Monthly Round Up-May

Each month I like to keep a record of what I have been reading, watching, making and places I have been so that I can look back and see what I achieved and even how quickly time is going by. I normally.record it on my planner as a list but on here I can also put photos on.

Places I have been

At the beginning of the month I went with Craig and Emma to see Mary Poppins. There were a few changes to the original story but it was still very enjoyable and the cast were amazing.

As it was the school holidays and Craig took a week off as well we went for a few days out to The British Ironworks Centre

Erdigg Hall near Wrexham

and into Manchester to see amongst other things the John Rylands Library 

What I have watched

What I have Read

I listened to this book and it was the abridged version so a lot shorter than the book itself. I might get round to actually reading the full story as I did enjoy what I read.

This was the last book in the series. They were all large books and took a long time to get through. Interesting mix of fact and fiction.

I needed something light and easy to read and I just love the whole Agatha Raisin series. Busy Body was a re-read as I read it out of sequence and As the Pig Turns was the most gruesome of the stories so far.

What I have made.

I seem to have lost my crafting mojo a bit this year but I have also been working on some big projects that are taking a long time to complete. I have been wanting to make something to cover the shelves. I had to remove the doors to the cupboard as when we bought a new gas oven, the pipe was at a different angle which meant it was not flush with the cupboards and it was very difficult to get into this corner unit as I could not open the doors fully enough to reach inside easily. The Alice in Wonderland fabris was left over from a dress I have made.

Word of the Week - Cinema

 Warning – this post contains plot details and spoilers so if you are planning on seeing any of these films and don’t want to know then skip that section.

 It’s funny how like buses you can wait for ages for one to arrive then 3 come along at once, there are films that you want to see then they all seem to come at once. I have felt like I have lived at the cinema this week after seeing 3 films in 4 days. As you can see I don’t have a particular genre of films that I watch, it is just whatever takes my fancy.

We are fortunate to have the choice of a number of cinemas near us. We do prefer ‘Vue’ rather than Odeon as they have the big recliner chairs and you have more space. For us it is also slightly cheaper for the tickets. We don’t tend to buy snacks from the cinema as there is supermarkets very close by so we tend to stock up there. Matthew has also been known to take a McDonalds in when we have been in a rush.

 On Sunday, I went to see Downton Abbey with my Mum and sister. I have loved Downton Abbey since the first episode and have watched them all multiple times. It is even better to see it on the big screen. Mary is my favourite character but only marginally over Violet, The Dowager Countess. Violet always has the best lines and that was apparent in her final line on her deathbed ‘ Denka, do be quiet, I can’t hear myself dying’. I admit I was in tears at this point but that line was just typical of the Dowager Countess. The filming style was different from the series and the last film and all the characters looked more heavily made up and tanned (even those that didn’t go to the South of France). You could tell Hugh Bonneville had lost a lot of weight and he did look very different. I am glad that Mr Moseley finally had some good luck and that he and Miss Baxter were finally able to be together.

 On Tuesday we took advantage of the Meerkat Movies and went to see Lost City. It is a typical Sandra Bullock film which is why I was surprised that Craig wanted to see it. I enjoyed it as a rom-com but Craig just said it was okay. I hadn’t realised that Brad Pitt was in it as well and did gasp quite loudly at his sudden demise. The change in Channing Tatum’s character was a bit unbelievable but overall it was a light hearted fun movie and a pleasant way to spend an evening.

 On Wednesday, again taking advantage of Meerkat movies we went to see Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness’. Dr Strange isn’t my favourite MCU character but I did like Wanda. The trailer I had seen gave no indication that Wanda was actually the ‘bad guy’ in this film.  That did spoil it for me and I thought the film was ok but I won’t bother going to watch the next one. The heavy use of  fantasy style CGI  puts me off this series as well. I know that CGI is used heavily in most films now but when buildings are bending and things are being twisted etc, it is a little off putting for me.

 It seems the film industry are making up for the lost years as there are quite a few films that are being released this year that I want to see including ‘Lightyear’ ‘Thor, Love and Thunder’  ‘ Mrs Harris goes to Paris’ ‘The Fishermans Friends’  and maybe ‘The Railway Children’ and ‘Elvis’.  Craig wants to see ‘Maverick’ and ‘Black Panther’. Matthew and Emma will probably go with him, but I will give them a miss as although I will probably end up watching them at some point I am not bothered about going to the cinema.

 Do you like going to the cinema and what films are you planning on going to see?

Linking with with Anne at Raisie Bay

What I have been doing in March.

 

March was a very mixed month. It started with a lot of socialising, I was ill in the middle and Craig caught Covid at the end.

