Pokémon Go...

...just because. 😹

Rescue Bird Nests

Making little nests for rescue birds is a great way of using up scrap yarn and helping creatures in need at the same time! They only take 10-15 minutes to make, so that lovely feeling of gratification you get when you finish a project could be yours many times a day...

**Please note, this pattern is written using UK abbreviations**

YOU WILL NEED: 
A 5mm hook & Chunky yarn. If you want to use up scrap yarn in other sizes, just hold two or three strands together, depending on what weight of yarn you are using. What you are aiming for is a tight stitch that keeps the nest upright and stops it being floppy.

METHOD:
Round 1) You can either begin with the magic loop method, in which case, do 10 htc into the magic loop, or:
ch 2, do 10 htc into the second ch from hook, join with a sl-st.
Round 2) ch 1, 2htc in each st around, join with a sl-st - 20
Round 3) ch 1, *htc 1, 2htc in next* around, join with a sl-st. - 30
Round 4-5) htc 2 rounds.
Round 6-7 ) dc 2 rounds.

Sew in ends.
So simple and rewarding, what are you waiting for? 👍🏻❤️😊

Easy DIY Self-watering System

After planting up my tomatoes in a "Quadgrow" system, I realised just how easy one of these things should be to make and save myself the best part of 40 quid in the process! So, without further ado, this is what I did...

I got a storage crate with a lid and drilled two 30mm diameter holes in the top:

I did two because that's how many of the buckets I plant in that I could fit on top of the crate lid; you can obviously drill holes for however many plant pots that you can fit on. Then I drilled the same size holes into the bottom of the buckets.

Next you will need a piece of capillary matting for each pot. Cut this to a length that will reach from the base of your plant, down through the pot and into the crate, reaching the bottom. 

Slice a bit off the bottom section like so:

Thread a piece of matting, pointy end first, down through the hole in the pot and poke it out of the bottom:

It needs to come up through the pot high enough to wrap around the plant that you are going to be putting in.

Next, fill the pot with soil to the level that you are going to add to your plant, leaving the capillary matting poking out like this:

Add the plant and wrap the capillary matting around its soil and roots: 

Then top up the rest of the pot with soil:

Fill your storage crate with water and place the lid on top. Place your pot onto the lid and line up the hole in the pot with the hole in the crate. Feed the capillary matting down through the hole in the crate lid, making sure that the matting goes down into the water:  

Repeat these steps for the other pot (or for however many pots you are going to do) then water around the base of the plant, just to get the matting damp and started off.

And that is it! The roots will grow in and around the matting and the capillary action will continue to keep the plants supplied with water, just so long as you remembering to top up the water tank now and again...

NOTE: if you wish to add a fertiliser to the water, I suggest you empty the tank before you do so. If you keep topping up with water, then with fertiliser etc, your ratios will be all over the place and you could end up over/under feeding. Emptying the tank and starting again with a fresh mix, will avoid this problem.

Now you can go away for the weekend and not have to pester your relatives or neighbours to water your plants!

Happy growing :-) x 

Coz it's the Pick of Destiny, Child!

My husband and I are converting the attic bedroom into a recording studio and are hoping to fill the walls with fun stuff - ideally things that are homemade. Rob had an idea about one of those fire alarm emergency panels that you have to break the glass to access the button, only ours should have a plectrum in it for emergencies! Not only did this amuse me greatly, it also gave me an idea.

Enter the 'Pick of destiny.' With such an awesome power, it would be foolish to use it willy nilly, but it's the perfect choice in an emergency situation!

To misquote the devil himself, check this pic it's fucking tasty!

I sculpted the pick out of polymer clay and now it sits in it's box on the wall, patiently waiting until such time that Rob needs to bring the thunder. 

  

Vegetarian Cottage Pie Recipe

I am currently in a food coma after scoffing down half of an enormous cottage pie; I would have tried to squeeze in the rest (it was so good) - but my husband took care of that, thankfully! I love finding vegetarian versions of old classics, especially when it is a dish that I never really enjoyed because of the taste/texture of the meat used. It's quick and easy, especially if you cheat with the mash topping; I use ready-made, just to speed up the process.

Ingredients:

• For the mash (if you are not cheating):
• 600g potatoes
• 250g swede
• 250g carrots

For the filling:

• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 2 carrots (chopped small)
• 1 courgette (grated)
• 2 garlic cloves (chopped fine)
• 300g vegetarian mince
• 100g mushrooms sliced
• 400g chopped tomatoes (1 tin)
• 50ml water
• 2 vegetable stock pots/cubes
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 2 tsp cornflour
• Salt & pepper to season
• Small handful of cheddar 

Method:

1. For the mash, cook the potatoes, carrots and swede  in a large saucepan of boiling water until tender - (approx 20 minutes.)

2. Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the onion, garlic and carrots for a few minutes, until softened. Stir the curry powder through, then add the vegetarian mince, tinned tomatoes, stock pots/cubes, water, mushrooms and grated courgette. Bring the mixture to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Taste and season to your liking with salt & pepper.

3. Warm a large baking dish underneath the grill whilst mashing the carrots, swede and potatoes.

4. Blend the cornflour with 1 tbsp cold water and use it to thicken the filling. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and spoon the vegetable mash on top. Sprinkle with a bit of cheddar and grill for about 8-10 minutes. Now stuff your face, trying to stop before you explode!

You are welcome.

Merry Christmas everyone & please consider donating :)

If there is anyone out there who would like to do a kind thing for me this year, please consider making a donation to Caerphilly Bird Rescue. This was the year I finally became a vegetarian; I've never been comfortable putting one form of life above another - we are ALL AMAZING - from the most influential human to a tiny spider and absolutely no one is more deserving of kind treatment or consideration than anyone or anything else. 

Changing my diet has been a life improving experience; I genuinely have peace in my soul. Now I spend my time trying to help animals in other ways too, and the work they do at CBR is nothing short of heroic; rescuing injured birds and nursing them back to health. 

So if you are planning on donating this Christmas period, I urge you to give them a gift, however small. Their website has a donate button: http://www.caerphillybirdrescue.com

Here's wishing you all a fabulous festive season and new year. Peace and love xxx

Winter in a bowl - Spicy Parsnip Soup

Now that the weather has turned colder, it is time for me to enjoy the soup making part of the year! I asked my husband if he had any requests and he said he'd really like me to try a spicy parsnip soup. I trawled the usual websites and picked Gordon Ramsay's version for my first attempt. I'll tell you now, I will not be looking any further! This soup is to die for. As Gregg Wallace would say, "I could shove my whole face in it."

For those of you that would like to have a go at this divine soup, I found the recipe here, on 'Farmersgirl Kitchen' blog: 

Farmersgirl Kitchen - Gordon Ramsey's Spicy Parsnip Soup