The Pumpkin Press

I have MOVED !!!!

2007-06-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I am pleased to announce that I have created a brand new blog!

Please visit me at www.ericas-attic.blogspot.com

I look forward to seeing you there soon!

Be sure to leave a "hello"!

Erica

xxx

Down Town Row'ell

2007-05-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

Just thought, as I was popping into town, I'd take a few snaps.
This is the nearest town to our village, and has some beautiful architecture.
Also, one of the libraries I used to work at.
The local stone is iron stone, hence the lovely rusty colouring.
Oh, and the fantasies about what I could do with this little shop....

A shop selling lace hankerchiefs, gingham table clothes. hand made toys, teddy bears and fairy dolls. ( and mice, of course). Unusual greetings cards, (mine included), second hand books, antique parasols and nighties, tea shop, fairy cake and cup cake specialist, tiaras, sheet music, unusual and rare buttons, ribbon and ric-rac, and of course home made chutnies, jams and preserves, a yearly pumpkin fest....I fear, alas, the folk of Row'ell would not be ready for such a shop.

Upstairs would be extra tables for the tea shop, the walls lined with wonderful paintings.

Up in the top room, would be my studio...

Jammy

2007-05-04T05:11:00.002-07:00

when I was a little girl, I reeeeeally didn't like going to school...at all! There were various reasons, but mainly, I just really enjoyed being at home. When I was at home, I could paint and draw, I could read my fairy tales, I could go and play in the field behind our house with the goats.
Where we lived in Ireland, and I've never seen them since, where these enormous toadstools. They were as big as dinner plates and would appear over night. Of course this did nothing but ignite my already over-active imagination even more.
As I grew older, and moved away from Ireland, school became even more difficult for me. The one thing that helped me through the ordeals of bullying and double physics, was my imagination. I'm soooo happy that I never lost my imagination.

So now, as a grown up little girl, I feel extremely Jammy that I don't have to go to 'the office', which really is just a school for grown ups.

I can stay at home, and paint my pictures...

...because I always believed in my imagination...

...but the Jammiest thing of all?

I GET PAID TO DO IT!

Operation Dandylion

2007-05-04T05:11:00.001-07:00

Well,

look who came to help at the allotment!

It's me mammy and da!

They worked like troopers for 4 days, and without their help I'd never have gotten any of my seedlings in!

Here is mother, and dock root...

Here is the Great High Wizard, wanting his lunch...

And here are a few shots of the allotment after they'd finished.

So thank-you very much mum & dad!

Erica
xxxx

Tuesday's treasures

2007-04-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

So I went to Brixworth Community centre today to sign some books, and on my way back, I went to the tip...as you do...

I got....

a lovely old round mirror.

An oddity, which I'm going to transform into a post box for up the allotment.
It will be useful for leaving spare seeds, notes, cards etc for friends up there.

The inside!

Two ancient hoes!

Fiver, the lot!

Bargain!

xx

The Final Show

2007-04-24T03:38:00.000-07:00

Here, at last, are the photographs from this weekends closing performance of The Peppermint Tree.
The next ballet production is "The Wild Wood", performed by the TTMB, (Travelling Transylvanian Mouse Ballet).
I shall be sure to keep you all up to date.
I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow with the Prima Ballerina.

A very rare glimpse behind the scenes.
Her the production has it's very own seamstress, busily sewing tutu after tutu.
Fifi and Hansel share a moment.
Matilde with friend.
The girls making alterations to their outfits.

The hero of the production,
Hansel Frogglemienster.
Plays - Neige

The beautiful
Matilde,
Plays - Belle Menthe

Lillia
Plays - ice forest
nymph
number 1

Audrey
Plays - Ice forest
nymph number 2

Fif Von Frinklestien

The Peppermint Tree

2007-04-19T01:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, I went to watch the RVMB (The Royal Vienna Mouse Ballet), production of The Peppermint Tree.
The Peppermint Tree is a tragic tale of unrequited love, secrets, tragedy and betrayal. The only way for Belle Menthe, the heroine, to mend her broken heart is to venture deep into the ice forest in search of the magical Peppermint Tree. A single bloom plucked from the tree will make all Belle Menthe's woes disappear. However, in a cruel twist of fate, the thorns of the tree are deadly poisonous. The finale of the ballet is too tragic for words...I shall try...

