I'm a Crafty Sew and Sew

DD being crafty

I'm not the best seamstress in the world. Maybe I would be on the Discworld...but not in this one.

I inherited a sewing machine from my MIL and I was taught needlework at school (and yes it was only the girls, boys did wood work of course!) and I learned the ways of the sewing machine under the stern eye of my needlework mistress. She was scary. "Gels! I do NOT want to see any lipstick on your thread! LADIES do not lick or bite their thread, they cut it neatly!" but she taught us well, I know the uses of the various 'feet' on a sewing machine, I can sew a button hole whether by machine or hand. I can sew a button on too - including into a coat (slightly different technique needed to avoid it being too tight) I can sew a tacking stitch, a blanket stitch and I can do a double seam on denim. I can hem too. All because I learned at school.

BUT even if you don't have all of those skills and even if they, quite frankly, terrify you, you should ensure your home has a sewing kit. Everyone, of every gender should be able to fix stuff! No one should be throwing away a pair of trousers due to a lost button or a jumper because of a frayed hem.

In the time of the internet you can even learn online using youtube tutorials or friendly bloggers and once you are feeling happy with a needle then you can craft! It needn't be perfect either. I learned to make a rather cute strawberry at a festival last year under the careful eye of RedTedArt and it was super easy and fun!

Ditch the wunda-web, the hem-bond or whatever it's called, grab a sharp and get sewing! Be not afraid.

This year I plan to learn to knit (other that finger knitting which I learned at Camp Bestival) and it looks like Wilderness Festival might be the place as they are planning a Naked Knitting Circle!

Do you sew? Do you knit? How 'crafty' are you? and did you learn at school?

Eating a zoo

Chatting on twitter about my tea, a zebra burger, led me to think of all the animals, birds and fish I'd ever eaten.

I often talk about "eating a zoo" and although being vegan is probably more common now, in the past zoophagy was a far more popular pastime. Groups of wealthy Victorian chaps sat around and munched on rhino, eland, elephant and bear.

In the UK now we happily eat pigs, sheep, cows and chickens but once past those people get oddly squeamish, 'oh no!' they squeal ' I couldn't eat a horse, I just couldn't' , but why? why couldn't we? Society has enforced within us 'rules' about what is, and what isn't, food; but our bodies are happy to override that and use the fuel we give it. I'm happily eating all sorts of interesting things...
 

Image credit: yamix / 123RF Stock Photo

Here is a list of the animals I've eaten.(if I remember any more I'll pop back and add them)

Starting with the mammals...

1. Cow
2. Sheep
3. Pig
4. Buffalo (bison) (delicious)
5. Water buffalo
6. Rabbit (tender, lean)
7. Deer
8. Giraffe (similar to zebra, like mild beef)
9. Zebra (not bad)
10. Camel
11. Llama (tasty)
12. Chicken (tastes like chicken)
13. Turkey
14. Duck (not keen)
15. Ostrich (yummy)
16. Crocodile (not as exciting as I'd hoped, bland)
17. Cod
18. Haddock
19. Salmon (don't like it)
20. Plaice
21. Anchovies/whitebait
22. Sardines
23. Tuna
24. Swordfish
25. Caviare (various types, liked the bright green and orange best, sea urchin I think)
26. Trout (delicate, lovely)
27. Pollack
28. Monk fish
29. Octopus
30. Squid (excellent fried in batter)
31. Crab
32. Prawns
33. Lobster (with chilli and spaghetti...one of my favourite meals)
34. Mussels (lovely with garlic and chips)

Image credit: saddako / 123RF Stock Photo

I thought the list would be longer I admit.

I love animals so I feel a bit odd also enjoying eating them. But I have killed things (with my bare hands, don't ask), I'm not one of those "oh it's ok if it doesn't look like an animal" carnivores. I've eaten fish with eyes on...whole.

I shall continue to try and eat my zoo, though I'm avoiding carnivores as I've heard they taste bad. I shall draw the line at endangered species too, no panda sausages. But pretty much everything else is fair game (pun intended)

Next on my wish list, goat (preferably in a curry), kangaroo, some other birds maybe, quail, pigeon, goose?

(for those keen to join me, check with your local butcher, Lidl or ExoticMeats online)

How about you? Vegan, vegetarian, reluctant carnivore or keen zoo eater?

If you eat animals what's on your list? Any I need to try?

The Terrifying Girls' Trip of a Lifetime

Hollywood, LA, San Francisco, Trip of a Lifetime...





Maybe I'm bigging this up too much.

Having saved for over 5 years DD and I are leaving Mr TM to fend for himself while we jet off to California, grab our convertible and drive the Pacific Coast Highway into fun and fabulous adventure.


Well that's what happens in my head. In reality I'll most likely lose my luggage, miss the flight, find I booked the wrong car or the wrong hotel or or...

So that's how it is. I am both WILDLY EXCITED to be flying to LA in only a few weeks, to meet up (for a second time) with my online friend @MitziMimiMom. Excited to be eating in IHOP and TacoBell again (that may be DD actually - she's been pining for American food , I think she has forgotten how, after only 5 days there last time she begged "buy something with veg, I miss broccoli" LOL) We are excited for beer, and curly fries, for ice cream cake and American Football....

But also nervous of driving (first time I'll have driven in the States though I've been happily driving in the UK for 20-mumble mumble years) nervous of how to fill up with gas (I have the oddest fears, honestly - apparently in the US you pay first and this is freaking me out - how will I know how much fuel the car holds? How will I know what I need? What if the unleaded pump is not green (it's not) etc) What if there is snow on the high ground? I have no snow chains will I be arrested?? What if the satnav (GPS in American apparently!) I booked doesn't work? What if the maps I bought get lost or torn or wet...what if

But I'm defeating the nerves with planning. So far Trip Advisor has been my best mate. The reviews are hilarious. "This hotel lacks all basic essentials - there was no ice in the room" etc But having stayed at hotels I know what to really look for in a review (top tip on Trip Advisor is to read reviews from people that come from your country! We tend to share expectations!) So I haven't been totally put off by the odd one star review, (our first hotel has a 1 star review as the lady says her room was haunted! ace!) nor have I been totally swayed by the 5 stars... "I slept like a log" ok then...

I've booked hotels for most nights. I have planned a route. I've left bits in between to allow for my slow driving and unexpected stops to look at elephant seals and sea otters (sea mist permitting). I've planned days at Six Flags, at Disney, Whale watching, seeing Alcatraz. I've thought about museums, movie studios...but what have I forgotten?? Oh no...now I'm worrying again...

Checks passport dates for the 46th time, checks driving licence expiry, ticket etc

Do you plan for a trip? Do you worry? Or are you a relaxed traveller? I'd love to know!

Turkey and apricot bake -recipe