Monkey Chatter

A tentative hello

2011-01-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say that if there is anyone out there's who still pops in I bet you've been wondering where I've been. Well it's been quite a time since I last blogged and that is due to a mixture of not having much time being really busy with work and the animals through the summer and THEN I went to Venice in September and managed to pick up the most horrible virus which I've not recovered from yet! I never knew a virus could last so long or make you so ill - the hospital said it could last up to a year! Well I'm feeling better on most days but I blimmin well hope this one doesn't go on for a year, I'm taking a tonic and vitamin c and zinc to help my immune system so fingers crossed I'll be firing on all cylinders soon. I hate being poorly LOL

I've not done any jewellery making, silver smithing or lampworking for months and months and to be honest I'm struggling to get the energy and enthusiasm up to do either any time soon.

I have been doing a bit of card making when I've had the energy and been in the mood so I could share some of that with you if you're interested.

Anyway I do hope that you are all well and have had a great Christmas and New Year and I wish you all the very best for a HEALTHY and prosperous 2011

With love
Monkey x

Free Flower Necklace Giveaway

2010-05-10T14:00:00.001-07:00

Free Flower Necklace Giveaway, originally uploaded by Glittering Prize - Trudi.

I want to show you this. This beauty is made by my friend Trudi, she makes the glass beads herself and turns them into jewellery gorgeousness.

You won't believe this but Trudi is giving it away! YES really!!!

MESSAGE FROM TRUDI BELOW

Yes, you read that right, I’m giving this summery flower necklace away! Made with my lampwork bead, it has been perfectly teamed with Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and hand dyed silk. The silk is approx 20” long with knotted ends so you can tie this to a length that suits you!All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is to become a fan of the Glittering Prize Facebook page go to the page and press the “like it” button - and then leave me a nice wall message for me before 4pm Monday 17th May. Simples!I will then use my random generator (Jojo!) to select a winner!Trudi x

Wallflowers

2010-05-04T14:18:00.001-07:00

Here's what I made at the weekend, theres some more in my Flickr album if you want to have a look, just click on the link to the right of the page and it should take you there.

Heres what I made with the Amber Beads

2010-05-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

I did say I would show you :O) Sorry - It's not a good photo.
Made with my own hand made lampwork beads and sterling silver.

Just got this by email - made me larf it did.

2010-05-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would share it with you lovely people......

Husband Store

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City , where a woman may go to choose a husband.

Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:You may visit this store ONLY ONCE!

There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.

On the first floor the sign on the door reads:Floor 1 - These men Have JobsShe is intrigued, but continues to the second floor,

where the sign reads: Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.'So she continues upward.

The third floor sign reads: Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads: Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'Still, she goes to the fifth floor

and the sign reads:Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor,

where the sign reads:Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

PLEASE NOTE:To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

The first floor has wives that love sex.

The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

Hope it made you smile too

I've just joined Facebook!

2010-04-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

..........and I haven't got a clue what I'm doing on there LOL

Still we all have to start somewhere.

Some people make me sick!

2010-04-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

I have just been into a tack shop to get something for my pony, whilst I was having a look around for it the 'lady' behind the till was talking to someone whom I assumed to be a rep of some kind.

She asked him if they "sold spurs with balls on the end" he replied "yes" "and we also do some like chocolate buttons shape"

"Ah good" she said "because when I kick the sh*t out of him I don't want them to leave marks"

She then caught my eye and asked if she could help me - I gave her a filthy look, said no thank you and walked out of the shop!

I then got in the car and drove another 10 miles out of my way to get what I wanted from another tack shop.

I am so, so cross with myself that I didn't actually say why I wasn't spending my money with her!

Sorry to sound off but there's nobody else to tell
Grrrrr... thanks for listening.

Naughty Sheep!

2010-04-15T07:02:00.001-07:00

This is Hope trying to squeeeeeze her rather large self through the pop hole in the hen hut to steal their pellets - I suppose she lives up to her name! LOL

Isn't this just fantastic?

2010-04-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

I just love to see gardens, nice gardens, especially nice food bearing gardens and even better, gardens when all the family are involved and the love and care just radiates through.

