What is it? #81

'What is it?'

For anyone who has missed the premise, this is a game where I have seen something...be it a cloud, a shape in the cream of a hot chocolate mug, or a spot of mould which I see some sort of image beyond the literal- be it character, creature, shape or something else. I post it and you have to look at it and see if you, too, see something beyond a cloud etc!

I  LOVE this series- I loved it when people saw the same as me or saw something completely different which I didn't see but suddenly see once you describe it to me! 

This time we have a cloud I saw when in a supermarket car park!

Do leave me a comment telling me what you think you see in that cloud?

What about last time?

I saw this cloud and saw it as a young bird with a gangly neck leaning out of a nest, reaching down for something.  I did also see that the 'nest' could also be its body too!

What about my lovely commenters (THANK YOU to those of you who played along- you made my day/week!) 

1. 
   Bless5:34 am

   I see a cloud bird fleeing from what looks like a bird of prey hovering high above it. What did you see?

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Joy9:00 am

   It's a flying duckling

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Kelly6:08 pm

   I see a rubber chicken!

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   Vix8:16 am

   I rarely see anythung in clouds but thats definitely a peacock in your cup! xx

   ReplyDelete
5. 
   Vix8:17 am

   Anythung? Anything!

   ReplyDelete
6. 
   Confuzzled Bev11:51 am

   Another bird! This time it's a duckling, either flying or running really fast with it's neck outstretched.

   ReplyDelete
7. 
   Sheila1:31 am

   I see a person swimming with a dugong!

   ReplyDelete
8. 
   Ivana Split7:31 am

   I see a duck swimming and extending it's neck.

9. Jean2:20 pm

   Seal on left hand side and a dancing seahorse on right side 👍

   ReplyDelete

Well, lots of the lovely folks DID see a bird, several mentioned a young bird, Ivana  and Bev mentioned the gangly neck, Sheila saw my nest as a dugong (which I see!) 

Hooray!

Do let me know what you saw this time!

xx

Free Basil

I've often seen posts on Instagram and the internet about regrowing Basil from supermarket plants. I've never quite understood how it works but a little while back, I bought a pack of basil stalks in a plastic packet (not a plant) which were reduced to 30p (I didn't want it to be chucked out and felt sorry for them.). 

I carefully picked off the big leaves to use over the course of a week with pasta. I did notice, however, that the stalks had some tiny, tiny sort of buds or leafage so I decided to put the stalks, denuded of their main leaves, into water.

Nothing much happened for 2 weeks but the stalks didn't die.  I noticed the leaves started to grow a tiny bit. Finally, roots started to develop over the next 2 weeks. I was amazed! I kept them in the water for the next few weeks until last week, I planted them into pots and they've sprouted more branches and leaves

I am very excited to have essentially regrown these from nothing! Free Basil plants.

On a similar note, my Trandescantia plant which Lara gave me as a cutting from hers had a branch accidentally knocked off. I also put that into water and then saw that new leaves were sprouting from the Earth so I decided to lop off the other branch and then let the new branches grow so it wasn't so leggy.  These both started sprouting roots pretty quickly and then they sprouted several new leaves in the meantime.

These have now been repotted as two new plants in old pots. Two free plants!

On the subject of other natural freebies, we started getting Three Cornered Leek growing in our garden about 3 years ago, presumably dropped by birds. I know it is invasive, I know you are not supposed to plant it anywhere but I have been really pleased by it- it's free and tasty! It tastes like a cross between Spring onions and chives. It was already growing in January this year so I have been eating loads of it since then. I also decided to freeze some. I chopped and froze lots of it into an ice-cube tray so I can continue eating it when it stops growing. 

One other nature freebie. I made a big batch of Nettle and Cleaver soup today (gathered in the church graveyard) and also used an absolute glut of Three Cornered leek in it too!  I love Spring nature freebies!!!

Have you ever put cleavers in a jug of water in the fridge? The water, once you take the cleavers out, tastes like Cucumber water and has good properties!

I'm looking forward to gathering Wild Garlic in Northumberland. I was very happy that the Wild Garlic in my garden has spread into the grass this year too- Hurrah!

 

Flower fairy

 I didn't share the card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day so I thought I'd share it.

