News to share.............

My lovely and talented daughter Bethany Rose has passed her media course at college with flying colours, gaining two distinctions and a merit all over. This gives her the equivalent of 4 GCSEs and 4 A levels, plus her English GSCE already gained; her GCSE maths result will arrive next week, along with EJ's GCSE English result.So, she has gained enough 'points' in the system to get her much desired place at Winchester University to study Archaeology and Media.

Having been home educated and never been to school, her first experience of 'the system' was foru years ago, when she took her GCSE English part-time once a week in the evening. She apparently got one of the highest marks ever for the college in that, so was spurred on to apply for the Media course, which she gained entry to by way of interview, as she hadn't trod the usual path of school/GCSEs. We're all thrilled to bits and very excited for her, and hugely proud.

Patchwork with Bronte connection goes up for auction

Story in the local paper caught my eye this afternoon. I'm not a huge fan of the Bronte sisters' writing, or the calssics in general, but I enjoy reading about their famil and how they lived in their time. The textile connection attracted my attention here:
http://www.thisisdorset.co.uk/Silk-patchwork-Bronte-sisters-friend-goes-hammer/story-13142113-detail/story.html

Not worked by any of the brontes, it was worked by their friend Ellen Nussey:
Ellen Nussey (20 April 1817 – 26 November 1897), was a lifelong friend and correspondent of British author Charlotte Brontë and, through more than 500 letters received from her, was a major source for Elizabeth Gaskell's 1857 biography The Life of Charlotte Brontë. (Wikipedia)

Makings..............

Crochet throw finished for Pocaid, now listed http://pocaid.blogspot.com/

 and a new batch of soap on its way up to the airing cupboard for curing. Spent the afternoon knitting when a friend appeared, so much tea and talk to accompany it!

Smokey pepper pasta sauce

Quick and easy, and very tasty - use over or through pasta

2 tins chopped tomatoes, or  equivalent in fresh/bottled etc
2 onions, sliced finely
2 peppers, de- seeded and sliced, not too finely
1 1/2 tsp pesto
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
olive oil for frying

Heat oil in pan, then fry onions until just soft, then add peppers and stir well, fry until peppers just cooked but still crunchy. Add rest of ingredients, stir well and simmer with lid on for 20 minutes or so.

Smoked paprika is a really useful ingredient to keep  in the  larder; I use it in sauces such as the above, and lots goes into homemace chorrizo too; nice in soups and stews, goulash, homemade sausages, all sorts of things. The lovely little tin is a bonus :)

Wednesday funny

Found this really, really funny lol

Blast from the past

Bean and me a few days after she was born, August 1991

Clarice Cliff jumper.........

A long, long time ago - way back in 1987! - I entered a knitwear design competition; I was lucky enough to get through to the final 12, invited up to Stationers' Hall in London for the do. Didn't win the overall, but had a great time, and the jumper I'd designed and knitted was professionally modelled on a catwalk, then appeared a few weeks later on Breakfast Time TV. No pattern, I designed it on the needles :)

I have no idea where it is now, I think they all got auctioned off for charity - if anyone knows, I'd be delighted to find out!

This was me back then, receiving my certificate:

Well, that was interesting!

Inspired by a very dear friend who has been reading back in my blog here, I went right back and found my first post ever, back in 2007 !!

And here it is lol:



Wednesday, 19 September 2007


What I do..........

My aim is to live a long and happy life, living lightly on this earth; consuming less, creating more, just *being* more...........................

I am a married mother of two, living in the Blackmore Vale in Dorset, England. We live in a small rural village, and our house is an ongoing project, even after ten years here; the garden is much teh same - constantly changing according to whim and whimsy.................



I knit, cook, sew, bake, paint, draw, crochet, patchwork and quilt, brew, make, create, read, play the piano, think, garden, look after livestock, play an active part in the local community, take a general interest in the world around me, but on my terms.....................



I am interested in books, thinking, philosophy, spirituality, elementals, biodynamics, human rights, womens' issues, environmental issues, peace and justice.



I keep chickens, ducks, Muscovy ducks, bees and goats, and we have a dog. Two home educated children and a husband complete the scene.



I aim to post up what I do in my life, mainly at home, with pictures, poetry, quotes, all sorts.

Welcome to my world, I hope you feel inspired.................................