Happy Hallowe'en

Though we didn't get any kids at the door, I know our pumpkin amused the kids across the street! Mum and I had the decorations in the hall and our sweets in the bowl, so we were ready. Mum, of course wore her wizard's hat, and I wore a bobbley pumpkin head piece. We spent the evening working on my volleyball kit (and Ed's manly pink apron :D) so we had a good evening nonetheless. Hope you all had a safe and happy Hallowe'en!!

First Snow of the Year!!

I was uplifted one evening when I went outside to take the garbage out and instead of rain falling on my head it was snow! I love snow! I miss it so much. I grew up waking up to snowfalls that left 3 feet of snow on the ground. So over here where snow is sparse I take what I can get. I was thrilled enough that I danced outside and took photos just to remember it. I love listening to those glistening little flakes fall onto the surfaces making the tiniest noise only heard when thousands of flakes fall together, and I love seeing the ground slowly being blanketed in white. More of this snow settled over the evening, but this was the beginning of the first snow fall of the year (let's hope it's not the last!!)

My Poor Car had a Fever :(

Today, my Little Blue Midget had to go into the car hospital...twice. Everything was fine as I headed into Banbury to do a bit of shopping. It started when I was driving back home, and I noticed that the temperature gauge was climbing. The Blue Midget is pretty consistent, the temp always reads 70 degrees. When the warning light came on as the engine temp creeped up beyond 100C, I hastily pulled over. After waiting a while, while it cooled its heels, I then continued on the 3 minutes I had remaining to get home. Just as I pulled into our drive the car starting steaming and I heard it purge all of its cooling fluids. Cross, I stormed into the house and vented to Mum, half cross and half worried we'd lost a car. After topping up its fluid again, I tested the engine, and all seemed well!! So, I carried on with my day and headed out to a near by village. I didn't make it 2 miles when the engine started playing up again. Not taking any chances, I pulled over again and called the AA. 45 minutes later I was being pull towed to the garage... Luckily, I had a few things to do in Chippy while the car was being tended to. four hours later, I went to collect the car. Confidently, I drove to Tew to drop off a few things and then went to head home. I didn't make it a mile out of the village and the temp gauge went up again. By this point, I was tired and more worried (I needed the car as I was driving to Kent that weekend). The first time was pull-towed into Chippy it was daylight, and I smugly thought: "Thank goodness it's not dark!" Ha ha ha... Now it was dark, and I just wanted to go home. Luckily Mum was near by and she waited for the AA with me, in the dark. They arrived soon after and I was pull-towed for the second time that day. The car was in over night, and Mum and I were driving back to our house. So, I had to drive the Volvo for four days while the car was being mended. I arrived at work one day and my boss and colleagues asked "are your kids in the backseat?"!! I did enjoy not having to worry about stalling when I first set off in the morning. So, two pull-tows and two visits to the garage and four days without two cars later, and we have our Blue Midget back, fully recovered and much happier!
One thing I did enjoy doing though, was parking askew in the drive, as I didn't have to worry about fitting two in. A bit frivolous I know, but I take my small pleasures!

Is There Something Wrong Here?!?

I checked the the thermometer on the other side of the kitchen window the other day to check how cold it was outside. On the 18th of October I was expecting 10, maybe 15 degrees C. This was not what was staring at me from the other side of the window. When I saw the thermometer read 40 degrees I knew something was up...I think we have to move it from a South facing window!!

Here's the proof:

Our 3 Year Anniversary!!

Today, I have the pleasure of celebrating three years of happy togetherness with my Handsome Eddie!! Though we can't be together on the actual day, he sent me a dozen roses in the mail :) They looked beautiful in the window basking in the morning sunshine. As the 3rd anniversary is leather I gave Ed some leather cleaner for the ancestral leather chair I gave him when we moved. Not a dozen roses, but I love him just the same :D

I hope we have many more years to come.
I Love you xoxoxox

A Home Made Stole

Recently, a friend of ours was ordained priest at Dorchester Abbey. As a priesting gift, Mum and I wanted to make a stole for Sue to wear on the day. Originally, we had wanted to make her a stole for her ordination to Deacon, but events were a bit busy. Mum used a stole that was worn by our Jesuit friend, Jim. This retired stole was given a new lease of life, and also represented Sue's Roman Catholic background. There were already some threaded designs in blues and browns, so Mum and I added crosses and butterflies made with cross-stitch. The butterflies were the new life Sue was starting, and also because the stole Mum made for Dad when he was priested had a butterfly on it too. Despite some worries, it turned out beautifully and everyone loved it!!

Sushi Making!!

These pictures have been a long time coming, but here they are at long last! Our family friend Flora came to stay for a couple of days and one thing we did to entertain ourselves was make sushi! After seeing a photo in a magazine on the Friday, we made it our plan to get the supplies and make our own version of the 'California' and 'Philadelphia' rolls. So we set out and got crab sticks, smoked salmon, avocado, cream cheese, cucumber, plus of course sushi rice, see weed (or 100% sea vegetable as they say on the packet) rice flavouring, and soya sauce. Flo made up some wasabi but I gave it a miss...a little on spicy side, and for those who have eaten with me, they'll know what a wimp I am when it comes to spicy food. I used some bamboo place mats I bought from IKEA that made perfect rolling mats. Flo gave me a crash course on how to roll a sushi roll, and away we went! When all the rolls were made we cut and placed them on a tray and brought them out to Mum. We dined out on the patio (cause it was the first sunny day we'd had in weeks!) with individual pots of soya sauce. It was awesome!! Here are the photos as testament to the success of our efforts.

All the equipment.
Rice placement demonstration.
One Phillie roll ready to go!
Our stack, about to be cut.
Drool......
Mummy enjoying her home made sushi.
Flora enjoying her sushi.
Me enjoying everything they didn't eat :)