Ponies and Pizza

Righto, it has been another long time since last blogging. 

Just to update you all - I am still living in Land Cuckoo and making all my bits and pieces to sell, have been on the market over the summer and have been busy lately making lots of bespoke orders for Christmas.  I have been concentrating over the past year on studying hard to get into university.  Well I managed that and am now studying full time once again, hence the lack of blog posts!

But here is one for you!

 

After uni today, George and I went for a stroll on Dartmoor.  It is so nice to get out into the open although I do have to remember to concentrate on where the car is so I can find my way back!

When I did return to the car one of the ponies was busy trying to eat a plastic tub with garlic dip inside, having already finished off the remains of a pizza!  Someone had carelessly (or maybe quite on purpose) left their fast food takeaway rubbish and it was making rather a tasty treat.  I decided that as I had a plastic bag in the car (for muddy boots) I would have a tidy up to clear away the plastic (and the chilli pepper) and the other bits of rubbish so that no harm could come to any of the wildlife, even tho I am quite sure the ponies have pretty cast iron constitutions!

Well the rustle of a plastic bag was just the calling that all the ponies in the vicinity needed!  Pretty soon I was surrounded.  George was most put out and decided that he would wait in the car.  Not sure that the ponies were too impressed I was clearing up rather than leaving rubbish but they will have to stick to their natural diet tonight as I've removed all the fast food options or at least the harmful plastic wrappers and pots!

Usually these lovely creatures don't pay any attention to you as you walk over the moor, it was so nice to get that close to them even if I did think that they may stage a stand off around the car until I found them another pizza!

 

So all this talk of food, I have to go and find food to eat myself, it wont be pizza tho tonight!

Take care all, til next time

Sarah x

Spooky hand

First thing this morning when I walked into the lounge, this is what greeted me!

 

 

An eerie ghostlike hand waving at the window.

 

George was none too impressed with it either!

 

I have to admit that I had noticed a handprint on the window a couple of days ago when I came home but clearly failed to do anything about it, like clean the window, and this mornings condensation on the window just highlighted my domestic goddess failings!

 

 

And in any case, the sun was shining and the shorts were back on, far too nice a day to be worried about housework!  I took the workshop outside once more, possibly for the last time this year and made the most of the day.  Plenty of cutting, sanding and painting was going on.  Some pieces for special orders, some for the shops and just one or two for my next adventure (which I've kind of already started but not all of it!!).

 

Now it is just a gentle Saturday night in and a great long list of things I want to achieve for tomorrow awaiting my attention in the morning.  Hope you have all had a great a day wherever you are, til next time, take care, Sarah x

October already must be time for the beach

And once again it has been a long time since I've put fingers to keyboard and checked into Blogland.  Lots has been occurring here in Land Cuckoo over the past however long, never a dull moment at all really since coming down to Devon!  Sadly I've not always managed to find the time to write it all down, still trying to establish that idyllic lifestyle whereby I find time to do Everything!

 

Possibly the most important news is that we (by that I mean me and the dog) are allowed back on the beach once more, yes it is October already!  No cause for alarm, I have not been served with an asbo from the sand police, it is just the usual summer doggy ban on the local beach.  However from now until the end of April we will mainly be found getting sand in every pair of shoes and filling up the house with as much of the beach as we can carry back in fur, paws and shoes!

 

 

I was attempting to get a nice picture of George enjoying the beach after his little paddle in the mini beach amongst the rocks but he was way more on the ball than I was and was rather aware that the incoming wave on this occasion was going to reach right up to us!  So we abandoned the artistic efforts and just enjoyed the stomp across the sand whilst watching the surfers out in the Autumn swell.

 

Well plenty to catch you up on but that will have to wait, I have an exceptionally early start in the morning and am off to the land of nod very soon.

 

Take care all, til next time

Sarah x

 



Post nights

 

Oh my word, feel like I have just flown back from Oz! Have done a few too many night shifts this week me thinks!!

  

 

These are some of the new fabric memo boards I have made up amongst other things this week.

 

Love the coastal fabric and the colours of this one.

 

If only stamps were this price!!

 

I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine where you are, I am off to the workshop after lunch to finish off painting some more signs.

Can't go off to the beach as I have a poorly dog who is on strict rest for another week so am keeping him in the shade with the breeze from the windows.  No doubt he will be accompanying me to the workshop where the best place to lie down is right where I stand to paint my signs, so it is all change and re-arrange the workshop to suit the dog!

Take care all, til next time

Sarah x

Beach or garden?

 

College is finished!

All essays written and exams taken.

Sun is shining and .........

 

 

I am in the garden, yes!  Not on the beach because dogs aren't allowed in the summer months and it is too hot to leave George at home, he likes the option of shade, sun or hiding out the way in the workshop!

 

Will crack on with some more work in the evening cool but for now it is reeeeelaaaaax in the sunshine with a good book!

