tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65162659847170082102024-03-04T23:14:37.344-08:00The1930s houseSimonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-86752358244301088292022-04-05T01:47:00.007-07:002022-04-05T01:58:29.330-07:00A long break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCLe8JJthyBQ5ZuOHj-8s8w9f8-cuW44jRP5wB38_hXPc8BBsw2PcgEp0ihhvm8FsXtiIBv2N4jVrSe56-Zm1iOpRCf2KlcLkWSRFhcqAoeHPdKTY3-pf3DRiVnnCqZU0VKyw9KuiDi-RnCf8kc5BB6PBYlFgrApV4UxT3LQY2BrE6rnrWrzktqaAVw/s4480/IMG_20210612_174434_186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="4480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCLe8JJthyBQ5ZuOHj-8s8w9f8-cuW44jRP5wB38_hXPc8BBsw2PcgEp0ihhvm8FsXtiIBv2N4jVrSe56-Zm1iOpRCf2KlcLkWSRFhcqAoeHPdKTY3-pf3DRiVnnCqZU0VKyw9KuiDi-RnCf8kc5BB6PBYlFgrApV4UxT3LQY2BrE6rnrWrzktqaAVw/w400-h180/IMG_20210612_174434_186.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Work got in the way and I have not been updating this blog... but would you believe it, we got some building work done! Here is a photo of a sunny day in the back garden. </p><p>However the kitchen is still needing a makeover. It's nice to have a lighter room downstairs and we can have dinner overlooking the garden now.</p><p>This is how the house looked before... Builders used the same brick so it's not a visible join, apart for the new windows...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroheJtor2TjwLkiHkms6HwiJxrBubXVADSuXu-OydZcGXe0xJS_B7r2-Ex4WqMH-zofZQg3q06jKa4weIoVV8wF2PCXy7NbSG6UFkDl-cAcQ9Q8TVhUCuzE4Ynvx9vA5oIILgPW_1lM_y7c91lIwKqx2UBSDLGT3VN-TJ_QZkc-Mo6-ux4YysICwLQw/s800/IMG_20160630_105911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroheJtor2TjwLkiHkms6HwiJxrBubXVADSuXu-OydZcGXe0xJS_B7r2-Ex4WqMH-zofZQg3q06jKa4weIoVV8wF2PCXy7NbSG6UFkDl-cAcQ9Q8TVhUCuzE4Ynvx9vA5oIILgPW_1lM_y7c91lIwKqx2UBSDLGT3VN-TJ_QZkc-Mo6-ux4YysICwLQw/w400-h240/IMG_20160630_105911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-40317795427095387562020-05-08T02:57:00.003-07:002020-10-09T03:00:10.850-07:00The lockdown garden<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0GiErkuAYiE" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><a href="www.google.com" target="_blank">Google</a></div>Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-27079906510237233302019-05-06T23:10:00.002-07:002019-05-06T23:20:55.251-07:00Healthy chocolate cake - easy to make and delicious<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4RBw8ySBGt26GD0nB847yuj_N3HR7K2G80EiJq3yl8CttdGNq-_QKJ0K45JwQ8T2SuL1_UoPDnnDuVKy5xiiKFJRB93SWanyXwIf5TzqFsSY6lHTf9yyuI1-eiQCrtP2yKF0knZJAgjx/s1600/IMG_20190507_064443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4RBw8ySBGt26GD0nB847yuj_N3HR7K2G80EiJq3yl8CttdGNq-_QKJ0K45JwQ8T2SuL1_UoPDnnDuVKy5xiiKFJRB93SWanyXwIf5TzqFsSY6lHTf9yyuI1-eiQCrtP2yKF0knZJAgjx/s400/IMG_20190507_064443.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Healthy chocolate cake, easy to make - original recipe - tried and tested</td></tr>
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I have been toying with the idea of a healthy cake for a long while. That's why I love a <a href="https://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.com/2017/04/happy-easter-with-my-own-pandan-chiffon.html" target="_blank">pandan chiffon cake</a>, but not everyone is a fan, so I have tried to do a fruity healthy cake, which was very nice but still did not convert the hardcore cake crowd. Today I have refined the recipe and added cocoa (and a chocolate cover) to that recipe, removed some of the ingredients that would clash and voila' a cake low in sugar and fat (as much as possible but still tasting good). It is not very sweet and if you want sweetness, you can add a chocolate topping (I will use dark chocolate to keep on the healthy side on top of some berry jam, a twist on the Sacher torte, but you can use milk chocolate or even buttercream frosting or plain icing to give it a sweeter flavour).</div>
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Recipe for easy (but healthy) chocolate cake</h2>
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Preheat oven to gas 4 or 180C</div>
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In a bowl, mix 200l coconut milk, 3 eggs, 70g butter (melted and cooled), 1tsp vanilla essence, 100g sugar, 30g mix of superseeds (chia, linseed, poppy, sesame, flax), 3 pinches of coriander seeds, 30g ground hazelnuts, 30g bitter cocoa powder. Whip to combine.</div>
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Add chopped glaced cherries (how many as you like), 11g of baking powder (it's a French sachet), 1/2 tsp of bicarbonate of soda, 1tsp maple syrup (or any syrup but maple syrup is less sweet), 1tsp of water, chopped dark chocolate (avoid if you are having a chocolate cover).</div>
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Bake 40-45 minutes until the toothpick comes out clean and the cake looks firm. If you are anxious, check after 35 minutes and allow for extra time if the toothpick comes out sticky.<br />
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I have used two small tins for this cake, you can do too and have a two-tier cake with something in the middle for extra naughtiness...<br />
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This cake keeps well in a tin - perhaps three-four days. If you put buttercream in it or on it, best to have it in the fridge.</div>
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Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-88915400237048183062018-08-11T23:57:00.002-07:002018-08-11T23:57:46.200-07:00Long time no see: an update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidAhcDqKVoSokj46gfnHCNo7UxWj2055DyjEBn11f6_BfUANULxt8BvBJdIRbrxPtt97fof-Pr2x9PzcUFMa8sF_egw-PrvR4Hml1AK6_5Kbpk-ViUBMYvGF23PZiiO2ZhI3ZHD9MB6DW/s1600/IMG_20180807_091558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidAhcDqKVoSokj46gfnHCNo7UxWj2055DyjEBn11f6_BfUANULxt8BvBJdIRbrxPtt97fof-Pr2x9PzcUFMa8sF_egw-PrvR4Hml1AK6_5Kbpk-ViUBMYvGF23PZiiO2ZhI3ZHD9MB6DW/s320/IMG_20180807_091558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remember my second pond? The one I built because pond No.1 is going to disappear when we start building works? We finally got planning permission and we are going to fix the house. Now for choosing builders, which is not easy. I started this blog several years ago, the garden has come a long way, the house has not. Things are changing. I will post again with developments!<br />
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Have a Happy Summer.Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-75345296959927339242017-07-26T02:40:00.003-07:002017-07-26T02:42:59.026-07:00Crafting, cooking and gardening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N0wiFv_Fp4KfnRVUviZnixRv0LaDN_hFVtyPVWALFsKqNNGMKg3SQh3jxj6erLVNB_69wmc6raz4shQKFeyfTWGEvn6OyHXI6xMeBE02oxm-8AuLNGvAzxml-pWCyXyEXezbPwF6a9cL/s1600/IMG_20170707_140854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N0wiFv_Fp4KfnRVUviZnixRv0LaDN_hFVtyPVWALFsKqNNGMKg3SQh3jxj6erLVNB_69wmc6raz4shQKFeyfTWGEvn6OyHXI6xMeBE02oxm-8AuLNGvAzxml-pWCyXyEXezbPwF6a9cL/s320/IMG_20170707_140854.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The waterlily has flowered in the new pond</td></tr>
