Brilliant Musicians

Hubby found this clip on You-Tube yesterday and I thought it was brilliant and after a little bit of searching I think I have finally managed to get it onto this blog post!

Quite apart from the fact that it is brilliant, it looks like they are having a lot of fun, and isn't that just what music should be about?

I hope you enjoy it too.

Take care, Sarah x

More Treasure

I wasn't looking for this at all!

It just struck a chord with me and I had to have it.

Well not so much of an impulse buy really as I had to measure it and then come home to check it would fit where I wanted it in my workshop and then that I could get it in the truck to get it home. If I couldn't get it home then the £20 it was going to cost me for the unit would not be such a bargin if I had to pay for delivery too.

Even though I didn't write the measurements down and proceeded to remember totally different numbers to the actual size of the cupboard it did mercifully fit into the truck!

I've just been giving it a thorough clean and have decided that although there is nothing really wrong with the paint, I think I shall give it a good freshen up with a new coat and I have some lovely fabric or paper in mind for covering the drawers and cupboard doors which are currently covered in some fablon type wood effect sticky stuff.

Now that I have put the pictures up here of the before, I shall have to make sure I get cracking so I can put some after pictures up too! This is going to be my relaxation project to do when I have made a good supply of stock!

Take care all, til tomorrow

Sarah x

Happy Australia Day

Happy Australia Day Everyone!

You'll have to excuse me today, I am having a totally self indulgent trip to Australia!

Well you could come with me - Bridge Climb anyone?

Or a trip to the beach

and a paddle!

or a road trip?


and a spot of wine tasting. How big is that glass?

Ah yes, it is allowed to be that big, it belongs to a great friend! Who just happens to know the way to the vineyards, mind the sheep please!

My favourite, the wombat

and it wouldn't be Australia without one of these

or these.

It seems that in celebration the sun has come out here today too so I shall busy myself off back to the workshop to sew some more.

Take care all and have a lovely day where ever you are.

Sarah x

Cataloguing my morning

Yesterday I was catching up on my blog reading when I spotted a post from Karon at Dream Country Chat about her cat Berti. Then would you believe it - I was treated to a similar feline line of attack this morning:

Missy, the little black princess of Land Cuckoo, noted that Dad opened up the chickens before he went to work this morning, thus leaving Mum in bed to gently wake up with the sunrise. In other words I'd wake up when my body had decided it had had enough of the big comfy bed, because lets face it, the sun doesn't get to being strong enough to rouse me from my slumber at this time of year.

Not content with the helping of milk which she had been given at this time she decides to wait until Dad has driven off to work (this is still at unspeakable o'clock, the beauty of a shift working Hubby) before she thinks it is appropriate to come and shout at me to go out.

That is after she has tried to open the curtains whilst leaning off the edge of the bed and using the radiator as extra leverage, leaving Missy shaped claw marks along the edge of the aforementioned curtains because they were in the way. Just on the off chance that in my tired state of mind last night I might left the window open thus giving a cat sized escape route.

Upon finding that the window is indeed not open it is then time to give a rendition of 'I must go out now' at the top of her voice. Now bearing in mind that this cat did not even murmmer a sound until she lived with me I suppose I only have myself to blame, clearly she has picked up on my fairly constant chatting, either on the phone or to myself, sorry I mean the dog and cat and chickens!

So bang goes my lovely lazy lie in and off I go in bare feet down the stairs to the part of the house that is at least 10degrees colder than the rest when the fire isn't on and across the tiled floor which is mighty cold due to the fact that my slippers are too big to wear safely when walking down the stairs if I have no socks on and have therefore been left upstairs!

With collar located and placed on cat she gains her freedom and off down the garden she goes.

Well, it's back up the stairs for me to see if I can recoup any of that lazy start to the day that I had planned........thank goodness for dark mornings, it's like I was never up and an extra hour is had!