The strange thing is I don't like gardening. I wish I did but I just can't bear the thought, never mind the feeling of soil under my fingernails. Not that I'm a girly girl you understand, oh no far from it. I'm more than happy working outside and looking after the animals and all that comes with that........ it's just..... soil under my fingernails.... ugggh I can barely bring myself to type it. Oh god now that's made me think about seaweed eeeek! I can't stand that either!!!

LOL I've just realised I'm sat here typing with a grimace on my face - pathetic!

I'm full of admiration for anyone who has the skill and love to be able to create something like this.

Nip over to Potters Patch and have a look.

All you have to do is click on the pic below :O) It's ace.

Beaded Treasure Bracelet

2010-04-09T05:09:00.000-07:00

First make a 'few' lampwork spacer beads - I chose various shades of green and purple in both opaque and transparent glass , around a hundred should just about do it :o) Oh and don't forget to make a bead for the toggle, I made two so that I had a choice of size.

Next gather the necessary supplies, cord, seed beads, delicas, in complimentary colours and don't forget the G-S hypo cement glue and the pins.

Then start to weave them all together as per instructions from Robin Atkins in her book - Beaded Treasures. The book is available at StitchnCraft if you fancy buying it in the UK they do mail order.

Finished bracelet - after many, many hours of weaving, sore fingers and thumbs and mucho eyestrain! I think that's down to my age not the skill required ;o) Go on.... have a go at making one for yourself.

You don't have to use lampwork beads, you can use any beads - try Sooz at The Bead Shed for great service and products.

Beads to show - at last!

2010-04-01T11:53:00.001-07:00

I did promise to share the beads I made with you, and remember I did say that they weren't worth getting excited about? Well here they are...... a few basic beads to get myself into the groove, remember... it's been months since I have made any beads.
I think I'm going to make a bracelet out of these.

This one has been christened Toad Kill - why? Well because it started out as a toad and went wrong so I 'killed' it LOL.

Next came an OK toad... and here he is

and last but not least, The Committee who were overseeing the bead photography in progress!

I've been on my torch today :O) :O)

2010-03-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

and I didn't realise how much I've missed her.

I didn't make anything worthwile just basic beads but if the kiln faeries have been kind I will take some photos tomorrow and share them with you.

Oh and I painted the bathroom too. Not at the same time. Now I'm being silly aren't I? Time for bed - it's been a long day. Nite nite xxx

Jeanious.

2010-03-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

and it could be yours..... just visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/designbyh

I'm just thinking - wouldn't it be nice if you had a pair of your kiddies old jeans made in to a bag for yourself. You could also have a little message or date of birth or something special and meaningful embroidered onto or inside the bag hmmmmm now I'm thinking.......

Handbags and Gladrags

2010-03-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

Check out this Etsy seller (my lovely Sister in Law) for some fantastic handmade bags and unusual jewellery. http://www.etsy.com/shop/designbyh

I have one of her denim upcycled bags which I use everyday and the tote shopper, both are fantastic - I've had my denim bag for ages and it is soooo brilliant. When it gets a bit grubby I just lob it in the washing machine and it comes up good as new :O) The tote shopper is great too.

Oooops I nearly forgot - I actually have 3 bags from her - I got one for a Christmas present for a friend of mine and I couldn't bear to part with it so I got her something else instead (so it's stashed away for me *blush* - some friend I am! LOL)

Anyway go and have a peek and maybe treat yourself to a lovely new bag.

Humph!

2010-01-20T12:20:00.000-08:00

If I could manage to get home from work in the daylight then I might be able to take some photos of the jewellery I promised to show you!

A whole week!

2010-01-18T04:18:00.000-08:00

Hello.

Please forgive me for I have sinned - it's been a whole week since I last blogged.

Today I have a day off work and I'm busy making some more jewellery. I will show you in the next few days exactly what I've been up to. I've done nothing this weekend except nurse a bad headache ( I get them on average once a month - grrr) I spent the whole day under the duvet yesterday feeling miserable and sorry for myself.

Anyhow I'm fine now and busy, busy, busy so once again apologies and keep tuned in for piccies soon :O) Hope you are all well and good xxx

What I did yesterday.

2010-01-10T09:20:00.001-08:00

I did promise to show you more jewellery didn't I? I just nipped outside in the snow to take a couple of pics to show you.

