Sewing, baking and of course thrift.

The last of the Summer's sweet peas.

Firstly I must say hi to Summerfete, my swap partner for the camper van swap, which has to be finished for the 4th October ish and I haven't a clue yet what I'm going to make!

This past week I've been feeling quite gloomy and not sleeping properly, yesterday I was up at 4 a.m. just because I couldn't get to sleep. I think there's a few reasons for this, one being that it still feels quite strange not to go back to work, at school, in September. Even though I left two years ago this year I appear to be missing it more probably because I now help at a toddler group and 8 0f the children have left to go to School. On Tuesday I saw one of them, a really sweet little boy and was talking to him about school. He said he liked it and then I asked what he had done at school that morning, to which he replied that he had been crying because his mum wasn't there. That's when I wished I was still at work to be there for him and all the other little ones. Another reason I suppose has to be the awful summer we've had! Even though I like the different seasons and I really love snow, I do like to have some summer before the winter comes. In saying that the sun did peep out for a while on Sunday which was a welcome relief from the downpours of Friday and Saturday. This picture of Tara was taken on the moors, late on Sunday, just up the road from where we live.

It is also coming up to the 4th anniversary of my mum's death, which I hadn't remembered until I read Petticoat lane's blog yesterday, so perhaps subconciously I had been thinking of this. Anyway I decided a days sewing was called for as I spend half my life doing housework! Lily was quite happy to sit and play with playdough, next to me, so long as I rolled it out for her every now and again.

First I made my version of a flag cushion, I got the not another cushion look off my OH when he came home from work, but I'm loving it!

Then a very quick fleece backed quilt from Sew pretty Christmas homestyle. I haven't quite finished this one yet as it has buttons sewn at the corners of the squares, which is quite tedious to do but at least you can do it while watching tv.

Then this morning I was reminded that I was meant to be making some bunting for a present for one of Jodie's friends, in blue and red. So I've had to spend this morning sewing as well how annoying is that not! I've also started a spotty dog, a floral elephant and an owl but haven't finished them yet.

All the sewing definately helped as I finally managed to sleep last night.

I made a chocolate beetroot cake, which must have been nice as they've ate it all! I didn't tell the kids there was beetroot in it until they had had a piece as they wouldn't have tried it else lol! It's really easy to make:

You need 80z of SR flour, 1oz cocoa powder, 1 tsp Baking powder, 4oz caster sugar, 3oz melted dark chocolate, 3oz melted butter, 4oz raw grated beetroot, 2 beaten eggs.

Method: Sift flour, cocoa & baking powder, stir in sugar, beetroot, melted chocolate, butter and eggs. Turn into tin bake at 180'c for 50 - 60 mins. Then I added some melted milk and white chocolate on top when it was cool.

Now the thrifting:

Quite an unusual conserve pot.

2 rose candlesticks.

I assume this is for putting your boiled eggs in, I love it!

Not more glass candlesticks!

I really must buy some candlesticks!

A cheese dish.

One more pic for my flower picture wall this one is huge and dated 1957, only £2.

If only.....

Also, Sherry at if I could set my soul free is having a month long party at her blog to celebrate her blogiversary and her actual birthday. So pop on over, join in the fun and help her to celebrate. There's a button at the top of this page.

Hi, to anyone who has come over from Sherry's party!