 

Hope you are all well and enjoying the weekend whatever you are up to

Take care, til next time

Sarah x

 

Remember the sunshine?

 

 

As I sit here snuggled on the sofa with the wind and rain lashing at the windows, I have remembered that I had a few more pictures from last week on the beach.

 

 

Remember then?  When we had some sunshine!! 

 

It may not look as colourful as this today now that the headland is swathed in cloud, but apparently the surf is much better!

 

Such a joy to have been out feeling the warmth of the sun.  I can tell you it was not warm enough to roll the trousers up, I did try, then I remembered that I was still wearing a hat and gloves so therefore it definately not going to be warm enough!

 

George ran about like a puppy and because we didn't meet anyone else he didn't feel the need to find something for them to throw!  Good thing really as he is supposed to be 'resting' his bad leg!

 

Going to have to hold onto these warm picture memories for a few days me thinks, we have a bit of a stormy time ahead followed by a proper cold spell.  Doesn't bode well for the frogs which have been busy hopping back to the pond on the headland in the sunny weather. 

 

Hope you are all safe and warm wherever you are this weekend

till next time

Sarah xx

On the rocks

Glad its still sunny today as I wanted to put these pictures on that I took on Tuesday!

 

George and I managed to spend some time on the beach in the sunshine.

 

It was mighty cold still!  Hat and gloves were required at all times.

 

I don't think I have been on the beach when the tide is this far out.  These rocks are generally hidden for the most part.  They are so impressive, the shapes they create and the thousands of little creatures that are living on them and in the rock pools.

 

Normally we are marching up the hill or out to the left of this picture to the headland so it was nice to get a different view.

 

Closer inspection of the rock reveals the source of the blue tinge to the rocks.

We sat down after a spot of gathering driftwood and just enjoyed being in the sunshine, so nice not to have to be fighting the winds and driving rain.

 

I have a few more pictures so will try to get them on soon, maybe the sun will keep on shining!  Easter is not too far off now and just as soon as I have finished my college week I shall be in the workshop to get on with the preparations and making of stock once more.

Right now it is (as usual) time for food so take care all, til next time

Sarah x

Dodging the rain

So here I was just thinking that I'll get these pics online seems as I am so impressed with myself for remembering to take the pictures as I have made the stock and I have just noticed the time and realised that it is 10pm and I've not had my dinner!  Not really had lunch either!

However that does mean that I have been nice and busy and have had a lovely day getting on with some study and some Land Cuckoo stock making.

 

 

This is a brand new sign, hot off the paintbrush.  The wording was requested by a customer and I have had the stencil made by a local company which I am so happy to have been able to use.  Really cuts down on the production miles!  I have a few new designs in the planning stages (in my head) and hope to get them made into stencils very soon.

 

At last I have got onto the seaside fabric!  Have been looking forward to making this memo board up for a while and now I have!  Hopefully it will be dry and bright tomorrow so I can get out and take some photos for the website.

 

We have had a wonderful day today with some stunning sunshine and spectacular cloudbursts.  I managed to avoid all of the rain by strategic timing of dog walking and tea drinking in Baggy's!

 

Well right now I am off to get my dinner, hope you all have a lovely weekend, til next time

Sarah x

Days like these

On days like today, I love my drive home.  Each time I get to this stretch of road my heart lifts.  Not when it is raining hard and the road is flooded, that calls for excessive concentration not to end up over the edge and in the big blue, but when the sun is shining and college has finished for half term!!

I actually pulled over and stopped for a while just to wind the window down, listen to the waves and watch the surfers.  I do feel like one of the luckiest people sometimes and that is not said to be bragging or one-upmanship but just to acknowlege that I am so very fortunate and I appreciate it.

 

Once I got home and collected George from next door there was just enough time to get some wellies on (it is still wet enough out there to need them all the same!) and then we went off for a lovely walk across the beach with our neighbours, and George's friend Gemma the lurcher.

How nice it was too to be on the beach, not wearing a hat, not needing the waterproof jacket on and not having to walk at an odd angle into the wind!  Roll on summer!

Back in the workshop, it is time to get busy with the sign painting.  Everywhere is springing into life this weekend with the half term holidaymakers and it is now that I need to be getting ahead with the stock preparation.  There is something so very satisfying about a table full of drying signs, just anticipating their decoration and sayings.

This week saw the arrival of my workbench, made by my dad and modelled on the one he made for himself years ago.  This one was put together in my old workshop so had to be transported whole this time as it would not come apart!  A very nice man delivered it along with my piano.  Now I don't know how this works but I have more stuff in the workshop than I did before the bench arrived, yet it looks like I have more space!!  Did I really need to have a tidy up that much?  I guess so!

 

Well now I am going to go and find some food, see still maintaining a constant there aren't I, and will be back again soon.