Take care all, have a lovely Burns Night if you are out celebrating

Sarah x

Show and Tell

I have been having a lovely week down in my workshop, loving the fact that I am no longer in the house, it feels like my own little hideaway oasis, with my music on or the radio chatting away to me I have been quite merrily sewing away down the bottom of the garden.

At last I have got onto trying out some of the projects in one of my books that I have been meaning to have a go at for ages now. These are the results:

A pot stand, this one is quilted and unscented which is a change to the ones I am usually making with the cloves and cinnamon inside.

This is some of the fabric I bought at the Festival of Quilts last year at the NEC. I love the colours, not the style of fabrics that I would usually choose but I was myseriously drawn to these!

And for the proper British cuppa.........

A rather patriotic tea cosy! At last a delve into the scap bucket to use up some of those fabrics. Although I did discover that I have not used much red in the past as I was struggling to find enough to make this up. Note to oneself - use more red, it is afterall one of my favourite colours!

And finally.............. No I didn't make this one! Found this today at my favourite treasure trove of goodies. I am certain that this is the same as a picture that used to hang at my Nan's house. There was such a familiarity about it as soon as I saw it that I picked it straight up and held onto it all the way round the shop. Just as soon as I can bring myself to hammer into my lovely new walls, this will be going in the workshop!

Have a lovely weekend everyone

Take care

Sarah x

Whats been going on?

Thank you all for your comments from yesterday's post - I am not alone! Phew that is so good to know.

It has been pointed out to me that I have been rather remiss in reporting back events that have been occuring in Land Cuckoo. The most significant in my little world being my new workshop.

If you remember a while back there was the case of the moving shed across the garden, well this is what it was making way for

Yes it is the new supply teacher's classroom! Not really, the object on the right is my new workshop. It isn't the most glamourous of buildings I know but it is insulated all the way round and underneath too so once I am tucked up inside it is warmer than the house!!

The plan is to plant some prettiness in front of it and mask it a little from the house but it will look better on a brighter day with a garden that isn't part bog and mud.

I have made myself well and truely at home inside and am loving the space I now have to create....................mess!! No it is actually easier to keep it tidy now that there is more room to put things away, I love storage don't you?

I even have space to have my favourite tins and things on show, which is just so nice to be surrounded by things you love.

Of course I love buttons! Doesn't everyone? Need more..................................

Take care all and have a lovely weekend

Sarah x

Days like these

I recieved this in an email yesterday and thought it was so appropriate I should share it will you here too!

This finally explains a whole lot.....glad I'm not the only one who's got it.

AAADD KNOW THE SYMPTOMS.......PLEASE READ!

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder.

Somehow I feel better even though I have it!!

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. -Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.

As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my cheque book off the table,and see that there is only one cheque left.

My extra cheques are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Pepsi I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my cheques but first I need to push the Pepsi aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

The Pepsi is getting warm and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye, they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and discover my reading glasses thatI've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV I'll be looking for the remote but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers,but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

the car isn't washed

the bills aren't paid

there is a warm can of Pepsi sitting on the counter

the flowers don't have enough water

there is still only 1 cheque in my cheque book

I can't find the remote

I can't find my glasses

and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail....

Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!

Keep well all,

Sarah x

Like dog, like owner.

Our George has decided that 'if you can't beat them, join them'.

Last night when we went into the sitting room to put our feet up at the end of the day he decided he was going to sit on the bean bag which he so often sees one of us sitting on.

Yes our bean bag is shaped like a Hippo and she is called Humbelina - a retired ballerina who has recently taken up the piano.

Continuing along the same theme George has a quick flick through the Screwfix catalogue, a mans favourite read, I am told!

And then the weariness catches up with him and he has to have a little snooze in front of the fire.

Hope you are all keeping well and relaxed yourselves

Take care

Sarah x

And then there was snow

Continuing on from yesterday and the start of our holiday which we spent taking in the sea air, we woke up to snow on the Tuesday morning and Devon remained in it's frozen state for the rest of the week. I know it is still bad down there too so I hope any of you who are out there are all keeping warm and well.