I'm suffering with a rotten cold at the moment. Saturday is usually my time for pony riding and jewellery making, however, with two lame ponies and the icy weather I had all day to make jewellery. Unfortunately between nursing a bad headache and all the sniffling, snuffling and feeling sorry for myself all I managed to make was two sets of stacking rings! Thank god I've not got Man Flu that's all I can say!

I'm really pleased with them, two new designs for me, hope you like them.

Snowboarding? In Derbyshire? Who'd have thought it?

2010-01-06T04:25:00.001-08:00

The Monkey Boys having some fun.

Ponies in the snow this morning

2010-01-05T05:21:00.001-08:00

It was snowing again this morning and it just started as I went to tend to the ponies so I took my camera with me. I thought I would share a few snaps with you.

Maytime and Mr. Jones! waiting patiently

Kizzi waiting patiently

Bucket feeds finished - now on to a big fat haynet

Any more breakfast?

The start of the snow

2010-01-05T05:05:00.001-08:00

This was yesterday morning as it was just starting to snow.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

Hello again everyone and a very Happy New Year to you all.

I have had a good start to the year. What a beautiful morning it was here, the sun was shining and the frost was gently glistening on the rooftops. Mr Monkey and I tended to the animals and took Molly Dog for a lovely walk. It was a "great to be alive day" today.

I then spent the rest of the day making some silver jewellery. I haven't done any glasswork for ages and today it was just a bit too cold - It's official I am nesh!

If the weather is good tomorrow I will take some photographs to share with you.

So....... my New Years resolutions? .........

To make a real effort to keep up with my blog and
To make a real effort to keep up with the jewellery making and glasswork.

This evening we are all off to my mums for a curry night with all the family - really looking forward to it too :O)

New Years Resolution

2009-12-31T09:38:00.000-08:00

Well hello - if there is anyone out there who still checks in here. Firstly an apology for being a naughty little blogger and neglecting you for such a long time.

One of my New Years resolutions if to blog more frequently.

I thought I got off to a good start and then what with one thing and another life seemed to get in the way a bit - too much work and being a little out of sorts. I've had two of my ponies lame and what with frequent visits to the vet and all the stress that goes with it I've been a bit off the mark really - I make myself sick with worry. I try not to but I just can't help it, anyone out there with animals, ponies or livestock of any kind are probably just the same. I've also had computer problems and Mr Monkey has had to strip everything off my computer and reload the necessities - tomorrow I'm going to try to get a photo editor thingy downloaded and then I will be able to share some of my photo's with you.

So perhaps another resolution should be not to get to worked up and stressed about things I have no control over - easier said than done.

Anyway I would like to wish everyone a fantastic New Year and I hope you have a great evening.

Tomorrow will be 2010 and I'm going to get my rear end in gear!

Lest we forget

2009-11-08T02:56:00.001-08:00

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance

Drumroll please.....

2009-09-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Well the draw for the set of lampwork beads was certainly lots of fun and an interesting event which involved all of the Monkey troop.

In first Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Mansfield my two gorgeous Pilgrim geese they had a waddle over to where the names were folded up and...........

Errrrmm NO THANK YOU we are geese and don't do menial tasks around the garden HUMPH!! They were having none of it.

OK so then Lottie Floppy Dog decided that she would have a little sniff around and see what she could do to help as you can probably see she only has one eye and is blind in the other. Oh and if thats not handicapped enough she happens to be deaf as well. Needless to say a name still didn't get drawn out.

OK so who else do we know who could help us out..... ah here come Rita and Bob the Speckled Sussex

They said sorry you can cluck off, we aren't coming over there - no way, not with a terrier in the garden

OK then who do we know who are super nosey, super greedy and can't bear to miss a thing? Thats right..........we had better call in the Two Fat Ladies surely they will do the honours. Coooooeeeeeey, Charity and Hope where are you?

Here we are

Now lets have a look....

There ya go Dad

And the winner is......... ta daaaa

Congratulations.

Now if you would just get in touch with your address I will pop the said beadies in the post to you.

