Tea.....'How do you drink yours'? Part 1

Tea, Coffee, cocoa........... We all enjoy our favourite drinks but how do you enjoy them? Do you have a favourite cup or use the same every day? Do you keep special ones for guests........
Or are you like me and collect them?

I was tagged recently by Linda over at Somewhere In Time to talk about the cup/mugs I use, I am so pleased to be tagged with this! I have been collecting cups since I was a child, I adore them, so I am doing this post in two parts, the first are the more recent bought and used cups, I also own some quite old and musical ones so i'll show them next time.........

A lot of my cup collection started from Easter Eggs as a child........ Every year I choose a egg with a mug

I bought this last year it came with an Easter egg and is the mug I am currently using the most, just the right size! Wallace and Gromit are great and this is their new movie 'Wallace and Gromit and the Curse Of The Were-Rabbit' which is a funny film, the scenes on protecting prize winning pumpkins from pesky rabbits is just a taste of the story line.......

Another film inspired set..........Harry Potter, I bought the straight sided cup when the first film came out, BHs had a sale and I couldn't believe my luck! Then a few year later I found the second movie mug, I have looked for ones on the new movies but cant find any, I am still looking.....
Over the years my family have bought me mugs, they know I collect them and I have some very special old ones from Christmases past, which Ill show on another post..... Mum and Dad bought me this design 3 year ago............... A Thomas Kinkade painting. It came as a three mug box set, so I chose one design my mum another and my grandma the other design.From QVCuk! I don't use this mug that often, mainly when I want a special treat..... Another Easter egg mug........ Now this one is kinda odd. Do you see the small gap in the bottom of the mug? Well apparently that is to place your small two finger kit kat in the slot?! To melt so its nice to eat, the thing is the image showed you an unwrapped kit kat! I just imagine a rather melted mess, so I have to say I havnt tried it out! ha,ha Maybe ill it try with the wrapper on..... Colour change mug......... I love the colour change mugs, you can just see the smarties, It becomes very colourful when a warm drink is added, although I don't use it a lot, I have quite a few colour change mugs, and I am always worried it will stop working, so use them rarely.......
And finally another Smarties mug, this is my most recent mug and the one I am using at the moment, I think it came from Morrison's.........a very happy mug, ha,ha. So colourful!

I hope you enjoyed reading about my cup collection, I will be back soon with my older ones...... a musical Tetley Tea mug, The Pink Panther' Alka Seltzer' mug and others.......... If you would like to join in you are very welcome to, I will tag a few people on my final post, but let me know if you do join Id love to see your collection!

Thanks again for your ideas and inspiration on the stitching projects, I have started the Mill Hill Kitties and think I might make a block with that and frame the Acorn Hill.......... I am really enjoy stitching so thank you again.

Have a great week everyone see you soon

Feeling Creative....and thoughts of Autumn

I am in a cross stitching mood....... The last few week I made a return to something I enjoy doing, which I havnt done in a while.

I have been stitching a sweet little design called 'Cottage Garden' from Country Cottage Needleworks ,the photo above is how it looked about a week ago..........

Here is the progress so far...... Its been lovely enjoying the wonderful weather and lazy evenings cross stitching. I am loving this sweet gift from my friend Linda over at Somewhere in Tyme.......I think when its finished Ill make it into a hanging pillow? any other ideas I'd love to hear from you all?

Thinking ahead to Autumn......
Shopping for cross stitch is the best kind of shopping there is in my opinion!
Since I have the stitching bug really good at the mo, I have treated myself to a little something. I love Autumn, Crisp leaves, Orange Pumpkins, Halloween, I look forward to it all year, really I do! So I thought I'd start early with these two cross stitch designs, in the hopes to finish around late September (click the pics to enlarge)

The first is from Little House Needleworks - 'Acorn Hill' I just Love, love it!

The second is a Button and Bead Kit from Mill Hill - Bountiful Kitties I cant wait to start this one also! Just look what came in the kit! All those beads, and a cute Pumpkin Button, those beads made me dizzy! An amazing little bag of goodies!

Sharing the fun........

Sharing in the cross stitch love is my mum who also stitches, she picked up her projects again too, so we have been having a good old chit chat over tea and stitches! Mum is stitching a design by Thomas Kinkade - Christmas Cottage, it will be a gift for my grandma when she finishes it! Mum is hoping this Christmas, so she is busy is stitching away.......It is a beautiful design, quite large, I look forward to seeing it completed

Thinking.........

I have been thinking of what to make the finished cross stitch pieces into, I seem to get stuck on pillows! ha,ha can you tell I am not a pro at finished items? I am sure there is more to do with cross stitches than pillows so I would really love to hear your thoughts and ideas, for future projects........what do you do with yours?

