Craft Group Meetings, Veggie Gardens & Cat Scratching Poles (!!!)

Greetings dear friends & readers & Welcome to August !!

Sometimes in the midst of winter, I find it's the simple little things that can bring the greatest pleasure

Like nipping out between the showers today to pick a bunch of daphne for my kitchen bench 💗

Yesterday was our monthly Craft Group Meeting & it was my turn to be the hostess

The ladies were keen to learn candle making.

I found a big old cathedral candle in the back of my cupboard - one of those that seems to burn half way through & then give up completely.

I chopped it up on the brick path using my axe (!!) & then we melted it down in two old saucepans.

The ladies had all bought along op shopped containers of various shapes & sizes, & I showed them how to

"wick them" before pouring our candles

We scented the melted wax with beautifully smelling Orange & Clove Oils.

While we waited for them to set we had a delicious lunch.

You know - I have said this before But ...... if we get nothing else right, we sure know how to do the food part of it 😉

The finished candles ...... I wanted to pour another thin layer of melted wax over the top to fill in the small dents

but the ladies decided they quite liked the "character" this gave their candles.

All in all - a wonderful way to spend a chilly wet winter's day!

Sid has discovered his love of drawing with felt pens.

Luckily I always keep a large stock of blank paper in the house for just such activities ... he loves me to

sit beside him & draw

You can see my version of a dinosaur in this picture - Sid has "coloured it in" & then informs me the big black blob beside it is "Granny being eaten by the dinosaur" (!!) Thanks Sid!

When I returned from Mum's 90th birthday back in April, I decided to replant my veggie garden as our autumn days still seemed so mild.

I had purchased some veggie punnets while at Mum's & planted a couple of each into her raised garden so I had

left over broccoli, silverbeet, cabbages & red beet to plant into my two gardens.

I have been surprised how well the plants have grown through our cold winter months & have recently begun picking a variety of veggies for our evening meal

This huge head of broccoli (one of my favorite veggies) is sitting on my kitchen bench to be cooked

with our dinner tonight.

It is honestly quite pathetic how The Mr & I treat our furry friends here at Threadbear HQ 😺

Miss Pippi has repeatedly scratched & worked away at the edge of our (2 year old) carpet until she has worn it to

a thread.

Last week in desperation I drove to the Vets & purchased this scratching pole below - I have always thought these were hideous things to have in your room but needs must

This is the photo I took of it in the Vets carpark & sent to The Mr via my phone to see what he thought.

I am pleased to report that Her Royal Highness has begun to use it .... I must admit The Mr & I take it in turns to "spend time" with her dragging her favourite cord over it & encouraging her to jolly well Use the thing !!