I only got around to making it at 11.30pm at night and realised that all my glues had dried up so I was limited with what I could use.

I found this unusual shaped card piece which I found a Flower fairy outline sticker for. I stuck that in the centre and then used my watercolour pencils to colour it in but I tried to do it lightly for a stained glass effect. I then added a light border around the edge of the card.  The final touch was adding some tiny butterfly stickers all around the fairy.

I think she liked it and I was pleased with it considering I was limited with what I could do!

Now need to get some new glue...

xx

Sakura

AS you read this post, please listen to this beautiful rendition of Sakura, well-known folk song from Japan, describing the majesty of the Spring Cherry blossoms.  

Last weekend, our Cherry tree (sadly, not one which provides fruit), was at its absolute peak-beauty!

As I stood beneath its bendy branches, enjoying the pale pink hues against the blue, cloudless sky, I reflected on the utter joy of creation! How lucky I am, to see these flowers, feel this beauty and know the joy of these tiny blooms and their fleeting, transient beauty.

I thought it would be only polite to share them with you.

At the weekend, CBC and I went to Colchester.  As usual, we left it too late, we'd been to Maldon to pick up CBC's new glasses and then drove on to Colchester.

It was nice to visit somewhere different.  We ate dinner at a Vietnamese place called Elsa's.

Earlier in the day, CBC and I went to visit our newts.  We only saw a few.  Several were hiding.

Did I say that one turned up on our doorstep the previous week! I wonder what it wanted?

On Sunday, I had a madly busy day as I was covering first flute for two concerts with Orchestra of the City.  The concerts were part of the Amersham music festival.

Alas, there were engineering works on my local line, meaning, I had to use the alternative railway line. I left home at 10.30am and arrived in Amersham at the church at 13.45! 3 hours 15 to get there and to compound matters, the Jubilee line suffered from a critical failure of the signalling system which lasted at least 11 hours!!!

The concerts, one a children's concert and the other an evening concert, both went really well. I enjoyed playing first flute with this orchestra as I usually play 4th or 3rd (usually Alto flute) or even 5th flute with them! It was a real privilege.

As I knew it was going to touch and go whether I'd make it in time to avoid the rail replacement bus doom, I literally undid my shoes and collapsed my music stand as the audience were applauding and virtually knocked people flying as I attempted to leave the church  at 21.05 and cycle the mile or so to the station. A trumpeter and a fellow flautist were both running for the same train as I cycled.  I was amazed that the trumpeter arrived only 3 minutes behind me! Sadly, we missed the fast train, but got the Metropolitan line soon after, which takes double the length of time.  The trumpeter and I spent most of our hour journey feverishly researching the best way for us both to reach our destinations since the Jubilee line was unbelievably STILL not working!  I decided to take the alternative train line as I thought it would still get me home quicker than the rail replacement.  Alas, it would involve a 5 mile cycle at the other end and my bike lights had died!  Luckily, a kind man lent me his charging block and then unexpectedly, despite it being almost midnight, CBC came and picked me up so I didn't have to cycle. I thought he'd be asleep! So I got home 40minutes sooner than via the rail replacement! 

I was unbelievably tired and hungry by the time we got home after 12.  I ate some left over dinner and was in bed by 1.

I was so sleepy on Monday morning!!!!

Tomorrow, my choir have a practice with an accompanist for the choir of the year.  I hope it goes well!

I keep wondering what all the other choirs are doing for their pieces and whether I should have made different choices!  Ah well, too late to change my mind now! 

 Only a few days till the holiday!

xx

What is it? #80

I am making a return to one of my recurring blog series which hasn't been on the blog for 3 years!

Yes, it is 'What is it?'

For anyone who wasn't around  3 years ago, this is a game where I have seen something...be it a cloud, a shape in the cream of a hot chocolate mug, or a spot of mould which I see some sort of image beyond the literal- be it character, creature, shape or something else. I post it and you have to look at it and see if you, too, see something beyond a cloud etc!

I used to LOVE this series- I loved it when people saw the same as me or saw something completely different which I didn't see but suddenly see once you describe it to me!  I miss my blog friend Julia, who was super at this game! Please do have a go at this if you see this post and leave me a comment with your thoughts be those super detailed or super simple! I will be really sad if no one takes part!  

