Chicken Mouth Jug

Chicken mouth jug is very precious to my heart. Once upon a time, he lived in my Grandparents' kitchen and came out for breakfast time to serve the milk in. I loved him. I'd ask my Grandmother to get Chickenmouth jug out whenever we went round. I looked forward to breakfast for him alone.

A few years later, he'd been retired to the china cabinet.  I remember asking my Nan, "When you've finished with him, can I have him?". Terrible child that I was, that meant, "When you die, please leave him to me in your will."  or "Can I have it?".  How shocking! My grandparents used to laugh when I said that as I'm pretty sure that they knew that was what I was implying.

Nonetheless, in my latter teenage years, before my nan died, she gave me Chickenmouth jug. He lived in our china cabinet. I didn't use him.

Fast forward over a decade and when I moved to our old home, he came with us.

In the months leading up to our move, CBC was moaning about all the 'inherited clutter' from my old house and made some reference to getting rid of him. I remember being already incensed with CBC anyway, but I remember being utterly furious at the thought of him not regarding Chickenmouth jug in the same affection as I did. To him, he's just a piece of lifeless china, and I expect to you or the average person. But to me, Chicken mouth jug was something my Nan gave me, one of the last things.  I hope he remains with me for long to come.

Do you have anything like this?

xx

Easter garb and 10 reasons to be grateful

 Hello there,
Greetings from Northumberland again! Doesn't my husband look sweet in those pictures behind me! He was adorable as a kid. I would totally have liked him if he'd have been in my class!

As it was Easter Sunday, I decided a pretty dress was definitely in order- something pastel and Spring-like. I don't do pastels very often so this is a rare occurrence on this here blog! Thus I paired them with black to shield myself from the trauma of it!

 The dress is from my old favourite, Closet London. You've probably seen several of their dresses over the years on my blog (and here , here, here, here, here-blooming heck, looks like a Clara dress there!) but I only started to tag them last year! I didn't realise they were a well-known brand until last year when I started seeing other bloggers wearing them. We used to have an outlet for them in my home town and I've been buying them for a good few years- it was rather sad to discover the shop was closing down and I'd have to spend about £40-50 if I wanted to buy any more.  So much money!!! Mine were only about a 3rd of that maximum! Mind you, I own at least 10 (eek!) so that's no bad thing I won't be buying any more!

 Thus, when I bought this one, I bought it thinking, "This is one of the last times I will buy one of these!)
It seemed my Pi brooch would work with the dress- hurrah!

We've had a lovely walk today in the Cheviots and I was telling my friend who we went with, about 10 things to be grateful for and she asked what I would be grateful for today.

So here you are:

1. The joy of seeing friends and spending time with them. The joy that I have my own friends now to go and see in Hexham!

2.  A delicious picnic which J made for us!

3.  The fact that CBC drives well and did the driving up the hideous A68 road, AKA the rollercoaster! I would DIE if I had to drive up it!

4. The fact I didn't slip over at all walking.

5. For the sunshine that greeted us on the way down.

6. For the gorgeous exercise- all 12.5km of it.

7.  For a good night's sleep the night before. 

8.  To have family in such a beautiful place and to know the secret of  Northumberland

9.  For cheesy Wotsits in my packed lunch and roast chicken sarnies! 

10.  For the amazing cake and tea so cheaply at the Barrowburn tea room. I am so sad they are going to have to sell the farm and shut the tea room because they just can't make a living up there.

What are you grateful for? And what did you wear for Easter?

xxx

5 brooches and friends #25- Silver Brooch anniversary!

Hello chaps!

How are you? Well, I hope. All's well in Kezzie Towers- excessively glad it is the Easter holidays now- hurrah! 

Well, I've got to post 25 in my 5 brooches homage! Obviously, there have been repeats on several brooches but I still have a few which you haven't seen...

 I've always had an affection for lobsters.  I have always felt sorry for the ugly animals (except for Scorpions- they are nasty!) so I once bought a cuddly lobster! Here is gorgeous Mr Frenchy from Erstwilder-he was my other birthday money purchase along with the Camper van!

