How Many Stupids?

Wouldn't you have thought that two stupids was enough for a day?

Firstly there was the cappuccino incident, then there was the chicken stock odd-hap as technically it didn't matter but in practice, well, eeeugh and bother. And then, when I really thought I'd done enough for one day there was the dill pickle oops.

So, the cappuccino: (this may not surprise the more regular readers among you, as there have been cappuccino incidents in the past). I keep sugar in a gold tin marked Christmas Spice which used to hold a very nice candle. It is necessary to have foodstuffs sealed in this house as it can be a bit damp (no foundations or central heating, common to most old houses here in the west!). Under the sugar tin resides the curry tin, also gold but clearly marked 'Simba Mbili Curry Powder'. You can see where this is going right? Youngest and I made curry dip to go with the carrot sticks at lunch and I had moved the sugar to get to the curry, so when I went to get sugar for the cappuccino I picked up the top gold tin...and it wasn't sugar!

I pride myself on being thrifty and frugal, but even I could not drink curry flavoured instant cappuccino. Stupid No. 1.

This evening I was filling up my hot water bottle (yup, our summer is so delightfully hot we are still using hot water bottles at night and keeping the fire in day and night), picked up the water jug and as there was steam coming out poured the contents into the hot water bottle. It wasn't until I was stoppering it that I smelled chicken stock and remembered that I had earlier decanted the newly boiled stock into the water jug to cool...what a waste of good stock! I suppose I could have still used it but it smelled kinda rubbery and cleaning out the hot water bottle was no joke either. Stupid No. 2...sigh.

You see why I might be excused thinking that two stupids was enough?

The pickle jar is unimportant too, but annoying. I bottled up some home-made dill pickles to give to people tomorrow and refrigerated the jars. Then this evening I suddenly realised I had forgotten to label them. Forgetting condensation I stuck labels on, which promptly slid off, the ink ran, and I have had to wind sellotape around the jars to try keep the practically illegible labels attached. Very efficient and decorative looking. Stupid No. 3...grrrr.

So Murphy's Law is alive and well and having a great time in my house.

Anyone who wants him can have him.

Soon, please!

Good Day/ Bad Day

Do you ever find that if something really good happens, particularly unexpectedly, then something bad often happens just afterwards, usually the next day?

Sometimes I wonder if its God making sure I don't get cocky, or, when I was younger I used to think I was being punished for having too much fun.... Now I wonder whether it is just about balance or what-goes-up must-come-down-ish-ness.

I'm not talking small good, or a touch of luck, or even small inconveniences, but the bigger ones you are grateful/ungrateful for.

Yesterday I got a bus south and had a really nice day out with an acquaintance, lunch, walk, talk, listening, a laugh, interesting...one of those days you fix in your memory as a bright marker. The sort of day which comes round once every few months if I'm lucky, though now I think about it I had a similar lovely afternoon with another friend in August so maybe I really was pushing my luck. And then today started middling and disintegrated badly, with 'words'. You know, those kind of 'words'?

A pattern I can identify over and over in my life, so much so that its rarely I look forward to anything or let myself really enjoy myself for fear of the re-payment. Tell me that's daft, I know it.

So now I'm looking at the map of Ireland trying to triangulate the farthest distance between here and Dublin on one line and somewhere I could move to on the far apex...I'm wondering about Dingle or Valentia Island? If one was allowed to reside on the Blasket Islands I would certainly consider them. Somewhere really difficult to get to which preferably has no mobile phone coverage and too stormy to permit telegraph lines...I'll keep looking...

A Degree of Achievement!

One is most most pleased with one's Eldest, at present.

Yesterday she got all her final results and passed everything just fine! Most proud of one's daughter's achievement, are we, despite obstacles and hiccups.

However, one would like to observe, for future reference, that acquiring a Degree may say plenty concerning the mental capacity of one's brain, but it is no indication of elevated status...viz...

She arrived home this morning in time for breakfast- pitta bread with scrambled egg, fine, garlic hummus and salad for seconds??? Next thing I hear her out in the back kitchen chatting to someone...well the dogs were with me so who...?