What IS it?

This week we have a cloud set which I saw on Saturday...

But, what about the reveal of the last 'What is it?' post from July 2023?  Well, if you look at the slightly mouldy mint leaf in my tea mug below, I saw this as a bird with a particularly fanned tail. I saw a magpie!

What did my illustrious commenters see?

5 comments:

1. 
   johnnyjumpsup1:35 pm

   A peacock with a fanning tail.

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Kelly5:41 pm

   I see a crow!

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Polyester Princess7:02 pm

   It's a bird, perhaps a crow? xxx

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   Sandra Ann11:46 am

   Definitely a bird 💚

   ReplyDelete
5. 
   Confuzzled Bev4:10 pm

   It's definitely a bird! The top looks like a crow but the tail is more peacock.

   ReplyDelete

Well, unanimity on it being a bird with mentions of crows and peacocks! Hooray!

I do hope you join in the fun!

xx

TARDIS Tuesday remix- New combo

I seem to have stopped sharing many outfits on here!  Mainly because of bad lighting and hassle setting up a tripod! But here's an outfit I put together for the Primary Choir of the year competition that I mentioned in my last post. It's a combination I hadn't tried before and I quite liked it.

I started with this white cotton blouse from &OtherStories which comes from my Clara Oswald outfit from The Woman Who Lived. It usually gets hidden under a merino wool jumper. Today, it was paired with this brown waistcoat which was originally charity-shopped for a 1970's Clara Oswald echo outfit but was then used for a Sarah Jane Smith outfit Revenge of the Judoon..  The claret tights are often used for another Sarah Jane Smith outfit from Invasion of the Bane. 

My Cath Kidston skirt was charity-shopped a couple of years ago and it's a firm favourite. The length is perfect for me- not too long, not too short!  Finally, I added in my new Rieker shoes. I bought these in Maldon on my birthday and they are easy to slip on and off. I think,perhaps, they are aimed at an older demographic than myself but I have always been one to wear 'sensible' shoes.  I never forget a lovely blog friend I had from Pittsburgh who used to love my outfits but also castigated me for my shoe choices!  Ah well!

The kids liked this outfit at school as did several adults and if it wasn't for having to hoik up the tights aalllllllllllll day, I would probably repeat this outfit. I'll stick to leggings next time!

I had a lovely weekend in the end.  CBC and I did some cleaning on Saturday morning to early afternoon and then we headed to RHS Hyde Hall for some lunch and a walk round.  I was very irked to find that the Gardener's Rest cafe had a sign saying that "Where possible, disposables will be used due to a dishwasher fault" meaning massives of plates, bowls, cups were chucked straight away.  When I was served, I told the person behind the counter that I felt really strongly about disposables and she gave me a mug of tea and a glass for the juice but our soup turned up in disposable pots and bread on a paper plate. It's annoying.  Surely, they could have just set one of their staff on washing up?

We then dropped into a massive Sainsbury's near there and picked up lots of shopping. We're not so good at doing a regular shop-  we tend to pick things up here and there. Mainly because we don't have a local big supermarket- we'd have to drive. Often, I buy stuff from the Lidl near school.

Saturday night, we played Qwirkle Cubes, ate fish and watched a Netflix series called 'Finding Her Edge' about ice-dancing.

Sunday, after church, I travelled by train to see my Mum. My sister came and picked me up from the station and then she, my niece and I spent a few hours with Mum.  We took her some presents, cards and we all went for a walk. She made us Egg Mayo sandwiches and we had cakes!

I then made my way home, picked a mass of Three Cornered Leek from my garden and froze it into ice-cube trays for the summer!

Apparently, our neighbour thinks the newts came from his pond.  He jokingly said he was wondering why his numbers had gone down.  CBC is laughing about it but they clearly migrated of their own volition!

Hope all is well with you!

xx

 

TARDIS Tuesday -The Woman Who fell to Earth

 I'm incredulous that I have not shared this cosplay since December 2022. Really???? I've definitely worn it. The whole thing. In fact, the coat in this outfit is probably my most worn Yaz Khan item- it's my car travel coat as it is so cosy, roomy and comfortable for a long car journey.

