Chatiryworld

A modern resurrection?

Don't let it be said that I don't acknowledge miracles around this time of year (Bunny Day), here's one from our very own Kal.  But of course you already read his blog don't you?

Thank you!

I won this in a blog draw the other week by Lisa at Primrose Hill Interiors, isn't it gorgeous?  Thanks Lisa!  She's based in Perthshire, when I started getting into reading craft blogs most of them seemed to be coming from the US, but my blogroll boasts more and more from these shores nowadays.

Cosy days

Ah, I do like this being off for two weeks business, candles lit, fire on, music/film/podcast/book/knitting of your choice.  I've done bits of sale shopping but I've had enough.  I need new trousers but I think I might risk ordering them from People Tree when their sale starts, as they have generous sizing so I should be ok.

I've finished knitting some socks, and am in the middle of knitting Bella Bun from Lucinda Guy's And So to Bed.  When I finish on the net I'm going to delve into my latest library book, The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket (of yarnstorm, and according to Amazon I should be buying Soulemama's book with it, coincidence that they match bloggers books?).  I've read the introduction and love it already, although it's not a book without controversy, which Gemma wrote about a while back.

Anyone else see the Extras special last night and wished that the Carphone Warehouse gang would get their own series?

Round up

I don't even know where to start on Stephen 'Dog Shit' Green and his views on the HPV vaccine, I'm almost rocking in anger.  I love the way Mediawatchwatch refer to his organisation Christian Voice as Stephen Green's Voice.  Idiot.

The last paragraph of this Guardian article on the Silver Ring Thing school debacle is very telling.

Chris at Rude Cactus has written brilliantly about all anti-depressants not being the same, I love his analogy.

I finished uploading my Skye photos and will write a post on it soon.  Jon has also put all his photos up and has started blogging about our trip.

Enjoyed watching Arcade Fire and Rufus Wainwright at Glastonbury on BBC4 last night, top stuff.

More of that tangled web we weave

Just going through my Bloglines catching up with you all, and noticed that Laura at Newbrowne blog had been interviewed for an article on the Channel 4 new media site - and she mentioned this very blog as being one of her favourites, thanks Laura, I'm really touched!  (Hope you're all settling in well in Ireland)

But what caught my eye from her post first was that the article had been written by a friend from work's husband, I had no idea (why should I?) but it just shows how blogging makes the world a smaller place.  Look out soon for the gift I have knitted for the same friend's soon-to-arrive baby.

And hello if you came here from the C4 site.

New year, new blog

Not from me, but from the wonderfully talented Stephanie and Mav: 3191.  They live 3,191 miles apart on different US coasts and take a photo every morning. 

Back to work tomorrow.  Not happy.

I like Charlie Brooker

He is very funny.

Leisurely lunch

I took this afternoon off so that I could meet up with Alison, Allan and the kids, who are all over staying with Amber and Len.  They picked a good day for it, apart from being very cold (but remember, it's only November), it's been a beautiful clear autumn day.  I got some lovely sunset photos as I walked home, which will be uploaded to Flickr in due course.

Anyway, back to our mini blog meet.  We went for lunch at Monster Mash, where Allan and Ali went for haggis, neeps and tatties (not clapshot because the neeps and tatties were separate), when in Rome and all that...  I had spinach and leek sausages and mash with tomato gravy and the kids opted for chips, beans and sausages.  They did each try some haggis but I don't think they were particularly sure about it.  We adults were stuffed but C maintained that she did indeed have a hollow leg so she and her brother had ice cream, which looked pretty good to me.

We had a good chat about this, that and the other and I learned that I'm not sure Jon and Len should meet because I think they will be too much of a bad influence on each other!  All the kids had been having a great time on the farm, building forts, teasing chickens and enjoying the good life and I could empathise with Ali's two who really didn't want to be walking around a freezing cold Edinburgh admiring the architecture (my mum and Hugh used to take us to gardens on holiday, I thought that was SO dull at the time but now I er, quite like them, don't tell them though...).

Having explained to Alison why some women in this country wear orange foundation, I left them to explore more of the Royal Mile.  It's great fun meeting bloggers you've 'known' for a while, and they were just as I expected (and I just knew that the Ian Mellis cheese shop on Victoria Street would tempt Allan!).  I wandered home, taking photographs, excited that I could use my laptop again as I've got a new power cable. 

Except that I can't, because when the cable broke it broke something inside too (it's heart?), so am still Mac-sharing.  Taking the laptop to the PC Doctor on Saturday for repairs I could do without forking out for, but still cheaper than a new laptop.  Can't help but think that when Glasgow's Apple store opens next summer I may have to go the way of the Mac as I'm really enjoying using it. 

Having had a good afternoon with good company means that I haven't sulked too much over the laptop, great to meet you guys!

Still childish after all these years

Maybe it's because I've never quite grown up (who has?), maybe because the only thing I miss about libraries is doing kids activities or maybe because I just love the easy simplicity, but I don't think there's anything wrong with owning children's cookery books and reading a craft weblog. Recipes from children's cookery books also tend to be quite cheap to make as well.

Anyway, the point of this post is to recommend a new blog, Kiddley, all about crafts and creative activities for children. I know lots of you have children (some of you even let me play with them) and some of you are expecting children. You'll all find something to please you at Kiddley. Even if your newborn isn't up to making snowflakes there are useful articles on clothing your children cheaply (tips for thrifting can be applied to us grown ups too).

If I was still a public librarian I'd definitely use it (in fact I'll probably use it anyway for crafty finds and projects with small people who visit), and if you want another handy link, I used to use loads of activities at Crayola. You need to register, but it's worth it.

kiddley, crafts, activities, children, libraries

Posting, posting

Ok, Croila says it's getting boring here as most of my posts consist of my latest links. I have been duly told and will now aim to get some more interesting content.

Er, had a bath this morning. How's the weather with you? It was quite summery here yesterday. Need to wash up later.

Oh, Croila, Kal and his bloke (who I believe is known as Scots Medic Man in blogging circles) came round for a meal last night. Mr Nagl made spicy sweet potato wedges and marinated chicken kebabs. I made rhubarb crumble, salad and courgette stuff. The courgette stuff was supposed to be courgette, feta and dill cakes from Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries. The mixture was way too soft for this to work so I just spoldged it in the nearest available container. Some people used it as a dip and some ate it as a vegetable side. It was very tasty, even if I do say so myself. I also roasted some Scottish tomatoes:

Hopefully we'll get everyone back towards the end of the summer when we will be able to serve Chatiryworld tomatoes, I have three thriving plants and a runt (at the left):

We're also growing lettuce to try and keep us going throughout the summer. I sow a couple more each week.

cooking, tomatoes, courgettes, kebabs