I've Got Motors On the Mind!

Ok. It's not crafty. It's not creative.
But I just can't take not zooming around anymore! I've been driving since I was 15 years old...which has been  a long time now! American's can drive on their US license for 1 year in the UK and then they must sit the UK driving test. It's a lot harder to pass and more expensive that the US test. So I've been dragging my feet for the past few years. If you've ever read The Wind In The Willows you'll know what Mr Toad gets like when his friends try to keep him from driving....

That is what I'm getting like! 

I love this modern car! Does anyone know who makes it...I can't find out any info! 

Poop Poop!

My Wee Lassie

I'm worried you guys.
Poppy isn't herself {In case you don't know, Poppy is my pet hedgehog}.She's not running in her wheel which used to be her greatest pleasure. I trimmed her nails the other night hoping that would help. She's sleeping ALL of the time. I'm hoping it's down to her being cold, I can do something about that. She is still eating which is a good sign, no a GREAT sign - but she's pooping and weeing right outside of her house, that's not ok. I'm sure I'm just overreacting, but that's what we do isn't it. She is like my baby {but thank God I didn't give birth to a spike covered hedgepig!}.
If you pray, please pray for Poppy. If you send positive and healing thoughts, please send em. Whatever you do when someone is poorly will you please do it for my wee lassie?
I'm just gonna have to keep an eye on her and try not to obsess....I'd better keep busy....I found some really wonderful projects - maybe these will work as a distraction...


First of all, if you don't get the Whip Up Newsletter. GET IT!


Now that you've done that look at this!

Molly's Sketchbook: Back to School Lunch Bag
tutorial from The Purl Bee!

I'm on a cloth bag for use in the kitchen kick at the moment! I want to try out these food preserving bags from Lakeland and they are sooo cheap! 

I'd love to hear about it if anyone uses them. I really want to get the potato bag, I have the most trouble with my potatoes sprouting and going off before I can use them all followed by my mushrooms. I hate waste, and these look like they might be a great solution to some of my food waste!

This looks fun, I'm thinking of doing one for a friend's wedding present with their wedding date on and stuff.

I'll just tell ya right now, I'm probably going to be spending a heck of a lot of time on The Purl Bee blog. 

I keep finding project after project that I want to give a go! Rather than posting them all here cause I'd be here all day I'll just encourage you to go have a look down the right side of the blog at all of the wonderfullness to share!

p.s. I just checked on Poppy, I'd  put a heating pad in with her, she's moved her bed off of it, so I guess she's warm enough...we'll just see how it goes. Thanks x

 

Guess Who's A Greedy Guts!

Ok. I'm just gonna put this out there. I have SO much in my life. SO much I am thankful for. I have so much stuff that I have run out of storage space. My craft cupboard is overflowing. Am I content....sometimes - YES! But my greed knows no end!

Ever since I saw that one can use a Sizzix machine to cut out fabric shapes on LollyChops {she is sooo awesome!}....guess what...I've NEEDED one!!!! And now they have a Hello Kitty one!

That's right. My life is incomplete without one. Keep in mind that I've never used one, that I can't afford to buy all of the dies one needs to use the machine, I actually want to get to a point where I'm doing everything by hand - I want to be a very creative and green crafter, close the loop? right? BUT THAT STUPID GREEDY GUTS in my head screams at me! "Stop at nothing til you have it!" Who knows what I'd do with it once I had it. I would probably copy LollyChop's project and then who knows. 

I've trolled the internet looking for the lowest price. I was holding out hope thinking that there might have been a Big Shot shaped box under the Christmas tree. I've even bid on a few machines when I had a paypal balance.
Why in the heck must I do this to my greedy self?

I don't "do" New Year's resolutions. But I am really struggling with being motivated to not just stay in bed all day or laying on the floor watching Midsomer Murders or the food channel until I need to do a wee or put some food in my gob. So I've moved the computer out of my lady cave craft haven. I replaced it with my trusty sewing machine that had been misplaced by said computer.
I used to be an avid journler and letter writer. I do neither anymore. It's rubbish. I used to take pictures all of the time. Where has that desire gone? I'm not saying this well {partly because I'm worried about that pot of rice on the stove!}...
I want to want less and to do & be more. To be more creative and resourceful and motivated! I used to have so much more drive and energy. Is this just because I'm not in my 20s anymore? Perhaps or I've become complacent in my life and that is totally acceptable to me. What happened to my love affair with revolution and desire to be a revolutionary...hmm.....