 My Flapper Doodle Collar clips,  must have, I am sure, featured in the first 5 brooches, if not near the beginning.  I love the way the chain is part of the flappers' cup and string telephone!

Glitter bear is, I KNOW, going to be one of those brooches that I can NEVER get to stay in the right position. He just looks quizzical.
Was really hard to photograph, just looked like he was photobombing! He's from Freedom at Topshop.

 My Punkypins necklace- If you're not sure what this refers to, it's a Doctor Who reference and this was as close as I could get to TARDIS blue. Clara Oswald, my favourite New Who companion is known as the Impossible Girl! If you're really geeky, you could probably look at the jumper I'm wearing and tell me in what episode that Clara wears a jumper like this!? Yes? Anyone?

Ah, since it is my silver brooch blog post, here is a sterling silver brooch. It is really pretty and I found it in a charity shop a good five years ago probably. It was in its original jeweller's box citing a Southend-on-Sea jewellers. It has tiny little sparkly zirconia beads which sparkle in this correct light. Which this wasn't..

I wore this for my concert in Maldon last week.

This was a bit of a collar fest! Allllllllllllllllll the collars!

Have you worn any brooches or seen any cool ones this week?

xxx

Put on your Easter bonnet!

Hello there!
Happy Easter! Christ is risen!!!

I hope you had a blessed Sunday!

It's lovely to be up north in Northumberland.

Last year, my new Head teacher introduced the Easter Bonnet parade to school. We'd never done this at my school but I have really enjoyed seeing the creativity of the children in their designs.  I thought I'd share some of the pictures of some of the children's bonnets. You can imagine the conversation,
Me: Could you just take off your bonnet for a moment so I can photograph it without your face, please?
Child: (thinking to themselves) Why doesn't she want my face in it?
Me:  (aloud)I can see the hat much better without it being on your head. I miss the details otherwise.
(thinking) Hmmmm, blog post, blog post, blog post..

Anyway, enjoy them, there some really cool ideas!

You see lots of these pastel coloured straw hats. When I was a kid, tissue paper was the chief ingredient of the Easter bonnet.  Nowdays, the components are a lot more indulgent.

I like the fact that tissue paper featured in the bottom left. and cuddly rabbits.

The pompom chain on top right reminds me of those sweetie necklaces.

I like the fact that the kid made their top hat at the bottom.

All the yellow.  Cardboard cut outs, feathers and lots of marabou. That bottom left one was so beautiful with all that yellow marabou! And that flower.

I liked the brown nest feel of the top left and the (oops, same photo twice- just noticed) clever use of lolly sticks to make rabbit ears down the bottom. Nice homemade feel and a nice budget version down the bottom.

Top left was minimal and simple but sweet. The top right had a lovely use of tissue paper to make a landscape!  Again, I like the fact that the bottom left wasn't too expensive! That is an alarm clock on the bottom right! Creative. I wonder what adhesive they used?

Good use of feather boas and bunny ears!

The top left looked a bit like a mixture of Admiral Nelson's hat and a brown tent! It was very unique and individual which I liked.  That top right used a LOT of pom poms. Bottom left is very full of fluffy animals!

These ones were a bit differnet. I like the mesh on the bottom right and what looks like a Christmas tree trimming on the pink one!

Nice hippie vibes going off in this set!

The one with knitted chicks was different. Her Mum made those. Nice use of flowers. Reminded me of mine a bit!

Great use of those flower garland you can get in pound shops and pipe cleaners on the top right. And a whole bunny cuddly toy on the bottom right!

Yay, someone used real eggs on the top left and coloured surf boards on the top right.
Lots of cuddlies on the bottom left!

Ha, love the big chick face and the big cockerel!

Sweet simple use of paper bunny ears here, and a handmade hat.
The girl wearing the enormous 'cool' chick was absolutely howling her eyes out, she really hated having it on her head and took it off gladly for me!