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The house has not been renovated yet... I know, I have been waiting since 2011 and we only ended up doing very modest changes to it. The garden, however, has changed a lot. I have now closed the pond and created a second pond. The old pond is now a bog garden, a bit boggy today as it rained a bit on Monday... The frogs and newts have moved to the new one. I did offer a relocation service, too, courtesy of a huge bucket.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_on9-OUZlsnJrcJ-MBxM1yLokAM3AEGuvxgVFG5SGYC7DHSI_mxt2zBC7R4WHkwVVOEQdcRZv6ro45-def_N4PEmksRb7e06EgvvbEcyrmiweJ8Lymlx0pXxg6A0CN7gMNVu6dP_zu3M/s1600/IMG_20170713_163117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_on9-OUZlsnJrcJ-MBxM1yLokAM3AEGuvxgVFG5SGYC7DHSI_mxt2zBC7R4WHkwVVOEQdcRZv6ro45-def_N4PEmksRb7e06EgvvbEcyrmiweJ8Lymlx0pXxg6A0CN7gMNVu6dP_zu3M/s400/IMG_20170713_163117.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the back garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxG2hNXFi6dbnd1IaBKNIE7Rvh3pP4JH3o84n9ZvVoHxEzhapDfT-R4DHYLuvp2zuRiB-QfpVGpndDyC-CG9fu5Yq8S79NT9mpq6jcE9NiWGeFsza7XHaRqpj9ZxD8Xe4Pzs8bRv0BbcH/s1600/IMG_20170713_162932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxG2hNXFi6dbnd1IaBKNIE7Rvh3pP4JH3o84n9ZvVoHxEzhapDfT-R4DHYLuvp2zuRiB-QfpVGpndDyC-CG9fu5Yq8S79NT9mpq6jcE9NiWGeFsza7XHaRqpj9ZxD8Xe4Pzs8bRv0BbcH/s400/IMG_20170713_162932.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old pond is a bog garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgZrZVBgYarOA6zhc9wwZpkoUw9xI8bKH8eNpQ2gQ9Of2L7W1a_MjjsnKaEAt4oMI1iUInkx9anFIGZ8eJYLFF1Iz4vLN6BsKfRHfp70Z-bPKSM-xRu8x5rhWe48LS1YbxKty3V8rZwU_/s1600/IMG_20170624_051952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgZrZVBgYarOA6zhc9wwZpkoUw9xI8bKH8eNpQ2gQ9Of2L7W1a_MjjsnKaEAt4oMI1iUInkx9anFIGZ8eJYLFF1Iz4vLN6BsKfRHfp70Z-bPKSM-xRu8x5rhWe48LS1YbxKty3V8rZwU_/s320/IMG_20170624_051952.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet peas... lovely and scented</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjG8tyIvMN2b5U5GH88xlhIXgvJhyphenhyphenbIRz1uD5QwvWNCK2fDif1CC3IhjDGMO_Bn04URRLo4zMCLvUTfwT9swfwgnB4IZVDFREvkz8Xbp-W2ohFOHh1yZ95iKplNJt4cEjW3BnVdjJysUvH/s1600/IMG_20170707_140951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjG8tyIvMN2b5U5GH88xlhIXgvJhyphenhyphenbIRz1uD5QwvWNCK2fDif1CC3IhjDGMO_Bn04URRLo4zMCLvUTfwT9swfwgnB4IZVDFREvkz8Xbp-W2ohFOHh1yZ95iKplNJt4cEjW3BnVdjJysUvH/s320/IMG_20170707_140951.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new pond with bobbing frog</td></tr>
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If you are interested in the crafting and cooking, please visit these blogs: <a href="http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.co.uk/">Rat Racer</a> & <a href="https://cambridgecheapskate.blogspot.co.uk/">Ecothrifter/Cambridge Cheapskate</a>.<br />
<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-35817674283871265622017-04-25T07:13:00.001-07:002017-04-25T07:16:32.673-07:00Fixing old furniture with new technology...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Happy spring everyone,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is a bit chilly despite the sun shining most days, so I am enjoying sewing and crafting in my spare time. I am preparing activities for my daughter's birthday party, cleaning and fixing things around the house... so it was just timely to receive a Create & Craft kit from <a href="https://sugru.com/"><b>Sugru</b></a> (which incidentally is crowdfunding further investment).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Antiques purists close your eyes now, because I am going to show pictures of a fix on a 150 year old wardrobe my father restored in his Italian workshop several years ago. It is all very well to be authentic but we did not know what to buy to fix it that would hold. The only professional option would have been welding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are pewter handles and the round element holding the handle had detached itself. It would have been a case of welding to fix it, there is no hole to insert a screw or other DIY equivalent. We took a big breath and my partner opened <b>Sugru silver</b>, carefully spread it on the shallow hole that held the supporting bit and then built a collar around the supporting bit to fit it back in place. I took a close-up photo and you can hardly see the fix. It had to be a strong one as the drawer is heavy so when you pull the handles they have to hold... We left it 24 hours and it's holding. Hurrah!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGCjMxdFGoi9w3KgI3_xQrz8GLqZ2uDD4EBm1u2vvPDvNNBlUvxEaxBuoODnzeXbOtfnBh0qZLoMavWD2LeftiLtd6awrjuiim4d0BqE8JSAOY8WI2DlY1-eee2zXZh0ESZjhETDvxNzU/s1600/sugru+b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGCjMxdFGoi9w3KgI3_xQrz8GLqZ2uDD4EBm1u2vvPDvNNBlUvxEaxBuoODnzeXbOtfnBh0qZLoMavWD2LeftiLtd6awrjuiim4d0BqE8JSAOY8WI2DlY1-eee2zXZh0ESZjhETDvxNzU/s320/sugru+b.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the fix</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjWW-TB_XDwzOVw53qm9Y1Ninw9V8Y3DZ-Ka4OxiSrZ-OZw6QnK5X5ATwsEoLa-gDdm2BBtyjyR2dowhk-BbKuPY2mhjneDdYCTN8y9xDUbxgSjpI-ebFKNH3Xcl1t1QEoD-KoeTeY5Ap/s1600/sugru+a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjWW-TB_XDwzOVw53qm9Y1Ninw9V8Y3DZ-Ka4OxiSrZ-OZw6QnK5X5ATwsEoLa-gDdm2BBtyjyR2dowhk-BbKuPY2mhjneDdYCTN8y9xDUbxgSjpI-ebFKNH3Xcl1t1QEoD-KoeTeY5Ap/s320/sugru+a.png" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the fix</td></tr>
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<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-20987579934526480112017-04-10T23:32:00.001-07:002017-04-10T23:34:23.813-07:00Update...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZp-9TqZO1tjQ7FDoxM0UiBB7a6CTiB_7XKSUeia6sdEY8bzRV54Ms9YcHuKrlooZD39POTrSh3GFsaWa4-F4_QVaBB7AsGM6CSfRinGaP6JIksJn9B2MVP8Y2G5N0Da97Z0lLvxj68WJ/w541-h901-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pond No.2</td></tr>
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<img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_UXskQvyAa25S3AsojkdhWQ2Vm_n4jOpLlbnRdT5irlk4-AbCuYc9GWV5IzTQxNpe0ClGezsJw9uknuKojzYmVNwPCDrJ40xosOqX2K1sQXKWTUejY70sJnhHEw3SYIEWIgwZi53ZBN8/w541-h901-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Pond No.2 : closeup of resident</span><br />
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Dear all,<br />
Thank you for bearing with me. I am still waiting for the green light for the renovation to start from my partner (waiting since around 2012). I guess we hit makeover fatigue as we both revamped (if not nearly rebuilt) a few houses before this one, albeit in London.<br />
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This is a bigger job and we need to think carefully, I suppose. In the meantime, I have been doing a lot of gardening...<br />
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I am building a second pond as the first one will have to go once the frog spawn has grown enough to be encouraged to move. The extension will be too close to it, which is a pity. We had another pruning session and this is what I built using the long branches of pussy willow and two buddleias. I have sewn the fabric cover of the tepee and it will be unveiled at my daughter's birthday party.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIMPP1V7Q3FnCE2P3wAo6h-VGXhfZ9EMDoxW-ekpHv7ZxaE0HfuOsg4XYdLH9UzixJkKcXoruRMrgp9OWJcQCndRiAvdPS7QWq_q-ulEKG_-RTiJkl4bTD6oUXO1tLvyUFxDSTifn6v1v/w541-h901-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="384" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tepee's fabric cover is waiting for a special occasion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I have neglected this blog a bit because aside work, I am doing one for a public garden, here are a few photos and a link to the amazing <a href="http://emptycommongarden.blogspot.co.uk/">Empty Common Garden</a>.<br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiU-w44YN9Sa0aM8XXobtw1x_3vSWRgkpphJx2SFDzsDhCsrNnuwY37lkH93SNKXB_OePLzcRYxQ4MIGpFu3Gtaf2icj5au9Rv1Fuuiyj5KBxVYBthevdfdC7ZYpdHgoJ3ZDeNJPU9lq-/w541-h901-no/" width="192" /><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzv3yaYhIrrK8XMQZFEl-XWkbcIkdKSUAAwrShZdcUVasCnhghV-3FpVlK79INmIEci2W3izSUM7dkNy2hbyziCIIROyNuDmHXShSfWD1dIH2PF6OkDV3O3bE5kBk4shQggh9hzLQXZfX/w541-h901-no/" width="192" /><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzExzyt2A0UVovwRZfxHAb8nZ7KPHzOJwxZWSPI_WR5PzsI_ghiCKah0DGBI58yTkxmRbTeoOieCcZvvjN4F4SHIIkCl5RXcRs-g701UoKivpb4oBrhMG40z9Hu54MG8AGQubIs9BoDLk/w541-h901-no/" width="192" /><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWqUzs0PnDhDoQGy70k3EqJISHhPhhxaPhyphenhyphenBlJI8JlTtNw76HqXbMXz8Iz7dPGDRwXP6pab6NBypKGFc4k45LSixBAtaUyTUiBR5Zu1seP0OaufEOrP7k7LLjqbxsWWn8tx8O42WnEs7I/w541-h901-no/" width="192" /><br />