Belle Menthe finds the tree, and in her desperation to mend her heart, forgets that one prick from the tree's thorns would be fatal.

Belle Menthe dies alone, in the ice forest, underneath the Peppermint Tree.

Above is Matilde, the stunning prima who played Belle Menthe.

Above is Fifi Von Frincklestein, the production's choreographer and former prima ballerina. Back in her day she was the star of the stage, appearing in productions for over twenty-five years, including Mouse Pond and The Cheese Grater.

The battery for my camera died before I could capture the rest of the dancers on film, I am however planning to go and watch the ballet again next week, ( if my heart can take it), so will post more pictures then.

The Evil Cousin

2007-04-16T01:57:00.000-07:00

Last night, at around 10 O'Clock, there came from the kitchen a strange and muffled mewing.
As anyone who owns a cat will know, this can only mean one thing...

Timmy's brought something in!

So, Nick and I ventured into the kitchen where we found Timmy peering under the tumble dryer.
Nick lifted up the machine (what a hero) and I played catch the mouse.

I rescued her from the jaws of death.

I gave her some cheese.

And what did she do?

She bit me!

Ouch!

Evil mouse...

Aurelie

2007-04-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

Well,
as I was saying,
a playmate for Emille seemed like a good idea.

So, when I eventually got around to making my cup of tea...look who I discovered in my favourite tea cup!
Her name is Aurelie and she seems alot milder mannered than Emille. She does however seem to share the same fascination for all things shiny.

Caught red handed!

2007-04-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

Well, there I was, just finished a magazine job.
I came down my twisty stairs to make myself a cup of tea, and whilst admiring my favourite corner...

when who did I spy?

Look closely....

closer...

Emille, who as it turns out is ALOT of trouble.

Here she is, trying to conceal her identity by covering her face whilst pilfering my best jewels.
I think a playmate may keep her out of mischief....

What do you think?

2007-04-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Say Bonjour to Emille.
She's the first mouse I've made that I'm not too totally embarrassed to show.
I'm getting slowly better, but am still a loooong way off from anything presentable.
Thing is, I've got lots of big ideas, but not the know how or skill to realize them...not yet anyway.
Gotta keep practicing!

xx

This weekend's treasure

2007-04-10T02:16:00.000-07:00

Nick and I have had a full five days together!
We spent most of that time at the bottom of the garden, Nick building a fence, and me painting it.
I shall post a picture when it's completed...it's soooo different.

I managed to drag his nibbs out of the house yesterday afternoon for some lunch. We went to a place called "The Heart of the Shires" or "The pitts of Hell" as Nick refers to it. There's an antique shop there and the most amazing habidashery ever, ever, ever.

It's a little mini shopping village, well it's something different from the garden centre!
I bought many, many buttons and squares of cute fabric but the real find was this.

The most gorgeous little toy sewing machine from the 50's.
It's missing it's needle, so I'm going to try and hunt one down.
I haven't a clue how it works, I can't figure out where the spool is...

It's the perfect size for a cat. I'm sure Timmy and Tommy will be burning the midnight oil at the kitchen table, fashioning themselves collars and fancy jackets.

I have plans for my fabric and felt.

I will keep you all posted.

xx

Holiday!

2007-04-04T22:44:00.000-07:00

At last, some time off. And well deserved too, (well I think so!)
I've still got one little job to do today, and then that's it! For FIVE WHOLE DAYS!!! Hoorah!
So here's what I'm going to do.

Nick is off today so we're going to buy some gravel for the bottom of the garden, I will take work in progress piccies.
I just want to buy pots and flowers, but in usual "man" fashion, I can't do that yet. We have to do all the boring stuff first.
I think I'll leave him to get on with it!

I've got about six years of housework to catch up on. I have no clean clothes...at all. The bedroom floor is no longer visable, and the only way to navigate your way around is via a series of small trenches leading to the bed and the chest of drawers.

I've got loooooads to do up at the allotment. I need to chit more spuds as I've put my first earlies in already. I don't know where to start!

Here are some photos of the evening light in the front room, and this morning's beautiful sunrise.

