Chicken, cheese, chips and chocolate!

That's what I had for dinner tonight! All of my favourite foods beginning with 'ch'! *Ü* I baked chicken legs - deskinned, with a mix of grated wholemeal breadcrumbs and equal amount of grated cheese - seasoned to taste and I covered the chicken legs with the mix and baked in the oven at gas # 6 for about 40 minutes. I cooked homemade chips and accompanied with baked beans...yummy. To follow, I made a raspberry trifle, topped with grated chocolate on the cream! I'm now feeling rather full! *Ü* I didn't even think to take photos - sorry peeps...but then you wouldn't want to be jealous of my meal, would you?! *Ü*

LAZY SUNDAY AFTERNOON...is what I have had today. After a long week of cleaning and de-cluttering, I am pooped but I am pleased with my efforts.  I spent some time on Skype this afternoon being entertained by my 5 year old granddaughter - Miss Ashley and her 'fashion show' as she called it! LOL.  Then my eldest granddaughter Yasmin called me this evening for a 'chit chat'. *Ü* I can't wait to see my babies next weekend...all of them at my niece's family BBQ! *Squeal*

Have a good week yourselves and thank you for visiting my blog.

Who do I think I am?!

I was having a telephone conversation with my sister yesterday and the subject of death came up! I guess the time will come soon when our 97 year old mum will depart this life and even though it's to be expected....and I am of the ripe age of 60...yes I am...it will still be hard to accept - for me.

My sister sent me a cd several years ago by Anthony & The Johnsons and one of the tracks is 'My Sister'! It is sooo us and every time I hear it, it makes me cry. I played it last night and ... I was in tears.

Our conversation brought us to discuss the things that we remember about our childhood, our lives -growing up together and some of the things that we have been through - and we talked about the relationships we have with our respective families. I consider it important to find out who my ancestors are and what they were like. I have managed to go back to 1760 on my mother's side and not quite so far on my father's.

I have been a crafter throughout my life and our conversation gave me cause to consider some of the things that I have done/made for my family and friends. One thing that comes to mind inparticular, is the dresses that I made for my three daughters and myself when we went on holiday to Butlins in August 1976. Now....first, you have to promise not to laugh at the platforms! *Ü* Here we are in a family contest - not sure which one though....

...and here is another contest that we entered - a  line up of babies with their mums in a 'Bonny Baby' competition. That's me on the left with Keeley. *Ü*

 Keeley was just 5 months old and she came 2nd! *Ü* Awww...I can remember the day very clearly.

I've been 'home alone' this week and have had time to reflect on the past whilst my husband and grandson are on the youth camp in Wales! I've been having a clean up and putting all of my photos into one place. Nostalgia and sentiment set in and I got distracted....LOL.....back to work! *Ü*

Toots for now.  Poof...gone!

**DT** Menorca layout

Another project for my DT at Hobbysew using Girl's Paperie.

I went to Menorca for my holiday recently and just loved how there are so many different blues and turquoises in the sea, which is reflected in this photo. I used Girl's Paperie patterned papers that I had in my DT kit and had some chipboard letters and seed beads from my stash to cover them with. I made a couple of pin wheels from G'sP cardstock and cut little flags for the bunting. I also listed the top ten things that I loved whilst in Menorca. It covered just about everything! *Ü*

It seems such a long time ago now but that's what I LOVE about cameras and videos...the opportunity to relive your good times. *Deep sigh*.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving me lovely comments. Each one is really appreciated.
 Toots for now,

Coffee break!

Two altered items in one week - wow! Whilst passing a local charity shop recently, I noticed a traditional coffee table outside for sale. It was still there a couple of days later when I went to go look for it. The price - £5!! I was thrilled and I immediately saw how it would look when I had transformed it. *Ü*

 I took the glass top off, rubbed the woodwork down and painted the wood white and the top - black.

 Then I printed off 3 black and white photos of my 3 daughters and placed them onto the black top, replaced the cleaned glass and voila! Simples. It looks 'bang up to date' and serves a purpose. Maybe I will make matching coasters. *Ü*

Thank you for visiting my blog peeps. Toots for now.

In the frame!

I LOVE boot fairs and charity shops and can usually spot a good find. I managed to find a lovely photo box frame at a boot fair recently - still in it's presentation box. I was thrilled when I opened the box to find it had a perfect little wooden violin and bow with an Irish blessing poem.

You see, my eldest daughter Lisa had wanted to play the violin ever since she saw a group of girl violinists on a TV talent contest a few years ago. My son in law gave her a Christmas gift of lessons a couple of years ago and whilst we were visiting them, she spent some time practicing on a borrowed violin. I remember my mum used to call it a 'squeak box' when my sister first learned to play at primary school 50 years ago! *Ü*

I took some photos of Lisa playing the violin and got her to put on her little black dress for a photo shoot - as was what the girl violinists wore! *Ü* She knew where I was going with this. LOL.

Back to the frame. This be it in the 'before' state.

As it was Lisa's birthday recently, I spray painted the wooden frame with a textured paint in the colour of her lounge - duck egg blue. I took the frame apart and painted the green surround cream, then printed off a photo of Lisa playing the violin and placed it instead of the blessing. I was pleased with the result....

 ...after.

...and I believe so was Lisa. *Ü*

Thank you for visiting and for leaving me lovely comments. I really appreciate it. *Ü* Check in soon to see how I recently transformed a charity store coffee table!

That's what friends are for!

Well, I didn't get as many photos of our friends as I had hoped! *Sigh* ...but these are the ones I did get! *Ü*

Tony and Allie - his wife and 2 children - AJ and Adeline visited us from USA and we had a lovely time together. I LOVE Tony's sense of humour and we all had some laughs.

 We went to the Toby Carvery for dinner as they LOVE a tradional English roast dinner. My middle daughter Michelle came too with her husband and my grandson Cameron.

We learned that sadly, Tony isn't too good. He is having medication as his immune system is breaking down. I don't know the full facts but I hope it will be something curable.

So....we all enjoyed our meal and it seemed such a short time that we spent with them but hopefully, they will visit again in the not too distant future....and a very Happy Birthday to Miss Adeline today. *Ü*

Thanks for visiting my blog and a very warm welcome to my new followers and visitors. *Ü* What do you think of the new blog design?

Toots for now,

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

Several years ago - about 16 or 17- and when two of our daughters were still at home, we used to have the LDS missionaries come visit for dinner quite often - sometimes breakfast - they enjoyed that. Over the 32 years we have been members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have seen a few! *Ü*

One of the missionaries that was here at that time was Tony Wiseman from Utah, USA. He is my most favouritist missionary in the whole wide world! *Ü* He used to call my husband and I 'mum' and 'dad' and we felt honoured. He is on holiday in England right now - with his lovely family and will be visiting us tomorrow. I am sooo excited. *Squeal*. Tony 'can hardly wait', is what he wrote in his email. Awww... I think I am going to be very emotional. *Sniff*.

As a going back home celebration meal, I laid on a banquet for him and his companion and 2 of my daughters wanted to make him something that he would remember them by! They made a cake.....and added a whole pot of chilli powder!! You guessed it....he has never forgotten them! *Ü*

Sooo...I shall be clicking the camera as fast as I can tomorrow and will post some pics as soon as.

Have a wonderful Sabbath day yourselves.