We got ooooone!

After receiving this morning's post it seems we have indeed got one.

Well, at least we are 97% sure.

A quote came back from the local branch of a national builder's merchants I had visited last week. Not only are the cupboard fronts wood rather than foiled MDF but it came in cheaper than the big national chains. Yay! So before they closed at 12 today we went for a second look.

It is a simple Shaker style just like all of the others but this is in a 'barely above completely neutral' stone colour. There won't be roundy cupboards like those show here and the dark work surface will only be on the run of units. But there will be cup handles and the island is going to have solid oak surface.

The nice salesman I saw the other day remained nice and full of information and went above and beyond just 'Hello, my name is Trevor and I will be your kitchen designer for today.'  CK and I both proffered alterations we would like made to the plan, some additions, some subtractions but on the whole we are happy with it all and think that this very well might just be 'The One'.

So very close to home

I received a text and an email from the very lovely Katy at I'm a Ginger Monkey yesterday letting me know that my 40th birthday quilt had entered the home straight and was galloping up the flat with just a few more jumps left. She even included a picture of it all quilted up by the talented Chris.

If you would just care to tilt your head or your laptop screen you could even see it the right way around but bloody stupid Blogger won't let me rotate pictures in its artsy fartsy new interface.

I am so very excited and thrilled and possibly even doing a little jig here in the living room because my new quilt will be settled in back here on top of The Hill in time to get comfortable before moving into the new kitchen.

Is it not fabulous? A mahoosive thank you to everyone who sent fabric for it :-)

As Chookyblue suggested I went back and used old-fashioned Blogger to put in the pic the right way up. This is what it looks like.

Kitchen dilemma. Help required.

While recognising there is very little to choose between them I remain at a loss as to what kitchen to go for.

This one or this one. Both are from the same High Street DIY chain, one is wood and veneer, one is covered MDF. And then there are these ones.

All of them with cup handles like Mr Oleson's store in Little House on the Prairie.

(But you have to imagine this one in a stoney grey/green sort of colour.)

Input anyone?

It is MY dirt and I'm Not sharing.

                        Because I am a terrier. And all 18 cubic tonnes of topsoil are mine.

And I am going to sit on top of this 20 foot long by 10 foot wide by five foot tall pile and never go in for my tea again and you can't make me.

                                          Fine. But you can't make me go in the house.

When life gives you lemons...

... or ...

What do you do when you find that the 'free to good home' apples you picked up from someone's doorstep are bruised and holey and sooooo sharp that just smelling them makes your tongue dry up?

Well, you make Dorset Apple cake!

Happy Birthday destructoBoy

Since Blogger hates me and I can't upload pics of my evergrowing new kitchen let me just say

- birthday cake for breakfast is the bomb.
- the brand new ten year old who lists a 'Smith' dog made by his sister in his top two presents is fabulous.
- the nearly 13 yo who sewed like a champ and made a 'Smith' for her brother is also fairly amazing.
- scoring in the Posh Yarns Sunday night sale is always a buzz.
- knitting into lovely scarves the yarn purchased at Posh AND blocking them is thrilling.
- seeing how much Princess Curly-Wurly and destructoBoy have grown over the Summer is just a little bit scarey.
- the stoicism of British builders should not be underestimated. The fallout of 'Irene' is buffetting the UK and 'Cappy' is out there in the wind and rain making concrete to go build me a better life. Bless him.