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<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-40843270426850620722016-12-24T00:52:00.000-08:002016-12-24T00:52:09.814-08:00Old-fashioned Xmas treats with an Italian Twist<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cJ2G2NtOx4RRrfwMl6L_HzyFlesV9twUr16PL-7YVy5kSgAxnj0ugG1ME2HG_jRPPjTaMLsT3aXmHzQhBzc8gPI8J6mSMBQnd7tR7hnM9Es2bCeut3y7-xRhs5r4BPDOT-4xB74lyys8/s1600/IMG_20161223_181853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cJ2G2NtOx4RRrfwMl6L_HzyFlesV9twUr16PL-7YVy5kSgAxnj0ugG1ME2HG_jRPPjTaMLsT3aXmHzQhBzc8gPI8J6mSMBQnd7tR7hnM9Es2bCeut3y7-xRhs5r4BPDOT-4xB74lyys8/s320/IMG_20161223_181853.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazelnut Macaroons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_ARjYtcqGbaoR2SCbhVS9eOUEYjHz4QPP2Q5mmCskXtNA6yzpKvDj_abvk-hghiWgD-PrtRPoF8weVh8SJgPSK35AZTrlndqYewdo016iZ5DGgDlpUv4DcmtTCedtSK89WtSMZ_8Q94y/s1600/IMG_20161223_181915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_ARjYtcqGbaoR2SCbhVS9eOUEYjHz4QPP2Q5mmCskXtNA6yzpKvDj_abvk-hghiWgD-PrtRPoF8weVh8SJgPSK35AZTrlndqYewdo016iZ5DGgDlpUv4DcmtTCedtSK89WtSMZ_8Q94y/s320/IMG_20161223_181915.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Croccante</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkYbegQ0EhpGUYCgznLJh0WzkNNU0rcInXYysrdY1Rog5JDwFqZSlQi7zSOaQORmmU-2STzojdgo39h4SxZnArgdvzn4WwRlYfOXxpcH55_By1UvyGIAel34_9oCHMbbokreO33HNTzxS/s1600/IMG_20161223_202216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkYbegQ0EhpGUYCgznLJh0WzkNNU0rcInXYysrdY1Rog5JDwFqZSlQi7zSOaQORmmU-2STzojdgo39h4SxZnArgdvzn4WwRlYfOXxpcH55_By1UvyGIAel34_9oCHMbbokreO33HNTzxS/s320/IMG_20161223_202216.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iced gingerbreads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv6tRLHBaPDVarW_SR2FUCbJzkuhThW-LxRqb4Tv283yU_KU11naLM3_7u2yLxlIkxAAXQ9jxOlQPCFjz8pnPt7uQueKEEVFpJGr84RQqxOng8rdsyEDcmqODewEm-fzfz1iRUDyGSPSU/s1600/IMG_20161223_202245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv6tRLHBaPDVarW_SR2FUCbJzkuhThW-LxRqb4Tv283yU_KU11naLM3_7u2yLxlIkxAAXQ9jxOlQPCFjz8pnPt7uQueKEEVFpJGr84RQqxOng8rdsyEDcmqODewEm-fzfz1iRUDyGSPSU/s320/IMG_20161223_202245.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More iced biscuits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are at home and with a young child, it's fun to make festive biscuits and decorate them too... Here are the recipes...<br />
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<h3>
Gingerbread biscuits</h3>
<div>
75g brown sugar</div>
<div>
3tbsp maple syrup</div>
<div>
1tsp cinnamon</div>
<div>
1tsp ginger</div>
<div>
1tsp nutmeg</div>
<div>
1-2tbsp water</div>
<div>
100g unsalted butter, softened</div>
<div>
1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda</div>
<div>
220g plain flour</div>
<div>
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<div>
Preheat oven at gas mark 4 or 180 degrees. Place sugar, syrup, spices and water into a non-stick pan. Heat the mixture and stir until it's bubbling. Take pan off heat and add butter, bicarbonate and flour until you get a slightly sticky dough. If it does not stay together, add a bit of water. If you add too much water, then add flour to make a dough ball. Wrap dough in clear film or put in plastic bag and leave in fridge for 20 minutes. Line a flat tray with clear film, place the dough ball on it, cover with another sheet of clear film and roll to thickness of 3-4cm. Bake for 20-30 mins until firm. If you like them really dry and crunchy, wait until they are a nice brown colour rather than golden. Cool the biscuits and then decorate with icing sugar and sugar shapes.</div>
<div>
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<h3>
Hazelnut macaroons</h3>
<div>
2 egg whites</div>
<div>
1/2tsp lemon juice</div>
<div>
pinch of salt</div>
<div>
150g icing sugar</div>
<div>
120g ground hazelnuts</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Preheat oven to gas mark 2 or 150 degrees. Whisk the whites like you are making a meringue. Fold in lemon juice, salt, icing sugar and hazelnuts gradually trying to keep it smooth and fluffy. Spoon mixture on tray covered with strong baking paper (thin ones will get stuck to the bottom of macaroons and will be difficult to remove). Cook for 30 mins.</div>
<div>
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<div>
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<h3>
Croccante</h3>
<div>
icing sugar, white sugar, brown sugar, your choice (or mix them)</div>
<div>
very little amount of water</div>
<div>
nuts of choice</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cook the sugar with the water until it gets pale gold, keep stirring. Place nuts on greaseproof paper and pour the burnt sugar on top. Let it cool and enjoy. You need good teeth for this.</div>
<div>
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<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-38833672486866950072016-12-23T02:34:00.002-08:002016-12-23T02:34:09.921-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuUx2FSgbMskVZg233d2R-RyDVIl2ppuT7hUzDFC9sLZYAAjn6iHJgFvMyZr7ZSRuwsjYQ8_yW7ZZ0aa35XWngGF3jCiTl3vJ0sRUGYdBY4LLigRHTFv-0kjKB3jxm0b0FnoejjrLxBZo/s1600/wreath2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuUx2FSgbMskVZg233d2R-RyDVIl2ppuT7hUzDFC9sLZYAAjn6iHJgFvMyZr7ZSRuwsjYQ8_yW7ZZ0aa35XWngGF3jCiTl3vJ0sRUGYdBY4LLigRHTFv-0kjKB3jxm0b0FnoejjrLxBZo/s320/wreath2.png" width="217" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Happy Christmas from the 1930s house... still awaiting renovation....</h2>
Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-56578611986281844992016-07-06T02:39:00.003-07:002016-07-06T02:39:45.928-07:00Quick update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvuPgqYk80gqHoE9FPOsTYKImvYFYCSXWZvuVfaYQWv7lgNbUWzwzYq5Psu3PAEVXTq26XZkM2CkOh-KC3RBnHwfiznn50PbZk8xPKYJUU6uXH3QR_uvbx8wOcDnEVZ63Ds9pFCVvV4nN/w800-h480-no/" width="400" /></div>
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I have not posted in a long while as I have been working full time and then catching up with a long list of things that needed doing. Here is a photo of my garden (half of it) so you can see it has changed a lot. Sadly still no changes in the house so that's another reason I have not posted updates as we have not renovated the indoors yet, aside minor cosmetics and the new boiler.</div>
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Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-83094165011796251482016-05-25T12:03:00.000-07:002016-05-25T12:03:05.975-07:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9IJeyvcLlM_aXktCfJPzOMIe395X5jD4XNPXMmw91RcAYajAP75xoHzeQiO44_4MGmICjXXADrLCkhZkSdi4q0yKU1gE5hLhLaGkOJBNNKKGzdokEMs_lcpMaxJLX0rDxS9qmTKBXDlv/s1600/P1060461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9IJeyvcLlM_aXktCfJPzOMIe395X5jD4XNPXMmw91RcAYajAP75xoHzeQiO44_4MGmICjXXADrLCkhZkSdi4q0yKU1gE5hLhLaGkOJBNNKKGzdokEMs_lcpMaxJLX0rDxS9qmTKBXDlv/s400/P1060461.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My fruit and veg garden in April, so different from now!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-59575947218821234192015-05-25T04:10:00.001-07:002015-05-25T04:10:12.434-07:00Retro chic for your mantelpiece<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LZGJpyvrAev3cdfLAYZBgMYucPLzT-Ds3j_IySWZ9INV8Zhv2B4mPFTg5V4m5cb4G0DoGd3l1e9VgN54A-MWM9uBo9ytG_pAPsL4aDL5rSepXNvhNE1wH_w5m7rMoSpLqC9nh_tFtW_O/s1600/P1050664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LZGJpyvrAev3cdfLAYZBgMYucPLzT-Ds3j_IySWZ9INV8Zhv2B4mPFTg5V4m5cb4G0DoGd3l1e9VgN54A-MWM9uBo9ytG_pAPsL4aDL5rSepXNvhNE1wH_w5m7rMoSpLqC9nh_tFtW_O/s320/P1050664.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mix of periods but a pretty ensemble</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-4533028594115398742015-05-05T08:52:00.002-07:002015-05-06T08:45:49.834-07:00Where does the time go?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhg1ByL-ZohUsiOUww5FpXuADXq5hnRi5RWAjWln3YxZFu2zANW97QLwZmqGFDWm1JmEMfLGOv5N_VdyT38fV5J7ZcdOOSdfVvczv3Lb5Xnv5LmVIAJwQWw3vitpM8GNve3zc4mIPpv4e/s1600/P1050595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhg1ByL-ZohUsiOUww5FpXuADXq5hnRi5RWAjWln3YxZFu2zANW97QLwZmqGFDWm1JmEMfLGOv5N_VdyT38fV5J7ZcdOOSdfVvczv3Lb5Xnv5LmVIAJwQWw3vitpM8GNve3zc4mIPpv4e/s1600/P1050595.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