 

Making

 I wasn’t really able to do much crafting this month due to various things but I did manage to make flower box frames for Mother’s Day gifts for my Mum and Craig’s Mum.

 I finally got around to making my own pair of pyjama bottoms from my Tilly and the Buttons book. I had made a pair for Emma last month as she wanted them for when she went away. I will be saving mine for when we go away in July. I had to learn how to thread my overlocker which caused a great deal of stress as I am very long sighted and struggled to see where some of the thread needed to pass through the machine. Thankfully a purchase of a pair of glasses that magnified and had built in lights solved the problem.

 I did go to the W.I craft clubs. The crafts were very quick to make and we ended up spending more time talking than making.

 

Watching.

Being ill in bed meant that I was able to binge watch Season 6 of Downton Abbey which I could watch constantly and Season 4 of Agatha Raisin. I had seen the episode at Christmas but missed the rest of the series. Agatha’s outfits are looking more and more eccentric and I would love the confidence to make bolder outfit choices.

 Craig and I started watching Death in Paradise from the beginning and got through the episodes with Ben Millar as D.I Richard Poole. It was a complete shock when he left as I expected it at the end of a season, not the beginning. I won’t give any spoilers in case anyone wants to watch them. I really liked the characters and the relationships they had. If only the police over here were so efficient and effective. You do have to suspend belief with how quick the results for everything come through and how the murderer is caught so quickly but it is enjoyable to watch and the scenery is beautiful.

 As a family we watched ‘The Adam Project’ on Netflix with Ryan Reynolds. The young boy who played the younger Adam was absolutely brilliant and could have easily passed as Ryan Reynold’s son, both in looks and character. It was an interesting story where Adam, a time traveller, accidentally crashes in 2022 and has to team up with his 12 year old self to save the world.

 

Reading

The Crafternoon Sewcial Club by J. Williams

 The Blurb

It's not that single mum Charlotte Newman is completely and utterly obsessed with crafting, necessarily.

Sure, she has balls of wool stashed everywhere like a squirrel stores nuts and more needles than a tattoo parlour. But that doesn't mean she has a problem, right?

Finding herself between jobs, Charlotte fills her time teaching crafting skills at the local nursing home. Encouraged by how positively the residents respond, the possibility of a career doing what she adores fills her mind.

The first step towards that ambition is creating a crafting hub for the community – The Crafternoon Sewcial Club.

When a local charity announces a major knitting-themed fundraiser, Charlotte sees the ideal stage to put her new club firmly on the crafting map and drum up new members in the process.

Unfortunately, not everybody is on board with her vision for a crafting club, as it turns out. Indeed, some are even hoping to see Charlotte's dream come crashing down around her.

Still, she won't let a minor issue like that derail her plans…

To ensure victory, then, she'll need to rally her new members and ask her friends from the nursing home to get those needles clicking faster than a hummingbird's wings!

 It was a light and thoroughly enjoyable read. Every character was lovely (even Charlotte’s nemesis in the end). I would love to live in a community where everybody helps each other and the right thing is always done. It is a definite chick-lit kind of book and I wanted to read it because of the crafting element. I don’t think I would rush to read it again, but it is the perfect book for when you are on holiday or ill in bed.

 

If You Could See Me Now – Cecelia Ahern

 The Blurb

What if love was right there in front of you – you just couldn't see it?

Elizabeth Egan is too busy for friends. As a reluctant mother to her sister Saoirse's young son Luke and with her own business to run, every precious moment is made to count.

But with Saoirse crashing in and out of their lives, leaving both her sister and her son reeling, Luke and Elizabeth are desperately in need of some magic.

Enter Ivan. Wild, spontaneous and always looking for adventure, in no time at all Ivan has changed Elizabeth in ways she could never have imagined. But is Ivan too good to be true? Has Elizabeth opened her heart only to risk it being broken again?

 

Not the kind of book I would choose myself, it was the W.I book club choice. I thought it was an original concept for a romance and though it ended as I expected I found I still had some questions about some of the other characters.

 

What else.