Oooh I've been tagged!

2007-03-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

So I've been tagged to list my top ten albums, good grief, only ten?!

I feel all popular now!

Snow Patrol - Eyes Open

Radiohead - The Bends

Smashing Pumpkins - MC and T I S

Portishead - Dummy

Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell

Hole - Live through this

Pixies - Surfer Rosa

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

Now I've only put nine up...I need to choose carefully here so will sleep on it.
I still listen to most of these albums, thwy all mean somethng to me in one way or another.
Alot of them got me through my teen (and early twenties) angst...

Oooh I only have one more, what will it beeee

watch this space!

Spring already???

2007-03-16T01:02:00.000-07:00

Yikes!

I haven't even dug all my beds over yet!
Well, I have been extremely busy with book projects and other stuff, I'm not retired like most folk up there. STILL, no excuses.

At least I'm nearly up to schedule with my sowing.I've got sweetpeas, various herbs, leeks and caulies in the greenhouse.

Last Sunday afternoon was spent drawing up my bedding plans, and deciding what to grow this year.

Not very good photo, but it was very theraputic. We'll see how close I actually get to it...her humm.

I'll leave you with some images of the allotment in March....

2007-02-26T04:58:00.000-08:00

2007-02-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

I want this book!!!

2007-02-02T08:21:00.000-08:00

I HAVE to have this book! I've been looking for a book on how to create a witch's garden for years! So, daddy, if you're reading this! It's my birthday soon.....

I love my allotment

2007-02-02T07:10:00.000-08:00

It's turning out to be a gorgeous late winter. It's been sunny nearly everyday for ages. Well, it seems that way anyway.
I skivved off work today, lured by the birds singing and the blue sky, and made my way up to the allotment. Oh boy have I got some digging to do! I managed to dig a good 5 or 6 square metres today, and planted a row of shallots. The battery on my camera was about to die, so I've just got a couple of naff piccies, but you can JUST FEEL the sun and blue sky. You can see what's left of my dinky savoy cabbages, Jon's are at least six times the size. Also, you can see my lovely kale in the background. You could almost describe it as busy up there today, with Peter and Dougie both doing stuff on their plots. Pete is an inspiration. He can hardly see a thing, yet his plot is immaculate. He rides a motor powered bicycle from Kettering to Thorpe, (slightly worrying!) and he must be atleast two-hundred and eighty. Actually, he's one of the more youthful of the gang, I guess he must be around seventy years old.
Due to the storms we had recently, there are LOADS of fallen branches. I went around and gathered as many as I could. I'll either make a pretty fence, or some wigwams to grow baby pumpkins up. I also managed to get loads of pea sticks from the copse at the back of the alllotments.
My plastic sheeting that was keeping the weeds down was ripped to shreds by the storm. I'm going to re-use the bits that are left to make ponds. Not for show, but to gather as much water as possible for the summer.
Yesterday, on my way back from a crap afternoon in Kettering, I stopped by the allotment. It was just dusk, and the whole sky had the most incredibly beautiful rosy glow. Just as I was stood there, an enormous flock of rooks flew over, no doubt making their way back to their rookery by the hall to snuggle up for the evening. I LOVE rooks, ravens and crows. If I ever have a daughter, I would be tempted to call her Raven.
I'm in the process of trying to twist Nick's arm into helping me up there tomorrow. I've been on at him all week. The general response I get is a face that looks like all the muscles have been taken out of it, resulting in every feature on it drooping downwards...seriously, you have to see this face to believe it. The "face" is usually accompanied by a kind of "nooooo-ho-ho-ho-ho-hoooooo", followed by him clinging to me and burying his face in my neck. The very same response can be generated by the phrases..."will you take me to Hobbycraft please" or "can we go for a cup of tea at the garden centre". It's worth saying these things just to witness the performance, regardless of whether you want to go or not...ha!
Anyway, I better go have a bath as I smell like a pirate. (due to the digging, I don't usually smell like a pirate).

Six strange things about me....

2007-01-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I been tagged to tell 6 strange things about me....

1) I have a Daniel O'Donnell calender on my office wall. I bought it as a joke for my friend for Christmas, but it made me laugh soooo much, I kept it!