I have been so busy with work and family things that of course the DIY has taken a back step as I barely manage to clean the house.<br />
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Outside it's another thing as I love to spend time in the garden as much as I can. There is still a lot to do. Last week I managed to finish off a paved area by myself using a pickaxe. You should see my muscles now.<br />
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The old glass MiniBrite greenhouse has been dismantled and taken away (class of 1963, gone to a good home at a neighbour's allotment) and my partner is erecting the new child-friendly polycarbonate one, which is not an easy job. He took over the job and he is progressing slowly but surely as he is only around at weekends.<br />
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I have not photographed the back of the garden yet as I have not planted much outside. Seedlings are still inside the wooden summerhouse, which is serving as nursery for the time being. However the apple trees are all in bloom and the rhubarb is growing well. Strawberry plants are dotted with white flowers, let's hope we get a nice crop soon.Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-48741190640336727822014-12-06T22:33:00.001-08:002014-12-12T02:24:57.056-08:00Happy Christmas - homemade decorations <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UhYExpld6QU6G4BO87C9lj7xaefQ-tUJV0b4OtCTWF-GQ9UTMNWly9gSUCvZc0tImq0TLvc866IJemgQrgaU3IW_RvZlbjOL2iPBtD_BT_g5gNmYAXgwwY-nR26hvX7muwfcqLijRNnf/s1600/wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UhYExpld6QU6G4BO87C9lj7xaefQ-tUJV0b4OtCTWF-GQ9UTMNWly9gSUCvZc0tImq0TLvc866IJemgQrgaU3IW_RvZlbjOL2iPBtD_BT_g5gNmYAXgwwY-nR26hvX7muwfcqLijRNnf/s1600/wreath.jpg" height="281" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I made <b>my own Christmas wreath using the garden's greenery</b> and berries. We even have some mistletoe! The base is made with forsythia stems, which bend without snapping. All I needed then was gardening wire and a screw-on hook for the door!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also made a <b>tree decoration using wire and plastic beads</b>. You need six pieces of wire and enough beads to do a pattern. The pieces of wire are joined in the middle. I used a cheap jewellery tool to make the loop that keeps the beads in at the bottom of each strand.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbooabDVnsVleTAMvMDfO1haM99NOO3jQ2jpLvq_YsMK0ZNDFilpoMk0ZKnHJmqv18_Y3MMsKWdiwMUgvAj1dp6-yO0poyH0he06s2BWeOzaZV-4g1uIVEtzoklIQCyAuY6GFr1ugNafJA/s1600/xmas+make.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbooabDVnsVleTAMvMDfO1haM99NOO3jQ2jpLvq_YsMK0ZNDFilpoMk0ZKnHJmqv18_Y3MMsKWdiwMUgvAj1dp6-yO0poyH0he06s2BWeOzaZV-4g1uIVEtzoklIQCyAuY6GFr1ugNafJA/s1600/xmas+make.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am entering both makes in a competition sponsored by <a href="http://www.ableskills.co.uk/">Able Skills</a>.<span style="background-color: white; color: #7eb9c9; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;">If you wish to enter, details are <a href="http://www.victorias-vintage.co.uk/2014/11/win-250-in-amazon-vouchers-in-my.html">here</a>. </span></span><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Happy Homemade Xmas!</b></span></h2>
Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-57615685039764153332014-10-26T01:24:00.004-07:002014-10-26T01:29:26.942-07:00The garden in October: marvellous mushrooms, berries and flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regular readers might have worked out by now that the garden is taking more space than the house itself in this blog. This is because we have stalled our improvement schedule until next year. My partner and I are very busy with work and family commitments and the winter weather is not that suitable for DIY or building anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here are a few photos of my garden. I hope some mushroom and plant expert can help me out to identify a few specimens. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2T1YrEZteMx5mxu0eiqgLB41PrZPm6IGCvJ9zgrwpLIx7zjoP4CEorYq35H0LwUgvwqZlS7Cv_K08ootZSJL8M_8piaV8EzrR1mWY7raT_kGa_P6d7yYrH4Q3ztEBuTer1PZ4C-oPiMb/s1600/P1040933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2T1YrEZteMx5mxu0eiqgLB41PrZPm6IGCvJ9zgrwpLIx7zjoP4CEorYq35H0LwUgvwqZlS7Cv_K08ootZSJL8M_8piaV8EzrR1mWY7raT_kGa_P6d7yYrH4Q3ztEBuTer1PZ4C-oPiMb/s1600/P1040933.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this edible? I wouldn't like to be guinea pig!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vqFmm3YMFbxKLQtYs3kfcuEa_RqwFiMPvAAPLQDLLU_hU_JiR73GIgVoiJp5-6D1OH4O3r8ACh3l7tox6K5fInQguD01u3ZtPMloTVmhORipKCTJe1w1LK5m26kadNiXnOIC3P_UtUd9/s1600/P1040934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vqFmm3YMFbxKLQtYs3kfcuEa_RqwFiMPvAAPLQDLLU_hU_JiR73GIgVoiJp5-6D1OH4O3r8ACh3l7tox6K5fInQguD01u3ZtPMloTVmhORipKCTJe1w1LK5m26kadNiXnOIC3P_UtUd9/s1600/P1040934.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What about this one: edible or poisonous?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXKNYhMKIsvy36dmKaOjVB08phBXqZQij0fAlK_o9vsNnsuexs4PF-HZpHzVszQd0Mkj8mSffGizXCTtp9JThqO-AriT5Peh6aGj5wET8D8ksuDfAM5MmwryQjXU_e-yz-UaIUBt6wBEw/s1600/P1040935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXKNYhMKIsvy36dmKaOjVB08phBXqZQij0fAlK_o9vsNnsuexs4PF-HZpHzVszQd0Mkj8mSffGizXCTtp9JThqO-AriT5Peh6aGj5wET8D8ksuDfAM5MmwryQjXU_e-yz-UaIUBt6wBEw/s1600/P1040935.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another mystery mushroom. I only know Porcini,<br />
which are not to be found freely in the UK, at least not<br />
in Cambridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjKG1j_-vMgOfNqp85hhzrbi8uS8FJHYSBH_2qcFxhmhqfUUkpce0I6lxOvhsfFhNXMz2gAtUC_ESLVOs3OL4QxO6A4z7gRuH8nSuhbNgPS7UOkGqIKRtORUfdH8iMsJ1Y_eQQSY_iFUB/s1600/P1040937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjKG1j_-vMgOfNqp85hhzrbi8uS8FJHYSBH_2qcFxhmhqfUUkpce0I6lxOvhsfFhNXMz2gAtUC_ESLVOs3OL4QxO6A4z7gRuH8nSuhbNgPS7UOkGqIKRtORUfdH8iMsJ1Y_eQQSY_iFUB/s1600/P1040937.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks really like an edible one but wary...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml9CNb0aElk-sQ-VQFQEM-IUgnVhLKxy_Trf6h0IJkxMVipdm5CeAcvt7HfuZIvmqPwbHB1L8-epAT3raZAHX4oiPRFeSW5ewdomFKOCztjHAdLgOUuJT82pRXqHaUtUBIrf_eRCjtNwT/s1600/P1040938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml9CNb0aElk-sQ-VQFQEM-IUgnVhLKxy_Trf6h0IJkxMVipdm5CeAcvt7HfuZIvmqPwbHB1L8-epAT3raZAHX4oiPRFeSW5ewdomFKOCztjHAdLgOUuJT82pRXqHaUtUBIrf_eRCjtNwT/s1600/P1040938.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks nice, edible?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoMyc1VeM4A7-MMYWwioq-BwoaL0-oujGLb6R32_FStFMl7_13IV4Jah3Oet5UM7Rjc7EeCd9xqnkke6eUV2fcC1_rTWYHGh7mGN0k1J3dvYd-Tw6X6MmUMuZY2ELnw8Np5yNLdTcmPJI/s1600/P1040946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoMyc1VeM4A7-MMYWwioq-BwoaL0-oujGLb6R32_FStFMl7_13IV4Jah3Oet5UM7Rjc7EeCd9xqnkke6eUV2fcC1_rTWYHGh7mGN0k1J3dvYd-Tw6X6MmUMuZY2ELnw8Np5yNLdTcmPJI/s1600/P1040946.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cat or other animal uprooted this, edible?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7mcz5Z72H9isAja3mbLvFerCtfIsdUGpzwX5V3vyGIy_T6DR0blsqr81rhXjUTg8WK83jgNjju9YVfwnZydFsOaJv2AbzMB_Guab8wvw6FRlkG8DMT45X1ZZp1l1sYYZ-_vIQ1qmsL90/s1600/P1040940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7mcz5Z72H9isAja3mbLvFerCtfIsdUGpzwX5V3vyGIy_T6DR0blsqr81rhXjUTg8WK83jgNjju9YVfwnZydFsOaJv2AbzMB_Guab8wvw6FRlkG8DMT45X1ZZp1l1sYYZ-_vIQ1qmsL90/s1600/P1040940.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still a few blackberries against the fence...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNXQigW6eRLvOtT50thOmB7272Ge4OZix4ah0wwnIgL4Tou-Bl7dk38uqR8b7M9t2fhmB6k-7FSESoEcO4EDupdT4iAGR-ksoxlIfKJGz2iopL1_HZC7aksxzDIhRN9sZK7r0bc46215c/s1600/P1040939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNXQigW6eRLvOtT50thOmB7272Ge4OZix4ah0wwnIgL4Tou-Bl7dk38uqR8b7M9t2fhmB6k-7FSESoEcO4EDupdT4iAGR-ksoxlIfKJGz2iopL1_HZC7aksxzDIhRN9sZK7r0bc46215c/s1600/P1040939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNXQigW6eRLvOtT50thOmB7272Ge4OZix4ah0wwnIgL4Tou-Bl7dk38uqR8b7M9t2fhmB6k-7FSESoEcO4EDupdT4iAGR-ksoxlIfKJGz2iopL1_HZC7aksxzDIhRN9sZK7r0bc46215c/s1600/P1040939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNXQigW6eRLvOtT50thOmB7272Ge4OZix4ah0wwnIgL4Tou-Bl7dk38uqR8b7M9t2fhmB6k-7FSESoEcO4EDupdT4iAGR-ksoxlIfKJGz2iopL1_HZC7aksxzDIhRN9sZK7r0bc46215c/s1600/P1040939.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and a few strawberries.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2K88J1XvDd2urDpMQ9WuhxJmnJZOTLOjjUm3nU9e8BjuQO6ZPDi6UDcMnD4xhsQfbYCcyTITkzXcB49kVpXOZyBfiMh1DNStMPeCfOUUifO6S3kdXL12BbDtoZ58UL7y9Cp40kgpfkt55/s1600/P1040942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2K88J1XvDd2urDpMQ9WuhxJmnJZOTLOjjUm3nU9e8BjuQO6ZPDi6UDcMnD4xhsQfbYCcyTITkzXcB49kVpXOZyBfiMh1DNStMPeCfOUUifO6S3kdXL12BbDtoZ58UL7y9Cp40kgpfkt55/s1600/P1040942.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No idea what this plant this, it has followed me<br />