See you again soon and thank you for your lovely comments on the Midsummer post, I hope you all enjoyed the magic too......... Have a good week

Priscilla x

Midsummer.......June 21st Join me in a bit of magic

Midsummer............... the longest day of the year.

I have been spending much more time outdoors recently pottering about in the garden and keeping an eye on my 'planting calender' that goes by the phases of the moon, which I have to say I noticed great results! I became aware that the 21st of June is Midsummer, the longest day of the year..........

I don't know about you but this particular night/day feels just magical! Over the years there have been many films and stories set around this time......... I suddenly felt like I wanted to join in, find a bit of magic, sprinkle fairy dust, or spot those friendly little people at the bottom of the garden!

So today through to the 24 th I am pulling out all the magic and fantasy I can find and indulging in it! Why not join me? What films or fairy stories do you love? I am going to start with a true classic favourite.......

A Midsummer Night's Dream - by William Shakespeare

This is the movie version starring Michelle Pfeiffer and I just love it. It is visually beautiful!

Here's a little fairy tale of my own......... Fairies live at the bottom of my garden, honest they do! Or they did when I was a child and still lived in my parents home, every summer down at the bottom of the garden hanging on a small branch under our apple trees, was a small, envelope sprinkled in blue glitter addressed to me! My dad told me the fairies had left me a message and so I carefully opened it to find a delicate piece of tissue paper with a hand written note from the little people.......... How special I felt to believe the fairies had written to me, I am thankful fairies were made a precious part of my childhood!

A fairy (also fay, fey, fae, faerie; collectively, wee folk, good folk, people of peace
I don't actually collect fairies but have been given a few as a gift, this is one my grandma got me for Christmas, the wings are glittered, it looks very pretty by candle light...... Its one of my favourite figures
Peter Pan......Here is another film in my collection I Will be watching over the next few days, this film made me a fan of the story. The soundtrack is also amazing, It made me watch another peter pan inspired film 'Finding Neverland', which I also recommend. If you are interested in fairies, here is a link you may like. http://www.cottingley.net/cfconten.shtml
Cottingley Fairies..........The story of two children from Yorkshire England who were believed to have photographed fairies. I recommend the film 'Fairy Tale a true story' if you would like to learn more about them. Visit the link above to see more of their fairy photos!And the final film on my magical list is Ever After, a re telling of the Cinderella tale, and another fav of mine, I hope you join me in the magic, id love to hear how you dipped your toes in fairy dust!

Puck.
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I'm an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call:
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

See you all again soon and have a magical time

Priscilla x

'The Good Old Days' Shortbread......

' The Good Old Days'......... An Edwardian Music Hall. That is the name of the production I have just taken part in, a lively show full of old songs such as Daisy Daisy, Beside the seaside, Alice Blue Gown, and many many more!
Before a production everyone gets asked to contribute to the raffle prizes, since a lot of the money raised really adds up when there are 'good' prizes (wine,chocolate) I try to come up with some different ideas, I have been trying out some recipes for Shortbread, and found one I really like, I decided to make some 'Home made shortbread from the Good old Days' and that is what I printed on the tag!
The first batch I tried the week before the production....... well I had to make sure they were just right! My family decided they were and 'hadn't I better make another batch to make sure'? They were all gone before the evening was out!

This recipe makes the most delicate not too sweet, addictive shortbread! Here is the recipe

Shortbread
250g (9oz) Plain Flour
75g (3oz) Sugar
175g (6oz) Butter

Heat oven to 160 C - 325 F Gas 3, Line a baking tray
1. Beat sugar and butter until fluffy
2. Sift small amount of flour into the butter/sugar and mix slowly by mixer or by hand until incorporated (don't over beat).
3. Keep adding flour in sections and mixing on slow until all flour is incorporated and Dough is formed
4. Knead lightly onto a floured surface.

5. Roll out and cut using cutters or shape into squares, or just take small round of dough and flatten with hands! This dough is easy to shape and looks attractive many ways!

6. Bake for around 20 Min's or until light golden around the edges
Note: Do not use margarine for this recipe, it does not turn out at all like shortbread!

If you try it let me know, I do love the taste and texture of these biscuits........

The Music Hall was a joy to take part in,I have some photos which I'll post another time, and more about the show. I even got to sing again! Alice Blue Gown....... oh yes and a young girl got my biscuits I heard, so I hope she enjoyed them.