Let's look at the inspiration, worn in Yaz's debut episode:

An unnamed pink woolly sweater, a Zara shaggy coat, blue skinny jeans, red gloves and Dune Pacey burgundy boots.

Nothing has changed about this outfit- I love it as it is even if it is completely not my usual colour scheme!

Last time, I took photos in the same spot but there was no pond here before! We have newts! CBC is excited about this!

It's a good all round, cosy day outfit!

Here are some things I am happy about:

1.  The newts! CBC and I are super happy about the newts! We have named some of them: King CaNewt, Olivia Newton John, Isaac Newton.  Looking for them is fun.  Weirdly, on Thursday night, I came home and found a newt on the front door step. It seemed dead as it didn't move but it was gone teh next morning.

2.  We had a wonderful Kensington Chamber Orchestra on Saturday.  We played Mendelssohn's wonderful, Reformation Symphony, composed to celebrate the centenary of Martin Luther.  The last movement is based on Martin Luther's A Mighty Fortress is our God.  Before it, is a beautiful flute cadenza/fantasie, which Mendelssohn bizarrely cut from his second version of this Symphony but it is gorgeous! It only appears in one edition of the symphony. I was very happy I got to play this. Listen to it here from  20:10ish....

3.  I found out this evening that my school choir got through to the final of our local Primary Choir of the Year competition.  Yay, we got through two years ago also! Very happy!  

4.  I made my first nettle soup of the season. I also included a load of goosegrass in it too for extra vitamins and three cornered leek  There's loads around at the moment. I also made some delicious croutons to go with it from some old bread that had gone hard.   We also made some yummy honey and sesame parsnip chips to accompany it as we had to use up some old parsnips!

5. I started a new Katherine Rundell book called The Good Thieves which I am really enjoying so far.

6. I had 5 people in the audience on Saturday- CBC's Mum, brother, partner AND even a French cousin and his girlfriend! It is really nice to have people there to watch you when performing!

7.  We're finally using up some very old flour in the cupboard!

8.  I went over to my Godmother's on Friday night. It was lovely to see her and her daughter!

9.  Very glad I made up lots of apple and blackberry for the freezer. Most of it was free apart from the energy and honey (which was a present!)I am still eating it!

10. I'm a bit nervous about it, but I'm playing 1st flute for Orchestra of the City's next concert, rehearsals start on Wednesday! Fingers crossed it will go ok! It's exciting to have the chance to do this!

xcxcx

ENIGMATIC!

 

For World Book Day this year, we had to dress as an interesting word. I chose Enigmatic and used my 7th Doctor cosplay to show this, along with a small placard showing the word and its meaning, surrounded by more question marks. To add to the  costume, I mysteriously skunk into all the KS2 classrooms as they were in the middle of their lessons, shielding my face with my placard. When they asked why I was there. I told them, "I'm not going to tell you, you're just going to have to keep wondering..." and slunk out again! I found a kindred spirit in the form of a Year 2 girl who had come as Puzzled and was also covered in question marks. We had a photo together in school! 

Birthday Fungi

Thank you to those of you who sent birthday wishes, that's very kind! 

I mentioned in my walk post , that I'd hoped to see some fungi on my walk on Danbury Common as I've seen some cool fungi there before. 

I had two on my wishlist, Scarlet Elf Cups, Velvet Shanks and perhaps also Jelly Ears. 

Would I see any though? 

 I saw some ubiquitous Turkey Rail fungus, this time in a fetching array of grey shades. 

 

Saw a few little tiny toadstool poking out this log. 

CBC referred to this very pink set of Turkey Tail as Crispy Bacon. He's not wrong! 

We were quite excited to see these Oyster Mushrooms of some variety on a tree. 

I have seen foragers "boinging" mushrooms like this online and it made me smile so I boinged these and had a nice feel of the gills. 

More crispy onions! 

I think this was Orange Brain fungus forming but in an early stage. It looked particularly gungy and snot-like! I didn't touch this one! 

Finally, a darling little umbrella fungus! 

 I was happy to see a few, though sad I had not seen any on my wishlist. Was hoping for a divine birthday gifting! 

Xx

Birthday walk

It was my birthday last week and we celebrated at the weekend.  I'd originally asked some of my relatives if they would like to come over in the evening and go for a Thai meal but they weren't able to.  So we hadn't really got anything planned.  The only plan was that CBC had to go for an eye test at the opticians in Maldon.

