Krishenka

Friday, February 23, 2018

In and around Andalucia

We were on holiday the same time as a couple of our friends and they went to Cartagena for a trip out, below are a few fabulous pictures taken by Sue

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Eating in the UK in the 50's

Pasta had not been invented.

Curry was a surname.

A takeaway was a mathematical problem.

A pizza was something to do with a leaning tower.

Bananas and oranges only appeared at Christmas time.

All crisps were plain; the only choice we had was whether to put the salt on or not.

A Chinese chippy was a foreign carpenter.

Rice was a milk pudding, and never, ever part of our dinner.

A Big Mac was what we wore when it was raining.

Brown bread was something only poor people ate.

Oil was for lubricating, fat was for cooking

Tea was made in a teapot using tea leaves and never green.

Coffee was Camp, and came in a bottle.

Cubed sugar was regarded as posh.

Only Heinz made beans.

Fish didn't have fingers in those days.

Eating raw fish was called poverty, not sushi.

None of us had ever heard of yoghurt.

Healthy food consisted of anything edible.

People who didn't peel potatoes were regarded as lazy.

Indian restaurants were only found in India.

Cooking outside was called camping.

Seaweed was not a recognized food.

"Kebab" was not even a word never mind a food.

Sugar enjoyed a good press in those days, and was regarded as being white gold.

Prunes were medicinal.

Surprisingly, muesli was readily available, it was called cattle feed.

Pineapples came in chunks in a tin; we had only ever seen a picture of a real one.

Water came out of the tap, if someone had suggested bottling it and charging more than petrol for it they would have become a laughing stock.

The one thing that we never ever had on our table in the fifties ……………. was elbows!

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Happy New Year to you, already we are half way through January, a very wet, cold one at that. Not that I am complaining as anytime I can't get out to the garden I can find plenty to do in my work room (wanted to say studio but that would be a lie and a tad pretentious on my part), it's just a big room filled with all sorts for me to dabble with.

Heading of to Spain for a month next week and really looking forward to having a break and doing lots of walking, reading, and generally having time to relax. Looking through the rental photo's, the main room has a collection of keys displayed on a wall. The house is called "Cortijo Papaico" I googled the name and it looks like Cortijo is (Farmhouse), think I prefer the Spanish version. I thought it might be a nice gesture to make up a sachet to take to the house and of course added a vintage key.

My neighbour brought round the above mushrooms called Pied Violet and gave me a recipe, made it up and have to say it went in the bin, the mushrooms tasted and smelled of bark, moss & wood and very strong. My neighbour was not impressed :( but then she did say it was an acquired taste (and I for one will never aqquire it)..

Grabbed some scraps and did a mad doodle all over it and then made a journal cover.

Grabbed some more scraps and thought I would make some ribbon, added the scraps to a muslin back and have have to say it was a fun and interesting project. I had no idea what I was going to do with it.. and then!

I decided to have a go at free motion stitiching and I used (yes indeed) the entire length of the scrap ribbon, bit rough but I will certainly try again.

This is a machine applique of three retro birds and have to say I do love them, you can make them any colour you like. The ones below were custom orders and have flown to their new home.

The other day I had a custom order for 30 sachets made up in a gorgeous toile de Jouy linen for a wedding.
Have to say I have had a lovely week, I am lucky, I know this. Maybe while in Spain I will be able to post a few pictures, but me and my phone are not always on speaking terms, but will try all the same.

Friday, January 5, 2018

Chinese Light Festival Gaillac

Took the Grandkids to see the Chinese Lantern festival last night in Gaillac (right on our doorstep) and have to say was pretty impressive to say the least. Thought I would share a few of the amazing displays with you. I have to give credit to my girlfriend Sue for the photo's as she has such a good eye and takes cracking pictures. I think the peacocks were my favourite and each one took 50 days to construct and there were 3 of them. Would love to see a video of them assembling all of this.