sunny bank holiday...

today we found ourselves at a beautiful old family home called Penpont

an open garden and novelty dog show!

how could we resist...

 lovely jack and finley all freshly brushed

with the promise of rosettes made by

the great english outdoors

were very excited

mainly by the other doggies

it has to be said

they being friendly social pooches

we entered the veteran group

and paraded around the ring

we sat, we ran, we waited

for the judge

to award the prizes

...and then, our proudest moment

2

ROSETTES

yippee!

Finley 1st place

oh how our faces lit up

Jack 3rd place

we are sooo proud

they were such good sports!

 

after such excitement

we wandered the stunning grounds

and gorgeous conservatory

a truly gorgeously hot, sunny bank holiday

cream tea and all

what could be nicer?

good times

happy days

x

happiness is...

                               

 sitting outside in the early evening

a days work has been done

relaxing

watching the clouds in the sky

as they explode

like fireworks

up high

and the bats

take flight

for an evenings

fly

 take time

to love the small things

stop a moment

 breath in the air

what do you love?

surround yourself

with

loveliness

be kind 

show others your love

be good to yourself

and live

for

now...

x

in wonderland...

i have just finished reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. (The Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson)

i thought i should read this charming book again, as when young, it went completely over my head with its wonderful meanings and very weird goings on...

what a book..

if you haven't picked it up since you were wee

i do really recommend you read it

 

full of craziness, its so well written

and the illustrations speak for themselves

masterpieces by John Tenniel

i read the Oxford World's Classics  version

 which gives you explanatory notes

which i found interesting and very helpful at times

a real joy to read

i found a website dedicated to all things Alice

www.alice-in-wonderland.net

full of information about the book

the drawings and the young girl herself...

meanwhile, i have been adding to my collection of vintage fabric

finding some real beauties

gorgeous original designs

just waiting to be made into something fabulous...

groovy baby...

here at nellie and eve HQ, i have been busily making new things from my stash of very groovy vintage fabric this weekend



this fabric in particular takes me right back to my childhood of swirly patterns on the walls, floor, sofas...




in fact

anywhere a pattern could be, there was one on it!

this fabric was too gorgeous to be cut into pillows or bags

and so could only be made into one thing

a fabulous, original, very groovy

windbreak

No one will ever have the same windbreak as this the next time you go camping

a lovely addition

which will sit nicely along side the other one in my shop

which...

 by the way

 has been featured on the rather lovely blog

fabulously handmade

have a look at the feature on summer

and thanks to Steve for the kind words

 off now to make yogurt

the easiest thing in the world to make

you need never buy yogurt again

here's how...

you will have to get some plain yogurt to start you off

2 tablespoons of something yummy like

Rachel's Greek Style

and 700ml of whole fat milk

(sorry, no low fat here)

firstly, heat the milk to 46 degrees

(this has to be exact, so a thermometer is needed for this bit)

then, whisk it into the yogurt in a ceramic bowl

cover mixture with cling film

now put the bowl into a second larger bowl

and pour boiling water between them

wrap this bowl sandwich up in a large towel

put it somewhere warm and leave for about 4 hours.

and hay presto!

you have yogurt

the longer you leave it the sharper the taste

and if you want it thicker

either use slightly less milk per batch

or, as i have done

pop the yogurt into a muslin cloth

tie securely

and hang over a bowl for a short while

for the excess whey to drain out

and you have lovely creamy

greek style yogurt

all of your own

enjoy x