Sunny Sunday

2009-09-20T08:49:00.001-07:00

Ahhhhhh a relaxing sunny Sunday afternoon at The Monkey House. This is Jeffy Cat fast asleep and dreaming of who knows what. :O)

Argggghhhh

2009-09-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Oh I'm so fed up. I'm in on my own and have just got have a moan to someone and unfortunately for you dear reader you got the short straw.

I have just attempted to make a lovely lampwork cabochon for one of my ring designs and got to the very last tiny bit and the blimmin bead release has broken. I started again because I liked the colours and pattern so much, just got to the end of the second one and once more the bead release broke. Grrrrrr!!!!!!! I'm so cross. That's it I've stamped my feet, turned the torch off, turned the kiln off and have thrown my bananas out of my tree.

Humph!

WIN THESE BEADS

2009-09-09T11:38:00.001-07:00

Here we have a set of 7 lampwork round beads, handmade by me in ivory and black glass wrapped generously in 99% pure silver - yummy.

So....... if you would like to be in with a chance of winning them all you have to do is leave a comment and I will draw names out of the hat on 21st September 2009. Simples!

Oh Bugga

2009-09-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Well in trying to change the http of my blog I have managed to make myself unavailable via links to the lovely, lovely people who follow it.

Why am I so stupid!!!

The only thing I have managed to do is follow myself - why am I not surprised!?

If any of you lovely people have managed to find me here - I'm so sorry for messing it up and thank you for finding me again.

Monkeys favourite recipe.

2009-08-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

Well now firstly, sorry I have been away for a while, busy, busy, busy......no excuse I know so once again, I'm sorry.

Anyway to make it up to you I thought I would share my most favourite recipe ever - not bananas - although you understand I DO love bananas :O)

Here it is: It's an Angela Nilsen recipe from BBC Good Food Magazine and it really is the best ever Chocolate Brownie in the world as voted for by the Monkey Troop. Did you know that a group of Monkeys is also known as a cartload?

The bonus is it's lower in calories than 'normal' brownies recipes sooooo......that means you can pile on the double cream or ice cream - yummy.

INGREDIENTS

85g dark chocolate , 70% cocoa solids, chopped into small pieces (I used Green & Blacks)
85g plain flour
25g cocoa powder
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
100g golden caster sugar
50g light muscovado sugar
½ tsp coffee granules
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp buttermilk
1 egg
100g mayonnaise (I used Hellman's)

METHOD
1.
Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Pour enough water into a small pan to one-third fill it. Bring to the boil, then remove the pan from the heat. Put the chopped chocolate into a large bowl that will fit snugly over the pan without touching the water. Sit the pan over the water (still off the heat) and leave the chocolate to melt slowly for a few mins, stirring occasionally until it has melted evenly. Remove the bowl from the pan, then let the chocolate cool slightly.

2.
Meanwhile, lightly oil and base-line a 19cm square cake tin that is 5cm deep. Combine the flour, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda. Using a wooden spoon, stir both the sugars into the cooled chocolate with the coffee, vanilla and buttermilk. Stir in 1 tbsp warm water. Break and beat in the egg, then stir in the mayonnaise just until smooth and glossy. Sift over the flour and cocoa mix, then gently fold in with a spatula without overmixing.

3.
Pour the mixture into the tin, then gently and evenly spread it into the corners. Bake for 30 mins. When a skewer is inserted into the middle, it should come out with just a few moist crumbs sticking to it. If cooked too long, the mix will dry out; not long enough and it can sink. Leave in the tin until completely cold, then loosen the sides with a round-bladed knife. Turn out onto a board, peel off the lining paper and cut into 12 squares.

Nutrition per serving: 191 kcalories, protein 2g, carbohydrate 23g, fat 11 g, saturated fat 3g, fibre 1g, salt 0.28 g

PLEASE NOTE - the nutrition detailed above is not for a Monkey sized portion - that would be far higher in 'nutrition'

Now off you go and make some - you won't regret it. :O) :O) :O)

Have a great bank holiday weekend.

Buffed hammered sterling silver ring

2009-08-13T12:15:00.001-07:00

Here is a ring that I started making late yesterday and finished off this evening. Its a wide sterling silver band with a hammered texture to the outside and a secret message hand stamped on the inside.

I made one similar to this but with a plain band for my son when he was having a bit of a tough time with exams and other things - he loves it and wears it all the time.

