stuff.

Back In The Zone

2010-11-12T14:14:00.001Z

My mojo has returned with a vengeance. My sewing machine has been in overdrive this past couple of days so here are some pictures to show you what's been going down at Troll Manor.
Firstly here is that tie skirt, finally completed. As you can see I went for a straight hem at the bottom, but I used my noodle and sewed together the cut off triangles to for the waist band.

Next is another dress, this one is for my mum. I used a pattern from the Burda magazine here and then altered it mainly just by making it shorter and leaving off the ruffled collar and just putting elastic in the cuffs rather than having dangly ties. Really who wants ties dropping in their dinner anyway, which is all that ever happens with such things,lol. I also ditched the tie round the middle and made the neckline sit a little higher. I didn't want my mums boobs flailing about (bad image in my head- go away). The material was £3 a metre from our local market so the dress was about £6- £7 to make including a zip. I'm really pleased with it actually, my first attempt at pleats, although you can't see them from the picture too well. I think I need one of those tailor's dummies although it will have to be one of those home made duct tape jobbies. My only reservation is that my weight fluctuates so much and I don't want to waste my time, but it would give you a better idea of how the clothes actually look on.

In the girls bedroom, please don't think I could EVER sleep peacefully in a pink room.

Look no flailing here.

Then it was back to mega quilt, which alas is still not done.This quilt is so huge I don't have a space big enough in my house or garden to lay it flat so I can take a good picture.
I have pieced a back and made a start on quilting it so here is an update on that little number. I used a single quilt which was plain on one side and checked on the other and and just alternated squares, then to make it up to the right size I added squares of similarish coloured fabric which I already had. I just need some binding fabric, which I also hope to find in my stash and voila.

Finally, today I have made some good progress on Susie's card swap at Useless Beauty which I wont show you even though I am desperate to. I have gone all out here and tried some crafts I have never attempted to before. I can't wait to post the finished article I'm really happy with how it's going.

3 Of Mamma's Trolls

This is just a really nice picture I found on my camera of Daddy troll, Rascal and the wee Man. It's a rare event to have all three of them smiling at the same time, so worth a mention. It made me smile too.

Go Have A Look At This.

2010-11-10T19:07:00.001Z

I have to say that I love trawling the Internet for ideas and inspiration, but I came across a site today which has made me laugh out loud whilst simultaneously want to go rummaging through my sacks of cloth and clothing. Have a look, I promise all you refashionistas will love it.

http://www.newdressaday.com/

I'm off now to finally finish my tie skirt which has been sitting in a bag for months now. I only have a couple more inches of waistband to sew. It will be finished this evening so picture to follow.... well if the sun ever shines for long enough to get a half decent one that is.

Washable wipes

2010-11-08T10:45:00.001Z

It's one of those things isn't it. We all do it, but it's unspoken... a taboo. In this house vast quantities of it go on and well, not to put to fine a point on it (because that might be painful) I seemed to be spending WAY too much on wiping arses. Toilet roll is stupidly expensive, especially if your like me and feel guilty if you don't buy the recycled stuff. So this was my solution.

A frugal way to wipe ones arse don't you think. This was an old towelling dressing gown given to me by mother dearest cut into 8" by 5" pieces and then using 1 " strips of cotton to bind, which they definitely need as the towelling sheds like mad. This is not the whole pile but this is the clean ones as they are already in good use.

This morning I was woken by the very nice Abel and Cole man, usually I am up and about and, more importantly, dressed, but despite the alarm going off I had gone back to sleep. I hurriedly put on my pink fluffy dressing gown, hood over my bed head hairdo and apologised sheepishly for being slovenly. In my pile of boxes was this cook book, which I though was really nice.

There are some great recipes in it and I am looking forward to cooking some of them. I must say Abel and Cole have been great, we have had a freebie almost every week, the veg box we get is amazing, the meat is delicious and the fruit is not bad too. We have been getting away with just £40 a week for a few weeks now for 5 of us which in this day and age is more or less unheard of.