The cottages we stayed at are called North Hill, located just outside Barnstaple. Carol Ann and Adrian looked after us very well, ensuring we had enough food and collecting any provisions from town as they had managed to get back up the lane to the farm with their 4 wheel drive car, unfortunately our little car would have got down but not back up again, hence we stayed put!

Up across the fields behind the farm the snow clouds shrouded us as they passed over. The beauty for us coming from such a flat part of the country is the fact that everytime you get to the other side of a field you have a different view of the valleys and hills. Those are the cottages just visable in the snow cloud.

A quiet spot to read a book and watch the world go by!

George checking out the lane and returning with the 'don't go down there' verdict.

Snowy North Hill

Frozen North Hill, although not indoors, that was lovely and warm!

Isn't he a handsome Doggins? And first footprints on that bit of snow too! Wasn't long before we all got up there and left our tracks.

Hard not to leave tracks when you have a monster snowman to build! This was much better snowman building snow than the snow we had at home before Christmas.

We did contemplate staying on a little longer so that we could get out and about as the lane was starting to thaw in the places where our car would have struggled to get up but as the weather was forecast to continue and get worse we reluctantly decided that we would have to make a move home. We were lucky enough that the day we were due to come home was also the day of the best travelling weather so we made a break for it.

Stonehenge on the way down to Devon before the snow. I could not believe all the 'ants' around the outside, I don't think I have ever seen Stonehenge with all those people around it.


Funnily enough, no-one was walking around as we passed by on our way home!

Well we are all home safe and sound now, more snow falling here today but I don't think we have too much to worry about as it is hardly a gentle covering at present. We'll see what we have in the morning!

Take care all, til tomorrow

Sarah xx

At the Beach

Time is marching on through January isn't it? We were down in Devon last week for a much needed break, we didn't quite expect the enforced house arrest due to the snow but we did have a lovely time!

Even on the beach you can find a spot to relax and recline!

These are the pictures from the beginning of the break when we did manage to get out and about and headed straight to the beaches. Nothing like a bit of sea air to blow away the cobwebs is there?

George loves the beach, any beach so long as there is a ball to be thrown.

It was most definately a winter's day as you can tell by the amount of layers Hubby is wearing he looks quite the tellytubbyhubby with his winter duvet / coat over the top of a considerable amount of jumpers! Little did we know just how much snow that cold wind was bringing us!

Inside one of the shops I found this little robin all puffed up against the cold making himself at home. You may just be able to see him in the middle of the picture eating crumbs off the most antique and pretty bird feeder I have ever seen!

Here he is just hopped up on some more treasure next to the plate of food. This whole shop was such a treasure trove of goodies, I could have stayed in there for hours!

There was just time for more walks on the beach before heading back to the cottage for the evening

And for someone to dry off and leave sand on every surface of the car on the way home!

Overnight the snow came and we woke to a winter wonderland in the hills the next day..........

Take care all, til tomorrow

Sarah x

Woohoo Jan 1st 2010

Happy New Year everyone!

Hope you are all recovered well from your celebrations last night if you were out and about partying.

I'm starting the new year in a very tasteless fashion - I cannot taste anything! Or smell anything either! Which is a great thing for the old lemony medicinal drink! Also getting to the point where every sneeze is beginning to wind me up now so must be getting better.

Am hoping the getting better fortune lasts well as Hubby and I are going to escape to the beach for a few days whilst we have the chance. I have a feeling that this year is going to be very busy for both of us so we want to get a little break in early! If any of you have any recommendations of some good places to visit in North Devon then let me know and we'll see if we can get there. We have been to the area before, was going to say earlier this year but that would be last year now wont it! Anyway, we have been before and know we like it and George loves to have a run on the beach which will be especially good this time of year with no-one else there!

I'm off to go and pack a little bit more, mainly tissues and ingredients for wholesome hot food and a few jigsaws. Take care all,
Sarah xx