 

The first weekend we were away for the weekend at a Masonic Ladies Weekend at St Anne’s near Blackpool. It was a very enjoyable weekend and it was good to catch up with everyone after a couple of years. I won a rather nice handbag on the tombola so I was very happy. There was plenty to eat and drink and it was nice that for the first time it was just Craig and I. As it is a family event the kids normally come along with us, but this year Emma was working and Matthew did not want to come along. I did not mind at all, though they did miss out on the suite that we ended up being allocated which was bigger than some flats/apartments and had a terrace that was as big as the back garden we had in our first house. It is normally given to the Worshipful Master and his partner, but it is at the back of the hotel and the Worshipful Master wanted a sea view. It would be lovely if we could get it again next year. I did drop a hint to the Lodge secretary 😊

 

Happy Homemaker Monday / Menu plan 28th February 2022

 

It is immensely sad what is going on in the Ukraine and I absolutely respect those Ukrainians who are staying to defend their homes. Like the rest of the world it was with sadness and disbelief when I heard that Russia had actually invaded and I am proud of the way the world has reacted and condemned these actions. Even the majority of Russians did not want this to happen. Hoping and praying that it does not escalate and it is over quickly.

 When Covid started I purposely decided to stop listening and reading to the news all the time. I found that I was starting to feel anxious and worried which are not feelings I was used to. I catch headlines so I am aware of what is going on, but I don’t want to dwell on matters that are out of my control. So, I am not going to go write too much about what is going on for my own sanity.

 Weather

We had a glorious weekend weather wise, much needed after the storms of the last few weeks. Today, however it is back to grey and dull. It does look like it is getting brighter towards the end of the week however.

 Menu plan

It is a nice, simple menu plan this week with Pancake Day and Ash Wednesday taking care of two days. Craig and I are at a Masonic Ladies Weekend in Lytham St Anne’s which we are both looking forward to. Emma is going to be cooking for her and Matthew as neither wanted to come along.

Monday – Chicken Caesar Salad

Tuesday – Pancakes

Wednesday – Tatty Ash

Thursday – Ikea meatballs (need to take a trip to Ikea)

Friday, Saturday, Sunday- Away for the weekend

 Craft basket

Starting on the Dumbo element of the Disney Cross Stitch this week once I have purchased a smaller hoop. There are also got some needle felted love birds to finish off and  I have cast on a new dishcloth pattern.

 On the TV.

A couple of months ago Craig and I caught an episode of ‘Death in Paradise’ on TV and we both enjoyed it, so this week we have started watching the programme from the first episode with Ben Millar. 

 On my reading pile

I have about halfway through ‘The Crafternoon Sewcial Club’ by  J Williams which is an easy read. The book club choice this month is ‘If you could see me now’ by Cecilia Aherne. I have also got ‘The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting’ by Evanna Lynch (Luna from Harry Potter) where she retells her life with anorexia when she was a child.

 

Wishing you all a peaceful week.

Linking up with Karen and Sandra as usual.

Menu Planning Monday 11th October 2021

 

Things are getting busier at the moment as groups start to re-open. We have 2 college open events this week with Matthew, Craig is out at various masonic Lodges three evenings this week, I am at the W.I twice this week, one monthly meeting and one craft club and Emma goes to London with her boyfriend Sam to the premiere of the short film he made in August as part of the the National Youth Film Academy. I am also on a course on Saturday to learn how to make a pair of capri trousers. It is good that things are going back to how they used to be but I do miss the time we had to spend together. It is inevitable that this was going to happen and needed to happen after the last 18 months.

This means that we are not really going to sit down and eat as a family at all this week which is something that I have always tried to do as often as possible. I am still doing a menu plan as it helps with me staying on track with trying to lose weight but it just means that I won't be cooking for as many so there will be leftovers that I can use for lunch or freeze for future weeks.

Menu Plan

Monday - Marigold Soup  (Mary Berry recipe)

Tuesday - Burgers, Fries and Salad

Wednesday - Sausage and mash

Thursday - Subway

Friday - Haddock Casserole

Saturday - Lentil bolognese

Sunday - Cottage pie with Cauliflower mash

Weather

A pretty good week temperature wise considering the time of year. I am looking forward though to single digit temperatures.

What I am watching

This is the time of year that I probably watch the most TV. There is 'The Great British Bake Off', 'All Creatures Great and Small' and last night 'The Larkins'. I am trying not to compare this to 'The Darling Buds of May' which I love. Some of the characters personalities are very different from the original and there are new characters introduced. I think I will still enjoy it if I see it as totally different from the original.

Currently crafting

After finishing the shawl and the knitted tee shirt it is back to the Courthouse steps blanket. I would like to get this finished before winter kicks in so I can snuggle under it in the evenings. I am also starting to make my Christmas cards this year using sets from various places. I have craft club on Thursday where we will be making poppies and on Saturday I will be on a workshop to make a pair of capri trousers. Although I have made dresses before I have never made trousers before and I wanted to learn how to fit them properly.

From the camera

Craig and I took Penny for a walk to Rivington near Bolton. A lot of restoration work has been undertaken in the past few years to the area as it used to belong to the Lever family who had a house there. I hope to go back in a few weeks once the leaves have started to change colour.