Wee man has just been dropped back home from my mums house. She was going to take him for his hearing to be tested again. Unfortunately he is ill again, this is the second time we have had to cancel his test due to illness. Poor little thing, he always has a cold or a cough, I hope he gets better as he gets older.

Christmas Fig Soap

2010-11-06T13:09:00.001Z

On with the show this morning, I've been cutting up my Christmas soap I mixed up on Thursday. I used the recipie from here and added some fig scent and some cranberry red soap colouring.

This is one sheet of them, I have another too, which includes some more Christmas trees and gingerbread men and 6 bars of the remnants squished together which will be grated to make washing powder.

I'm off now to make Hugh Fearnley W's Leek, Celeriac and Fish soup, before having forty winks and slinking off to work tonight.

Fuzzzzzzzzzz and a Hot Poker.

2010-11-05T12:52:00.000Z

Hello Bloggers, I have not gone, all is not lost here at Troll manor. Things have just been somewhat fuzzy here. I have so much in my head now, ideas for stuff, thoughts and feelings it's all just gone a bit fuzzy. I seem to be struggling to think straight, struggling to concentrate on anything in particular, struggling with being awake full stop if I'm perfectly honest with you. I have no explanation for any of this either. I have a home, a job, a husband who loves me, children who despite being very hard work are lovely and no real reason to complain.

Yet I find myself like this picture

I feel surrounded by something which I cannot feel, it is not tangible, yet I know it is there. I have the desire to do things, make stuff, yet when I have the time the inclination runs a mile. I flit from thing to thing, accomplishing nothing real.

I am not sat here feeling sorry for myself, so I hope I have not come across as being like that, I simply feel the need to write this down, to tell someone and to simply say what is in my head now. This is where the hot poker comes in. Someone please shove one firmly up my rear end. Christmas is fast approaching and I really don't want to spend any money during it so my fingers need to get busy and my sewing machine needs to be smoking, but I need some motivation.

I have been a little busy still, reading lots of blogs even if I haven't left any comments. Getting ideas for things to make. I have managed to make a quilted silk coat for my mother which she wore over the blue dress to a wedding. Sorry I don't have a photo, (they are rubbish anyway and never seem to do my work justice).

I also made my first batch of soap using lye and fat yesterday. It is scented with fig and looks like pink blamange at the moment. The colour said Cranberry Red, but it just wasn't going red! This will be cut up and some of it used for gifts, so that is one thing done at least.

I made myself a corset as part of my halloween costume, but I want to make another sometime soon which is longer in the body, as I have a very long body.

The quilt is still not finished, I just haven't felt inclined to do it, but......but nothing I will finish it, probably on Christmas Eve.

A Bit Dim Am I

2010-09-23T09:55:00.000+01:00

Hmm, I've googled and Binged and just played around generally but I can't for the life of me work out how to add buttons to my blog. Does anyone know?

Autumn Equinox

2010-09-22T14:27:00.002+01:00

"Farewell, O Sun, ever returning light,

The hidden God, who ever yet remains.

He now departs to the Land of Youth

Through the Gates of Death

To dwell enthroned, the judge of Gods and men,

The horned leader of the hosts of air.

Yet, as he stands unseen without the Circle,

so dwelleth he within the sacred seed-

The seed of new- reaped grain, the seeds of flesh;

Hidden in the earth, the marvellous seed of the stars.

In him is Life, and Life is Light of man.

That which was never born, and never dies.

Therefore the Wise Ones weep not, but rejoice."

Doreen Valentine.

Blessings for the Autumn eqinox, which this year falls on the 23rd September.

Not So Sneaky Roasted Fennel

2010-09-17T22:53:00.001+01:00

I have tried over the past week or so to hide the veg that we have received in our veg box. I have chopped and blitzed, sweetened and flavoured lots of unusual (that is to say not carrots or peas) vegetables in order to put them into the baby Trolls diet without them really knowing about it. Sneaky mum I am, Mwahahaha.

This dish however is one I have cooked before and loved, and one that my kids all refused to eat. But I don't care as it is too nice not to let you know about, and to be honest if the kids didn't eat it the more for me and daddy.