Lots of plastic eggs and chicks and I love how busy the nest one was!

Top left was fun and different!

Sheep and chicks in top hats! Why not?

Good use of feathers and the 'unwrapped' chocolate bunny made us giggle!

Anyway, I thought that was enough, so you're wondering about mine?

When we cleared out my Grandad's house, I found this straw hat with plastic flowers at the back and the ribbons and I almost cried. I remember having had an awful hair cut when I was about 13 and when I went to my Nan's on a sunny day, she left me wear this hat and it made me feel pretty briefly, amid feeling bad about my hair.

To make the front a bit more interesting, I added a whole lot of floral brooches/corsages and hair clips I had at home to the ribbon-band so it was a quick job!

My year 5's asked to take a picture of me in it, so I said ok and handed over my camera. They kind of missed the main decorations- ah well!

Did you make an Easter bonnet?

xxx

♫ "How Deep The Fathers Love For Us" - Stuart Townend ♫

My favourite song to sing at church is this one. It is very appropriate for Easter as it shows the deepness of God's love and cites Jesus's last words. The melody has a yearning quality which I feel really reflects the words.







How deep the Father's love,

How vast beyond all measure,

That he should his only son,

To make a wretch his treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss,

The Father turns his face away,

As wounds which mar the chosen one,

Bring many sons to glory.



Behold the man upon the cross,

My sin upon his shoulder.

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held him there,

Until it was accomplished.

His dying breath has brought me life.

I know that it is finished.



I will not post in anything,

No gifts, no power, no wisdom.

But I will boast in Jesus Christ.

His Death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from his reward?

I cannot give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart.

His wounds have paid my ransom.



Words and melody by Stuart Townend.

Eastingle

 I arrived at church on Good Friday not really knowing what Eastingle would be like.

Our church created the Eastingle service last year after people asked if there was an Easter version of Christingle.  If you know the premise of Christingle, you construct an orange with cocktail sticks, a red ribbon, candle, and dried fruits

All these packs of Hot Cross buns with a straw and three pieces of crepe-paper were upon the altar.

 After we sang 'Build your kingdom here', everyone fetched their Eastingle packs:

First, we added our purple flag to the bun.
Purple, because Jesus is God's King.
We read Mark 15 Chapter 22-32 and watched a cartoon of it, where Jesus was taken to the place called Golgotha.
We then read Mark 15-33-39 where Jesus was nailed to the cross with the criminals.

 We added our red flag:
Red because it reminds us of Jesus' blood, shed for us on the cross because he loves us.
We read Mark 16 v 1-7- "Jesus is alive" and watched the film remembering where the women went to the tomb and found Jesus had gone and was alive. We sang When I survey the wondrous cross.
We added our white flag:
White because it represents Jesus shining as the Light of the World.

 During a talk by our Youth Worker, she revealed a box she had brought which had some items in it.

 1. White candle - because light banishes all darkness.  When you put a candle in the darkness it gives light. On Sunday we will light a new candle to remember Jesus's story is more than birth and death.
2 Crown - Jesus was a King. Our purple shows this as does his welcome on Palm Sunday. The crown of a King turned into a crown of thorns. We know it doesn't end there.
3.  Bread and Wine:  Jesus said remember me with bread and wine. His disciples continued to remember him with that meal. We celebrate that meal at church.
4.  Holding Cross:  We give these to those who are christened or confirmed at our church.  'These holding crosses Say, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength and love your neighbour as yourself. People use holding crosses in many situations. They help us to pray and think when we can't find the words we need in a desperate situation. It fits in the palm of our hand to remember what Jesus did.
5.  Little purple box - It's a gift from Christ, his death. This is a gift from the church to you, to help you remember being here, we are passing the love of God onto each person.  It's something to share with others, leave it out.  (It was a chocolate egg!).

 We thanked God for the gifts he gives us and everyone took a small purple box.
We sang Shine Jesus Shine to finish.

 I confess to wondering what I'd think of the Eastingle but it was surprisingly moving and a really lovely simple way to think of Jesus' sacrifice at Easter.