from London garden as very easy to propagate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRB2N4_HTqoBJ2ODe4SkJFwHSt2kYuOaUI00dqWqcMRD0wpTqkWJSl_gyB63H9q53L39ScpR3QuStvP5N4zKCiqY3nkqCsliyq5rjznDhfy0iF9t4p_WM_4Z5WgjOnE9L513adHpM-wNU/s1600/P1040944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRB2N4_HTqoBJ2ODe4SkJFwHSt2kYuOaUI00dqWqcMRD0wpTqkWJSl_gyB63H9q53L39ScpR3QuStvP5N4zKCiqY3nkqCsliyq5rjznDhfy0iF9t4p_WM_4Z5WgjOnE9L513adHpM-wNU/s1600/P1040944.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my massive strawberry tree,<br />
which I have recently identified</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXpBx-l33t3YNLcaKrto11eOg1k6jHnOYzJGatWl3ynLr_ltckL_wrbE69YFCxQCfgFILLhF1Vs1-C7ptXyeBWiuvn3Kg3bNCLt6Ju27lmivuqCeltllfSePVeiGkkRp4lO_dDQPbmZU6/s1600/P1040943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXpBx-l33t3YNLcaKrto11eOg1k6jHnOYzJGatWl3ynLr_ltckL_wrbE69YFCxQCfgFILLhF1Vs1-C7ptXyeBWiuvn3Kg3bNCLt6Ju27lmivuqCeltllfSePVeiGkkRp4lO_dDQPbmZU6/s1600/P1040943.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is under the strawberry tree, berries<br />
are edible but not great tasting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DdOoze_a30TL8Wbvk8aA9ixs8nk_G404lwwpscZ2Tn8YHqz8d-pLuiUo2-MVc_HdoozvlwkFcpVARaeq4VfHKCgowPV0PfjQFeWuNXKYOSofiofa4qql_KuEvAK5iviJy_Ywhdea0AAs/s1600/P1040947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DdOoze_a30TL8Wbvk8aA9ixs8nk_G404lwwpscZ2Tn8YHqz8d-pLuiUo2-MVc_HdoozvlwkFcpVARaeq4VfHKCgowPV0PfjQFeWuNXKYOSofiofa4qql_KuEvAK5iviJy_Ywhdea0AAs/s1600/P1040947.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foetida lily, it's everywhere in my garden, lovely seedheads</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDjdqtOZ81OrdN76vs31NGVUH7TpvTlpJrUzvKuiQlJnQ9rNVz33lf7w871we_lhUAhoNBJlmKLAlFsUqB-rUEB9oVyz9Mn9oeB3boCmOcizZwCvNXCo3lPxsmdxRRNzjabzNqpH9-SFg/s1600/P1040948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDjdqtOZ81OrdN76vs31NGVUH7TpvTlpJrUzvKuiQlJnQ9rNVz33lf7w871we_lhUAhoNBJlmKLAlFsUqB-rUEB9oVyz9Mn9oeB3boCmOcizZwCvNXCo3lPxsmdxRRNzjabzNqpH9-SFg/s1600/P1040948.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michaelmas daisies and another curious mushroom on dead<br />
stump, we get massive shelf one earlier in the year but would<br />
not dare eating it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ7kOzjLXn7tWmxcjxpMCNTfbrFBrex9hAR_Lk38YXmzLdcYOLHINqvsFqFDyuuNO1SxaQOnmndU6KPjps-ZkGS-oR_NS5tMkgZxSYlh5Y-ISz7CcD6HCnvX7eK4ePs-BsaKGDB61WdfM/s1600/P1040950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ7kOzjLXn7tWmxcjxpMCNTfbrFBrex9hAR_Lk38YXmzLdcYOLHINqvsFqFDyuuNO1SxaQOnmndU6KPjps-ZkGS-oR_NS5tMkgZxSYlh5Y-ISz7CcD6HCnvX7eK4ePs-BsaKGDB61WdfM/s1600/P1040950.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a Victorian plant, very easy to propagate, so it has<br />
followed me from London garden. I got the parent plant<br />
from museum garden sale - the local E17 museum in the <br />
Walthamstow village: Persicaria Red Dragon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVsuRdKUjvfjdKyHj6-PuCCfymnx8ihBIFNOHkjxa6q1ipaPd8l4yA8Y5d5Th4Ky7C0Id7dBctumLSXh_7sLY3HCtS7vuBp9Jlp-U77yy61OPnQTO5DcJeYfmcYWqG0dhOtiKyvAvgIJk/s1600/P1040952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVsuRdKUjvfjdKyHj6-PuCCfymnx8ihBIFNOHkjxa6q1ipaPd8l4yA8Y5d5Th4Ky7C0Id7dBctumLSXh_7sLY3HCtS7vuBp9Jlp-U77yy61OPnQTO5DcJeYfmcYWqG0dhOtiKyvAvgIJk/s1600/P1040952.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A truly curious plant, no idea what it is</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgRN8xKOJX_dFrPkHyNde464IzlvGJDOv_KYcRdVNavRKhtjA69sm83p5ru8iQT9yV-pVMVF9ppMVpJYERD7cC723MBAv3XvzmhU9Fjs1nbv0LlwYhXZlsZhU7_Se7W6mm71PZb_64cfV/s1600/P1040954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgRN8xKOJX_dFrPkHyNde464IzlvGJDOv_KYcRdVNavRKhtjA69sm83p5ru8iQT9yV-pVMVF9ppMVpJYERD7cC723MBAv3XvzmhU9Fjs1nbv0LlwYhXZlsZhU7_Se7W6mm71PZb_64cfV/s1600/P1040954.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Identified this thanks to the Botanic Garden, common name is<br />
Butler's Broom, edible when young, very bitter though</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZpMO9bxXL9gMnxe5ufBU5GzPrmluyZY66jtMK2I3ub_iNXG0FXX046oAIgtUopKevCQ567M9uDySqjN63wRUUsUV1o77EI4n7nbfn7wpn-2kM67x8bSz9f48pnSbs_JrNaZ1sfJDfjiM/s1600/P1040955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZpMO9bxXL9gMnxe5ufBU5GzPrmluyZY66jtMK2I3ub_iNXG0FXX046oAIgtUopKevCQ567M9uDySqjN63wRUUsUV1o77EI4n7nbfn7wpn-2kM67x8bSz9f48pnSbs_JrNaZ1sfJDfjiM/s1600/P1040955.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A primrose, already!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJClKlgKacPXcd8O7hHBPyI6MFvmOokuH90N2qOpLKWRgLMpn-oGe6gMSwlulyFkx4G8QnBYSXbJBmUlakaeZUSuhtA0DtEx1Xjm2rjPVFNkCHC3QepdI7kd6F6gUSxi7kkQWad0ikQl4s/s1600/P1040956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJClKlgKacPXcd8O7hHBPyI6MFvmOokuH90N2qOpLKWRgLMpn-oGe6gMSwlulyFkx4G8QnBYSXbJBmUlakaeZUSuhtA0DtEx1Xjm2rjPVFNkCHC3QepdI7kd6F6gUSxi7kkQWad0ikQl4s/s1600/P1040956.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few bought plants awaiting a place in<br />
flower border or decorative pot</td></tr>
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<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-81606092720352852552014-10-12T08:22:00.002-07:002014-10-12T08:22:16.379-07:00What can you do with a central heating's copper pipe?We changed our boiler last August and I kept all the good pieces of pipe that the plumber discarded.<div>
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I made these two items with one piece of pipe, hammered flat, sawed into shape and then soldered to create a big and bold jewellery set... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUFsb_mzMsvAlNTUz3ie58laGeHROMwB3taiGhhUm2jG3as-cdROoD5iubuPYjC0MhgLXfuaghZ8lHWPh9L8QQPKkESpJSQMNicGKwwBQNwGdSodsRrdN3njGBVu07_YujUvO5Zt5nVka/s1600/copper+jewels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUFsb_mzMsvAlNTUz3ie58laGeHROMwB3taiGhhUm2jG3as-cdROoD5iubuPYjC0MhgLXfuaghZ8lHWPh9L8QQPKkESpJSQMNicGKwwBQNwGdSodsRrdN3njGBVu07_YujUvO5Zt5nVka/s1600/copper+jewels.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Extra materials include scrapped silver and a rough emerald I was sent with a junk mail letter - my teacher told me they are real but not precious as flawed and uncut.</span></div>
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Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-16275271316995374362014-10-04T10:07:00.001-07:002014-10-04T10:08:00.616-07:00Get-together at my house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc3Ps7Mrx7p4NGVG90xv6y8nI_Yg23DrqNo_lyO7H_7k0E90Gx9cuTPXj_F4C2oKfWhLjdvVYzynsfYxelFjCWGk-HWEHCVeEBg1WdcGMbjJHbAoURhIorzAuh_WEzjNWXyfb-jFDdpAP/s1600/blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc3Ps7Mrx7p4NGVG90xv6y8nI_Yg23DrqNo_lyO7H_7k0E90Gx9cuTPXj_F4C2oKfWhLjdvVYzynsfYxelFjCWGk-HWEHCVeEBg1WdcGMbjJHbAoURhIorzAuh_WEzjNWXyfb-jFDdpAP/s1600/blog+1.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had a meeting of people interested in our very <a href="http://cambridgeskills-exchange.blogspot.co.uk/">local Skills exchange</a> and above is my contribution... blackberries, flowers and borage are from my garden. I made the macaroons, which are sandwiched with thick chocolate sauce.Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-25863362643437879472014-09-20T11:28:00.002-07:002014-09-20T11:28:18.770-07:00Last day of summer - thinking ahead!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHF0lukqthjFrO_EpvVjw2WtP37LNoK1sIGg8EhcXLHueuylnTdUoPbikMqwTQp9CrUjQ_1UugVDLT-SZp4H2ZBS1eazF5YYItKk6ZBGwCmoYgqMh68qNwKd-rgh5zYYpRR7FauJtMxKC/s1600/penguin+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHF0lukqthjFrO_EpvVjw2WtP37LNoK1sIGg8EhcXLHueuylnTdUoPbikMqwTQp9CrUjQ_1UugVDLT-SZp4H2ZBS1eazF5YYItKk6ZBGwCmoYgqMh68qNwKd-rgh5zYYpRR7FauJtMxKC/s1600/penguin+cropped.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture generated lots of interaction on Twitter</td></tr>
