Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Gift cards to make you jealous!



Some more bundles of delightful images for my Etsy store.
Each bundle contains 10 different cards.

If you have one image you really love, I can make you up a bundle of 10 of those! Just ask!

Carole ;)

Monday, March 30, 2009

Here's a little joke for you.

Husband takes his wife to play her first game of golf.....Of course, the wife promptly whacked her first shot right through the window of the biggest house adjacent to the course.

The husband cringed, 'I warned you to be careful! Now we'll have to go up there, find the owner, apologize and see how much your lousy drive is going to cost us.'

So the couple walked up to the house and knocked on the door. A warm voice said, 'Come on in.'

When they opened the door they saw the damage that was done: glass was all over the place, and a broken antique bottle was lying on its side near the broken window.

A man reclining on the couch asked, 'Are you the people that broke my window?'

'Uh...yeah, sir. We're sure sorry about that,' the husband replied.

'Oh, no apology is necessary. Actually I want to thank you... You see, I'm a genie , and I've been trapped in that bottle for a thousand years. Now that you've released me, I'm allowed to grant three wishes. I'll give you each one wish, but if you don't mind, I'll keep the last one for myself.'

'Wow, that's great!' the husband said. He pondered a moment and blurted out, 'I'd like a million dollars a year for the rest of my life.'

'No problem,' said the genie. 'You've got it, it's the least I can do. And I'll guarantee you a long, healthy life!' 'And now you, young lady, what do you want?' the genie asked.

'I'd like to own a gorgeous home complete with servants in every country in the world,' she said.

'Consider it done,' the genie said. 'And your homes will always be safe from fire, burglary and natural disasters!'

'And now,' the couple asked in unison, what's your wish, genie?'

'Well, since I've been trapped in that bottle and haven't been with a woman in more than a thousand years, my wish is to have sex with your wife.'

The husband looked at his wife and said, 'Gee, honey, you know we both now have a fortune, and all those houses. What do you think?'

She mulled it over for a few moments and said, 'You know, you're right. Considering our good fortune, I guess I wouldn't mind, but what about you, honey?'

'You know I love you sweetheart,' said the husband. I'd do the same for you!'

So the genie and the woman went upstairs where they spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying each other in every way. After about three hours of non-stop sex, the genie rolled over and looked directly into her eyes and asked, How old are you and your husband?'

'Why, we're both 35,' she responded breathlessly.

'NO SH!T.' He said, 'Thirty-five years old and both of you still believe in genies?'


Sorry I couldn't resist it!
Have a great week guys!
Carole ;)

The last winner for my blogiversary is ..

PATTY from over at Magpie's Nest!

CONGRATULATIONS!

DH drew your name out! You win the fab fabric, hope you have lots of fun with it!

(sorry to all of you who left comments during the week. Thanks Patty for all those encouraging comments you left during the week!)

Carole ;)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Canvas book progress

This is the wee book type frame(?) that I am making. It is made of 2 wee canvases joined together with a door hinge. This is the front and back. I am now moving on to the inside.....

Carole ;)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Monday, March 23, 2009

And the final give-away gift is..

This lovely piece of fabric!
This fabric has lovely words all over it and pictures of birds. It measures 44inches long by 12 inches wide. It is very old fashioned looking, is good quality cotton and is beautiful!
For the whole month of March I have been giving away a gift each week to celebrate the fact that I have managed to keep a blog going with regular posts for one whole year! All you have to do to be in with a chance to win it is leave a comment during the week. Next Monday I will draw a name from all the comments.
Have a great week everyone!
Carole

And the winner of week 3 is....

!!DOREEN G!!

Congratulations Doreen, there's a gift coming your way!
(send me your address Doreen)



The final give-away gift will be posted soon, and if you'd like a chance to win it, all you have to do is leave a comment over the next week.
Good luck!
Carole

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Wednesday's at it again!