"It is finished," He said. Now we wait for Easter Sunday and his return.

xx

Agape

Today, it was the last day of school which I was very happy about.
We had an Easter bonnet parade at school which I brought  a slightly decorated hat to (more on that soon).  After school, I went to the hospital to visit my friend who I talked about before. The vicar from her  church arrived at the same time and gave her communion which she invited me to take part in. I've never taken part in Communion outside of a church before so this was a new experience and it was lovely she'd come on Maundy Thursday, just before the service, to give my friend communion.

After that, I headed to my old home town.  A girl from my church who plays drums in my band had invited me to take part in Agape. I wasn't really sure what this was (except that I knew that Agape means Love in Aramaic).  I arrived at her house along with 2 other ladies of my age and two older ladies plus H's parents who she lives with.

I wasn't really sure what to expect. This is what our booklets said in the introduction:

The Agape celebrates communion (instituted at Jesus's last Supper) as part of a meal, following the practice of the early church. In our Agape, we are attempting to echo the domestiv household atmosphere of Communion in the early Church. Agape (pronounced Ag-a-pay) simply means 'love'.  In the early Church this came to be used as the name for shared meals, which expressed the close fellowship of the community.  Communion was usually part of these meals so they also celebrated the sacrificial love of Jesus.
As well as 'love' thanksgiving is also a central theme in Communion.  The service sometimes call the Eucharist which is the Greek for 'thanksgiving#.  The theme of thanksgiving runs through Agape, culminating in the Thanksgiving prayer in Church.
Our Agape looks back to the Last Supper which was probably a Passover Meal.  Jesus celebrated this with his discples just before his arrest, trial and crucifixion.  Jesus gave that meal a new emphasis.  He changed the symbolic meaning of some fo the elements in that meal, so giving us the Communion service.  First, our Agape echoes some of the themes of the Passover: themes that come from the story of the Exodus.  It goes on to draw out the connection between the Communion service and its Passover background.

After welcome and Thankgiving readings, we had the first course of our meal- fruit juices, chatted and then heard the reading of the Exodus story and how it was retold at every Passover.

I lit a candle as a sign of the journey made by all God's people from darkness to light apparently.

We read a psalm and then ate our second course- Pasta bake or lasagne with salad and coleslaw.I discovered that C, one of the two younger ladies used to live near my childhood home and we'd been at the same Youth service and she knew some of my old church friends.

We moved onto a reading about the last supper and lit a second candle.

Then we had the third course, dessert (Banoffee pie) and then had a final reading about Jesus washing his disciples' feet. We lit a third candle.

We then all set off for one of the other churches in the parish for a combined service of the rest of Agape with songs, short sermon and Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday.

We filed out of church and I went back for a cup of tea at H's house.

It was a lovely way to spend Maundy Thursday with others, remembering Jesus's last supper and sharing a fellowship.

I headed home.

Tomorrow,I will be playing for the 'Eastingle' service in the afternoon at church and hopefully the march of witness on the High Street.

xxx

Lindybop Lindyhop lobster

Good Evening, Villagers!

Hope all is well with you.

I generally dislike Wednesdays (mostly due to just ONE class grrrr) but this was one was quite fun.  After an awkward start with a class (one horrid child) they managed to pull it together and perform well as did the other year 4 class. In Singing assembly, because it is Shakespeare week, I taught the kids to sing Henry VIII's Pastime with good company, which we accompanied with our timpani playing a drone ostinato that set it off remarkably well. Survived the horrid class and had a good one (except WHY will they always try to cheat in Music Vocabulary Bingo. There's always ONE!) and then after school I did a Tudor Dance one-off session for years 3-6. Had about 24 children which was a nice number. Most of them had done in it year 4 when I taught them but there were about 7 year 3's as well. It worked really well. We learnt Branle des Lavandieres and a simple, but effective, dance to Pastime with Good company.    It made for a jolly end to the school day. 