2) I am utterly and completey obsessed with "Nick & Jessica, Newlyweds". I have no idea why! I consider myself a fairly deep, thoughtful and even intelligent person at a stretch...but I LOVE watching it. I have watched the same episodes again and again, and am gutted they are now divorced. Weird!

3) I have a stationery fetish and will buy post it notes, notebooks and pens in an uncontrollable frenzy.

4) I have a series of beauty spots in the shape of the eiffle tower on my left fore arm.

5) I can't stop re-arranging furniture. I spend hours moving the sofa, the sideboard etc, then spend the same amount of time putting it all back exactly where it was. When my husband gets home, he has no idea what adventures the pieces of furniture have had while he was at work.

6) I dislike chocolate and ice-cream. Chocolate hurts my teeth and ice-cream...well, why would anyone want to put themselves through the displeasure of eating something soooo horribly cold!

So there you go.
Six weird things about me!

Error - Bad Request!

2007-01-23T01:18:00.000-08:00

I can't visit anyone's blog on my links list!!
So if I haven't paid you a visit for a while, it's not because I don't love you anymore!!!!!
I don't know what to do...
any ideas out there in cyber space?

Eeek,

xxx

Candles, open fire and a Chinese take-away

2007-01-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we got hit by the MOST amazing storm. Apparently there were gusts of up to 100 miles an hour. So, as you would expect, the power went after lunch yesterday. So I lit the fire, I lit a gazillion candles and put some batteries in the radio, settling down on the floor infront of the fire and gazed at the trees blowing outside the window. I must have sat there for hours, just doing nothing but staring out the window...
Then it got dark, then I thought, sod it, I'm having a glass of wine, so I did just that.
Husband got home and as the cooker wouldn't work, we HAD to get a Chinese takaway, Oh! the trauma! We spent the rest of the evening playing cards and getting slowly sloshed. It was the best night I've had for a long time. Sometimes I think of hiding the tv altogether, so we can do that all the time.

We went ot bed with the power still off, and woke up in the morning with the power still off. Thank GOD it came on at about 9ish, the thought of going through the day with no coffee or bacon sandwiches was terrifying.

What a mess!

2007-01-17T04:08:00.000-08:00

I can never wait to get sowing, so every January I get peas, broad beans and sweet peas underway. I've got some basil sown as well. Never had much success with basil. I always dream of rows and rows of lush bushes, and presenting my friends and family with home made goblin market pesto. Never happens.

My peas are looking a tad leggy, I never know why that is. Are they too warm maybe? Well, I've bunged them out to harden off now, along with the beans. I'm planning a trip to Wickes to see how much drain pipe is....I've always wanted to try the drain pipe pea sowing thing.

I've tried soaking my sweetpea seeds in warm water over night, lets see if it makes any difference eh?!

Oh Aunty Em!

2007-01-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

There's no place like home,
there's no place like home,
there's no place like home...

Right?

Well if this is home...I'm not sure I'd want to leave munchkin land, (not that I'm claiming I ever have left munchkin land!).

I like my house, it's so cute, but the location...there is nothing here for me.

I feel no connection to it at all.

The situation here and the way we live literally on top of our neighbours stresses me out.

You may well be reading this and thinking...tsk! Ungrateful cow, look at what you've got! More than a lot of people! But trust me...it's time to move away. It's time for Nick and I to LIVE our lives together, have an adventure...

I'm scared!

Erica
xx

Uh-oh!

2007-01-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

Splurge on interior items for the bedroom, including two doilies?
Baking fairy cakes for my husbands pack lunch?
I'm actually thinking of making a pack lunch?

It's finally happened,

I've turned into my mother....!!!!

Spring? Hello?

2007-01-08T05:05:00.000-08:00

I love sowing seeds.

I sow as early as I can, probably too early!

Here's the first little glimmer of what's to come from my allotment this year, peas and broad beans.

Tomorrow, if the weather's fine, I'll go and dig.
It hasn't stopped raining for what seems like forever, and my allotment is just a mud bath.
My garlic is poking through the earth at last, I still get excited, I'm such a saddo.
Nick says he can get me some pallets from work, this means I can build my first ever compost bin! I might make some leaf mulch aswell this year.