I just wanted him to know that no matter what he is loved ALWAYS.

There are more photos on my flickr if you want to have a peep just click on the flicker box on the right hand side ----->

Buffed sterling silver I AM LOVED ring

2009-08-13T12:14:00.001-07:00

Oh alright then!

2009-08-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

Blimey! I just have to introduce you to my two sheep Hope and Charity. They are Coloured Ryelands and are a rare breed. White Ryelands are rare but Coloured ones even more so.

These two have been nagging the life out of me to get their mugs on here :O)

Originally we had three ewes Faith, Hope and Charity, unfortunately Faith died last year and I cried for about a week :O ( We went all the way to Anglesey from Derbyshire to fetch them, and we had been on a waiting list for ages waiting for some to become available. We have bred a few lambs but none this year (Faith died after having twins and I just couldn't face it) The twins did really well we bottle fed them, they survived and now live with my neighbour they are called Fifi and Frank.

I thought I would also put up a picture of them in their winter woolies so you can see how cute they are with their chocolate brown coats on. I just love the white around their muzzles, it looks like they have porridge for breakfast LOL.

Second lampwork ring

2009-08-08T09:56:00.001-07:00

Second ring, originally uploaded by GoodMonkey.

Sorry I've not blogged for a few days, have been really busy and also I have got a bit of a summer sniffle. So I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself ;O) Yeah, yeah Monkey - enough of the whinging - get on with what you've popped in to say.

Any how I wanted to share this with you. It's the second ring I have made. I quite like the colours in this one but I prefer the other one with the silver disc rather than just the rivet on the top; Then again I like the hammered finish on the shank of this one. I have also made some beads but not having much luck getting decent photos to show you.

I have also got another ring half made, it's in the pickle at the moment but I will show it when I've finished. It's different in style to this, I might get to have another go at it tomorrow.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Sterling Silver and Lampwork Bead

2009-08-02T14:59:00.001-07:00

Silver ring, originally uploaded by GoodMonkey.

I thought I would share with you what I did this afternoon. I made this. The metalwork is sterling silver and the bead is Italian glass lampworked by me. This is the first ring I have made like this and I am really chuffed with it - mainly because I didn't smash the bead when I was hammering the silver. YAY :O)

I had a lovely morning

2009-08-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely morning, looking after the animals and then my Mum and Dad came to visit. They bought some guests with them Tom and Bob who are old army buddies of my Dad (back in the days of National Service) and Toms wife Betty. Mum did a brilliant job of tracking them all down last year and she got them together after about 50 years of not seeing each other.

I'm so pleased they have all found each other again; but in a way I'm sad that they have missed out on 50 years of great times together. I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to do armed service and rely on each other to watch your back and protect your life - literally. This sort of friendship is extra special and I have to say that every one of Dads friends are absolutely lovely, lovely people - I'm proud to have met them and I'm so very, very grateful for what they and others have done and still do for all of us.

They are off to a reunion/get together for a few days and I hope they have a wonderful time.

I am so proud of my Dad :O)

Swap Bracelet

2009-07-29T12:49:00.001-07:00

Swap Bracelet, originally uploaded by GoodMonkey.

Well here it is. My swap bracelet. I made the beads and Charlotte made the bracelet. Isn't it fab? The bracelet I mean. I have been wearing it everyday since I got it and I will be wearing it everyday for a very long time to come. :O)

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

2009-07-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

Me and Mr.Monkey went to see the new Transformers film last night. We loved it LOL. Loads of special effects, no plot to speak of but lots of all action robots and the gorgeous Megan Fox thrown in there for Mr.Monkey.

What a woman she is.......... two and a half hours of non stop action and her make up was still perfect, false eyelashes still in place and hardly a dirty mark on her white skin tight jeans!

Here you go Mr.Monkey :O))

Mind you ladies having said that it's worth going to get a peek at the gorgeous Josh Duhamel - yummy ;O)

Thank you

2009-07-26T06:32:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to publicly say many, many thanks to the lovely ladies who bid on, and won the charity auction items of jewellery.

The bracelet was bought by Jayne who I believe is going to pass it on to some lucky lady as a gift.

