A week away - part two

Why is it a week away is never as long as a week at work?

The last day of our holiday came oh so quickly, we decided to become proper tourists and took

a trip on the " Seaton Tramway" with a strapline like "it's electric!" how could we not?

One you've paid you can go up and down the line to Colyton as many times as you like. I found myself waving a complete strangers and grinning like a mad woman. On arrival we had breakfast in the cafe (bacon and eggs butties washed down with tea!)

Seaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon's glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe estuary through two nature reserves and giving an unrivalled view of the abundant wading bird life.

Me trying to enjoy having my photo taken!

Our last night came soon enough and we were packing up to return home and back to the realities of work :(

Bye Bye Devon x

We stayed at Byre at Bulmoor a converted stable

Places of interest 

Seaton Tramway

Weymouth

Exeter Quayside

Lyme Regis

Auction House

Lymebay Auctions

Merry Christmas

Well just one more sleep and we're there, having been ill for over a week I feel like I've lost ground on my preparations and would like another week to faff about.

Still can't always have what you want so I've started on the Quality street like a woman possessed and trying to watch some festive telly, all that remains to be said is...

Being Crafty

I recently had a week off to be lazy and have some crafty "me" time, it didn't really go to plan but with a inspiration from fellow bloggers, crafty magazines and a little trial and error I finally managed to get crafty!

My Nan used to remove all buttons and zips from clothes before throwing them away. Whilst watching a film one evening I twiddled and twirled one of the zips into this floral'esque brooch, which I rather like.

My friend Alison, a print artist and social media teacher and I had a pop at making some earrings, rings and hair slides. We've been collecting unusual objects to continue this idea most of our beads came from Japan which, Alison sourced whilst on a photography project. 

This little mosaic was a birthday gift and made a pleasant afternoons distraction to the pouring rain,

plus I have a shiny new coaster!

finally my sewing machine saw action after a little inspiration from Lazy Daisy and 

Mary Jane Baxter.  I finally made some head bands from vintage buckles and some vintage pillow

cases as well a some modern cotton. Just for fun I knitted a bow hair slide!

after all this creativity I needed a little rest!

Well Planted

Today I visited  the local plant sale, held at the local church in the village I grew up in. It's a trip I make every year.  I'd liked to say it was the reasonable priced plants, the book stall, 50p a book, or catching up friends and family, which of course is all good, but what I go for is a cuppa tea for 50p with FREE biscuit of your choice (chocolate chip cookie) and the homemade cake stall!

I purchased three geraniums, a phlox, a poppy and three books and two cups of tea,  Mum bought a fruit and coconut cake which was (past tense) delicious :)

Photo Scavenger - March

This month I participated in the photo scavenger hunt hosted by Green thumb over at Made with love, these are mine, if you want to see all the entries they're all here

Green

Chickpea and mint burgers! (they taste better than they look!)

3

Crazy Golfballs

Person in Uniform

Changing of Guard in Windsor

Bubbles

Eggs!

Shoes

My favourite summer shoes

A gate

in our garden with an old borrowed sign

Eggs

Micro Mini Eggs yummmmmmm

Dessert

the best ever veggie Jelly on a plate

Water

during the summer

Bridge

view from John Lewis Cafe in Kingston

Toys

This is mine and I love it!

Empty

gone!

 why not join in!

SUNday

Not much has happened today, we've visited family, eaten the lunch I prepared yesterday and watched some catch up telly while making pompoms* (more on that soon!).  We've done this with the house bathed in beautiful spring sunlight. Now while I sit typing this, the solar lights are shining nice and bright. They've been blinking on and off over the last few weeks, but this weekend they're really looking good.

Spring is just round the corner (can't wait!).

Thrifty Tuesday

Tuesday is my favourite day for having a rummage at the thrift shops. Today I went to my best one, the good old Salvation Army…

yummy pyrex, I left this…great restraint needed

knitting needles, zips and other craft items

These are my purchases...

A Gaytime Assortment biscuit tin, this must be from the 70's with it's the ubiquitous brown, orange and snazzy doily pattern!

and this sweet embroidered napkin

I got this for my Niece…

and left behind a small wooden painted shelf which I think I'll have to go back a get, hope it's still there!

Things I like about summer 1

Some things only are made better with a healthy dollop of sunshine!

alfresco snacks...

yummy berries...

deck chair stripes...

power for my solar lights...

even my cooking looks edible!

These are mint pea and chickpea burgers with tzatziki (sans breadcrumbs)

from the Waitrose recipe everyday menus

You will need

400g Chick peas, drained

300g Marrowfat peas, drained

2tsp mint sauce

200g tub of Tzatziki (although you only need 2tbsp for recipe)

1 egg beaten

50g breadcrumbs

2 tbsp vegetable oil

the method couldn't be easier

chuck chickpeas, marrowfat peas and mint sauce with the tzatziki into a food processor and whizz into a coarse paste and season. Scoop out and mould into burger shapes (as above)

DIp burgers into the beaten egg followed by the breadcrumbs

Heat oil in a large frying pan and gently fry for approx 3 mins each side until golden

Serve with remaining tzatziki and a pitter and a nice fresh side salad.

This only took about 30mins to do so doesn't eat into those all important leisure hours!

Flower Surprise

Imagine the scene, me pottering in the garden and the knocker on the front door "Knocks"
I scramble to the door, hair askew, nails full of mud and slightly out of breath, to find a man with a bunch of flowers and a clipboard

" I think you have the wrong house" I joke

" Is this…" and he's got the right address,

"and are you…" and he's got the right name so "

"well these are for you then" he replies

" are you sure, things like this don't happen at this house!" says I laughing with a slight mad looking grin on my chops, so I take the flowers, sign the docket and shut the door quick

before he realise's his error!

They're from Bob's best mate, I designed a brochure for his business as a favour,

and without either of us knowing he sent me these! 

Aren't they lovely, there's phlox in them too 

which I love…happy moments x