Water was a serious problem last year, so now is the time to collect it. I need more butts, trip to the tip soon I think!
I did see a bright pink bath that was dumped outside someone's house in town, now a huge pink bath would look wonderful...alas it will not fit in my car.

revel in the seasons

2007-01-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

I love weather. I like it baking hot, freezing cold, thunder, as long as it's doing something...

My favourite season is Autumn, but days like today make me wonder.

The sheer darkness of it. I love it. I HAD to go out and be in it. I was hoping to find some rooks but there are none in the village, there are some in the next village, where my allotment is...I'll take some pictures next time I'm there.

My only complaint about today's weather is that it could have been a bit colder...

I am having trouble uploading my photos...will try again in a while.

2007-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Time for an early spring clean...very early.

I'm desperate to clear out the lounge, it's so cluttered. Maybe I'll change the colour?
Maybe a nice warm green?
I like the red though...any suggestions?

Fairy Swap

2006-12-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Well, who's a lucky girl?
Look what I got in the post!
It's from Ocean Dreamer (LIsa), my Secret Society of Faeries swap partner. She lives all the way over in California which I just think is amazing in it's self! My God! Imagine living in California! Well, despite Lisa going through the most awful time lately she took the time to gather all these lovely, wonderful faery gifts and send them over the sea to me! Thank you sooo much Lisa, it means so much more knowing what you've been through recently. I hope my parcel reaches you safe and sound soon and brings you a little joy at this difficult time.

What a day!

2006-12-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well what a day yesterday was! Well, the whole week really.

I had a dentist appointment in the morning, plus a massive deadline for two, yes two projects!!

But as the day went on, good news arrived via a text on my mobile phone...I shall share more later.

Then...OMG...my SSOF parcel arrived. I nearly peed myself!

Thank you soooo much Ocean Dreamer!

I took some photos and will upload them asap!

meanwhile...

latest work...

Pumpkin Soup

2006-11-23T03:35:00.000-08:00

Big wedge of pumpkin

chop into bits and bake in oven until sqidgy

scrape flesh away

chop up a bit

sweat some red onion

chuck in pumpkin

pour in boiling water

crumble in 3 veggie stock cubes

stir

whizz with whizzer until consistency you like

season to taste

How to win Monopoly

2006-11-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

Here's one of our games of Monopoly we played on holiday...as you can see I have a hotel on Park Lane.
I soooo whooped Nicked arse!

Here's me looking like a very happy bunny.
It is impossible to be unhappy in south west France...

the £1.50 bottles of wine maaaaaay have helped slightly!!!

Focus

2006-11-21T00:13:00.000-08:00

What is my problem?
What is it with me?
Is there really a problem at all?

I have too many ideas, too many things I want to do and not enough time in the day or even in one hundred years to do them all.
Here's just a few things I would love to do but probably never will as you can only have one career at a time....

To start up my very own greetings card company. Design and publish fab cards. I have already designed 4 ranges, sent off for envelope and board samples, named the company...no time.

I want to make things, knit bags and flowers and toys and egg cosies, scarves and sock and hats. But I don't really know how to knit.

I want my allotment to be the best allotment up there with row upon row of healthy veggies. But I haven't the time to devote to it,, so it's full of weeds. I am yet to grow a successful carrot. I am very good at growing pumpkins though.

I want to write more. I have had several ideas for junior fiction but they never get past 5 chapters.

I want to bake. I want to welcome Nick home from work with a batch of freshly baked cookies. I want a nice kitchen to do it in. Not a fitted one from MFI you understand, but a homely, warm kitchen with nice lighting. I want to wear a full 50's skirt while I'm baking with lots of petticoats...and a pinny. I do not own a pinny.

I want to move to France ( THIS WILL HAPPEN). I want to open a little shop in Brantome and call it Chez Fai, where I'd sell all things faery, from dolls to books. I would deck the place with fairy lights. I would paint the facade lilac. I would have a studio in the little room upstairs where I would work on my children's picture books. I would have a cat who lived in the shop...I would call him....hmmmm...what would I call him....Mabinogion...or Gobolino....or Dave...?

