A winter or summer wedding anniversary, depending on where you are ...

Another close relationship - our dog and our rabbit!  Just before I took this shot, they'd been lying down facing each other, enjoying each other's company ... ahh ... really they are the best of friends ...

Yesterday was our 17th wedding anniversary - how fast the time has flown!  We still remember the day as if it was yesterday, a little civil ceremony at the town hall on the Isle of Wight, a very small wedding party, surrounded by friends and family, some who had travelled from the other side of the world to be there.  One of my friends has remembered every single anniversary and always sends us a card - email these days, very lovely to watch and I'm always surprised to receive it!  But it makes me smile and I send her lots of love back, although I don't always tell her this.  But thank you my dearest birthday buddy for your best wishes, and also for being there on the big day and making the most delicious, never to be forgotten, bestest chocolate wedding cake in the world :)  xxxxx

We didn't do too much yesterday, just relaxed in the garden, and because it's the middle of winter here, we sat and ate our dinner with the rest of the family outside in the garden by our warm and cosy brazier.   Actually it probably was the same temperature as our UK June wedding - British summers being what they are :)

More hexies

Here's what I'm working on at the moment - a knitting bag from the Cath Kidston book 'Sew'.  All the hexies are cut from remnants of vintage fabrics.  Some really 'groovy' patterns happening here!

Winter's arrived, which I'm glad about, but not so much the side effect of sinus problems.  It's making me decidedly grumpy, a problem made to look worse by the fact I have to squint when looking at people because my poor head hurts :(  Someone told me I have to give up dairy products as they exacerbate sinus issues, but that would mean giving up cheese and yogurt and I don't know if I can do that.  So I'll just have to stay looking grumpy for a while longer until the pain gets bad enough that I think the sacrifice is worth it!  Does anyone out there have any remedies for relieving sinus pain? 

I'll keep on sewing the hexies, pretty sure they can make anything feel better ...

A week of veritable vegetable (and fruit) colour ....

I've been really busy in the kitchen lately, making yummy things.  A friend of mine had a problem with an avalanche of lemons on her kitchen workbench, so I relieved her of some of her burden and took some of them home ...

The cordial was pink when finished - thanks to the addition of a dozen raspberries ... nice ...

So, I've made lemon butter (or curd if you're like me and grew up in the UK), several jars of marmalade, as well as some ginger and lemon cordial.  I got really carried away, and made some spiced mixed fruit cordial at the same time.  You know how it goes, one massive pot boiling away some sticky sugary syrup, may as well have two on the go ...

Berries, cinnamon and citrus ... scrumptious

Oooops, lost my train of thought now - dad phoned just as I was typing this to ask why I hadn't blogged for so long and we ended up having a really good chat.  Great reason for losing one's ideas!  Also feeling quite virtuous that I was actually blogging as dad phoned up - maybe there's truth in the telepathy theory?

Cooked, grated beetroot waiting to be made into chocolate and beetroot brownies - from a recipe by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - I've followed him since he first started out you know ...

Anyway, just wanted to say I'm still around, still enjoying making stuff and getting a kick out of seeing the colours I could make with food.  All natural and lovely.

You might also be interested to know that I've listed some more stock on my Made-it store - including some art works and a spirit doll.  There will be more added very soon.  You can visit my store by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Stay tuned for more random thoughts ...