Also my friend the very lovely Sandy bought the pendant. Sandy is more than capable of making her own beads and jewellery so this is especially generous of her. Even better I will be able to give it her in person when I see her on Saturday :O)

Check out Sandys website here

I think I did it Dawn. Although it did take me two attempts. LOL

Pic for Evie :O)

2009-07-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Necklace made by me. Lampwork beads made from coral coloured glass, ivory coloured glass and lashings of fine silver which is 99% pure silver. The beads were etched for a soft silky texture then strung on a soft greek leather lace with sterling silver findings. It measures up at about 15 and a half inches so sits really nicely. It is longer than it looks, I have wrapped the leather lace around so that it would stay on the stone wall LOL. You like it?

Click on the pic for a better view.

Charlottes beads, my bracelet

2009-07-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

I promised you I would show you the bracelet I made with Charlottes beads didn't I? Well here it is....it represents a warm summers evening with the Brimstone moths coming out to play. The little spacer beads jingle alongside the nugget beads.

Check out Charlottes website here http://web.me.com/lethalfrog/Big_Bang_Beads/Home.html

I wish I could do that thing where you just put the word like "here" and it takes you straight to the link. Arrrrghhhh computer numptie!

How?

2009-07-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was driving though a local village the other day and saw this, I had to go back and take a photo just to show you.

Happy Birthday Mr. Jones!

2009-07-18T12:22:00.001-07:00

I would like to introduce you to Mr. Jones!

Mr. Jones! is a Dales Pony and they are a very rare breed. On the Rare Breeds Trust watchlist their status is critical. This is a great shame as they are truly wonderful ponies who can turn a hoof to anything.

I bred Mr. Jones! myself and today is his third birthday. Oh and just as a side note he really does warrant the exclamation mark.

Here he is at about 6 months old. Cute eh?

And here he is today, he has had a whole packet of Polos to himself by way of a pressie and he was well chuffed. Three years old already - where does the time go?

Happy birthday gorgeous boy xxx

Time Management.

2009-07-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

I went on a time management course yesterday - guess what? (Mother - you won't be surprised by this if you are reading it) I was late.

LITTLE BROWN BULL

2009-07-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Excitement on the road last night.

As hubby and I were heading off to the local pub for the weekly quiz (yeah sad I know but hey it’s the only way to stop him working 24/7 and anyway it's fun and we get quiz, raffle and supper all for the princley sum of £1 - bummin good value for a quid I'd say).

Anyway - I digress. Back to what I was going to tell you.

Just as I was driving up the road hubby said to me “watch out for that lion” Lion!!!! I actually thought it was a huge dog because we do get a lot of dog walkers round our way. Turns out it was a calf and a very new calf at that. He was a gorgeous conker brown colour and he was out on the road. Eeeeek!!!!!

I went into ‘I’m a farmer and I’ll deal with this’ mode got out of the car and scared him away – that’s what a good farmer I would be!

We managed to herd him into lay-by near the gate and phone the local farmer who has cows and calves across the road; I’m on my way he said. Well what seemed like forever later he and his wife came only to inform us that he had checked his calves and had a count up (no wonder it took ages) none of his were missing. By this time the little chap had scrambled through a gap in the gate and got into the field with a herd of young cows/bullocks – that’s BULLOCKS!

It was very nearly dark by now and we phoned the farmer who the herd belonged to – no answer, so left a message on the answer phone – we found some discarded sheep wire and tied it with string to the gate so that he didn’t get out again (assuming that was where he belonged) we phoned the farmer again, and left another message to say we had mended the fence and he seemed to be OK so off we went.

I went to try to get a photo of the cute little guy this evening but couldn’t see him – I do hope he is OK. Of course farmer no.2 hasn’t returned our calls either to say the little chap is OK or indeed to say thank you!

P.S. We were rubbish at the quiz :O)

Thank you, thank you.

2009-07-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to nip in and say a HUGE thank you to all the lovely people who have so generously put bids on the ebay charity auction jewellery. They are going great guns at the moment. Bless ya all xxx

Busy weekend melting glass

2009-07-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

Well I have had a very busy weekend. On Saturday I had some torch time and managed to make some beads. I have been struggling for inspiration to make pink beads to make a bracelet to auction in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign. Pink is not a colour I use in my beads very often and I found it quite a challenge. And on Sunday I made them up into jewellery.