I am in no way complaining. I'm a happy bunny doing my children's books, but I'm never totally content. I'm very restless.
Maybe I should just Jack everything in a become a river gypsy...

I still don't feel as though I have really ACHIEVED anything yet. I know I've had books published...but I've NEVER seen them in a bookshop. I feel there's more in me than I'm getting out.

Perigord Pumpkin Press

2006-11-20T21:40:00.000-08:00

I have started up a new blog to record our journey to France....

see link on the right ----->

cooooo-eeeeee!

2006-11-20T04:22:00.000-08:00

I'm back!

I feel very guilty for not blogging in so long!
I've just been so busy with work and we had a quick break in France (see Perigord Pumpkin Press)

Erica
x

Pot of Autumn

2006-10-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

Just been up the allotment and gathered the last of the summer veggies. Still loads of chard, kale and savoy cabbage to come. Making a lovely soup for my lunch tomorrow! Ooooh forgot to take a piccy of my pumpkins! Just as well really, they are a little disappointing...all 2 of them!!!

Wedding anniversary on a budget!

2006-09-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

It was our wedding anniversay today... 4 years!
Where does the time go?

My, my...

2006-08-31T01:15:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the front cover I did for Hodder.
It's been published!
As usual, I'm the last to know ;0)

2006-08-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

It needs a background colour, but here it is so far

xx

Foxy Teacher

2006-08-24T00:55:00.000-07:00

This is a sketch that I'm going to paint up today. It's very rude, sorry, but hopefully I'll get some cool commissions. Here boobs are a bit wonky so I'll have to fix that.

new stuff...

2006-08-16T02:45:00.001-07:00

Here's a new piece for my adult porfolio.
Hopefully I'll get some more book jackets.
I've just finished one for Hodder Headline which was great fun to do. I'll post it up when it's been published.

Must dash!

Erica
x

new stuff...

2006-08-16T02:45:00.000-07:00

August...

2006-08-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

I've got some weeding to do!

Lucky

2006-08-04T02:25:00.000-07:00

My cat caught him.
I saved him.
He lived with me for a day, a night and most of another day.
Then he popped his little feathery clogs.
R.I.P. my little Lucky

Spoilt spoilt spoilt!

2006-08-04T02:05:00.000-07:00

I've been really slack lately blog wise, I've had a lot going on (excuses excuses). BUT ANYWAY! My Pink swap partner is a veeery nice lady who lives all the way over the sea in Washington, in America! I wish I knew how to do a linky thing, anyone know?
Well. Just look what arrived i the post for me!

The most beautiful gifts. And sooo thoughtful, THANK-YOU Kim!
I was so ashamed of the pack I sent Kim, that I've sent a few little extras by way of a thank-you!

Inbetween showers

2006-07-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

Some piccies taken inbetween showers today

An onion... obviously!

And my first pumpkin!

Here's my new path

ZZZZZAAAAAP!

2006-07-05T01:58:00.000-07:00

Thunder and lightening and some much needed rain!

2006-06-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Just been up allotment, cor it were 'ot!

I harvested by first pickings of the season. I'm way behind last year. I had all sorts by this time last year.
I'm veeery please with my lolla rosso, it somehow looks a more deep red than the stuff you get in the shops!

Bling Bling!!!!

2006-06-29T04:37:00.000-07:00

Oooooooh get me an me new banner! In't it sparkly!

My life is sooo disorganised. I have a squillion and one things I COULD do, but end up achieving nothing.

I could -

Paint up the two new picture book ideas I have (if a little daunting)
Do some housework (yeah right)
Go up and work at the allotment (tempting)
Work on my new card ranges

Ugh, I think I'll go up allotment...bye for now!

June at the allotment

2006-06-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

. So far I have planted out ;

Sweetcorn
Tomatoes
Various lettuce and salad leaves
radishes
cabbages (savoy)
Cauliflowers
Peas
Beans (Fire tongue & polestar)
pumpkins
courgettes
sunflowers
sweetpeas
chard
onions

I've been having serious blog guilt, I haven't posted anything for ages...
Time to catch up...