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Last weekend it was <a href="http://www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk/">Open Cambridge</a>, which was great this year! I visited College gardens (the above topiary is at Wolfson College), enjoyed a free punting and walking tour and went to a tea dance (had fun learning cha cha cha, less fun waltzing).<br />
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Today I visited some homes, courtesy of <a href="http://openecohomes.org/">Open Eco Homes</a>. It was very useful to see how one 1928 and two 1930s houses had been transformed into modern homes with a traditional feel. Hearing about their experiences with builders, architects and planners was invaluable.<br />
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Since last time I posted little has changed. Our renovation plans are on the backburner, but I do hope we are going to make a start before the end of the year, at least find an architect.... My partner has talked to a planning official in the summer and we have a rough idea of what we want/need.<br />
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Tomorrow is <a href="http://www.transitioncambridge.org/thewiki/ttwiki/pmwiki.php?n=TTEvents.TranEv">Open Community Gardens' weekend</a>, I joined a community project in the summer and they have exciting plans.<br />
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My own garden is doing very well, especially since the neighbour reduced the size of some massive conifers and a huge holly.<br />
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<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-38068836999925380362013-09-06T11:04:00.002-07:002013-09-09T03:13:10.821-07:00Guest post: Découpage Coffee Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDejeQPzE35Rvmmh50H9Y8zxcfiXyUft5o6rv2IpgI14V9oxAV9dkDuunqdU3jW2dIdtOdLUJ3xEBIJgKtmZOl_wgEBg0rrsxj6qSslK5TRjU2pvRcDerCHrgjtFmqsyo-C2A9T_4LL0Md/s1600/finished+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDejeQPzE35Rvmmh50H9Y8zxcfiXyUft5o6rv2IpgI14V9oxAV9dkDuunqdU3jW2dIdtOdLUJ3xEBIJgKtmZOl_wgEBg0rrsxj6qSslK5TRjU2pvRcDerCHrgjtFmqsyo-C2A9T_4LL0Md/s400/finished+table.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Découpaged table</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Eva Stephen of <a href="http://www.homedecorbyeva.blogspot.co.uk/">Home Decor</a> sent me a d</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>é</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>coupage project that oozes vintage vibes and doesn't cost the earth. I reproduce the text and the accompanying pictures with Eva's permission. If you want to reproduce any of these pictures or the article, please contact Eva through <a href="http://www.homedecorbyeva.blogspot.co.uk/">her blog</a>.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Découpage dates back to East Siberian tomb art; the tombs of the deceased from Nomadic tribes were decorated with cut-out pieces of felt. This craft travelled from Siberia to China, where it became commonplace by the 12th century. In China cut-out paper was used to decorate lanterns, windows, boxes and decorative objects. This decorative craft made its way through trading routes from China to Italy</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in the 17th century</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx5GwNZjZBnA8RFRR1E8yOJwuPfihBJrgDrRe6MMUnFVVnD_832TatMC-6Z61uPXZdIDciNFgu_t377WeIA__Z5kVCmkd9Nq13c8gf2W8shDvwdpo6iXVJHPxVRJNqGCYdO4_Q6KUM6rB/s1600/table.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx5GwNZjZBnA8RFRR1E8yOJwuPfihBJrgDrRe6MMUnFVVnD_832TatMC-6Z61uPXZdIDciNFgu_t377WeIA__Z5kVCmkd9Nq13c8gf2W8shDvwdpo6iXVJHPxVRJNqGCYdO4_Q6KUM6rB/s200/table.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To draw forth this ancient craft into the modern world, I paid a visit to <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/">Blick</a>, which sells beautiful, handmade paper. It was découpage bliss as I picked out a few lovely pieces to work with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My goal was to beautify a hand-me-down my mum gave me, a plain table from <a href="http://www.shop4furniture.net/DiningProducts/965/Sherwood-SH416-Rectangular-Fixed-Top-Dining-Table.html">Shop4furniture</a>. Here's how I did it: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Materials for découpaging:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> 4-inch </span>sponge brush </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Selection of paper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mod Podge (a découpage glue and varnish)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Measuring tape</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rag</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How to découpage a table:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clean the surface thoroughly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0DsFMiHCm0TeFHgv6c2oq223pwxp1WP9M_FRJYQppyIVJ26Gf6cvPV_3xTg-pRNDuYIvyoE56SIm8dAspet_7TI4ZyWRGRpDYhX0G-M9saAKQyDHgM3Pk-95XVa7NAtVo1W4PtPlwQzf/s1600/IMG_6495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0DsFMiHCm0TeFHgv6c2oq223pwxp1WP9M_FRJYQppyIVJ26Gf6cvPV_3xTg-pRNDuYIvyoE56SIm8dAspet_7TI4ZyWRGRpDYhX0G-M9saAKQyDHgM3Pk-95XVa7NAtVo1W4PtPlwQzf/s320/IMG_6495.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cut out the paper pieces according to the size you want them to be. <b><span style="color: red;">Hint:</span></b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smoothed down the corners of the paper around the surface I needed them to fit in order to create a bend I could follow when cutting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Arrange the paper pieces and make sure they fit the way you’d like them to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Apply Mod Podge to the back of the paper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Apply the paper pieces to the table, one piece at a time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smooth each piece of paper with your hand, starting in the middle and working toward the edges.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Take your sponge brush and start brushing on a medium thick coat of Mod Podge in large brush strokes all over it. Be careful, do not to be too rough if using delicate paper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Allow the table to dry, according to bottle instructions. Apply a second coat if necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Voila'... Love your home for less has always been my motto - I believe anything can be made beautiful if you put your heart and soul in it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PS: here's an old découpage of mine, a cardboard box... in hindsight I recommend using several coat of varnish as it's starting to crumble at the edges.</b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH4K9XGFYg5PVXJ2wtCJ_fY07r4J1ujnPOrUDfHCu_1n93QZOA51X0kz0X1el5EC0L9l8EqmwvCPefJZtP5s3FuiFfjNMy3Kzn8IggtLqz1za9MoeMo_w97PSJ9ReLtnZWHeGDdggb3Vf/s1600/papiermachebox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH4K9XGFYg5PVXJ2wtCJ_fY07r4J1ujnPOrUDfHCu_1n93QZOA51X0kz0X1el5EC0L9l8EqmwvCPefJZtP5s3FuiFfjNMy3Kzn8IggtLqz1za9MoeMo_w97PSJ9ReLtnZWHeGDdggb3Vf/s320/papiermachebox.