Not who, what: she was in the fridge talking to the jar of olives...

Finishes her breakfast and washes up her plate, oh joy! oh rapture! someone clearing up after themselves...washed using hand wash and the floor cloth...then dropped on the floor and tripped over and all the clean utensils knocked off the draining-board as she holds on to it to try and pick up her plate (she has trouble bending and stooping)...

She straightens up, with the plate, grins at me and remarks: 'Well I guess you know I'm home now!'

Uh-huh!!


But it was very funny, and absolutely typical!!!

Klutziest and Photo Editing

I'd just been folding about a hundred and seven pairs of underwears,
no exaggeration you who's sniggering away there,
and I picked it all up,
walked down the passage to put everything away,
...and dropped the lot.

Madre de Dios!

I tell you,
some days one just isn't meant to get out of bed.

I was playing with the photo editing on one of Tricia's freebies, and somewhat altered the effect she was aiming for when she gave it...visual as well as sentiment. It was such fun!!

Tee hee!

Some Fabulous Ways to Begin the New Year!

Not recommended to try them all at once...as I just did...

1. Drop glasses, kick them, can't find glasses without glasses.

2. Tea-tray brought to bedroom (once a year event, if lucky), new tea-pot, bad pourer, drip tea all over bedspread so have to leap up and bundle into sink of cold water to avoid staining.

3. Don't close shower curtain properly and soak clean clothes I was about to wear...

4. Haven't done ironing, no more shirts in wardrobe.

5. Hair Conditioner finished, severe problem (to say nothing of pain) wrenching comb through tangled bird's nest which passes for hair on the head of your's truly.

6. Problem with incoming water so pipes rattling and gurgling fit to bust. Hub been called in to work so endure with trepidation.

7. Dogs try to see off Hub on return...


Nine o'clock and all's.... well have a good day yourself!

ooooops! and aaah!

Be sure you check out the Barter/Swap, as its a Giveaway as well this month...spring cleaning, you understand!

Its been an odd two days. Sos had a fall and cut her head Thursday and seems to be suffering from shock and mild concussion. The school and college nurses have been monitoring her but she insisted on getting on with things. This afternoon I got her, brought her home and plonked her in bed. She should have been working in the florist the last two evenings, and is convinced she will be there tomorrow. I don't know, its a bit worrying.

There have been a few addled moments recently...I tried to plug my mobile phone charger into my tea cup this morning and spilled tea down the back of the freezer as well as on the charger. Both appear to be still working.

Yesterday I put a load of dirty laundry in the oven, though B Bug discovered them before I turned on the stove, and then I accidentally re-washed a clean load of laundry instead of hanging it up to dry.

I really think that if the family took over the household chores and I was left to just get on and make all the ideas and quilts flowing through my mind then accidents of this nature would become a thing of the past...

Oh and I forgot to use a pan for the fried eggs yesterday and broke the eggs straight onto the stove top- but its a plate so although messy, not a disaster!

On Tuesday, for the first time in 20 something years I managed to get the feed dogs or whatever you call'ems to retract on my sewing machine so have been slowly working on machine quilting the border of the TTTF quilt. It's great fun, and reasonably successful:
...but look at this if you please? Why have I got loops coming through? This is the back so I chose red thread for the top to match, and white for the under. Is there a problem with my tension? Or should i do roundy ends and not pointy? Any ideas gratefully received!

Have you visited Paulette recently? She's been giving us a viewing of friends' WIP and honestly its so inspiring and helpful. Yesterday's post was particularly interesting- check out both the lamp and the book?

And also, this catalogue arrived last week- have you seen Nomad's clothes? My girls want everything, of course! But their stuff is lovely, and, speaking from experience, although the fabric is beautifully soft and fine, it is wearing well on the clothes we have.

Tonight the Hub and B Bug are singing for a Charity 'Do' to raise money for a local MS Therapy Center. The Hub is going as Rhydian and BBug as Idina Menzel. The Hub is trying to go blond but so far he is a virulent shade of ginger!