Today I went up the allotment and while Nick was doing something with my beans, he accidently disturbed a nest of little mice! Mum ran off too quick to catch her, and the babies all started scurrying off in different directions! I collected all the babies together and we made a little nest for them and covered tham up again. I hope mum comes back! They were making enough squeaking noises! I wanted to bring them home but Nick wouldn't let me :0(

The bluebell wood

2006-05-15T05:25:00.000-07:00

Nick & I went to Coton Manor on Saturday to see the bluebells. One day, I will live in a house just like this! I will, I will!!! (yeah right).
Chicken is from last years visit...

Thursday 11th May

2006-05-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

Went up on Thursday and got loads done. I made a start on my paths and planted my...

Tomatoes
Sunflowers
Brown Onions
Peas
A few runner beans
Lettuces

Oooh what a kerfuffle!

2006-05-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday was my long awaited rotovator day up at the allotment. It was supposed to be Saturday but the hire place double booked it! Nick took the day off specially to help as I'm too much of a weakling to do it myself, (I had visions of ploughing through everyone's allotments with me being dragged behind it).

The Lost Boys

2006-05-02T01:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the annual sci-fi and horror fest at Milton Keynes...lots of veeery strange people wandering about! ANYWAY, I got very excited when I saw there was a Lost Boys reunion. Now, I spent most of the early nineties wandering around Rhyl in long floaty skirts wearing lots of bangles, thinking I was Star. I had the poster, the T-shirt, the soundtrack...I was The Lost Boys number one fan!
Unfortunately I didn't have my camera so I pinched some piccies off t'internet.
I saw Corey Haim, the 2 good looking vampires that weren't Keifer or the bloke from Bill & Ted, (who are now even more gorgeous). Corey Feldmen was meant to be there but was no where to be seen. The little kid vampire was there as was the other half of the frog brothers. I'd just had a coronation chicken baguette which was welded to my teeth so I was too shy to go and say hello, I wish I had now.

Allotment news!
I'm hiring a rotavator on Saturday!
I'm determined to have the most fabulous allotment up there. I really want to put my stamp on it, get all the old boys gossiping..."have you seen what that girls up to now!"

The bees, the beeeees!!!

2006-04-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I went up the allotment this afternoon and did a whole 3 hours which is the most I've done in a long time. I dug about three square metres, planted my RED BARON onion sets and harvested some RHUBARB, LEEKS and my one and only CAULIFLOWER. So Cod with creamy lemon sauce, leeks and cauliflower for tea!

While I was up there I made a major decision, one I thought I'd never make. I decided to only work half my allotment this year, I'll cover the other half in carpet and anything else I can find to keep the weeds down. There are a few reasons for this...

No1. My neighbour Kate has 3 beehives. Now, I love bees, I think they're great, plus I luuurve honey and was given some by Kate last summer which was delicious...BUT...I'm terrified of the little blighters. They're a particularly frisky swarm and love nothing better than chasing you around your allotment and trying to sting you. This means you don't actually get a lot of gardening done as you spend most of your time running about Benny Hill style..cue the music. So I'll work the other end, further away from the bees.

No2. I've got a really bad back and could barely get into the car after todays jaunt. (It's a bit better now...going to soak in't bath).

No3. I don't really have the time to do the whole plot, people have been telling me this for years but I'm stubborn and wanted to prove I could do the whole thing, (which I did), but I just can't this year for the above reasons :0(

So there we go...I've admitted defeat. I'd rather have a smaller beautifully kept plot than a big huge untidy one. I've still got 12metres x 14 metres so that's plenty. I'm going to work on my bedding plan this evening and will post it up when I've done it. (Bet you can't wait! Good grief I need to get a social life!)

Minnie Egg

2006-04-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

My mother & father-in-law have a new friend, she's called Minnie and she arrived on Good Friday. It was everything I could do not to stick her in my bag on the way out! Soooooooo cute.

Ooh I say!

2006-04-13T02:54:00.000-07:00

I've been down the shed since 7.15am this morning finishing this front cover, and yes, I did say 7.15 am! For those of you who know me you will know this is a highly irregular occurance. I am half woman, half doormouse and fall asleep at any given opportunity...zzzzzzzz...oh sorry!

Anyways, here's a rather racey little number which is being sent to lots of chic lit style publishers.