Those of you who drop into visit my blog often, will know about Wednesday. She often brings me gifts at night time, just drags them on in thru the window, drops them on the floor and meows very loudly!
Remember some time back she bought home a copy of one of our neighbours wedding photos?
Well, last night she bought home the floor plans for the neighbours house! LOL!

Carole ;) (who's keeping mum about the whole thing!)

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

New additions to my etsy store

Tissue pockets!
These gorgeous wee tissue pockets hold the small packets of tissues, and make them look very glam in your bag!
Check out the store for more colour ways!


Hahaha, Patty, you're on to it! The brain is being fried!
Today I decided to go to the library and work on an assignment. I had a 2 hour gap between lectures. During writing I looked up to find I was keeping great company! Row after row of British Medical Journals!

Carole ;)

A glimpse of Massey University

Well thought you might like a glimpse of the uni. It's a very large campus and owns many farm blocks around it as well. This is the hub.
Above is the registry where you enroll - this is on the opposite side of the campus to where the car park is, (in a previous post).
hahaha, I found this sign, I tread the 1098 steps to and from every day.
Now this is what is called the concord. The large building in the middle is the registry. The large, long building on the left is the library. (it will soon become my second home, lol) There are often things happening here on the concord, sometimes bar-b-ques, or displays, or fundraising events etc... this is like the centre of the uni.
This is looking to the right and all the food courts, shops, there is a bank, chemist, book store and a travel agency. There is also a post shop and a uni radio station.
A brief look, maybe I'll take some more pics later.
Thanks Leanne for the blog award! I got a lovely surprise! What a nice start to the day.
Hope your week is shaping up well!
Carole

Monday, March 16, 2009

The give-away for week 3 is.....

To celebrate 1 whole year of blogging I'm giving away a small mystery package of bits and pieces. All you have to do is leave a comment during the week and next Monday I will draw a name from all the comments.

Have a great week!
Carole ;)

And the winner for week 2 is....

!! J O Y !!
from over at Joy Patch

CONGRATULATIONS

you are the winner of the lovely bag pattern for week 2!

(email me with you address!)
Week 3 gift give away is coming soon!

Carole

Friday, March 13, 2009

Look what I found!



I found these 2 little framed pictures in a second hand store, and for $3 each. A bargain I'm sure!
The one above is a water colour by American Jessie Wilcox Smith (1879-1935).
The one below is also a water colour done by Marilyn Simandle.
I've found just the place to hang them!


Hope you all had a fantastic Friday the 13th!
Carole ;)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Lemon honey, mmmmm

Photo by proud daughter

I'm very proud of my daughter who has just attempted her first ever batch of Lemon Honey, and don't you think it looks darn good?!!

She made it from a recipe in this book. Let me recommend this book to you all, it is fantastic! And I'm not just saying that. Some of the recipes tended to be very similar to those in the older editions of the Edmonds cook books, but others are recipes that our mothers and grandmothers used to make.
Remember Ginger Gems? Neenish Tarts? How about Ginger Kisses or (OMG drooling here) Cinnamon Oysters!
However, not only does this book have all the old fashioned recipes, it also uses photos with lovely table linen, and nice china.

For those of you who are interested here is the recipe for Lemon Honey taken from:
Ladies, A Plate. Traditional home baking By Alexa Johnston

Ingredients:
4 lemons
12 oz caster sugar
6oz butter
4 large eggs

1. Grate the zest from the lemons, avoiding the white pith, and squeeze the juice and strain it. Put the rind, juice, sugar and butter into the top of the double boiler or a mixing bowl. Make sure the water underneath is simmering. Stir with a wooden spoon until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.
2. Beat the eggs in a small bowl until they are liquid. Pour a little of the hot mixture onto the eggs, stirring well, then pour it all back into the double boiler, or bowl and return to the heat.
3. Stir over still simmering water until the mixture thickens. This should take about 5 - 6 minutes. Don't let it boil, it will thicken slightly as it cools.
4. Pour Lemon Honey through a sieve and then carefully into heated jars. Cover.
5. Store in the fridge once it has cooled and eat within 2 weeks.