I also made some in green and pink for Tommys baby charity.

I have no idea why two of tham are is sideways! They aren't when I view them on my computer screen!! Oh well, technology is not my strong point.

What do you think?

They are on auction on ebay. Why not have a look and maybe a bid. It's all for good causes and 100% of the money goes to these worthy charities.

Bracelet:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=160348343344

Pendant:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sterling-Silver-Lampwork-Bead-Pendant-Necklace-FHF_W0QQitemZ160348614632QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Jewellery_Watches_FineJewellery_CA?hash=item255585afe8&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1683%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

The pics are the right way up on the listings.

Getting down and dirty......

2009-07-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

I thought you might like to see some photos of my pony. I just managed to catch her having a roll in the mud. Why did I think you might like to see her? Well she is pretty isn't she? I just love the look in her eye on that third photo. The fringy thing is supposed to help keep the flies away from her face - a bit like one of those fly curtains I remember as a child. You know the ones with the long multi coloured plastic ribbons fluttering in the wind, the really tasteful one that Grandma used to have up at the kitchen door. Well until she went posh and bought a heavyweight plastic covered chain one that is.

Oh I had better mention the bandage on her leg, about 6 weeks ago I went up to her field and found her with a massive cut to her leg which went right down to the bone, shes on the mend now though. The reason I choose to have bright coloured bandages on her is so that when I drive past her field I can see if it has slipped down or not. She is a bit naughty sometimes when it's itchy she rubs it with her other back leg until the bandage is hanging around her ankle!

If you click on the pics they come up bigger.

Right if I'm quick she won't catch me having a roll

Ahhhhh thats nice

Oh bugga - caught in the act!

Yawn!....What do you mean having a roll in the mud? Not me, I must have been sleep rolling ;O)

Ants in yer pants make ya belly button dance

2009-07-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

I lifted up a huge piece of walling stone and disturbed an ants nest. Unfortunately the stone had to me moved to accommodate some groundworks we are having done.

I thought you might be interested to see the ants at work, they organised themselves to move camp and if you look closely you can see the white eggs they are carrying to safety.

The good news for this weekend is that I have now finished the swap bead bracelets. I just need to photograph them and get Charlottes off in the post. So whilst it has stopped throwing it down with rain for the moment that's what I'm going to do now. See ya later.

ARGHHHHH

2009-06-30T13:13:00.001-07:00

I don't believe it! They have returned and nicked another electric fence unit. I'm so angry and upset :O(

Mr Toad

2009-06-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

I took my camera up to the ponies with me this morning and I’m glad I did. I needed to move some stone and when I lifted a big piece of rock up this little guy was hiding underneath. Do you know what type of toad he is? I have no idea but I suspect he is quite young. I don't know why he just looks young to me LOL

Here's a few pics of my own personal glassy toad. He is the first one I made and nowhere near good enough but I really enjoyed making him.

He is a bead and I made him myself after buying a tutorial from Teresa Lailberte. I've put the link to Teresa’s website below. Do go and visit; she is one seriously talented lady.

http://www.lavendercreek.de/

Do you know I never used my camera much before starting this blog. I’m really glad I started it now.

I just wish I could get good shots of my beads, still as we say in bead world, practice, practice, practice.

Do you read your horoscope?

2009-06-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I do and I was quite pleased to read my horoscope in the Sunday magazine this morning, the first sentence said “This should be one of the most rewarding times of the year for Scorpios” Yay, brilliant! About time!! I’ve had a bit of a run of bad luck recently – not as bad as some poor folk but bad enough to be thinking, “What’s coming next? When is this going to end? Is the moon in the wrong place or something?” – you know the feeling don’t you?

Anyway horoscope assured me that things were on the up – yippee :O) The sun is shining, it’s Sunday - not got to go to work, life is goooood.

So hubby and I went up to see the ponies first thing to put fly repellent on them and to move some stuff around ready for the workmen to come and put some hardstanding in the gateways. Firstly I got my ankles nettled – ouch! Not too bad though, that’ll teach me to put my wellies on won’t it. Then I scraped the skin off my wrist on the fence – ouch! – but not too bad. That’ll teach me to put long sleeves on won’t it? Still it is quite hot so short sleeves and trainers wouldn’t be considered to be out of order would they?