2006-04-10T04:45:00.000-07:00

End of Term spot the difference

2006-04-10T04:33:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

There are 9 differences between these two photos...first right with the answers wins a prize made of chocolate!

The new moi

2006-04-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

I'm off to the hairdressers tomorrow to have my head shorn, in the style of the girl in my Paris map painting. It's the beginning of the new moi. I consider one of my greatest idols in life, someone of huge inspiration to me, to be Miss Piggy. Next week, starting monday, (again!), I will -

1. Go running everyday
2. NOT eat pies, chips, donuts or Jamaican ginger cake.
3. Not drink wine on a school night.
4. Clean the toilet more often and generally be a better housewife!
5. Have my husband's tea ready for him every, well, most nights. He knows where the oven is!

Of course I will contantly be referring to my manual "Miss Piggy's Guide to Life". Below (or above, I can never figure it out) is an example of the kind of exercise I will be doing. This is called "The Gift Lift"

Life's a witch

2006-04-07T04:35:00.000-07:00

I was on a roll last night and the night before and stayed up til the wee hours sketching and drawing ideas to be painted up. Today I wake up with a MIGRAINE! Aaaaaaagggghhh! Here's my latest effort done a few days ago. I'm going to go and lie down now...bum.

2006-04-05T03:39:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest piece. I have to rush back down the studio now and do some more. I've given up trying to be a digital whizz for my editorial stuff and have gone back to paints and brushes!! I'm really pleased with how the style is developing, I lurve the girl character and want her life desperately. I wanted to move to Oxford yesterday, and today I want to live in Paris.
Will post more as I do them :0)

A weekend in the Dales...

2006-03-31T06:03:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we went up to Yorkshire to visit friends, (one of whom is a former Loddingtonite). My God, they know how to walk! It was just stunning. We went to Bolton Abbey and walked all the way along the river and back. I think we'll be making a trip back up there very soon! Here's some piccies...as you can see I'm not a photographer, poor Robbie only just made it in the frame!!

It's that time again...

2006-03-20T06:40:00.000-08:00

We went to Milton Keynes on Saturday and Nick bought me this amazing journal from Paperchase, (Iget veeeery excited about stationery). It's got foldy out pages with grids on so you can plot out you allotment and lots of little plastic sleeves for all your seed packets and EVERYTHING! You have to feel sorry for me really :)

...that is, to completely take over the kitchen worktops with trays of seedlings. I had a great time yesterday getting my hands dirty. I sowed :

Sweet peas
Tomatoes
Parsley
Spinach
Red Brussels sprouts
Sweetcorn
Sunflowers
Zinnias
Candytuft (dwarf fairy)

In the studio

2006-03-20T05:29:00.000-08:00

Well, I've finished "Molly's Jolly Brolly". It all arrived at my publishers in Looodooon this morning. They're all very happy with it and so am I. It's a long wait now until publication! It's scheduled for July. I just can't wait. In the mean time I'm going to have to pull my finger out. I've nothing booked in at ALL! Yikes! I've got loads of ideas though and I'm going to take advantage of this time to do some major, and I mean MAJOR publicity. Here's some piccies of me working on one of the final spreads for 'Molly's Jolly Brolly".

Still no bites

2006-03-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

I've still not had any bites from any publishers since sending out some mailshots a few weeks ago. I only sent out 20, but that's all the publishers I could find that suited my style! Actually, that's a terrible excuse. I really must pull my finger out.
I've been working on some editorial style images which I'm going to print off today. I'll see if I get any work from those.
I'm really happy with them actually! See what you think...for some reason the first one's cropped.

2006-03-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

Well, below is what my allotment is going to look like and above is what it unfortunately looks like at the mo! Wish me luck. I've got a book project on at the moment which is finishing soon, then I'll have to dig like the clappers to get it ready for planting. I'm supposed to have sown my peas and sweetpeas in pots by now...oops! I'm veeery behind this year.

I decided to walk the mile or so to the next village where my allotment is. It is possibly the most boring walk in the world, until you get to Thorpe itself which is lovely.

Time to get a move on...

2006-02-28T00:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Pumpkin Press! Here I'll keep a record of my extremely exciting day to day activities...but mainly my allotment.

Watch this space!