When I make it I make it in a saucepan, but you have to be very careful you don't burn the bottom of it.
This is nice used in Lemon Meringue pies or on a slice of fresh bread.

Enjoy,
Carole

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

A transformation in the garden.....

Remember these from a few posts ago? I am growing quite a number of swan plants in order to single handedly re-populate the place with monarch butterflies! There is a skill in making sure you can cope with the number of eating machines that strip all the foliage off the plants. Although I've got quite a few plants, I've had to be a bit ruthless with the numbers of caterpillers, in order to make sure that they didn't strip the plants completely. However I do believe that they will eat pumpkin!! And guess what's growing wildly in my garden at the moment?

I've had chrysalises all over the garden, ......
...... but now this is happening ......


AND I'VE GOT THESE!!!


MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

A couple of days ago I counted 8 monarch butterflies flittering and floating around the garden! How exciting!
What do you have that's "flittering" in your life at the moment?

Carole;)

Monday, March 9, 2009

The give-away gift for this week is.....

This week I'm giving away this pattern for a Bow Bag, above, (never been used). I have seen it made up and it was stunning!
All you have to do is leave a comment between now and next Monday and your name will be entered in the draw! Easy Peasy!



Thought I'd show you a couple of things I've made recently. First is a wee tag which went Maragret's way and the second is an ATC with a vintage theme which is heading to Deb in Aussie.



Well my friends, I hope your week starts well!
Carole ;)

And the winner for week 1 is........

!!Jeanette!!

from over at Jeanettes patch!
Congratulations Jeanette on winning the gift for week 1.
Let me have your address and the gift is on it's way to you!




I'll be posting the gift for week 2 later this morning, all comments that are left during the entire week will go in the draw to win.
See you soon!

Carole ;)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

sorry to do this on a sunday but.....

Everyone was busy round the place today, despite it being blustery and yuk outside. But I ventured out because something caught my eye ....mmmm ... should have know better ...



Now don't be mistaken by my jandal, it's a size 9 and a half!! This is one big horriblous ratus, and I would think, delivered to us courtesy of Buddy during the night. I'm pleased he is all in tact and not missing any parts!
Not that I'm 'soft' or anything, I mean we live in the country with creeks, drains, old barns, and all sorts of places where rats and mice might like to party up! This was one real good catch, well done Buddy!


Must say thanks to Jennifer who left me a link to the web site of Treadle On, what an interesting web site it was too! (check out the comments to see the link address) A real time stealer, but it contained all sorts of wonderful information about Singer treadle sewing machines. It even gives instructions on how to put on a new cord, and to strip one down and give it a service! (Iwon't be doing that!! I'd never get it back together again!!)
As a result I found all these 'things' slot into this 'thing', and things in general seem to be numbered from 1, but not sure what numbers they go up to as it appears some things are missing.

Then this foot, top left is relatively new, it certainly didn't come with the machine. The foot below, bottom looks like it may be for button holes?


GIVE AWAYS for the month of MARCH
Don't forget to leave a comment, today is the last day for this week. Tomorrow morning, NZ time, I will draw from all the comments made this week for the winner, and tomorrow there will be another give away. I am going to do this every week thru March, so leave as many comments as you care to!


Well a little madness today, but hopefully back to normal tomorrow, whatever that is....
Carole ;)

Saturday, March 7, 2009

I forgot to show you this, hidden in the bottom draw




A plain and simple box.....





with interesting features.......





that opens up to this!




It has all these different feet and attachments.....





and it even has one of these!


WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?? (If you know perhaps you could enlighten me! lol)



I bet none of the machine manufacturers would make something like this these days. Don't you just love how everything is plastic now days?
Hope your weekend is going great!
Carole