I must be getting myself one of these prints to celebrate.  Aren't they beautiful.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71085919/i-am-a-big-deal-no2-10-58-x-13-58-size?ref=fp_ph_4&src=favitm

This morning I nearly choked on my Marmite and toast with excitement when I saw I have 100 followers.  Ok I had to go out into cyber space and work on a bit of publicity and gently twist some arms in a cybery sort of way, possibly even beg a little, I had been stuck in the '90's' for so long and I was desperate to move on!  I thank all of you for following me and laughing along at me, or with me should I say...  I am off to work on my Celabratory Give Away Post right now.  Don't hold your breath!  lol I will be back soon.  

30 000 Page Views 'Thank You'

I am celebrating another blogging landmark, 30000 page views.  I have had 7005 unique visitors (that must mean some of you keep coming back!)  The visitors come from 88 different countries, which totally blows my mind and the most recent new country is Nepal.  I want to say a big THANK YOU for reading my blog.   I really enjoy sharing my nonsense with you all.  Your comments and support make me very happy, I have fun in the Global Village, out here in Cyber Space.   I am most excited about reaching another blogging landmark and I will celebrate with a 'Give Away' as soon as I reach the magic number of
 100 'Followers'.  Each day I am checking to see if I have reached the magic number...I am so nearly there.    

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

 Chalky's World linked to this site after she rustled up a quick scarf.  Handmade Scarves for Japan. I read the information on the site and started this scarf as soon as I finished my Lucy bag.  I thought 200g would be enough yarn for one scarf but with a 8mm hook and crochet rib it has made a very thick scarf so I needed to add a black stripe in the middle to make the scarf wide enough.  What should have been a quick, portable project, completely filled my 'Lucy' bag because look at the size of these balls!  I needed both balls as I doubled the yarn.

Euan thought this picture was hilarious.

Here are the 50g balls of yarn along with the 500g balls of yarn

Here is the not so portable 'Work In Progress' it will soon be finished and it will make a nice warm scarf.  I am hoping I will get it in the post  next week.

I crocheted at the swimming pool while Euan and Gramps mucked around!  I had to be careful not to get my balls wet!  

    This is a late night post because I can't sleep. I am going to meet 'Ravelry' chums tomorrow from the 'Yummy Yarns UK' group,  this is a group for 'devotees' of Patricia's Etsy store, that sells beautiful yarns and fibre that is all hand dyed.  We are meeting at a 'Yurt in the woods' and  my spinning wheel is coming with me.

The Yurt is in woodland in the grounds of Ulverscroft Manor in Leicestershire.  It is run by a charity.  Doesn't it look great?  I have not met any of the people before in person but we have chatted extensively on Rav.  Some of the others have met before.  I like getting in a group and knitter nattering.  :)

I am excited about the day but anxious about the drive, I am not a good driver when I am going somewhere new.   It is a 55 mile journey for me I am sure I will cope.   I will charge my camera up and share photographs of the day and tell you all about it asap.

 'One Flew overs the Cuckoos Nest' is on TV so I am watching and writing.  I love this movie, I also loved the book.  I can really relate to it!!!

Paysanne Salad

I wish this looked as nice as it tasted.  I asked you for 'Potato' recipes and Sarah from Knits and Crosses Blog suggested a 'Paysanne' Salad.  I had never heard of one, so a googling I did go!  Paysanne is very similar to Nicoise Salad.  A perfect recipe for me as it requires potatoes and eggs, I have an abundance of both at the moment.  It made a hearty main meal salad that we had during the very warm spell of weather when you really don't want to cook and nobody really wants to eat.  I did adapt the recipe to suit my 'store cupboard'.
Ingredients
200g Penne Pasta (Cooked)
300g of cooked New Potatoes (sliced into chunks)
200g of fried Bacon lardons
200g of lightly steamed french beans ( cut into 2cm pieces)
six small hardboiled eggs (chopped into chunks or sliced)
150ml of Garlic Mayonnaise ( I made my own fresh mayo for the first time!  with egg yolks, cider vinegar, olive oil, mustard and garlic)
Method
Mix it all together!
Deliciously simple.  Very substantial.  Tasty with crusty bread and it keeps well in the fridge for a couple of days.