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-15531150146505056602013-08-09T02:32:00.001-07:002013-08-09T02:43:45.465-07:00Budget kitchen makeover <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjES_aN1k2h7JimAE165LgroG2A9BsxvIUU7EUz3slJaKaPVoRNkDoRyy2JAAtVbbbWEw7J1kXY7vvUmVETyG3fGmBeHUt_0U3RnTdVED9H2eKOPZHlu_3jlF-d-vI6UamrRkYf91iUZRiF/s1600/kitchen+before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjES_aN1k2h7JimAE165LgroG2A9BsxvIUU7EUz3slJaKaPVoRNkDoRyy2JAAtVbbbWEw7J1kXY7vvUmVETyG3fGmBeHUt_0U3RnTdVED9H2eKOPZHlu_3jlF-d-vI6UamrRkYf91iUZRiF/s400/kitchen+before+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before - pic 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyfz76Vls2ziN1MERpQ0w_MjeJC8I2kUInIozj-3HGhrNbm0uSwKARmIsmMgCxNfF37gGgxcHCAan-9tpAQNHBIYu-ScaQSeyO37n_SIyRtZZJhtacoDzY5gCKr5ZdK-GTY0tyVtaRYE-/s1600/kitchen+before+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyfz76Vls2ziN1MERpQ0w_MjeJC8I2kUInIozj-3HGhrNbm0uSwKARmIsmMgCxNfF37gGgxcHCAan-9tpAQNHBIYu-ScaQSeyO37n_SIyRtZZJhtacoDzY5gCKr5ZdK-GTY0tyVtaRYE-/s200/kitchen+before+3.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before - pic 2</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always been budget conscious, as this old article, <a href="http://suite101.com/article/from-dingy-brown-to-a-light-airy-kitchen-a165518">K</a><a href="http://suite101.com/article/from-dingy-brown-to-a-light-airy-kitchen-a165518">itchen Renovation on a Tight Budget</a>, proves. That was my first kitchen revamp, subsequently we lived in a Victorian house in London with a modern kitchen, so we only changed the handles of the units and the light fitting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our 1930s house, the kitchen is about 30 years old at least, if not older. It's good quality, German made, though so we didn't want to scrap it as yet, not until we decide how to modernise it. So we used our DIY skills and a few frugal purchases to update it and the results are rather impressive (see bigger picture below). We changed the handles of the units, replaced the neon light fitting, painted the walls white with emulsion paint, removed the orange blinds and painted over the beige and brown tiles with eggshell white paint (2 coats were needed). Window frames and the door got a coat of gloss paint too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the appliances (except the fridge and cooker) were replaced with ours - we rented an unfurnished house for a year and we had to buy our own (we always sold our houses with the appliances in situ, it's so mean to take them away. Plus they are a pain to move - as we found out with the rental, but then we could hardly leave them behind since the rental agency charged us for not removing detergent residue from the oven after cleaning it. Who knows, they might have charged us for leaving the appliances behind!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Et voila'! What do you think?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcbJ9KbqJOJxiseZZpM6ERMMcfTDhfVBfLrAWfTZGR-waRYHAR5yC0W9NF5jj_dV2nXlebOerVyZeZ2rVbGy61T8YeBmKYy6xVLeVPSNMkj_U6ZZYOZgD5ziQWOQYh-rNjkeTlrTnyWM9/s1600/P1020105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcbJ9KbqJOJxiseZZpM6ERMMcfTDhfVBfLrAWfTZGR-waRYHAR5yC0W9NF5jj_dV2nXlebOerVyZeZ2rVbGy61T8YeBmKYy6xVLeVPSNMkj_U6ZZYOZgD5ziQWOQYh-rNjkeTlrTnyWM9/s640/P1020105.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic taken while the paint was drying on the left side</td></tr>
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Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-54525313157457499482013-07-23T02:07:00.003-07:002015-07-07T06:00:22.439-07:00Sneak preview of my summerhouse, revamped shed, artist's refuge...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhnFN71e146HMN8KNda3wNHOQ8QRKt6BnCWtulP_FLMYpSj0slLucnRWdc6z7TXQhBx0NFWh49xIMo6NKWqFegkeNqr-UH8kcWCHzEC-ykw-7mNmYYaJ5YqFnqhyphenhyphenYWZ9BzlTxRCDPB82H/s1600/summer+house.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhnFN71e146HMN8KNda3wNHOQ8QRKt6BnCWtulP_FLMYpSj0slLucnRWdc6z7TXQhBx0NFWh49xIMo6NKWqFegkeNqr-UH8kcWCHzEC-ykw-7mNmYYaJ5YqFnqhyphenhyphenYWZ9BzlTxRCDPB82H/s400/summer+house.jpg" width="380" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: center;">BEFORE</b><span style="text-align: center;"> What the summerhouse looked like when we bought the house, </span><span style="text-align: center;">basically a storage </span><span style="text-align: center;">shed/cabin with leaky roof and hideous 1970 </span><span style="text-align: center;">lino </span><span style="text-align: center;">flooring, </span><span style="text-align: center;">surrounded by brambles and overgrown trees.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD26ymUEOlx_hvUHkd9q8Ol2t3ScwSzgn9bYGud7MqtFGi3IJtcILYaCMZg0MgymO7zd3j1ANgryafq71JrAy2wDd6SnNqgRNS-4wIgw7WPD_Tqwvzs9Ntx7yIGh0qUn3Dgbl0IuRm8sb/s1600/summerhouse+in+july.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD26ymUEOlx_hvUHkd9q8Ol2t3ScwSzgn9bYGud7MqtFGi3IJtcILYaCMZg0MgymO7zd3j1ANgryafq71JrAy2wDd6SnNqgRNS-4wIgw7WPD_Tqwvzs9Ntx7yIGh0qUn3Dgbl0IuRm8sb/s400/summerhouse+in+july.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: center;">AFTER</b><span style="text-align: center;"> It only took me two summers and lots of hard work to trim </span><span style="text-align: center;">the garden, restoring it to its original beauty - hope </span><span style="text-align: center;">Mr G. (RIP), the botanist who owned it, approves. I </span><span style="text-align: center;">used Forest Green fencing paint and domestic paint inside. </span><span style="text-align: center;">Most materials are recycled, I kept new purchases to the minimum. </span><span style="text-align: center;">My partner re-roofed it and put a shelf up, I did the rest. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQWPvmMal2jLtDDgdvurOwczxWHgBJp4T1RPMdjkMi3LvXVaC7r81Jz5oARV6cipZhFFpjUq6KmBjf5YkTIoQ5viNN74-oh2vBmyG-gOUeeJA-nfg2AnGD4GTHJ84YZdbiGhE14ZuKGpo/s1600/summerhouse+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQWPvmMal2jLtDDgdvurOwczxWHgBJp4T1RPMdjkMi3LvXVaC7r81Jz5oARV6cipZhFFpjUq6KmBjf5YkTIoQ5viNN74-oh2vBmyG-gOUeeJA-nfg2AnGD4GTHJ84YZdbiGhE14ZuKGpo/s320/summerhouse+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Owl and pussycat theme and rudely shaped seashells</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowU4pEe4DHljWGNXZ1RcmOnqAQo-G8lnPwmuW_Qh24cjYGKeqQc0PFFijyf1J7S_YB91Xy7kmr-b_9i5JSrkWGfeich0ZrKOhJRw8KB15klfQmO99X-ta3996BHq7Vz9nlxWcRWXCr-hL/s1600/summer+house+dinky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowU4pEe4DHljWGNXZ1RcmOnqAQo-G8lnPwmuW_Qh24cjYGKeqQc0PFFijyf1J7S_YB91Xy7kmr-b_9i5JSrkWGfeich0ZrKOhJRw8KB15klfQmO99X-ta3996BHq7Vz9nlxWcRWXCr-hL/s320/summer+house+dinky.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiHT7jJVb3rbOwOr75q-euZhXG8ZfufEGHBPQioH47Aepv5gDJr6DTWLkwhdoAXXAcEIg3QeOCkEYMcyG2SHyIzRuMjuLQl0B6YvzGyuy6Y-9cgehpR1WfoUuf6ObPdCJxLmGkjea4Q6M/s1600/summerhouse+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiHT7jJVb3rbOwOr75q-euZhXG8ZfufEGHBPQioH47Aepv5gDJr6DTWLkwhdoAXXAcEIg3QeOCkEYMcyG2SHyIzRuMjuLQl0B6YvzGyuy6Y-9cgehpR1WfoUuf6ObPdCJxLmGkjea4Q6M/s320/summerhouse+2.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I restored and re-upholstered this 1940 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">utility chair </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and made the W</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">illiam Morris </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hanging using Sanderson's </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reproduction fabric swatches</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">I did try to ask for sponsorship, product review opps from major DIY chains but it was too much of a hassle to pester them after initial zero replies so I bought well-priced items from B&Q, Screwfix, Homebase, John Lewis and used materials and items I have collected in the past 19 years. DIY PRs eat your heart out! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">More photos to come in future posts.