I need to think about this.

Christmas is only 353 sleeps away!

Juuuuuuuusssssssst kidding!

I've been a stranger! Not on purpose I promise! I do feel a little bit better seeing that in blogdom I'm not the only one letting the ole blog slide a little....am I forgiven? I forgive me :)
So it's been pretty crazy here in the Woo household. There was Christmas, then boxing day....then that weird holding pattern house cleaning time before New Year.
Mr Woo and I stayed in for New Year's Eve. I made not's of nice nibbles and we watched In the Loop and then I fell asleep. I guess we're getting old. Ach well. I needed my rest! I've been nursing a rather nasty sinus infection. Blech.
Am I the only one that finds it a bit difficult to get back into normality? EEK! BRB! I JUST REMEMBERED I'VE GOT YEAST PROOFING!!!!
Remember when this happened?

well....it's happened again, but much messier. I forgot about it for longer this time. Oooops. AND THEN I ran out of flour! AND THEN a couple of people stopped by and Mr Woo came home for lunch!

Phew! I'm getting caught up now...I'd better be careful not to burn my sandwich now!

I do plan on going out for a walk while Kelsall is covered in a blanket of gorgeousness. You might have heard on the news about how the whole of the UK is covered in snow. My friend had to leave her car in the village because it wasn't possible for her to get it up the lane! The weather obsessed Brits are having a field day talking about this one! "Oh isn't this terrible" they say - Gimme a break! I just wanna get out and enjoy it! I don't know if it's because I grew up in Charleston which rarely gets snow, but I just love it! I can't wait to get bundled up and head out there!
Before I go I wanna show you a few treasures, you know how I love my treasures!

{this was my best Christmas present! thanks Mr Woo!!!!}

{these pretty dainties will be headed my way thanks to Katia of The Hen's Army!}

{this is Rufus. he is not in my life....yet...}

This treasure isn't the kind you can hold, but I found that my friend Kelly is a blogger now! Woo Hoo! She is a total gem, her words and thoughts are sure to be amongst your fave treasures too I think!

I've miss you! I'm happy to be back!!!!!!!!

X

My New Pal!

I've got a new pal and her name is Fannie Flagg! Ok, so...I don't actually know Fannie Flagg but I've been reading Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe for the past couple of months. One could get through it a whole lot faster than I have been doing, but it's so fun and so good I have wanted to make it last and last. This book makes me laugh out loud! Love it!
I've only got a couple of chapters left but I don't want it to end so I've been having a look to see if I can get my hands on anything else Mrs Flagg has written. Are you ready for this fun-ness? There are recipes on her Publisher Profile!

Here are a few reasons Fannie Flagg is my pal:

• She is a sassy southern woman (from Alabama).
• She makes me laugh (well her writing does!)
• She is a wonderful story teller, I just don't want her stories to end!
• She shares recipes!
  

What fun! I have discovered that if you want Sipsey's Fried Green Tomato recipe you'll have to buy the cookbook, I would if I could! Believe you me!
OR you can do as I have done and look up one of the FGT fan sites!

A Few of Sipsey's Recipes (Adapted by Evelyn)

Buttermilk Biscuits

2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup Crisco
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup buttermilk

Sift dry ingredients together. Add Crisco and blend well until like fine meal. Add buttermilk and mix. Roll out thin and cut into desired size biscuit. Bake in greased pan and 450 degrees until golden brown.

These saved Naughty Bird, Big George's daughter's, life.

Fried Green Tomatoes

1 medium green tomatoes (per person)*
pepper
salt
White cornmeal
bacon drippings**

Slice tomatoes about 1/4 inch thick, season with salt and pepper and then coat both sides with cornmeal. In a large skillet, heat enough bacon drippings to coat the bottom of the pan and fry tomatoes until light browned on both sides.

You'll think you died and gone to heaven!

* I know from experience that a hard red tomato works well too
** can substitue with about 2 inches of vegetable oil