Linking up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and Katy

Hope you all have a good week.

Deborah

Menu Planning Monday 14th June 2021

 

Well last weeks menu did not go to plan for various reasons involving being out of the house running errands which were not anticipated. Emma's birthday went well and she did not have a clue about the surprise party until she got back from the meal she had enjoyed with her boyfriend Sam. Her face was a picture and everyone had a good time. Luckily because the weather was good we did not have to put up the party marquee. Everybody was able to stay outside without any coverage. We also had a good day in York (more about that in the next post). Again it was very warm an we did lots of walking.

The Weather

Getting cooler and wetter, I am not a great fan of too much heat so I appreciate the cooler temperature and as long as it rains whilst I am in work then that is fine by mine.

On the Menu

Monday -Burger and Fries

Tuesday - Creamy Chicken, tomato and chorizo pasta bake

Wednesday -Creamed corn and rice stuffed pepper (carried over from last week)

Thursday -Quesadillas (chicken or veg)

Friday -Beef and Broccoli stir fry

Saturday - Chicken Schnitzel

Sunday -Meal with family for Fathers Day

What I am watching

I am watching Clarksons Farm with Matthew on Amazon Prime. Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear fame has bought a farm and the series charts his trials and tribulations as he learns farming. As a family we are watching Loki on Disney Plus and for my personal viewing I am watching 'The Bold Type' on Netflix. This series follows three young women who work for a magazine and how they cope with managing their careers and personal lives.

Looking around the house

I feel that the bathroom grouting could do with being cleaned and I have some drawers that need to be tidied and sorted. I will also need to make sure that the table was no dog hair or dirt on it before I cut out any fabric.

On my to do list

Catching up with my weekly 'highlights of the week' scrapbook

Scrapbook page for trip to York

Buy cards and gifts for Fathers Day

Transferring photos from my phone to the computer  and from my old computer to new one.

Cutting out of fabric for skirt.

Wishing you all a good week wherever you are.

Usual link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and Katy

Happy Homemaker Monday -26th April 2021

 

I had a lovely weekend, shopping and catching up with friends. It is wonderful to be able to go out and enjoy someone else bringing food to you in the sunshine. It is also good to be able to tentatively make plans to visit places and meet friends. This weekend we have a barbecue to look forward to.

The weather

Around the House and Garden

I will be planting some seeds, I know I am a bit late for some of the things I had hoped to plant but I have been a bit lazy all round and I need to give myself a kick up the backside and sort myself out. I have fallen behind with the zone cleaning of the rooms. I have written a to do list for this week which should be manageable.

On the menu

I did not do a menu plan last week as I was frustrated with Craig for not wanting what was on the plan so I left it to him last week. Needless to say it was a disaster and we ended up eating more convenience food than I liked and later as he would have to buy what he needed. Craig admitted defeat so I am back with a menu plan, but I doubt if Craig will allow me to stick with it. I might just tell him to sort himself out if he feels like it.

Monday – Honey Chilli Chicken

Tuesday- Salt and Pepper Chicken wings and loaded potato skins

Wednesday – Spaghetti Carbonara

Thursday – Chicken Parmigana

Friday- Liver & Onions

Saturday – Chinese takeaway with Brother in Law and Nephew

Sunday- Barbecue at friends

It will be nice not having to cook this weekend again. I think it is about time other people got involved with the cooking.

What I will do to relax

As I have a lot to do around the house there won’t be as much time to spend relaxing though I intend to make time. I have to finish the book for my Friday book club and I still have about 100 pages left to read. I will also continue working on my Courthouse step Knitted blanket.

What I am watching

Our Yorkshire Farm – I love watching Amanda and her family on their farm. The kids are the stars (especially Sid and Clemmie). I could not however live as remotely as they are.

The Great British Sewing Bee – I doubt my skills will ever be up to the standard required for appearing but it is a good way of learning.

Hope you all have a good week.

Happy Homemaker Monday 29th March 2021

 

It has been a pretty quiet week. Emma's room is now finished and she is happy and so am I now that I have my craft room back. I am looking forward to being able to have the space to get my sewing machine out and to attempt to make some new clothes.

The Weather

Turning mild for the first part of the week and then cooling down just in time for Easter Weekend.

On the Menu

Monday  - Lancashire Hotpot and Mushy peas

Tuesday - Tacos

Wednesday - Cheesy tomato pasta and Garlic bread

Thursday - Calzone

Friday - Veggie burgers, coleslaw and salad

Saturday -Shredded buffalo chicken

Sunday -Picnic

Looking forward to

Now restrictions have started to lift I am looking forward to seeing my parents on Easter Sunday, especially as it coincides with it being my Dad's birthday. We are planning on going to Rivington Pike with my sister and going for a walk up to the tower and having a picnic, then going to Mum and Dad's and seeing them and chatting in the garden.