What a week, all that baking has me searching for more recipes, all the old baking books are out again and I just love reading them before bed, does anyone else read cook books like a novel? The only trouble is I want to eat something afterwards! ha,ha
See you again soon

Priscilla x

Garden Centre and Enjoying the Sunshine...

Hi everyone I hope you are all well and I want to say thank you for all your sweet comments on the driving test and my hair! I think ill keep it like this from now on.
We have been enjoying some wonderful warm weather these past few weeks, so much in fact we made the most of it and visited our local garden centre, I love to visit this place there is so much eye candy to drool over, mum and I went last week, not to really buy anything just to browse and enjoy the day out........

Its only 15 Min's from where we live, it has a nice range of gifts for the home, candles, bath products and accessories.

Isn't this display so cute? I was very tempted with the hat boxes, I have been looking around at a few lately.

I just had to take a photo of this display! There were so many things I could of brought home with me...... Mum treated herself to some candles from just around the corner from this display they were not Yankee Candles! Which is our first choice, but from the 'colonial' range, mum bought Mango.

They also sell gorgeous homemade jams and curds, which we have enjoyed in the past! I just love the little jars. We love the fact they also sell old fashioned boiled sweets like rhubarb and custard, pear drops, and humbugs!

We took a wonder around the 'garden' section too, mum was looking for a garden hoe and I was after a good broom, an early (Halloween Witches Broom) we didn't get either, but I came away with some 'baby bear' pumpkin seeds, (I am getting into Halloween early!) and scrumptious fudge, mum also bought some pansies for her garden.

I also bought some long needed paint brushes from the craft section, as I am hoping to paint something soon, they were even on offer how could I resist! another thing added to my 'to do' list.

We came home had a cup of tea and talked of our plans for the garden, the home, projects and ideas............. such a wonderful day.

I hope you enjoyed a visit around our garden centre and our time there, have a lovely week

Bye for now

Priscilla x

I am back! With lots of changes....

Hello wonderful blogging friends! Oh how I have missed you..........

Lots has happened in my time away, I am now a proud owner of a laptop! Hurray, I have wanted one for such a long time, technology changes so fast I was never sure when to jump in. I spent many hours trying to decide the best one for my needs, then I saw an offer at comet with everything I wanted................So now I have one and couldn't be happier, no more aching back or uncomfortable chairs! and hello favourite sofa! And its faster than the PC so I can visit you all quicker! ha,ha

its an acer Aspire 5920G

Now onto more good news................. I passed my driving test! On the 29th April. After many years of lessons then stopping, changing driver instructors, swapping from a manual to a automatic car, life getting in the way and two cancelled tests(they cancelled them) and 3 failed ones, I finally passed! I am now sharing my mums Toyota surf land rover type vehicle..........a bit of a change in size from the learners tiny corsa! But loving every minute........................... Soon I will be off round those car boots and antique shops, now I just need a map!

'Change is as good as a rest'

Who might this be? Me...... Yes I have had a hair cut, I used to wear my hair like this till I just let it grow and didn't notice how un-styled it was. So back to the cut I like and I hope suits me........here are a few pics of me, I was playing with the camera, click click click, you know how it goes...................... or is that just me?

'Ray of Sunshine'

On the day of the driving test I was so nervous, but look what arrived in the post that very morning! A present for me, from my dear blogging friend Linda at 'Somewhere in Time'. I can not express how nice it was to receive this on that morning, a little ray of sunshine......... I can not wait to start on it and the subject matter is perfect, (the seeds are growing, ill update later). Thank you again my sweet friend xxxxx

Ill leave you now, as I go off and get a nice cup of tea and enjoy the lovely sunshine we are having here in the uk at the moment, I am currently listening to the soundtrack from the movie Practical magic, has anyone seen it? I saw it many year ago and recently re watched it........ the songs are wonderful and perfect for warm days like these...............
Bye for now,

Priscilla x

I am still here! Quick update...

Hi everyone,

I am so sorry its been so long. I have had some trouble with my computer as we changed our Internet provider, I have lost all my emails and contacts and the web has not been working correctly. I have recently bought a laptop! yippee so I will be working from that in the future but have yet to set it up to the web, I cant wait to use the laptop instead of the pc, I have wanted one for a long time........... I am reading all your messages now and wanted to say thank you very much for the lovely comments on the flowers in my previous post, I hope to update soon on how the new seeds are doing, many already come through, so hope to post pics soon. I just wanted to let you know I havnt disappeared! When I get a new email address I will send it to my friends in blog land, as I am not receiving emails on the old address, although they said I would for the first week! I am going to try and visit you all now while I can and the pc is behaving itself!

See you again very soon

Priscilla xxx