Saturday, 27 August 2016

Great British Bake Off...NOT...Bugs and Books

There was a decided nip in the air first thing this morning and the rain very quickly rolled in.  It has alternately drizzled and poured down all day with a bit of thunder to boot.  Thinking of Autumn, I had seen some bug hotels in garden centres selling for anything from £15 to £20 and upwards but I didn't fancy paying that so I asked OH to see if he could make something similar.  He came up with this.....

It cost less than £2 and we have mesh left over for another project.  I like it's rustic look. Now...where to site it... does it have to be ground level, shady, damp, dry, does anyone know please?

I had to go into town this afternoon for something and popped into the Acorn Children's Hospice CS just for a browse.  Promising myself  NO MORE BOOKS was to no avail as they had a huge table covered in lovely, pristine, once-read, non-taxing to read, fiction, all at 99p each :/  I had to come home with these three.  I have read a couple of Erica James which I enjoyed and many Katie Fforde.  Debbie Macomber is a new to me author but I'll give her a go as the book looks unread; the spine is perfect.  The two books on the left will be kept back until November as they have a Christmas theme, but I do like an easy Christmassy read in the run up to the big day.


As it was still pouring with rain when I got back I fancied a bit of baking.  There was some ready made shortcrust pastry in the fridge so I decided on cheese and onion quiche with jam tarts made from the re-rolled bits.  Heaven help me I am useless when it comes to pastry.  I can make nice fluffy, moist cakes but anything involving pastry inevitably sticks to the tin and can only generally be prised away with a chisel.  Take a look. Go on, you can laugh, I won't be offended!  It tasted ok but both pieces broke up, presentation failed completely.....


My tarts stuck too but, as you can probably tell,  OH is eating them.  He keeps coming out of the kitchen unable to speak because his mouth is full.  How on earth do I stop things sticking?  I have tried greasing the tin, not greasing the tin, flouring it, not flouring it.....help!


 
There was a bit of good news today, however, I had previously bought a scratchcard which I had put in my bag and forgotten about. Oooh....scratch it off quick.....
 

Yippee! Five whole pounds... £5 !!


When I was out this morning I took some more of my handmade cards to the local Hospice shop and my ego was given a terrific boost.  Apparently, they fly out as soon as I drop a batch off so I have promised more, a bigger batch this time as they can sell them for £1 each which is a very useful sum for the Hospice.  That will be my task for any spare time next week.....

Thanks everso for popping in, have a lovely evening whatever you are doing x

8 comments:

  1. That was a clever make from hubby, I have set my hubby a job, we have trouble with starlings so his mission is to make the bird feeders starling proof, you can buy them but they are around £25-£30, not paying that.
    Well done on the scratch card win, it paid for your books x

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    1. Thanks, Marlene :) I'm sure your hubby will solve the starling feeder problem. Do show when he has x

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  2. Love the bug house. I've seen them but don't know where to place them. I think that making cards for the CS is a wonderful thing. An outlet for your creativity and such a good cause.

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    1. Thank you, Barbara, I do love crafting and it's always nice when someone else likes my efforts too.

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  3. That bug house is fabulous! I always buy handmade cards when I see them, so good on you for doing them for such a good cause xxx

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  4. I cook really good pastry, Its a skill i learned at school but still have a problem with things sticking i think i really need to invest in some really good pans , This might help I was recommended lakeland by sue at our new life in the country but as yet cant justify the expense , Might ask for some as presents lol

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    1. You might have a good point there, my pans are all cheapies too. Really good ones are so pricey initally :/

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