THEN......... and this is what realllllly made me cross was just as we were about to leave I noticed that some *insert expletive here has nicked my electric fencing unit! Grrrrr!! This a little battery powered box that sends an electric current through white tape to stop the ponies getting through to where you don’t want them to be, namely thick lush grass which makes Native ponies very poorly if they have too much. I think they cost around £150. So now I have to get another one – horoscopes PAH!

Kept my promise.

2009-06-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

See I like to keep my promises :O)

Here are those beautiful beads. The murrini moths are on both sides so they show through the transparent glass in shades of warm summer evening and they are Brimstone moths.

She's a clever stick that Charlotte.

Sorry my photos are a bit rubbish they really don't do these beads justice.

Special treat for me today

2009-06-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

I am a member of the glassy lampworking forum Frit Happens http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/ I recently signed myself up to take part in a bracelet/bead swap. I don't usually get involved in the swaps but couldn't resist having a go at this one. Whoop whoop wasn't I just the lucky one? For my swap partner I got the lovely, very talented, Charlotte http://www.bigbangbeads.com/ Why don't you have a peek at her website...... go on........you know you want to.

Good call Shelley. (I'm feeling a bit smug - I'm sure you can tell) I can't show you a photograph of the beads just yet because the blimmin battery ran out on my camera! Grrrrr. I promise as soon as I can I will put a photo up on here - worth waiting for I assure you.

I made two identical sets of beads as did Charlotte with the theme of "Hot Summer Nights" then we swapped. I got mine today along with a very generous gift of some murrine made by Charlotte. I now have to make two bracelets; same design - one for each of us. Charlotte is doing the same so we end up with two bracelets each - good eh?

I just hope I can do these beads justice, I've got loads of ideas and hopefully I will find time to have a go a making something this weekend. Yes of course I'll show you a picture when they're done.

Hope you've had something lovely happen to you today too.

Got rid of the stalker!

2009-06-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

At last I managed to shake myself off and get rid of me stalking myself as a follower. I dont know how I managed to add myself as a follower and it's taken me 2 days to remove myself. ( I know I want the whole world to read my blog but upping the numbers by following myself was pushing it a bit far I think. )

Also I *think* I have now finished my essays - phew! I hope they are good enough 'cos if they come back to me or my tutor wants more work I'm going to cry. No really I mean it...I am going to cry and I promise you it's not a pretty sight. It usually involves a lot of blubbing, pathetic wailing noises and quite a bit of snot!

Have you ever seen anything like this?

2009-06-25T06:55:00.001-07:00

Have you ? This is an egg that one of my chickens laid and it doesn't have a shell! It's like a soft rubber egg, all sqidgy and flubber like but not wet......no not wet at all that would be just plain yucky! It feels sort of velvetty. Velvetty now what sort of a word it that?!

I've been keeping chickens for years and I've never seen anything like it so I thought you might like a peek. Before you ask, NO - I'm really sorry but you can't have it. I have already let one of my vet nursey friends have it she's going to pickle it so that her vet nursey students can see it. If you look really closely you can just see the orange yolk in the middle.

If we were living in Victorian times I would sell it to a travelling freak show and make my fortune :O)

Well what do you reckon? Bizarre or what?

Now then I really must go, I'm supposed to be writing my last two essays to complete a verrrry boring qualification I'm doing at the moment YAWN! Right then I'll start the ironing..........

Why the Monkeys?

2009-06-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my blog :O)

First things first - why the Monkeys? Well I have always praised my son by saying you're a Good Monkey and also my hubby says when I get nervous I go on and on hence the Monkey Chatter so it all seemed like a good idea when I was trying to come up with a blog title that I was allowed to have - whenever I thought I had a great one it wasn't allowed, then again I thought this was a great one but now I'm not so sure. See what I mean about the Monkey Chatter? I didn't even stop for breath there did I?

Anyhow as this is my first post I think I will leave it at that!

Errrrm.....I know that I am following myself but I can't seem to get rid of the stalker at the moment. Blogging hmmmmm this is going to be fun :O)