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YGwh_JO762JWWxf6SuPMqZSN1yj5afhSKXPfYlT_j9-7BNrKc0-V4po_8GaGPsV0s2CAZccHenT28yDY4GqBmE57lzBLaS5D9AbJv914V_iD6mgx_-F2I3eCji8gwCpYPNE5H3ziGzLq/s1600/sandy+foster+studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YGwh_JO762JWWxf6SuPMqZSN1yj5afhSKXPfYlT_j9-7BNrKc0-V4po_8GaGPsV0s2CAZccHenT28yDY4GqBmE57lzBLaS5D9AbJv914V_iD6mgx_-F2I3eCji8gwCpYPNE5H3ziGzLq/s400/sandy+foster+studio.jpg" width="306" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My inspiration, a wonderful Victorian-style cabin in the US, is the labour of love of Sandy Foster, which was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/garden/24cottage.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">featured in the NY Times</a> in 2010. I contacted Sandy through her blog a few years back and praised her excellent taste. I read she is taking a break from blogging at the moment, but you can see some wonderful pictures <a href="http://myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.co.uk/">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But back to my wonderful garden. For those who were skeptical about me tackling the jungle we bought alongside the house, I did it mostly by myself using a pick axe and gardening tools - I didn't employ anybody with a chainsaw as somebody hinted. My partner tackled the tall trees with a forestry saw (I'm 5ft 2in and weedy, so not up to that). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sadly Alan Titchmarsh didn't reply to my request for help (or more likely the TV producers), which is a pity as I haven't still identified some of the rare plants I have got. I had the pleasure of editing his copy when I was freelancing at Gardeners' World and let's say his articles needed minimal changes. I wasn't surprised when he started writing novels.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Back to the garden, I'm no botanist like the previous owner, Mr. G, who used to grow orchids in the greenhouse at the back. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">He worked for the University of Cambridge and I found his academic papers online. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I also found some weird items in the garage, which I'm hoping to show off soon and lots of gardening products that I had to discard because they are now probably banned (aka strong weed killers that smelled like paint stripper). He was an experimenter and also used organic methods, which were not fashionable back then. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But with no further ado, here are photos of the garden, introduced by my constant friend, the robin, which is very tame.... We do get quite a lot of wildlife in the garden, my partner spotted a heron, because we have a pond and very tall, mature trees. We have a whole wall of holly on one side, but I have seen very few berries at Xmas as the birds scoff them.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Summer 2011</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">June 2013</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yes, I know, the pond needs cleaning, my partner and I did it after taking these pics. There is lots of grass! It takes me two hours to cut it and trim the borders. What about the back of this garden? Not many people realise that the garden goes on after the summerhouse, through a jasmine archway. It's also much wider than it looks on the pics, I couldn't take it all in so the flower borders and the massive wall of holly are missing from the main picture. The back, pictured below, was Mr G.'s vegetable patch and experimental ground. We still have his greenhouse but it will need replacement as it's falling apart. We built the raised beds you see with the running beans crawling up bamboo sticks, some sourced from the garden as we have a big bamboo patch by the pond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The apple tree above (it got trimmed so a bit forlorn looking) offers some unusual apples, nobody so far has been able to tell me what variety it is. Mr G. lived in the house when there was still rationing after WW2, so he was growing plenty of fruit and veg. He was digging for victory for sure! When I reduced the amount of brambles - I kept those he planted by the fences and the greenhouse - I found rhubarb, asparagus, several apple trees (some espalier style), a stray spring onion and also realised he was growing weeds that had organic purposes (such as nettle, good for the compost heap). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We removed the original compost heap as it was falling apart to create the raised beds. We do have a compost heap in a corner and we have kept all his water buts, which make watering the garden easier and eco-friendly. That's it for now. I will take more photos.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-30789733879534142902013-07-20T04:23:00.003-07:002013-07-20T04:25:04.744-07:00Evolution of Get Lucky by PV NOVA<div style="text-align: center;">
My favourite song - vintage style...</div>
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Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-64252889197584796672013-07-15T07:08:00.004-07:002013-07-15T07:08:48.365-07:00I'm shedclassist!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiutYAOLfPcx2XwKc8yl78SnAR5cYu64ICUjasVCSXVANHi3xkSNpfpwn3ujoN8EcE-YIdjDgCxVGWJUaRsflypVliZnrxbb2845oGfMWmWhuenTSuAy4Fz-naCwiZR-n3lbkUoG8hohFv/s1600/P1020055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiutYAOLfPcx2XwKc8yl78SnAR5cYu64ICUjasVCSXVANHi3xkSNpfpwn3ujoN8EcE-YIdjDgCxVGWJUaRsflypVliZnrxbb2845oGfMWmWhuenTSuAy4Fz-naCwiZR-n3lbkUoG8hohFv/s400/P1020055.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My middle-class shed with social mobility aspirations</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My working-class shed, in homage to my parents <br />who could only afford a black and white TV when I was a child</td></tr>
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<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-44752707171177675872013-07-14T03:59:00.001-07:002013-07-14T03:59:04.198-07:00Silent Sunday: garden in June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZqYZsI_IxvAI0h1XfUIgpLoKPqAKfshh_F2K0xFG5D72KuXG3SANvUeQvKieubWLynUrNI9E46pE-i7iYpB3hMht_uSALJeUFu9-vx8mI4sMhRQ0H4L0IGpDPmAD2W66pdfLpvDfEi3d/s1600/house+in-june.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZqYZsI_IxvAI0h1XfUIgpLoKPqAKfshh_F2K0xFG5D72KuXG3SANvUeQvKieubWLynUrNI9E46pE-i7iYpB3hMht_uSALJeUFu9-vx8mI4sMhRQ0H4L0IGpDPmAD2W66pdfLpvDfEi3d/s400/house+in-june.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6516265984717008210.post-76660007585631506632013-07-12T03:45:00.004-07:002013-07-14T00:05:29.233-07:00Our house is the best ever for gas consumption... shocking!My partner put all the gas consumption figures for our previous three houses and this one into a spreadsheet and our 1930s detached performed better overall* even with the old inefficient boiler and single-glazed windows (we have secondary glazing only on the north side and 1 double-glazed window - nearly all windows are single-glazed iron-framed originals). We had a boiler replacement yesterday so it's going to get even better!<br />
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We think this is due to loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. The secondary glazing might play a part too but it's quite old and makeshift for certain windows.<br />
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So what were the other houses? We moved a lot in the past five years so the houses we compared were:<br />
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<li>A Victorian semi with original single-glazed sash windows and combi boiler</li>
<li>A 1930s semi with double-glazed windows and brand-new combi boiler</li>
<li>A 1960s semi with double-glazed windows and combi boiler.</li>
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Strange but true! Cavity wall insulation beats double-glazing big time!<br />
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*Bearing in mind that we had the coldest and longest winter ever!</div>
Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05496514300445204519noreply@blogger.com0