Roasted Fennel

2 Fennel Bulbs
100 ml White Wine
1 Lemon, juiced and zested
1 Tbsp Sugar
Salt
4 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves, finely chopped

Chop the fennel into 8 smallish pieces or 6 slices and put into an oven proof dish with the wine, oil, lemon zest and juice and garlic.
season with salt and pepper if you like it.
Bake for 25 mins or until tender at 180oC.

Served with fish and potatoes this is simply lush.

The other notable use for fennel is as an alternative flavouring for Pimms,lol.
You could use celery in their too. Consider the Pimms as a marinade, so as not to be wasteful!

Sneaky Aloo Gobi

2010-09-17T08:28:00.001+01:00

My heart sank when I saw the vile loathsome thing that was a cauliflower sitting there like Slimer from the Ghostbusters film waiting to 'get me' in our veg box on Monday. How could they do it to me, I'm their most valuable customer! A whole two weeks of not popping into Sainspoops, Lidl or Tescrap, surely they had to treat me better than this.

Well I had to deal with it, the drama queen moment subsided and turned into a mission. A mission which I not only succeeded in, but am amazed with myself for. The plates were cleared with this one and if faced with afore mentioned vile and loathsome cauliflower I will no longer worry.

I do not normally attempt Indian dishes, they have always come out wrong. It has always felt like I was a white woman delving into some culture I didn't understand, therefore always missing something fundamental. This was the dish that broke that failed before mould with wonderful results.

Sneaky Aloo Gobi

1 Cauliflower, cut into small florets
2 Large Onions, diced into medium sized pieces
3 Potatoes, diced into 2cm (ish) cubes
Garlic, Ginger, Chilli Pastes, or you could just whizz up some fresh in the blender.
Spices, 2 tsp Turmeric, 3 tspGaram Masala, 2 tsp Ground Coriander, 2 tsp Fenugreek, 1 tsp Salt.
1 Tbsp Onion Seeds, 1 Tbsp Cumin Seeds
Lemon Juice
Vegetable Oil
2 Cans Chopped Tomato

Into a large saucepan put 4 tablespoons oil.
Add the onion seed and cumin seed and heat until you can smell the lovely aroma, 30 seconds or so is plenty.
Add the onions and fry on a medium heat until cooked.
Then add the Garlic, Ginger and Chili and all the spices and mix into the oil. If you need more oil to make it smooth than add some. ( I didn't say it was a waist watching dinner did I, lol).
Add the potato, stir round, cover and cook on a low heat for 15 mins.
Add the cauliflower stir, cover and cook for another 10 mins.
Add the tomato and a good splash of lemon juice and cook for another 10 mins.

Served with freshly made onion Bhaji, mango chutney and some Naan, this was delicious and will definitely be on our menu again.

Susie, the fennel is on tonights menu so your wish is my command.lol.

Stuff The Recipe Check This Out

2010-09-15T14:37:00.000+01:00

I cant' really believe it's done. This is the finished quilt top. Presenting to you Galaxy Of Stars from

THIS BOOK

It's been in the making for 18 months or so now, so I am stupidly proud of myself for actually finishing it. There are mistakes and one of the stars is particularly bad but I love it and will now attempt to quilt it!!!!!!!!!

Even the dog thought he was going to get a look in, but rest assured he was quickly ushered off. Poxy fur ball!

Sorry about the lack of recipe, but nothing was stopping the sewing mojo today. The cooker just hasn't had a look in yet, lol.x

Sneaky Beetroot Brownies

2010-09-14T14:35:00.001+01:00

Beetroot...... hmm, don't you think it is a bit like marmite,ie .it's just one of those things that you either love or hate. Personally my preference is love, but kids just wouldn't be kids if they weren't trying to convince you at least once a day that you were the most evil hate infested monster in the world, who was trying to kill them by poisoning. beetroot does this not only to the Baby Trolls but also Daddy Troll too. He could win a gurning contest with the faces he pulls when confronted with beetroot!