CBC and I went swing dancing almost two weeks ago and it gave me a chance to wear my Christmas present from CBC- a Lindy Bop dress. I love it when someone buys me a dress! Yay!

I got the idea to do red accessories from Louise at Polka Dots and Freckle Spots who wore a similar dress with red. Charity-shopped red Monsoon cardie, George dalamation spot shoes and Erstwilder brooch plus a hair flower.  We tried to take pictures out a the Kursaal where the dance was. It was the 7th Anniversary of JiveSwing teaching in Southend so it was really nice to go along and celebrate that.   All the photos or nearly all were rubbish at the Kursal apart from this one

...which was still dark and grainy!

So you get some photos from my entrance corridor to my home with its speckled wallpaper, doormat and vanity case!

Hope all is well with you.
xxx

1 more get-up...

What is it? #40

Hello mes enfants.

How goes it in the world of you? I hope that all is spiffing and topping and tickety boo.

I've been involving the kids in school in 'What is it?' at school (because I think it's important to share the practice of seeing shapes in clouds with the children of today who might not be outside enough to think of such things!)
One of the kids came up to me as I was taking this picture saying, "What are you photographing?" to which I replied, "Look, it's a cloud shaped like a ......"

Today, I saw a cloud that looked like a cackling witch and pointed it out to some kids who laughed when I saw it.

Anyway, have a wee look at the cloud above and tell me what it reminds you of? What do you see beyond a cloud?

Leave me a comment saying what you see, I ADORE the imagination and whimsy of it! Oh and don't feel you have to be uber imaginative- simple is also good!

RING RING!!!

So... it was a loooong time ago that I shared this photo (Jan 15th to be precise).
I saw it as an old-fashioned telephone sitting on its cradle. You know, the black retro ones.

What did the delightful commenters see?

10 comments:

1. 
   Julia8:03 pm

   Aww, thanks Kezzie. You're a dear... Wow, that's a different cloud... I see a rather hefty lady with her hair tied in a bun on her head. She is bending down with her hand on her right hip and her butts in the air sweetly talking to the kitties around her. Ridiculous but that's what I see.
   Hugs.
   JB

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Shamu Boo4:33 am

   It sure looks like a chef's hat to me. Oh, I need some misbehaving. OK, picture me in a leather jacket with chains and smoking as I say it. Maybe drinking milk from a dirty glass.
   
   All Things Bright and Lovely
   

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Anca12:00 pm

   The cloud is an old phone, like the ones from WWII. :)

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   Natasha Hill8:07 pm

   Oh yay! I'm so glad to see this is back Kezzie! I can see an erupting volcano - quite a flat topped crater on this one, but I can definitely see some plumes of smoke! - Tasha

   ReplyDelete
5. 
   Melanie1:51 am

   It's a cartoon lady in a long dress. She is bending over to the right, peering at something. She has a huuuge nose and you can see a fairly detailed eye just to the left of it. She has her hands folded behind her back. Maybe.

   ReplyDelete
6. 
   Polkadot Pink8:47 pm

   I think the cloud is a top! Probably one that we both own! x

   ReplyDelete
7. 
   Corinne11:52 pm

   I think it's a massive pack man eating a cat that's sat with it's back to us. haa.
   
   Corinne x
   www.skinnedcartree.com

   ReplyDelete
8. 
   bevchen10:03 am

   I see a giant jumper... which seems appropriate for winter (even if it was technically a summer cloud).

   ReplyDelete
9. 
   Ivana Split3:20 pm

   all is see is a monster in a shape of a mushroom, I can see its mouth but the rest looks like a mushroom to me:)

   ReplyDelete
10. 
    HazelxJoy4:05 pm

    It looks to be like an old fashioned telephone.

    ReplyDelete

Ooooh, look Anca and Hazel saw the same as me!!! I loved what everyone else saw- the old lady bending down, the chef's hat, the mushroom shape, a jumper or top (yes, Donna, I'm sure we both have it!), the volcano and the cat-eater!
Great fun comments this time.
I look forward to this next batch!

xx