We couldn't remember if it was a 10.30am or an 11.30am appointment so we frantically had to drive over there for 10.30 just in case. It turned out the appointment was 11.30 so we decided to go for breakfast in the best cafe in Maldon, Mrs Salisbury's!  

I ordered a small breakfast (CBC had the Veggie breakfast) . It was delicious! I chose a Hot chocolate to accompany which was also delicious.

The building is such a lovely historic one. I took a picture in one of their bathrooms/toilets for you!

Velvet curtains, a massive mirror, there's a shower behind the curtain!

Here's a photo of the loo chandelier!

Whilst CBC went to his optician's appointment, I had a look round the charity shops and a couple of other shops.

I loved this man's shirt. It was made of beautiful materials but CBC was not impressed- pity!

I ended up buying myself a Seasalt Cornwall turtle neck in the charity shop as I wear the one I have already all the time. I also bought a lovely Boden stripy linen top.

We went into Coe's, an independent Gentleman's shop and I loved this tie display full of Liberty ties!

Once we met up again, I asked CBC if we could go for a walk. Despite the fact, he was wearing light-coloured trousers, as it was my birthday celebration day, he agreed.

We parked by the Cricketers pub in Danbury and walked through  and around Danbury Common.

I felt instantly refreshed and invigorated after only 5 minutes. The power of walking in nature, surrounded by trees!

I enjoyed seeing the moss growing here. Or is it Lichen?

CBC looked for newts in the pond. 

We found a Hellebore growing.

I spy a Ladybird!

We found this curious growth coming out of a tree. We wondered if it was Mistletoe?

I very much enjoyed the open skies and lack of people.

I was photographing fungi (another post to come!) 

and then CBC did his usual vanishing act!  I asked a dog walker if he had seen him and he hadn't.

All of a sudden, I heard him calling me in a creepy goblin voice.

Do you see him?

What a joy to see signs of Spring!

Both CBC and I were enamoured by this glorious tree with its three trunks.

Finally, I have seen some Snowdrops!

As we neared the car, I saw these soft-fluffy catkins swaying like Lemur tails or tabby cats in the breeze.  I stroked them and received a layer of pollen in return.

As we got in the car, Lara texted me to ask if I was passing her house and would I like to collect some books she forgot to give me the day before.

She is a piano technician and was working on a piano mechanism. I've never seen the keys and levers dismantled like this before!

As we left, CBC said it was a pity we weren't going to see a show. He'd looked at Ballet tickets or musicals tickets in London as he thought I might like to see a show. Since he seemed so keen but his search was fruitless, I looked in Essex and found that 'Top Hat', based on the Irving Berlin film, was on at the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend.  They had plenty of tickets available and so I booked two and we drove home.  In the space of 10 minutes, I changed out of my muddy clothes and into a dress, cardigan, tights, nice shoes, straightened my messy hair and got ready to go.  CBC, worked at a slower pace and was ready eventually.

We drove to Westcliff and quickly had a meal at the lovely Thai restaurant.  We then rushed to the theatre, not managing to find a space up high and had to leg it up the steep stairs to the theatre.

The musical was brilliant fun and it was nice to be close.

I was cross in the interval that when CBC asked (egged on by me) for a real mug (they had them), he was told he had to have a disposable. I had a little rant about it (probably too loudly!) which CBC was a bit embarassed about and apparently caused smirks from some people nearby. It does annoy me though. Why is this the way of the way of the world now!

Back home, I opened my presents and cards.

CBC bought me some lovely trousers from the hippy shop in Hexham and a Susie Dent book. Mum got me a slip dress from Patra (sadly now closed), some infused honey and this unusual hoodie. It looks like it is quilted but it is printed.  It doesn't feel very nice as it is some type of shiny, thick synthetic but it looks really cool.  CBC's sister had sent me a cosmetic bag and the coolest mushroom card. Lara bought me a couple of cool books, a Cockerel brooch and  an owl necklace. My godmother got me a  a cool book on Folksongs. I had several lovely cards!

It was a totally unplanned day but it turned out to be wonderful and varied and CBC had made it nice for me.

xx