This is my comeback recipe to deal with the small mountain of Beetroot I have been faced with in just two veg box deliveries.

Sneaky Beetroot Brownies

250g Unsalted butter

250g Dark Chocolate, the darker the less sweet the cake will be.
3 Eggs
250g Caster Sugar
1 Ickle pinch of Salt
150g self Raising Flour
300g Beetroot, cooked, peeled and grated.

Switch the oven on 180oC, Gas mark 4.
Grease and line a square tin 25cm square or so.
Put the butter (cubed) and the broken up chocolate into a heatproof dish and put into the oven to melt, it's more energy efficient to do it this way than switch the hob on and use the double boiler method, just don't let the chocolate burn.
Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and sugar together.
Add the melted chocolate mixture and stir in.
Briefly stir in the flour, do not over mix or you get tough brownies.

And nobody likes tough brownies.
Fold in the grated beetroot and put into the oven for 25 minutes.

Do not do what I then did. Don't try and turn it out, leave it in the tin until it is thoroughly cooled or just cut straight from the tin as you need it. You may just end up with this otherwise.

Messy but what a tasty treat for me and the dog., some happened to fall into my mouth, what can I say. (He got the bits that fell on the floor).

Sneaaky Veg Box week.

2010-09-13T11:55:00.000+01:00

Last Monday we had our first ever veg box delivered here to Troll Manor. It was an awakening within me, it felt so right to have such a lovely spread of Organic, locally(ish) produced fruit, vegetables and meat. I wanted to make the most of every ingredient I had bought. It looked tasty, muddy, and like real fruit and vegetables should look. But in my head I was also swearing profusely to myself 'I'm never going to get the kids to eat some of those things'. They are good kids and eat plenty of fruit and a large selection of vegetables, but some things I just know they will turn their noses up at and will get wasted.

So I have had to get sneaky, I am hiding the veg and so this week I thought I would share with you my sneaky veg recipes. It also gives me a little longer to finish my quilt top before showing you all. It is so nearly complete, although I am having lots of brown trouser moments over the actual quilting part as this quilt is HUGE and I am really not convinced it is going to fit through my machine. I also still need to by fabric for the backing and the binding, which will not be cheap because it is so big.
Anyway here is recipie numero uno.

Sneaky Harlequin Squash Muffins

30g Butter
1 small Onion, chopped finely
360g Plain Flour
21/2 tsps Baking Powder
1 tsp Dried Rosemary
1 Pinch Cayenne
240g Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 Egg
200g (ish) Roasted Harlequin Squash

Preheat the oven to 170oC (325oF), gas mark 3.

Melt the butter in a saucepan and cook the onion until soft.
Put the flour, baking powder, cayenne, rosemary and cheese into a bowl.
Whisk the egg and milk in a jug together and slowly pour into the dry ingredients. Mix until thorughly combined.
Stir in the cooked onion and roasted squash.

Spoon the mixture into 18 muffin cases and cook for 35 minuites or until golden brown.

Enjoy!

I intend to use these in lunch boxes throughout the week, or maybe with leek and bacon soup (another way of getting vegetables into my kids that they otherwise would not touch), for tomorrows dinner. I haven't made up my mind yet.

Tune in tomorrow for another sneaky veg box recipie.

Just a quick one

2010-09-06T15:00:00.000+01:00

This is just a quick note really. We have been very busy here at Troll Manor.The Roast Pig started her new secondary school last Thursday. Hopefully she will learn lots and enjoy her time there.

Saturday we went to the quilting exhibition at Hever Castle, had a lovely picnic and a good run around.

The kids even broke a rule or two by running on the grass, hopefully the ghost of Ann Boleyn didn't mind too much.

And the sewing machine and I have been doing a little sewing. I am determined to get this quilt top finished this week. I saw the pattern I was doing at the exhibition and although it was lovely, the one I am making is far nicer. The other one was done in mainly navy colours and just seemed a little boring.
Hopefully I will make it out of my sewing frenzy soon. Take care for now all.xxx