GB is 8!

Brrrrr, it's cold here again today. Where has the sun gone?

You know how I like a random post - well here goes:

Firstly I made a purchase and have developed a new obsession...a slow cooker! 

While we were at featherdown farm we slow cooked some delicious stews on the stove. When I got back I had a comment from a new follower Sam who lives in Arkansas. I popped over to her blog say hello and found an interesting recipe for slow cooked pork. I took it as a sign (from who??!) and was on Argos online in a jiffy getting myself a crockpot! (£24 for a huge one...bargain)

 

 So, with  my little sister and G Kisby over for dinner the following day I set about throwing the bizarre ingredients (I didn't measure anything) into the pot and left it cooking for 9 hours. Yes, there was some questioning of my sanity ('pancake syrup? really?) but the consensus was that it was de-flamin'liscious!

Obviously I am now seeking out more recipes...loving the idea of putting dinner together after the morning school run - leaving me more available for the witching hour!

Last week I received 3 gorgeous packages 

(but have only photographed 2. Annie - yours has been cut up!!! see later)

The first was from Helen as part of a swap. A gorgeous monogrammed pin cushion in my favourite colours...how adorable?

Thank you Helen - it will be treasured forever.

Helen's current post is a visual feast of nautical colours...pop over and prepared to be inspired.

The second was a giveaway winning! Who doesn't LO♥E a giveaway?!

This pocket bunting is beautifully made by Jooles from sewsweetviolet blog, another of my all time favourites. It's currently hanging in my hallway - and already has treasure in the pockets!

This block is the last of the winners from Annie's giveaway. It was won by Lori from loritimesfive blog in California. Lori requested the word 'wool' on a winter white block. It was a pleasure to make.
Lori is a few days away from a massively exciting trip to Africa - which all came about through blogging! She has made some wonderful crochet pockets filled with little treasures to take with her as gifts for children in a himba village in Namibia - take a look. As if you need any more reasons to visit Lori, there's also a fab post on her knitted shawl (one for you Cuckoo!) here.

After the love shown for Mabels vintage Ladybird peg, and the gift of a duplicate book (Annie - I love them all! Thank you) I've been able to chop up the rest of my 'Puppies and Kittens' book to make some more pegs to sell here on the blog.

The first set of photos were taken before I made holes for the pegs!

 The pictures are sealed on to a block of solid birch 10x10x1cm and have a recessed hole for a screw (which I don't have!)
The wooden peg is shaker style and hammers in. I can either hammer it in before sending or send with the peg separately.

If you're interested in buying one please let me know which one you fancy - there's only one of each. Drop me an email (chippernelly@hotmail.co.uk) so I have your email address to send you a paypal invoice. They are £15 each which includes wrapping and postage (If outside the UK then I'll add on another £1 for the extra postage)

I'm happy to stamp a message on the back if you fancy - I've done an example to give you an idea of space available. The best font is old typewriter as in the example, all lower case.

And finally, our littlest boy is 8 today. 
If ever there was a boy high on life it's our Geordie. He is NEVER still, always (very) dirty, mischievous, often highly strung, always funny, loves all of our animals (take that back - he has neglected to remember his own hamster Mr Bob Boblingson) and great all round entertainment. As third child he has to fight hard for his voice to be heard - and once he gets an opening he literally talks until someone stops him.

Happy days

fee x