What I have been watching.

I seem to have very little say in what we watch, mainly because I am not overly bothered. We only have the one TV and as I have many other things to be getting on with my husband has control of the remote. When I do get hold of it I have been watching 'The Queen's Gambit' on Netflix. I am not at all interested in chess but I have enjoyed the story and seeing how Beth has coped with her addiction and being on her own for most of her young life. She reminded me of Kya in 'Where the Crawdads Sing'. They both have overcome adversity and achieved fame and notoriety in their respective fields.

When I just want something to watch that I don't want to think too much about, then I watch 'Schitts Creek'. I don't find it particularly funny as in laugh out loud but I find it helps me relax.

Linking up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

What I have been watching

 

We recently cancelled our TV package as we found that we weren’t really watching anything that we couldn’t watch on Youview. Craig had taken out the Netflix subscription last November and Emma took out the Disney+ subscription when it came out last year. I don’t really watch much TV normally but there is certainly some interesting programmes on these two services.

Designated Survivor (Netflix)

A devastating attack on the night of the State of the Union kills the President and most of the Cabinet. Tom Kirkman (played by Kiefer Sutherland) was named Designated Survivor (in case of such an event) so is immediately sworn in as President. He has to keep the country from dissolving into chaos and faces many challenges and struggles to balance his own beliefs and values with decisions that need to be made as President.

(image courtesy of imdb)

I started watching this one evening when we were looking for something that both Craig and I would watch (we have vey different tastes generally) and I remembered a work colleague had recommended this. We ended up watching about 3 episodes back-to-back as we were quickly drawn into the whole drama and the ‘what is he going to do’. The poor guy never seemed to get a break for the majority of the first season and it makes you wonder why anyone would want that position. Tom Kirkman comes across as being a decent man who genuinely wants to do what is best for everyone and quickly adapts to his new role. If he were a real person then he would be a man I would vote for if I were an American.

This is a series I am going to have to finish watching on my own as Craig has lost interest now the initial crisis is over.

Bridgerton  (Netflix)

Like the rest of the world, I have watched Bridgerton. I enjoy period dramas anyway so this was obviously something I would watch. I loved the costumes, the sets, the story and the characters. It is pure escapism from what is currently going on in the world.

(image courtesy of Google)

The series concentrates on Daphne Bridgerton, the oldest girl of the Bridgerton family, and her quest to marry. She strikes up a friendship with Simon, The Duke of Hastings, who is looking to never marry. The pair decide to fool the world with their ‘relationship’ but the obvious happens and they fall in love with each other.

A second series has now been commissioned and will focus on Anthony Bridgerton.

The series is based on books by Julia Quinn, each one following a member of the Bridgerton family. I have now bought the books and hope to read them all by then end of the year.

The Imagineering Story  (Disney+)

This is a miniseries that looks at the development and history of the Disney Parks throughout the world. It is a behind the scenes story and looks at the people involved in bringing the parks and rides to life. If you are a fan of the Disney Parks and want to know more than this will give you the detail you need.

(image courtesy of Wikipedia)

We watched this when we first got Disney+ last year as a family on a Friday evening to spend time together as during the day everyone was working in their own spaces for school or work. It was a way of signifying the end of the working week. I initially only agreed to watch it for that reason but ended up thoroughly enjoying the series.

 

Wandavision (Disney+)

This lockdown we are now all watching this series as we all enjoy the Marvel Comic Universe (MCU).

This series shows Marvel heroes Wanda Maximoff and Vision living suburban lives in a TV show format. Each episode is set in a different decade but not all is at it seems.

(image courtesy of Disney+)

I enjoy the format of the show as I do like shows that feature so called normal family life in America. There are also small things that make you realise all is not as it appears, and you think what is going on and who is behind it. There are 3 episodes left of this series so hopefully we might find out more. Last week’s episode gave a different view of what is happening, and every episode ends on enough of a cliff hanger to make you want to watch more.

I have started to watch ‘Queen’s Gambit’ and think that is something I could get into. I tried to watch ‘Umbrella Academy’ but didn’t really enjoy it and I don’t know why as I have watched similar programmes in the past and enjoyed them.

As you can see I have an eclectic taste in TV programmes but I do not like programmes or films that are overly violent or crude. That is why there is not a lot that Craig and I will watch together.

What TV programmes are you currently enjoying and what would you recommend.