Take care all, til next time

Sarah x

Lavenders white dilly dilly

Photo from Hitchin Lavender

I don't live near here anymore but I do still use their lavender and oils in my products and when I saw the pictures of the frost and snow on their blog I thought they were worth sharing.  For some more stunning pictures have a peek at their blog

They do grow a white lavender too but this isn't quite how it looks in bloom!

 

And now for the first time in weeks I can relax!  Just for the evening, still have some work to do tomorrow but the exams and tests are done, most work handed in and I am going to enjoy a (large) glass of wine tonight!

 

George on the other hand is not so chuffed.

He has been suffering with painful back legs and it turns out that he has a spot of arthritis in his stifle joints.  My lovely neighbour found a dog coat that she used to use when she had Afghans and has kindly passed it onto George so he can go out and not get wet so as not to then get chilled when he gets home in his wet fur.

 

George in his waterproof onesie.

 

Well, I have never seen anything so funny!  His legs aren't long enough so he has turn ups!  I think this may just be the right picture to ask for - Captions Please!

Exactly what is George thinking, not entirely sure his real thoughts would be printable but lets see.

 

Take care all out there in the white stuff

Sarah x

Ironing references

Winter sun on the beach (from Jan 2012!)

Following on from one of the comments yesterday - 100 things I'd rather be doing than studying!

Yes I would even get the iron out!  Don't own a full size ironing board because I think they are dangerous and will never own a cupboard in which to hide one away.  However, faced with this collection of assignments I would quite happily get the mini Ikea special table top board out and iron everything I own if it got even just the referencing done for me!

 

I do sound like I don't enjoy study but that isn't the case, I am actually really happy stretching my mind to within millimetres of it snapping and the sense of joy and relief I shall get tomorrow when I wearily hand in my assignment will be worth it.  Shant bother about getting the result tho, not to sure its going to be a good one this time!

 

Off to get food, as usual!  Til next time

take care, Sarah x

Doing research

Been doing a lot of this - its called research (study distraction technique)

 

Am a little bit busy this week, have a few assignments that need finishing and as usual the finishing is taking longer than anything else!

 

The couple I have left to do have been particularly taxing for me, not only having to research the content but learn how to put it down 'on paper' correctly, in the right order with the right phrases and headings etc.  Ah well, I expect there will be another couple of new assignments to replace these by the end of the week!

 

I may have found another stockist for Land Cuckoo products this weekend which will be fab.  Only need to put a few bits back in my workshop and it will be back to normal after its mini flood and I can get organised and started on this years stock production.

 

Right now it is time to get back to the study,

til next time

Sarah x

What am I doing?

 

Right, I can stop a while and update you now.

I have gone back to college to do an access course so that I might be able to apply for university, as long as all goes well that is!

So I am studying Biology and Psychology with maths and IT as well and also doing a Chemistry AS level which was the exam that I have been revising for so much recently.

Its surprising how much information you need to get into your head for just a one hour exam paper!  And even then they manage to ask questions in such a way that you don't actually know what they are after!  Frustrating as I did actually know the answer too!

 

 

 

After quite a few years of not doing any study of any sort it is a bit of a change for me but I am enjoying the different lifestyle and the fact that I have to really push myself to do the work.  It isn't easy but that is the whole point I guess, learning how to do the study as well as what it is that we are actually studying.

 

I am still making all my crafty bits too.  Well, I will be in a few weeks, at present I am still re-sorting out the workshop after the water put in an appearance during the horrid rain that we had recently.  Nowhere near as bad as so many people and very fortunate for me that I had already moved most things off the floor after the last time it happened, so not lost much of note that I have found so far.

This is the quiet time to reset after the hectic rush at the end of last year and then I can get back into the swing of things with the making, painting and sewing.

 

For now though, it is predominantly college that I am focusing on and still working at my 'real' job too so plenty to keep me occupied!

 

Take care all

Sarah x

smiling and studying

 

Just about going to make it today!  Have tried to get a few words down here each day, so far so good!

Now I just need to be able to get a few words down on my essay which is eluding me so far.

 

Come to think of it, I don't think I have updated you here, I am now at college being a student again.  Hence the need to get word counts up and running in essays and the last minute cramming for exams and tests.  Speaking of which, I have my Chemistry exam on Thursday so am now off to write a few more notes out to go and stick up on the walls.  Not yet got any study aids in the bathroom ...............

 

Take care all

til tomorrow!

Sarah x

Thanks!

 

Thank you for the hints on how to get pics on!

Am just taking a mini break on the way to the kettle to get a cuppa to help me through the last little bit of a biology assignment!

Then I hope to remember to go and finish off a sign for someone then it is back to work.

Need a diary for my diary at the mo, so much to do!

Take care all

Sarah x

Happy New Year

Dear all

 

Happy New Year to you, I hope that 2013 brings you all that you need and enough of what you like to keep you happy!

 

Don't seem to be able to upload any pics today, will try again another day.

 

Take care all

Sarah x