Thanks Sarah for broadening my culinary horizons.

Home made - Sage and Onion Quiche

There are going to be a few recipes on their way using...you guessed it, Eggs!  This was my first dish with 'home made' eggs.
Sage and Onion Quiche.  Very simple ingredients but very tasty.  It can be eaten hot or cold.  It keeps well for a couple of days and is great for picnics.
Ingredients
1 Packet of Shortcrust Pastry Mix - (I know pretty lazy but very quick and convenient, I try to always keep a pastry mix in my cupboard.)  Line a Quiche dish with the pastry and 'Blind' bake for 10 mins.
3 large onions finely sliced and fried in butter until soft and golden ( I used a mixture of red and white onions)
8-12 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
4 medium eggs and a tablespoon of milk, beaten together.
200g of Grated Mature cheddar cheese.
Method
Mix the sage into the onions and place into the pastry case.  Sprinkle over the grated cheese.  Pour over the eggs and milk.  Bake in a hot oven until golden and set. (About 25 mins)

Lavender and Lovage 'Herbs on Saturday'

Bottoms Up Girls!

This is quite a familiar sight it my back garden these days!  My partner says the garden is now a Bio-hazard.  He exaggerates and I am not about to start to do cartwheels or handstands on the lawn anyway!

I certainly take my hat off to anyone who can take a good 'live' chicken photograph because I have tried very hard.  They are very busy beings.  They do not stay still for very long at all.

In these pictures they are rather close to the back door and they crane their necks inquisitively to see what I am up to.  The house seems to fascinate them and they would be in like a shot if I would let them.  I suppose they did spend their first month or so in my living room though.

I really felt like I was invading space here, this is where they lay their eggs in the straw.  I am having lots of eggs now.  One day last week I had four eggs from three chickens, which really confused me.  I have been assured it can happen.  We check for eggs multiple times a day and as we had three eggs on each of the previous two days it is highly unlikely we missed an egg.  Good girls, four eggs in one day is amazing.

I have put coloured rings on their legs because I really could not tell them apart, since I have done that I feel like I know them much better and they have their own distinct personalities.  Purple is the friendliest and the most interested in what I am doing.  They are all friendly and inquisitive but Purple seeks me out the most, her name is Rose. She likes to chat to me and we can have a two way conversation.  She particularly likes to tell me if there is anything she is not too sure about.  She will make gentle 'brrrp' and 'cooing' noises and I am sure she has the intonation of  questioning at times.  

Green is Daisy and Red is Poppy.  They spend a lot of time closely together, they will separate of their own accord for short spaces of time but if I separate them for any reason they do not like that and protest loudly until they are reunited.     The other day Euan shouted 'Mom!  Green and Red are in the Greenhouse eating the tomatoes!'  He soon shooed them out, that child likes his tomatoes.

Poppy is looking very cross in this picture.  I felt like I was in imminent danger of a serious pecking.  Poppy is Top ranking in the pecking order, she is the largest and the most assertive.  I am glad to say I have never seen them squabble or be mean to each other, but Poppy seems to get her own way and has given me a couple of nasty scratches.  I don't bare any grudges though, yet!  Euan complains regularly that he has been bitten by a chicken and 'she meant it!'  Silly boy, he should stop poking his fingers in the coop then shouldn't he!   I was quite shocked to read this week that a chickens natural life span can easily be 8-10years.  I really should have checked that before I got them!

This is their favourite treat 'Corn on the Cob'.  They remind me of Foghorn Leghorn.  As you can tell I am very fond of my 'Girls' they will definitely not be going into a pie.  I am going to write a book '101 ways with eggs!'